Platelet-derived growth factor stimulates phospholipase C-gamma 1, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and arachidonic acid release in rat myometrial cells: contribution to cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate production and effect on cell proliferation.

In the present study, we examined downstream signaling events that followed exposure of cultured rat myometrial cells to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and their effect on cell proliferation. PDGF-BB induced tyrosine phosphorylation of PDGF-beta receptors and increased inositol trisphosphate production via the tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase (PL)C-gamma 1. PDGF-BB also increased cAMP synthesis. This increase was potentiated by forskolin and reduced by indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, reflecting a Gs protein-mediated process via prostaglandin biosynthesis. The prostaglandin produced by PDGF was characterized as prostacyclin (PGI(2)). PDGF-BB increased arachidonic acid (AA) release, which, similarly to cAMP accumulation, was abolished in the presence of AACOCF3, a cytosolic PLA(2) inhibitor, and in the absence of Ca(2+). U-73122, a potent inhibitor of PLC activity, blocked both the production of inositol phosphates and the AA release triggered by PDGF-BB. Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) 1 and 2 are expressed in myometrial cells, and PDGF-BB selectively activated ERK2. PD98059, an inhibitor of the ERK-activating kinase, blocked PDGF-BB-mediated ERK2 activation, AA release, and cAMP production. The results demonstrate that PDGF-BB stimulated cAMP formation through both PLC activation and ERK-dependent AA release and PGI(2) biosynthesis. PDGF-BB also increased cell proliferation and [(3)H]thymidine incorporation. This was abolished by PD98059, demonstrating that the ERK cascade is required for the mitogenic effect of PDGF-BB. Forskolin, which potentiated the cAMP response to PDGF-BB, attenuated both DNA synthesis and ERK activation triggered by PDGF-BB, suggesting the presence of a negative feedback regulation.