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The ß1-integrin-dependent function of RECK in physiologic and tumor angiogenesis
Takao Miki1, Awad Shamma, Shunsuke Kitajima
1Department of Molecular Oncology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
Reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK) regulates vascular development and cellular senescence. Targeting RECK in tumor endothelial cells can inhibit tumor angiogenesis and promote regression.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Angiogenesis Research
Background:
- Vascular endothelial cells secrete matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) crucial for vascular development.
- Regulatory mechanisms of MMP activity during vascular development are not fully understood.
- Reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK) is a known inhibitor of MMP-2 maturation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of RECK in vascular development and endothelial cell function.
- To explore the impact of RECK on beta1-integrin signaling and cellular senescence.
- To evaluate RECK as a potential therapeutic target for inhibiting tumor angiogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Studied RECK expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) stimulated with angiopoietin-1.
- Depleted RECK in HUVECs and assessed effects on vascular tube formation and senescence.
- Analyzed beta1-integrin activation, focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation, and p21(CIP1) expression.
- Investigated RECK function in Reck-/- mouse embryos.
- Utilized MMP-2 inhibition in HUVECs to study its interaction with RECK.
- Examined RECK expression in tumor vascular endothelial cells and its effect on tumor growth in vivo.
Main Results:
- Angiopoietin-1 induces RECK expression in HUVECs.
- RECK depletion led to defective vascular tube formation, cellular senescence, and downregulated beta1-integrin activation.
- RECK depletion was associated with decreased focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation and increased p21(CIP1) expression.
- RECK deficiency in mouse embryos resulted in reduced beta1-integrin activity in vascular endothelial cells.
- MMP-2 inhibition partially rescued the effects of RECK depletion on beta1-integrin signaling and cell proliferation.
- Tumor-associated vascular endothelial cells exhibit high RECK expression, supporting tumor growth.
- Targeting RECK in tumor vasculature led to tumor regression.
Conclusions:
- RECK plays a critical role in regulating vascular endothelial cell function, beta1-integrin signaling, and preventing cellular senescence.
- RECK is essential for normal vascular development and its dysregulation contributes to pathological angiogenesis.
- RECK represents a promising therapeutic target for anti-angiogenic cancer therapy by specifically targeting tumor vasculature.
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