VEGFR-3 signaling is regulated by a G-protein activator, activator of G-protein signaling 8, in lymphatic endothelial cells.

Vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGFC) and its cognate receptor VEGFR-3 play a key role in lymphangiogenesis. We previously reported that an ischemia-inducible Gßγ signal regulator, activator of G-protein signaling 8 (AGS8), regulated the subcellular distribution of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and influenced VEGFA-induced signaling in vascular endothelial cells. Here, we report that AGS8 regulates VEGFR-3, which is another subtype of the VEGF receptor family, and mediates VEGFC signaling in human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells (HDLECs). VEGFC stimulated the proliferation of HDLECs and tube formation by HDLECs, which were inhibited by knocking down AGS8 by small interfering RNA (siRNA). AGS8 siRNA inhibited VEGFC-mediated phosphorylation of VEGFR-3 and its downstream molecules, including ERK1/2 and AKT. Analysis of fluorescence-activated cell sorting and immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that AGS8 knockdown was associated with a reduction of VEGFR-3 at the cell surface. Endocytosis inhibitors did not rescue the decrease of cell-surface VEGFR-3, suggesting that AGS8 regulated the trafficking of VEGFR-3 to the plasma membrane. An immunoprecipitation assay indicated that VEGFR-3 formed a complex including AGS8 and Gßγ in cells. These data suggest the novel regulation of VEGFC-VEGFR-3 by AGS8 in HDLECs and a potential role for AGS8 in lymphangiogenesis.

Activator of G-protein signaling 8 is involved in VEGF-mediated signal processing during angiogenesis.

Activator of G-protein signaling 8 (AGS8, also known as FNDC1) is a receptor-independent accessory protein for the Gßγ subunit, which was isolated from rat heart subjected to repetitive transient ischemia with the substantial development of collaterals. Here, we report the role of AGS8 in vessel formation by endothelial cells. Knockdown of AGS8 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced tube formation, as well as VEGF-stimulated cell growth and migration. VEGF stimulated the phosphorylation of the VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2, also known as KDR), ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK; however, knockdown of AGS8 inhibited these signaling events. Signal alterations by AGS8 siRNA were associated with a decrease of cell surface VEGFR-2 and an increase of VEGFR-2 in the cytosol. Endocytosis blockers did not influence the decrease of VEGFR-2 by AGS8 siRNA, suggesting the involvement of AGS8 in VEGFR-2 trafficking to the plasma membrane. VEGFR-2 formed a complex with AGS8 in cells, and a peptide designed to disrupt AGS8-Gßγ interaction inhibited VEGF-induced tube formation. These data suggest a potential role for AGS8-Gßγ in VEGF signal processing. AGS8 might play a key role in tissue adaptation by regulating angiogenic events.

Adenosine triphosphate is a critical determinant for VEGFR signal during hypoxia.

Hypoxia induces angiogenesis through the VEGF signaling pathway; however, signal propagation of VEGF in hypoxia is not fully understood. In this study, we examined alterations in VEGF signaling during hypoxia conditions and its determinant in endothelial cells. To analyze VEGF signaling during hypoxia, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to 3 h of hypoxia (1% O2) followed by 3 h of reoxygenation or 12 h of hypoxia. Hypoxia induced expression of VEGF mRNA, but it was not associated with an increase in tube formation by HUVECs. During 3 h of hypoxia, VEGF-induced phosphorylation of VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and downstream molecules were significantly inhibited without a change in VEGFR-2 expression, but it was completely restored after reoxygenation. VEGF-mediated VEGFR-2 phosphorylation is associated with a reduction in cellular ATP in hypoxia conditions (65.93 ± 8.32% of normoxia, means ± SE, P < 0.01). Interestingly, attenuation of VEGFR-2 phosphorylation was restored by addition of ATP to prepared membranes from cells that underwent 3 h of hypoxia. In contrast to 3 h of hypoxia, exposure of cells to 12 h of hypoxia decreased VEGFR-2 expression and VEGF-mediated VEGFR-2 phosphorylation. The magnitude of VEGFR-2 phosphorylation was not fully restored by addition of ATP to prepared membranes from cells exposed to 12 h of hypoxia. These data indicate that ATP is an important determinant of VEGF signaling in hypoxia and suggest that the activation process of VEGFR-2 was modified by sustained hypoxia. These observations contribute to our understanding of signal alterations in VEGF in endothelial cells during hypoxia.

Protection of cardiomyocytes from the hypoxia-mediated injury by a peptide targeting the activator of G-protein signaling 8.

Signaling via heterotrimeric G-protein is involved in the development of human diseases including ischemia-reperfusion injury of the heart. We previously identified an ischemia-inducible G-protein activator, activator of G-protein signaling 8 (AGS8), which regulates Gßγ signaling and plays a key role in the hypoxia-induced apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. Here, we attempted to intervene in the AGS8-Gßγ signaling process and protect cardiomyocytes from hypoxia-induced apoptosis with a peptide that disrupted the AGS8-Gßγ interaction. Synthesized AGS8-peptides, with amino acid sequences based on those of the Gßγ-binding domain of AGS8, successfully inhibited the association of AGS8 with Gßγ. The AGS8-peptide effectively blocked hypoxia-induced apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, as determined by DNA end-labeling and an increase in cleaved caspase-3. AGS8-peptide also inhibited the change in localization/permeability of channel protein connexin 43, which was mediated by AGS8-Gßγ under hypoxia. Small compounds that inhibit a wide range of Gßγ signals caused deleterious effects in cardiomyocytes. In contrast, AGS8-peptide did not cause cell damage under normoxia, suggesting an advantage inherent in targeted disruption of the AGS8-Gßγ signaling pathway. These data indicate a pivotal role for the interaction of AGS8 with Gßγ in hypoxia-induced apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, and suggest that targeted disruption of the AGS8-Gßγ signal provides a novel approach for protecting the myocardium against ischemic injury.