Expression and activity of platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β in breast carcinoma cells

Abstract

The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor-β is a member of the type III receptor tyrosine kinase subfamily. PDGF-BB and PDGF-DD, ligands for the PDGF receptor-β, activate the receptor by inducing its dimerization and subsequent autophosphorylation at specific tyrosine residues. Phosphorylation causes upregulation of kinase activity of the PDGF receptor and provides binding sites for various downstream signaling molecules. Here we show that breast carcinoma celės obtained from different patients express the PDGF receptor. The PDGF receptor also coimmunoprecipitates with downstream signaling molecules, including phosphatidylinositol 3’-kinase and Ras GTPase activating protein. Our data show that the PDGF receptor-β is activated in berast carcinoma cells and indicate a possible role of the receptor in berast cancerogenesis. Keywords: PDGF receptor-β, breast carcinoma