[Does oncogene c-ets 1 participate in the regulation of tumor angiogenesis?].
The formation of new blood vessels is an essential process in embryonic development and wound healing, for tumor growth and metastasis. In situ hybridization studies have revealed that the protooncogene c-est1 is expressed in endothelial cells at the beginning of blood vessel formation, in normal and pathological conditions. c-ets1 encodes a transcription factor, a protein which binds specifically to DNA and which regulates the transcription of genes containing these specific binding sequences in their promotors. Thus, in vitro experiments suggest that c-ets1 may activate the transcription of genes encoding collagenase 1, stromelysine 1 and urokinase plasminogen activator, proteases involved in extracellular matrix degradation. A working hypothesis is that c-ets1 takes part in regulating angiogenesis by controlling the transcription of these genes whose activity is necessary for the migration of endothelial cells from pre-existing capillaries. This hypothesis is discussed with respect to current experimental evidence and to the complexity of the regulatory network controlling gene transcription and extracellular matrix degradation.
Vandenbunder
B
B
Laboratoire d'oncologie moléculaire, CNRS URA 1160, Institut Pasteur de Lille, France.
Wernert
N
N
Stehelin
D
D
D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008954:Models, Biological; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply*; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000098:blood supply; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009857:Oncogenes / Q000502:physiology*; D015682:Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D015682:Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic; D014157:Transcription Factors; C050379:oncogene proteins v-ets; D010450:Endopeptidases