Summary
Among many signaling pathways, receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) can activate the mitogen-activated
protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway that subsequently leads to a variety of cellular
changes, including proliferation, differentiation and motility. The regulation of
growth factor signaling is complex, and various cell types respond differently to
the same stimulus for reasons not entirely understood. The recent discovery in Drosophila of Sprouty (dSpry), an inhibitor of RTK-induced MAPK activation, provides clues to
how these signals are regulated. In mammals, four orthologues of dSpry, Spry1-4, have
been described, and in this review we discuss their functional characteristics. Mammalian
Sprys, like dSpry, are ligand-induced feedback inhibitors of a number of growth factor
receptors. In endothelial cells, upon fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor and
vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor activation, Sprys translocate to
the plasma membrane and inhibit cell growth and proliferation. However, in epidermal
growth factor (EGF)-stimulated cells, Sprys can enhance MAPK activation. In addition,
Sprys have many binding partners, including different effectors of the MAPK activation
pathway. The intersection point where Sprys interfere in the MAPK pathway as well
as their interactions with other proteins may partly explain the dual, yet opposing
roles, on growth factor-induced MAPK activation. Moreover, Sprys require tyrosine
phosphorylation to interact with their binding partners, a prerequisite for their
dual function. Hence, Sprys add another layer of complexity to the regulation of RTK-mediated
signal transduction that begins to explain the variation in cellular responses to
growth factors.
This publication was partially financed by Serono Foundation for the Advancement of
Medical Science.
Part of this paper was originally presented at the 2nd International Workshop on New Therapeutic Targets in Vascular Biology from February
6-9, 2003 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Keywords
Sprouty - growth factors - MAPK - angiogenesis - receptor tyrosine kinases