p73 Overexpression increases VEGF and reduces thrombospondin-1 production: implications for tumor angiogenesis

Oncogene. 2001 Nov 1;20(50):7293-300. doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1204896.

Abstract

Tumor neovascularization is controlled by a balance between positive and negative effectors, whose production can be regulated by oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the angiogenic potential of tumors could also be controlled by p73, a gene homologous to the tumor suppressor p53, whose involvement in tumor angiogenesis is known. We have studied the production of proangiogenic (VEGF, FGF-2, PIGF and PDGF) and antiangiogenic (TSP-1) factors in two p73 overexpressing clones obtained from the human ovarian carcinoma cells A2780. TSP-1 was downregulated in both clones compared to mock transfected cells, both at mRNA and protein level. Conversely, both clones showed an increased production of VEGF mRNA and protein. For both TSP-1 and VEGF, regulation of expression was partially due to modulation of the promoter activity, and was dependent on p53 status. Production of the other angiogenic factors FGF-2, PIGF and PDGF-B was also increased in p73 overexpressing clones. The two clones were more angiogenic than parental cells, as shown in vitro by their increased chemotactic activity for endothelial cells, and in vivo by the generation of more vascularized tumors. These findings suggest a potential role of p73 in tumor angiogenesis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Northern
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Chemotaxis / drug effects
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / chemistry
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / pharmacology
  • Culture Media, Serum-Free
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Endothelial Growth Factors / biosynthesis*
  • Endothelial Growth Factors / genetics
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / biosynthesis
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor
  • Genes, p53
  • Humans
  • Lymphokines / biosynthesis*
  • Lymphokines / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / blood supply
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / physiology*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / biosynthesis
  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / genetics
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • Proteins / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Neoplasm / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / physiology
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Thrombospondin 1 / biosynthesis*
  • Thrombospondin 1 / genetics
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured / drug effects
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured / metabolism
  • Tumor Protein p73
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / physiology
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

Substances

  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Culture Media, Serum-Free
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Endothelial Growth Factors
  • Lymphokines
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • PIGF protein, human
  • Pigf protein, mouse
  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor
  • Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Neoplasm
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • TP73 protein, human
  • Thrombospondin 1
  • Trp73 protein, mouse
  • Tumor Protein p73
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2