MMP14 Cleavage of VEGFR1 in the Cornea Leads to a VEGF-Trap Antiangiogenic Effect.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the possible antiangiogenic effect of metalloproteinase (MMP) 14 cleavage of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) in the cornea.


METHODS
Recombinant mouse (rm) VEGFR1 was incubated with various concentrations of recombinant MMP14 to examine proteolysis in vitro. The reaction mixture was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and stained with Coomassie blue. The fragments resulting from rmVEGFR1 cleavage by MMP14 were subjected to Edman degradation, and the amino acid sequences were aligned with rmVEGFR1 sequences. Surface plasmon resonance was used to determine the equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) between MMP14 and rmVEGFR1. The KD value of rmVEGFR1 and the 59.8-kDa cleavage product binding to VEGF-A₁₆₅ was also determined. Cell proliferation assays were performed in the presence of VEGF-A₁₆₅ plus the 59.8-kDa VEGFR1 fragment or VEGF-A₁₆₅ alone.


RESULTS
Matrix metalloproteinase 14 binds and cleaves rmVEGFR1 to produce 59.8-kDa (N-terminal fragment, Ig domains 1-5), 35-kDa (C-terminal fragment containing IgG and His-tag), and 21-kDa (Ig domains 6-7) fragments. The 59.8-kDa fragment showed binding to VEGF-A₁₆₅ and inhibited VEGF-induced endothelial cell mitogenesis.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that VEGFR1 cleavage by MMP14 in the cornea leads to a VEGF-trap effect, reducing the proangiogenic effect of VEGF-A₁₆₅, thereby reducing corneal angiogenesis.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States.
Kyu-Yeon
KY
Han
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States.
Jennifer
J
Dugas-Ford
Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States.
Hyun
H
Lee
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States.
Jin-Hong
JH
Chang
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States.
Dimitri T
DT
Azar
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D053511:Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
C507096:Mmp14 protein, mouse; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D053511:Matrix Metalloproteinase 14