title: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces plasminogen activators and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in microvascular endothelial cells.
abstract: Extracellular proteolysis is believed to be an essential component of the angiogenic process. The effects of VEGF, a recently described angiogenic factor, were assessed on PA activity and PA and PAI-1 mRNA levels in microvascular endothelial cells. u-PA and t-PA activity were increased by VEGF in a dose-dependent manner, with maximal induction at 30 ng/ml. u-PA and t-PA mRNAs were increased 7.5- and 8-fold respectively after 15 hours, and PAI-1 mRNA 4.5-fold after 4 hours exposure to VEGF. At equimolar concentrations (0.5 nM), VEGF was a more potent inducer of t-PA mRNA than bFGF, while bFGF was a more potent inducer of u-PA and PAI-1 mRNAs. In addition, VEGF induced u-PA and PAI-1 mRNAs with kinetics similar to those previously demonstrated for bFGF. These results demonstrate the regulation of PA and PAI-1 production by VEGF in microvascular endothelial cells and are in accord with the hypothesis that extracellular proteolysis, appropriately balanced by protease inhibitors, is required for normal capillary morphogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, University of Geneva Medical Center, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Pepper
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Orci
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montesano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008833:Microcirculation; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator