title: Integrin alpha9beta1 directly binds to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and contributes to VEGF-A-induced angiogenesis.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) is a potent inducer of angiogenesis. We now show that VEGF-A-induced adhesion and migration of human endothelial cells are dependent on the integrin alpha9beta1 and that VEGF-A is a direct ligand for this integrin. Adhesion and migration of these cells on the 165 and 121 isoforms of VEGF-A depend on cooperative input from alpha9beta1 and the cognate receptor for VEGF-A, VEGF receptor 2 (VEGF-R2). Unlike alpha3beta1or alphavbeta3 integrins, alpha9beta1 was also found to bind the 121 isoform of VEGF-A. This interaction appears to be biologically significant, because alpha9beta1-blocking antibody dramatically and specifically inhibited angiogenesis induced by VEGF-A165 or -121. Together with our previous findings that alpha9beta1 directly binds to VEGF-C and -D and contributes to lymphangiogenesis, these results identify the integrin alpha9beta1 as a potential pharmacotherapeutic target for inhibition of pathogenic angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Lung Biology Center, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143-2922, USA. vlahakis.nicholas@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Nicholas E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Vlahakis
authors.forename: Bradford A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Amha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atakilit
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Hawkridge
authors.forename: Rachel B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Issaka
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boudreau
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sheppard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016023:Integrins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D; C113256:integrin alpha 9 beta 1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2