semaxinib and pyrazolanthrone

c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) is involved in the regulation of various cellular functions including cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis. However, whether JNK/SAPK directly regulates the angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) has not yet been fully elucidated. Our present study firstly demonstrated VEGFA-induced angiogenic responses including the increase of cell viability, migration, and tube formation with a concentration-dependent manner in HUVECs. Further results showed that VEGFA induced the activation of JNK/SAPK, p38 kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), while JNK/SAPK inhibitor SP600125 and specific siRNA both blocked all those angiogenic effects induced by VEGFA. Furthermore, VEGFA induced the phosphorylation of ASK1, SEK1/MKK4, MKK7, and c-Jun, which are upstream or downstream signals of JNK/SAPK. In addition, in vivo matrigel plug assay further showed that SP600125 inhibited VEGFA-induced angiogenesis. Further results showed that SP600125 and JNK/SAPK siRNA decreased VEGFA-induced VEGFR2 (Flk-1/KDR) sustained phosphorylation in HUVECs. Taken together, all these results demonstrate that JNK/SAPK regulates VEGFA-induced VEGFR2 sustained phosphorylation, which plays important roles in VEGFA-induced angiogenesis in HUVECs.

Topics: Animals; Anthracenes; Cell Movement; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Activation; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; Humans; Indoles; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neovascularization, Physiologic; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Phosphorylation; Pyrroles; Recombinant Proteins; RNA, Small Interfering; Transfection; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2