Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Receptor-2 Tyrosine 1175 Signaling Controls VEGF-induced von Willebrand Factor Release from Endothelial Cells via Phospholipase C-��1- and Protein Kinase A-dependent Pathways

There is increasing evidence that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) contributes to inflammation independent of its angiogenic functions. Targeting some of the components in endothelial Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs) effectively inhibits VEGF-induced inflammation, but little is known about how VEGF regulates WPB exocytosis. In this study, we showed that VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR2), but not VEGFR1, is responsible for VEGF-induced release of von Willebrand factor (vWF), a major marker of WPBs. This is in good contrast to VEGF-stimulated interleukin-6 release from endothelium, which is selectively mediated through VEGFR1. We further demonstrated that VEGFR2-initiated phospholipase C-γ1 (PLCγ1)/calcium signaling is important but insufficient for full vWF release, suggesting the possible participation of another effector pathway. We found that cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling is required for full vWF release. Importantly, a single mutation of Tyr¹¹⁷⁵ in the C terminus of VEGFR2, a tyrosine residue crucial for embryonic vasculogenesis, abolished vWF release, concomitant with defective activations of both PLCγ1 and PKA. These data suggest that Tyr¹¹⁷⁵ mediates both PLCγ1-dependent and PKA-dependent signaling pathways. Taken together, our results not only reveal a novel Tyr¹¹⁷⁵-mediated signaling pathway but also highlight a potentially new therapeutic target for the management of vascular inflammation.Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)² is a crucial regulator of vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and vascular permeability (1–5). A number of studies have suggested that VEGF promotes proliferation, migration, and survival of endothelial cells (1, 4). VEGF (also termed VEGF-A) is a member of the growth factor subfamily that includes VEGF-B, -C, -D, and -E and placental growth factor (PlGF). VEGF binds to two high affinity tyrosine kinase receptors, VEGFR1 (also known as Flt-1) and VEGFR2 (also known as KDR/Flk-1), whereas VEGF-E binds to VEGFR2 alone, and PlGF binds to VEGFR1 alone. Within the vessel wall, VEGFR2 is selectively expressed in endothelium. In contrast, VEGFR1 is present on both endothelial cells and monocytes (1, 2).In addition to its role in promoting angiogenesis, there is increasing evidence that VEGF contributes to inflammation independent of its angiogenic functions, although the molecular basis for this effect is incompletely understood (6–8). VEGF is well expressed in the chronic inflammatory skin disease, psoriasis, and in synovial fluid in rheumatoid arthritis (9–12). In addition, previous studies found an association between human severe sepsis/septic shock with elevated circulating levels of VEGF and PlGF (13, 14). Using an in vitro monocyte migration assay and in vivo mouse models of arthritis, several groups, including ours, have suggested that one mechanism by which VEGF causes inflammation is by modulating the infiltration and secretion of monocytes/macrophages via the activation of VEGFR1 (11, 12, 15). On the other hand, emerging evidence suggests that endothelial activation is also important for VEGF-induced inflammation (6, 8, 9). In a mouse model of sepsis, it was demonstrated that the inhibition of VEGFR2, but not VEGFR1, attenuates sepsis mortality, possibly at least in part by suppressing vascular inflammation associated with endothelial activation (9). Consistent with this, ectopic VEGF-A expression in mice enhances leukocyte rolling and adhesion in venules mediated through the P-selectin on the surface of endothelial cells (6). These studies indicate that endothelial activation is another mechanism for VEGF-induced inflammation.P-selectin and von Willebrand factor (vWF) are the best characterized constituents of Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs), endothelial storage granules that also contain various inflammatory mediators (16–18). As a major component in WPBs, vWF is also involved in their biogenesis and thus is used as a marker of WPBs (18, 19). WPB exocytosis, which gives rise to rapid release of vWF and other mediators such as interleukin-8 (IL-8) (17), and translocation of P-selectin from within granules to the endothelial surfaces triggering leukocyte rolling, are critical early events in endothelial activation and vascular inflammation (16). It has been reported that VEGF regulates vWF/WPB release (20), but the precise roles of VEGF receptors and their downstream effectors in this process have not been defined. In this study, we sought to dissect the signaling pathway by which VEGF induces vWF/WPB release.     

Islet Microenvironment,Modulated by Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A Signaling,Promotes β Cell Regeneration

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Astrocyte-induced Synaptogenesis Is Mediated by Transforming Growth Factor �� Signaling through Modulation of d-Serine Levels in Cerebral Cortex Neurons

Assembly of synapses requires proper coordination between pre- and postsynaptic elements. Identification of cellular and molecular events in synapse formation and maintenance is a key step to understand human perception, learning, memory, and cognition. A key role for astrocytes in synapse formation and function has been proposed. Here, we show that transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling is a novel synaptogenic pathway for cortical neurons induced by murine and human astrocytes. By combining gain and loss of function approaches, we show that TGF-β1 induces the formation of functional synapses in mice. Further, TGF-β1-induced synaptogenesis involves neuronal activity and secretion of the co-agonist of the NMDA receptor, d-serine. Manipulation of d-serine signaling, by either genetic or pharmacological inhibition, prevented the TGF-β1 synaptogenic effect. Our data show a novel molecular mechanism that might impact synaptic function and emphasize the evolutionary aspect of the synaptogenic property of astrocytes, thus shedding light on new potential therapeutic targets for synaptic deficit diseases.     

MTMR4 Attenuates Transforming Growth Factor �� (TGF��) Signaling by Dephosphorylating R-Smads in Endosomes

Homeostasis of Smad phosphorylation at its C-terminal SXS motif is essential for transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling. Whereas it is known that TGFβ signaling can be terminated by phosphatases, which dephosphorylate R-Smads in the nucleus, it is unclear whether there are any cytoplasmic phosphatase(s) that can attenuate R-Smad phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. Here we demonstrate that myotubularin-related protein 4 (MTMR4), a FYVE domain-containing dual-specificity protein phosphatase (DSP), attenuates TGFβ signaling by reducing the phosphorylation level of R-Smads in early endosomes. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed that endogenous MTMR4 interacts with phosphorylated R-Smads, and that this interaction is correlated with dephosphorylation of R-Smads. Further analysis showed that overexpression of MTMR4 resulted in the sequestration of activated Smad3 in the early endosomes, thus reducing its nuclear translocation. However, both point mutations at the conserved catalytic site of the phosphatase (MTMR4-C407S) and small interference RNA of endogenous Mtmr4 expression led to sustained Smad3 activation. This work therefore suggests that MTMR4 plays an important role in preventing the overactivation of TGFβ signaling by dephosphorylating activated R-Smads that have been trafficked to early endosomes.     

Effusanin E Suppresses Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cell Growth by Inhibiting NF-κB and COX-2 Signaling

Rabdosia serra is well known for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities, but no information has been available for the active compounds derived from this plant in inhibiting human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell growth. In this study, we isolated and purified a natural diterpenoid from Rabdosia serra and identified its chemical structure as effusanin E and elucidated its underlying mechanism of action in inhibiting NPC cell growth. Effusanin E significantly inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in NPC cells. Effusanin E also induced the cleavage of PARP, caspase-3 and -9 proteins and inhibited the nuclear translocation of p65 NF-κB proteins. Moreover, effusanin E abrogated the binding of NF-κB to the COX-2 promoter, thereby inhibiting the expression and promoter activity of COX-2. Pretreatment with a COX-2 or NF-κB-selective inhibitor (celecoxib or ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate) had an additive effect on the effusanin E-mediated inhibition of proliferation, while pretreatment with an activator of NF-κB/COX-2 (lipopolysaccharides) abrogated the effusanin E-mediated inhibition of proliferation. Effusanin E also significantly suppressed tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model without obvious toxicity, furthermore, the expression of p50 NF-κB and COX-2 were down-regulated in the tumors of nude mice. These data suggest that effusanin E suppresses p50/p65 proteins to down-regulate COX-2 expression, thereby inhibiting NPC cell growth. Our findings provide new insights into exploring effusanin E as a potential therapeutic compound for the treatment of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma.     

Patients with Encapsulating Peritoneal Sclerosis Have Increased Peritoneal Expression of Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CCN2), Transforming Growth Factor-β1, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

Introduction

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a devastating complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD). The pathogenesis is not exactly known and no preventive strategy or targeted medical therapy is available. CCN2 has both pro-fibrotic and pro-angiogenic actions and appears an attractive target. Therefore, we studied peritoneal expression of CCN2, as well as TGFβ1 and VEGF, in different stages of peritoneal fibrosis.

Materials and methods

Sixteen PD patients were investigated and compared to 12 hemodialysis patients and four pre-emptively transplanted patients. Furthermore, expression was investigated in 12 EPS patients in comparison with 13 PD and 12 non-PD patients without EPS. Peritoneal tissue was taken during kidney transplantation procedure or during EPS surgery. In a subset of patients, CCN2 protein levels in peritoneal effluent and plasma were determined. Samples were examined by qPCR, histology, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA.

Results

Peritoneal CCN2 expression was 5-fold higher in PD patients compared to pre-emptively transplanted patients (P<0.05), but did not differ from hemodialysis patients. Peritoneal expression of TGFβ1 and VEGF were not different between the three groups; neither was peritoneal thickness. Peritoneum of EPS patients exhibited increased expression of CCN2 (35-fold, P<0.001), TGFβ1 (24-fold, P<0.05), and VEGF (77-fold, P<0.001) compared to PD patients without EPS. In EPS patients, CCN2 protein was mainly localized in peritoneal endothelial cells and fibroblasts. CCN2 protein levels were significantly higher in peritoneal effluent of EPS patients compared to levels in dialysate of PD patients (12.0±4.5 vs. 0.91±0.92 ng/ml, P<0.01), while plasma CCN2 levels were not increased.

Conclusions

Peritoneal expression of CCN2, TGFβ1, and VEGF are significantly increased in EPS patients. In early stages of peritoneal fibrosis, only CCN2 expression is slightly increased. Peritoneal CCN2 overexpression in EPS patients is a locally driven response. The potential of CCN2 as biomarker and target for CCN2-inhibiting agents to prevent or treat EPS warrants further study.     

FRS2 via Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1 Is Required for Platelet-derived Growth Factor Receptor ��-mediated Regulation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Marker Gene Expression

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) exhibit phenotypic plasticity and change from a quiescent contractile phenotype to a proliferative synthetic phenotype during physiological arteriogenesis and pathological conditions such as atherosclerosis and restenosis. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB is a potent inducer of the VSMC synthetic phenotype; however, much less is known about the role of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) in this process. Here, we show using signal transduction mutants of FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) expressed in rat VSMC that the adaptor protein FRS2 is essential for FGFR1-mediated phenotypic modulation and down-regulation of VSMC smooth muscle α-actin (SMA) gene expression. In addition, we show that PDGF-BB and FGF2 act synergistically to induce cell proliferation and down-regulate SMA and SM22α in VSMC. Furthermore, we show that PDGF-BB induces tyrosine phosphorylation of FGFR1 and that this phosphorylation is mediated by PDGF receptor-β (PDGFRβ), but not c-Src. We demonstrate that FRS2 co-immunoprecipitates with PDGFRβ in a complex that requires FGFR1 and that both the extracellular and the intracellular domains of FGFR1 are required for association with PDGFRβ, whereas the cytoplasmic domain of FGFR1 is required for FRS2 association with the FGFR1-PDGFRβ complex. Knockdown of FRS2 in VSMC by RNA interference inhibited PDGF-BB-mediated down-regulation of SMA and SM22α without affecting PDGF-BB mediated cell proliferation or ERK activation. Together, these data support the notion that PDGFRβ down-regulates SMA and SM22α through formation of a complex that requires FGFR1 and FRS2 and prove novel insight into VSMC phenotypic plasticity.Phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC)3 is an important step in the development of several pathophysiological processes including atherosclerosis, restenosis, and vascular remodeling (1, 2). During these processes VSMC change from a contractile phenotype to a synthetic phenotype characterized by increased proliferation, migration, increased extracellular matrix production, and decreased expression of contractile proteins, including smooth muscle α-actin (SMA), SM22α, calponin, and myosin heavy chain. Several growth factors including platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), and thrombin have been implicated in the induction of the synthetic phenotype (3). These growth factors bind cell surface receptors and activate intracellular signaling pathways that result in changes in gene expression and cellular phenotype. Understanding the interactions between these pathways may provide insights into mechanisms of phenotypic modulation of VSMC and provide new targets for therapeutic intervention in vascular disease.Experimental evidence using various in vitro and in vivo models points to a role for FGF-FGFR in the phenotypic modulation of VSMC. FGFs and FGFRs are expressed in VSMC and are up-regulated during vascular injury and in atherosclerotic plaque formation (4–6). Balloon injury of rat arteries led to an increase in FGFR expression in VSMC. The up-regulation of FGF and FGFR suggests that they contribute to the pathogenesis of vascular disease. In support of this hypothesis, administration of anti-FGF2 antibodies and FGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors results in decreased VSMC proliferation, migration, and attenuated neointimal thickening (7).PDGF-BB binds to PDGFRβ and activates several intracellular signaling pathways including ERK, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) (8). Studies have indicated that PDGF-BB induces the release of FGF2 and activation FGFR1, resulting in sustained ERK activation and proliferation of human VSMC (9). When FGFR1 expression was inhibited by RNA interference, PDGF-BB induced transient but not sustained ERK activation.Binding of FGF2 to FGFR1 activates the ERK and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathways via the adaptor protein FRS2 (10, 11). Upon FGF2 binding, FGFR1 phosphorylates FRS2 on six tyrosine residues that function as docking sites for the SH2 domain-containing proteins Grb2 and SHP2 (12, 13). Grb2 binds Gab1 leading to activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt, whereas SHP2 activates the Ras-Raf-ERK pathway. FRS2 binds to FGFR1 via a Val-Thr dipeptide in the juxtamembrane region of FGFR1 (14, 15). Deletion of these two amino acids abrogates binding of FRS2 to FGFR1. To determine the role of FRS2 in FGFR1-mediated VSMC phenotypic modulation and to determine the interaction of PDGFRβ with the FGFR1 signaling pathway, we developed a set of FGFR1 signaling pathway deficient mutants and stably expressed them in rat VSMC. In this study we report that PDGFRβ, FGFR1, and FRS2 form a multi-protein complex that is essential for VSMC phenotypic modulation and that stable knockdown of FRS2 inhibits PDGF-BB-mediated down-regulation of VSMC marker gene expression but not PDGF-BB-mediated VSMC proliferation.     

Tetraspanin CD63 Promotes Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2-β1 Integrin Complex Formation,Thereby Regulating Activation and Downstream Signaling in Endothelial Cells in Vitro and in Vivo

CD63 is a member of the transmembrane-4 glycoprotein superfamily (tetraspanins) implicated in the regulation of membrane protein trafficking, leukocyte recruitment, and adhesion processes. We have investigated the involvement of CD63 in endothelial cell (EC) signaling downstream of β1 integrin and VEGF. We report that silencing of CD63 in primary ECs arrested capillary sprouting and tube formation in vitro because of impaired adhesion and migration of ECs. Mechanistically, CD63 associated with both β1 integrin and the main VEGF receptor on ECs, VEGFR2. Our data suggest that CD63 serves to bridge between β1 integrin and VEGFR2 because CD63 silencing disrupted VEGFR2-β1 integrin complex formation identified using proximity ligation assays. Signaling downstream of β1 integrin and VEGFR2 was attenuated in CD63-silenced cells, although their cell surface expression levels remained unaffected. CD63 was furthermore required for efficient internalization of VEGFR2 in response to VEGF. Importantly, systemic delivery of VEGF failed to potently induce VEGFR2 phosphorylation and downstream signaling in CD63-deficient mouse lungs. Taken together, our findings demonstrate a previously unrecognized role for CD63 in coordinated integrin and receptor tyrosine kinase signaling in vitro and in vivo.     

Phosphoprotein Enriched in Astrocytes 15 kDa (PEA-15) Reprograms Growth Factor Signaling by Inhibiting Threonine Phosphorylation of Fibroblast Receptor Substrate 2α

Changes in cellular expression of phosphoprotein enriched in astrocytes of 15 kDa (PEA-15) are linked to insulin resistance, tumor cell invasion, and cellular senescence; these changes alter the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway. Here, we define the mechanism whereby increased PEA-15 expression promotes and sustains ERK1/2 activation. PEA-15 binding prevented ERK1/2 membrane recruitment and threonine phosphorylation of fibroblast receptor substrate 2α (FRS2α), a key link in fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor activation of ERK1/2. This reduced threonine phosphorylation led to increased FGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of FRS2α, thereby enhancing downstream signaling. Conversely, short hairpin RNA-mediated depletion of endogenous PEA-15 led to reduced FRS2α tyrosine phosphorylation. Thus, PEA-15 interrupts a negative feedback loop that terminates growth factor receptor signaling downstream of FRS2α. This is the dominant mechanism by which PEA-15 activates ERK1/2 because genetic deletion of FRS2α blocked the capacity of PEA-15 to activate the MAP kinase pathway. Thus, PEA-15 prevents ERK1/2 localization to the plasma membrane, thereby inhibiting ERK1/2-dependent threonine phosphorylation of FRS2α to promote activation of the ERK1/2 MAP kinase pathway.     

Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor Released by Müller Glial Cells Exerts Neuroprotective Effects on Retinal Ganglion Cells

Survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) is compromised in several vision-threatening disorders such as ischemic and hypertensive retinopathies and glaucoma. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a naturally occurring pleiotropic secreted factor in the retina. PEDF produced by retinal glial (Müller) cells is suspected to be an essential component of neuron-glial interactions especially for RGC, as it can protect this neuronal type from ischemia-induced cell death. Here we show that PEDF treatment can directly affect RGC survival in vitro. Using Müller cell-RGC-co-cultures we observed that activity of Müller-cell derived soluble mediators can attenuate hypoxia-induced damage and RGC loss. Finally, neutralizing the activity of PEDF in glia-conditioned media partially abolished the neuroprotective effect of glia, leading to an increased neuronal death in hypoxic condition. Altogether our results suggest that PEDF is crucially involved in the neuroprotective process of reactive Müller cells towards RGC.     

Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Downregulates Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-D Expression in Human Lung Fibroblasts via the Jun NH2-Terminal Kinase Signaling Pathway

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-D, a member of the VEGF family, induces both angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis by activating VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and VEGFR-3 on the surface of endothelial cells. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 has been shown to stimulate VEGF-A expression in human lung fibroblast via the Smad3 signaling pathway and to induce VEGF-C in human proximal tubular epithelial cells. However, the effects of TGF-β1 on VEGF-D regulation are unknown. To investigate the regulation of VEGF-D, human lung fibroblasts were studied under pro-fibrotic conditions in vitro and in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) lung tissue. We demonstrate that TGF-β1 downregulates VEGF-D expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner in human lung fibroblasts. This TGF-β1 effect can be abolished by inhibitors of TGF-β type I receptor kinase and Jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK), but not by Smad3 knockdown. In addition, VEGF-D knockdown in human lung fibroblasts induces G1/S transition and promotes cell proliferation. Importantly, VEGF-D protein expression is decreased in lung homogenates from IPF patients compared with control lung. In IPF lung sections, fibroblastic foci show very weak VEGF-D immunoreactivity, whereas VEGF-D is abundantly expressed within alveolar interstitial cells in control lung. Taken together, our data identify a novel mechanism for downstream signal transduction induced by TGF-β1 in lung fibroblasts, through which they may mediate tissue remodeling in IPF.     

LOXL4 Is Induced by Transforming Growth Factor β1 through Smad and JunB/Fra2 and Contributes to Vascular Matrix Remodeling

Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is a pleiotropic factor involved in the regulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and remodeling. In search for novel genes mediating the action of TGF-β1 on vascular ECM, we identified the member of the lysyl oxidase family of matrix-remodeling enzymes, lysyl oxidase-like 4 (LOXL4), as a direct target of TGF-β1 in aortic endothelial cells, and we dissected the molecular mechanism of its induction. Deletion mapping and mutagenesis analysis of the LOXL4 promoter demonstrated the absolute requirement of a distal enhancer containing an activator protein 1 (AP-1) site and a Smad binding element for TGF-β1 to induce LOXL4 expression. Functional cooperation between Smad proteins and the AP-1 complex composed of JunB/Fra2 accounted for the action of TGF-β1, which involved the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-dependent phosphorylation of Fra2. We furthermore provide evidence that LOXL4 was extracellularly secreted and significantly contributed to ECM deposition and assembly. These results suggest that TGF-β1-dependent expression of LOXL4 plays a role in vascular ECM homeostasis, contributing to vascular processes associated with ECM remodeling and fibrosis.