Transforming growth factor-ß-activated kinase 1 regulates angiogenesis via AMP-activated protein kinase-α1 and redox balance in endothelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: Transforming growth factor-ß-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) is a mitogen-activated protein 3-kinase and an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) kinase in some cell types. Although TAK1(-/-) mice display defects in developmental vasculogenesis, the role of TAK1 in endothelial cells has not been investigated in detail. APPROACH AND RESULTS: TAK1 downregulation (small interfering RNA) in human endothelial cells attenuated proliferation without inducing apoptosis and diminished endothelial cell migration, as well as tube formation. Cytokine- and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced endothelial cell sprouting in a modified spheroid assay were abrogated by TAK1 downregulation. Moreover, VEGF-induced endothelial sprouting was impaired in aortic rings from mice lacking TAK1 in endothelial cells (TAK(ΔEC)). TAK1 inhibition and downregulation also inhibited VEGF-stimulated phosphorylation of several kinases, including AMPK. Proteomic analyses revealed that superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) expression was reduced in TAK1-deficient endothelial cells, resulting in attenuated hydrogen peroxide production but increased mitochondrial superoxide production. Endothelial cell SOD2 expression was also attenuated by AMPK inhibition and in endothelial cells from AMPKα1(-/-) mice but was unaffected by inhibitors of c-Jun N-terminal kinase, p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt. Moreover, the impaired endothelial sprouting from TAK(ΔEC) aortic rings was abrogated in the presence of polyethylene glycol-SOD, and tube formation was normalized by the overexpression of SOD2. A similar rescue of angiogenesis was observed in polyethylene glycol-SOD-treated aortic rings from mice with endothelial cell-specific deletion of the AMPKα1. CONCLUSIONS: These results establish TAK1 as an AMPKα1 kinase that regulates vascular endothelial growth factor-induced and cytokine-induced angiogenesis by modulating SOD2 expression and the superoxide anion:hydrogen peroxide balance.

Shear stress-induced activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase regulates FoxO1a and angiopoietin-2 in endothelial cells.

AIMS: Phosphorylation of forkhead box O (FoxO) transcription factors induces their nuclear exclusion and proteosomal degradation. Here, we investigated the effect of fluid shear stress on FoxO1a in primary cultures of human endothelial cells and the kinases that regulate its phosphorylation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Shear stress (12 dynes/cm2) elicited the phosphorylation, nuclear exclusion, and degradation of FoxO1a. Inhibition of Akt signalling using either a dominant negative (DN) mutant of Akt or downregulation of Gab1 largely failed to affect the shear stress-induced changes in FoxO1a, while a DN-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) abrogated its shear stress-induced phosphorylation and degradation. Similar effects were observed using the AMPK inhibitor compound C. Moreover, in an in vitro assay, the AMPK directly phosphorylated FoxO1a. As FoxO1a regulates the expression of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), we determined the role of shear stress and the AMPK in this phenomenon. Not only did the DN-AMPK increase the expression of Ang-2 in cells maintained under static conditions, it also abrogated the shear stress-induced decrease in FoxO1a and Ang-2 protein levels. Functionally, Ang-2 sensitizes endothelial cells to the effects of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and DN-AMPK increased basal endothelial cell E-selectin expression and permeability as well as the increase induced by TNF-alpha. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that the AMPK activated by fluid shear stress is a novel regulator of FoxO1a phosphorylation and protein levels. Moreover, as the AMPK-dependent phosphorylation and degradation of FoxO1a attenuates Ang-2 expression and protects against the pro-inflammatory actions of TNF-alpha, this kinase may be a useful target to prevent the progression of vascular diseases.

Nitric oxide-induced activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase α2 subunit attenuates IκB kinase activity and inflammatory responses in endothelial cells.

BACKGROUND: In endothelial cells, activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has been linked with anti-inflammatory actions but the events downstream of kinase activation are not well understood. Here, we addressed the effects of AMPK activation/deletion on the activation of NFκB and determined whether the AMPK could contribute to the anti-inflammatory actions of nitric oxide (NO). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Overexpression of a dominant negative AMPKα2 mutant in tumor necrosis factor-α-stimulated human endothelial cells resulted in increased NFκB activity, E-selectin expression and monocyte adhesion. In endothelial cells from AMPKα2(-/-) mice the interleukin (IL)-1ß induced expression of E-selectin was significantly increased. DETA-NO activated the AMPK and attenuated NFκB activation/E-selectin expression, effects not observed in human endothelial cells in the presence of the dominant negative AMPK, or in endothelial cells from AMPKα2(-/-) mice. Mechanistically, overexpression of constitutively active AMPK decreased the phosphorylation of IκB and p65, indicating a link between AMPK and the IκB kinase (IKK). Indeed, IKK (more specifically residues Ser177 and Ser181) was found to be a direct substrate of AMPKα2 in vitro. The hyper-phosphorylation of the IKK, which is known to result in its inhibition, was also apparent in endothelial cells from AMPKα2(+/+) versus AMPKα2(-/-) mice. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that the IKK is a direct substrate of AMPKα2 and that its phosphorylation on Ser177 and Ser181 results in the inhibition of the kinase and decreased NFκB activation. Moreover, as NO potently activates AMPK in endothelial cells, a portion of the anti-inflammatory effects of NO are mediated by AMPK.