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Thromb Haemost 2015; 114(02): 379-389
DOI: 10.1160/TH15-01-0016
Endothelium and Angiogenesis
Schattauer GmbH

PTEN expression in endothelial cells is down-regulated by uPAR to promote angiogenesis

Matthias Unseld
1   Department of Medicine I, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Anastasia Chilla
1   Department of Medicine I, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Clemens Pausz
1   Department of Medicine I, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Rula Mawas
1   Department of Medicine I, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Johannes Breuss
2   Institute of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Christoph Zielinski
1   Department of Medicine I, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Gernot Schabbauer
3   Institute for Physiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Gerald W. Prager
1   Department of Medicine I, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
› Author Affiliations Financial support:This study was supported by the Initiative Krebsforschung and grants from the Austrian Science Foundation (FWF: P23199 to G. W. P. and P23730, P24802 and SFB54-InThro-P10 to G. S.).
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 13 January 2015

Accepted after minor revision: 16 March 2015

Publication Date:
01 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

The tumour suppressor phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN), mutated or lost in many human cancers, is a major regulator of angiogenesis. However, the cellular mechanism of PTEN regulation in endothelial cells so far remains elusive. Here, we characterise the urokinase receptor (uPAR, CD87) and its tumour-derived soluble form, suPAR, as a key molecule of regulating PTEN in endothelial cells. We observed uPAR-deficient endothelial cells to express enhanced PTEN mRNA- and protein levels. Consistently, uPAR expression in endogenous negative uPAR cells, down-regulated PTEN and activated the PI3K/Akt pathway. Additionally, we found that integrin adhesion receptors act as trans-membrane signaling partners for uPAR to repress PTEN transcription in a NF-κB-dependent manner. Functional in vitro assays with endothelial cells, derived from uPAR-deficient and PTEN heterozygous crossbred mice, demonstrated the impact of uPAR- dependent PTEN regulation on cell motility and survival. In an in vivo murine angiogenesis model uPAR-deficient PTEN heterozygous animals increased the impaired angiogenic phenotype of uPAR knockout mice and were able to reverse the high invasive potential of PTEN heterozygots. Our data provide first evidence that endogenous as well as exogenous soluble uPAR down-regulated PTEN in endothelial cells to support angiogenesis. The uPAR-induced PTEN regulation might represent a novel target for drug interference, and may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies in anti-angiogenic treatment.

Keywords

Angiogenesis - endothelial cell behaviour - PTEN - urokinase receptor

 

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