Receptor tyrosine kinase Tie-1 overexpression in endothelial cells upregulates adhesion molecules

B Chan, HT Yuan, SA Karumanchi… - … and biophysical research …, 2008 - Elsevier
Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 2008Elsevier
Tie-1 is an endothelial specific cell surface protein whose biology remains poorly
understood. Using an overexpression system in vitro, we examined whether Tie-1 activity in
endothelial cells in vitro would elicit a proinflammatory response. We found that when
overexpressed in endothelial cells in vitro, Tie-1 is tyrosine-phosphorylated. We also
showed that Tie-1 upregulates VCAM-1, E-selectin, and ICAM-1, partly through a p38-
dependent mechanism. Interestingly, upregulation of VCAM-1 and E-selectin by Tie-1 is …
Tie-1 is an endothelial specific cell surface protein whose biology remains poorly understood. Using an overexpression system in vitro, we examined whether Tie-1 activity in endothelial cells in vitro would elicit a proinflammatory response. We found that when overexpressed in endothelial cells in vitro, Tie-1 is tyrosine-phosphorylated. We also showed that Tie-1 upregulates VCAM-1, E-selectin, and ICAM-1, partly through a p38-dependent mechanism. Interestingly, upregulation of VCAM-1 and E-selectin by Tie-1 is significantly higher in human aortic endothelial cells than in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Additionally, attachment of cells of monocytic lineage to endothelial cells is also enhanced by Tie-1 expression. Collectively, our data show that Tie-1 has a proinflammatory property and may play a role in the endothelial inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis.
Elsevier