Inhibition of tyrosine kinase activity decreases expression of surfactant protein A in a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line independent of epidermal growth factor receptor.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) enhances fetal lung development in vivo and in vitro. Ligand binding to the EGF receptor stimulates an intrinsic receptor tyrosine kinase initiating a signal transduction cascade. We hypothesized that blocking EGF receptor function with tyrosine kinase inhibitors would decrease the expression of surfactant protein A in human pulmonary epithelial cells. Human pulmonary adenocarcinoma cells (NCI-H441) were exposed to genistein (a broad range inhibitor of tyrosine kinases) and tyrphostin AG1478 (a specific inhibitor of EGF receptor tyrosine kinase). Genistein significantly decreased surfactant protein A (SP-A) and SP-A mRNA levels in H441 cells without affecting cell viability. The inhibitory effect of genistein on SP-A content was reversible. In contrast, tyrphostin AG1478 had no effect on SP-A levels despite a greater inhibitory effect than genistein on EGF receptor tyrosine autophosphorylation. Furthermore, treatment of H441 cells with exogenous EGF did not increase SP-A content or mRNA levels beyond baseline. We conclude that inhibition of tyrosine kinase activity other than the EGF receptor decreases the expression of surfactant protein A at a pretranslational level in human pulmonary adenocarcinoma cells. These results suggest the importance of tyrosine kinases in modulating human SP-A synthesis.