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Nerve growth factor activates aorta endothelial cells causing PI3K/Akt- and ERK-dependent migration

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Abstract

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a well-known neurotrophin. We determined whether NGF can activate endothelial cell migration and signalling that underlie angiogenic processes. We showed that aorta endothelial cells express mRNA for both the receptor tyrosine kinase TrkA and the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) that associates with TrkA when signalling occurs. Pig aortic endothelial cells migrated when exposed to an NGF gradient, due to the simultaneous activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase signalling pathways. Furthermore, morphological changes were found in migrating cells: they appear with elongated structures with a smaller cell volume than control cells. Our data show that NGF is an activator of endothelial cells and suggest that NGF plays a role in mediating angiogenesis.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Danish Health Science Research Council (grant 28809 and grant 42870) and the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Expert technical assistance by Sisse Ditlev is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Physiology, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark

    Ulrik L. Rahbek, Steen Dissing, Camilla Thomassen & Katerina Tritsaris

  2. Cancer and ImmunoBiology, Novo Nordisk A/S, Måløv, Denmark

    Anker J. Hansen

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  1. Ulrik L. Rahbek
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  2. Steen Dissing
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  3. Camilla Thomassen
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  4. Anker J. Hansen
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  5. Katerina Tritsaris
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Correspondence to Katerina Tritsaris.

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Rahbek, U.L., Dissing, S., Thomassen, C. et al. Nerve growth factor activates aorta endothelial cells causing PI3K/Akt- and ERK-dependent migration. Pflugers Arch - Eur J Physiol 450, 355–361 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-005-1436-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-005-1436-0

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