Abundant data supports a prominent role for Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in the growth and metastasis of multiple tumor types, including many of the most highly vascularized such as glioblastoma, renal cell carcinoma, angiosarcoma, and Kaposi's sarcoma. Our long-range objective is a comprehensive understanding of signal transduction initiated by VEGF and the relationship of these signals to the angiogenic phenotype. VEGF and other proangiogenic growth factors likely share many signal transduction pathways, particularly downstream from """"""""integrators"""""""" of signal transduction such as Ras and FAK. Our initial funded studies identified Ras activation as both necessary and sufficient for the angiogenic phenotype and mapped the relationship between VEGF signaling events and biological actions. Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK), like Ras, integrates inputs from multiple extracellular stimuli including growth factor receptors, G-protein-coupled receptors, mechanical stimuli, and integrin/matrix interactions. While many studies have correlated changes in FAK phosphorylation with changes in endothelial cell function, few studies have directly investigated the role of FAK signaling. Our preliminary data demonstrate FAK signaling is essential for cell proliferation in response to VEGF. FAK has been implicated in controlling cell proliferation in other cell types through the regulation of ERK (fibroblasts) or JNK (smooth muscle cells). Our data demonstrates activation of these cascades by VEGF is not affected by disrupting FAK signal transduction. Rather, FAK appears to control cell cycle progression through a novel induction of a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. Based on these data, as well as our previous results with Ras/MAPK signaling, our hypothesis is that the regulation of FAK signal transduction and associated changes in cell phenotype will have unique and endothelial cell specific components that could ultimately be exploited to modulate the angiogenic response. Our objective in this proposal is to directly investigate the role of FAK signal transduction in integrating the biological response to VEGF, determine the mechanistic basis for the observed regulation, and to investigate the role of FAK and Ras signal transduction in modulating the angiogenic response in vivo.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA081419-06
Application #
6953790
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-TME (01))
Program Officer
Macleod, Carol L
Project Start
1999-04-01
Project End
2009-06-30
Budget Start
2005-09-01
Budget End
2006-06-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$277,250
Indirect Cost
Name
Albany Medical College
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
190592162
City
Albany
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
12208
Mathew, Shomita S; Nieves, Bethsaida; Sequeira, Sharon et al. (2014) Integrins promote cytokinesis through the RSK signaling axis. J Cell Sci 127:534-45
Colello, Diane; Mathew, Shomita; Ward, Rachel et al. (2012) Integrins regulate microtubule nucleating activity of centrosome through mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK/ERK) signaling. J Biol Chem 287:2520-30
Bryant, Patrick W; Zheng, Qingxia; Pumiglia, Kevin M (2012) Focal adhesion kinase is a phospho-regulated repressor of Rac and proliferation in human endothelial cells. Biol Open 1:723-30
Rajashekhar, Gangaraju; Kamocka, Malgorzata; Marin, Abby et al. (2011) Pro-inflammatory angiogenesis is mediated by p38 MAP kinase. J Cell Physiol 226:800-8
Adam, Alejandro P; Sharenko, Amy L; Pumiglia, Kevin et al. (2010) Src-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of VE-cadherin is not sufficient to decrease barrier function of endothelial monolayers. J Biol Chem 285:7045-55
Bajaj, Anshika; Zheng, Qingxia; Adam, Alejandro et al. (2010) Activation of endothelial ras signaling bypasses senescence and causes abnormal vascular morphogenesis. Cancer Res 70:3803-12
Lamar, John M; Pumiglia, Kevin M; DiPersio, C Michael (2008) An immortalization-dependent switch in integrin function up-regulates MMP-9 to enhance tumor cell invasion. Cancer Res 68:7371-9
Neskey, David M; Ambesi, Anthony; Pumiglia, Kevin M et al. (2008) Endostatin and anastellin inhibit distinct aspects of the angiogenic process. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 27:61
Choma, David P; Milano, Vincenzo; Pumiglia, Kevin M et al. (2007) Integrin alpha3beta1-dependent activation of FAK/Src regulates Rac1-mediated keratinocyte polarization on laminin-5. J Invest Dermatol 127:31-40
Bryant, Patrick; Zheng, Qingxia; Pumiglia, Kevin (2006) Focal adhesion kinase controls cellular levels of p27/Kip1 and p21/Cip1 through Skp2-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Mol Cell Biol 26:4201-13

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