Objective: RhoB is a small GTPase localized at the plasma membrane and endosomes that participates in the regulation of endocytic trafficking of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and the nonreceptor kinases Src and Akt. This study was performed to determine whether RhoB plays a critical role in trafficking and signaling by the platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta (PDGFR-beta) in vascular smooth muscle cells.
Methods and results: Cells derived from RhoB knockout mice failed to proliferate in response to PDGF, and downstream signaling was compromised as reflected by reduced phosphorylation of the effector kinases Akt and ERK1/2. In normal cells, PDGF stimulated trafficking of PDGFR-beta into a perinuclear late endosomal compartment and triggered entry of Src, Akt, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) into the cell nucleus. In contrast, PDGF treatment of RhoB null cells resulted in neither PDGFR-beta trafficking to late endosomes nor nuclear localization of Src, Akt, or ERK. In support of an essential function in these processes, restoring expression of RhoB in null cells rescued these defects and restored cell proliferation in response to PDGF.
Conclusions: Our findings establish RhoB as a critical regulator of PDGFR-beta trafficking and signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells.