Restrictive endothelial barrier function during normal angiogenesis in vivo: partial dependence on tyrosine dephosphorylation of beta-catenin

Real-time visualization and quantitation of vascular permeability in vivo: implications for drug delivery

The leaky, heterogeneous vasculature of human tumors prevents the even distribution of systemic drugs within cancer tissues. However, techniques for studying vascular delivery systems in vivo often require complex mammalian models and time-consuming, surgical protocols. The developing chicken embryo is a well-established model for human cancer that is easily accessible for tumor imaging. To assess this model for the in vivo analysis of tumor permeability, human tumors were grown on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), a thin vascular membrane which overlays the growing chick embryo. The real-time movement of small fluorescent dextrans through the tumor vasculature and surrounding tissues were used to measure vascular leak within tumor xenografts. Dextran extravasation within tumor sites was selectively enhanced an interleukin-2 (IL-2) peptide fragment or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF treatment increased vascular leak in the tumor core relative to surrounding normal tissue and increased doxorubicin uptake in human tumor xenografts. This new system easily visualizes vascular permeability changes in vivo and suggests that vascular permeability may be manipulated to improve chemotherapeutic targeting to tumors.

Improved growth factor directed vascularization into fibrin constructs through inclusion of additional extracellular molecules

Using the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay (CAM) and a novel histological technique, we investigated the ability of blood vessels to directly invade fibrin-based scaffolds. In our initial experiments utilizing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF(165)), we found no direct invasion. Instead, the fibrin was completely degraded and replaced with highly vascularized new tissue. Addition of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP-2), or platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) to the fibrin construct also did not result in construct vascularization. Because natural and regenerating tissues exhibit complex extracellular matrices (ECMs), we hypothesized that a more complex scaffold may improve blood vessel invasion. Addition of fibronectin, hyaluronic acid, and collagen type I within 20 mg/mL fibrin constructs resulted in no significant improvement. However, the same additive concentrations within 10 mg/mL fibrin constructs resulted in dramatic improvements, specifically with hyaluronic acid. Overall, we believe that these results indicate the importance of structural and functional cues of not only in the initial scaffold but also as the construct is degraded and remodeled. Furthermore, the CAM assay may represent a useful model for understanding ECM interactions as well as for screening and designing tissue-engineered scaffolds.

The use of quantum dots for analysis of chick CAM vasculature

Quantum dots (QDs) are fluorescent semiconductor nanocrystals that possess a number of superior fluorescent properties compared to more established organic dyes and fluorescent proteins. As a result, QDs are being studied for use in a wide range of biological applications. We have examined QDs for one such application, visualization of blood vessels of the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), a popular model for studying various aspects of blood vessel development including angiogenesis. Intravitally injected QDs were found to be biocompatible and were kept in circulation over the course of 4 days without any observed deleterious effects. QD vascular residence time was tunable through QD surface chemistry modification. We also found that use of QDs with higher emission wavelengths (>655 nm) virtually eliminated all chick-derived autofluorescence and improved depth-of-field imaging. QDs were compared to FITC-dextrans, a fluorescent dye commonly used for imaging CAM vessels. QDs were found to image vessels as well as or better than FITC-dextrans at 2-3 orders of magnitude lower concentration. We also demonstrated that QDs are fixable with low fluorescence loss and thus can be used in conjunction with histological processing for further sample analysis.

The role of VEGF receptors in angiogenesis; complex partnerships

Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) regulate blood and lymphatic vessel development and homeostasis but also have profound effects on neural cells. VEGFs are predominantly produced by endothelial, hematopoietic and stromal cells in response to hypoxia and upon stimulation with growth factors such as transforming growth factors, interleukins or platelet-derived growth factor. VEGFs bind to three variants of type III receptor tyrosine kinases, VEGF receptor 1, 2 and 3. Each VEGF isoform binds to a particular subset of these receptors giving rise to the formation of receptor homo- and heterodimers that activate discrete signaling pathways. Signal specificity of VEGF receptors is further modulated upon recruitment of coreceptors, such as neuropilins, heparan sulfate, integrins or cadherins. Here we summarize the knowledge accumulated since the discovery of these proteins more than 20 years ago with the emphasis on the signaling pathways activated by VEGF receptors in endothelial cells during cell migration, growth and differentiation.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of vascular endothelial cadherin and the regulation of microvascular permeability

BACKGROUND

Adherens junctions (AJ), by their association with the endothelial cytoskeleton, maintain microvascular barrier integrity. Phosphorylation states of AJ proteins, such as vascular endothelial (VE) cadherin, can potentially alter the interactions between component AJ proteins. Furthermore, AJ protein phosphorylation is susceptible to regulation by inflammatory mediators. We previously demonstrated the importance of VE cadherin in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-mediated endothelial permeability. We now postulate that TNF-induced endothelial permeability is associated with tyrosine phosphorylation of VE cadherin.

METHODS

Confluent monolayers of human umbilical vein endothelial cells were exposed to saline solution, TNF-alpha (100 U/mL) or TNF and the Src-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, 4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine. Permeability was assessed by fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran flux. VE-cadherin phosphorylation was determined by immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting with antiphosphotyrosine antibody. Data are expressed as mean +/- SEM and analyzed by analysis of variance.

RESULTS

TNF-alpha-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of VE cadherin and increased intercellular gap formation. These changes were associated with increased endothelial-cell monolayer permeability, all of which were prevented by 4-Amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine. Exposure to an inactive tyrphostin, AG9 (negative control), did not prevent TNF-induced endothelial permeability.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that tyrosine phosphorylation of VE cadherin is an important regulatory pathway associated with TNF-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction. Modulating AJ protein phosphorylation may provide targets for therapy during inflammation.

Vascular endothelial growth factor fails to acutely modulate endothelial permeability during early angiogenesis in the chick chorioallantoic membrane

The angiogenic endothelium of the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) offers minimal restriction to macromolecular efflux at Day 4.5 of the normal 21-day chick gestation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-specific Flk-1 and Flt-1 tyrosine phosphorylation was observed at Day 4.5 by receptor immunoprecipitation and requisite immunoblotting. Further, general inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation by either genistein or tyrphostin (10(-4) M) served to reduce FITC-Dextran 40 extravasation at Day 4.5. Likewise, anti-VEGF, but not anti-FGF-2 mAb, abolished the temporal endothelial hyperpermeability. These results are consistent with the established permeability-enhancing function of VEGF. Normal differentiation of the restrictive CAM endothelial barrier at Day 5. 0 was associated with reduced Flk-1 and Flt-1 expression, but sustained tyrosine phosphorylation of the residual RTKs. Moreover, inhibition of VEGF/RTK activity by anti-VEGF mAb at Day 5.0 did not enhance normal endothelial barrier function. Likewise, neither VEGF (5 x 10(-4) to 10(-15) M) nor PlGF (10(-6) to 10(-8) M), which selectively binds Flt-1, served to increase FITC-Dextran 40 efflux at Day 5.0. Together, these results are consistent with the suggestion that down-regulation of the permeability-related VEGF signal correlates temporally with the ontogeny of restrictive endothelial barrier function during angiogenesis in vivo.