The role of c-Fes in vascular endothelial growth factor-A-mediated signaling by endothelial cells

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2003 Jul 11;306(4):1056-63. doi: 10.1016/s0006-291x(03)01106-9.

Abstract

c-Fes plays pivotal roles in angiogenic cellular responses of endothelial cells. Here we examined the role of c-Fes in vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A)-mediated signaling pathways in endothelial cells. We introduced either wild-type or kinase-inactive c-Fes in porcine aortic endothelial (PAE) cell lines, which endogenously express VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-1, and PAE cells ectopically expressing VEGFR-2 (denoted KDR/PAE cells) and generated stable cell lines. VEGF-A induced autophosphorylation of c-Fes only in KDR/PAE cells, suggesting that VEGFR-2 was required for its activation. Expression of kinase-inactive c-Fes failed to demonstrate dominant negative effect on VEGF-A-induced chemotaxis and capillary morphogenesis. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) was activated in KDR/PAE cells and c-Fes contributed to this process in a kinase activity-dependent manner. However, VEGFR-2, insulin receptor substrate-1, and c-Src were also involved in VEGF-A-induced activation of PI3-kinase, resulting in the compensation in cells expressing kinase-inactive c-Fes. Interestingly, overexpression of wild-type c-Fes in PAE cells induced VEGF-A-independent capillary morphogenesis. Considered collectively, VEGF-A activated PI3-kinase partly through c-Fes and increase in c-Fes kinase activity enhanced capillary morphogenesis by yet unknown signaling pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aorta / cytology
  • Capillaries / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chemotaxis
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Endothelial Growth Factors / metabolism*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism*
  • Genes, Dominant
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins
  • Ligands
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Precipitin Tests
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fes
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Swine
  • Tyrosine / metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • src-Family Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Endothelial Growth Factors
  • IRS1 protein, human
  • Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins
  • Ligands
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Tyrosine
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • FES protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fes
  • src-Family Kinases