Tie2 is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) involved in numerous aspects of both normal and pathological angiogenesis. Proper functioning of this receptor is essential for normal development of the vasculature in the embryo as well as vessel maintenance and at sites of active angiogenesis in the adult. A growing list of pathological states has been attributed to a disruption of the angiogenic ‘balance’ including psoriasis, arthritis, atherosclerosis and diabetic retinopathy. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms behind this important biological process will provide insight into the various molecules involved as well as provide potential targets for novel angiogenic therapies. In an attempt to better understand the signaling pathways downstream of the Tie2 receptor we have studied tyrosine residues on the receptor believed to play an important role in Tie2 function. Of these, we have identified Y1111 as a negative regulatory site on Tie2. Mutation of this site affects receptor phosphorylation and kinase activity. Furthermore, protease digestion studies indicate that mutation of Y1111 may alter receptor conformation and potentially relieve negative inhibition imparted by the C-tail of Tie2. As well, we examined potential Tie2 downstream binding partners, specifically the novel Grb7 family of proteins. This work describes for the first time tyrosine phosphorylation of Grb14, an adaptor molecule previously shown to bind Tie2 in vitro. Moreover, our data suggests a role for this adaptor in Tie2 signal transduction involving two tyrosine residues in the receptor C-terminal tail; Y1100 and Y1106. These studies provide important insight into both signal transduction downstream of Tie2 as well as help us understand some of the molecular mechanisms behind the intrinsic ability of this RTK to regulate its own activity.

Tie2 is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) involved in numerous aspects of both normal and pathological angiogenesis. Proper functioning of this receptor is essential for normal development of the vasculature in the embryo as well as vessel maintenance and at sites of active angiogenesis in the adult. A growing list of pathological states has been attributed to a disruption of the angiogenic ‘balance’ including psoriasis, arthritis, atherosclerosis and diabetic retinopathy. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms behind this important biological process will provide insight into the various molecules involved as well as provide potential targets for novel angiogenic therapies. In an attempt to better understand the signaling pathways downstream of the Tie2 receptor we have studied tyrosine residues on the receptor believed to play an important role in Tie2 function. Of these, we have identified Y1111 as a negative regulatory site on Tie2. Mutation of this site affects receptor phosphorylation and kinase activity. Furthermore, protease digestion studies indicate that mutation of Y1111 may alter receptor conformation and potentially relieve negative inhibition imparted by the C-tail of Tie2. As well, we examined potential Tie2 downstream binding partners, specifically the novel Grb7 family of proteins. This work describes for the first time tyrosine phosphorylation of Grb14, an adaptor molecule previously shown to bind Tie2 in vitro. Moreover, our data suggests a role for this adaptor in Tie2 signal transduction involving two tyrosine residues in the receptor C-terminal tail; Y1100 and Y1106. These studies provide important insight into both signal transduction downstream of Tie2 as well as help us understand some of the molecular mechanisms behind the intrinsic ability of this RTK to regulate its own activity.

Research on angiogenesis has been focused on developing anti-angiogenic therapies to target endothelial cell-specific signalling pathways, as a mean to limit tumour outgrowth and metastasis. One of the main targets is the endothelial cell-specific Tie2 receptor and its ligands, the angiopoietins, which controls the later stages of angiogenesis. Although the angiopoietin/Tie2 signalling pathways have been well characterized, the molecular mechanism by which the ligands regulate Tie2 activity remains unclear. To address this question, we determined whether the activation mechanism of Tie2 is induced by dimerisation alone, or whether subsequent relative rotation of the kinase domain is required. Here we employed a coiled-coiled based protein engineering approach to identify the relative orientations of the kinase domains that are optimal for Tie2 activation. By replacing the extracellular domain of Tie2 with the dimeric parallel coiled-coil motif Put3cc, we generated ligand-independent homodimers of the kinase domains Put3cc-Tie2 I-VII that have distinct orientations. We show that dimerisation is sufficient to induce Tie2 activation and downstream activation of Akt, and that varying the interface of the kinase domain in Tie2 dimers can increase its catalytic efficiency. In addition we examined for the presence of potential dimerisation within the transmembrane and intracellular domain of Tie2. We show that the KD and potentially the TM contain dimerisation motifs that stabilise Tie2 in the inactive and active conformations. In addition, we show that deletion of the potential coiled-coil motif in the JM does not disrupt dimerisation but decreases the catalytic efficiency of Tie2. Finally, we propose that the activation mechanism of Tie2 may be similar to the previously described asymmetric dimer formation of EGFR and FGFR receptors.

