Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the critical factor responsible for blood vessel formation in normal conditions, such as in wound healing, and in pathological conditions, such as in tumor growth. Disparate endothelial cell (EC) responses to VEGF stimulation: cell migration, proliferation and increased vascular permeability are mediated in part via cell surface receptor VEGF Receptor 2 (VEGFR2). Small GTPase Rac1 is involved in each of the VEGF-mediated readouts in ECs. Our preliminary data indicate that small GTPase Rap1, acting via Rac1, is a key regulator of VEGF signaling in ECs. Our central hypothesis is that VEGF signaling via VEGFR2 that disrupts EC junctions leading to elevated vascular permeability is in part relayed via interactions between activated Rap1, Rac1 and Rap1 GEF (Guanine nucleotide Exchange Factor) C3G. Studies in Aim 1 will delineate isoform-specific functions of Rap1 in VEGF-induced VE-cadherin junction disassembly in vitro and in vivo. Basal and VEGF-induced vascular permeability in two EC-specific Rap1a and Rap1b-KO mice models will be examined. To gain mechanistic insight into how cellular processes leading to cell-cell junction dissolution are altered in the absence of Rap1 isoforms, VEGF-induced signaling converging at VE-cadherin and differential regulation of RhoA by Rap1 in response to VEGF and Epac activation will be examined in ECs isolated from Rap1-deficient mice. To identify how Rap1 activity is regulated in response to VEGF stimulation in Aim 2, involvement of two GEFs, C3G and Epac, in VEGF-induced Rap1 activation will be examined. Biomolecular Fluorescence Complementation (BiFC) will be used to visualize VEGF-induced interaction between Rap1 and C3G and between Rap1 and Epac. The effect of silencing expression of either GEF on VEGF-induced permeability and, using Rap1 biosensor, on Rap1 activity, will be examined in WT and in Rap1a- or Rap1b-deficient ECs. For in vivo determination of C3G and Epac involvement in angiogenesis, the effect of morpholino-based knockdown of each GEF on intersomitic vessel formation will be examined. Studies in Aim 3 will identify the signaling mechanism downstream from VEGFR2 that is mediated by Rap1 in vitro and in vivo. Our working hypothesis that Rap1 regulates dynamics of EC responses to VEGF by regulating localization of active Rac1 will be tested using Rac1 biosensor in WT and Rap1-deficient ECs, BiFC in VEGF-stimulated WT ECs to detect Rap1 and Rac1 colocalization and by analysis of Rac1-dependent signaling and actin cytoskeleton dynamics. Furthermore, the involvement of two Rac GEFs and a Rac1 effector IQGAP1 in Rap1-dependent Rac1 localization and function in response to VEGF stimulation will be examined. We expect that these aims will identify key control mechanisms through which Rap1 isoforms regulate VEGF- induced permeability in ECs. Knowledge gained through this research is expected to enable successful modulation of VEGF responses by manipulating specific Rap1 isoform activity.
Formation of new blood vessels is important in physiological and pathological conditions. This project will help understand mechanisms underlying blood vessel formation to help create new therapies to either promote new blood vessels required for wound healing and tissue repair, such as after an ischemic heart injury, or prevent blood vessel formation, as in tumor progression.
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