VEGFR2 induces c-Src signaling and vascular permeability in vivo via the adaptor protein TSAd

J Exp Med. 2012 Jul 2;209(7):1363-77. doi: 10.1084/jem.20111343. Epub 2012 Jun 11.

Abstract

Regulation of vascular endothelial (VE) growth factor (VEGF)-induced permeability is critical in physiological and pathological processes. We show that tyrosine phosphorylation of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) at Y951 facilitates binding of VEGFR2 to the Rous sarcoma (Src) homology 2-domain of T cell-specific adaptor (TSAd), which in turn regulates VEGF-induced activation of the c-Src tyrosine kinase and vascular permeability. c-Src was activated in vivo and in vitro in a VEGF/TSAd-dependent manner, and was regulated via increased phosphorylation at pY418 and reduced phosphorylation at pY527. Tsad silencing blocked VEGF-induced c-Src activation, but did not affect pathways involving phospholipase Cγ, extracellular regulated kinase, and endothelial nitric oxide. VEGF-induced rearrangement of VE-cadherin-positive junctions in endothelial cells isolated from mouse lungs, or in mouse cremaster vessels, was dependent on TSAd expression, and TSAd formed a complex with VE-cadherin, VEGFR2, and c-Src at endothelial junctions. Vessels in tsad(-/-) mice showed undisturbed flow and pressure, but impaired VEGF-induced permeability, as measured by extravasation of Evans blue, dextran, and microspheres in the skin and the trachea. Histamine-induced extravasation was not affected by TSAd deficiency. We conclude that TSAd is required for VEGF-induced, c-Src-mediated regulation of endothelial cell junctions and for vascular permeability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Capillary Permeability / drug effects
  • Capillary Permeability / physiology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials / etiology
  • Female
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Microspheres
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Protein Binding
  • RNA Interference
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / pharmacology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / metabolism*
  • src-Family Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Antigens, CD
  • Cadherins
  • Sh2d2a protein, mouse
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • cadherin 5
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2
  • src-Family Kinases
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate