Modeling the Effects of HER/ErbB1-3 Coexpression on Receptor Dimerization and Biological Response

The human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER/ErbB) system comprises the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/HER1) and three other homologs, namely HERs 2–4. This receptor system plays a critical role in cell proliferation and differentiation and receptor overexpression has been associated with...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biophysical journal 2006-06, Vol.90 (11), p.3993-4009
Main Authors: Shankaran, Harish, Wiley, H. Steven, Resat, Haluk
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Biological Transport
Biophysical Theory and Modeling
CELL PROLIFERATION
DIMERIZATION
EPITHELIUM
Genotype & phenotype
GROWTH FACTORS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
Humans
Ligands
mathematical modeling, signal transduction, receptor-ligand, tumorigenesis, biomolecular networks
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
Models, Biological
Parameter estimation
PHENOTYPE
PHOSPHORYLATION
Predictions
Protein Transport
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - biosynthesis
Receptor, ErbB-2 - biosynthesis
Receptor, ErbB-3 - biosynthesis
RECEPTORS
Sensitivity analysis
Signal Transduction
Signaling
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Summary:The human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER/ErbB) system comprises the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/HER1) and three other homologs, namely HERs 2–4. This receptor system plays a critical role in cell proliferation and differentiation and receptor overexpression has been associated with poor prognosis in cancers of the epithelium. Here, we examine the effect of coexpressing varying levels of HERs 1–3 on the receptor dimerization patterns using a detailed kinetic model for HER/ErbB dimerization and trafficking. Our results indicate that coexpression of EGFR with HER2 or HER3 biases signaling to the cell surface and retards signal downregulation. In addition, simultaneous coexpression of HERs 1–3 leads to an abundance of HER2-HER3 heterodimers, which are known to be potent inducers of cell growth and transformation. Our new approach to use parameter dependence analysis in experimental design reveals that measurements of HER3 phosphorylation and HER2 internalization ratio may prove to be especially useful for the estimation of critical model parameters. Further, we examine the effect of receptor dimerization patterns on biological response using a simple phenomenological model. Results indicate that coexpression of EGFR with HER2 and HER3 at low to moderate levels may enable cells to match the response of a high HER2 expresser.
ISSN:0006-3495
1542-0086
DOI:10.1529/biophysj.105.080580