Tyrosine kinase receptor transactivation associated to G protein-coupled receptors

Curr Drug Targets. 2010 Sep;11(9):1169-80. doi: 10.2174/138945010792006807.

Abstract

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) comprise a large family of membrane receptors involved in signal transduction. These receptors are linked to a variety of physiological and biological processes such as regulation of neurotransmission, growth, cell differentiation and oncogenesis among others. Some of the effects of GPCRs are known to be mediated by the activation of MAPK pathways. Several GPCRs are also able to transactivate receptors with tyrosine kinase activity (TKR) such as EGFR and HER2 and thus to control DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. The interaction between these receptors not only plays an important physiological role but its disregulation can induce pathological states such as cancer. For this reason, the crosstalk between these two types of receptors can be considered a possible mechanism for cell transformation, tumor progression, reactivation of the metastatic disease, and the acquisition of resistance to therapies targeting TKR receptors. The transactivation of some TKRs by GPCRs is related to the lost of response of TKRs to inhibitors of TK activity, mainly by the activation of the c-Src protein which can directly phosphorylate and activate the cytoplasmic domain of a TKR. For these reason, the dual inhibition of GPCRs and TKRs in some types of cancer has been proposed as a better strategy to kill tumor cells. Increased understanding of the mechanisms that interconnect the two pathways regulated by GPCRs and TKRs may facilitate the design of new therapeutic strategies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • ADAM Proteins / metabolism
  • CSK Tyrosine-Protein Kinase
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Matrix Metalloproteinases / metabolism
  • Membrane Microdomains / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Receptor Cross-Talk
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / agonists
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • src-Family Kinases

Substances

  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • CSK Tyrosine-Protein Kinase
  • src-Family Kinases
  • CSK protein, human
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • ADAM Proteins
  • Matrix Metalloproteinases