Screening of human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor Flt-1 domain and study on its biological activity

Four human vascular endothelial growth factor receptor Flt-1 cDNA fragments containing extracellular domain loops 2, 1–2, 2–3 and 1–3 respectively were amplified from human placental cDNA library by PCR and used for screening ligand binding domains by yeast two-hybrid system. The result showed that, not only loop 1–3, but also the smaller fragment loop 2–3 could bind to hVEGF₁₆₅. Recombinant expression plasmids pPIC9K/Flt-1(1–3) and pPIC9K/Flt-1(2–3) were constructed and transformed toPichia. pastoris host strain GS115, cultured in flasks, and expressed under the induction of 1% methanol. The expressed product existed in supernatant in the form of soluble molecules and contained more than 60% of total protein after being induced for 4d. After being purified by CM-Sepharose FF and Sephacryl S-100 chromatography, its purity reached above 90%. Biological assayin vitro showed that the binding capacity of expressed soluble Flt-1 (2–3) to hVEGF₁₆₅ and its inhibiting effect on the proliferation of human umbilical veins endothelial cells (HUVEC) stimulated with hVEGF₁₆₅ were close to those of sFlt-1(1–3). Animal test showed that sFlt-1(2–3) could inhibit the formation of regenerate blood vessels stimulated with hVEGF₁₆₅ significantly.     

人血管内皮细胞生长因子受体Flt—1胞外区cDNA在毕赤酵母中的？…

将编码血管内皮细胞生长因子受体ＦＩｔ－１胞外区１－３ｌｏｏｐ３１６个氨基酸残基的ｃＤＮＡ插入到含ＡＯＸ１启动子和α分泌信号肽序列的Ｐｉｃｈｉａ ｐａｓｔｏｒｉｓ酵母载体中,构建了重组表达质粒ｐＰＩＣ９Ｋ／ＦＩｔ＝１（１－３）,转化酵母景菌ＧＳ１１５,筛选Ｈｉｓ＾＋Ｍｕｔ＾ｓ表型转化子,经插瓶培养,１％甲醇诱导表达４ｄ后,ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ结果显示,培养上清中ＦＩｔ－１（１－３）表达这总蛋白的３０－％     

Hypoxia down-regulates sFlt-1 (sVEGFR-1) expression in human microvascular endothelial cells by a mechanism involving mRNA alternative processing

sFlt-1 (soluble Flt-1) potently inhibits angiogenesis by binding extracellularly to VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor). In the present paper, we report that hypoxia down-regulates sFlt-1 expression in HMVECs (human microvascular endothelial cells), a constituent of microvessels where angiogenesis occurs. Hypoxia (5-1% O?) increased VEGF expression in HMVECs. In contrast, the levels of sFlt-1 mRNA and protein in HMVECs decreased significantly as the O? concentration fell, whereas mFlt-1 (membrane-bound Flt-1) mRNA and protein remained unchanged. This suggested that hypoxia selectively regulates alternative 3'-end processing of sFlt-1 pre-mRNA. We have also demonstrated that sFlt-1 overexpression in lentiviral-construct-infected HMVECs counteracted VEGF-induced endothelial cell growth. We next identified cis-elements involved in sFlt-1 mRNA processing in HMVECs using a human Flt-1 minigene and found that two non-contiguous AUUAAA sequences function as the poly(A) signal. Furthermore, we identified a cis-element in intron 13 that regulates sFlt-1 mRNA processing. Mutagenesis of the U-rich region in intron 13 caused a significant decrease in the soluble-form/membrane-form RNA ratio in the minigene-transfected HMVECs. These results suggest that decreased sFlt-1 expression due to hypoxia contributes to hypoxia-induced angiogenesis and reveals a novel mechanism regulating angiogenesis by alternative mRNA 3'-end processing.     

人血管内皮生长因子受体Flt-1胞外配体结合域的筛选及其结构分析

 血管内皮生长因子受体 Flt- 1胞外区具有 7个免疫球蛋白样的袢 (Ig- like loop) ,氨基端 3个loop负责与其配体 VEGF的结合 .为了寻求能与配体结合的更小的 Flt- 1片段 ,在对 Flt- 1胞外前3个 loop氨基酸组成和晶体结构分析的基础上 ,应用酵母双杂交系统对 Flt- 1的配体结合域进行筛选 .利用 PCR技术 ,从人胎盘 c DNA文库扩增出 4个截短的 Flt- 1 c DNA,分别含胞外第 2 ,1 - 2 ,2 - 3和 1 - 3个 loop,构建酵母双杂交系统融合表达质粒 ,并将 p GBT9/h VEGF165与 p GAD42 4 /Flt- 1 s两两配对转化酵母菌 SFY52 6,采用滤纸法和液体培养定量检测法对阳性克隆进行β-半乳糖苷酶活性分析 .结果显示 ,Flt- 1胞外 loop 2 - 3与 loop 1 - 3的配体结合能力相差不大 ,loop 1 - 2的结合力较弱 ,单独第 2个 loop无配体结合能力 .     

