Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) decreases expression and secretion of pleiotrophin in a VEGF receptor-independent manner

Abstract Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) is a key molecule in angiogenesis acting through VEGF receptors (VEGFRs), αν β3 integrin, receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase beta/zeta (RPTPβ/ζ) and cell surface nucleolin (NCL). Pleiotrophin (PTN) stimulates endothelial cell migration and limits the angiogenic effects of VEGF-A165 to the levels of its own effect, possibly acting as a VEGF-A165 modifier. Since PTN and VEGF-A165 share receptors and actions on endothelial cells, in the present work we studied whether and how VEGF-A165 affects PTN expression or secretion. VEGF-A165 decreased PTN mRNA and protein levels acting at the transcriptional level. Bevacizumab, a selective VEGFR2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor and down-regulation of VEGFR2 expression by siRNA did not affect this decrease, suggesting that it is VEGFR-independent. VEGF-A121 also decreased PTN mRNA and protein levels, suggesting that heparin binding of VEGF-A165 is not involved. Blockage of cell surface NCL, lack of expression or mutation of β3 integrin and down-regulation of RPTPβ/ζ abolished the inhibitory effect of VEGF-A165 on PTN expression and secretion. Down-regulation of endogenous PTN in endothelial cells enhanced VEGF-A165 -induced increase in migration and tube formation on matrigel. Collectively, these data suggest that VEGF-A down-regulates PTN expression and secretion through the RPTPβ/ζ-αν β3 -NCL axis to enhance its own effect on cell migration and further highlight the role of RPTPβ/ζ in VEGF-A actions.