S1P1 and VEGFR-2 form a signaling complex with extracellularly regulated kinase 1/2 and protein kinase C-alpha regulating ML-1 thyroid carcinoma cell migration

Endocrinology. 2010 Jul;151(7):2994-3005. doi: 10.1210/en.2009-1387. Epub 2010 May 25.

Abstract

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) signaling have been shown to integrate in many biological processes. The follicular thyroid carcinoma cell line ML-1 expresses VEGFR-2 and secretes substantial amounts of both vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and VEGF-C. ML-1 cells also express S1P-receptors (S1P(1-3,5)). S1P is able to phosphorylate VEGFR-2, and inhibiting VEGFR-2 attenuates S1P-induced migration and down-regulates S1P(1) expression in ML-1 cells. In the present study, we focused on the interactions between S1P(1) and VEGFR-2. We show that S1P receptors form complexes with VEGFR-2 and that the S1P(1)/VEGFR-2 complex associates with protein kinase C (PKC)-alpha and ERK1/2. Furthermore, the complex evokes bidirectional signaling since the S1P-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation is sensitive to VEGFR-2 kinase inhibition and VEGF-A-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation is sensitive to pertussis toxin treatment as well as S1P(1) small interfering RNA (siRNA) treatment. Both S1P- and VEGF-A-induced haptotaxis is sensitive to pertussis toxin treatment and S1P(1) siRNA treatment. Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 evoked by both VEGF-A and the S1P(1) agonist SEW-2871 is inhibited by PKC-alpha and PKC-betaI siRNA. We hypothesize that VEGFR-2 forms a signaling complex with S1P(1), evoking bidirectional signaling regulating both ERK1/2 phosphorylation and haptotaxis of ML-1 cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects*
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Lysophospholipids / pharmacology
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / metabolism*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Protein Binding / genetics
  • Protein Kinase C-alpha / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Lysosphingolipid / agonists
  • Receptors, Lysosphingolipid / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, Lysosphingolipid / genetics
  • Receptors, Lysosphingolipid / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Sphingosine / analogs & derivatives
  • Sphingosine / pharmacology
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / genetics
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / pharmacology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / agonists
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Lysophospholipids
  • Receptors, Lysosphingolipid
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • sphingosine 1-phosphate
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2
  • Protein Kinase C-alpha
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
  • Sphingosine