Pathological angiogenesis is an essential component of tumor growth, development, and metastasis for which few effective therapeutic options exist. Though many cancer therapies target the function of cell surface receptors, mechanisms regulating membrane receptor crosstalk remain unclear. Two important families of receptors in angiogenesis, the Ties and Integrins, respond to the extracellular environment via outside-in and, in the case of Integrins, also inside- out signaling. Recent reports showed that the endothelial specific tyrosine kinase receptor, Tie2, forms complexes with two of the endothelial Integrin heterodimers, α5β1 and αVβ3, providing a convenient mechanism for the integration of extracellular stimuli. Our data confirm the interaction between Integrins and Tie2 and additionally indicate an interaction with the orphan co-receptor Tie1. To elucidate the biological role of these macromolecular complexes, biochemical and biophysical methods including co-immunoprecipitation, FRET microscopy, and cellular based assays were used to follow receptor/Integrin association in response to the Tie2 ligands Angiopoietin-1 and -2 as well as the Integrin ligand fibronectin. Furthermore, structural analysis by small angle x-ray scattering of Tie2-ligand complexes and specific Integrin and Tie complexes are being used to identify the basis for growth factor receptor and Integrin signal transduction.

The cardiovascular system develops through two distinct processes in embryogenesis: vasculogenesis, whereby the primary plexus in the heart is formed along with embryonic and extraembryonic vasculature, and angiogenesis, which begins after vasculogenesis and results in the refinement and maturation of the branched vessel system. In pathological angiogenesis, tumors expand by releasing pro-angiogenic factors in response to hypoxic conditions. The Tie receptors, Tie1 and Tie2, are receptor tyrosine kinases that are integral to angiogenic pathways. A family of Angiopoietins, Ang1-4, have been shown to act as ligands for Tie2, of which Ang1 and Ang2 are best characterized. Activation of the receptor causes dimerization and autophosphorylation, whereby adaptor proteins recognizing the phosphorylated tyrosine activate downstream signaling via their Src homology 2 (SH2) domains. Currently there are no phosphospecific antibodies for Tie2, therefore, identifying critical residues responsible for certain pathways remains difficult. In our study, we aim to use purified SH2 domains of known binding partners to Tie2 to assess the phosphorylation state of the receptor under various cellular conditions and settings, utilizing immunoprecipitation and western blotting. Unexpectedly, we found that Tie2 can bind non-specifically to nickel sepharose when the SH2 proteins were used as antibody mimetics, and was unable to be consistently precipitated in Protein A sepharose when used in conjunction with a monoclonal YFP antibody. Under the latter conditions however we were able to precipitate the SH2 protein itself. When immunoprecipitations were used with cobalt activated IMAC beads, we were able to precipitate Tie2 in overexpressed systems using the SH2 domains of Shp2 N-C and Grb2. As expected, phosphorylation of Tie2 in the presence of its orphan receptor Tie1 was attenuated compared to wild-type levels. Based upon available data, we anticipate this method as a useful tool to assess the phosphorylation state of Tie2 and its signaling pathways in the near future.

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

<p>A functioning vasculature is critical for the supply of nutrients to other systems as well as a host of physiologic and pathologic processes. Vascular development and maintenance are tightly regulated by a number of signaling processes, among which the Tie proteins are two functioning receptors. Although they have been shown to exhibit essential roles in endothelial cell sprouting and quiescence, the mechanistic details of Tie interactions and the effects of their associations with the Angiopoietins have not been elucidated. Studies in this thesis investigated the effects of Ang2 on Tie1 activation, signaling, and cellular responses within the context of both native and immortalized endothelial cells. Additionally, we investigated the role of Ang2 in the cellular reorganization and subsequent downregulation of Tie1. We observed that Ang2, but not Ang1, induces phosphorylation of Tie1 in endothelial cells and that the extracellular domain of Tie2 is required for Ang2-mediated activation of Tie1. Furthermore, we demonstrated that Tie1 activation leads to signaling through the Akt axis, and the consequent stimulation of anti-apoptotic and pro-proliferative cellular effects. Additionally, we demonstrated that Ang2 induces a concentration and time dependent downregulation of Tie1, and that Tie2's role in the process appears to be recruitment of the ligand to the multimeric Tie complexes. Interestingly, although Ang2 stimulation is necessary, we demonstrated that Ang2 activation of Tie1 receptor complexes is not required for ligand induced downregulation of the receptor. Finally, we characterized the modulatory role of Tie1 with regards to Angiopoietin signaling through Tie2, and observed that removal of Tie1 from the surface of endothelial cells induces Ang2 activation of Tie2 leading to increases in cell survival signaling cascades. Taken together, these data shed new light on Angiopoietin signaling through the Tie receptors, further characterize the interactions between Tie1 and Tie2, suggest novel forms of endothelial cell regulation within developing and mature vasculature, and may have implications in signaling within a host of physiologic and pathologic states.</p> / Dissertation

