Inhibition of HER-2(neu/ErbB2) restores normal function and structure to polycystic kidney disease (PKD) epithelia

Samantha J. Wilson, Kurt Amsler, Deborah P. Hyink, Xiaohong Li, Weining Lu, Jing Zhou, Christopher R. Burrow, Patricia D. Wilson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

62 Scopus citations

Abstract

Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) is a very common lethal monogenetic disease with significant morbidities and a high likelihood of progression to renal failure for which there is no proven disease-specific therapy currently available for clinical use. Human ADPKD cystic epithelia have proliferative abnormalities mediated by EGFR over-expression and mispolarization leading autocrine response to EGF family ligands. We now show that apical localization of EGFR complexes in normal fetal and ADPKD epithelia is associated with heterodimerization of EGFR(HER-1) with HER-2(neu/ErbB2), while basal membrane localization in normal adult renal epithelia is associated with EGFR(HER-1) homodimers. Since ADPKD epithelial cells have reduced migratory function, this was used as a bioassay to evaluate the ability of compounds to rescue the aberrant human ADPKD phenotype. General tyrosine kinase inhibition by herbimycin and specific inhibition of HER-2(neu/ErbB2) by AG825 or pretreatment with ErbB2 siRNA reversed the migration defect of ADPKD epithelia. Selective inhibition of EGFR(HER-1) showed partial rescue. Increased ADPKD cell migration after inhibition of p38MAP kinase but not of PI3-kinase implicated p38MAPK downstream of HER-2(neu/ErbB2) stimulation. Daily administration of AG825 to PKD1 null heterozygous mice significantly inhibited the development of renal cysts. These studies implicate HER2(neu/ErbB2) as an effector of apical EGFR complex mispolarization and that its inhibition should be considered a candidate for clinical therapy of ADPKD.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)647-655
Number of pages9
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease
Volume1762
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2006

Keywords

  • Dimerization
  • EGF receptor
  • PKD null mouse
  • Polarity
  • Renal development
  • Signal transduction
  • Small molecule therapy
  • Tyrosine kinase
  • siRNA

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Inhibition of HER-2(neu/ErbB2) restores normal function and structure to polycystic kidney disease (PKD) epithelia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this