The crowded crossroad to angiogenesis in systemic sclerosis: where is the key to the problem?

In systemic sclerosis (SSc), peripheral vasculopathy is characterized by a progressive and irreversible loss of capillaries following endothelial cell injury, due to defects in both vascular repair and expected increase in new vessel growth (angiogenesis). The discovery of key molecular targets may help to develop the most effective therapeutic strategy for the SSc-related vasculopathy. A pathway worth targeting in SSc may include vascular endothelial growth factor, 165b isoform, an endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor abnormally expressed and released by different cell types, including activated endothelial cells and platelets.

Dysregulated expression of several proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors has been implicated in the dysfunction of angiogenesis in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Into this complex scenario comes the study recently published in Arthritis Research & Therapy by Hirigoyen et al. [1], who report new data implicating an inhibitory splice variant of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, namely VEGF165b, in the inhibition of angiogenesis by platelets in SSc. These findings are part of an intriguing chain of data as several studies have shown that VEGF-A, one of the most potent promoters of angiogenesis, is markedly increased in SSc skin and circulation despite clear evidence of an insufficient angiogenic response [2, 3]. This was considered the “SSc paradox” until it became evident recently that early studies could not distinguish between proangiogenic VEGF165 and antiangiogenic VEGF165b isoforms generated by alternative splicing in VEGF-A pre-mRNA [4]. In most pathologic angiogenic conditions, such as cancers, VEGF165 predominates. On the contrary, this crucial balance between isoforms shifts in favor of the expression of VEGF165b in SSc (Fig. 1) [4, 5]. VEGF165b appears selectively overexpressed in different cell types of SSc dermis, including endothelial cells (ECs), fibroblasts, and perivascular mononuclear inflammatory cells [5]. In vitro studies further revealed that SSc dermal microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs) express and release elevated levels of VEGF165b [5]. Moreover, the increased VEGF165b plasma levels in SSc correlate with the extent of nailfold capillary architectural derangement and loss, suggesting their potential utility as a biomarker reflecting disease severity [6]. In this context, the study by Hirigoyen et al. [1] adds new valuable information showing that, in SSc, platelets store high levels of VEGF165b. It could therefore be suggested that platelets may be a major source of circulating VEGF165b in SSc, in particular following their activation on contact with the injured endothelium.

Fig. 1

Schematic illustration of the mechanisms impairing VEGF-A/VEGFR-2 angiogenic signal in SSc. Angiogenesis tightly depends on the balance of proangiogenic VEGF165 and antiangiogenic VEGF165b isoforms. In angiogenic conditions, VEGF165 predominates, whereas in SSc the balance shifts to favor the expression of the VEGF165b splice variant in different cell types, such as ECs, platelets, fibroblasts, and mononuclear inflammatory cells. In ECs, binding of VEGF165 to both VEGFR-2 and NRP1 coreceptor activates VEGFR-2 phosphorylation and multiple downstream signaling pathways that are necessary for angiogenesis. Moreover, uPAR interacts with VEGFR-2 and recruits LRP-1 to VEGFR-2, which induces internalization of VEGF165-bound VEGFR-2, a key step in the proangiogenic signal. In SSc, both a switch from proangiogenic VEGF165 to antiangiogenic VEGF165b, which is unable to bind NRP1, and concomitant NRP1 downregulation due to Fli1 transcription factor deficiency result in an insufficient tyrosine phosphorylation/activation of VEGFR-2 and incomplete or transient downstream signaling along with a differential intracellular trafficking of VEGFR-2 toward the degradative pathway, ultimately leading to impaired angiogenesis. In SSc ECs, MMP-12-mediated cleavage/inactivation of uPAR may further impair the VEGF-A/VEGFR-2 system. EC endothelial cell, Fli1 Friend leukemia integration 1, LRP-1 low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1, MMP-12 matrix metalloproteinase-12, NRP1 neuropilin-1, SSC systemic sclerosis, uPAR urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor, VEGF vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGFR vascular endothelial growth factor receptor

The discovery of VEGF165b clearly adds a new fundamental figure in the complex crossroad of the mechanisms underlying dysfunctional angiogenesis in SSc. Binding of VEGF165 to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2 induces VEGFR-2 internalization and activates signaling pathways that trigger EC proliferation, survival, and migration which are necessary for angiogenesis. VEGF165b binds to VEGFR-2 with the same affinity as VEGF165, but binding of VEGF165b results in an insufficient tyrosine phosphorylation/activation of VEGFR-2 and incomplete downstream signaling (Fig. 1) [4]. Owing to increased levels of VEGF165b, SSc-MVECs show reduced VEGFR-2 phosphorylation and impaired capillary morphogenesis in vitro [5]. Accordingly, the angiogenic performance of SSc-MVECs can be improved by cotreatment with recombinant VEGF165 and anti-VEGF165b neutralizing antibodies [5]. Of note in the study by Hirigoyen et al. [1], when healthy dermal MVECs were incubated with SSc platelet releasates containing elevated levels of VEGF165b, capillary-like tube formation was significantly inhibited compared with cells treated with control platelet releasates.

It is known that the nontyrosine kinase receptor neuropilin-1 (NRP1) acts as a VEGFR-2 coreceptor in angiogenesis [7]. VEGF165b antiangiogenic function is thought to be mechanistically related to the lack of NRP1 coreceptor binding [4]. In fact, upon binding of VEGF165b to VEGFR-2, the absence of NRP1 cosignaling induces differential trafficking of VEGFR-2 toward proteasomal degradation [4]. In SSc, besides VEGF165b overexpression, concomitant NRP1 downregulation because of Friend leukemia integration 1 (Fli1) transcription factor deficiency may further disturb VEGF-A/VEGFR-2 signaling [8]. Finally, in this complex scenario the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), an angiogenic orchestrator acting via both VEGF-A-dependent and VEGF-A-independent mechanisms, may play a significant role because uPAR inactivation represents a master factor challenging angiogenesis in SSc [2, 9]. uPAR–VEGFR-2 interaction is crucial for VEGFR-2 internalization and proangiogenic signaling in ECs [10]. Of note, VEGF-A-induced angiogenesis is prevented in uPAR-deficient mice, a recently proposed animal model of SSc [9, 10]. uPAR inactivation/deficiency may thus contribute substantially to VEGF-A/VEGFR-2 system abnormalities in SSc (Fig. 1).

Taken together, considerable evidence suggests that uncontrolled expression of the antiangiogenic VEGF165b isoform may take center stage in this crowded crossroad to angiogenesis in SSc. It remains to be elucidated whether the targeting of VEGF165b and/or VEGF-A pre-mRNA splicing machinery might represent a promising therapeutic strategy to promote effective angiogenesis in SSc patients. As pointed out in the article by Hirigoyen et al. [1], a better understanding of how platelets transport and deliver uncontrolled levels of VEGF165b to the injured endothelium might disclose a novel pathway contributing to the SSc-related peripheral vasculopathy. Whether this mechanism is a priority pathway worth targeting warrants further studies.