The development and integrity of blood vessels are regulated by cascade of signaling events triggered by both intrinsic and extrinsic cues. The long term goal of these studies is to determine the identity and function of the genes that are involved in the process of vascular development and to examine how aberrant functions can lead to vascular disorders. For angiogenesis to occur, resting endothelial cells (ECs) need to be activated to emerge out of their relative state of quiescence and to initiate signaling cascade that will lead to proliferation, ECM degradation and cell migration. A growing number of growth factors and cytokines such as bFGF, VEGF and TNF-alpha promote angiogenesis. Although, different angiogenic factors stimulate initially distinct signaling pathways they activate common downstream events such as activation of MAP kinases leading to transcriptional activation of several gene products necessary for new blood vessel formation. Cell surface molecules such as integrins and CAMs have been shown to be involved in this process however, there has been conflicting data regarding the essential role of integrins in angiogenesis. We have recently shown that Junctional Adhesion Molecule-A, JAM-A, a member of Ig superfamily is a key regulator of angiogenesis induced by bFGF. However, the mechanism by which JAM-A regulates this product is not elucidated. The proposal seeks to investigate the mechanism of regulation of angiogenesis by JAM-A and the contribution of the other JAM family members in this process in the following three specific aims. 1) Mechanism of regulation of growth factor-induced angiogenesis by JAM-A will be investigated in vitro by using ECs and in vivo using JAM-A null mice. 2) Intracellular signaling pathway induced through JAM-A will be studied by identifying signaling proteins that may associate with JAM-A and by dissecting the downstream signaling events using specific inhibitors. 3) Cross talk between JAM family members, JAM-A, JAM-B and JAM-C will be investigated both in vitro and in vivo using knockout animals. This investigation has the potential to increase our understanding of vascular disorders that lead to cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Further, elucidation of the role of JAM-A in endothelial cell proliferation and migration leading to angiogenesis will open up a mew line of investigation that is important in tumerigenesis and vascular biology.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL063960-08
Application #
7536394
Study Section
Vascular Cell and Molecular Biology Study Section (VCMB)
Program Officer
Kindzelski, Andrei L
Project Start
1999-12-01
Project End
2010-11-30
Budget Start
2008-12-01
Budget End
2009-11-30
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$366,553
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Delaware
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
059007500
City
Newark
State
DE
Country
United States
Zip Code
19716
Naik, Meghna U; Caplan, Jeffrey L; Naik, Ulhas P (2014) Junctional adhesion molecule-A suppresses platelet integrin ?IIb?3 signaling by recruiting Csk to the integrin-c-Src complex. Blood 123:1393-402
Chatterjee, Sharmila; Wang, Yan; Duncan, Melinda K et al. (2013) Junctional adhesion molecule-A regulates vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 signaling-dependent mouse corneal wound healing. PLoS One 8:e63674
Welf, Erik S; Naik, Ulhas P; Ogunnaike, Babatunde A (2012) A spatial model for integrin clustering as a result of feedback between integrin activation and integrin binding. Biophys J 103:1379-89
Naik, Meghna U; Stalker, Timothy J; Brass, Lawrence F et al. (2012) JAM-A protects from thrombosis by suppressing integrin ?IIb?3-dependent outside-in signaling in platelets. Blood 119:3352-60
Naik, Ulhas P; Naik, Meghna U (2008) Putting the brakes on cancer cell migration: JAM-A restrains integrin activation. Cell Adh Migr 2:249-51
Naik, Tejal U; Naik, Meghna U; Naik, Ulhas P (2008) Junctional adhesion molecules in angiogenesis. Front Biosci 13:258-62
Naik, Meghna U; Naik, Tejal U; Suckow, Arthur T et al. (2008) Attenuation of junctional adhesion molecule-A is a contributing factor for breast cancer cell invasion. Cancer Res 68:2194-203
Kang, Liang I; Wang, Yan; Suckow, Arthur T et al. (2007) Deletion of JAM-A causes morphological defects in the corneal epithelium. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 39:576-85
Cooke, Vesselina G; Naik, Meghna U; Naik, Ulhas P (2006) Fibroblast growth factor-2 failed to induce angiogenesis in junctional adhesion molecule-A-deficient mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 26:2005-11
Naik, Meghna U; Naik, Ulhas P (2006) Junctional adhesion molecule-A-induced endothelial cell migration on vitronectin is integrin alpha v beta 3 specific. J Cell Sci 119:490-9

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