Glycogen synthase kinase 3-β inhibition induces lymphangiogenesis through β-catenin-dependent and mTOR-independent pathways

PLoS One. 2019 Apr 9;14(4):e0213831. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213831. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Lymphatic vessels play an important role in health and in disease. In this study, we evaluated the effects of GSK3-β inhibition on lung lymphatic endothelial cells in vitro. Pharmacological inhibition and silencing of GSK3-β resulted in increased lymphangiogenesis of lung lymphatic endothelial cells. To investigate mechanisms of GSK3-β-mediated lymphangiogenesis, we interrogated the mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway and found that inhibition of GSK3-β resulted in PTEN activation and subsequent decreased activation of AKT, leading to decreased p-P70S6kinase levels, indicating inhibition of the mTOR pathway. In addition, consistent with a negative role of GSK3-β in β-catenin stability through protein phosphorylation, we found that GSK3-β inhibition resulted in an increase in β-catenin levels. Simultaneous silencing of β-catenin and inhibition of GSK3-β demonstrated that β-catenin is required for GSK3-β-induced lymphangiogenesis.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cell Line
  • Endothelial Cells / physiology
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta / genetics
  • Humans
  • Indoles / pharmacology
  • Lung / cytology
  • Lymphangiogenesis / drug effects
  • Lymphangiogenesis / physiology*
  • Lymphatic Vessels / cytology
  • Maleimides / pharmacology
  • Microvessels / cytology
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Stability
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • Indoles
  • Maleimides
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • SB 216763
  • beta Catenin
  • MTOR protein, human
  • GSK3B protein, human
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases