Inhibition of cell proliferation by CD44: Akt is inactivated and EGR-1 is down-regulated.

OBJECTIVE

CD44 is a transmembrane glycoprotein and can facilitate signal transduction by serving as a platform for molecular recruitment and assembly. A number of studies have suggested that CD44 can either positively or negatively regulate cell proliferation. The purpose of this study was to investigate how CD44 can inhibit cell proliferation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We engineered E6.1 Jurkat cells to express CD44. Importantly, these cells lack endogenous CD44 expression. Molecular pathways involved with cell proliferation were studied using RT(2)-PCR array, siRNA, Western blotting and by employing pharmacological inhibitors of ERK1/2, p38 and the PI3K/Akt pathways.

RESULTS

We found that CD44 expression significantly inhibited cell proliferation and down-regulated EGR-1 expression and EGR-1 targets cyclin D1 and cyclin D2. Transfection of control E6.1 Jurkat cells with EGR-1 siRNA also inhibited cell proliferation, confirming its role. Disruption of the PI3K/Akt pathway with pharmacological inhibitors reduced both EGR-1 expression and cell proliferation, recapitulating the properties of CD44 expressing cells. Akt was hypophosphorylated in cells expressing CD44 showing its potential role in negatively regulating Akt activation. Strikingly, constitutively active Akt rescued the proliferation defect showing requirement for active Akt, in our system.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest a novel pathway by which CD44 inactivates Akt, down-regulates EGR-1 expression and inhibits cell proliferation.