title: TGF-beta1 induces mouse dendritic cells to express VEGF and its receptor (Flt-1) under hypoxic conditions.
abstract: Angiogenesis is a multi-step process that involves the activation, proliferation, and migration of endothelial cells. We have recently shown that TGF-beta1 can induce mouse macrophages to produce VEGF, a potent angiogenic factor. In the present study, we explored whether TGF-beta1 has a similar effect on mouse dendritic cells. First, we show that under hypoxic conditions, TGF-beta1 induced the expression of VEGF transcripts in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells. Overexpression of Smad3/4 further augmented TGF-beta1-induced VEGF transcription, while overexpression of DN-Smad3 decreased VEGF transcription in DC2.4 cells, a mouse dendritic cell line. We also show that TGF-beta1 and Smads are involved in the induction of VEGF protein secretion. Interestingly, under the same conditions, the expression of VEGF receptor 1 (Flt-1) was also elevated at both the transcriptional and protein levels. Additionally, we found that the TGF-beta1-induced VEGF secretion in activated DC2.4 cells has wound-healing properties. Finally, Smad7 and Smurf1 negatively regulated the TGF-beta1-induced and Smad3/4-mediated VEGF expression. Taken together, these results indicate that TGF-beta1 can enhance the expression of VEGF and Flt-1 through the typical Smad pathway in mouse dendritic cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Bioscience, College of Biomedical Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Hee
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Seok-Rae
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Pyeung-Hyeun
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051901:Smad4 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051906:Smad7 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051899:Smad2 Protein; C497783:Smad2 protein, mouse; D051900:Smad3 Protein; C497791:Smad3 protein, mouse; D051901:Smad4 Protein; C490810:Smad4 protein, mouse; D051906:Smad7 Protein; C497807:Smad7 protein, mouse; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467480:vascular endothelial growth factor A, mouse; C501163:Flt1 protein, mouse; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1