Kinases involved in MSP/RON signaling.

Macrophage stimulating protein (MSP) belongs to the plasminogen-related kringle domain family. In addition to stimulation of macrophages, MSP acts on other cell types including epithelial and hematopoietic cells. The MSP receptor is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase called RON in humans and STK in mice. MSP/receptor interaction induces activation of signal transduction pathways that mediate MSP biological activities. Cytoplasmic kinases are intracellular messengers occupying an important role in signal transduction. We have identified kinases that participate in RON signaling. In addition to previously identified involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K), JNK, and MAPK, we found that FAK, c-Src, and AKT are rapidly and transiently activated by MSP. FAK, MAPK, and c-Src are involved in MSP-induced cell proliferation. MAPK and c-Src are components of one signal transduction cascade, and MAPK is downstream of c-Src. FAK also regulates MSP-induced cell growth, but via a path different from c-Src/MAPK. AKT kinase is a component of a separate branch of the RON/PI3-K pathway that mediates the MSP anti-apoptotic effect on epithelial cells. PI3-K regulates MSP-induced adhesion and motility but via downstream components different from AKT. Thus, occupancy of the RON receptor by MSP activates distinct signal transduction pathways that mediate several cellular responses.