The integrin coactivator kindlin-2 plays a critical role in angiogenesis in mice and zebrafish

Blood. 2011 May 5;117(18):4978-87. doi: 10.1182/blood-2010-11-321182. Epub 2011 Mar 4.

Abstract

Kindlin-2, a widely distributed cytoskeletal protein, has been implicated in integrin activation, and its absence is embryonically lethal in mice and causes severe developmental defects in zebrafish. Knockdown of kindlin-2 levels in endothelial cells resulted in defective adhesive and migratory responses, suggesting that angiogenesis might be aberrant even with partial reduction of kindlin-2. This hypothesis has now been tested in the kindlin-2(+/-) mice. RM1 prostate tumors grown in kindlin-2(+/-) mice had fewer blood vessels, which were thinner and shorter and supported less tumor growth compared with wild-type littermates. The vessels that did form in the kindlin-2(+/-) mice lacked smooth muscle cells and pericytes and had thinner basement membranes, indicative of immature vessels. VEGF-induced angiogenesis in matrigel implants was also abnormal in the kindlin-2(+/-) mice. Vessels in the kindlin-2(+/-) mice were leaky, and BM transplantation from kindlin-2(+/-) to WT mice did not correct this defect. Endothelial cells derived from kindlin-2(+/-) mice had integrin expression levels similar to WT mice but reduced αVβ3-dependent signaling, migration, adhesion, spreading, and tube formation. Developmental angiogenesis was markedly impaired by kindlin-2 morpholinos in zebrafish. Taken together, kindlin-2 plays an important role in pathologic and developmental angiogenesis, which arises from defective activation of integrin αVβ3.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / physiology*
  • Female
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Integrin alphaVbeta3 / physiology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / physiopathology*
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / physiology*
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / physiology
  • Zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Zebrafish Proteins / genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins / physiology*

Substances

  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Integrin alphaVbeta3
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Zebrafish Proteins