title: PPAR activators inhibit endothelial cell migration by targeting Akt.
abstract: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) regulate lipid and glucose metabolism and exert several vascular effects that may provide a dual benefit of these receptors on metabolic disorders and atherosclerotic vascular disease. Endothelial cell migration is a key event in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We therefore investigated the effects of lipid-lowering PPARalpha-activators (fenofibrate, WY14643) and antidiabetic PPARgamma-activators (troglitazone, ciglitazone) on this endothelial cell function. Both PPARalpha- and PPARgamma-activators significantly inhibited VEGF-induced migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (EC) in a concentration-dependent manner. Chemotactic signaling in EC is known to require activation of two signaling pathways: the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-->Akt- and the ERK1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK MAPK) pathway. Using the pharmacological PI3K-inhibitor wortmannin and the ERK MAPK-pathway inhibitor PD98059, we observed a complete inhibition of VEGF-induced EC migration. VEGF-induced Akt phosphorylation was significantly inhibited by both PPARalpha- and gamma-activators. In contrast, VEGF-stimulated ERK MAPK-activation was not affected by any of the PPAR-activators, indicating that they inhibit migration either downstream of ERK MAPK or independent from this pathway. These results provide first evidence for the antimigratory effects of PPAR-activators in EC. By inhibiting EC migration PPAR-activators may protect the vasculature from pathological alterations associated with metabolic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine/Cardiology, German Heart Institute Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany. goetze@dhzb.be
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goetze
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eilers
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bungenstock
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kintscher
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stawowy
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blaschke
authors.forename: Kristof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: Ronald E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: Eckart
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fleck
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gräfe
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002465:Cell Movement; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002839:Chromans / Q000494:pharmacology; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011345:Fenofibrate / Q000494:pharmacology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020025:Peroxisome Proliferators / Q000494:pharmacology; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077288:Troglitazone; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002839:Chromans; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005419:Flavonoids; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008222:Lymphokines; D020025:Peroxisome Proliferators; D011743:Pyrimidines; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D013844:Thiazoles; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D014157:Transcription Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C006253:pirinixic acid; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D000077288:Troglitazone; C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one; D011345:Fenofibrate; C039671:ciglitazone