Jagged mediates differences in normal and tumor angiogenesis by affecting tip-stalk fate decision

Author(s)

Boareto, Marcelo ; Jolly, Mohit Kumar ; Ben-Jacob, Eshel ; Onuchic, Jose N.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; v. 112, n. 29, p. 9-pg., 2015-07-21.

Abstract

Angiogenesis is critical during development, wound repair, and cancer progression. During angiogenesis, some endothelial cells adopt a tip phenotype to lead the formation of new branching vessels; the trailing stalk cells proliferate to develop the vessel. Notch and VEGF signaling mediate the selection of these tip endothelial cells. However, how Jagged, a Notch ligand that is overexpressed in cancer, affects angiogenesis remains elusive. Here, by developing a theoretical framework for Notch-Delta-Jagged-VEGF signaling, we found that higher production levels of Jagged destabilizes the tip and stalk cell fates and can give rise to a hybrid tip/stalk phenotype that leads to poorly perfused and chaotic angiogenesis, which is a hallmark of cancer. Consistently, the signaling interactions that restrict Notch-Jagged signaling, such as Fringe, cis-inhibition, and increased production of Delta, stabilize tip and stalk fates and limit the existence of hybrid tip/stalk phenotype. Our results underline how overexpression of Jagged can transform physiological angiogenesis into pathological one. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/14438-8 - Study of gene regulatory network by stochastic methods and statistical mechanics
• Grantee: Marcelo Boareto Do Amaral
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)