title: Functional evidence that vascular endothelial growth factor may act as an autocrine factor on human podocytes.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is expressed by renal glomerular epithelial cells (podocytes) and is thought to be protective against nephrotoxic agents. VEGF has been shown to be an autocrine survival factor in neuropilin-1-positive, VEGF receptor-negative breast carcinoma cells. Normal human podocytes are also known to express neuropilin-1, VEGF, and are VEGF-R2 negative. Here, we investigated whether a similar VEGF autocrine loop may exist in podocytes. Podocyte cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) was analyzed in primary cultured and conditionally immortalized podocytes using ratiometric fluorescence measurement. Cytotoxicity was determined by lactate dehydrogenase assay, proliferation by [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation, and cell counts by hemocytometric assay. VEGF decreased [Ca(2+)](i) in primary podocytes (from 179 +/- 36 to 121 +/- 25 nM, P < 0.05) and conditionally immortalized podocytes (from 95 +/- 10 to 66 +/- 8 nM, P < 0.02) in the absence of extracellular calcium. The type III receptor tyrosine-kinase inhibitor PTK787/ZK222584 abolished this reduction. VEGF increased podocyte [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation (3,349 +/- 283 cpm, control 2,364 +/- 301 cpm, P < 0.05) and cell number (4.5 +/- 0.7 x 10(4)/ml, control 2.6 +/- 0.5 x 10(4)/ml, P < 0.05) and decreased cytotoxicity (5.9 +/- 0.7%, control 12 +/- 3%, P < 0.05), whereas a monoclonal antibody to VEGF increased cytotoxicity. Electron microscopy of normal human glomeruli demonstrated that the glomerular VEGF is mostly podocyte cell membrane associated. These results indicate that one of the functions of VEGF secreted from podocytes may be to act as an autocrine factor on calcium homeostasis and cell survival.
authors.affiliation: Microvascular Research Laboratories, Department of Physiology, University of Bristol, Preclinical Veterinary School, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Rebecca R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hole
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Simon C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Satchell
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Coward
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Mathieson
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gillatt
authors.forename: Moin A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Saleem
authors.forename: David O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Harper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D016375:Antisense Elements (Genetics); D019898:Autocrine Communication / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology; D002452:Cell Count; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D017979:Gold Colloid; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D000077191:Wortmannin
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D016375:Antisense Elements (Genetics); D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D017979:Gold Colloid; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D013936:Thymidine; D000077191:Wortmannin