Age-dependent decline in EGF-induced signaling is independent of intracellular thiols

Loss of proliferative capacity is common in many tissue types during aging. We have shown that mitogenic signaling through the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor declines in hepatocytes from old rats. Specifically, we showed that in old hepatocytes there is a decrease in autophosphorylation of EGF receptor at Tyr-1173. This results in loss of recruitment of the adapter protein Shc to the membrane and decreased ERK MAP kinase pathway activation. Because EGF receptor signaling also requires intracellular generation of H202, we next questioned whether altering the intracellular GSH/thiol concentration may also affect the age-dependent decline in EGF receptor signaling. Surprisingly, decreased intracellular GSH had no effect on EGF receptor signaling in hepatocytes from either young or old animals. However, increasing the thiol concentration dramatically attenuated EGF receptor signaling in hepatocytes from both young and old animals. Unexpectedly, loss of EGF receptor signaling was due to a specific decrease in EGF receptor number, but not in other components of the EGF receptor signaling pathway such as ERK MAP kinase. These results suggest that age-dependent mechanisms of alteration in EGF receptor signaling are independent of thiol regulation of EGF receptor signaling.