Binding-induced activation of overexpressed p185HER2 is essential in triggering neuronal differentiation of PC12...

To determine whether p185HER2 overexpression per se triggers p185HER2 cellular signaling or whether an extracellular signal is required, we transfected PC12 cells with the human erbB-2 proto-oncogene, and established a cell line that overexpresses p185HER2. PC12-HER2 cells, maintained in suspension culture or plated on a collagen layer, showed the same morphology and growth rate as PC12 and PC12 mock-transfected control cells. When treated with monoclonal antibody (MAb) MGr6 or other anti-p185HER2 MAbs, PC12-HER2 cells specifically underwent neuronal differentiation comparable to that induced by nerve growth factor (NGF), and the differentiation-inducing effect of the MAb was dramatically enhanced by the addition of a second anti-mouse IgG. MAb-induced cell differentiation correlated with p185HER2 phosphorylation, recruitment of Shc and Grb-2 transducer molecules into complexes, and MAPK phosphorylation. These data indicate the requirement for a specific binding-induced activation of the overexpressed p185HER2 receptor in inducing PC12 cell differentiation. PC12-HER2 cells represent a suitable system for selection of p185HER2-activating ligands (peptides, phage-displayed peptides or proteins) or specific inhibitors of its tyrosine kinase activity.