Title:VEGFR2 and VEGF-C Suppresses the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Via YAP in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells
VOLUME: 18 ISSUE: 5
Author(s):Y. Du, Q. Chen, L. Huang, S. Wang, X. Yin, L. Zhou, Z. Ye, X. Ren, Y. Cai, X. Ding, H. Ouyang, X. Li* and R. Ju*
Affiliation:State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, Chengdu Aier Eye Hospital, Chengdu, 610041, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060
Keywords:Retinal pigment epithelial cell, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, Hippo pathway, yes-associated
protein, vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGFR2, eye.
Abstract:Background: Whereas retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells are known to
secrete VEGF-A and VEGFR2, the functions of the autocrine VEGF signaling remain
unclear. Meanwhile, anti-VEGF therapies have been applied routinely to treat ocular
vascular diseases.
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the functions of the VEGF signaling
in RPE cells and evaluate the consequences of its interruption.
Methods: The genes involved in the VEGF and Hippo signal pathways were knocked
down with siRNAs in both ARPE-19 cell line and human primary RPE cells via transient
transfection whereas overexpression of VEGFR2 was mediated via adenovirus
transduction. Expression of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and
the downstream genes of YAP were determined by real-time PCR and Western Blot
analysis. Immunofluorescence staining was utilized to determine gene expression in
tissue and mouse samples.
Results: Knockdown of VEGFR2 results in epithelial-mesenchymal transition in vitro
and in vivo. Overexpression of VEGFR2 suppresses TGF β-mediated EMT in RPE cells.
Loss of VEGF-C rather than VEGF-A induces EMT. Mechanistically, the VEGFR2
ablation-induced EMT in RPE cells is mediated by activation of YAP, an effector of the
Hippo pathway. Finally, the immunohistochemical analysis of VEGFR2 and YAP in
human proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) membranes indicates a tendency of an
inverse correlation between VEGFR2-positive and YAP-positive cells.
Conclusions: Our results disclose unexpected novel roles of VEGFR2 and VEGF-C in
the process of EMT of RPE cells and in the Hippo pathway. The data shown here
demonstrated that VEGFR2 and VEGF-C are important to maintain the normal
physiological state of RPE cells.
