12/15-lipoxygenase–derived lipid peroxides control receptor tyrosine kinase signaling through oxidation of protein tyrosine phosphatases

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are regulated through reversible oxidation of the active-site cysteine. Previous studies have implied soluble reactive oxygen species (ROS), like H2O2, as the mediators of PTP oxidation. The potential role(s) of peroxidized lipids in PTP oxidation have not been described. This study demonstrates that increases in cellular lipid peroxides, induced by disruption of glutathione peroxidase 4, induce cellular PTP oxidation and reduce the activity of PDGF receptor targeting PTPs. These effects were accompanied by site-selective increased PDGF β-receptor phosphorylation, sensitive to 12/15-lipoxygenase (12/15-LOX) inhibitors, and increased PDGF-induced cytoskeletal rearrangements. Importantly, the 12/15-LOX–derived 15-OOH-eicosatetraenoic acid lipid peroxide was much more effective than H2O2 in induction of in vitro PTP oxidation. Our study thus establishes that lipid peroxides are previously unrecognized inducers of oxidation of PTPs. This identifies a pathway for control of receptor tyrosine kinase signaling, which might also be involved in the etiology of diseases associated with increased lipid peroxidation.