Distinct angiogenic mediators are required for basic fibroblast growth factor- and vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis: the role of cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase c-Abl in tumor angiogenesis

Signaling pathways engaged by angiogenic factors bFGF and VEGF in tumor angiogenesis are not fully understood. The current study identifies cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase c-Abl as a key factor differentially mediating bFGF- and VEGF-induced angiogenesis in microvascular endothelial cells. STI571, a c-Abl kinase inhibitor, only inhibited bFGF- but not VEGF-induced angiogenesis. bFGF induced membrane receptor cooperation between integrin beta(3) and FGF receptor, and triggered a downstream cascade including FAK, c-Abl, and MAPK. This signaling pathway is different from one utilized by VEGF that includes integrin beta(5), VEGF receptor-2, Src, FAK, and MAPK. Ectopic expression of wild-type c-Abl sensitized angiogenic response to bFGF, but kinase dead mutant c-Abl abolished this activity. Furthermore, the wild-type c-Abl enhanced angiogenesis in both Matrigel implantation and tumor xenograft models. These data provide novel insights into c-Abl's differential functions in mediating bFGF- and VEGF-induced angiogenesis.