| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vascular Biology |
and Consecutively Tie2 Dependent
From the Departments of Pediatrics, Ophthalmology, Pharmacology (T.Z., F.S., M.H.B., D.C., S.N., M.S., X.H., M.B., S.C.), Hematology (L.F., G.E.R.), and Biochemistry (N.H.), Research Center of Hôpital Ste-Justine, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; and Departments of Ophthalmology, McGill University (P.L.), Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
Correspondence to Sylvain Chemtob, MD, PhD, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Research Center, 3175 Côte Ste-Catherine, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1C5, Canada. E-mail sylvain.chemtob{at}umontreal.ca
| Abstract |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Methods and Results PAR2-activating peptide, SLIGRL, increased retinal angiogenesis associated with an induction of vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoetin-2 and most notably tie2 in the retina in vivo as well as in cultured neuroretinal endothelial cells. SLIGRL also induced release of the proinflammatory and angiogenic mediator tumor necrosis factor-
(TNF-
) via the MEK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) (MEK/ERK) pathway in these endothelial cells. TNF-
, in turn, elicited tie2 expression by activating the MEK/ERK pathway. PAR2-evoked tie2 expression, endothelium proliferation (in vitro), and retinal neovascularization (in vivo) were abrogated by selective TNF-
blockers (neutralizing antibody infliximab and soluble TNF-
receptor-Fc fusion protein etanercept) as well as the MEK inhibitor PD98059.
Conclusion The proangiogenic properties of PAR2 are intertwined with its proinflammatory effects, such that in retinal vasculature, they depend on TNF-
and subsequent induction of tie2 via the MEK/ERK pathway.
This article investigated PAR2 activation in retinal angiogenesis. TNF-
inhibitors (infliximab and etanercept) and the MEK inhibitor PD98059 prevented tie2 upregulation, endothelium proliferation, and retinal neovascularization induced by PAR2 activation. The PAR2 proangiogenic properties are involved in its proinflammatory effects and subsequent induction of tie2 via the MEK/ERK pathway.
Key Words: protease-activated receptor 2 angiogenesis TNF-
tie2 receptor signaling transduction
| Introduction |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Protease-activated receptors (PARs) belong to the G-proteincoupled receptor family and are activated by serine proteases. Four forms of PARs have been reported so far (PAR1 through PAR4). PAR2 can be activated by proteases such as trypsin and the major coagulant factor VIIa (FVIIa). These proteases cleave the N terminus to generate a tethered ligand, which interacts and activates the receptor. PAR2 is expressed in a variety of cells, including neuronal tissue, leukocytes, and vascular endothelial cells as reviewed recently.11 It has been reported to participate in inflammatory and mitogenic processes observed in asthma,11 tumor progression,11 and neovascularization12,13; in this context, FVIIa is a particularly important activator of PAR2 in proliferative retinopathies. However, the signaling mechanisms involved in PAR2-induced angiogenesis have not yet been specifically elucidated. Because primary proinflammatory cytokines are themselves involved in angiogenesis,14,15 we postulated that the inflammatory and mitogenic effects of PAR2 are interlinked in eliciting neovascularization by inducing major proangiogenic genes VEGF or tie2/Ang2. For this purpose, the mode of activation of PAR2 was studied on well-established retinal neovascularization. We hereby reveal for the first time that angiogenic effects of PAR2 are mediated by tumor necrosis factor-
(TNF-
), signaling via the MEK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway.
