c-Raf-mediated inhibition of epidermal growth factor-stimulated cell migration

Epidermal growth factor stimulates migration of a number of cell types, yet the signaling pathways that regulate epidermal growth factor-stimulated migration are poorly defined. In this report, we employ a transient transfection migration assay to assess the role of components of the Ras-mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathway in epidermal growth factor-stimulated chemotaxis of rat embryo fibroblasts. Expression of dominant negative Ras blocks epidermal growth factor-mediated chemotaxis, while constitutively active Ras has no effect on chemokinesis or chemotaxis. PD98059 and U0126, inhibitors of MAP kinase kinase (MEK) activity, decreased epidermal growth factor-stimulated migration, while kinase-defective MEK1, an inhibitor of MAP kinase activation, enhanced migration. To understand the paradoxical effects of these molecules on epidermal growth factor-induced migration, we examined the role of c-Raf on migration. Expression of either wild type c-Raf or the catalytic domain of c-Raf effectively inhibited epidermal growth factor-stimulated cell migration. We suggest that, whereas Ras activity is necessary to promote epidermal growth factor-stimulated migration, sustained activation of c-Raf may be important in down-regulating migratory signaling pathways triggered by epidermal growth factor receptor activation. Further, activation of c-Raf upon inhibition of the MEK-MAP kinase pathway may contribute to the inhibition of cell migration observed with pharmacological MEK inhibitors.