The Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 (BMP4) regulates multiple biological processes, including vascular development and angiogenesis. Here, we investigated the role of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in mediating the angiogenic activity of BMP4. BMP4 induces a rapid relocation and phosphorylation of VEGFR2 on the endothelial cell membrane. These effects occur in the absence of a direct interaction of BMP4 and/or BMP receptors (BMPRs) with VEGFR2. At variance, BMP4, by interacting with the BMPRI-II hetero-complex, induces c-Src phosphorylation which, in turn, activates VEGFR2, leading to an angiogenic response. Accordingly, the BMPR inhibitor dorsomorphin prevents c-Src activation and specific inhibition of c-Src significantly reduced downstream VEGFR2 phosphorylation and the angiogenic activity exerted by BMP4 in a chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay. Together, our data indicate that the proangiogenic activity exerted by BMP4 in endothelial cells is mediated by a BMPR-mediated intracellular transactivation of VEGFR2 via c-Src.
VEGFR2 activation mediates the pro-angiogenic activity of BMP4
Sara Rezzola;Margherita Di Somma;Michela Corsini;Daria Leali;Cosetta Ravelli;Elisabetta Grillo;Marco Presta;Stefania Mitola.
2019-01-01
Abstract
The Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 (BMP4) regulates multiple biological processes, including vascular development and angiogenesis. Here, we investigated the role of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in mediating the angiogenic activity of BMP4. BMP4 induces a rapid relocation and phosphorylation of VEGFR2 on the endothelial cell membrane. These effects occur in the absence of a direct interaction of BMP4 and/or BMP receptors (BMPRs) with VEGFR2. At variance, BMP4, by interacting with the BMPRI-II hetero-complex, induces c-Src phosphorylation which, in turn, activates VEGFR2, leading to an angiogenic response. Accordingly, the BMPR inhibitor dorsomorphin prevents c-Src activation and specific inhibition of c-Src significantly reduced downstream VEGFR2 phosphorylation and the angiogenic activity exerted by BMP4 in a chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay. Together, our data indicate that the proangiogenic activity exerted by BMP4 in endothelial cells is mediated by a BMPR-mediated intracellular transactivation of VEGFR2 via c-Src.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
