VEGFR1 (Flt1) Regulates Rab4 Recycling to Control Fibronectin Polymerization and Endothelial Vessel Branching |
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| Authors: | Matthew C Jones Patrick T Caswell Kim Moran-Jones Marnie Roberts Simon T Barry Alexandra Gampel Harry Mellor Jim C Norman |
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| Institution: | Beatson Institute for Cancer Research (Cancer Research UK), Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK; Cancer Bioscience, AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK; Mammalian Cell Biology Laboratory, Dept. of Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, University of Bristol BS8 1TD, UK |
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| Abstract: | The cell's main receptor for VEGF, VEGFR2 (Kdr) is one of the most important positive regulators of new blood vessel growth and its downstream signalling is well characterized. By contrast, VEGFR1 (Flt1) and the mechanisms by which this VEGF receptor promotes branching morphogenesis in angiogenesis remain relatively unclear. Here we report that engagement of VEGFR1 activates a Rab4A-dependent pathway that transports αvβ3 integrin from early endosomes to the plasma membrane, and that this is required for VEGF-driven fibronectin polymerization in endothelial cells. Furthermore, VEGFR1 acts to promote endothelial tubule branching in an organotypic model of angiogenesis via a mechanism that requires Rab4A and αvβ3 integrin. We conclude that a recycling pathway regulated by Rab4A is a critical effector of VEGFR1 during branching morphogenesis of the vasculature. |
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| Keywords: | angiogenesis branching morphogenesis endocytosis fibronectin integrin PlGF polymerization Rab4 recycling VEGF VEGFR1 (Flt1) VEGFR2 (Kdr) |
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