ERK5 is required for VEGF-mediated survival and tubular morphogenesis of primary human microvascular endothelial cells

Owain Llŷr Roberts, Katherine Holmes, Jürgen Müller, Darren A.E. Cross, Michael J. Cross

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) is activated in response to environmental stress and growth factors. Gene ablation of Erk5 in mice is embryonically lethal as a result of disruption of cardiovascular development and vascular integrity. We investigated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mediated ERK5 activation in primary human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs) undergoing proliferation on a gelatin matrix, and tubular morphogenesis within a collagen gel matrix. VEGF induced sustained ERK5 activation on both matrices. However, manipulation of ERK5 activity by siRNA-mediated gene silencing disrupted tubular morphogenesis without impacting proliferation. Overexpression of constitutively active MEK5 and ERK5 stimulated tubular morphogenesis in the absence of VEGF. Analysis of intracellular signalling revealed that ERK5 regulated AKT phosphorylation. On a collagen gel, ERK5 regulated VEGF-mediated phosphorylation of the pro-apoptotic protein BAD and increased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein BCL2, resulting in decreased caspase-3 activity and apoptosis suppression. Our findings suggest that ERK5 is required for AKT phosphorylation and cell survival and is crucial for endothelial cell differentiation in response to VEGF.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3189-3200
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Cell Science
Volume123
Issue number18
Early online date24 Aug 2010
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Sept 2010

Bibliographical note

© 2010. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd. Non-commercial use

Keywords

  • AKT
  • angiogenesis
  • endothelial
  • ERK5
  • signal transduction
  • VEGF

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