MUC5AC expression through bidirectional communication of Notch and epidermal growth factor receptor pathways

Hyperproduction of goblet cells and mucin in the airway epithelium is an important feature of airway inflammatory diseases. We investigated the involvement of Notch signaling in MUC5AC expression in NCI-H292 cells, a human lung carcinoma cell line. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulated generation of the Notch intracellular domain (NICD) in a RBP-Jκ-dependent manner. Treatment with γ-secretase inhibitors L-685,458 or DAPT or introduction of small interfering RNA directed against Notch1 reduced EGF-induced MUC5AC expression. The inhibitory effect of L-685,458 on EGF-induced MUC5AC mRNA and protein expression was also observed in primary human bronchial epithelial cells. Blockage of Notch signaling with L-685,458 or Notch siRNA resulted in a decrease in EGF-induced phosphorylation of ERK. These results suggested that ERK activation is necessary for the regulation of EGF receptor (EGFR)-mediated MUC5AC expression by Notch signaling. Conversely, forced expression of NICD induced both EGFR and ERK phosphorylation with MUC5AC expression even in the absence of EGF. Treatment of the NICD-expressing cells with EGF further augmented ERK phosphorylation in an additive manner. The ERK phosphorylation induced by exogenous NICD was inhibited by treatment with an Ab that antagonizes EGFR activity as well as by inhibitors of EGFR and ERK, implying that Notch signaling induces MUC5AC expression by activating the EGFR pathway. Collectively, these results suggest that MUC5AC expression is regulated by a bidirectional circuit between Notch and EGFR signaling pathways.