The linoleic acid metabolite, (13S)-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acid, augments the epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway by attenuation of receptor dephosphorylation. Differential response in Syrian hamster embryo tumor suppressor phenotypes.

In Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) fibroblasts, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase activity regulates the metabolism of endogenous linoleic acid to (13S)-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acid (13S)-HPODE). (13S)-HPODE stimulates EGF-dependent mitogenesis in a SHE cell phenotype, which expresses tumor suppressor genes (supB+), but was not effective in a variant that does not express these suppressor genes (supB-). In the present study, we have investigated the potential effects of this lipid metabolite on the EGFR signaling pathways in these two SHE cell lines. Treatment of quiescent SHE cells with EGF produced a rapid, transient increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of EGFR. Dependence on EGF concentration for EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation was similar in both SHE cell lines, but a more prolonged phosphorylation was detected in the supB- variant. Incubation of supB+ cells with (13S)-HPODE and EGF increased EGFR autophosphorylation and tyrosine phosphorylation on several signaling proteins with Src homology-2 domains including GTPase-activating protein. The lipid metabolite did not significantly alter EGF-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation in the supB- variant. Tyrosine phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase was also measured. The addition of (13S)-HPODE increased the extent and duration of MAP kinase tyrosine phosphorylation in supB+ cells but not in the supB- variant. MAP kinase activity in supB+ cells, as measured in immunoprecipitates from cells after the addition of EGF, was increased by the presence of (13S)-HPODE. The addition of (13S)-HPODE did not directly alter EGFR kinase activity or the internalization of the EGFR. However, the addition of (13S)-HPODE to supB+ cells extended the tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGFR in response to EGF. The dephosphorylation of the EGFR was measured directly, and a slower rate was observed in the supB- compared with the supB+ cells. Incubation of the supB+ cells with (13S)-HPODE attenuated the dephosphorylation of the EGFR. Thus, (13S)-HPODE stimulates EGF-dependent mitogenesis and up-regulation of EGF-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation by inhibiting the dephosphorylation of the EGFR. This study shows that a metabolite of an essential dietary fatty acid, linoleic acid, can modulate tyrosine phosphorylation and activity of key signal transduction proteins in a growth factor mitogenic pathway.