Cdc2-like kinases and DNA topoisomerase I regulate alternative splicing of tissue factor in human endothelial cells

Circ Res. 2009 Mar 13;104(5):589-99. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.108.183905. Epub 2009 Jan 22.

Abstract

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells express 2 naturally occurring forms of tissue factor (TF), the primary initiator of blood coagulation: the soluble alternatively spliced isoform and the full-length TF isoform. The regulatory pathways enabling this phenomenon are completely unknown. Cdc2-like kinases and DNA topoisomerase I regulate alternative splicing via phosphorylation of serine/arginine-rich proteins. In this study, we examined effects of serine/arginine-rich protein kinases on TF splicing following stimulation with TNF-alpha. Human endothelial cells were pretreated with specific inhibitors or small interfering RNAs against Cdc2-like kinases and DNA topoisomerase I before stimulation with TNF-alpha. TF levels were determined by semiquantitative RT-PCR, real-time PCR, and Western blotting. Cellular procoagulant activity was analyzed in a chromogenic TF activity assay. All 4 known Cdc2-like kinases forms were expressed in human endothelial cells. Selective inhibition of Cdc2-like kinases and DNA topoisomerase I elicited distinct changes in TF biosynthesis in TNF-alpha-stimulated endothelial cells, which impacted endothelial procoagulant activity. This study is the first to demonstrate that serine/arginine-rich protein kinases modulate splicing of TF pre-mRNA in human endothelial cells and, consequently, endothelial procoagulant activity under inflammatory conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing*
  • Blood Coagulation* / genetics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / genetics
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / metabolism*
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / enzymology*
  • Factor Xa / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA Precursors / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors
  • Thromboplastin / genetics
  • Thromboplastin / metabolism*
  • Time Factors
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • RNA Precursors
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • SRSF4 protein, human
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors
  • Thromboplastin
  • Clk dual-specificity kinases
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Factor Xa
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type I