Endoglin expression in the endothelium is regulated by Fli-1, Erg, and Elf-1 acting on the promoter and a -8-kb enhancer

Blood. 2006 Jun 15;107(12):4737-45. doi: 10.1182/blood-2005-12-4929. Epub 2006 Feb 16.

Abstract

Angiogenesis is critical to the growth and regeneration of tissue but is also a key component of tumor growth and chronic inflammatory disorders. Endoglin plays a key role in angiogenesis by modulating cellular responses to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling and is upregulated in proliferating endothelial cells. To gain insights into the transcriptional hierarchies that govern endoglin expression, we used a combination of comparative genomic, biochemical, and transgenic approaches. Both the promoter and a region 8 kb upstream of exon 1 were active in transfection assays in endothelial cells. In transgenic mice, the promoter directed low-level expression to a subset of endothelial cells. By contrast, inclusion of the -8 enhancer resulted in robust endothelial activity with additional staining in developing ear mesenchyme. Subsequent molecular analysis demonstrated that both the -8 enhancer and the promoter depend on conserved Ets sites, which were bound in endothelial cells in vivo by Fli-1, Erg, and Elf-1. This study therefore establishes the transcriptional framework within which endoglin functions during angiogenesis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dogs
  • Endoglin
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism*
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic / physiology*
  • Ephrin-A2 / genetics
  • Ephrin-A2 / metabolism*
  • Exons / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / physiology
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / physiology
  • Opossums
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / physiology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Protein c-fli-1 / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Protein c-fli-1 / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation / physiology

Substances

  • Endoglin
  • Eng protein, mouse
  • Ephrin-A2
  • Fli1 protein, mouse
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Protein c-fli-1
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta