Simultaneous silencing of VEGF and KSP by siRNA cocktail inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B cells

Background

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is involved in the growth of new blood vessels that feed tumors and kinesin spindle protein (KSP) plays a critical role in mitosis involving in cell proliferation. Simultaneous silencing of VEGF and KSP, an attractive and viable approach in cancer, leads on restricting cancer progression. The purpose of this study is to examine the therapeutic potential of dual gene targeted siRNA cocktail on human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B cells.

Results

The predesigned siRNAs could inhibit VEGF and KSP at mRNA level. siRNA cocktail showed a further downregulation on KSP mRNA and protein levels compared to KSP-siRNA or VEGF-siRNA, but not on VEGF expression. It also exhibited greater suppression on cell proliferation as well as cell migration or invasion capabilities and induction of apoptosis in Hep3B cells than single siRNA simultaneously. This could be explained by the significant downregulation of Cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and Survivin. However, no sigificant difference in the mRNA and protein levels of ANG2, involving inhibition of angiogenesis was found in HUVECs cultured with supernatant of Hep3B cells treated with siRNA cocktail, compared to that of VEGF-siRNA.

Conclusion

Silencing of VEGF and KSP plays a key role in inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, invasion and inducing apoptosis of Hep3B cells. Simultaneous silencing of VEGF and KSP using siRNA cocktail yields promising results for eradicating hepatocellular carcinoma cells, a new direction for liver cancer treatment.     

沉默胃泌素基因抑制胃癌细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭

胃癌细胞分泌的胃泌素与胃癌的发生、发展密切相关.为了探讨胃泌素对胃癌细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭的影响,本文构建靶向胃泌素基因的siRNA表达载体, 转染胃癌细胞AGS, 成功获得沉默胃泌素基因的稳转胃癌细胞株AGS/Gas-siRNA. 用MTT实验、软琼脂集落形成实验、细胞伤愈实验、Transwell实验及ELISA检测沉默胃泌素基因后细胞的增殖、迁移、侵袭及转移相关蛋白基质金属蛋白酶-2（MMP-2）和血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）的含量. 结果显示: 与空载体转染的对照细胞比较, 沉默胃泌素基因的细胞, 其增殖率和克隆形成率显著降低,迁移和侵袭到Transwell下室的细胞数分别降低了31.6 %和34 %. 培养上清液中MMP-2和VEGF含量也低于对照细胞. 结果提示,沉默胃泌素基因的胃癌细胞,通过降低MMP 2和VEGF分泌,抑制了细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭, 这可能是胃泌素促进胃癌侵袭转移的机制之一.     

Reducible siRNA dimeric conjugates for efficient cellular uptake and gene silencing

In this study, dimerized siRNAs linked by a cleavable disulfide bond were synthesized for efficient intracellular delivery and gene silencing. The reducible dimerized siRNAs showed far enhanced complexation behaviors with cationic polymers as compared to monomeric siRNA at the same N/P ratio, as demonstrated by microscopic techniques and gel characterization. Dimerized siRNAs targeting green fluorescent protein (GFP) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were complexed with linear polyethylenimine (LPEI), and treated to various cell lines to examine gene transfection efficiencies. In comparison to monomer siRNA/LPEI complexes, dimeric siRNA/LPEI complexes showed greatly enhanced cellular uptake and gene silencing effects in vitro. These results were mainly due to the higher charge density and promoted chain flexibility of the dimerized siRNAs, providing more compact and stable siRNA complexes. In addition, the conjugation strategy of reducible siRNA dimers was further extended: poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-modified dimerized siRNAs and heterodimers of siRNAs targeting two different genes (e.g., GFP and VEGF) were synthesized, and their gene silencing efficiencies were characterized. The dimerized siRNA complex system holds great potential for in vivo systemic gene therapy.     

Enhanced gene silencing by the application of multiple specific small interfering RNAs

Small interfering RNA duplexes (siRNA) induce gene silencing in various eukaryotic cells, although usually in an incomplete manner. Using chemically synthesized siRNAs targeting the HIV-1 co-receptor CXCR4 or the apoptosis-inducing Fas-ligand (FasL), co-transfection of cells with two or more siRNA duplexes targeting different sites on the same mRNA resulted in an enhanced gene silencing compared with each single siRNA. This was shown in the down-regulation of protein and mRNA expression, and functionally in the inhibition of CXCR4-mediated HIV infection and of FasL-mediated cell apoptosis. Transfection efficiency determined for the FasL-specific siRNAs was dose-dependent and varied among the siRNAs tested, but was not the main reason for the enhanced gene silencing.     

