VEGFR2 pY949 signalling regulates adherens junction integrity and metastatic spread.

Li X, Padhan N, Sjöström EO, Roche FP, Testini C, Honkura N, Sáinz-Jaspeado M, Gordon E, Bentley K, Philippides A, Tolmachev V, Dejana E, Stan RV, Vestweber D, Ballmer-Hofer K, Betsholtz C, Pietras K, Jansson L, Claesson-Welsh L

Nat Commun 7 (-) 11017 [2016-03-23; online 2016-03-23]

The specific role of VEGFA-induced permeability and vascular leakage in physiology and pathology has remained unclear. Here we show that VEGFA-induced vascular leakage depends on signalling initiated via the VEGFR2 phosphosite Y949, regulating dynamic c-Src and VE-cadherin phosphorylation. Abolished Y949 signalling in the mouse mutant Vegfr2(Y949F/Y949F) leads to VEGFA-resistant endothelial adherens junctions and a block in molecular extravasation. Vessels in Vegfr2(Y949F/Y949F) mice remain sensitive to inflammatory cytokines, and vascular morphology, blood pressure and flow parameters are normal. Tumour-bearing Vegfr2(Y949F/Y949F) mice display reduced vascular leakage and oedema, improved response to chemotherapy and, importantly, reduced metastatic spread. The inflammatory infiltration in the tumour micro-environment is unaffected. Blocking VEGFA-induced disassembly of endothelial junctions, thereby suppressing tumour oedema and metastatic spread, may be preferable to full vascular suppression in the treatment of certain cancer forms.

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PubMed 27005951

DOI 10.1038/ncomms11017

Crossref 10.1038/ncomms11017

pii: ncomms11017
pmc: PMC4814575


Publications 9.5.0