title: Upregulation of neuropilin-1 by basic fibroblast growth factor enhances vascular smooth muscle cell migration in response to VEGF.
abstract: Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) is a co-receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). During neovascularization, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and pericytes modulate the function of endothelial cells. Factors that mediate NRP-1 in human VSMCs (hVSMCs) remain to be elucidated. We studied various angiogenic cytokines to identify factors that increase NRP-1 expression in hVSMCs. Treatment of hVSMCs with basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) induced expressions of NRP-1 mRNA and protein whereas epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor-1, and interleukin-1beta did not. b-FGF induced phosphorylation of Erk-1/2 and JNK. MEK1/2 and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) inhibitors (U0126 and TLCK, respectively) blocked the ability of b-FGF to induce NRP-1 mRNA expression, but inhibition of JNK (SP600125) or PI3-kinase activity (wortmannin) did not. Further, the increase in NRP-1 expression by b-FGF enhanced hVSMCs migration in response to VEGF(165). This effect was dependent on the binding of VEGF(165) to VEGFR-2, as blocking antibodies to VEGFR-2, but not VEGFR-1, inhibited VEGF(165)-induced migration. In conclusion, b-FGF increased NRP-1 expression in hVSMCs that in turn enhance the effect of VEGF(165) on cell migration. The enhanced migration of hVSMCs was mediated through binding of VEGF(165) to both NRP-1 and VEGFR-2, as inhibition of VEGFR-2 on these cells blocked the effect of VEGF-mediated cell migration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA.
authors.forename: Wenbiao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Alexander A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Parikh
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Stoeltzing
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Marya F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: McCarty
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wey
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hicklin
authors.forename: Lee M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ellis
mesh_terms: D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004357:Drug Synergism; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D039942:Neuropilin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D039942:Neuropilin-1