靶向survivin的siRNA对胃癌BGC-823细胞增殖的影响

目的探讨干扰RNA沉默生存素（survivin）基因表达对人胃癌BGC-823细胞增殖和凋亡的影响。方法设计并合成3条靶向survivin的小分子干扰RNA（siRNA）,构建表达性干扰RNA质粒（shRNA）——shRNA-survivin-1、shRNA-survivin-2和shRNA-survivin-3,分别转染胃癌BGC-823细胞,实时定量PCR检测干扰RNA沉默survivin mRNA表达效果,Westernblot观察对胃癌BGC-823细胞survivin蛋白质表达的抑制,MTT（四甲基偶氮唑盐）比色法分析检测细胞生长抑制率,流式细胞计数检测各组细胞周期和凋亡率,探讨干扰RNA对胃癌BGC-823细胞生长的影响。结果在体外,shRNA-survivin-1有效沉默人胃癌BGC-823细胞survivin mRNA的表达,使sur-vivin mRNA相对水平明显降低（P〈0.05）,survivin蛋白质表达抑制,72h细胞生长抑制率达74.92%（P〈0.05）,shRNA-survivin-1使G2/M期细胞百分比明显增加,凋亡率显著增加（P〈0.05）。结论 shRNA-survivin-1可以沉默survivin基因的表达,可以显著抑制胃癌BGC-823细胞的增殖,在一定程度上诱导其自发凋亡。本研究为靶向sur-vivin的RNA干扰在胃癌的基因治疗提供了有力的理论依据和技术储备。     

Sustained small interfering RNA-mediated human immunodeficiency virus type 1 inhibition in primary macrophages

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) can induce potent gene silencing by degradation of cognate mRNA. However, in dividing cells, the silencing lasts only 3 to 7 days, presumably because of siRNA dilution with cell division. Here, we investigated if sustained siRNA-mediated silencing of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is possible in terminally differentiated macrophages, which constitute an important reservoir of HIV in vivo. CCR5, the major HIV-1 coreceptor in macrophages, and the viral structural gene for p24 were targeted either singly or in combination. When transfected 2 days prior to infection, both CCR5 and p24 siRNAs effectively reduced HIV-1 infection for the entire 15-day period of observation, and combined targeting of both genes abolished infection. To investigate whether exogenously introduced siRNA is maintained stably in macrophages, we tested the kinetics of siRNA-mediated viral inhibition by initiating infections at various times (2 to 15 days) after transfection with CCR5 and p24 siRNAs. HIV suppression mediated by viral p24 siRNA progressively decreased and was lost by day 7 posttransfection. In contrast, viral inhibition by cellular CCR5 knockdown was sustained even when transfection preceded infection by 15 days, suggesting that the continued presence of target RNA may be needed for persistence of siRNA. The longer sustenance of CCR5 relative to p24 siRNA in uninfected macrophages was also confirmed by detection of internalized siRNA by modified Northern blot analysis. We also tested the potential of p24 siRNA to stably silence HIV in the setting of an established infection where the viral target gene is actively transcribed. Under these circumstances, long-term suppression of HIV replication could be achieved with p24 siRNA. Thus, siRNAs can induce potent and long-lasting HIV inhibition in nondividing cells such as macrophages.     

Phosphorylation of Dab2 is involved in inhibited VEGF‐VEGFR‐2 signaling induced by downregulation of syndecan‐1 in glomerular endothelial cell