L’angiogenèse, caractérisée par la formation de nouveaux vaisseaux sanguins à partir de vaisseaux préexistants, est un processus accompagné par l’inflammation, impliquant la synthèse et la relâche de différents facteurs de croissance par les cellules inflammatoires. Parmi ces facteurs, seuls le vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) et les angiopoïétines (Ang1 et Ang2) peuvent participer à la régulation de l’inflammation et de l’angiogenèse. La famille des angiopoïétines comporte quatre membres, desquels l’Ang1 et l’Ang2 ont été les plus étudiés. Ces deux médiateurs inflammatoires sont capables d’activer le récepteur Tie2, dont l’expression a initialement été rapportée sur les cellules endothéliales (CE). Notre laboratoire a été le premier à démontrer l’expression de Tie2 à la surface des neutrophiles, ainsi que sa capacité, suite à son activation par l’Ang1 ou l’Ang2, à induire la synthèse du facteur d’activation plaquettaire (PAF), l’activation de la β2-intégrine, la migration des neutrophiles ainsi que leur adhésion aux CE. D’autres études ont montré que les CE emmagasinent et relâchent le VEGF et l’Ang2, tandis que les péricytes et les cellules musculaires lisses contiennent l’Ang1. Puisque les neutrophiles relâchent le VEGF et que les deux angiopoïétines ont la capacité d’activer Tie2 sur ces derniers, nous avons voulu déterminer si les neutrophiles contiennent l’Ang1 et/ou l’Ang2 et si elles peuvent être relâchées suite à une stimulation avec des agonistes proinflammatoires. Nous avons découvert que l’Ang1, mais pas l’Ang2 est présente dans les neutrophiles, et qu’elle est relâchée suite à une stimulation au phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). De plus, nous avons démontré que l’Ang1 est localisée au niveau du cytosol et que sa relâche est calcium-indépendante, contrairement au VEGF, qui est localisé dans les granules β et sa relâche est calcium-dépendante. Cette étude démontre pour la première fois l’expression et la localisation de l’Ang1 dans les neutrophiles. Une récente étude effectuée dans notre laboratoire a démontré que les angiopoïétines induisent la migration des neutrophiles en activant le récepteur Tie2 et la voie de la PI3K. De plus, les angiopoïétines ont potentialisé la migration induite par l’IL-8. Ainsi, nous avons émis l’hypothèse que l’Ang1 et/ou l’Ang2 seraient capables d’induire la relâche et/ou la synthèse de l’IL-8 par les neutrophiles. Nous avons démontré pour la première fois, la capacité de l’Ang1 à induire l’expression de l’ARNm, ainsi que la synthèse et la relâche d’IL-8 par les neutrophiles. Cependant, un traitement avec l’Ang2 seule ou en combinaison avec l’Ang1 n’a eu aucun effet sur les activités mentionnées ci-dessus. Nous avons aussi observé que la synthèse et la relâche d’IL-8 induite par l’Ang1 requièrent la transcription de l’ADN en ARNm, suivie par la stabilisation de ce dernier, qui ultimement induit la traduction de l’ARNm de l’IL-8 en sa protéine. Finalement, nous avons démontré que la stimulation des neutrophiles avec l’Ang1 induit ces activités en activant la voie de la p42/44 MAPK, tout en étant indépendantes de la p38 MAPK et la PI3K/Akt. Ces résultats sont en lien direct avec une récente étude dans laquelle nous avons observé que l’Ang1, mais pas l’Ang2 est capable d’augmenter la survie des neutrophiles via la relâche d’IL-8. / Angiogenesis is known as the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existent ones. This process is accompanied by inflammation, which involves the synthesis and release of numerous growth factors by inflammatory cells. Among the growth factors involved in these activities, only the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the angiopoietins (Ang1 and Ang2) can modulate both the inflammatory and the angiogenic processes. The angiopoietins family has four fully characterized members, from which Ang1 and Ang2 have been the most extensively studied. Ang1 and Ang2 are both capable to activate the receptor Tie2, initially discovered on the endothelial cell (EC) surface. We were the first group to report the expression of Tie2 on neutrophils along with its activation by Ang1 and Ang2 which can enhance platelet-activating factor (PAF) synthesis, β2-integrin activation, neutrophil migration and adhesion onto EC. Other studies have shown that EC have endogenous stores of VEGF and Ang2, whereas pericytes and smooth muscle cells contain intracellular pools of Ang1. Since neutrophils can release VEGF and that both angiopoietins can activate Tie2 receptor, we wanted to assess if neutrophils contain Ang1 and/or Ang2, and if so, investigate their capacity to be released under inflammatory stimuli. We observed that Ang1, but not Ang2, is found in the neutrophils and that it can be only released upon phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulation. Moreover, using the nitrogen sub-cellular fractionation technique, we demonstrated that Ang1 is found in the cytosolic fraction and its release is calcium-independent, while VEGF is found in β-granules and its release is calcium-dependent. This study demonstrates for the first time the expression and release of Ang1 from the neutrophils and its localization in the cytosol. In one of our recent studies, we have shown that angiopoietins are capable to induce neutrophil migration through Tie2 activation and via the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway. Moreover, both angiopoietins were shown to potentiate IL-8-induced neutrophil migration. Thus, we sought to investigate the capacity of Ang1 and/or Ang2 to induce IL-8 synthesis and/or release from human neutrophils. We demonstrated for the first time, the capacity of Ang1 to induce IL-8 mRNA expression, along with its protein synthesis and release from the neutrophils. However, a treatment with Ang2, alone or in combination with Ang1, had no effect on these aforementioned activities. We also observed that Ang1-induced IL-8 protein synthesis and release requires the transcriptional mechanism from IL-8 DNA to mRNA, followed by the mRNA stabilization, which ultimately enhances its translation into IL-8 protein. Finally, we also observed that neutrophil stimulation with Ang1 enhances IL-8 mRNA expression, protein synthesis and release by activating the p42/44 MAPK signalling pathway, while being independent from p38 MAPK and PI3K/Akt. These results are in line with one of our recent studies, in which we observed that Ang1, but not Ang2, is capable to enhance neutrophil survival, by diminishing their apoptosis through the release of IL-8 by the neutrophils.

Many signaling pathways have been shown to be involved in the formation of the vascular system. Among them are the endothelial specific receptor families such as VEGF, Ang/Tie, as well as other signaling pathways such as semaphorins, which are also involved, in axonal guidance. It is known that the interaction between receptor tyrosine kinase, Tie2, VE-Cadherin, and VE-PTP mediate endothelial cell quiescence and adhesion. However, the structural basis of these interactions is not well understood. The aim of our study is to characterize the binding interactions between these players. Another important part of our study is describing the cross-talk between vasculature and nervous system by characterizing the Neuropilin/Plexin/Semaphorin system. VE-Cadherin along with neuropilins plays an essential role by directing VEGF signals to the appropriate location and coordinating the activation of downstream molecules. We characterize the interaction between Tie2, VE-PTP and VE-Cadherin by (FRET)-based proximity assay, fluorescence lifetime imaging, and co-immunoprecipitation assays. Our data showed a consistent localization of the protein and FRET signal for Tie2 and VE-PTP prior to ligand recognition. We showed the association between Tie2 and VE-Cadherin complex by co-immunoprecipatation. However, our FRET data was not consistent. The examination of VE-PTP and VE-Cadherin for association and localization of the protein showed a very unique, mutually exclusive localization of the protein. Our study of Neuropilin/Plexin/Semaphorin system showed changes in the protein localization, FRET signal and morphology upon stimulation of HEK293 cells expressing Nrp/plexin with Sema3D. In this system VE-Cadherin along with neuropilins plays an essential role by directing VEGF signals to the appropriate location and coordinating the activation of downstream molecules. The characterization of extracellular binding between Tie2, VE-PTP, and VE-Cadherin, will help to better understand the molecular mechanisms of normal and tumor angiogenesis to develop new anti-angiogeneic therapies.

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.