Role of guanine nucleotide exchange factor P-Rex-2b in sphingosine 1-phosphate-induced Rac1 activation and cell migration in endothelial cells

Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat. 2005 May;76(1-4):95-104. doi: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2005.02.002.

Abstract

Endothelial cell (EC) migration has an important role in angiogenesis. Sphingosine-1 phosphate (S1P) stimulates EC migration via activation of Gi proteins. In this study, we characterized a mouse guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) P-Rex2b for its regulation by Gbetagamma and PI3K and its role in S1P-induced Rac1 activation and cell migration in ECs. We found that co-expression of Gbetagamma or an active form of PI3K (PI3K(AC)) with P-Rex2b increased the SRE. Luciferase (SRE.L) reporter gene activity that can be stimulated by the Rho family of small GTPases including Rac1. Co-expression with P-Rex2b of Gbetagamma and PI3K(AC) or wild type PI3Kgamma that can be activated by Gbetagamma led to further increases in the reporter gene activity. Together with the finding that co-expression of Gbetagamma and/or PI3K(AC) increased the levels of active Rac1, we conclude that P-Rex2b is a Rac GEF that can be regulated by Gbetagamma and PI3K. Additionally, we demonstrated that Gbetagamma interacted with P-Rex2b, probably through P-Rex2b sequences at the PH domain and that the DEP and PDZ domains of P-Rex2b exerted an inhibitory effect on P-Rex2b's activity because their deletion increased the SER.L reporter gene activity. Furthermore, we found that P-Rex2b is involved in S1P-induced Rac1 activation and cell migration in ECs because siRNA-mediated suppression of P-Rex2b expression in ECs-diminished Rac1 activation and cell migration in response to S1P. Therefore, P-Rex2b is a physiologically significant Rac1 GEF that has an important role in the regulation of EC migration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Movement / physiology*
  • DNA Primers
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / physiology*
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Lysophospholipids / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Sphingosine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Sphingosine / pharmacology
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Lysophospholipids
  • PREX2 protein, human
  • sphingosine 1-phosphate
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein
  • Sphingosine