Disabled‐2 (Dab2) and PAR‐3 (partitioning defective 3) are reported to play critical roles in maintaining retinal microvascular endothelial cells biology by regulating VEGF‐VEGFR‐2 signaling. The role of Dab2 and PAR‐3 in glomerular endothelial cell (GEnC) is unclear. In this study, we found that, no matter whether with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment or not, decreased expression of Dab2 could lead to cell apoptosis by preventing activation of VEGF‐VEGFR‐2 signaling in GEnC, accompanied by reduced membrane VEGFR‐2 expression. And silencing of PAR‐3 gene expression caused increased apoptosis of GEnC by inhibiting activation of VEGF‐VEGFR‐2 signaling and membrane VEGFR‐2 expression. In our previous research, we found that the silencing of syndecan‐1 gene expression inhibited VEGF‐VEGFR‐2 signaling by modulating internalization of VEGFR‐2. And our further research demonstrated that downregulation of syndecan‐1 lead to no significant change in the expression of Dab2 and PAR‐3 both at messenger RNA and protein levels in GEnC, while phosphorylation of Dab2 was significantly increased in GEnC transfected with Dab2 small interfering RNA (siRNA) compared with control siRNA. Atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) could induce phosphorylation of Dab2, thus negatively regulating VEGF‐VEGFR‐2 signaling. And we found that decreased expression of syndecan‐1 lead to activation of aPKC, and aPKC inhibitor treatment could block phosphorylation of Dab2 in GEnC. Besides, aPKC inhibitor treatment could activate VEGF‐VGEFR‐2 signaling in GEnC transfected with syndecan‐1 siRNA in a dose‐dependent manner. In conclusion, we speculated that phosphorylation of Dab2 is involved in preventing activation of VEGF‐VEGFR‐2 signaling in GEnC transfected with syndecan‐1 siRNA. This provides a new target for the therapy of GEnC injury and kidney disease.     

靶向survivin的siRNA对胃癌BGC-823细胞增殖和转移能力的影响

目的探讨沉默生存素（survivin）基因表达的干扰RNA对人胃癌BGC-823细胞增殖和成瘤能力的影响。方法应用已经在细胞上验证能够有效沉默survivin的小分子干扰RNA（shRNA-survivin-1）,并在体外实验的基础上,建立稳定表达干扰RNA细胞系,进一步探讨干扰RNA稳定表达对胃癌BGC-823细胞生长和裸鼠移植成瘤的影响。结果 shRNA-survivin-1有效沉默人胃癌BGC-823细胞survivin mRNA的表达,成功筛选shRNA-sur-vivin-1稳定表达细胞株BGC/siRNA-1细胞,实验表明,BGC/siRNA-1细胞的生长曲线缓慢上升,细胞增殖能力下降;BGC/siRNA-1细胞裸鼠移植成瘤体积与对照组相比,明显减小（P〈0.05）。结论 shRNA-survivin-1可以沉默survivin基因的表达,可以显著抑制胃癌BGC-823细胞的增殖,并降低胃癌BGC-823细胞的成瘤能力,本研究为靶向survivin的RNA干扰在胃癌的基因治疗提供了有力的理论依据和技术储备。 更多还原     

Desulfovibrio vulgaris bacterioferritin uses H(2)O(2) as a co-substrate for iron oxidation and reveals DPS-like DNA protection and binding activities

β?-GPI (β?-glycoprotein I) is a plasma glycoprotein ascribed with an anti-angiogenic function; however, the biological role and molecular basis of its action in cell migration remain unknown. The aim of the present study was to assess the contribution of β?-GPI to HAEC (human aortic endothelial cell) migration and the details of its underlying mechanism. Using wound healing and Boyden chamber assays, we found that β?-GPI inhibited endothelial cell migration, which was restored by its neutralizing antibody. NF-κB (nuclear factor κB) inhibitors and lentiviral siRNA (small interfering RNA) silencing of NF-κB significantly attenuated the inhibitory effect of β?-GPI on cell migration. Moreover, β?-GPI was found to induce IκBα (inhibitor of NF-κB) phosphorylation and translocation of p65 and p50. We further demonstrated that mRNA and protein levels of eNOS [endothelial NO (nitric oxide) synthase] and NO production were all increased by β?-GPI and these effects were remarkably inhibited by NF-κB inhibitors and siRNAs of p65 and p50. Furthermore, β?-GPI-mediated inhibition of cell migration was reversed by eNOS inhibitors and eNOS siRNAs. The findings of the present study provide novel insight into the ability of β?-GPI to inhibit endothelial cell migration predominantly through the NF-κB/eNOS/NO signalling pathway, which indicates a potential direction for clinical therapy in vascular diseases.     

