title: Angiopoietin-1 activates both anti- and proapoptotic mitogen-activated protein kinases.
abstract: In this study, we identified whether mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) mediate the effects of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) on endothelial cell apoptosis. Exposure of human umbilical vein endothelial cells to Ang-1 (300 ng/ml) evoked within 15-30 min a 15-fold and a 5-fold increase in phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPKs, respectively. Inhibitors of the PI-3 kinase pathway attenuated Ang-1-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation at a level up-stream from Raf and MEK1/2, but these inhibitors augmented Ang-1-induced p38 phosphorylation. When serum and growth supplements were withdrawn, the percentage of endothelial apoptosis tripled over 24 h compared with control cells. The presence of Ang-1 (300 ng/ml) significantly attenuated endothelial cell apoptosis and inhibited caspase-9, -7, and -3 activation. These antiapoptotic effects were augmented when a p38 inhibitor was combined with Ang-1, whereas inhibition of ERK1/2 eliminated the antiapoptotic properties of Ang-1. We conclude that both anti- (ERK1/2) and pro- (p38) apoptotic members of MAPKs are simultaneously activated by Ang-1 in endothelial cells and that activation of ERK1/2 by Ang-1 is mediated through the PI-3 kinase pathway. The strong antiapoptotic effects of the ERK and the PI-3 kinase pathways mask the proapoptotic function of p38 MAPKs resulting in net attenuation of apoptosis by Ang-1.
authors.affiliation: Critical Care Division, Royal Victoria Hospital, 687 Ave. West, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3A 1A1.
authors.forename: Rania
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harfouche
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gratton
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Yancopoulos
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noseda
authors.forename: Aly
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karsan
authors.forename: Sabah N A
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Hussain
mesh_terms: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D017209:Apoptosis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: C467630:ANGPT1 protein, human; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases