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Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2006;26:744-750
Published online before print January 26, 2006, doi: 10.1161/01.ATV.0000205591.88522.d4
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(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2006;26:744.)
© 2006 American Heart Association, Inc.

Vascular Biology

Proangiogenic Effects of Protease-Activated Receptor 2 Are Tumor Necrosis Factor-{alpha} and Consecutively Tie2 Dependent

Tang Zhu; Florian Sennlaub; Martin Hervé Beauchamp; Li Fan; Jean Sebastian Joyal; Daniella Checchin; Satra Nim; Pierre Lachapelle; Mirna Sirinyan; Xin Hou; Michela Bossolasco; Georges-Etienne Rivard; Nikolaus Heveker; Sylvain Chemtob

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
up arrowTop
 *Abstract
down arrowIntroduction
 down arrowMaterials and Methods
 down arrowResults
 down arrowDiscussion
 down arrowReferences
 
Objective— Angiogenesis is essential physiologically in growth and pathologically in tumor development, chronic inflammatory disorders, and proliferative retinopathies. Activation of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) leads to a proangiogenic response, but its mechanisms have yet to be specifically described. Here, we investigated the mode of action of PAR2 in retinal angiogenesis.

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-{alpha} (TNF-{alpha}) via the MEK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) (MEK/ERK) pathway in these endothelial cells. TNF-{alpha}, 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-{alpha} blockers (neutralizing antibody infliximab and soluble TNF-{alpha} 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-{alpha} and subsequent induction of tie2 via the MEK/ERK pathway.

This article investigated PAR2 activation in retinal angiogenesis. TNF-{alpha} 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-{alpha} • tie2 receptor • signaling transduction


*    Introduction
up arrowTop
 up arrowAbstract
 *Introduction
down arrowMaterials and Methods
 down arrowResults
 down arrowDiscussion
 down arrowReferences
 
Angiogenesis occurs physiologically in growth, wound healing, and during the menstrual cycle. Pathological angiogenesis is critically important in the pathogenesis of tumor growth, chronic inflammatory disorders (eg, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis), and ischemic proliferative retinopathy such as diabetic retinopathy.1 At the molecular level, important and intensely studied angiogenic factors include vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietins (Angs), and the basic fibroblast growth factor.2 VEGF stimulates a broad spectrum of biological responses in endothelial cells, including cell proliferation, migration, survival, differentiation, and permeability.3 The role of the Angs and their receptor tie2 (tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin and epidermal growth factor homology domains receptor 2) in angiogenesis and vessel maturation is relatively complex. The Ang family is composed of 4 members: Ang1 to Ang4.4 Ang1 and Ang4 stimulate tie2, whereas Ang2 and Ang3 are reported to inhibit Ang1-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of tie24; phosphorylation of tie2 is implicated in maturation and stabilization of the vessel wall.5 On the other hand, it has also been suggested that local upregulation of Ang2 makes the vessel more responsive to other growth factors, notably VEGF,5 and simultaneous upregulation of Ang2 and VEGF leads to neovascularization.5,6 Interestingly, the expressions of Ang2 and tie2 but not Ang1 are increased in areas of neovascularization7,8 and points toward a more active role of Ang2/tie2 signaling in angiogenesis.9,10

Protease-activated receptors (PARs) belong to the G-protein–coupled 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-{alpha} (TNF-{alpha}), signaling via the MEK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway.


*    Materials and Methods
up arrowTop
 up arrowAbstract
 up arrowIntroduction
 *Materials and Methods
down arrowResults
 down arrowDiscussion
 down arrowReferences
 
Animals
Newborn Sprague Dawley rats (Charles River; St-Constant, Québec, Canada) were used according to a protocol approved by Ste. Justine Research Center animal care committee.

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 Transcriptase–Polymerase 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-{alpha} are 5'TCCTCACTCACACCATCAGC3' (upstream) and 5'CCAAAATAGACCTGCCCAGA3' (downstream). QuantumRNA universal 18S standard primers (Ambion) were used as internal standard references.

TNF-{alpha} 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-{alpha} concentrations. TNF-{alpha} was assayed with a Quantikine Porcine TNF-{alpha}/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 isothiocyanate–labeled 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 Newman–Keuls comparison among means test. Statistical significance was set as P<0.05. Values are presented as means±SEM.


*    Results
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 up arrowAbstract
 up arrowIntroduction
 up arrowMaterials and Methods
 *Results
down arrowDiscussion
 down arrowReferences
 
PAR2 Expression During Physiological Developmental Angiogenesis
Retinal developmental angiogenesis occurs during the first 2 postnatal weeks in the rat and provides a useful model to study neovascularization. PAR2 expression in retina increased from P4 to P15 (Figure 1A; Figure I, available online at http://atvb.ahajournals.org). Similar increases in the expression of VEGF, Ang2, and tie2 were observed during this period, albeit that in Ang2 was transient; Ang1 immunoreactivity decreased slightly over the same period (Figure 1A; Figure I).


