Cysteinyl-leukotrienes induce vascular endothelial growth factor production in human monocytes and bronchial smooth muscle cells

• Published in: Clinical and experimental allergy 2011-02, Vol.41 (2), p.204-217
• Main Authors: Poulin, S., Thompson, C., Thivierge, M., Véronneau, S., McMahon, S., Dubois, C. M., Stankova, J., Rola-Pleszczynski, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activator protein 1; airway remodelling; Angiogenesis; Antagonists; AP-1; Asthma; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchi - cytology; c-Fos protein; c-Jun amino-terminal kinase; c-Jun protein; Cysteine - analysis; cysteinyl-leukotriene; Data processing; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Extracellular signal-regulated kinase; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Gene deletion; Gene expression; HEK293 Cells; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Kinases; Leukotrienes; Leukotrienes - chemistry; Leukotrienes - pharmacology; MAP kinase; Monocytes; Monocytes - drug effects; Monocytes - metabolism; Muscle, Smooth - cytology; Muscle, Smooth - drug effects; Muscle, Smooth - metabolism; Mutation; Polymerase chain reaction; Promoters; Proteins; Ras protein; Receptors, Leukotriene - metabolism; Respiratory tract; RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Smooth muscle; Sp1; Sp1 protein; Transcription; Transcription factors; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - biosynthesis; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - genetics; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - immunology
• ISSN: 0954-7894; 1365-2222
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2010.03653.x

Cite this as: S. Poulin, C. Thompson,M. Thivierge, S. V'eronneau,S. McMahon, C. M. Dubois, J. Stankova and M. Rola‐Pleszczynski, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 204–217. Summary Background Cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs) are suggested to be implicated in the process of airway remodelling in asthma. Objective We investigated the potential for cysLTs to modulate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, a growth factor involved in the angiogenesis of airway remodelling. Methods VEGF mRNA and protein were quantified by real‐time PCR and ELISA, respectively. VEGF promoter activation was assessed using luciferase gene‐tagged promoter constructs. Results We found that LTD4 induction of VEGF in human monocytes and bronchial smooth muscle cells is cysLT1 dependent. Stimulation of HEK293 cells stably expressing cysLT1 or cysLT2 with cysLTs showed a concentration‐dependent activation of the VEGF promoter and a time‐dependent increase in VEGF mRNA and protein. For the cysLT1‐mediated response, mutations of hypoxia‐induced factor‐1 (HIF‐1) sites failed to reduce cysLT‐induced VEGF promoter activation and 5′ deletions showed that the proximal region containing one AP‐1 and four specificity protein 1 (Sp1) sites was necessary. Pretreatment with inhibitors of c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK), but not p38, and an overexpression of dominant negative forms of c‐Jun, c‐Fos or Ras suggested the implication of mitogen‐activated protein kinases and AP‐1. Mutation of the AP‐1‐binding element failed to prevent VEGF transactivation suggesting that AP‐1 might not act directly on the promoter. Moreover, inhibition of Sp1‐dependent transcription by mithramycin completely inhibited VEGF promoter transactivation and VEGF mRNA expression by LTD4. Finally, mutations of Sp1 binding elements prevented VEGF promoter transactivation. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance Our data indicate for the first time that cysLTs can transcriptionally activate VEGF production via cysLT1 receptors, with the involvement of JNK, ERK, the AP‐1 complex and Sp1. These findings suggest that cysLTs may be important in the angiogenic process of airway remodelling and potentially provide a previously unknown benefit of using cysLT1 receptor antagonists in the prevention or treatment of airway remodelling in asthma.