Regulation of angiogenesis by tissue factor cytoplasmic domain signaling

M Belting, MI Dorrell, S Sandgren, E Aguilar… - Nature medicine, 2004 - nature.com
M Belting, MI Dorrell, S Sandgren, E Aguilar, J Ahamed, A Dorfleutner, P Carmeliet
Nature medicine, 2004nature.com
Hemostasis initiates angiogenesis-dependent wound healing, and thrombosis is frequently
associated with advanced cancer. Although activation of coagulation generates potent
regulators of angiogenesis, little is known about how this pathway supports angiogenesis in
vivo. Here we show that the tissue factor (TF)-VIIa protease complex, independent of
triggering coagulation, can promote tumor and developmental angiogenesis through
protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) signaling. In this context, the TF cytoplasmic domain …
Abstract
Hemostasis initiates angiogenesis-dependent wound healing, and thrombosis is frequently associated with advanced cancer. Although activation of coagulation generates potent regulators of angiogenesis, little is known about how this pathway supports angiogenesis in vivo. Here we show that the tissue factor (TF)-VIIa protease complex, independent of triggering coagulation, can promote tumor and developmental angiogenesis through protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) signaling. In this context, the TF cytoplasmic domain negatively regulates PAR-2 signaling. Mice from which the TF cytoplasmic domain has been deleted (TFΔCT mice) show enhanced PAR-2-dependent angiogenesis, in synergy with platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB). Ocular tissue from diabetic patients shows PAR-2 colocalization with phosphorylated TF specifically on neovasculature, suggesting that phosphorylation of the TF cytoplasmic domain releases its negative regulatory control of PAR-2 signaling in angiogenesis. Targeting the TF-VIIa signaling pathway may thus enhance the efficacy of angiostatic treatments for cancer and neovascular eye diseases.
nature.com