Angiotensin II induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in renal epithelial cells through reactive oxygen species/Src/caveolin-mediated activation of an epidermal growth factor receptor-extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway.

Chronic activation of the renin-angiotensin system plays a deleterious role in progressive kidney damage, and the renal proximal tubule is known to play an important role in tubulointerstitial fibrosis; however, the underlying molecular mechanism is unclear. Here we report that in the proximal tubule-like LLCPKcl4 cells expressing angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 receptor, Ang II induced changes in cell morphology and expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, which were inhibited by the miotogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-activating kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD98059 or the Src kinase inhibitor PP2. Ang II-stimulated phosphorylation of caveolin-1 (Cav) at Y14 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) at Y845 and induced association of these phosphoproteins in caveolin-enriched lipid rafts, thereby leading to prolonged EGFR-ERK signaling that was inhibited by Nox4 small interfering RNA (siRNA) and Src siRNA. Two different antioxidants not only inhibited phosphorylation of Src at Y416 but also blocked the EGFR-ERK signaling. Moreover, erlotinib (the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor), EGFR siRNA, and Cav siRNA all inhibited both prolonged EGFR-ERK signaling and phenotypic changes induced by Ang II. Thus, this report provides the first evidence that reactive oxygen species (ROS)/Src-dependent activation of persistent Cav-EGFR-ERK signaling mediates renal tubular cell dedifferentiation and identifies a novel molecular mechanism that may be involved in progressive renal injury caused by chronic exposure to Ang II.