EGFR signaling promotes ?-cell proliferation and survivin expression during pregnancy.

ABSTRACT: Placental lactogen (PL) induced serotonergic signaling is essential for gestational ?-cell mass expansion. We have previously shown that intact Epidermal growth factor -receptor (EGFR) function is a crucial component of this pathway. We now explored more specifically the link between EGFR and pregnancy-induced ?-cell mass compensation. Islets were isolated from wild-type and ?-cell-specific EGFR-dominant negative mice (E1-DN), stimulated with PL and analyzed for ?-cell proliferation and expression of genes involved in gestational ?-cell growth. ?-cell mass dynamics were analyzed both with traditional morphometrical methods and three-dimensional optical projection tomography (OPT) of whole-mount insulin-stained pancreata. Insulin-positive volume analyzed with OPT increased 1.4-fold at gestational day 18.5 (GD18.5) when compared to non-pregnant mice. Number of islets peaked by GD13.5 (680 vs 1134 islets per pancreas, non-pregnant vs. GD13.5). PL stimulated beta cell proliferation in the wild-type islets, whereas the proliferative response was absent in the E1-DN mouse islets. Serotonin synthesizing enzymes were upregulated similarly in both the wild-type and E1-DN mice. However, while survivin (Birc5) mRNA was upregulated 5.5-fold during pregnancy in the wild-type islets, no change was seen in the E1-DN pregnant islets. PL induced survivin expression also in isolated islets and this was blocked by EGFR inhibitor gefitinib, mTOR inhibitor rapamycin and MEK inhibitor PD0325901. Our 3D-volumetric analysis of ?-cell mass expansion during murine pregnancy revealed that islet number increases during pregnancy. In addition, our results suggest that EGFR signaling is required for lactogen-induced survivin expression via MAPK and mTOR pathways.

SUBMITTER: Hakonen E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3973552 | biostudies-other | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other