scholarly journals Mammalian Sprouty-1 and -2 Are Membrane-Anchored Phosphoprotein Inhibitors of Growth Factor Signaling in Endothelial Cells

2001 ◽  
Vol 152 (5) ◽  
pp. 1087-1098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria-Antonietta Impagnatiello ◽  
Stefan Weitzer ◽  
Grainne Gannon ◽  
Amelia Compagni ◽  
Matt Cotten ◽  
...  

Growth factor–induced signaling by receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) plays a central role in embryonic development and in pathogenesis and, hence, is tightly controlled by several regulatory proteins. Recently, Sprouty, an inhibitor of Drosophila development-associated RTK signaling, has been discovered. Subsequently, four mammalian Sprouty homologues (Spry-1–4) have been identified. Here, we report the functional characterization of two of them, Spry-1 and -2, in endothelial cells. Overexpressed Spry-1 and -2 inhibit fibroblast growth factor– and vascular endothelial growth factor–induced proliferation and differentiation by repressing pathways leading to p42/44 mitogen-activating protein (MAP) kinase activation. In contrast, although epidermal growth factor–induced proliferation of endothelial cells was also inhibited by Spry-1 and -2, activation of p42/44 MAP kinase was not affected. Biochemical and immunofluorescence analysis of endogenous and overexpressed Spry-1 and -2 reveal that both Spry-1 and -2 are anchored to membranes by palmitoylation and associate with caveolin-1 in perinuclear and vesicular structures. They are phosphorylated on serine residues and, upon growth factor stimulation, a subset is recruited to the leading edge of the plasma membrane. The data indicate that mammalian Spry-1 and -2 are membrane-anchored proteins that negatively regulate angiogenesis-associated RTK signaling, possibly in a RTK-specific fashion.

Endocrinology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 149 (1) ◽  
pp. 253-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noriyuki Takahashi ◽  
Masanori T. Itoh ◽  
Bunpei Ishizuka

The intermediate filament protein nestin was originally found to be expressed in neuronal progenitor cells, but recent studies have shown that other cell types, including endocrine and vascular endothelial cells, express nestin. In the present study, we examined the expression and localization of nestin in the ovaries of developing, peripubertal, and adult rats. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses revealed that nestin mRNA and proteins were expressed in adult rat ovaries. Immunohistochemical analyses using adult rat ovaries showed that nestin was mainly localized to capillary endothelial cells of theca interna in follicles with more than two layers of granulosa cells and that its expression increased with follicle growth. Ontogenetically, ovarian nestin expression started at the peripubertal period when the first gonadotropin surge occurs. To test the possibility that gonadotropins induce nestin expression, prepubertal (postnatal d 21) rats were sc injected with equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and/or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). A single injection of hCG, but not eCG, was sufficient to induce nestin expression in follicles, mainly in capillary endothelial cells of theca interna. Furthermore, pretreatment with an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor prevented the induction of the nestin expression by hCG. These findings demonstrate that the endogenous LH surge induces nestin expression in capillary endothelial cells of theca interna via the vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway. Nestin may be involved in angiogenesis in growing follicles, which is followed by follicle maturation and subsequent ovulation.


1996 ◽  
Vol 135 (6) ◽  
pp. 1633-1642 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Miyamoto ◽  
H Teramoto ◽  
J S Gutkind ◽  
K M Yamada

Integrins mediate cell adhesion, migration, and a variety of signal transduction events. These integrin actions can overlap or even synergize with those of growth factors. We examined for mechanisms of collaboration or synergy between integrins and growth factors involving MAP kinases, which regulate many cellular functions. In cooperation with integrins, the growth factors EGF, PDGF-BB, and basic FGF each produced a marked, transient activation of the ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) class of MAP kinase, but only if the integrins were both aggregated and occupied by ligand. Transmembrane accumulation of total tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins, as well as nonsynergistic MAP kinase activation, could be induced by simple integrin aggregation, whereas enhanced transient accumulation of the EGF-receptor substrate eps8 required integrin aggregation and occupancy, as well as EGF treatment. Each type of growth factor receptor was itself induced to aggregate transiently by integrin ligand-coated beads in a process requiring both aggregation and occupancy of integrin receptors, but not the presence of growth factor ligand. Synergism was also observed between integrins and growth factors for triggering tyrosine phosphorylation of EGF, PDGF, and FGF receptors. This collaborative response also required both integrin aggregation and occupancy. These studies identify mechanisms in the signal transduction response to integrins and growth factors that require various combinations of integrin aggregation and ligands for integrin or growth factor receptors, providing opportunities for collaboration between these major regulatory systems.


2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (1) ◽  
pp. L29-L42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ru-Jeng Teng ◽  
Jianhai Du ◽  
Adeleye J. Afolayan ◽  
Annie Eis ◽  
Yang Shi ◽  
...  

Pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) isolated from fetal lambs with in utero pulmonary hypertension (IPH) have phenotypical changes that lead to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and impaired angiogenesis. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is known to be activated by ROS, which is expected to help angiogenesis in IPH-PAEC. The objectives of this study were to investigate AMPK responses in IPH and its role in angiogenesis. We observed that, compared with control PAEC, IPH-PAEC have decreased phosphorylation of AMPKα catalytic subunit and AMPK downstream enzymes, indicating a decrease in AMPK activity. In addition, the expression of AMPK kinases is decreased, and protein phosphatase 2 is increased in IPH-PAEC, potentially contributing to the decreased AMPK activation. Metformin, an AMPK activator, improved IPH-PAEC angiogenesis while increasing endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) serine1179 phosphorylation and decreasing the eNOS-caveolin-1 association. Metformin also increased MnSOD activity and the expression of both eNOS and MnSOD. The increase in angiogenesis by Metformin is abolished by pretreatment with AMPK inhibitor, Compound C. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived growth factor β (PDGFβ) are decreased in IPH-PAEC compared with control PAEC and were not altered by Metformin. These data indicate that Metformin improves angiogenesis through mechanisms independent of these angiogenic factors. In conclusion, activation of AMPK restores angiogenesis and increases the bioavailability of nitric oxide in IPH. Whether Metformin is beneficial in the management of pulmonary hypertension requires further investigation.


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