Identification of a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antagonist, sFlt-1, from a human hematopoietic cell line NALM-16

An antagonistic activity against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was identified in the culture supernatants of certain human hematopoietic cell lines and the antagonistic protein was purified from NALM-16 (B cell) culture supernatant. Amino acid sequencing of the N-terminus and Western blot analysis confirmed that the antagonist was identical to a soluble truncated form of Flt-1 (sFlt-1). Seventeen of 52 leukemia and lymphoma cell lines investigated expressed sFlt-1 mRNA, and 16 of the sFlt-1 expressing cells also expressed VEGF and membrane-bound Flt-1 (mFlt-1). This report is the first showing that sFlt-1 can be produced by malignant hematopoietic cells, suggesting that the production of VEGF antagonist by hematopoietic cells may play some role in the regulation of VEGF activity in normal and malignant hematopoietic cell proliferation.     

The VEGF receptor Flt-1 spatially modulates Flk-1 signaling and blood vessel branching

Blood vessel formation requires the integrated regulation of endothelial cell proliferation and branching morphogenesis, but how this coordinated regulation is achieved is not well understood. Flt-1 (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] receptor 1) is a high affinity VEGF-A receptor whose loss leads to vessel overgrowth and dysmorphogenesis. We examined the ability of Flt-1 isoform transgenes to rescue the vascular development of embryonic stem cell-derived flt-1-/- mutant vessels. Endothelial proliferation was equivalently rescued by both soluble (sFlt-1) and membrane-tethered (mFlt-1) isoforms, but only sFlt-1 rescued vessel branching. Flk-1 Tyr-1173 phosphorylation was increased in flt-1-/- mutant vessels and partially rescued by the Flt-1 isoform transgenes. sFlt-1-rescued vessels exhibited more heterogeneous levels of pFlk than did mFlt-1-rescued vessels, and reporter gene expression from the flt-1 locus was also heterogeneous in developing vessels. Our data support a model whereby sFlt-1 protein is more efficient than mFlt-1 at amplifying initial expression differences, and these amplified differences set up local discontinuities in VEGF-A ligand availability that are important for proper vessel branching.     

人VEGF165基因转染成人成肌细胞的实验研究

目的：将人血管内皮生长因子165（hVEGF165）导人原代离体成肌细胞,观察该细胞hVEGF分泌情况,探讨成人自体转基因成肌细胞移植的可行性。方法：采用两步消化法对成人骨骼肌组织消化获取相对较纯的成肌细胞,通过差速贴壁法进行进一步的纯化。以脂质体转染法将pcDNA3．1-hVEGF165导入成肌细胞,通过RT—PCR、ELISA和Western-blot进行hVEGF165定量检测,MTT测定和Mile’s实验检测VEGF165的生物学活性。结果：转基因细胞经RT—PCR扩增出一条VEGF的特异性泳带,ELISA显示转基因细胞培养上清VEGF浓度分别达到18．92±1．77rig／mL、19．04±2．15ng／mL,Western blot检测转基因成肌细胞上清均检测到VEGF蛋白特异性的杂交带,MTT显示转基因细胞上清明显促内皮细胞增殖,Mile’s实验显示转基因细胞上清明显增加毛细血管通透性。结论：质粒pcDNA3．1-hVEGF165能成功转入成人成肌细胞,转基因细胞能分泌有生物活性的VEGF165蛋白。     

Modulation of angiogenesis by a tetrameric tripeptide that antagonizes vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1, also known as Flt-1) is involved in complex biological processes often associated to severe pathological conditions like cancer, inflammation, and metastasis formation. Consequently, the search for antagonists of Flt-1 has recently gained a growing interest. Here we report the identification of a tetrameric tripeptide from a combinatorial peptide library built using non-natural amino acids, which binds Flt-1 and inhibits in vitro its interaction with placental growth factor (PlGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) A and B (IC(50) approximately 10 microm). The peptide is stable in serum for 7 days and prevents both Flt-1 phosphorylation and the capillary-like tube formation of human primary endothelial cells stimulated by PlGF or VEGF-A. Conversely, the identified peptide does not interfere in VEGF-induced VEGFR-2 activation. In vivo, this peptide inhibits VEGF-A- and PlGF-induced neoangiogenesis in the chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay. In contrast, in the cornea, where avascularity is maintained by high levels of expression of the soluble form of Flt-1 receptor (sFlt-1) that prevents the VEGF-A activity, the peptide is able to stimulate corneal mouse neovascularization in physiological condition, as reported previously for others neutralizing anti-Flt-1 molecules. This tetrameric tripeptide represents a new, promising compound for therapeutic approaches in pathologies where Flt-1 activation plays a crucial role.     

