Regulation of TGF-beta Receptor-dependent Vascular Disease

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The long-term goal of this laboratory is to understand the processes by which endothelial cells (ECs) regulate vessel stability and homeostasis. Our focus is to understand the functional relationship between the TGF-beta receptor ALK1 and its co-receptor, endoglin. These molecules are important regulators of angiogenesis and wound healing, and are the target genes for the vascular disease hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). We will test the hypothesis that endoglin transduces TGF-beta receptor signals in endothelial cells via a novel Smad-independent mechanism. Our studies demonstrate that endoglin is phosphorylated by ALK1, which we hypothesize regulates endoglin?s effects on focal adhesion re-organization, cytoskeletal architecture, and migration in ECs. To understand this novel endoglin signaling pathway and its relevance in the vasculature, the aims of this proposal are: Specific Aim 1: Examine the consequences of TGF-beta receptor-mediated phosphorylation of endoglin to determine how this pathway regulates EC function. Studies will focus on the role of putative protein-protein interactions mediated by endoglin?s cytosolic domain, emphasizing the regulation of EC focal adhesion assembly, tubulogenesis, TGF-beta receptor subcellular localization, and EC-specific intercellular signals. Specific Aim 2: Examine the consequences of EC-targeted expression of endoglin CD mutants in the yolk sac vasculature. This aim will emphasize cytosolic domain-dependent effects on EC tubulogenesis and angiogenic remodeling, and emphasize the endpoints used for Aim 1. The results obtained in these studies will elucidate the mechanism underlying endoglin?s regulation of intrinsic EC function as well as EC-initiated intercellular signals within the yolk sac vasculature in vivo. Specific Aim 3: Characterize the vascular abnormalities observed in the FVB:eng+/- mouse model. This aim builds on new preliminary data which suggests that the heterozygous eng+/- expressed on the FVB mouse genetic background constitutes a potentially novel and useful model of HHT vascular malformation. We will study the structural and biochemical properties of the FVB:eng+/- vasculature in order to understand the basis for its vascular malformations. This model will then be used to test whether EC-expressed transgenic endoglin is sufficient to rescue the vascular deficiencies. Our proposed mouse transgenic, genetic, and biochemical models of endoglin function will lead to a deeper understanding of novel mechanisms of TGF-beta receptor-dependent regulation of EC proliferation, adhesion, tubulogenesis, and angiogenic remodeling that culminate in the establishment and maintenance of vessel integrity. The proposed studies are highly relevant to normal vascular function, and will elucidate endoglin's role in adult-onset vascular diseases.