Newly identified biologically active and proteolysis-resistant VEGF-A isoform VEGF111 is induced by genotoxic agents

Ultraviolet B and genotoxic drugs induce the expression of a vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) splice variant (VEGF111) encoded by exons 1–4 and 8 in many cultured cells. Although not detected in a series of normal human and mouse tissue, VEGF111 expression is induced in MCF-7 xenografts in nude mice upon treatment by camptothecin. The skipping of exons that contain proteolytic cleavage sites and extracellular matrix–binding domains makes VEGF111 diffusible and resistant to proteolysis. Recombinant VEGF111 activates VEGF receptor 2 (VEGF-R2) and extracellularly regulated kinase 1/2 in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells and porcine aortic endothelial cells expressing VEGF-R2. The mitogenic and chemotactic activity and VEGF111's ability to promote vascular network formation during embyonic stem cell differentiation are similar to those of VEGF121 and 165. Tumors in nude mice formed by HEK293 cells expressing VEGF111 develop a more widespread network of numerous small vessels in the peritumoral tissue than those expressing other isoforms. Its potent angiogenic activity and remarkable resistance to proteolysis makes VEGF111 a potential adverse factor during chemotherapy but a beneficial therapeutic tool for ischemic diseases

Distinct pathways in the over-expression of matrix metalloproteinases in human fibroblasts by relaxation of mechanical tension.

peer reviewedaudience: researcherThe aim of the work was to analyze, on a comparative basis, the signaling pathways operating in the regulation of a panel of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) expressed by human dermal fibroblasts submitted to mechanical stress relaxation by cytochalasin D (CD) and in a retracting collagen gel (RCG). The mRNA steady-state level of MMPs was measured by a quantitative RT-PCR procedure using a synthetic RNA as internal standard. In monolayer, most MMPs were barely detected, except MMP-2. Disruption of the actin stress fibers by CD induced a moderate increase of MMP-2 mRNA and a much larger stimulation of MMP-3, -9, -13 and -14 mRNAs. In RCG, a significant up-regulation of these MMPs was also observed although to a lower extent than in CD-treated monolayers. Among the investigated MMPs, the MMP-8 and -11 were not reproducibly detected. MMP-2 was processed to its active form both by CD and in RCG. The CD-induced up-regulation of gene expression was largely repressed by blocking protein synthesis by cycloheximide for all the MMPs, by inhibiting the tyrosine-kinases of the src family by herbimycin A for all MMPs, except MMP-2, and by inhibiting the TPA-inducible PKC isoforms by bisindoyl maleimide for all MMPs, except MMP-14. The up-regulation induced by stress relaxation in RCG was protein synthesis-dependent for MMP-2 and MMP-13, tyrosine kinases-dependent for MMP-3 and MMP-13, as previously described for MMP-1. Inhibiting TPA-inducible PKC did not affect any MMP in RCG except MMP-13, which was strongly induced. The processing of MMP-2 was tyrosine kinases-dependent but PKC-independent. Inhibitors of the ERK1,2 and p38 MAP kinases pathways diversely affected the MMPs expression. Inhibiting the Rho-kinase activity by Y-27632 was inactive. These results point to the potent regulation operated by the status of the cytoskeleton on the cell phenotype, and to distinct regulatory pathways involved in the control of different MMPs expression

Angiogenesis by Fibroblast Growth Factor 4 Is Mediated through an Autocrine Up-regulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression

The infection of normal mouse mammary EF43 cells by a retroviral vector carrying either Fgf-3 (EF43.Fgf-3) or Fgf-4 (EF43.Fgf-4) cDNA resulted in the transformation of cells displaying different tumorigenic potentials in nude mice (A. Hajitou and C-M. Calberg-Bacq, Int. J. Cancer, 63: 702-709, 1995). EF43.Fgf-4 produced rapidly developing tumors at all sites of inoculation, whereas EF43.Fgf-3 produced slowly growing tumors only in the mammary fat pad. Cells infected with the vector carrying the selection gene alone (EF43.C) were not tumorigenic. The angiogenic properties of these cells were tested in an in vitro angiogenesis model using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cultured at the surface of a type I collagen gel and their capacity to form tube-like structures on invasion of the gel. Only the conditioned medium (CM) of EF43.Fgf-4 induced an angiogenic morphotype in HUVECs. In parallel, the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase 1 and c-ETS-1 was increased in the HUVECs displaying a differentiated phenotype, whereas the tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 mRNA level was decreased. Recombinant human fibroblast growth factor 4 (FGF-4) did not induce an angiogenic phenotype in HUVECs by itself. By Western blot analysis, a high expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was detected in the EF43.Fgf-4 CM. This result was confirmed by Northern blot analysis of total RNA extracted from the three cell types; the steady-state level of VEGF mRNA was low and equivalent in EF43.C and EF43.Fgf-3, whereas it was strongly increased in EF43.Fgf-4. Culturing EF43 cells carrying only the selection gene with increasing concentrations of recombinant human FGF-4 resulted in a dose-dependent stimulation of VEGF. The induction of the angiogenic morphotype and the parallel modulations of the biosynthetic phenotype in HUVECs were completely suppressed by adding a neutralizing antibody directed against VEGF to EF43.Fgf-4 CM. Furthermore, inhibition of protein kinase C by bisindoylmaleimide suppressed the angiogenic phenotype induced by the CM of EF43.Fgf-4. Our results point to an indirect angiogenic activity of FGF-4 through the autocrine induction of VEGF secretion by EF43.Fgf-4 cells, an original signaling pathway that might be significant in tumor progression and metastasis

