VEGFR1 (Flt1) regulates Rab4 recycling to control fibronectin polymerization and endothelial vessel branching.
The cell's main receptor for VEGF, VEGFR2 (Kdr) is one of the most important positive regulators of new blood vessel growth and its downstream signalling is well characterized. By contrast, VEGFR1 (Flt1) and the mechanisms by which this VEGF receptor promotes branching morphogenesis in angiogenesis remain relatively unclear.Here we report that engagement of VEGFR1 activates a Rab4A-dependent pathway that transports alphavbeta3 Integrin from early endosomes to the plasma membrane, and that this is required for VEGF-driven fibronectin polymerization in endothelial cells. Furthermore, VEGFR1 acts to promote endothelial tubule branching in an organotypic model of angiogenesis via a mechanism that requires Rab4A and alphavbeta3 Integrin. We conclude that a recycling pathway regulated by Rab4A is a critical effector of VEGFR1 during branching morphogenesis of the vasculature.
Jones
Matthew C
MC
Beatson Institute for Cancer Research (Cancer Research UK), Garscube Estate, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK.
Caswell
Patrick T
PT
Moran-Jones
Kim
K
Roberts
Marnie
M
Barry
Simon T
ST
Gampel
Alexandra
A
Mellor
Harry
H
Norman
Jim C
JC
D001704:Biopolymers / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D020695:rab4 GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D001704:Biopolymers; D005353:Fibronectins; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D020695:rab4 GTP-Binding Proteins