title: Vascular endothelial growth factor stimulates dephosphorylation of the catenins p120 and p100 in endothelial cells.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an endothelium-specific mitogen that induces angiogenesis and increases vascular permeability. These processes involve regulation of cell-cell adhesion, but molecular mechanisms have yet to be fully established. p120, also termed p120(ctn), and its variant p100 are catenins which associate with cadherins and localize to adherens junctions. VEGF was reported to stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation of catenins in endothelial cells. In contrast, we have found that VEGF potently stimulated a rapid and dose-dependent decrease in serine/threonine phosphorylation of p120 and p100. VEGF acted via VEGF receptor 2 to achieve this effect which was independent of activation of the extracellular-signal-regulated kinase pathway. Histamine and activators of protein kinase C had a very similar effect to that of VEGF on phosphorylation of p120 and p100, suggesting that these diverse stimuli may converge on a common signalling element regulating p120/p100 serine/threonine phosphorylation. These data raise the possibility that the dephosphorylation of p120 and p100 triggered by VEGF may contribute to mechanisms regulating permeability and/or motility through modulation of cadherin adhesiveness.
authors.affiliation: Eisai London Research Laboratories Ltd., Bernard Katz Building, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, U.K.
authors.forename: E Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smales
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Gubby
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Staddon
mesh_terms: D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D051177:Catenins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D006639:Histidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010449:Peptide Mapping; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate / Q000494:pharmacology; D019606:Phosphoamino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D000095002:Delta Catenin
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D051177:Catenins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D019606:Phosphoamino Acids; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate; D006639:Histidine; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D000095002:Delta Catenin; C000722347:CTNND1 protein, human