Novel role of gp91phox-containing NAD(P)H oxidase in vascular endothelial growth factor-induced signaling and angiogenesis

Masuko Ushio-Fukai, Yan Tang, Tohru Fukai, Sergey I. Dikalov, Yuxian Ma, Mitsuaki Fujimoto, Mark T. Quinn, Patrick J. Pagano, Chad Johnson, R. Wayne Alexander

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

429 Scopus citations

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces angiogenesis by stimulating endothelial cell proliferation and migration, primarily through the receptor tyrosine kinase VEGF receptor2 (Flk1/KDR). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) derived from NAD(P)H oxidase are critically important in many aspects of vascular cell regulation, and both the small GTPase Rac1 and gp91phox are critical components of the endothelial NAD(P)H oxidase complex. A role of NAD(P)H oxidase in VEGF-induced angiogenesis, however, has not been defined. In the present study, electron spin resonance spectroscopy is utilized to demonstrate that VEGF stimulates O2.- production, which is inhibited by the NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor, diphenylene iodonium, as well as by overexpression of dominant-negative Rac1 (N17Rac1) and transfection of gp91phox antisense oligonucleotides in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (ECs). Antioxidants, including N-acetylcysteine (NAC), various NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitors, and N17Rac1 significantly attenuate not only VEGF-induced KDR tyrosine phosphorylation but also proliferation and migration of ECs. Importantly, these effects of VEGF are dramatically inhibited in cells transfected with gp91phox antisense oligonucleotides. By contrast, ROS are not involved in mediating these effects of sphingosine 1-phosphate (SIP) on ECs. Sponge implant assays demonstrate that VEGF-, but not S1P-, induced angiogenesis is significantly reduced in wild-type mice treated with NAC and in gp91phox-/- mice, suggesting that ROS derived from gp91phox-containing NAD(P)H oxidase play an important role in angiogenesis in vivo. These studies indicate that VEGF-induced endothelial cell signaling and angiogenesis is tightly controlled by the reduction/oxidation environment at the level of VEGF receptor and provide novel insights into the NAD(P)H oxidase as a potential therapeutic target for angiogenesis-dependent diseases.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1160-1167
Number of pages8
JournalCirculation research
Volume91
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2002
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Angiogenesis
  • Endothelial cells
  • NAD(P)H oxidase
  • Reactive oxygen species
  • Vascular endothelial growth factor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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