Lysophosphatidic acid-induced transactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor regulates cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression and prostaglandin E₂ release via C/EBPβ in human bronchial epithelial cells

We have demonstrated that LPA (lysophosphatidic acid)-induced IL (interleukin)-8 secretion was partly mediated via transactivation of EGFR [EGF (epidermal growth factor) receptor] in HBEpCs (human bronchial epithelial primary cells). The present study provides evidence that LPA-induced transactivation of EGFR regulates COX (cyclo-oxygenase)-2 expression and PGE₂ [PG (prostaglandin) E₂] release through the transcriptional factor, C/EBPβ (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β), in HBEpCs. Treatment with LPA (1 μM) stimulated COX-2 mRNA and protein expression and PGE₂ release via G_αi-coupled LPARs (LPA receptors). Pretreatment with inhibitors of NF-κB (nuclear factor-κB), JNK (Jun N-terminal kinase), or down-regulation of c-Jun or C/EBPβ with specific siRNA (small interference RNA) attenuated LPA-induced COX-2 expression. Downregulation of EGFR by siRNA or pretreatment with the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, AG1478, partly attenuated LPA-induced COX-2 expression and phosphorylation of C/EBPβ; however, neither of these factors had an effect on the NF-κB and JNK pathways. Furthermore, LPA-induced EGFR transactivation, phosphorylation of C/EBPβ and COX-2 expression were attenuated by overexpression of a catalytically inactive mutant of PLD2 [PLD (phospholipase D) 2], PLD2-K758R, or by addition of myristoylated PKCζ [PKC (protein kinase C) ζ] peptide pseudosubstrate. Overexpression of the PLD2-K758R mutant also attenuated LPA-induced phosphorylation and activation of PKCζ. These results demonstrate that LPA induces COX-2 expression and PGE₂ production through EGFR transactivation-independent activation of transcriptional factors NF-κB and c-Jun, and EGFR transactivation-dependent activation of C/EBPβ in HBEpCs. Since COX-2 and PGE₂ have been shown to be anti-inflammatory in airway inflammation, the present data suggest a modulating and protective role of LPA in regulating innate immunity and remodelling of the airways.