VEGF-A promotes tissue repair-associated lymphatic vessel formation via VEGFR-2 and the alpha1beta1 and alpha2beta1 integrins

FASEB J. 2004 Jul;18(10):1111-3. doi: 10.1096/fj.03-1179fje. Epub 2004 May 7.

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is strongly up-regulated in wounded cutaneous tissue and promotes repair-associated angiogenesis. However, little is known about its role in lymphatic regeneration of the healing skin. We studied wound healing in transgenic mice that overexpress VEGF-A specifically in the epidermis and in wild-type mice in the absence or presence of inhibitors of VEGF-A signaling. Surprisingly, transgenic overexpression of VEGF-A in the skin promoted lymphangiogenesis at the wound healing site, whereas systemic blockade of VEGFR-2 prevented lymphatic vessel formation. Studies in cultured lymphatic endothelial cells revealed that VEGF-A induced expression of the alpha1 and alpha2 integrins, which promoted their in vitro tube formation and their haptotactic migration toward type I collagen. VEGF-A-induced lymphatic endothelial cord formation and haptotactic migration were suppressed by anti-alpha1 and anti-alpha2 integrin blocking antibodies, and systemic blockade of the alpha1 and alpha2 integrins inhibited VEGF-A-driven lymphangiogenesis in vivo. We propose that VEGF-A promotes lymphatic vasculature formation via activation of VEGFR-2 and that lineage-specific differences of integrin receptor expression contribute to the distinct dynamics of wound-associated angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Cell Lineage
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured / cytology
  • Cells, Cultured / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Integrin alpha1 / biosynthesis
  • Integrin alpha1 / genetics
  • Integrin alpha1 / physiology*
  • Integrin alpha2 / biosynthesis
  • Integrin alpha2 / genetics
  • Integrin alpha2 / physiology*
  • Keratin-14
  • Keratins / genetics
  • Lymphangiogenesis / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / physiology*
  • Skin / injuries
  • Up-Regulation / physiology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / physiology*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / physiology*
  • Wound Healing / physiology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Integrin alpha1
  • Integrin alpha2
  • KRT14 protein, human
  • Keratin-14
  • Krt14 protein, mouse
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • vascular endothelial growth factor A, mouse
  • Keratins
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2