VEGF Stimulates RCAN1.4 Expression in Endothelial Cells via a Pathway Requiring Ca2+/Calcineurin and Protein Kinase C-δ

Background

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has previously been shown to upregulate the expression of the endogenous calcineurin inhibitor, regulator of calcineurin 1, variant 4 (RCAN1.4). The aim of this study was to determine the role and regulation of VEGF-mediated RCAN1.4 expression, using human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs) as a model system.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We show that VEGF is able to induce RCAN1.4 expression during cellular proliferation and differentiation, and that VEGF-mediated expression of RCAN1.4 was inhibited by the use of inhibitors to protein kinase C (PKC) and calcineurin. Further analysis revealed that siRNA silencing of PKC-delta expression partially inhibited VEGF-stimulated RCAN1.4 expression. Knockdown of RCAN1.4 with siRNA resulted in a decrease in cellular migration and disrupted tubular morphogenesis when HDMECs were either stimulated with VEGF in a collagen gel or in an endothelial/fibroblast co-culture model of angiogenesis. Analysis of intracellular signalling revealed that siRNA mediated silencing of RCAN1.4 resulted in increased expression of specific nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) regulated genes.

Conclusions/Significance

Our data suggests that RCAN1.4 expression is induced by VEGFR-2 activation in a Ca²⁺ and PKC-delta dependent manner and that RCAN1.4 acts to regulate calcineurin activity and gene expression facilitating endothelial cell migration and tubular morphogenesis.     

沉默单核细胞趋化蛋白-1基因降低人食管癌EC109细胞的迁移及侵袭能力

单核细胞趋化蛋白-1(monocyte chemoattractant protein-1,MCP-1)是白色脂肪细胞分泌的炎症趋化刺激因子,属于趋化因子CC亚族,可促进肿瘤血管形成和细胞外基质降解,从而促进肿瘤细胞的浸润与转移。沉默MCP-1基因可显著抑制恶性肿瘤生长及转移,但其作用的分子机制尚不完全清楚。本研究应用小干扰RNA技术沉默人食管癌EC109细胞中MCP-1表达。细胞划痕试验显示,与对照组相比,沉默MCP-1基因可明显抑制食管癌EC109细胞迁移能力。Transwell 侵袭实验显示,沉默MCP-1基因后,EC109细胞侵袭能力降低。Western 印迹试验和RT-PCR试验揭示,沉默MCP-1基因后,细胞中MMP-7、MMP-9、TGF-β1及VEGF表达水平显著下降。研究结果提示,沉默MCP-1基因可通过抑制MMP-7、MMP-9、TGF-β1及VEGF表达,降低癌细胞迁移及侵袭能力。     

CXCR4 down-regulation by small interfering RNA inhibits invasion and tubule formation of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells

The progressive alterations to the retinal microvasculature in diabetic retinopathy are known to cause vision loss. Chemokines are characterized by their ability to induce cell invasion, adhesion and migration. In this study, we used double siRNA transfection to transiently and selectively decrease the level of the endogenous CXCR4 in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs). The functional consequences of silencing CXCR4 expression in HRMECs were investigated using an endothelial cell migration assay and tubule formation in Matrigel. When CXCR4 expression was decreased with siRNA, HRMECs were less invasive and also resulted in markedly diminished vascular networks on Matrigel as compared to the controls. Additionally, hypoxia and VEGF, the factors affecting microvascular, regulate the expression level of CXCR4 in HRMECs, respectively, which have synergistic, additive effect in the HRMECs. As such, CXCR4 antagonists may become a therapeutic target for the treatment of retinal angiopathies.     

In vitro evaluation of optimized liposomes for delivery of small interfering RNA

One of the biggest challenges for small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) as therapeutic agents is their insufficient cellular delivery efficiency. We developed long circulating and cationic liposomes to improve the cell uptake and inhibitory effectiveness of siRNA on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in cancer cells. SiRNA liposomes were obtained by polyelectrolyte complexation between negatively charged siRNA and positively charged liposome prepared by a hydration method. Gel electrophoresis was used to evaluate the loading efficiency of siRNA on the cationic liposome. The optimized siRNA liposomes were observed to be spherical in shape and had smooth surfaces with particle sizes of 167.7?±?2.0?nm and zeta potentials of 4.03?±?0.69?mV, which had no significant change when stored at 4?°C for three months. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting studies and confocal laser scanning images indicated that the cationic liposomes significantly increased the uptake of fluorescence-labeled siRNA in cancer cells. Effects of the siRNA on the inhibition of VEGF were tested by measuring concentrations of VEGF in cell culture media via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and intracellular VEGF levels using a western blotting method. The liposomal siRNA was significantly effective at inhibiting the expression of VEGF in lung, liver and breast cancer cells. Optimal liposomes could effectively deliver siRNA into cancer cells and inhibit VEGF as a therapy agent.     

