title: Metallothionein-III induces HIF-1alpha-mediated VEGF expression in brain endothelial cells.
abstract: Metallothionein-III (MT-III), a metal-binding protein, is associated with resistance to neuronal injury. However, the underlying mechanism for its effects remains unclear. We therefore examined whether MT-III can induce VEGF expression and promote neuroprotective effects in brain endothelial bEND.3 cells. MT-III significantly induced VEGF mRNA and protein expression in bEND.3 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, MT-III treatment increased the stability of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and stimulated transcription of a reporter gene under control of the VEGF promoter. MT-III also increased the accumulation of HIF-1alpha in nuclei and increased HIF-1alpha-binding to the VEGF promoter. MT-III increased PI3K/Akt and ERK1/2 phosphorylation according to Western blot analysis. However, pretreatment with PD98059 and LY294002 (ERK1/2 and Akt inhibitors) inhibited MT-III-induced stimulation of HIF-1alpha protein expression and VEGF production. These results suggest that MT-III upregulates VEGF production in brain endothelial cells by a HIF-1alpha-dependent mechanism.
authors.affiliation: BK21 Project Team, Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Research Center for Proteineous Materials, Chosun University, 375 Seosuk-dong, Gwangju 501-759, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung Gyun
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong Pil
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Hye Gwang
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090023:Metallothionein 3; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D000090023:Metallothionein 3; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A