Françoise Bono

Role of HIF-1alpha in hypoxia-mediated apoptosis, cell proliferation and tumour angiogenesis.

As a result of deprivation of oxygen (hypoxia) and nutrients, the growth and viability of cells is reduced. Hypoxia-inducible factor(HIF)-1α helps to restore oxygen homeostasis by inducing glycolysis, erythropoiesis and angiogenesis. Here we show that hypoxia and hypoglycaemia reduce proliferation and increase apoptosis in wild-type (HIF-1α+/+) embryonic stem (ES) cells, but not in ES cells with inactivated HIF-1α genes (HIF-1α−/−); however, a deficiency of HIF-1α does not affect apoptosis induced by cytokines. We find that hypoxia/hypoglycaemia-regulated genes involved in controlling the cell cycle are either HIF-1α-dependent (those encoding the proteins p53, p21, Bcl-2) or HIF-1α-independent (p27, GADD153), suggesting that there are at least two different adaptive responses to being deprived of oxygen and nutrients. Loss of HIF-1α reduces hypoxia-induced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, prevents formation of large vessels in ES-derived tumours, and impairs vascular function, resulting in hypoxic microenvironments within the tumour mass. However, growth of HIF-1α tumours was not retarded but was accelerated, owing to decreased hypoxia-induced apoptosis and increased stress-induced proliferation. As hypoxic stress contributes to many (patho)biological disorders,, this new role for HIF-1α in hypoxic control of cell growth and death may be of general pathophysiological importance.

Targeted deficiency or cytosolic truncation of the VE-cadherin gene in mice impairs VEGF-mediated endothelial survival and angiogenesis

Vascular endothelial cadherin, VE-cadherin, mediates adhesion between endothelial cells and may affect vascular morphogenesis via intracellular signaling, but the nature of these signals remains unknown. Here, targeted inactivation (VEC-/-) or truncation of the beta-catenin-binding cytosolic domain (VECdeltaC/deltaC) of the VE-cadherin gene was found not to affect assembly of endothelial cells in vascular plexi, but to impair their subsequent remodeling and maturation, causing lethality at 9.5 days of gestation. Deficiency or truncation of VE-cadherin induced endothelial apoptosis and abolished transmission of the endothelial survival signal by VEGF-A to Akt kinase and Bcl2 via reduced complex formation with VEGF receptor-2, beta-catenin, and phosphoinositide 3 (PI3)-kinase. Thus, VE-cadherin/ beta-catenin signaling controls endothelial survival.

Role of PlGF in the intra- and intermolecular cross talk between the VEGF receptors Flt1 and Flk1

Therapeutic angiogenesis is likely to require the administration of factors that complement each other. Activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) Flk1 by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is crucial, but molecular interactions of other factors with VEGF and Flk1 have been studied to a limited extent. Here we report that placental growth factor (PGF, also known as PlGF) regulates inter- and intramolecular cross talk between the VEGF RTKs Flt1 and Flk1. Activation of Flt1 by PGF resulted in intermolecular transphosphorylation of Flk1, thereby amplifying VEGF-driven angiogenesis through Flk1. Even though VEGF and PGF both bind Flt1, PGF uniquely stimulated the phosphorylation of specific Flt1 tyrosine residues and the expression of distinct downstream target genes. Furthermore, the VEGF/PGF heterodimer activated intramolecular VEGF receptor cross talk through formation of Flk1/Flt1 heterodimers. The inter- and intramolecular VEGF receptor cross talk is likely to have therapeutic implications, as treatment with VEGF/PGF heterodimer or a combination of VEGF plus PGF increased ischemic myocardial angiogenesis in a mouse model that was refractory to VEGF alone.

Revascularization of ischemic tissues by PDGF-CC via effects on endothelial cells and their progenitors

The angiogenic mechanism and therapeutic potential of PDGF-CC, a recently discovered member of the VEGF/PDGF superfamily, remain incompletely characterized. Here we report that PDGF-CC mobilized endothelial progenitor cells in ischemic conditions; induced differentiation of bone marrow cells into ECs; and stimulated migration of ECs. Furthermore, PDGF-CC induced the differentiation of bone marrow cells into smooth muscle cells and stimulated their growth during vessel sprouting. Moreover, delivery of PDGF-CC enhanced postischemic revascularization of the heart and limb. Modulating the activity of PDGF-CC may provide novel opportunities for treating ischemic diseases.

Conversion of human fibroblasts to angioblast-like progenitor cells

Lineage conversion of one somatic cell type to another is an attractive approach for generating specific human cell types. Lineage conversion can be direct, in the absence of proliferation and multipotent progenitor generation, or indirect, by the generation of expandable multipotent progenitor states. We report the development of a reprogramming methodology in which cells transition through a plastic intermediate state, induced by brief exposure to reprogramming factors, followed by differentiation. We use this approach to convert human fibroblasts to mesodermal progenitor cells, including by non-integrative approaches. These progenitor cells demonstrated bipotent differentiation potential and could generate endothelial and smooth muscle lineages. Differentiated endothelial cells exhibited neo-angiogenesis and anastomosis in vivo. This methodology for indirect lineage conversion to angioblast-like cells adds to the armamentarium of reprogramming approaches aimed at the study and treatment of ischemic pathologies.

Apelin/APJ signaling system: a potential link between adipose tissue and endothelial angiogenic processes

Adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ that produces a variety of secretory factors involved in the initiation of angiogenic processes. The bioactive peptide apelin is the endogenous ligand of the G protein‐coupled receptor, APJ. Here we investi gated the potential role of apelin and its receptor, APJ, in the angiogenic responses of human endothelial cells and the development of a functional vascular network in a model of adipose tissue development in mice. Treatment of human umbilical vein endothelial cells with apelin dose‐dependently increased angiogenic re sponses, including endothelial cell migration, prolifer ation, and Matrigel® capillary tubelike structure forma tion. These endothelial effects of apelin were due to activation of APJ, because siRNA directed against APJ, which led to long‐lasting down‐regulation of APJ mRNA, abolished cell migration induced by apelin in contrast to control nonsilencing siRNA. Hypoxia upregulated the expression of apelin in 3T3F442A adipo cytes, and we therefore determined whether apelin could play a role in adipose tissue angiogenesis in vivo. Epididymal white adipose tissue (EWAT) transplanta tion was performed as a model of adipose tissue angiogenesis. Transplantation led to increased apelin mRNA levels 2 and 5 days after transplantation associ ated with tissue hypoxia, as evidenced by hydroxyprobe staining on tissue sections. Graft revascularization evolved in parallel, as the first functional vessels in EWAT grafts were observed 2 days after transplantation and a strong angiogenic response was apparent on day 14. This was confirmed by determination of graft hemoglobin levels, which are indicative of functional vascularization and were strongly increased 5 and 14 days after transplantation. The role of apelin in the graft neovascularization was then assessed by local delivery of stable complex apelin‐targeting siRNA lead ing to dramatically reduced apelin mRNA levels and vascularization (quantified by hemogloblin content) in grafted EWAT on day 5 when compared with control siRNA. Taken together, our data provide the first evidence that apelin/APJ signaling pathways play a critical role in the development of the functional vascular network in adipose tissue. In addition, we have shown that adipocyte‐derived apelin can be up‐regu lated by hypoxia. These findings provide novel insights into the complex relationship between adipose tissue and endothelial vascular function and may lead to new therapeutic strategies to modulate angiogenesis.— Kunduzova, O., Alet, N., Delesque‐Touchard, N., Millet, L., Castan‐Laurell, I., Muller, C., Dray, C., Schaeffer, P., Herault, J. P., Savi, P., Bono, F., Valet, P. Apelin/APJ signaling system: a potential link between adipose tissue and endothelial angiogenic processes. FASEB J. 22, 4146–4153 (2008)

Effector protease receptor 1 mediates the mitogenic activity of factor Xa for vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro and in vivo.

