title: Autocrine stimulation of VEGFR-2 activates human leukemic cell growth and migration.
abstract: Emerging data suggest that VEGF receptors are expressed by endothelial cells as well as hematopoietic stem cells. Therefore, we hypothesized that functional VEGF receptors may also be expressed in malignant counterparts of hematopoietic stem cells such as leukemias. We demonstrate that certain leukemias not only produce VEGF but also express functional VEGFR-2 in vivo and in vitro, resulting in the generation of an autocrine loop that may support leukemic cell survival and proliferation. Approximately 50% of freshly isolated leukemias expressed mRNA and protein for VEGFR-2. VEGF(165) induced phosphorylation of VEGFR-2 and increased proliferation of leukemic cells, demonstrating these receptors were functional. VEGF(165) also induced the expression of MMP-9 by leukemic cells and promoted their migration through reconstituted basement membrane. The neutralizing mAb IMC-1C11, specific to human VEGFR-2, inhibited leukemic cell survival in vitro and blocked VEGF(165)-mediated proliferation of leukemic cells and VEGF-induced leukemic cell migration. Xenotransplantation of primary leukemias and leukemic cell lines into immunocompromised nonobese diabetic mice resulted in significant elevation of human, but not murine, VEGF in plasma and death of inoculated mice within 3 weeks. Injection of IMC-1C11 inhibited proliferation of xenotransplanted human leukemias and significantly increased the survival of inoculated mice. Interruption of signaling by VEGFRs, particularly VEGFR-2, may provide a novel strategy for inhibiting leukemic cell proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Hematology/Oncology Division, New York, New York, USA. USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heissig
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choy
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chadburn
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hyjek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hicklin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Witte
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rafii
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017931:DNA Primers; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9