Mig6 decreases hepatic EGFR activation and survival during saturated fatty acid-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress

Hyperlipidemia associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) promotes excess hepatic lipid storage (steatosis) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, thereby reducing hepatic cell proliferation and survival. An important receptor tyrosine kinase controlling liver proliferation and survival is the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). EGFR expression and activation are decreased during steatosis in humans and several animal models of obesity. Therefore, restoring EGFR activation in obesity-induced ER stress and diabetes could restore the livers capacity for survival and regeneration. As an inducible feedback inhibitor of EGFR activity, mitogen-inducible gene 6 (Mig6) is a novel target for enhancing EGFR signaling during diet-induced obesity (DIO) and T2D. Thus, we hypothesized hepatic ER stress induces Mig6 expression and decreases EGFR activation during DIO and diabetes. We identified that Mig6 expression was increased during obesity-induced insulin resistance in C57Bl/6J mice fed a high fat diet. We also discovered that both pharmacological- and fatty acid-driven ER stress increased Mig6 expression and decreased EGF-mediated EGFR activation in primary rat hepatocytes and cell lines. Furthermore, siRNA-mediated Mig6 knockdown restored EGFR signaling and reduced caspase 3/7 activation during ER stress. Therefore, we conclude Mig6 is increased during ER stress in DIO, thereby reducing EGFR activation and enhancing cell death. The implications are the induction of Mig6 during DIO and diabetes may decrease hepatocyte survival, thus hindering cellular repair and regenerative mechanisms.