title: Vascular endothelial growth factor signals endothelial cell production of nitric oxide and prostacyclin through flk-1/KDR activation of c-Src.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent endothelial cell-specific mitogen that promotes angiogenesis, vascular hyperpermeability, and vasodilation by autocrine mechanisms involving nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin (PGI(2)) production. These experiments used immunoprecipitation and immunoassay procedures to characterize the signaling pathways by which VEGF induces NO and PGI(2) formation in cultured endothelial cells. The data showed that VEGF stimulates complex formation of the flk-1/kinase-insert domain-containing receptor (KDR) VEGF receptor with c-Src and that Src activation is required for VEGF induction of phospholipase C gamma1 activation and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate formation. Reporter cell assays showed that VEGF promotes a approximately 50-fold increase in NO formation, which peaks at 5-20 min. This effect is mediated by a signaling cascade initiated by flk-1/KDR activation of c-Src, leading to phospholipase C gamma1 activation, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate formation, release of [Ca(2+)](i) and nitric oxide synthase activation. Immunoassays of VEGF-induced 6-keto prostaglandin F(1alpha) formation as an indicator of PGI(2) production revealed a 3-4-fold increase that peaked at 45-60 min. The PGI(2) signaling pathway follows the NO pathway through release of [Ca(2+)](i), but diverges prior to NOS activation and also requires activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase. These results suggest that NO and PGI(2) function in parallel in mediating the effects of VEGF.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Biology Center, The Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30912-2500, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Venema
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Venema
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Marrero
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Caldwell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000378:metabolism*; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D051966:Phospholipase C gamma; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D015398:Signal Transduction; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D019061:src-Family Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008222:Lymphokines; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate; D011464:Epoprostenol; D019833:Genistein; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D019061:src-Family Kinases; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; D051966:Phospholipase C gamma; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D002118:Calcium