Structure-function analysis of VEGF receptor activation and the role of coreceptors in angiogenic signaling.

Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) constitute a family of six polypeptides, VEGF-A, -B, -C, -D, -E and PlGF, that regulate blood and lymphatic vessel development. VEGFs specifically bind to three type V receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), VEGFR-1, -2 and -3, and to coreceptors such as neuropilins and heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG). VEGFRs are activated upon ligand-induced dimerization mediated by the extracellular domain (ECD). A study using receptor constructs carrying artificial dimerization-promoting transmembrane domains (TMDs) showed that receptor dimerization is necessary, but not sufficient, for receptor activation and demonstrates that distinct orientation of receptor monomers is required to instigate transmembrane signaling. Angiogenic signaling by VEGF receptors also depends on cooperation with specific coreceptors such as neuropilins and HSPG. A number of VEGF isoforms differ in binding to coreceptors, and ligand-specific signal output is apparently the result of the specific coreceptor complex assembled by a particular VEGF isoform. Here we discuss the structural features of VEGF family ligands and their receptors in relation to their distinct signal output and angiogenic potential.

Targeting extracellular domains D4 and D7 of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 reveals allosteric receptor regulatory sites.

Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) activate three receptor tyrosine kinases, VEGFR-1, -2, and -3, which regulate angiogenic and lymphangiogenic signaling. VEGFR-2 is the most prominent receptor in angiogenic signaling by VEGF ligands. The extracellular part of VEGF receptors consists of seven immunoglobulin homology domains (Ig domains). Earlier studies showed that domains 2 and 3 (D23) mediate ligand binding, while structural analysis of dimeric ligand/receptor complexes by electron microscopy and small-angle solution scattering revealed additional homotypic contacts in membrane-proximal Ig domains D4 and D7. Here we show that D4 and D7 are indispensable for receptor signaling. To confirm the essential role of these domains in signaling, we isolated VEGFR-2-inhibitory "designed ankyrin repeat proteins" (DARPins) that interact with D23, D4, or D7. DARPins that interact with D23 inhibited ligand binding, receptor dimerization, and receptor kinase activation, while DARPins specific for D4 or D7 did not prevent ligand binding or receptor dimerization but effectively blocked receptor signaling and functional output. These data show that D4 and D7 allosterically regulate VEGFR-2 activity. We propose that these extracellular-domain-specific DARPins represent a novel generation of receptor-inhibitory drugs for in vivo applications such as targeting of VEGFRs in medical diagnostics and for treating vascular pathologies.

Novel functional germline variants in the VEGF receptor 2 gene and their effect on gene expression and microvessel density in lung cancer.

PURPOSE: VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) plays a crucial role in mediating angiogenic endothelial cell responses via the VEGF pathway, and angiogenesis inhibitors targeting VEGFR-2 are in clinical use. As angiogenesis is a host-driven process, functional heritable variation in KDR, the gene encoding VEGFR-2, may affect VEGFR-2 function and, ultimately, the extent of tumor angiogenesis. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We resequenced KDR using 24 DNAs each from healthy Caucasian, African American, and Asian groups. Nonsynonymous genetic variants were assessed for function by phosphorylation assays. Luciferase reporter gene assays were used to examine effects of variants on gene expression. KDR mRNA and protein expression and microvessel density (MVD) were measured in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumor samples, and matching patient DNA samples were genotyped to test for associations with variants of interest. RESULTS: KDR resequencing led to the discovery of 120 genetic variants, of which 25 had not been previously reported. Q472H had increased VEGFR-2 protein phosphorylation and associated with increased MVD in NSCLC tumor samples. -2854C and -2455A increased luciferase expression and associated with higher KDR mRNA levels in NSCLC samples. -271A reduced luciferase expression and associated with lower VEGFR-2 levels in NSCLC samples. -906C and 23408G associated with higher KDR mRNA levels in NSCLC samples. CONCLUSIONS: This study has defined KDR genetic variation in 3 populations and identified common variants that impact on tumoral KDR expression and vascularization. These findings may have important implications for understanding the molecular basis of genetic associations between KDR variation and clinical phenotypes related to VEGFR-2 function.