Phospholipase C δ-4 overexpression upregulates ErbB1/2 expression, Erk signaling pathway, and proliferation in MCF-7 cells

BACKGROUND: The expression of the rodent phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C δ-4 (PLCδ4) has been found to be elevated upon mitogenic stimulation and expression analysis have linked the upregulation of PLCδ4 expression with rapid proliferation in certain rat transformed cell lines. The human homologue of PLCδ4 has not been extensively characterized. Accordingly, we investigate the effects of overexpression of human PLCδ4 on cell signaling and proliferation in this study. RESULTS: The cDNA for human PLCδ4 has been isolated and expressed ectopically in breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Overexpression of PLCδ4 selectively activates protein kinase C-φ and upregulates the expression of epidermal growth factor receptors EGFR/erbB1 and HER2/erbB2, leading to constitutive activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) pathway in MCF-7 cells. MCF-7 cells stably expressing PLCδ4 demonstrates several phenotypes of transformation, such as rapid proliferation in low serum, formation of colonies in soft agar, and capacity to form densely packed spheroids in low-attachment plates. The growth signaling responses induced by PLCδ4 are not reversible by siRNA. CONCLUSION: Overexpression or dysregulated expression of PLCδ4 may initiate oncogenesis in certain tissues through upregulation of ErbB expression and activation of ERK pathway. Since the growth responses induced by PLCδ4 are not reversible, PLCδ4 itself is not a suitable drug target, but enzymes in pathways activated by PLCδ4 are potential therapeutic targets for oncogenic intervention.