title: Comparison of the signaling mechanisms by which VEGF, H2O2, and phosphatase inhibitors activate endothelial cell ERK1/2 MAP-kinase.
abstract: VEGF-induced ERK1/2 activation is mediated by a signaling mechanism involving the sequential activation of PLCgamma-PKC-Raf1-MEK-ERK1/2. This signaling pathway is necessary, but not sufficient for ERK1/2 activation, as VEGF-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is also required. The molecular interaction by which VEGF-induced ROS generation is coordinated with the PLCgamma plus PKC-dependent pathway is not certain, and the goal of this study was to clarify this issue. Prior investigations examining ROS-induced signaling have focused on the cellular protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs), and we asked whether a PTP participates in ERK1/2 activation in endothelial cells. We show that both the general PTP inhibitor vanadate, and a dominant negative inhibitor of SHP-1, mimics the effects of VEGF in activating ERK1/2. The phosphatase inhibitors induce ERK1/2 activation in endothelial cells lacking VEGF receptors, indicating that the inhibitors target a downstream effector. As is the case after VEGF treatment, the phosphatase inhibitors do lead to the activation of PLCgamma, and a pharmacological inhibitor of the Src kinases blocks this. These results lead to the conclusion that inhibition of a protein tyrosine phosphatase activates endothelial cell ERK1/2 by a signaling mechanism involving the sequential activation of Src-PLCgamma-PKC-Raf1-MEK-ERK1/2. VEGF treatment most likely activates this pathway by inhibiting SHP-1 through a ROS-dependent mechanism.
authors.affiliation: The Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Simone C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Spring
authors.forename: Bruce I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Terman
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases