Cell type dependent endocytic internalization of ErbB2 with an artificial peptide ligand that binds to ErbB2

Cell Biol Int. 2008 Jul;32(7):814-26. doi: 10.1016/j.cellbi.2008.03.012. Epub 2008 Mar 29.

Abstract

ErbB2, which is a member of the epidermal growth factor (erbB) receptor family, is frequently overexpressed in breast and ovarian cancers. Antibody and small molecule anti-tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been developed for targeted therapies for cancers overexpressing erbB2. Internalization and downregulation of erbB2, which is induced by a ligand, may be important for efficacious therapeutic effects. However, ligand-dependent erbB2 internalization has not been well characterized. Here we investigated the internalization of erbB2 in SKBr3 and SKOv3 cells, both overexpressing erbB2, using an EC-1 peptide fused to eGFP (EC-eGFP), which specifically binds to erbB2. ErbB2 was internalized in SKOv3 cells when the cells were treated with EC-eGFP. The accumulation of endosomal erbB2 was EC-eGFP dependent, which colocalized with transferrin implying endocytosis via clathrin-coated pits. In contrast, internalization of erbB2 was not observed in SKBr3 cells. As a result, two different mechanisms, which are cell type dependent for the internalization of erbB2, are proposed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Carcinoma / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Clathrin-Coated Vesicles / metabolism
  • Endocytosis*
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Peptides, Cyclic / metabolism*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / isolation & purification
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Transferrin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Peptides, Cyclic
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Transferrin
  • Receptor, ErbB-2