title: Developmental and tumoral vascularization is regulated by G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2.
abstract: Tumor vessel dysfunction is a pivotal event in cancer progression. Using an in vivo neovascularization model, we identified G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) as a key angiogenesis regulator. An impaired angiogenic response involving immature vessels was observed in mice hemizygous for Grk2 or in animals with endothelium-specific Grk2 silencing. ECs isolated from these animals displayed intrinsic alterations in migration, TGF-β signaling, and formation of tubular networks. Remarkably, an altered pattern of vessel growth and maturation was detected in postnatal retinas from endothelium-specific Grk2 knockout animals. Mouse embryos with systemic or endothelium-selective Grk2 ablation had marked vascular malformations involving impaired recruitment of mural cells. Moreover, decreased endothelial Grk2 dosage accelerated tumor growth in mice, along with reduced pericyte vessel coverage and enhanced macrophage infiltration, and this transformed environment promoted decreased GRK2 in ECs and human breast cancer vessels. Our study suggests that GRK2 downregulation is a relevant event in the tumoral angiogenic switch.
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rivas
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carmona
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Chápuli
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mendiola
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nogués
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reglero
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miguel-Martín
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: García-Escudero
authors.forename: Gerald W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Dorn
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hardisson
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mayor
authors.forename: Petronila
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Penela
mesh_terms: D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I / Q000502:physiology; D030301:Activin Receptors, Type II; D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D054769:G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D057898:Hemizygote; D006801:Humans; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000196:embryology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C496567:GRK2 protein, human; C496568:GRK2 protein, mouse; D054769:G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2; D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I; D030301:Activin Receptors, Type II; C498931:Acvrl1 protein, mouse; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I