Regulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) splicing from pro-angiogenic to anti-angiogenic isoforms: A novel therapeutic strategy for angiogenesis

Amin, Elianna Mohamed; Nowak, Dawid G.; Rennel, Emma S.; Hoareau-Aveilla, Coralie; Gammons, Melissa; Damodoran, Gopinath; Hagiwara, Masatoshi; Harper, Steven J.; Woolard, Jeanette; Ladomery, Michael; Bates, David O.

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is produced either as a pro-angiogenic or anti-angiogenic protein depending upon splice site choice in the terminal, eighth exon. Proximal splice site selection (PSS) in exon 8 generates pro-angiogenic isoforms such as VEGF165, and distal splice site selection (DSS) results in anti-angiogenic isoforms such as VEGF 165b. Cellular decisions on splice site selection depend upon the activity of RNA-binding splice factors, such as ASF/SF2, which have previously been shown to regulate VEGF splice site choice. To determine the mechanism by which the pro-angiogenic splice site choice is mediated, we investigated the effect of inhibition of ASF/SF2 phosphorylation by SR protein kinases (SRPK1/2) on splice site choice in epithelial cells and in in vivo angiogenesis models. Epithelial cells treated with insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) increased PSS and produced more VEGF165 and less VEGF165b. This down-regulation of DSS and increased PSS was blocked by protein kinase C inhibition and SRPK1/2 inhibition. IGF-1 treatment resulted in nuclear localization of ASF/SF2, which was blocked by SPRK1/2 inhibition. Pull-down assay and RNA immunoprecipitation using VEGF mRNA sequences identified an 11-nucleotide sequence required for ASF/SF2 binding. Injection of an SRPK1/2 inhibitor reduced angiogenesis in a mouse model of retinal neovascularization, suggesting that regulation of alternative splicing could be a potential therapeutic strategy in angiogenic pathologies. © 2010 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Feb 19, 2010
• Journal: Journal of Biological Chemistry
• Print ISSN: 0021-9258
• Electronic ISSN: 1083-351X
• Publisher: American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 285
• Issue: 8
• Pages: 5532-5540
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M109.074930
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/981155
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M109.074930