Class II phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-C2α is essential for Notch signaling by regulating the endocytosis of γ-secretase in endothelial cells

Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 4;11(1):5199. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-84548-4.

Abstract

The class II α-isoform of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K-C2α) plays a crucial role in angiogenesis at least in part through participating in endocytosis and, thereby, endosomal signaling of several cell surface receptors including VEGF receptor-2 and TGFβ receptor in vascular endothelial cells (ECs). The Notch signaling cascade regulates many cellular processes including cell proliferation, cell fate specification and differentiation. In the present study, we explored a role of PI3K-C2α in Delta-like 4 (Dll4)-induced Notch signaling in ECs. We found that knockdown of PI3K-C2α inhibited Dll4-induced generation of the signaling molecule Notch intracellular domain 1 (NICD1) and the expression of Notch1 target genes including HEY1, HEY2 and NOTCH3 in ECs but not in vascular smooth muscle cells. PI3K-C2α knockdown did not inhibit Dll4-induced endocytosis of cell surface Notch1. In contrast, PI3K-C2α knockdown as well as clathrin heavy chain knockdown impaired endocytosis of Notch1-cleaving protease, γ-secretase complex, with the accumulation of Notch1 at the perinuclear endolysosomes. Pharmacological blockage of γ-secretase also induced the intracellular accumulation of Notch1. Taken together, we conclude that PI3K-C2α is required for the clathrin-mediated endocytosis of γ-secretase complex, which allows for the cleavage of endocytosed Notch1 by γ-secretase complex at the endolysosomes to generate NICD1 in ECs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / genetics*
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / metabolism
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Clathrin / genetics
  • Endocytosis / genetics
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / genetics*
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / physiology
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / genetics*
  • Receptor, Notch1 / genetics*
  • Receptor, Notch3 / genetics*
  • Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / genetics

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Clathrin
  • HEY2 protein, human
  • Hairy, HRT1 protein
  • Receptor, Notch1
  • Receptor, Notch3
  • Repressor Proteins
  • PIK3C2A protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2
  • Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I
  • TGFBR1 protein, human
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases