LINE-1 retrotransposition events affect endothelial proliferation and migration

Histochem Cell Biol. 2010 Dec;134(6):581-9. doi: 10.1007/s00418-010-0758-y. Epub 2010 Nov 11.

Abstract

Long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1, L1) is a retrotransposon which affects the human genome by a variety of mechanisms. While LINE-1 expression is suppressed in the most somatic human cells, LINE-1 elements are activated in human cancer. Recently, high accumulation of LINE-1-encoded ORF1p and ORF2p in endothelial cells of mature human blood vessels was described. Here, we demonstrate that LINE-1 de novo retrotransposition events lead to a reduction of endothelial cell proliferation and migration in a porcine aortic endothelial (PAE) cell model. Cell cycle studies show a G0/G1 arrest in PAE cells harboring LINE-1 de novo retrotransposition events. Remarkably, in in situ analysis LINE-1-encoded ORF2p was not detectable in tumor blood vessels of different human organs while vascular endothelial cells of corresponding normal organs strongly expressed LINE-1 ORF2p. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that LINE-1 de novo retrotransposition influences selectively the expression of some angiogenic factors such as VEGF and Tie-2. Thus, our data suggest that LINE-1 de novo retrotransposition events might suppress angiogenesis and tumor vascularisation by reducing the angiogenic capacity of vascular endothelial cells.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Movement*
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Endonucleases / biosynthesis
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology*
  • Humans
  • Ki-67 Antigen / biosynthesis
  • Long Interspersed Nucleotide Elements / physiology*
  • Male
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms
  • RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / biosynthesis
  • Receptor, TIE-2 / biosynthesis
  • Swine
  • Testicular Neoplasms
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / biosynthesis

Substances

  • Ki-67 Antigen
  • ORF2 protein, human
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Receptor, TIE-2
  • RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
  • Endonucleases