Transcription factor ETS-1 as a molecular target for angiogenesis inhibition

Angiogenesis is a complex phenomenon which includes at least four distinct properties of endothelial cells ECs; degradation of vascular basement membrane and interstitial matrices by proteases, migration, proliferation, and tube formation. We are studying the transcriptional regulation of angiogenesis. We observed that angiogenic growth factors including VEGF and bFGF induced transcription factor ETS-1 in ECs, and ETS-1 converts ECs to angiogenic phenotype by inducing u-PA, MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-9, and integrin beta 2 as target genes. The elimination of the expression of ETS-1 in ECs inhibited angiogenesis. These results indicate that ETS-1 can be a molecular target for the regulation of angiogenesis.