title: The endothelial cell-produced antiangiogenic cytokine vascular endothelial growth inhibitor induces dendritic cell maturation.
abstract: Angiogenesis is an essential component of chronic inflammation that is linked to carcinogenesis. In this study, we report that human vascular endothelial growth inhibitor (VEGI, TNF superfamily 15), an endothelial cell-produced antiangiogenic cytokine, induces mouse dendritic cell (DC) maturation, a critical event in inflammation-initiated immunity. VEGI-stimulated bone marrow-derived immature DCs display early activation of maturation signaling molecules NF-kappaB, STAT3, p38, and JNK, and cytoskeleton reorganization and dendrite formation. The activation signals are partially inhibited by using a neutralizing Ab against death domain-containing receptor-3 (DR3) or a truncated form of DR3 consisting of the extracellular domain, indicating an involvement of DR3 in the transmission of VEGI activity. A VEGI isoform, TL1A, does not induce similar activities under otherwise identical experimental conditions. Additionally, the cells reveal significantly enhanced expression of mature DC-specific marker CD83, secondary lymphoid tissue-directing chemokine receptor CCR7, the MHC class-II protein (MHC-II), and costimulatory molecules CD40, CD80, and CD86. Functionally, the cells exhibit decreased Ag endocytosis, increased cell surface distribution of MHC-II, and increased secretion of IL-12 and TNF. Moreover, VEGI-stimulated DCs are able to facilitate the differentiation of CD4+ naive T cells in cocultures. These findings suggest that the anticancer activity of VEGI arises from coupling the inhibition of endothelial cell growth with the promotion of the adaptive immune mechanisms through the stimulation of DC maturation.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Sammy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grimaldo
authors.forename: Mitsugu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Mitsugu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fugita
authors.forename: Jonita
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cutts
authors.forename: Nikola L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Vujanovic
authors.forename: Lu-Yuan
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D053380:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 15 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*