| Materials and Methods |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Cell Culture
Primary cultures of newborn (2 to 4 days) porcine neuroretinal endothelial cells (PNRECs) were grown as described.16
Western Blot
Rat pup retinas were isolated and homogenized in 300 µL lysis buffer (150 mmol/L NaCl, 150 mmol/L KCl, 5 mmol/L MgCl2, 50 mmol/L phosphate sodium, pH 7.0, 1% Triton X-100, and protease inhibitor cocktail [Boehringer Mannheim]). A total of 20 µg of the soluble fraction was used for immunoblot analysis of PAR2 (monoclonal; Santa Cruz Biotechnology), VEGF (polyclonal; Chemicon), Ang1 and Ang2 (N-18, F-18; polyclonal; Santa Cruz Biotechnology), tie2 (C-20; polyclonal; Santa Cruz Biotechnology), ERK1/2 and phospho-ERK (polyclonal; Promega), and ß-actin (C-15; monoclonal; Abcam).17
Reverse TranscriptasePolymerase Chain Reaction
Total RNA was isolated with RNase TM mini kit (Qiagen). RT-PCR was performed as described previously.17 The downstream primer of pig tie2 was 5'TTCACAAGCCTTCTCACACG3', which is designed across exon 5 and 6 to limit other splicing form. The upstream primer is 5'ACAATGGTGTCTGCCATGAA3'. The primers of pig TNF-
are 5'TCCTCACTCACACCATCAGC3' (upstream) and 5'CCAAAATAGACCTGCCCAGA3' (downstream). QuantumRNA universal 18S standard primers (Ambion) were used as internal standard references.
TNF-
Measurement
PNRECs (7x105/well) were seeded in a 24-well culture dish and starved for 4 hours. PNRECs in DMEM medium with 0.2% FBS were then treated with 10 µmol/L PD98059 (Calbiochem) or 1 µg/mL tie2 antagonist, recombinant human soluble tie2/Fc chimera (R & D Systems, Inc) with or without 100 µmol/L SLIGRL (Bio Synthesis Inc) for 16 hours. Aliquots (50 µL) of cultured media were used to measure TNF-
concentrations. TNF-
was assayed with a Quantikine Porcine TNF-
/TNFSF2 immunoassay kit (R&D Systems) as described in the manual of the manufacturer.
Calcium Transients
Calcium transients were measured in the human kidney epithelium cell line BOSC23 PAR1-containing cells using the Fura-2AM indicator as described.16
Cell Proliferation Assay
2x104/well PNRECs were starved overnight before stimulation and then treated with PD98059 (10 µmol/L), infliximab (1 µg/mL; Schering), etanercept (1 µg/mL; Amgen), or tie2/Fc (1 µg/mL) with or without SLIGRL (100 µmol/L) for 48 hours, and cell proliferation was assayed based on the reduction of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT; Sigma-Aldrich) by mitochondria.18 Essentially, MTT (0.5 mg/mL in PBS) was incubated with cells for 2 hours (37°C), the media was aspirated, the formazan product solubilized with acidified isopropanol, and optical density measured at 545 nm.
Retinal Neovascularization
Angiogenesis was investigated in vivo by measuring retinal vascular density in newborn Sprague Dawley rats as described previously.18 Briefly, rats were anesthetized and intravitreously injected at postnatal day 3 (P3) with inhibitors, SLIGRL, trypsin, or FVIIa (Novo Nordisk). At P7, retinas were isolated, flat mounted, and stained for endothelial cells using fluorescein isothiocyanatelabeled lectin antibody (Sigma-Aldrich). The retinal vascularization was estimated by microvascularized density and area.17,18
Statistical Analysis
Data were analyzed by 1-way ANOVA factoring for treatments, followed by the NewmanKeuls comparison among means test. Statistical significance was set as P<0.05. Values are presented as means±SEM.
| Results |
|---|
|
|
|---|
|
PAR2 Activation Induces Major Proangiogenic Factors, Notably Tie2
To determine the effects of PAR2 activation on the expression of important retinal angiogenic factors and angiogenesis per se, we stimulated PAR2 by injecting intravitreally the activating peptide SLIGRL at P3 and analyzed protein expression at P4 and vascularization at P4, P7, and P15. PAR2 activation augmented the expression of VEGF, Ang2, and tie2 at P4 but not that of Ang1 (Figure 1A; Figure I). Stimulation of cultured PNRECs with SLIGRL (16 hours) also resulted in a dose-dependent rise in VEGF, Ang2, and tie2 expression, and a concurrent decrease in Ang1 (Figure 1B; Figure I); of relevance, increased VEGF in response to PAR2-dependent stimulation has been reported.19 Because of the robust induction in tie2 expression during developmental angiogenesis and in response to SLIGRL (Figure 1A; Figure I), we focused on its time-course profile; also, based on the dose-response to SLIGRL, we selected the higher concentration (100 µmol/L) for the subsequent experiments.
