Evidence for mitogen-associated protein kinase activation and transduction of mitogenic signals by platelet-derived growth factor in human meningioma cells.

OBJECT: Coexpression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB and activated PDGF-beta receptor in meningioma cells indicates that this cytokine may act as an autocrine or paracrine stimulant of meningioma growth. The intracellular events transducing signals from PDGF-beta receptor tyrosine kinases are unknown. In this study the authors evaluated whether or not mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are expressed in meningiomas, regulate their growth, and transduce mitogenic signals of PDGF-BB.
METHODS: Ten human meningioma tumors as well as cells cultured from two normal leptomeninges and 10 additional human meningiomas were evaluated using Western blot analysis to determine the presence of MAPK and phosphorylated (activated) MAPK. The effects of PD098059, a selective inhibitor of MAPK phosphorylation/activation, on proliferation of meningioma cells stimulated with 10% fetal bovine serum was also evaluated. Last, the authors evaluated whether PDGF-BB stimulation of meningioma cells was associated with activation of MAPK. Western blots of lysates from meningiomas and from cultured leptomeningeal and meningioma cells demonstrated MAPK and phosphorylated MAPK. Treatment with PD098059 produced a 52 to 84% (x = 69.8) loss in [3H]thymidine incorporation, which was associated with a partial or complete loss of phosphorylated MAPK after 3 days of treatment. The PDGF-BB produced a significant increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation and phosphorylation of MAPK at 1 and 3 days. Coadministration of PD098059 completely blocked PDGF-BB's stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation and cell proliferation concomitant with reduced MAPK phosphorylation.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that MAPK is constitutively expressed in leptomeningeal and meningioma cells and transduces mitogenic signals of PDGF, contributing to the growth of human meningiomas.