Multimerized siRNA cross-linked by gold nanoparticles

In this study, siRNAs terminated with thiol groups were multimerized and cross-linked using ～5 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) via Au-S chemisorption that can be intracellularly reduced. AuNPs immobilized with single-stranded antisense siRNA were assembled with those with single-stranded sense siRNA via complementary hybridization or assembled with those with single-stranded dimeric sense siRNA. The multimerized siRNA cross-linked by AuNPs showed increased charge density and enhanced enzymatic stability, and exhibited good complexation behaviors with a polycationic carrier, linear polyethylenimine (L-PEI). The resultant multi-siRNA/AuNPs/L-PEI polyelectrolyte complexes exhibited far greater gene silencing efficiencies of green fluorescent protein (GFP) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) compared to naked siRNA complexes. They could also be visualized by micro-CT imaging. The results suggest that AuNP-mediated multimerization of siRNAs could be a rational approach to achieve both gene silencing and imaging at a target tissue simultaneously.     

VEGF-specific siRNAs modified with 2′-deoxy effectively suppress VEGF expression and inhibit growth of nasopharyngeal carcinoma xenograft in a mouse model

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is up-regulated in the vast majority of human tumors. The up-regulation of VEGF not only plays important roles in tumor angiogenesis, but also provides a target for tumor treatment with small interfering RNA (siRNA) that targets VEGF; however, it is unclear whether a quite high up-regulation of VEGF will affect the efficiency of RNA interference strategies targeting VEGF. A high level expression of VEGF was found in CNE cells from a nasopharyngeal car-cinoma cell line. In this study, we investigate whether VEGF-specific siRNAs can effectively suppress VEGF expression in CNE cells, and study the methods for the use of VEGF-specific siRNAs as potential therapeutic agents. CNE cells with high VEGF expression induced by hypoxia were transfected with VEGF-specific siRNAs. The expression of VEGF was effectively suppressed by VEGF-specific siRNAs, measured by ELISA, Western blot analysis and RT-PCR. Furthermore, experiments in nude mice bear-ing nasopharyngeal carcinoma xenograft were initiated 5 d after injection of CNE cells. VEGF-specific siRNAs were modified with 2′-deoxy, then injected into the tumors, and a liposome-mediated siRNA transfection system and ultrasound exposure were used to help delivery of the siRNAs. Tumor growth was reduced significantly after 3 weeks’ treatment. These studies suggest that VEGF-specific siRNAs still can effectively suppress VEGF expression even in tumor cell lines with a relatively high level of VEGF expression, such as CNE, and VEGF-specific siRNAs modified with 2′-deoxy can be used as po-tential agents for tumor therapy.     

小干扰RNA靶向VEGF基因体内外抑制乳腺癌细胞MCF-7的增殖

 血管生成与肿瘤生长、侵袭、转移密切相关.血管内皮生长因子能特异地促进内皮细胞分裂、增殖及迁移,在肿瘤新生血管生成过程中起着至关重要的作用.通过RNAi抑制VEGF表达的抗血管生成疗法可有效应用于肿瘤治疗.本研究采用化学修饰的siRNA在体内外抑制VEGF基因表达,探讨化学修饰的siRNA介导的RNA干扰技术在乳腺癌基因治疗的可行性和特异性.选用阳离子脂质体Lipofectamine^TM2000作为转染试剂,将针对人VEGF基因的小干扰RNA(small interfering RNA,siRNA)转染人类乳腺细胞株MCF-7和裸鼠移植瘤,在体内外诱导RNAi.采用四甲基偶氮唑蓝（MTT）法,逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR),蛋白印迹实验等检测siRNA治疗组和对照组VEGF基因表达及细胞增殖变化.体外实验结果显示：靶向VEGF基因siRNA转染乳腺癌MCF-7细胞后,细胞生长抑制率达52.5%;VEGF的mRNA和蛋白表达水平显著降低（P<0.01）;裸鼠体内实验结果显示：siRNA治疗组瘤组织的增长受到明显抑制;RT-PCR结果同时表明治疗组VEGF表达下调.体内外对照组各指标无显著变化.化学修饰的siRNA介导的RNAi在体内外均能成功下调靶基因VEGF的表达,抑制MCF-7细胞增殖,是潜在的肿瘤治疗新方法.     