Figure 1
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  		Figure 1. Western blot of PAR2, VEGF, Ang1, Ang2, tie2, and ß-actin (reference) in the developing rat retina and PNRECs. A, Histographic representations of immunoblots on rat retinas. Densitometric values in the top panel are adjusted for ß-actin expression and the bottom panel for vascularization; ratios at P4 were normalized to 100%. Values are means±SEM of 3 to 4 experiments. *P<0.05 compared with P4. B, Graphical representation of immunoblots in PNRECs. Values are means±SEM of 3 to 4 experiments. *P<0.05 compared with vehicle (which exerted no effects).

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).


Figure 2
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  		Figure 2. Time-course profile of tie2 mRNA and protein in PNRECs in response to PAR2 agonist SLIGRL (100 µmol/L), PAR1 agonist SFLLRN (100 µmol/L), scrambled peptide LRGILS (100 µmol/L), thrombin (0.1 U/mL), or vehicle (PBS). Densitometric histograms represent tie2 mRNA (83 bp) transcription (A) detected by RT-PCR (see Methods) and protein expression (B) estimated by Western blot. The 18S (308 bp) was used as a standard endogenous gene control; ß-actin was used for protein reference. Values are means±SEM of 3 to 4 experiments. *P<0.001 compared with time 0 (ANOVA).

Upregulation of Tie2 by PAR2 Stimulation Is Mediated by TNF-{alpha} 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-{alpha}21,22; the latter also exhibits angiogenic properties possibly via tie2.23 We tested these PAR2 properties in PNRECs. TNF-{alpha} concentration in cultured media of PNRECs was significantly increased by SLIGRL starting 30 minutes after stimulation (Figure 3A), and human recombinant TNF-{alpha} (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-{alpha} receptor blockers, infliximab (specific chimeric IgG1{kappa} 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-{alpha} and neutralize its biological activity. As expected, nonspecific isotype-matched IgG1{kappa} (control; Ancell Immunology Research Products) was ineffective (Figure 3B; Figure IIIA).


Figure 3
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  		Figure 3. Participation of TNF-{alpha} in PAR2-induced tie2 expression. A, Time-course of TNF-{alpha} concentration (pg/mL of means±SEM) in cultured medium of PNRECs stimulated with SLIGRL (100 µmol/L) and effects of PD98059 (10 µmol/L) or tie2/Fc (1 µg/mL) at 16 hours; PD98059 and tie2/Fc alone (at 16 hours [h]) served as controls. Values are means±SEM of 3 (time-course) or 5 experiments (other values). *P<0.05 compared with untreated. Graphical histograms represent tie2 mRNA (B) and protein (C) expression in PNRECs in response to SLIGRL (100 µmol/L) in presence or absence of infliximab (1 µg/mL; InFlx) and corresponding nonspecific isotype-matched IgG1{kappa} (10 µg/mL). Tie2 expression (mRNA and protein) were determined by RT-PCR (B) and Western blot (C) at indicated times; 18S RNA and ß-actin immunoreactivity were respectively used for reference. Values are means+SEM of 3 to 4 experiments. *P<0.01 compared with vehicle (Control; ANOVA).


Figure 4
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  		Figure 4. Role of ERK in PAR2- and TNF-{alpha}–induced tie2 expression. Western blots of phospho-ERK1/2 (5 minutes; A) and tie2 (4 hours; B) in PNRECs were measured densitometrically and represented as histograms. Cells were treated with SLIGRL (100 µmol/L) in absence or presence of JNK1/2 inhibitor SP600125 (10 µmol/L), p38 kinase inhibitor SB203580 (30 µmol/L), MEK1/2–ERK1/2 pathway inhibitor PD98059 (10 µmol/L), human TNF-{alpha} neutralizing antibody infliximab (InFlx; 1 µg/mL), soluble human TNF receptor fusion protein etanercept (Ecept; 1 µg/mL), or tie2 neutralizing chimera tie2/Fc (1 µg/mL); effects of inhibitors alone were also tested. Some cells were treated with TNF-{alpha} (1 ng/mL) in absence or presence of PD98059 (10 µmol/L). ß-Actin and ERK1/2 were used respectively as reference for tie2 and phospho-ERK1/2. Values are mean+SEM of 3 to 4 experiments each. *P<0.001 compared with untreated.

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 MEK1/2–ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 but not by the MAPK kinase (MKK)3/6–p38 or the MKK4/7–JNK (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-{alpha} 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-{alpha} release. This was indeed the case because TNF-{alpha} 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-{alpha} blockers (Figure 4A; Figure IVA). Moreover, TNF-{alpha}–induced tie2 expression was itself dependent on the ERK1/2 pathway because the latter was activated in response to TNF-{alpha}, and inhibition of ERK1/2 prevented TNF-{alpha}–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-{alpha} release, followed by one in response to this latter mediator.

PAR2 Activation Induces PNREC Proliferation Through MEK-ERK, TNF-{alpha}, and Tie2 Pathways
Because PAR2 activation in PNRECs induces signaling pathway-associated expression of the proangiogenic tie2 (Figures 2 through 4UpUp; 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 MEK1/2–ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059, TNF-{alpha} 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-{alpha}, and Tie2
Finally, we tested the effects of PAR2 activation on retinal angiogenesis and the corresponding role of TNF-{alpha}, 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


Figure 5
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  		Figure 5. Retinal angiogenic effects of PAR2 are MEK1/2–ERK1/2-, TNF-{alpha}-, and tie2-dependent. Rat pup eyes were injected intravitreally with trypsin (100 nmol/L; without or with soybean trypsin inhibitor [STI; 10 nmol/L]), FVIIa (100 nmol/L), and SLIGRL (100 µmol/L) in absence or presence of infliximab (InFlx; 1 µg/eye), etanercept (1 µg/eye), PD98059 (10 µmol/L), or tie2/Fc (1 µg/eye) at P3 (see Methods); inhibitors were also tested alone. Retinas were isolated at P7 to measure vascularized area. A, Representative retinal flat mounts. Dotted line outlines vascular front. B, Graphical representation of retinal vascularization relative to total retinal surface area. Values are mean±SEM of 5 to 8 experiments each. *P<0.001 compared with all other values.


*    Discussion
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 up arrowAbstract
 up arrowIntroduction
 up arrowMaterials and Methods
 up arrowResults
 *Discussion
down arrowReferences
 
PARs are a relatively recently described family of G-protein–coupled receptors that, as the name indicates, are activated by proteases. Of the PARs, PAR1 and 2 have been the most studied. Both PAR1 and 2 have been attributed proinflammatory,29 oncogenic,29 and angiogenic properties.13 PAR1 and PAR2 can both be activated by the major procoagulant esterase FVIIa via tissue factor,31,32 but mitogenic as well as migratory effects of the latter are mostly PAR2 dependent,33,34 as shown in Figure 5. Moreover, PAR2 relative to PAR1 seems to exhibit significant physiological angiogenic properties,12,13 especially in the developing retina.13 However, the signaling mechanisms specifically of PAR2 in this process has not yet been described. We therefore investigated the mode of action of PAR2 in angiogenesis in the developing retina. Our findings reveal a link between the proinflammatory and angiogenic effects of PAR2, which are mediated by TNF-{alpha} 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 4UpUpUp; 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-{alpha} (Figures 3 through 5UpUp; Figures III through V). Abundant evidence well described angiogenic properties of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-1, and TNF-{alpha}.14,15 In addition, TNF-{alpha} 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-{alpha}: (1) PAR2 activation evoked an early release of TNF-{alpha} (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-{alpha} blockers, the specific neutralizing antibody to TNF-{alpha} infliximab, and the soluble TNF-{alpha} receptor p75 Fc fusion protein etanercept (Figures 3 and 4Up; Figures III and IV); (3) stimulation with TNF-{alpha} 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-{alpha} (Figure 3A). Accordingly, TNF-{alpha} 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-{alpha} formation (Figure 3A); this is consistent with the documented dominant role for ERK1/2 in PAR1/2-induced TNF-{alpha} 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-{alpha} itself activated ERK1/2 (Figure 4A; Figure IVA), which plays a role in TNF-{alpha}–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 5Up; 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-{alpha}.

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-{alpha} 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
 
This study was supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Québec, the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec, and Le Réseau de Recherche en Santé de la Vision. F.S. and J.-S.J. are recipients of fellowship awards respectively from CIHR and the Canadian Blood Services as well as the Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program. D.C. is recipient of a studentship from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Foundation Fighting Blindness; M.B. and S.N. are recipients of studentships from CIHR. S.C. holds a Canada research chair (perinatology).

Received October 17, 2005; accepted January 4, 2006.


*    References
up arrowTop
 up arrowAbstract
 up arrowIntroduction
 up arrowMaterials and Methods
 up arrowResults
 up arrowDiscussion
 *References
 

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