NHERF-2 maintains endothelial homeostasis

Blood. 2012 May 17;119(20):4798-806. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-11-392563. Epub 2012 Feb 17.

Abstract

The Na(+)/H(+) exchanger regulatory factor-2 (NHERF-2) is an integral component of almost all endothelial cells (ECs), yet its endothelial function is not known. Here, we found that NHERF-2, is a key regulator of endothelial homeostasis because NHERF-2-silenced ECs proliferate at a much higher rate even in the absence of mitogens such as VEGF compared with control ECs. We further show that the hyperproliferation phenotype of NHERF-2-silenced EC is because of an accelerated cell cycle that is probably caused by a combination of the following factors: increased cytoplasmic calcium, increased expression of c-Myc, increased expression of cyclin D1, and reduced expression of p27. Using an experimental mouse model of human hemangioma, we found that the endothelial neoplasms derived from NHERF-2-silenced cells were much larger in volume than those derived from control cells. Thus, NHERF-2 is a negative regulator of endothelial proliferation and may have important roles in endothelial homeostasis and vascular modeling.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Homeostasis / drug effects
  • Homeostasis / genetics*
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
  • Phosphoproteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Phosphoproteins / physiology*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology
  • Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers / genetics
  • Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers / metabolism
  • Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers / physiology*
  • Transfection
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Phosphoproteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers
  • sodium-hydrogen exchanger regulatory factor