Tie2 mRNA (detected by RT-PCR) increased sharply at 1 hour of stimulation with SLIGRL (Figure 2A; Figure IIA, available online at http://atvb.ahajournals.org), and this was followed by a sustained rise in tie2 immunoreactive protein levels in PNRECs (Figure 2B; Figure IIB); no changes in tie2 mRNA were detected after 30 minutes of stimulation. The PAR1 activator thrombin11 (0.1 U/mL34; Worthington Biochemical Co.), the specific PAR1 peptide, SFLLRN, (100 µmol/L), as well as the scrambled peptide, LRGILS (100 µmol/L), were ineffective in inducing tie2 mRNA and protein expression (Figure 2; Figure II); however, thrombin and PAR1 peptide were active in eliciting calcium transients in PAR1-expressing cells (data not shown).
|
Upregulation of Tie2 by PAR2 Stimulation Is Mediated by TNF-
and Dependent on the ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway
PAR2 exerts proinflammatory effects,11,20 which are at least in part dependent on secretion of the major proinflammatory cytokine TNF-
21,22; the latter also exhibits angiogenic properties possibly via tie2.23 We tested these PAR2 properties in PNRECs. TNF-
concentration in cultured media of PNRECs was significantly increased by SLIGRL starting 30 minutes after stimulation (Figure 3A), and human recombinant TNF-
(BioSource International Inc.) in turn markedly raised expression of the major angiogenic receptor tie2 (Figure 4B; Figure IVB, available online at http://atvb.ahajournals.org). Moreover, PAR2-induced tie2 (mRNA and protein) expression was abrogated for
24 hours by distinct TNF-
receptor blockers, infliximab (specific chimeric IgG1
antibody24,25; Figure 3B and 3C; Figure IIIA and IIIB, available online at http://atvb.ahajournals.org), and etanercept (soluble TNF receptor p75 Fc fusion protein26,27; Figure 4B; Figure IVB), which specifically bind to released TNF-
and neutralize its biological activity. As expected, nonspecific isotype-matched IgG1
(control; Ancell Immunology Research Products) was ineffective (Figure 3B; Figure IIIA).
|
|
Signal transduction of PAR2 is reported to be mediated via mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, especially the MEK/ERK pathway.5 We tested whether PAR2 induced tie2 expression via this pathway in PNRECs. SLIGRL induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation (antiactive MAP kinase antibody from Promega; within 5 minutes), and this was blocked by the MEK1/2ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 but not by the MAPK kinase (MKK)3/6p38 or the MKK4/7JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) 1/2 pathway inhibitors, respectively SB203580 (Calbiochem) and SP600125 (BIOMOL); a similar paradigm was observed for SLIGRL-induced tie2 expression (Figure 4; Figure IV). Because TNF-
appears to be an intermediate in PAR2-induced tie2 expression (Figure 3B and 3C), we surmised that this early PAR2-elicited ERK1/2 activation evokes TNF-
release. This was indeed the case because TNF-
release by SLIGRL was blocked by PD98059 (Figure 3A); as expected, the rapid ERK1/2 phosphorylation (within 5 minutes) by SLIGRL was not affected by TNF-
blockers (Figure 4A; Figure IVA). Moreover, TNF-
induced tie2 expression was itself dependent on the ERK1/2 pathway because the latter was activated in response to TNF-
, and inhibition of ERK1/2 prevented TNF-
evoked tie2 induction (Figure 4B; Figure IVB). Hence, collectively, the data suggest a sequential dual activation of ERK1/2 by SLIGRL in the process of inducing tie2: an early one, which elicits TNF-
release, followed by one in response to this latter mediator.
