title: Blockade of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 signaling inhibits fibroblast growth factor-2-induced lymphangiogenesis in mouse cornea.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) is a major mediator of lymphangiogenesis. Recently, VEGFR-3 ligands, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D were reported to promote tumor lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis, and these processes were inhibited by blocking of the VEGFR-3-signaling pathway. Here, we have adapted the mouse corneal angiogenesis assay to study potential lymphangiogenic factors and inhibitors. Immunohistochemical analysis with lymphatic endothelial markers showed that VEGF-C induces lymphatic as well as blood vessel growth in the cornea. By contrast, VEGF induced angiogenesis but not lymphangiogenesis. Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) stimulated both lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis. FGF-2 up-regulated VEGF-C expression in vascular endothelial and perivascular cells. Furthermore, administration of blocking anti-VEGFR-3 antibodies inhibited the FGF-2-induced lymphangiogenesis. These findings show that VEGFR-3 can mediate lymphangiogenesis induced by other growth factors. Because increased expression of FGF-2 and VEGF-C has been associated with lymphatic metastasis, our results provide a potential strategy for the inhibition of lymphatic metastasis in cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Molecular/Cancer Biology Laboratory and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, and Helsinki University Central Hospital, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, POB 63, Haartmaninkatu 8, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Renhai
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Ebba
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brakenhielm
authors.forename: Taija
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mäkinen
authors.forename: Yihai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alitalo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000254:growth & development*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000502:physiology*; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3
chemical_list: D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3