Extracellular cadherin repeat domains EC1 and EC5 of T-cadherin are essential for its ability to stimulate angiogenic behavior of endothelial cells

FASEB J. 2009 Nov;23(11):4011-21. doi: 10.1096/fj.09-133611. Epub 2009 Jul 28.

Abstract

T-cadherin (T-cad) promotes survival, proliferation, and migration of endothelial cells and induces angiogenesis. We aimed to identify domains of T-cad functionally relevant to its effects on endothelial cell behavior. To specifically target the functional properties of the 5 cadherin repeat domains (EC1-EC5) of T-cad, endothelial cells were transduced with lentivectors containing specific T-cad-domain-deletion mutant constructs (DeltaI, DeltaII, DeltaIII, DeltaIV, DeltaV). Empty (E) lentivector-transduced cells served as control. Similarly to overexpression of native T-cad, cells expressing DeltaII, DeltaIII, or DeltaIV displayed elevated levels of p-Akt and p-GSK3beta and increased proliferation rates (for DeltaII, DeltaIII) vs. E. DeltaI- and DeltaV-transduced cells exhibited reduced levels of p-Akt and p-GSK3beta and retarded growth rates vs. E. Stimulatory effects of native T-cad overexpression on Akt and GSK3beta phosphorylation were dose dependently inhibited by coexpression of DeltaI or DeltaV. Subsequent functional analyses compared only DeltaI-, DeltaII-, and DeltaV-mutant constructs with E as a negative control. Unlike DeltaII cells, DeltaI and DeltaV cells failed to exhibit homophilic ligation and deadhesion responses on a substratum of T-cad protein. In the wound assay, migration was increased for DeltaII cells but impaired for DeltaI and DeltaV cells. In endothelial cell-spheroid assay, angiogenic sprouting was augmented for DeltaII cells but inhibited for DeltaI and DeltaV cells. We conclude that EC1 and EC5 domains of T-cad are essential for its proangiogenic effects. DeltaI and DeltaV constructs may serve as dominant-negative mutants and as potential tools targeting excessive angiogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inducing Agents
  • Cadherins / chemistry*
  • Cadherins / genetics
  • Cadherins / physiology*
  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / physiology*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / growth & development
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / physiology
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Humans
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / physiology
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Wound Healing / physiology

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inducing Agents
  • Cadherins
  • H-cadherin
  • GSK3B protein, human
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3