Role of PI4K and PI3K-AKT in ERK1/2 activation by GnRH in the pituitary gonadotropes

Tali H. Bar-Lev, Dagan Harris, Melanija Tomić, Stanko Stojilkovic, Zeev Blumenfeld, Pamela Brown, Rony Seger, Zvi Naor*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

The role of PI4K and PI3K-AKT in ERK1/2 activation by GnRH was examined. A relatively long preincubation (60 min) with wortmannin (10 nM and 10 μM), and LY294002 (10 μM and 100 μM) (doses known to inhibit PI3K and PI4K, respectively), were required to inhibit GnRH-and PMA-stimulated ERK1/2 activity in αT3-1 and LβT2 gonadotrope cells. A similar preincubation protocol was required to demonstrate inhibition of IGF-1-stimulated AKT activation lending support for the need of prolonged incubation (60 min) with wortmannin in contrast to other cellular systems. To rule out that the inhibitors acted upon PI(4,5)P2 levels, we followed the [Ca2+]i response to GnRH and found that wortmannin has no significant effect on GnRH-induced [Ca2+]i responses. Surprisingly, GnRH and PMA reduced, while IGF-1 increased AKT phosphorylation. We suggest that PI3K inhibits GnRH-stimulated αGSU activity, has no effect upon GnRH-stimulated LHβ activity and enhanced the GnRH-stimulated FSHβ transcription. Hence, PI4K and PI3K-AKT play a role in GnRH to ERK1/2 signaling, while PI3K may regulate also GnRH-induced gonadotropin gene expression.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)12-23
Number of pages12
JournalMolecular and Cellular Endocrinology
Volume415
DOIs
StatePublished - 5 Nov 2015

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Institute of Child Health and Human DevelopmentZIAHD000195
Israel Science Foundation1932/15, 221/05

    Keywords

    • ERK1/2
    • GnRH
    • Gonadotropes
    • LβT2 cells
    • MAPK
    • PI3K
    • PI4K
    • PKC
    • αT3-1 cells

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Role of PI4K and PI3K-AKT in ERK1/2 activation by GnRH in the pituitary gonadotropes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this