Transactivation of ErbB Family of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases Is Inhibited by Angiotensin-(1-7) via Its Mas Receptor

PLoS One. 2015 Nov 4;10(11):e0141657. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141657. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR or ErbB) family members, namely EGFR and ErbB2, appears important in the development of diabetes-induced vascular dysfunction. Angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] can prevent the development of hyperglycemia-induced vascular complications partly through inhibiting EGFR transactivation. Here, we investigated whether Ang-(1-7) can inhibit transactivation of ErbB2 as well as other ErbB receptors in vivo and in vitro. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were chronically treated with Ang-(1-7) or AG825, a selective ErbB2 inhibitor, for 4 weeks and mechanistic studies performed in the isolated mesenteric vasculature bed as well as in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Ang-(1-7) or AG825 treatment inhibited diabetes-induced phosphorylation of ErbB2 receptor at tyrosine residues Y1221/22, Y1248, Y877, as well as downstream signaling via ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, ROCK, eNOS and IkB-α in the mesenteric vascular bed. In VSMCs cultured in high glucose (25 mM), Ang-(1-7) inhibited src-dependent ErbB2 transactivation that was opposed by the selective Mas receptor antagonist, D-Pro7-Ang-(1-7). Ang-(1-7) via Mas receptor also inhibited both Angiotensin II- and noradrenaline/norephinephrine-induced transactivation of ErbB2 and/or EGFR receptors. Further, hyperglycemia-induced transactivation of ErbB3 and ErbB4 receptors could be attenuated by Ang-(1-7) that could be prevented by D-Pro7-Ang-(1-7) in VSMC. These data suggest that Ang-(1-7) via its Mas receptor acts as a pan-ErbB inhibitor and might represent a novel general mechanism by which Ang-(1-7) exerts its beneficial effects in many disease states including diabetes-induced vascular complications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin I / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / genetics
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / metabolism*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / pathology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / genetics
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / metabolism*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / pathology
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Male
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / cytology
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / drug effects
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / metabolism
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcriptional Activation / drug effects*
  • Vasodilator Agents / pharmacology

Substances

  • Peptide Fragments
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Vasodilator Agents
  • Angiotensin I
  • ErbB Receptors
  • angiotensin I (1-7)
  • Glucose

Grants and funding

This study was supported by a grant from Kuwait University Research Sector/Administration (Project number MR 05/09). The authors also acknowledge support from the OMICS Research Unit / RCF and the General Facility Grant (SRUL02/13). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.