Mammalian target of rapamycin regulates vascular endothelial growth factor-dependent liver cyst growth in polycystin-2-defective mice
Open Access
- 23 December 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) in Hepatology
- Vol. 51 (5), 1778-1788
- https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.23511
Abstract
Polycystic liver disease may complicate autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), a disease caused by mutations in polycystins, which are proteins that regulate signaling, morphogenesis, and differentiation in epithelial cells. The cystic biliary epithelium [liver cystic epithelium (LCE)] secretes vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which promotes liver cyst growth via autocrine and paracrine mechanisms. The expression of insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF1), insulin‐like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R), and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p‐mTOR) and the protein kinase A (PKA)–dependent phosphorylation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) are also up‐regulated in LCE. We have hypothesized that mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) represents a common pathway for the regulation of hypoxia‐inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1α)–dependent VEGF secretion by IGF1 and ERK1/2. Conditional polycystin‐2–knockout (Pkd2KO) mice were used for in vivo studies and to isolate cystic cholangiocytes [liver cystic epithelial cells (LCECs)]. The expression of p‐mTOR, VEGF, cleaved caspase 3 (CC3), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), IGF1, IGF1R, phosphorylated extracellular signal‐regulated kinase, p‐P70S6K, HIF1α, and VEGF in LCE, LCECs, and wild‐type cholangiocytes was studied with immunohistochemistry, western blotting, or enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. The cystic area was measured by computer‐assisted morphometry of pancytokeratin‐stained sections. Cell proliferation in vitro was studied with 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐5‐(3‐carboxymethoxyphenyl)‐2‐(4‐sulfophenyl)‐2H‐tetrazolium and bromodeoxyuridine assays. The treatment of Pkd2KO mice with the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin significantly reduced the liver cyst area, liver/body weight ratio, pericystic microvascular density, and PCNA expression while increasing expression of CC3. Rapamycin inhibited IGF1‐stimulated HIF1α accumulation and VEGF secretion in LCECs. IGF1‐stimulated LCEC proliferation was inhibited by rapamycin and SU5416 (a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 inhibitor). Phosphorylation of the mTOR‐dependent kinase P70S6K was significantly reduced by PKA inhibitor 14‐22 amide and by the mitogen signal‐regulated kinase inhibitor U1026. Conclusion: These data demonstrate that PKA‐dependent up‐regulation of mTOR has a central role in the proliferative, antiapoptotic, and pro‐angiogenic effects of IGF1 and VEGF in polycystin‐2–defective mice. This study also highlights a mechanistic link between PKA, ERK, mTOR, and HIF1α‐mediated VEGF secretion and provides a proof of concept for the potential use of mTOR inhibitors in ADPKD and conditions with aberrant cholangiocyte proliferation. (HEPATOLOGY 2010.)Keywords
This publication has 35 references indexed in Scilit:
- ERK1/2-Dependent Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Signaling Sustains Cyst Growth in Polycystin-2 Defective MiceGastroenterology, 2010
- Polycystin-1 Regulates Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase-Dependent Phosphorylation of Tuberin To Control Cell Size through mTOR and Its Downstream Effectors S6K and 4EBP1Molecular and Cellular Biology, 2009
- Store-operated cyclic AMP signalling mediated by STIM1Nature, 2009
- Antitumoral Activity of Rapamycin Mediated Through Inhibition of HIF-1alpha and VEGF in Hepatocellular CarcinomaDigestive Diseases and Sciences, 2008
- The effect of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, tyrphostins: AG1024 and SU1498, on autocrine growth of prostate cancer cells (DU145).Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica, 2008
- Morphological and Functional Features of Hepatic Cyst Epithelium in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney DiseaseThe American Journal of Pathology, 2008
- The RSK factors of activating the Ras/MAPK signaling cascadeFrontiers in Bioscience-Landmark, 2008
- Rapamycin inhibits primary and metastatic tumor growth by antiangiogenesis: involvement of vascular endothelial growth factorNature Medicine, 2002
- A cre recombinase transgene with mosaic, widespread tamoxifen‐inducible actiongenesis, 2002
- The rapamycin-sensitive signal transduction pathway as a target for cancer therapyOncogene, 2000