Evaluation of the function of ADAMTS-2, a metalloproteinase containing a disintegrin domain and thrombospondin type I repeats, during angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo

Angiogenesis is required for development, growth, tissue remodeling, and wound healing. Pathologies such as diabetic retinopathy, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer would benefit from therapies controlling and reducing angiogenesis. Enzymes of the ADAMTS family are closely related to MMPs and ADAMs. They contain however some specific features, such as a variable number of domains known as “ThromboSpondin type I repeat” (TSPI). ADAMTS-1 and -8 are 20-fold more anti-angiogenic than angiostatin and endostatin, two potent inhibitors of angiogenesis. The primary function of ADAMTS-2 is the maturation of collagen type I and II molecules by excising the amino-propeptide. In addition, ADAMTS-2 could also modulate angiogenesis, as it contains the same sequences than those responsible for the anti-angiogenic activity of ADAMTS-1 and -8. This hypothesis was investigated in vitro in different experimental models such as cell proliferation and formation of capillary structures by human endothelial cells. An ex vivo angiogenesis model was also used. It consists in mice or rat aorta pieces embedded in a collagen gel in order to allow the growth of capillaries from the vascular endothelium. As compared to control mice (TS2+/+), angiogenesis was slightly increased, in absence of ADAMTS-2, from aortas of ADAMTS-2 KO mice (TS2-/-). Using rat aortas, addition of recombinant ADAMTS-2 reduced the formation of capillary structure, also confirming the anti-angiogenic activity of ADAMTS-2. Finally, an in vivo model of angiogenesis was also used. Biocompatible sponges (Ivalon) were implanted under the skin of TS2+/+ or TS2-/- mice in order to evaluate the formation of capillaries in the granulation tissue invading the sponge. In absence of ADAMTS-2, angiogenesis and granulation tissue formation were both reduced. Additional investigations are being performed in order to identify the underlying mechanism(s) inducing these modifications

Effect of ADAMTS-2, a metalloproteinase containing a disintegrin domain and thrombospondin type I repeats, during angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo

Formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) is a key step during the development of various pathologies, including cancer. Enzymes of the ADAMTS family are closely related to MMPs and ADAMs. They further contain specific domains, such as the ‘‘Thrombospondin type I’’ (TSP1) repeats, that are able to strongly repress angiogenesis, as described for thrombospondin-1 and -2, and for ADAMTS-1 and -8. The primary function of ADAMTS-2 is to process collagen type I, II and III precursors into mature molecules by excising the aminopropeptide. We further hypothesized that it could modulate angiogenesis through its TSP1 repeats. This hypothesis was investigated using different in vitro experimental models of angiogenesis. Recombinant ADAMTS-2 induced morphological changes in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and human microvessel endothelial cells (HMEC), and significantly reduced their proliferation, attachment and spreading. Similar effects were observed when using inactive ADAMTS-2 mutated at the Zn2+-binding catalytic site. ADAMTS-2 did not alter the initial steps of formation of capillary-like structures by HUVEC in vitro. However, these structures appeared much less stable and were more rapidly disrupted in presence of ADAMTS-2 than in control conditions. ADAMTS-2 was also tested in an ex vivo angiogenesis model using aortic rings from rats and mice, wild type or KO for ADAMTS-2. Outgrowth of capillaries was slightly increased from aortas of ADAMTS-2 KO mice (TS2-/-) as compared to aortas from control animals (TS2+/+), while addition of full size recombinant ADAMTS-2 reduced the formation of capillary structures from rat aortas, suggesting its anti-angiogenic activity. Choroidal neovascularization induced in TS2+/+ or TS2-/- mice by LASER burns was used as in vivo model to confirm the in vitro and ex vivo results. Several genes involved in the healing and angiogenesis processes (fibrillar collagens, VEGF, TGF-beta and CTGF) were not differently regulated in TS2+/+ and TS2-/- mice at 5 days