Soluble Flt-1 (soluble VEGFR-1), a potent natural antiangiogenic molecule in mammals, is phylogenetically conserved in avians

The flt-1 gene encodes for both the full-length receptor Flt-1 (VEGFR-1) and a soluble form designated sFlt-1. sFlt-1 carries the VEGF-binding domain of Flt-1 as well as a 31-amino-acid stretch derived from an intron and tightly binds VEGF, suppressing its angiogenic activity. The flt-1 gene has so far been identified only in mammals and is highly expressed in placenta as well as in vascular endothelial cells. In placenta, sFlt-1 is abundant in the trophoblast layer during pregnancy, suggesting that it is a negative regulator to excess angiogenesis and vascular permeability at the feto-maternal border in mammals. However, we show here for the first time that the flt-1 gene exists and is highly conserved in chickens. Surprisingly, the chicken flt-1 gene also encodes for sFlt-1 in addition to the full-length receptor. Similar to the mammalian sFlt-1, chicken sFlt-1 carries the VEGF-binding domain and a 31-amino-acid carboxyl region derived from an intron, which was significantly homologous to that in mammals. Chicken sFlt-1 is expressed early in embryogenesis. These findings strongly suggest that the natural antiangiogenic molecule sFlt-1 is widely conserved in vertebrates and regulates the angiogenic process.     

Directing endothelial differentiation of human embryonic stem cells via transduction with an adenoviral vector expressing the VEGF(165) gene

Endothelial progenitors derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) hold much promise in clinical therapy. Conventionally, lineage-specific differentiation of hESCs is achieved through supplementation of various cytokines and chemical factors within the culture milieu. Nevertheless, this is a highly inefficient approach that is often limited by poor replicability. An alternative is through genetic modulation with recombinant DNA. Hence, this study investigated whether transduction of hESCs with an adenoviral vector expressing the human VEGF(165) gene (Ad-hVEGF(165)) can enhance endothelial-lineage differentiation. The hESCs were induced to form embryoid bodies (EBs) by culturing them within low-attachment plates for 7 days, and were subsequently trypsinized into single cells, prior to transduction with Ad-hVEGF(165). Optimal transduction efficiency with high cell viability was achieved by 4-h exposure of the differentiating hESCs to viral particles at a ratio of 1 : 500 for three consecutive days. ELISA results showed that Ad-hVEGF(165)-transduced cells secreted human vascular endothelial growth factor (hVEGF) for more than 30 days post-transduction, peaking on day 8, and the conditioned medium from the transduced cells stimulated extensive proliferation of HUVEC. Real-time PCR analysis showed positive upregulation of VEGF, Ang-1, Flt-1, Tie-2, CD34, CD31, CD133 and Flk-1 gene expression in Ad-hVEGF(165)-transduced cells. Additionally, flow cytometric analysis of CD133 cell surface marker revealed an approximately 5-fold increase in CD133 marker expression in Ad-hVEGF(165)-transduced cells compared to the non-transduced control. Hence, this study demonstrated that transduction of differentiating hESCs with Ad-hVEGF(165) facilitated expression of the VEGF transgene, which in turn significantly enhanced endothelial differentiation of hESCs.     

hVEGF165 和嵌合水蛭肽融合基因的构建、表达和活性检测

根据抗 PTCA 或支架后再狭窄的基因治疗需要多基因治疗的特点,用基因重组技术构建了 hVEGF165 和嵌合水蛭肽 (fused hirudin , FH) 融合基因,并克隆到真核表达载体 pcDNA3.0 中,通过脂质体介导将 pcDNA3.0/hVEGF165 - FH 转染到人内皮细胞株 (ECV304) 中, RT-PCR 及蛋白质印迹证明融合基因 hVEGF165 - FH 在 ECV304 细胞中得到表达 ( 分子质量为 24 ku 左右 ). 通过体外活性检测——— MTT 法检测 hVEGF165 - FH 对 ECV304 细胞增殖的影响,通过体外血管生成分析 hVEGF165 - FH 对内皮细胞株 ECV304 增殖的影响 . 通过体外抗栓活性检测,表明表达产物具有促进内皮细胞株增殖及加快血管生成的作用,同时显著抑制了 ADP 诱导的血小板聚集率 (P < 0.05) 并显著延长 APTT 和 TT (P < 0.05) . 实验结果表明,融合基因在内皮细胞株中得到表达,表达的融合蛋白具有 hVEGF165 和嵌合水蛭肽 (FH) 的双重活性,这为以后的融合基因治疗再狭窄的动物实验打下了良好基础 .     

人血管抑素 Kringles 1-3 的表达纯化及生物学活性研究

人血管抑素包含了4个环饼状结构域(Kringle),是一个有效的血管生成抑制因子。采用PCR方法从人胚肝cDNA文库中扩增了人血管抑素Kringles 1-3的基因,重组于pPIC9K载体中,获得重组载体pPIC9K-K1-3,然后转化毕赤酵母细胞GS115,获得重组菌株。K1-3蛋白在5 L发酵罐的表达量达41.2 mg/L,发酵液上清经过浓缩、透析,然后用Lysine Sepharose 4B层析柱纯化,得到的K1-3蛋白纯度大于98%,纯化回收率达到95%以上。K1-3能明显抑制bFGF刺激的人微血管内皮细胞的迁移,达到抑制效果为50%时所需的蛋白浓度(IC₅₀)为1.86 μg/ml。K1-3也能抑制鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜血管的生长,抑制率达95%。为应用人血管抑素Kringles 1-3治疗肿瘤奠定了初步实验基础。     

Construction of recombinant adenovirus vector containing hBMP2 and hVEGF165 genes and its expression in rabbit Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

To construct an adenovirus vector co-expressing human bone morphogenetic protein (hBMP2) and human vascular endothelial growth factor (hVEGF165) as well as green fluorescence protein (GFP) as a marker, with which the intracellular expression of the inserted genes could be identified in Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). BMP2 and VEGF165 genes were PCR amplified from a cDNA library and inserted to the polyclonal site of adenovirus shuttle plasmid pAd-MCMV-GFP. The virus solution (Ad-BMP2-VEGF165) was generated by co-transfecting HEK293 cells with the constructed recombinant shuttle plasmid pAd-MCMV-BMP2-VEGF165 and adenovirus helper plasmid pBHGloxΔ (delta) E1, 3Cre. The virus solution was further purified and virus titer was determined accordingly. The expression of the target genes was subsequently detected and quantified in rabbit BM-MSCs by using real time PCR, ELISA and Western blotting. The recombinant adenovirus vector containing BMP2 and VEGF165 (Ad-BMP2-VEGF165) was successfully constructed, which was confirmed by Sanger sequencing, colony PCR, as well as visually detection of GFP, and the titer of the adenovirus was 1 × 10¹⁰ PFU/mL, and the proteins level of BMP2 and VEGF165 secreted in the supernatant are significantly higher than the control. Recombinant adenovirus vector containing hBMP2 and hVEGF165 genes was successfully constructed. The transfection rate of BM-MSCs by the adenovirus was high (95% at 100 MOI) and the BMP2 and VEGF165 genes was highly expressed in the cells. The present study provides a method to efficiently express the target genes in BM-MSCs and an vector for further research of bone defect repair using dual genes of BMP2 and VEGF165.     

Vascular permeability factor (VPF)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) peceptor-1 down-modulates VPF/VEGF receptor-2-mediated endothelial cell proliferation, but not migration, through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent pathways

Vascular permeability factor (VPF)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) achieves its multiple functions by activating two receptor tyrosine kinases, Flt-1 (VEGF receptor-1) and KDR (VEGF receptor-2), both of which are selectively expressed on primary vascular endothelium. To dissect the respective signaling pathways and biological functions mediated by these receptors in primary endothelial cells with these two receptors intact, we developed a chimeric receptor system in which the N terminus of the epidermal growth factor receptor was fused to the transmembrane domain and intracellular domain of KDR (EGDR) and Flt-1 (EGLT). We observed that KDR, but not Flt-1, was responsible for VPF/VEGF-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation and migration. Moreover, Flt-1 showed an inhibitory effect on KDR-mediated proliferation, but not migration. We also demonstrated that the inhibitory function of Flt-1 was mediated through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K)-dependent pathway because inhibitors of PI-3K as well as a dominant negative mutant of p85 (PI-3K subunit) reversed the inhibition, whereas a constitutively activated mutant of p110 introduced the inhibition to HUVEC-EGDR. We also observed that, in VPF/VEGF-stimulated HUVECs, the Flt-1/EGLT-mediated down-modulation of KDR/EGDR signaling was at or before intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization, but after KDR/EGDR phosphorylation. By mutational analysis, we further identified that the tyrosine 794 residue of Flt-1 was essential for its antiproliferative effect. Taken together, these studies contribute significantly to our understanding of the signaling pathways and biological functions triggered by KDR and Flt-1 and describe a unique mechanism in which PI-3K acts as a mediator of antiproliferation in primary vascular endothelium.     

Adenoviral delivery of soluble VEGF receptor 1 (sFlt-1) inhibits experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in dark Agouti (DA) rats

Previous studies have shown that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression is up-regulated in both multiple sclerosis (MS) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model for MS, and may exacerbate the disease. However, it remains unknown whether anti-VEGF modalities could serve as a potential treatment for such central nervous system (CNS) autoimmune diseases. We constructed a recombinant adenoviral vector carrying FLAG-tagged sFlt-1(1-3) (the first three extracellular domains of Flt-1, the hVEGF receptor-1). Intramuscular transfection of the recombinant adenoviral vector suppressed VEGF-induced inflammatory cell infiltration in matrigel plugs. When given intracerebrally to EAE rats, recombinant sFlt-1(1-3) adenoviral vector significantly reduced disease severity compared to untreated rats. sFlt-1(1-3) gene transfer blocked VEGF and greatly reduced the number of cells that express VEGF and ED1-positive cells in CNS in EAE rats. This study demonstrates that sFlt-1(1-3) gene transfer into the brain ameliorates the severity of EAE by inhibiting monocyte recruitment in the CNS of dark Agouti rats.     

Flt-1胞外Ⅲ区蛋白的可溶性表达、纯化及活性测定

本研究旨在克隆和表达人血管内皮生长因子受体-1胞外Ⅲ区蛋白,并测定其生物学活性。应用RT-PCR法从人脐静脉内皮细胞中克隆Flt-1胞外Ⅲ区基因片段,经测序鉴定后再克隆到原核表达载体pAYZ中,构建出的表达载体pAYZflt-1Ⅲ转化大肠杆菌16C9后,用低磷培养基诱导表达目的蛋白;采用E-tag亲和层析柱纯化目的蛋白;用SDS-PAGE、Western blotting和BCA法对其进行定性、定量检测鉴定;用ELISA、损伤愈合试验和Transwell法检测靶蛋白生物学活性。克隆的Flt-1胞外Ⅲ区基因经测序鉴定正确。所构建的pAflt-1Ⅲ表达载体经低磷培养基诱导后高表达出可溶性Flt-1胞外Ⅲ区蛋白,产量约为1.1mg/L;ELISA结果显示该蛋白可以结合VEGF165,并表现为剂量依赖性,其与配体结合的解离常数Kd为1.180pmol/L。损伤愈合试验和Transwell结果显示该蛋白可以抑制VEGF165(50ng/ml)和bFGF(100ng/mL)诱导的脐静脉内皮细胞的迁移,并呈剂量依赖性。这将为今后开展人flt-1基因Ⅲ区的功能研究及其单抗研制奠定了实验基础。     

Snake venom vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) exhibit potent activity through their specific recognition of KDR (VEGF receptor 2)

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF165) exhibits multiple effects via the activation of two distinct endothelial receptor tyrosine kinases: Flt-1 (fms-like tyrosine kinase-1) and KDR (kinase insert domain-containing receptor). KDR shows strong ligand-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation in comparison with Flt-1 and mainly mediates the mitogenic, angiogenic, and permeability-enhancing effects of VEGF165. Here we show the isolation of two VEGFs from viper venoms and the characterization of their unique biological properties. Snake venom VEGFs strongly stimulated proliferation of vascular endothelial cells in vitro. Interestingly, the maximum activities were almost twice that of VEGF165. They also induced strong hypotension on rat arterial blood pressure compared with VEGF165 in vivo. A receptor binding assay revealed that snake venom VEGFs bound to KDR-IgG with high affinity (Kd = approximately 0.1 nm) as well as to VEGF165 but did not interact with Flt-1, Flt-4, or neuropilin-1 at all. Our data clearly indicate that snake venom VEGFs act through the specific activation of KDR and show potent effects. Snake venom VEGFs are a highly specific ligand to KDR and form a new group of the VEGF family.