title: VEGF selectively induces Down syndrome critical region 1 gene expression in endothelial cells: a mechanism for feedback regulation of angiogenesis?
abstract: The Down syndrome critical region 1 (DSCR1) gene (also known as MCIP1, Adapt78) encodes a regulatory protein that binds to calcineurin catalytic A subunit and acts as a regulator of the calcineurin-mediated signaling pathway. We show in this study that DSCR1 is greatly induced in endothelial cells in response to VEGF, TNF-alpha, and A23187 treatment, and that this up-regulation is inhibited by inhibitors of the calcineurin-NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) signaling pathway as well as by PKC inhibition and a Ca(2+) chelator. We hypothesized that the up-regulation of DSCR1 gene expression in endothelial cells could act as an endogenous feedback inhibitor for angiogenesis by regulating the calcineurin-NFAT signaling pathway. Our transient transfection analyses confirm that the overexpression of DSCR1 abrogates the up-regulation of reporter gene expression driven by both the cyclooxygenase 2 and DSCR1 promoters in response to stimulators. Our results indicate that DSCR1 up-regulation may represent a potential molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of angiogenic genes activated by the calcineurin-NFAT signaling pathway in endothelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Yong-Gang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Elia J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Duh
mesh_terms: D000001:Calcimycin / Q000378:metabolism; D019703:Calcineurin / Q000378:metabolism; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004314:Down Syndrome; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D025461:Feedback, Physiological; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007476:Ionophores / Q000378:metabolism; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007476:Ionophores; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C108612:RCAN1 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000001:Calcimycin; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D019703:Calcineurin