The binding of 125I-factor Xa to human aortic smooth muscle cell (SMC) monolayers was studied. At 4 degreesC, 125I-factor Xa bound to a single class of binding sites with a dissociation constant value of 3.6+/-0.7 nM and a binding site density of 11,720+/-1,240 sites/cell (n = 9). 125I-factor Xa binding was not affected by factor X, thrombin, or by DX9065, a direct inhibitor of factor Xa, but was inhibited by factor Xa (IC50 = 5.4+/-0.2 nM; n = 9) and by antibodies specific for the effector cell protease receptor 1 (EPR-1), a well-known receptor of factor Xa on various cell types. A factor X peptide duplicating the inter-EGF sequence Leu83-Leu88-(Gly) blocked the binding of 125I-factor Xa to these cells in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 = 110+/-21 nM). Factor Xa increased phosphoinositide turnover in SMCs and when added to SMCs in culture was a potent mitogen. These effects were inhibited by DX9065 and by antibodies directed against EPR-1 and PDGF. Increased expression of EPR-1 was identified immunohistochemically on SMCs growing in culture and in SMCs from the rabbit carotid artery after vascular injury. When applied locally to air-injured rabbit carotid arteries, antibodies directed against EPR-1 (100 mug/ artery) strongly reduced myointimal proliferation 14 d after vascular injury (65-71% inhibition, P < 0.01). DX9065 (10 mg/kg, subcutaneous) inhibited myointimal proliferation significantly (43% inhibition, P < 0.05). These findings indicate that SMCs express functional high affinity receptors for factor Xa related to EPR-1, which may be of importance in the regulation of homeostasis of the vascular wall and after vascular injury.

Inhibition of tumor angiogenesis and growth by a small-molecule multi-FGF receptor blocker with allosteric properties.

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) are targets for anticancer drug development. To date, only RTK inhibitors that block orthosteric binding of ligands and substrates have been developed. Here, we report the pharmacologic characterization of the chemical SSR128129E (SSR), which inhibits fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling by binding to the extracellular FGFR domain without affecting orthosteric FGF binding. SSR exhibits allosteric properties, including probe dependence, signaling bias, and ceiling effects. Inhibition by SSR is highly conserved throughout the animal kingdom. Oral delivery of SSR inhibits arthritis and tumors that are relatively refractory to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 antibodies. Thus, orally-active extracellularly acting small-molecule modulators of RTKs with allosteric properties can be developed and may offer opportunities to improve anticancer treatment.

Molecular Mechanism of SSR128129E, an Extracellularly Acting, Small-Molecule, Allosteric Inhibitor of FGF Receptor Signaling

The fibroblast growth factor (FGF)/fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling network plays an important role in cell growth, survival, differentiation, and angiogenesis. Deregulation of FGFR signaling can lead to cancer development. Here, we report an FGFR inhibitor, SSR128129E (SSR), that binds to the extracellular part of the receptor. SSR does not compete with FGF for binding to FGFR but inhibits FGF-induced signaling linked to FGFR internalization in an allosteric manner, as shown by crystallography studies, nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, molecular dynamics simulations, free energy calculations, structure-activity relationship analysis, and FGFR mutagenesis. Overall, SSR is a small molecule allosteric inhibitor of FGF/FGFR signaling, acting via binding to the extracellular part of the FGFR.

Involvement of Peripheral Benzodiazepine Receptor in the Oxidative Stress, Death-Signaling Pathways, and Renal Injury Induced by Ischemia-Reperfusion

The peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) is a critical component of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, which is involved in the regulation of cell death. In the present study we investigated the role of PBR in the regulation of signaling pathways leading to apoptotic and necrotic damage and renal dysfunction in a rat model of ischemia-reperfusion. Renal ischemia-reperfusion led to extended tubular apoptosis and necrosis that were associated with peroxidative damage, high levels of proapoptotic Bax expression, and low levels of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 expression, cleavage of death substrate, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and activation of a key effector of apoptosis, caspase-3. Rat pretreatment with a novel PBR antagonist, SSR180575, significantly decreased postreperfusion oxidative stress and tubular apoptosis and necrosis. This effect was associated with inhibition of caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage, upregulation of Bcl-2, and downregulation of Bax. Furthermore, inhibition of PBR accelerated the recovery of normal renal function, as assessed by measurement of levels of plasma creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. These findings reveal a role for PBR as a modulator of necrotic and apoptotic cell death induced by ischemia-reperfusion and suggest that regulation of PBR may provide new therapeutic implications for the prevention of acute renal failure.