Disentangling the Complexity of HGF Signaling by Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Modeling

PLoS Comput Biol. 2015 Apr 23;11(4):e1004192. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004192. eCollection 2015 Apr.

Abstract

Signaling pathways are characterized by crosstalk, feedback and feedforward mechanisms giving rise to highly complex and cell-context specific signaling networks. Dissecting the underlying relations is crucial to predict the impact of targeted perturbations. However, a major challenge in identifying cell-context specific signaling networks is the enormous number of potentially possible interactions. Here, we report a novel hybrid mathematical modeling strategy to systematically unravel hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) stimulated phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, which critically contribute to liver regeneration. By combining time-resolved quantitative experimental data generated in primary mouse hepatocytes with interaction graph and ordinary differential equation modeling, we identify and experimentally validate a network structure that represents the experimental data best and indicates specific crosstalk mechanisms. Whereas the identified network is robust against single perturbations, combinatorial inhibition strategies are predicted that result in strong reduction of Akt and ERK activation. Thus, by capitalizing on the advantages of the two modeling approaches, we reduce the high combinatorial complexity and identify cell-context specific signaling networks.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Computer Simulation
  • Hepatocyte Growth Factor / metabolism*
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism*
  • Liver Regeneration / physiology*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism

Substances

  • Hepatocyte Growth Factor
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt

Grants and funding

German Federal Ministry of Education and Research within the Hepatosys and Virtual Liver Network (grant 0315745, 0315744, 0315766): LAD, SHR, TM, RS, SK, JT, KW, SB, AR, UK. German Federal Ministry of Education and Research within the e:Bio “JAK-Sys” Consortium (grant 0316167B): RS, SK. German Federal Ministry of Education and Research within the e:Bio “SBEpo” Consortium (grant 0316182B): NI, MS, UK. The 7th Framework Initiative via the FP7-HEALTH-2007-2.1.2.5 call in the project CancerSys #223188 and IMI/EFPIA-funded MIP-DILI consortium: RM, UK. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.