MMP-2 alters VEGF expression via αVβ3 integrin-mediated PI3K/AKT signaling in A549 lung cancer cells

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the most important angiogenic growth factors for tumor angiogenesis. Here, we sought to explore whether RNA interference (RNAi) targeting matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) could disrupt VEGF-mediated angiogenesis in lung cancer. MMP-2 siRNA inhibited lung cancer cell-induced tube formation of endothelial cells in vitro; addition of recombinant human-MMP-2 restored angiogenesis. MMP-2 transcriptional suppression decreased VEGF, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) protein levels and AKT phosphorylation in lung cancer cells. In addition, MMP-2 suppression decreased hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha), a transcription factor for VEGF, as determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). We also show that MMP-2 suppression disrupted PI3K dependent VEGF expression; ectopic expression of myr-AKT restored VEGF inhibition. Further, MMP-2 suppression decreased the interaction of integrin-alpha V beta 3 and MMP-2 as confirmed by immunoprecipitation analyses. Studies with either function blocking integrin-alpha V beta 3 antibody or MMP-2 specific inhibitor (ARP-100) indicate that suppression of MMP-2 decreased integrin-alpha V beta 3-mediated induction of PI3K/AKT leading to decreased VEGF expression. Moreover, A549 xenograft tissue sections from mice that treated with MMP-2 siRNA showed reduced expression of VEGF and the angiogenic marker, factor-VIII. The inhibition of tumor angiogenesis in MMP-2 suppressed tumor sections was associated with decreased co-localization of integrin-alpha V beta 3 and MMP-2. In summary, these data provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying MMP-2-mediated VEGF expression in lung tumor angiogenesis.