PAR2 Activation Induces PNREC Proliferation Through MEK-ERK, TNF-
, and Tie2 Pathways
Because PAR2 activation in PNRECs induces signaling pathway-associated expression of the proangiogenic tie2 (Figures 2 through 4![]()
; Figure II through IV), we tested whether these changes are manifested in endothelial cell proliferation, essential for angiogenesis. SLIGRL elicited a robust PNREC proliferation (determined by MTT assay [see Methods] and confirmed by cell counts), consistent with effects of PAR2 agonist in tumor cell proliferation.28 The proliferative effect of SLIGRL was prevented by the MEK1/2ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059, TNF-
receptor blockers infliximab and etanercept, and tie2 antagonist tie2/Fc (Figure V, available online at http://atvb.ahajournals.org).
Angiogenic Effects of PAR2 Are Dependent on MEK/ERK, TNF-
, and Tie2
Finally, we tested the effects of PAR2 activation on retinal angiogenesis and the corresponding role of TNF-
, MEK/ERK1/2 pathway, and tie2 in this process. Rat pups were injected intravitreally with PAR2 agonists trypsin (without or with soybean trypsin inhibitor), FVIIa, or SLIGRL, and retinal vascularization was determined at P7. PAR2 activation was associated with a significantly accelerated retinal neovascularization, such that by P7, &75% of the retina was vascularized compared with &60% in control animals (P<0.001; n=5 to 8 retinas per treatment; Figure 5). Specific protein inhibitors of PAR2 are not yet available to test its role in regulating physiological neovascularization, albeit developmental retinal angiogenesis is somewhat dependent of PAR2 based on the knockout mouse,13 consistent with our observations. Angiogenic effects of SLIGRL were inhibited equivalently by PD98059, infliximab, etanercept, and the soluble tie2/Fc chimera (Figure 5); as expected, tie2/Fc alone also affected developmental neovascularization.30
|
| Discussion |
|---|
|
|
|---|
via activation of MEK/ERK1/2 pathway and ultimately conveyed through tie2 induction.
A major feature of this study is the dominant role played by tie2 in PAR2-induced angiogenesis. Strong evidence supports this claim: (1) tie2, as well as its ligand Ang2, increase concomitantly with PAR2 during developmental retinal neovascularization (Figure 1; Figure I); (2) stimulation of PAR2 induces tie2 expression in vivo (Figure 1; Figure I) and in neuroretinal endothelial cells in vitro (Figures 1 through 4![]()
![]()
; Figures I through IV); and (3) the soluble extracellular domain of tie2 blocked PAR2-induced PNREC proliferation (Figure V) and retinal angiogenesis (Figure 5). The latter suggests that ligand binding curtails neovascularization. Because Ang1 expression decreases as opposed to Ang2 (Figure 1; Figure I) at the developmental ages of rat in these experiments, one would presume a primary role for Ang2 in angiogenesis. In line with our observations, Ang2 in the presence of VEGF, as currently seen in whole retina (Figure 1; Figure I), promotes new vessel growth5; the reverse is observed in the absence of VEGF. In hypoxia-induced retinopathy, Ang2 is upregulated along with VEGF and its receptor, whereas Ang1 remains unchanged.35 Most important, tie2/Fc chimera interferes with retinal neovascularization in this model.36 Hence, although VEGF is well known to play a pivotal role in developmental and pathologic angiogenesis,37 its actions require and are coordinated with those of other growth factors, notably tie2.8,35 Altogether, our data support a prominent role for tie2 in PAR2-induced angiogenesis.
Induction of tie2 and angiogenesis in response to PAR2 stimulation appears to require the release of TNF-
(Figures 3 through 5![]()
; Figures III through V). Abundant evidence well described angiogenic properties of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-1, and TNF-
.14,15 In addition, TNF-
and IL-1, the effects of which are intertwined, can induce tie2 expression.38 We hereby demonstrate that tie2-dependent angiogenic effects of PAR2 are mediated via TNF-
: (1) PAR2 activation evoked an early release of TNF-
(Figure 3A), as documented in other cell types21; (2) SLIGRL elicited a subsequent tie2 expression (Figure 2A; Figure IIA), which was inhibited by distinct TNF-
blockers, the specific neutralizing antibody to TNF-
infliximab, and the soluble TNF-
receptor p75 Fc fusion protein etanercept (Figures 3 and 4
; Figures III and IV); (3) stimulation with TNF-
reproduced the tie2 induction (Figure 4B; Figure IVB); and (4) more relevantly, both infliximab and etanercept completely prevented SLIGRL-induced PNREC proliferation (Figure V) and retinal neovascularization (Figure 5).
PAR2 stimulation in PNRECs led to a rapid (within 5 minutes) activation (phosphorylation) of ERK1/2 (Figure 4B; Figure IVB), which preceded the induced generation of TNF-
(Figure 3A). Accordingly, TNF-
blockers infliximab and etanercept did not inhibit SLIGRL-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation (Figure 4A; Figure IVA), whereas the MEK/ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 prevented TNF-
formation (Figure 3A); this is consistent with the documented dominant role for ERK1/2 in PAR1/2-induced TNF-
secretion.21 In line with these observations, PAR2 stimulation, either physiologically such as in response to its natural ligand esterase trypsin and more important, FVIIa (via tissue factor) or pharmacologically using its agonist peptide, is known to activate MAP kinases.11,20 In addition, TNF-
itself activated ERK1/2 (Figure 4A; Figure IVA), which plays a role in TNF-
induced neovascularization;11,20,39 albeit other MAP kinases may also contribute in this process.40 More important, inhibition of the MEK/ERK1/2 pathway abrogated PAR2-induced tie2 expression, cell proliferation, and neovascularization (Figures 4 and 5
; Figure V), inferring a major role for the MEK/ERK1/2 pathway in these processes. Thus, PAR2-induced tie2 expression proceeds via 2 sequential cascades of ERK activation, an early one in response to PAR2 stimulation and a delayed one secondary to TNF-
.
In conclusion, we hereby present previously undescribed evidence for a concerted proangiogenic mechanism of action of PAR2 intertwined with its proinflammatory effects, mediated by TNF-
and dependent on the tie2 receptor. These findings provide significant clinically relevant targets associated with PAR2 activation to modulate pharmacologically in desirable (eg, organ revascularization) and undesirable angiogenesis (eg, pathological neovascularization as seen in ischemic proliferation retinopathy and tumors).
| Acknowledgments |
|---|
Received October 17, 2005; accepted January 4, 2006.
| References |
|---|
|
|
|---|
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
H. H. Versteeg, F. Schaffner, M. Kerver, L. G. Ellies, P. Andrade-Gordon, B. M. Mueller, and W. Ruf Protease-Activated Receptor (PAR) 2, but not PAR1, Signaling Promotes the Development of Mammary Adenocarcinoma in Polyoma Middle T Mice Cancer Res., September 1, 2008; 68(17): 7219 - 7227. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. Voskas, Y. Babichev, L. S. Ling, J. Alami, Y. Shaked, R. S. Kerbel, B. Ciruna, and D. J. Dumont An eosinophil immune response characterizes the inflammatory skin disease observed in Tie-2 transgenic mice J. Leukoc. Biol., July 1, 2008; 84(1): 59 - 67. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
H. Uusitalo-Jarvinen, T. Kurokawa, B. M. Mueller, P. Andrade-Gordon, M. Friedlander, and W. Ruf Role of Protease Activated Receptor 1 and 2 Signaling in Hypoxia-Induced Angiogenesis Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., June 1, 2007; 27(6): 1456 - 1462. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
ATVB Home | Subscriptions | Archives | Feedback | Authors | Help | AHA Journals Home | Search Copyright © 2006 American Heart Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited. |