Induction of vascular endothelial growth factor by IGF-I in osteoblast-like cells is mediated by the PI3K signaling pathway through the hypoxia-inducible factor-2alpha.

IGF-I is known to stimulate the expression of oxygen- and nutrient-sensitive genes in several cell types. In this study we investigated the signaling pathways and transcriptional mechanisms that mediate IGF-I induction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in human osteoblast-like cells. IGF-I (50 ng/ml) induced a rapid increase (3-fold) in VEGF mRNA in osteoblasts that was accompanied by an increase in the level of hypoxia-inducible factor-2alpha (HIF-2alpha) protein without changes in HIF-2alpha mRNA expression. These effects were mimicked by chemical inhibition of proteosomal degradation of HIF-2alpha. Transcriptional activation of a proximal VEGF promoter-luciferase construct was greatly enhanced by cotransfection with an HIF-2alpha, but not an HIF-1alpha, construct. IGF-I acutely stimulated Akt phosphorylation, which was abolished by pretreatment of cells with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002. Pretreatment of the cells with LY294002 also greatly attenuated IGF-I induction of HIF-2alpha and blunted IGF-I-induced VEGF promoter activity. Finally, forced expression of a constitutively active PI3K expression construct induced VEGF promoter to levels similar to those observed with IGF-I alone. These data indicate that IGF-I, by activation of the PI3K pathway, induces VEGF expression in osteoblasts through a transcriptional control mechanism common to those that activate VEGF and other hypoxia response genes.