This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Williams, C. K. Articles by Harris, A. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Williams, C. K. Articles by Harris, A. L.

Regulation of CXCR4 by the Notch Ligand Delta-like 4 in Endothelial Cells

¹ Molecular Oncology Laboratories, Cancer Research UK, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom and ² Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland

Requests for reprints: Giovanna Tosato, Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Building 37, Room 4124, Bethesda, MD 20892. Phone: 301-594-9596; Fax: 301-594-9585; E-mail: tosatog{at}mail.nih.gov.

Key Words: Notch • Delta-like 4 • Angiogenesis • CXCR4 • SDF1

Gene-targeting studies have shown that Delta-like 4 (Dll4) is required for normal embryonic vascular remodeling, but the mechanisms underlying Dll4 regulatory functions are not well defined. We generated primary human umbilical vascular endothelial cells that express Dll4 protein to study Dll4 function and previously showed that Dll4 down-regulates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor 2 and NRP1 expression and inhibits VEGF function. We now report that expression of Dll4 in endothelial cells inhibited attachment and migration to stromal-derived growth factor 1 (SDF1) chemokine. Cell surface, total protein, and mRNA levels of CXCR4, principal signaling receptor for SDF1, were significantly decreased in Dll4-transduced endothelial cells, attributable to a significant reduction of CXCR4 promoter activity. An immobilized recombinant extracellular portion of Dll4 (rhDLL4) was sufficient to down-regulate CXCR4 mRNA and protein, whereas protein levels of SDF1, VEGF, and RDC1 were unchanged. The -secretase inhibitor L-685,458 significantly reconstituted CXCR4 mRNA in rhDLL4-stimulated endothelial cells. CXCR4 mRNA levels were significantly reduced in mouse xenografts of Dll4-transduced human gliomas compared with control gliomas, and vascular CXCR4 was not detected by immunohistochemistry in the enlarged vessels within the Dll4 gliomas. Thus, Dll4 may contribute to vascular differentiation and inhibition of the angiogenic response by regulating multiple receptor pathways. [Cancer Res 2008;68(6):1889–95]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Segarra, C. K. Williams, M. d. l. L. Sierra, M. Bernardo, P. J. McCormick, D. Maric, C. Regino, P. Choyke, and G. Tosato Dll4 activation of Notch signaling reduces tumor vascularity and inhibits tumor growth Blood, September 1, 2008; 112(5): 1904 - 1911. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]