Alphav beta3 integrin limits the contribution of neuropilin-1 to vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis

J Biol Chem. 2009 Dec 4;284(49):33966-81. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M109.030700. Epub 2009 Oct 16.

Abstract

Both vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR) and integrins are major regulators of VEGF-induced angiogenesis. Previous work has shown that beta3 integrin can regulate negatively VEGFR2 expression. Here we show that beta3 integrin can regulate negatively VEGF-mediated angiogenesis by limiting the interaction of the co-receptor NRP1 (neuropilin-1) with VEGFR2. In the presence of alphav beta3 integrin, NRP1 contributed minimally to VEGF-induced angiogenic processes in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro. Conversely, when beta3 integrin expression is absent or low or its function is blocked with RGD-mimetic inhibitors, VEGF-mediated responses became NRP1-dependent. Indeed, combined inhibition of beta3 integrin and NRP1 decreased VEGF-mediated angiogenic responses further than individual inhibition of these receptors. We also show that alphav beta3 integrin can associate with NRP1 in a VEGF-dependent fashion. Our data suggest that beta3 integrin may, in part, negatively regulate VEGF signaling by sequestering NRP1 and preventing it from interacting with VEGFR2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aorta / cytology
  • Base Sequence
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Humans
  • Integrin alphaVbeta3 / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Microcirculation
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic*
  • Neuropilin-1 / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / metabolism
  • Wound Healing

Substances

  • Integrin alphaVbeta3
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Neuropilin-1
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2