Rafs constitute a nodal point in the regulation of embryonic endothelial progenitor cell growth and differentiation

J Cell Mol Med. 2007 Nov-Dec;11(6):1395-407. doi: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2007.00123.x.

Abstract

Mouse embryonic endothelial progenitor cells (eEPCs) acquire a mature phenotype after treatment with cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), suggesting an involvement of Raf serine/threonine kinases in the differentiation process. To test this idea, we investigated the role of B-Raf and C-Raf in proliferation and differentiation of eEPCs by expressing fusion proteins consisting of the kinase domains from Raf molecules and the hormone binding site of the estrogen receptor (ER), or its variant, the tamoxifen receptor. Our findings show that both B- and C-Raf kinase domains, when lacking adjacent regulatory parts, are equally effective in inducing eEPC differentiation. In contrast, the C-Raf kinase domain is a more potent stimulator of eEPC proliferation than B-Raf. In a complimentary approach, we used siRNA silencing to knockdown endogenously expressed B-Raf and C-Raf in eEPCs. In this experimental setting, we found that eEPCs lacking B-Raf failed to differentiate, whereas loss-of C-Raf function primarily slowed cell growth without impairing cAMP-induced differentiation. These findings were further corroborated in B-Raf null eEPCs, isolated from the corresponding knockout embryos, which failed to differentiate in vitro. Thus, gain- and loss-of-function experiments point to distinct roles of B-Raf and C-Raf in regulating growth and differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells, which may harbour therapeutic implications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation* / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Separation
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Embryo, Mammalian / cytology*
  • Embryo, Mammalian / drug effects
  • Embryo, Mammalian / enzymology
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology*
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / enzymology*
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Estrogens / pharmacology
  • Genetic Engineering
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / deficiency
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / deficiency
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference / drug effects
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Stem Cells / enzymology

Substances

  • Estrogens
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf