title: Vascular endothelial growth factor up-regulates expression of receptor activator of NF-kappa B (RANK) in endothelial cells. Concomitant increase of angiogenic responses to RANK ligand.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known as a key regulator of angiogenesis during endochondral bone formation. Recently, we demonstrated that TNF-related activation-induced cytokine (TRANCE or RANKL), which is essential for bone remodeling, also had an angiogenic activity. Here we report that VEGF up-regulates expression of receptor activator of NF-kappa B (RANK) and increases angiogenic responses of endothelial cells to TRANCE. Treatment of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with VEGF increased both RANK mRNA and surface protein expression. Although placenta growth factor specific to VEGF receptor-1 had no significant effect on RANK expression, inhibition of downstream signaling molecules of the VEGF receptor-2 (Flk-1/KDR) such as Src, phospholipase C, protein kinase C, and phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase suppressed VEGF-stimulated RANK expression in HUVECs. Moreover, the MEK inhibitor PD98059 or expression of dominant negative MEK1 inhibited induction of RANK by VEGF but not the Ca2+ chelator 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid-acetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA-AM). VEGF potentiated TRANCE-induced ERK activation and tube formation via RANK up-regulation in HUVECs. Together, these results show that VEGF enhances RANK expression in endothelial cells through Flk-1/KDR-protein kinase C-ERK signaling pathway, suggesting that VEGF plays an important role in modulating the angiogenic action of TRANCE under physiological or pathological conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chunchon, Kangwon-Do, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Ki
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Young-Myeong
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Mi
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eok-Cheon
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong Song
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Gho
authors.forename: Il-Jun
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Soo-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young-Yun
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Young-Guen
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D053245:RANK Ligand; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D019061:src-Family Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D053245:RANK Ligand; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C505686:TNFRSF11A protein, human; C506030:TNFRSF11B protein, human; C505688:TNFSF11 protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D019061:src-Family Kinases; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D010738:Type C Phospholipases