MAT2A基因小干扰RNA诱导人肝癌细胞凋亡的分子机制

为探讨甲硫氨酸腺苷转移酶2A(MAT2A)小干扰RNA对人肝癌细胞生长和细胞凋亡的影响及其机 制,采用脂质体转染法将MAT2A小干扰RNA质粒表达载体转染人肝癌细胞系Bel 7402细胞、HepG 2细胞和 HepG3B细胞.半定量RT PCR检测MAT2A mRNA表达,Western印迹检测MAT2A 蛋白质表达, M TT法观察MAT2A小干扰RNA对肝癌细胞生长的影响,流式细胞仪及DAPI染色检测siRNA对肝癌细 胞凋亡的影响.为探讨其作用机制, 进一步检测转染后肝癌细胞MAT的活性、MAT1A mRNA表 达及SAM、SAH含量.结果发现, MAT2A小干扰RNA特异性抑制人肝癌细胞MAT2A mRNA和蛋白质 的表达, 刺激MAT表达由MAT2A向MAT1A转变, 降低了肝癌细胞中MATⅡ活性（P<005） ,从而诱导肝癌细胞凋亡; MAT2A小干扰RNA诱导Bel－7402细胞、HepG 2细胞、 Hep 3B细胞凋亡 指数分别为19．3%±2．8%、22．8%±3．5%、21．8%±4．2%, 较对照组siRNA(凋亡指数为5 2%±19%)具有明显差异(P<005).DAPI染色显示, MAT2A小干扰RNA转染组可见多个细胞核 浓缩、碎裂成蓝色的小块状,染色质凝聚,形成典型的凋亡小体, 而对照siRNA转染组未发现典型的 凋亡小体.肝癌细胞的生长也受到抑制,MAT2A小干扰RNA转染Bel 7402细胞、HepG 2细胞 、HepG3B细胞72 h后,细胞生长抑制率达高峰,分别为39．62%、41．27%、38．84%.肝癌细胞 中SAM含量明显升高(P<001),而SAH含量改变不明显, SAM/SAH变化伴随SAM含量变化而改 变.提示靶向MAT2A基因的siRNA通过升高肝癌细胞中SAM含量,刺激MAT表达由MAT2A向MAT1A转变, 从而诱导肝癌细胞凋亡,抑制肝癌细胞生长.     

Non-redundant roles of the Gab1 and Gab2 scaffolding adapters in VEGF-mediated signalling,migration, and survival of endothelial cells

Gab1 was previously described as a positive modulator of Akt, Src, ERK1/2, endothelial cell migration, and capillary formation in response to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). However, its involvement in endothelial cell survival, as well as the potential contribution of the other family member Gab2 to signalling and biological responses remained unknown. Here, we show that Gab2 is tyrosine phosphorylated in a Grb2-dependent manner downstream of activated VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR2), and that it associates with signalling proteins including PI3K and SHP2, but apparently not with the receptor. Similarly to Gab1, over-expression of Gab2 induces endothelial cell migration in response to VEGF, whereas its depletion using siRNAs results in its reduction. Importantly, depletion of both Gab1 and Gab2 leads to an even greater inhibition of VEGF-induced cell migration. However, contrary to what has been reported for Gab1, the silencing of Gab2 results in increased Src, Akt and ERK1/2 activation, slightly reduced p38 phosphorylation, and up-regulation of Gab1 protein levels. Accordingly, re-expression of Gab2 in Gab2?/? fibroblasts leads to opposite results, suggesting that the modulation of both Gab2 and Gab1 expression in these conditions might contribute to the impaired signalling observed. Consistent with their opposite roles on Akt, the depletion of Gab1, but not of Gab2, results in reduced FOXO1 phosphorylation and VEGF-mediated endothelial cell survival. Mutation of VEGFR2 Y801 and Y1214, which abrogates the phosphorylation of Gab1, also correlates with inhibition of Akt. Altogether, these results underscore the non-redundant and essential roles of Gab1 and Gab2 in endothelial cells, and suggest major contributions of these proteins during in vivo angiogenesis.