Regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor expression by insulin-like growth factor I in thyroid carcinomas.

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) produced by tumor cells potently stimulates endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis and plays a key role in the pathophysiology of several neoplasias. Hypoxia activates the VEGF promoter via response elements that bind the transcription factors hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) and activator protein-1 (AP-1). Yet, the paracrine signaling pathways regulating VEGF production and angiogenesis in thyroid cancer have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we, therefore, investigated the regulation of VEGF production by the thyroid carcinoma cell line SW579. We found that IGF-I up-regulated VEGF mRNA expression and protein secretion. Furthermore, transfection of SW579 cells with vector expressing a constitutively active form of Akt, a major mediator of IGF-I signaling, also stimulated VEGF expression. The IGF-I-induced up-regulation of VEGF production was associated with activation of AP-1 and HIF-1 alpha and was abrogated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors (wortmannin and LY294002); Jun kinase inhibitor (SP600125); HIF-1 alpha antisense oligonucleotide; or geldanamycin, an inhibitor of the heat shock protein 90 molecular chaperone, which regulates the three-dimensional conformation and function of IGF-I-receptor and Akt. These data indicate that IGF-I stimulates VEGF synthesis in thyroid carcinomas in an Akt-dependent pathway via AP-1 and HIF-1 alpha and provide the framework for clinical use of small-molecule inhibitors, including geldanamycin analogs, to abrogate proangiogenic cascades in thyroid cancer.

• Authors: Vassiliki Poulaki, Constantine S Mitsiades, Ciaran McMullan, Despoina Sykoutri, Galinos Fanourakis, Vassiliki Kotoula, Sophia Tseleni-Balafouta, Demetrios A Koutras, Nicholas Mitsiades
• Journal: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (J Clin Endocrinol Metab) Vol. 88 Issue 11 Pg. 5392-8 (Nov 2003) ISSN: 0021-972X [Print] United States
• PMID: 14602779 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Benzoquinones
• Enzyme Inhibitors
• HIF1A protein, human
• Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
• Lactams, Macrocyclic
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins
• Quinones
• Transcription Factor AP-1
• Transcription Factors
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
• Receptor, IGF Type 1
• AKT1 protein, human
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
• JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
• geldanamycin

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma
• Benzoquinones
• Cell Line, Tumor (physiology)
• Enzyme Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic (drug effects, physiology)
• Humans
• Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (pharmacology)
• JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
• Lactams, Macrocyclic
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (metabolism)
• Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases (metabolism)
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins (metabolism)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
• Quinones (pharmacology)
• Receptor, IGF Type 1 (metabolism)
• Thyroid Neoplasms
• Transcription Factor AP-1 (metabolism)
• Transcription Factors (metabolism)
• Up-Regulation (drug effects, physiology)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (genetics)