BET Bromodomain Suppression Inhibits VEGF-induced Angiogenesis and Vascular Permeability by Blocking VEGFR2-mediated Activation of PAK1 and eNOS

Sci Rep. 2016 Apr 5:6:23770. doi: 10.1038/srep23770.

Abstract

The tyrosine kinase receptor vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) is a critical modulator of angiogenesis. Increasing evidence indicate the important role of bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) of chromatin adaptors in regulating tumor growth and inflammatory response. However, whether BET proteins have a role in angiogenesis and endothelial permeability is unclear. In this study, we observed that treatment with JQ1, a specific BET inhibitor, suppressed in vitro tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and in vivo angiogenesis in a Matrigel plug and oxygen-induced retinopathy neovascularization. JQ1 attenuated the VEGF-induced decrease in TEER in HUVECs and prevented Evans blue dye leakage in the VEGF-induced Miles assay in athymic Balb/c nude mice. BET inhibition with JQ1 or shRNA for Brd2 or Brd4 suppressed VEGF-induced migration, proliferation, and stress fiber formation of HUVECs. Furthermore, BET inhibition suppressed phosphorylation of VEGFR2 and PAK1, as well as eNOS activation in VEGF-stimulated HUVECs. Inhibition with VEGFR2 and PAK1 also reduced migration and proliferation, and attenuated the VEGF-induced decrease in TEER. Thus, our observations suggest the important role of BET bromodomain in regulating VEGF-induced angiogenesis. Strategies that target the BET bromodomain may provide a new therapeutic approach for angiogenesis-related diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Chemotaxis
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Hyperoxia / metabolism
  • Inflammation
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / physiopathology*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / metabolism*
  • Oxygen / chemistry
  • Permeability
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Domains
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Retroviridae / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / pharmacology*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / metabolism*
  • p21-Activated Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inducing Agents
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • NOS3 protein, human
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
  • Nos3 protein, mouse
  • KDR protein, human
  • Kdr protein, mouse
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2
  • PAK1 protein, human
  • Pak1 protein, mouse
  • p21-Activated Kinases
  • Oxygen