title: Endothelial expression of autocrine VEGF upon the uptake of tumor-derived microvesicles containing oncogenic EGFR.
abstract: Activated EGF receptor (EGFR) plays an oncogenic role in several human malignancies. Although the intracellular effects of EGFR are well studied, its ability to induce and modulate tumor angiogenesis is less understood. We found previously that oncogenic EGFR can be shed from cancer cells as cargo of membrane microvesicles (MVs), which can interact with surfaces of other cells. Here we report that MVs produced by human cancer cells harboring activated EGFR (A431, A549, DLD-1) can be taken up by cultured endothelial cells, in which they elicit EGFR-dependent responses, including activation of MAPK and Akt pathways. These responses can be blocked by annexin V and its homodimer, Diannexin, both of which cloak phosphatidylserine residues on the surfaces of MVs. Interestingly, the intercellular EGFR transfer is also accompanied by the onset of VEGF expression in endothelial cells and by autocrine activation of its key signaling receptor (VEGF receptor-2). In A431 human tumor xenografts in mice, angiogenic endothelial cells stain positively for human EGFR and phospho-EGFR, while treatment with Diannexin leads to a reduction of tumor growth rate and microvascular density. Thus, we propose that oncogene-containing tumor cell-derived MVs could act as a unique form of angiogenesis-modulating stimuli and are capable of switching endothelial cells to act in an autocrine mode.
authors.affiliation: Montreal Children's Hospital Research Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada H3Z 2Z3.
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Al-Nedawi
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meehan
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kerbel
authors.forename: Anthony C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019898:Autocrine Communication; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010718:Phosphatidylserines; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors