Macropinocytosis of the PDGF β-receptor promotes fibroblast transformation by H-RasG12V

Mol Biol Cell. 2012 Jul;23(13):2571-82. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E11-04-0317. Epub 2012 May 9.

Abstract

Receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling is frequently increased in tumor cells, sometimes as a result of decreased receptor down-regulation. The extent to which the endocytic trafficking routes can contribute to such RTK hyperactivation is unclear. Here, we show for the first time that fibroblast transformation by H-RasG12V induces the internalization of platelet-derived growth factor β-receptor (PDGFRβ) by macropinocytosis, enhancing its signaling activity and increasing anchorage-independent proliferation. H-RasG12V transformation and PDGFRβ activation were synergistic in stimulating phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase activity, leading to receptor macropinocytosis. PDGFRβ macropinocytosis was both necessary and sufficient for enhanced receptor activation. Blocking macropinocytosis by inhibition of PI 3-kinase prevented the increase in receptor activity in transformed cells. Conversely, increasing macropinocytosis by Rabankyrin-5 overexpression was sufficient to enhance PDGFRβ activation in nontransformed cells. Simultaneous stimulation with PDGF-BB and epidermal growth factor promoted macropinocytosis of both receptors and increased their activation in nontransformed cells. We propose that H-Ras transformation promotes tumor progression by enhancing growth factor receptor signaling as a result of increased receptor macropinocytosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Becaplermin
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / physiology
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism*
  • Fibroblasts / physiology
  • Humans
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Phosphorylation
  • Pinocytosis*
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Protein Transport
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis / physiology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics*
  • Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transport Vesicles / metabolism

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis
  • Becaplermin
  • Epidermal Growth Factor
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta
  • HRAS protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)