title: Vascular endothelial growth factor is upregulated by interleukin-1 beta in human vascular smooth muscle cells via the P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.
abstract: Small tumor vessels are composed of endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). These cells have been shown to communicate with each other via cytokine signaling during neovascularization. We previously demonstrated that interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) leads to induction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human colon carcinoma cells. As pericytes play a role in regulating EC function, we hypothesized that IL-1 beta may mediate EC survival by induction of VEGF in a paracrine manner. We investigated the effects of IL-1 beta on VEGF expression in human VSMCs (hVSMCs) and the signal transduction pathways that may be involved. Treatment of hVSMCs with IL-1 beta induced VEGF expression in a time- and concentration-dependent manner and increased both the VEGF promoter activity and the mRNA half-life. Treatment with IL-1 beta induced the expression of P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) within 5 min but did not activate extracellular signal-regulated kinases (Erk)-1/2, c-jun amino terminal kinase (JNK), or Akt. SB203580, a specific P38 MAPK inhibitor, blocked the ability of IL-1 beta to induce VEGF mRNA and promoter activity. Conditioned media from hVSMCs pretreated with IL-1 beta prevented apoptosis of ECs, an effect that was partially abrogated by VEGF-neutralizing antibodies. These data demonstrate that IL-1 beta may induce VEGF in hVSMCs, and suggest that this paracrine signaling pathway, may prevent, in part, apoptosis of ECs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Biology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Y D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reinmuth
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Gallick
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ellis
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; D007375:Interleukin-1; D008222:Lymphokines; D011725:Pyridines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093642:SB 203580