Akt mediates an angiogenic switch in transformed keratinocytes

Akt signaling is involved in tumorigenesis via a number of different mechanisms that result in increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis. Previous data have demonstrated that Akt-mediated signaling is functionally involved in keratinocyte transformation. This work investigates the involvement of angiogenesis as a mediator of tumorigenesis in Akt-transformed keratinocytes. Tumors produced by subcutaneous injection of the latter showed increased angiogenic profiles associated with increased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein levels. However, in contrast to v-ras(Ha)-transformed keratinocytes, VEGF mRNA levels were not increased. The induction of VEGF protein by Akt is associated with increased phosphorylation and thus activation of p70S6K and eIF4E-binding protein 1, leading to increased VEGF translation. In addition, we observed increased metaloproteinases 2 and 9 expression, but not thrombospondin 1, in tumors derived from Akt-transformed keratinocytes. Collectively, these results demonstrate that Akt is an important mediator of angiogenesis in malignant keratinocytes through a post-transcriptional mechanism.