Endoglin promotes transforming growth factor beta-mediated Smad 1/5/8 signaling and inhibits endothelial cell migration through its association with GIPC

J Biol Chem. 2008 Nov 21;283(47):32527-33. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M803059200. Epub 2008 Sep 5.

Abstract

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) signals through two distinct pathways to regulate endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis, the ALK-1/Smad 1/5/8 and ALK-5/Smad2/3 pathways. Endoglin is a co-receptor predominantly expressed in endothelial cells that participates in TGFbeta-mediated signaling with ALK-1 and ALK-5 and regulates critical aspects of cellular and biological responses. The embryonic lethal phenotype of knock-out mice because of defects in angiogenesis and disease-causing mutations resulting in human vascular diseases both support essential roles for endoglin, ALK-1, and ALK-5 in the vasculature. However, the mechanism by which endoglin mediates TGF-beta signaling through ALK-1 and ALK-5 has remained elusive. Here we describe a novel interaction between endoglin and GIPC, a scaffolding protein known to regulate cell surface receptor expression and trafficking. Co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence confocal studies both demonstrate a specific interaction between endoglin and GIPC in endothelial cells, mediated by a class I PDZ binding motif in the cytoplasmic domain of endoglin. Subcellular distribution studies demonstrate that endoglin recruits GIPC to the plasma membrane and co-localizes with GIPC in a TGFbeta-independent manner, with GIPC-promoting cell surface retention of endoglin. Endoglin specifically enhanced TGF-beta1-induced phosphorylation of Smad 1/5/8, increased a Smad 1/5/8 responsive promoter, and inhibited endothelial cell migration in a manner dependent on the ability of endoglin to interact with GIPC. These studies define a novel mechanism for the regulation of endoglin signaling and function in endothelial cells and demonstrate a new role for GIPC in TGF-beta signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / genetics
  • Antigens, CD / physiology*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Endoglin
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology*
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neuropeptides / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / physiology*
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Smad1 Protein / metabolism*
  • Smad5 Protein / metabolism*
  • Smad8 Protein / metabolism*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Antigens, CD
  • Carrier Proteins
  • ENG protein, human
  • Endoglin
  • Eng protein, mouse
  • GIPC1 protein, human
  • Gipc1 protein, mouse
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Neuropeptides
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • SMAD1 protein, human
  • SMAD5 protein, human
  • SMAD9 protein, human
  • Smad1 Protein
  • Smad1 protein, mouse
  • Smad5 Protein
  • Smad5 protein, mouse
  • Smad8 Protein
  • Smad9 protein, mouse
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta