Brag2 differentially regulates β1- and β3-integrin-dependent adhesion in endothelial cells and is involved in developmental and pathological angiogenesis

Basic Res Cardiol. 2014 Mar;109(2):404. doi: 10.1007/s00395-014-0404-2. Epub 2014 Feb 13.

Abstract

β1-Integrins are essential for angiogenesis. The mechanisms regulating integrin function in endothelial cells (EC) and their contribution to angiogenesis remain elusive. Brag2 is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the small Arf-GTPases Arf5 and Arf6. The role of Brag2 in EC and angiogenesis and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. siRNA-mediated Brag2-silencing reduced EC angiogenic sprouting and migration. Brag2-siRNA transfection differentially affected α5β1- and αVβ3-integrin function: specifically, Brag2-silencing increased focal/fibrillar adhesions and adhesion on β1-integrin ligands (fibronectin and collagen), while reducing the adhesion on the αVβ3-integrin ligand, vitronectin. Consistent with these results, Brag2-silencing enhanced surface expression of α5β1-integrin, while reducing surface expression of αVβ3-integrin. Mechanistically, Brag2-mediated αVβ3-integrin-recycling and β1-integrin endocytosis and specifically of the active/matrix-bound α5β1-integrin present in fibrillar/focal adhesions (FA), suggesting that Brag2 contributes to the disassembly of FA via β1-integrin endocytosis. Arf5 and Arf6 are promoting downstream of Brag2 angiogenic sprouting, β1-integrin endocytosis and the regulation of FA. In vivo silencing of the Brag2-orthologues in zebrafish embryos using morpholinos perturbed vascular development. Furthermore, in vivo intravitreal injection of plasmids containing Brag2-shRNA reduced pathological ischemia-induced retinal and choroidal neovascularization. These data reveal that Brag2 is essential for developmental and pathological angiogenesis by promoting EC sprouting through regulation of adhesion by mediating β1-integrin internalization and link for the first time the process of β1-integrin endocytosis with angiogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ADP-Ribosylation Factor 6
  • ADP-Ribosylation Factors / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • COS Cells
  • Cell Adhesion / physiology*
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Choroidal Neovascularization / genetics
  • Choroidal Neovascularization / metabolism
  • Choroidal Neovascularization / physiopathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / genetics*
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Integrin alphaVbeta3 / genetics
  • Integrin alphaVbeta3 / metabolism
  • Integrin beta1 / metabolism*
  • Integrin beta3 / metabolism*
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / physiopathology*
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / genetics
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / physiology
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Receptors, Vitronectin / genetics
  • Receptors, Vitronectin / metabolism
  • Retinopathy of Prematurity / genetics
  • Retinopathy of Prematurity / metabolism
  • Retinopathy of Prematurity / physiopathology*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism
  • Zebrafish

Substances

  • ADP-Ribosylation Factor 6
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • IQSEC1 protein, human
  • Integrin alphaVbeta3
  • Integrin beta1
  • Integrin beta3
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, Vitronectin
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • integrin alphavbeta1
  • ADP-Ribosylation Factors
  • ARF6 protein, human
  • Arf6 protein, mouse