title: Transcription factor Egr-1 supports FGF-dependent angiogenesis during neovascularization and tumor growth.
abstract: Current understanding of key transcription factors regulating angiogenesis is limited. Here we show that RNA-cleaving phosphodiester-linked DNA-based enzymes (DNAzymes), targeting a specific motif in the 5' untranslated region of early growth response (Egr-1) mRNA, inhibit Egr-1 protein expression, microvascular endothelial cell replication and migration, and microtubule network formation on basement membrane matrices. Egr-1 DNAzymes blocked angiogenesis in subcutaneous Matrigel plugs in mice, an observation that was independently confirmed by plug analysis in Egr-1-deficient animals, and inhibited MCF-7 human breast carcinoma growth in nude mice. Egr-1 DNAzymes suppressed tumor growth without influencing body weight, wound healing, blood coagulation or other hematological parameters. These agents inhibited endothelial expression of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2, a proangiogenic factor downstream of Egr-1, but not that of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Egr-1 DNAzymes also repressed neovascularization of rat cornea. Thus, microvascular endothelial cell growth, neovascularization, tumor angiogenesis and tumor growth are processes that are critically dependent on Egr-1.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vascular Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Roger G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Fahmy
authors.forename: Crispin R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Dass
authors.forename: Lun-Quan
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Colin N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Chesterman
authors.forename: Levon M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Khachigian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D021881:DNA, Catalytic / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation / Q000473:pathology*; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D021881:DNA, Catalytic; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C497325:EGR1 protein, human; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; C486109:Egr1 protein, mouse; C486110:Egr1 protein, rat; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D014157:Transcription Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2