The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway modulates the endocrine differentiation of trophoblast cells

Mol Endocrinol. 2002 Jul;16(7):1469-81. doi: 10.1210/mend.16.7.0878.

Abstract

Activation of Lyn, a Src-related nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, in trophoblast cells is associated with trophoblast giant cell differentiation. The purpose of the present work was to use Lyn as a tool to identify signaling pathways regulating the endocrine differentiation of trophoblast cells. The Src homology 3 domain of Lyn was shown to display differentiation-dependent associations with other regulatory proteins, including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K). PI3-K activation was dependent upon trophoblast giant cell differentiation. The downstream mediator of PI3-K, Akt/protein kinase B, also exhibited differentiation-dependent activation. Lyn is a potential regulator of the PI3-K/Akt signaling pathway, as are receptor tyrosine kinases. Protein tyrosine kinase profiling was used to identify two candidate regulators of the PI3-K/Akt pathway, fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 and Sky. At least part of the activation of Akt in differentiating trophoblast giant cells involves an autocrine growth arrest-specific-6-Sky signaling pathway. Inhibition of PI3-K activities via treatment with LY294002 disrupted Akt activation and interfered with the endocrine differentiation of trophoblast giant cells. In summary, activation of the PI3-K/Akt signaling pathway regulates the development of the differentiated trophoblast giant cell phenotype.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology*
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Cell Division / physiology
  • Chromones / pharmacology
  • Endocrine System / metabolism
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Fetal Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Morpholines / pharmacology
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism*
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / drug effects
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Rats
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Trophoblasts / cytology*
  • Trophoblasts / drug effects
  • Trophoblasts / metabolism*
  • src Homology Domains
  • src-Family Kinases / drug effects
  • src-Family Kinases / genetics
  • src-Family Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Chromones
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Fetal Proteins
  • Morpholines
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor
  • 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one
  • Fgfr1 protein, mouse
  • Fgfr1 protein, rat
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1
  • TYRO3 protein, human
  • lyn protein-tyrosine kinase
  • src-Family Kinases
  • Akt1 protein, rat
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt