Transmembrane signaling pathway mediates oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in vascular endothelial cells

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death for adults in Western society. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), the major physiological inhibitor of plasminogen activators, has been implicated in both thrombogenesis and atherogenesis. Previous studies demonstrated that copper-oxidized low-density lipoprotein (C-oLDL) stimulated production of PAI-1 in vascular endothelial cells (EC). The present study examined the involvement of lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) and Ras/Raf-1/ERK1/2 pathway in the upregulation of PAI-1 in cultured EC induced by oxidized LDLs. The results demonstrated that C-oLDL or FeSO(4)-oxidized LDL (F-oLDL) increased the expression of PAI-1 or LOX-1 in human umbilical vein EC (HUVEC) or coronary artery EC (HCAEC). Treatment with C-oLDL significantly increased the levels of H-Ras mRNA, protein, and the translocation of H-Ras to membrane fraction in EC. LOX-1 blocking antibody, Ras farnesylation inhibitor (FTI-277), or small interference RNA against H-Ras significantly reduced C-oLDL or LDL-induced expression of H-Ras and PAI-1 in EC. Incubation with C-oLDL or F-oLDL increased the phosphorylation of Raf-1 and ERK1/2 in EC compared with LDL or vehicle. Treatment with Raf-1 inhibitor blocked Raf-1 phosphorylation and the elevation of PAI-1 mRNA level in EC induced by C-oLDL or LDL. Treatment with PD-98059, an ERK1/2 inhibitor, blocked C-oLDL or LDL-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation or PAI-1 expression in EC. The results suggest that LOX-1, H-Ras, and Raf-1/ERK1/2 are implicated in PAI-1 expression induced by oxidized LDLs or LDL in cultured EC.     

Protein kinase C mediates induced secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor by human glioma cells

To understand how vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production is activated in malignant glioma cells, we employed protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) and protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors to evaluate the extent to which these protein kinases were involved in signal transduction leading to VEGF production. PTK inhibitors blocked glioma proliferation and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced VEGF secretion, while H-7, a PKC inhibitor, inhibited both EGF-induced and baseline VEGF secretion. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a non-specific activator of PKC, induced VEGF secretion by glioma cells, which was enhanced by calcium ionophore A23187, but completely blocked after prolonged treatment of cells with 1 microM PMA, by presumably depleting PKC. All inhibitors (genistein, AG18, AG213, H-7, prolonged PMA treatment) which inhibited EGF-induced VEGF secretion in glioma cells also inhibited cell proliferation at similar concentrations. However, PKC inhibition only blocked 50% of the VEGF secretion induced by growth factors (EGF, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, or basic fibroblast growth factor). This reserve capacity could be ascribed to a PKC-independent effect, or to PKC isoenzymes not down-regulated by PMA. These findings extend our previous assertion that VEGF secretion is tightly coupled with proliferation by suggesting that activation of convergent growth factor signaling pathways will lead to increased glioma VEGF secretion. Understanding of signal transduction of growth factor-induced VEGF secretion should provide a rational basis for the development of novel strategies for therapy.     

p38丝裂原素激活的蛋白激酶在调节低氧诱导人内皮细胞分泌血管内皮生长因子过程中的作用

血管内皮细胞中血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growthfactor,VEGF)的合成增加在促进血管新生的过程中起着非常重要的作用.然而低氧诱导VEGF分泌的细胞内信号转导机制还不是很清楚.人脐静脉内皮细胞系(ECV304)在低氧或常氧的状态下培养12～24 h后分别用实时定量PCR和Western blot的方法来检测VEGF mRNA的表达及ERK1/2和p38激酶的磷酸化水平.分泌到培养液中的VEGF蛋白用酶联免疫吸附(ELISA)的方法来检测.业已报道,ERK的抑制剂PD98059能够抑制低氧诱导的VEGF基因的表达,根据这个报道,我们发现在低氧情况下,ECV304细胞的ERK1/2磷酸化水平增高以及VEGF的合成增加等这些变化也能被PD98059所抑制.本次实验的新发现是p38激酶的激活在低氧诱导VEGF合成增加中的作用.p38激酶的抑制剂SB202190能抑制低氧诱导的VEGF合成增加.这些数据首次直接证实了p38激酶在低氧诱导人内皮细胞分泌VEGF增加过程中的作用.     

Protein kinase C-alpha mediates endothelial barrier dysfunction induced by TNF-alpha

We tested the hypothesis that protein kinase C-alpha (PKC-alpha) mediates tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced alterations in permeability of pulmonary microvessel endothelial monolayers (PEM). The permeability of PEM was assessed by the clearance rate of Evans blue-labeled albumin. PEM lysates were analyzed for PKC-alpha mRNA (Northern cDNA blot), protein (Western immunoblot), and activity (translocation and phosphorylation of myristoylated arginine-rich C kinase substrate). Incubation of PEM with TNF-alpha (1,000 U/ml) for 4 h resulted in increases in 1) PKC-alpha protein, 2) cytoskeletal-associated PKC-alpha, 3) PKC-alpha activity, and 4) permeability to albumin. The TNF-alpha-induced increase in PKC-alpha protein, PKC-alpha activity, and permeability was prevented by a 4-h pretreatment with PKC-alpha antisense oligonucleotide but not by the scrambled nonsense oligonucleotide. The TNF-alpha-induced increase in permeability to albumin was prevented by myristoylated protein kinase C inhibitor (an inhibitor of PKC-alpha/beta, 100 microM) and calphostin (an inhibitor of the classic and novel PKC isotypes, 200 nM). The treatment with calphostin from 0.5 to 3.0 h after TNF-alpha still prevented barrier dysfunction induced by 4 h of TNF-alpha treatment. The data indicate that prolonged activation of PKC-alpha, maintained by a translation-dependent pool of PKC-alpha protein, mediates TNF-alpha-induced increases in endothelial permeability in PEM.     

Protein kinase C subtypes in endothelial cells

Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) has been linked to the regulation of class II expression on endothelial cells by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). PKC subtypes in endothelial cells were analyzed using three different approaches, the immunoperoxidase staining of native and IFN-gamma stimulated cells cultured on chamber slides as well as immuno- and Northern blotting. All approaches revealed that of the conventional subtypes, alpha is the predominant form of PKC in endothelial cells. Even though IFN-gamma is able to induce PKC translocation to particulate fractions, no translocation was detected in histological stainings. Western blot studies as well as mRNA studies revealed that IFN-gamma is unable to increase the total amount of PKC in endothelial cells.     

A protein kinase G-sensitive channel mediates flow-induced Ca(2+) entry into vascular endothelial cells.

The hemodynamic force generated by blood flow is considered to be the physiologically most important stimulus for the release of nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin (PGI(2)) from vascular endothelial cells (1). NO and PGI(2) then act on the underlying smooth muscle cells, causing vasodilation and thus lowering blood pressure (2, 3). One critical early event occurring in this flow-induced regulation of vascular tone is that blood flow induces Ca(2+) entry into vascular endothelial cells, which in turn leads to the formation of NO (4, 5). Here we report a mechanosensitive Ca(2+)-permeable channel in vascular endothelial cells. The activity of the channel was inhibited by 8-Br-cGMP, a membrane-permeant activator of protein kinase G (PKG), in cell-attached membrane patches. The inhibition could be reversed by PKG inhibitor KT5823 or H-8. A direct application of active PKG in inside-out patches blocked the channel activity. Gd(3+), Ni(2+), or SK&F-96365 also inhibited the channel activity. A study of fluorescent Ca(2+) entry revealed a striking pharmacological similarity between the Ca(2+) entry elicited by flow and the mechanosensitive Ca(2+)-permeable channel we identified, suggesting that this channel is the primary pathway mediating flow-induced Ca(2+) entry into vascular endothelial cells.     

17Beta-estradiol inhibits oxidized low density lipoprotein-induced generation of reactive oxygen species in endothelial cells.

Increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been proposed to cause endothelial injury, and oxidized LDL (oxLDL) actions are associated with an early increase of ROS. Estrogen protects vascular cells partly via its antioxidant effects and by preventing lipid peroxidation. However, whether it can inhibit oxLDL-induced stimulation of ROS generation in endothelial cells is unknown. We utilized the fluorescent dye (DCFH-DA) to measure ROS generation and compared the stimulant effect of tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBH) and oxLDL in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). We found that TBH, H2O2, and oxLDL rapidly stimulated ROS generation, and in a dose-dependent manner with TBH. A concentration of estrogen effective in preventing lipid peroxidation was employed either by pretreatment of cells 18 h prior to or by direct co-incubation (30 min) with HUVEC and oxLDL. Estrogen (54 microM) pretreatment significantly suppressed both TBH- and oxLDL- induced stimulation of ROS generation. Both 1 and 54 microM concentration of estrogen could directly inhibit oxLDL-induced ROS production in HUVECs. Thus, either 18 h pretreatment or 30 min co-incubation with estrogen reduced stimulated ROS generation, suggesting that both cellular and direct actions of estrogen may be involved.     

Pterostilbene protects vascular endothelial cells against oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo

Vascular endothelial cell (VEC) apoptosis is the main event occurring during the development of atherosclerosis. Pterostilbene (PT), a natural dimethylated analog of resveratrol, has been the subject of intense research in cancer and inflammation. However, the protective effects of PT against oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-induced apoptosis in VECs have not been clarified. We investigated the anti-apoptotic effects of PT in vitro and in vivo in mice. PT at 0.1–5 μM possessed antioxidant properties comparable to that of trolox in a cell-free system. Exposure of human umbilical vein VECs (HUVECs) to oxLDL (200 μg/ml) induced cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, and cell apoptosis, but PT protected against such injuries. In addition, PT injection strongly decreased the number of TUNEL-positive cells in the endothelium of atherosclerotic plaque from apoE^−/− mice. OxLDL increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, NF-κB activation, p53 accumulation, apoptotic protein levels and caspases-9 and -3 activities and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and cytochrome c release in HUVECs. These alterations were attenuated by pretreatment with PT. PT inhibited the expression of lectin-like oxLDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) expression in vitro and in vivo. Cotreatment with PT and siRNA of LOX-1 synergistically reduced oxLDL-induced apoptosis in HUVECs. Overexpression of LOX-1 attenuated the protection by PT and suppressed the effects of PT on oxLDL-induced oxidative stress. PT may protect HUVECs against oxLDL-induced apoptosis by downregulating LOX-1-mediated activation through a pathway involving oxidative stress, p53, mitochondria, cytochrome c and caspase protease. PT might be a potential natural anti-apoptotic agent for the treatment of atherosclerosis.     

Rac1 mediates laminar shear stress-induced vascular endothelial cell migration

The migration of endothelial cells (ECs) plays an important role in vascular remodeling and regeneration. ECs are constantly subjected to shear stress resulting from blood flow and are able to convert mechanical stimuli into intracellular signals that affect cellular behaviors and functions. The aim of this study is to elucidate the effects of Rac1, which is the member of small G protein family, on EC migration under different laminar shear stress (5.56, 10.02, and 15.27 dyn/cm²). The cell migration distance under laminar shear stress increased significantly than that under the static culture condition. Especially, under relative high shear stress (15.27 dyn/cm²) there was a higher difference at 8 h (P < 0.01) and 2 h (P < 0.05) compared with static controls. RT-PCR results further showed increasing mRNA expression of Rac1 in ECs exposed to laminar shear stress than that exposed to static culture. Using plasmids encoding the wild-type (WT), an activated mutant (Q61L), and a dominant-negative mutant (T17N), plasmids encoding Rac1 were transfected into EA.hy 926 cells. The average net migration distance of Rac1Q61L group increased significantly, while Rac1T17N group decreased significantly in comparison with the static controls. These results indicated that Rac1 mediated shear stress-induced EC migration. Our findings conduce to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of EC migration induced by shear stress, which is expected to understand the pathophysiological basis of wound healing in health and diseases.     

Phosphoramidon inhibits the generation of endothelin-1 from exogenously applied big endothelin-1 in cultured vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells

When cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells (ECs) were incubated with porcine big endothelin-1 (bit ET-1(1-39)), there was a time-dependent increase in immunoreactive (IR)-ET in the culture supernatant, in addition to an endogenous IR-ET release fron the cells. Reverse-phase HPLC of the culture supernatant revealed one major IR-ET component corresponding to the elution position of synthetic ET-1, thereby indicating that the additional increase in IR-ET was due to the conversion of big ET-1 to mature ET-1(1-21). Phosphoramidon, a metalloproteinase inhibitor, strongly suppressed this increase in IR-ET as well as the endogenous IR-ET release. Cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) also released IR-ET. The apparent conversion of exogenously applied big ET-1 to ET-1 and its inhibition by phosphoramidon were observed using cultured VSMCs, although the enzyme inhibitor did not influence the basal secretion of IR-ET from VSMCs. These results suggest that both cultured ECs and VSMCs can generate ET-1 from exogenously applied big ET-1 via action of the same type of phosphoramidon-sensitive metalloproteinase, which is also involved in the endogenous ET-1 generation in ECs.     

Reactive oxygen species upregulate expression of PAI-1 in endothelial cells

Second messengers involved in the signal transduction pathway leading to induction of the plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) have not yet been well characterized. This study focuses on the mechanisms of regulation of PAI-1 expression by reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human endothelial cells. Inhibition of the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha?-induced expression of PAI-1 by antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) indicated redox-sensitive mechanisms involved in the signaling pathway. Because TNFalpha induces PAI-1 production in endothelial cells, and NAC attenuated this response, we attempted to investigate the possible involvement of ROS in the activation of PAI-1 by TNFalpha. Upregulation of PAI-1 expression in endothelial cells by the stimulation with TNFalpha (50 ng/ml) or H2O2 (10-200 micro M), observed by measurement of the antigen and mRNA levels, was reversed in the presence of NAC (20mM). The stimulatory effect of ROS was detected also at the level of the PAI-1 promoter in endothelial cells transfected with plasmid p800 LUC containing a PAI-1 promoter fragment (+71 to -800). The PAI-1 promoter activity was increased in the presence of ROS, and was suppressed by up to 75% in the presence of antioxidants. On the basis of this study we can conclude that reactive oxygen species play an important role in a cytokine-induced activation of PAI-1 expression, and may act as a signal transduction messenger.     

Sphingosine kinase mediates vascular endothelial growth factor-induced activation of ras and mitogen-activated protein kinases

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling is critical to the processes of angiogenesis and tumor growth. Here, evidence is presented for VEGF stimulation of sphingosine kinase (SPK) that affects not only endothelial cell signaling but also tumor cells expressing VEGF receptors. VEGF or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment of the T24 bladder tumor cell line resulted in a time- and dose-dependent stimulation of SPK activity. In T24 cells, VEGF treatment reduced cellular sphingosine levels while raising that of sphingosine-1-phosphate. VEGF stimulation of T24 cells caused a slow and sustained accumulation of Ras-GTP and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (phospho-ERK) compared with that after EGF treatment. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) that targets SPK1, but not SPK2, blocks VEGF-induced accumulation of Ras-GTP and phospho-ERK in T24 cells. In contrast to EGF stimulation, VEGF stimulation of ERK1/2 phosphorylation was unaffected by dominant-negative Ras-N17. Raf kinase inhibition blocked both VEGF- and EGF-stimulated accumulation of phospho-ERK1/2. Inhibition of SPK by pharmacological inhibitors, a dominant-negative SPK mutant, or siRNA that targets SPK blocked VEGF, but not EGF, induction of phospho-ERK1/2. We conclude that VEGF induces DNA synthesis in a pathway which sequentially involves protein kinase C (PKC), SPK, Ras, Raf, and ERK1/2. These data highlight a novel mechanism by which SPK mediates signaling from PKC to Ras in a manner independent of Ras-guanine nucleotide exchange factor.     

Common lymphatic endothelial and vascular endothelial receptor-1 mediates the transmigration of regulatory T cells across human hepatic sinusoidal endothelium

The common lymphatic endothelial and vascular endothelial receptor (CLEVER-1; also known as FEEL-1 and stabilin-1) is a recycling and intracellular trafficking receptor with multifunctional properties. In this study, we demonstrate increased endothelial expression of CLEVER-1/stabilin-1 at sites of leukocyte recruitment to the inflamed human liver including sinusoids, septal vessels, and lymphoid follicles in inflammatory liver disease and tumor-associated vessels in hepatocellular carcinoma. We used primary cultures of human hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (HSEC) to demonstrate that CLEVER-1/stabilin-1 expression is enhanced by hepatocyte growth factor but not by classical proinflammatory cytokines. We then showed that CLEVER-1/stabilin-1 supports T cell transendothelial migration across HSEC under conditions of flow with strong preferential activity for CD4 FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs). CLEVER-1/stabilin-1 inhibition reduced Treg transendothelial migration by 40% and when combined with blockade of ICAM-1 and vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) reduced it by >80%. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that 60% of transmigrating Tregs underwent transcellular migration through HSEC via ICAM-1- and VAP-1-rich transcellular pores in close association with CLEVER-1/stabilin-1. Thus, CLEVER-1/stabilin-1 and VAP-1 may provide an organ-specific signal for Treg recruitment to the inflamed liver and to hepatocellular carcinoma.     

Identification of Fer tyrosine kinase localized on microtubules as a platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 phosphorylating kinase in vascular endothelial cells

Platelet endothelial adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) is a part of intercellular junctions and triggers intracellular signaling cascades upon homophilic binding. The intracellular domain of PECAM-1 is tyrosine phosphorylated upon homophilic engagement. However, it remains unclear which tyrosine kinase phosphorylates PECAM-1. We sought to isolate tyrosine kinases responsible for PECAM-1 phosphorylation and identified Fer as a candidate, based on expression cloning. Fer kinase specifically phosphorylated PECAM-1 at the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif. Notably, Fer induced tyrosine phosphorylation of SHP-2, which is known to bind to the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif of PECAM-1, and Fer also induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Gab1 (Grb2-associated binder-1). Engagement-dependent PECAM-1 phosphorylation was inhibited by the overexpression of a kinase-inactive mutant of Fer, suggesting that Fer is responsible for the tyrosine phosphorylation upon PECAM-1 engagement. Furthermore, by using green fluorescent protein-tagged Fer and a time-lapse fluorescent microscope, we found that Fer localized at microtubules in polarized and motile vascular endothelial cells. Fer was dynamically associated with growing microtubules in the direction of cell-cell contacts, where p120catenin, which is known to associate with Fer, colocalized with PECAM-1. These results suggest that Fer localized on microtubules may play an important role in phosphorylation of PECAM-1, possibly through its association with p120catenin at nascent cell-cell contacts.     

CD226 mediates platelet and megakaryocytic cell adhesion to vascular endothelial cells

Platelet adhesion to vascular endothelial cells is a pathophysiologically relevant cell-to-cell interaction. However, the mechanisms underlying this cellular interaction are incompletely understood. In search of the ligand for CD226 adhesion molecule expressed on platelets, we found that human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) express significant amount of putative CD226 ligand. We demonstrated that thrombin-activated, but not resting, platelets bind to intact HUVEC. Anti-CD226 monoclonal antibody specifically inhibited the binding, indicating that CD226 mediates the intercellular binding between thrombin-activated platelets and HUVEC. We also demonstrated that platelet activation with thrombin induces tyrosine phosphorylation of CD226 as well as CD226-mediated platelet adhesion. Moreover, experiments using mutant transfectants suggested that the tyrosine at residue 322 of CD226 plays an important role for its adhesive function. CD226 was also expressed on primary megakaryocytes and megakaryocytic cell lines. Anti-CD226 monoclonal antibody inhibited binding of megakaryocytic cell lines to HUVEC. Taken together, these results reveal a novel mechanism for adhesion of platelets and megakaryocytic cells to vascular endothelial cells.