RESUMEN
The ß-secretase ß-site APP cleaving enzyme (BACE1) is a central drug target for Alzheimer's disease. Clinically tested, BACE1-directed inhibitors also block the homologous protease BACE2. Yet little is known about physiological BACE2 substrates and functions in vivo. Here, we identify BACE2 as the protease shedding the lymphangiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR3). Inactivation of BACE2, but not BACE1, inhibited shedding of VEGFR3 from primary human lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) and reduced release of the shed, soluble VEGFR3 (sVEGFR3) ectodomain into the blood of mice, nonhuman primates, and humans. Functionally, BACE2 inactivation increased full-length VEGFR3 and enhanced VEGFR3 signaling in LECs and also in vivo in zebrafish, where enhanced migration of LECs was observed. Thus, this study identifies BACE2 as a modulator of lymphangiogenic VEGFR3 signaling and demonstrates the utility of sVEGFR3 as a pharmacodynamic plasma marker for BACE2 activity in vivo, a prerequisite for developing BACE1-selective inhibitors for safer prevention of Alzheimer's disease.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedad de Alzheimer , Secretasas de la Proteína Precursora del Amiloide , Ácido Aspártico Endopeptidasas , Transducción de Señal , Receptor 3 de Factores de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular , Pez Cebra , Animales , Humanos , Ratones , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/genética , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/patología , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/enzimología , Secretasas de la Proteína Precursora del Amiloide/metabolismo , Secretasas de la Proteína Precursora del Amiloide/genética , Secretasas de la Proteína Precursora del Amiloide/antagonistas & inhibidores , Ácido Aspártico Endopeptidasas/metabolismo , Ácido Aspártico Endopeptidasas/genética , Ácido Aspártico Endopeptidasas/antagonistas & inhibidores , Células Endoteliales/metabolismo , Células Endoteliales/enzimología , Células Endoteliales/patología , Receptor 3 de Factores de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/metabolismo , Receptor 3 de Factores de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/genética , Pez Cebra/metabolismo , Pez Cebra/genética , Proteínas de Pez Cebra/genética , Proteínas de Pez Cebra/metabolismoRESUMEN
Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR3) signalling promotes lymphangiogenesis. While there are many reported mechanisms of VEGFR3 activation, there is little understanding of how VEGFR3 signalling is attenuated to prevent lymphatic vascular overgrowth and ensure proper lymph vessel development. Here, we show that endothelial cell-specific depletion of integrin-linked kinase (ILK) in mouse embryos hyper-activates VEGFR3 signalling and leads to overgrowth of the jugular lymph sacs/primordial thoracic ducts, oedema and embryonic lethality. Lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC)-specific deletion of Ilk in adult mice initiates lymphatic vascular expansion in different organs, including cornea, skin and myocardium. Knockdown of ILK in human LECs triggers VEGFR3 tyrosine phosphorylation and proliferation. ILK is further found to impede interactions between VEGFR3 and ß1 integrin in vitro and in vivo, and endothelial cell-specific deletion of an Itgb1 allele rescues the excessive lymphatic vascular growth observed upon ILK depletion. Finally, mechanical stimulation disrupts the assembly of ILK and ß1 integrin, releasing the integrin to enable its interaction with VEGFR3. Our data suggest that ILK facilitates mechanically regulated VEGFR3 signalling via controlling its interaction with ß1 integrin and thus ensures proper development of lymphatic vessels.