title: Vascular endothelial growth factor induces rapid phosphorylation of tight junction proteins occludin and zonula occluden 1. A potential mechanism for vascular permeability in diabetic retinopathy and tumors.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may have a physiologic role in regulating vessel permeability and contributes to the pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy as well as tumor development. We set out to ascertain the mechanism by which VEGF regulates paracellular permeability in rats. Intra-ocular injection of VEGF caused a post-translational modification of occludin as determined by a gel shift from 60 to 62 kDa. This event began by 15 min post-injection and was maximal by 45 min. Alkaline phosphatase treatment revealed this modification was caused by a change in occludin phosphorylation. In addition, the quantity of extracted occludin increased 2-fold in the same time frame. The phosphorylation and increased extraction of occludin was recapitulated in retinal endothelial cells in culture after VEGF stimulation. The data presented herein are the first demonstration of a change in the phosphorylation of this transmembrane protein under conditions of increased endothelial permeability. In addition, intra-ocular injection of VEGF also caused tyrosine phosphorylation of ZO-1 as early as 15 min and increased phosphorylation 4-fold after 90 min. In conclusion, VEGF rapidly increases occludin phosphorylation as well as the tyrosine phosphorylation of ZO-1. Phosphorylation of occludin and ZO-1 likely contribute to regulated endothelial paracellular permeability.
authors.affiliation: Penn State Retina Research Group, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, USA. dantonetti@psu.edu
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Antonetti
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Hollinger
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Wolpert
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000502:physiology*; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D062793:Occludin; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D062793:Occludin; C568987:Ocln protein, rat; D010750:Phosphoproteins; C569044:Tjp1 protein, rat; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein