Arachidonate-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor and Shc-Grb2-Sos association

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation induced by arachidonic acid (AA), an important lipid second messenger, was investigated in rabbit renal proximal tubule epithelial cells. AA stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of a number of proteins with estimated molecular weights of 42, 44, 52, 56, 85, and 170/180 kDa. The phosphoproteins pp44 and pp42 were identified as 2 isoforms of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Phosphorylation of MAPK in response to AA was transient, dose-dependent, and accompanied by an increase in its activity. The mechanism of AA-induced MAPK activation in RTE cells was protein kinase C-independent and involved tyrosine phosphorylation of adaptor protein She and its association with Grb2-Sos complex. Moreover, stimulation of RTE cells with AA resulted in significant phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and its association with She. The effect of AA on EGF receptor phosphorylation, its association with She, and MAPK activation was similar to the effect of 1 ng/mL EGF. Tyrphostin AG1478, a specific inhibitor of EGF receptor tyrosine kinase activity, completely blocked the effects of AA and EGF but not phorbol ester on MAPK phosphorylation. These data suggest that in renal tubular epithelial cells, the mechanism of AA-induced MAPK activation involves tyrosine phosphorylation of EGF receptor and its association with She and Grb2-Sos complex. Given the critical role of AA in signaling Linked to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), these observations provide a mechanism for cross talk between GPCRs linked to phospholipases and the tyrosine kinase receptor signaling cascades.