Regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) splicing from pro-angiogenic to anti-angiogenic isoforms: a novel therapeutic strategy for angiogenesis

J Biol Chem. 2010 Feb 19;285(8):5532-40. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M109.074930. Epub 2009 Nov 11.

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is produced either as a pro-angiogenic or anti-angiogenic protein depending upon splice site choice in the terminal, eighth exon. Proximal splice site selection (PSS) in exon 8 generates pro-angiogenic isoforms such as VEGF(165), and distal splice site selection (DSS) results in anti-angiogenic isoforms such as VEGF(165)b. Cellular decisions on splice site selection depend upon the activity of RNA-binding splice factors, such as ASF/SF2, which have previously been shown to regulate VEGF splice site choice. To determine the mechanism by which the pro-angiogenic splice site choice is mediated, we investigated the effect of inhibition of ASF/SF2 phosphorylation by SR protein kinases (SRPK1/2) on splice site choice in epithelial cells and in in vivo angiogenesis models. Epithelial cells treated with insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) increased PSS and produced more VEGF(165) and less VEGF(165)b. This down-regulation of DSS and increased PSS was blocked by protein kinase C inhibition and SRPK1/2 inhibition. IGF-1 treatment resulted in nuclear localization of ASF/SF2, which was blocked by SPRK1/2 inhibition. Pull-down assay and RNA immunoprecipitation using VEGF mRNA sequences identified an 11-nucleotide sequence required for ASF/SF2 binding. Injection of an SRPK1/2 inhibitor reduced angiogenesis in a mouse model of retinal neovascularization, suggesting that regulation of alternative splicing could be a potential therapeutic strategy in angiogenic pathologies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing*
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / biosynthesis*
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / genetics
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / genetics
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Nuclear Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Isoforms / biosynthesis
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Retinal Neovascularization / genetics
  • Retinal Neovascularization / metabolism*
  • Retinal Neovascularization / therapy
  • Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / biosynthesis*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • insulin-like growth factor-1, mouse
  • vascular endothelial growth factor A, mouse
  • Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • SRPK1 protein, human
  • Srpk1 protein, mouse
  • Srpk2 protein, mouse
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • SRPK2 protein, human