IGF-I stimulates intestinal muscle cell growth by activating distinct PI 3-kinase and MAP kinase pathways.

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), acting via its cognate receptor, plays an autocrine role in the regulation of growth of intestinal muscle cells. In the present study the signaling pathways mediating the growth effects of IGF-I were characterized in cultured human intestinal smooth muscle cells. Growth induced by a maximally effective concentration of IGF-I (100 nM), measured as [3H]thymidine incorporation, was only partially inhibited by LY-294002 [phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) inhibitor] or PD-98059 [mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor] (86 ± 7% and 35 ± 6% inhibition, respectively) alone but was abolished by the two combined (114 ± 18% inhibition), implying the participation of both pathways. IGF-I elicited time- and concentration-dependent increases in PI 3-kinase activity. This effect was inhibited only by LY-294002 (89 ± 12%). IGF-I elicited time- and concentration-dependent phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAP kinase and increased MAP kinase activity. These effects were inhibited only by PD-98059 (78 ± 9% and 98 ± 7%, respectively). We conclude that in human intestinal muscle cells IGF-I activates distinct PI 3-kinase and MAP kinase signaling pathways, which act in conjunction to mediate growth.