Circulation Journal
Online ISSN : 1347-4820
Print ISSN : 1346-9843
ISSN-L : 1346-9843

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Role of the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Protein Kinase B Pathway in Regulating Alternative Splicing of Tissue Factor mRNA in Human Endothelial Cells
Andreas EisenreichRonny MalzWojciech PepkeYunus AyralWolfgang PollerHeinz-Peter SchultheissUrsula Rauch
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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS Advance online publication

Article ID: CJ-99-0225

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Abstract

Background: Tissue factor (TF) is the primary initiator of blood coagulation. In response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) express 2 TF isoforms: a soluble alternatively spliced isoform (asHTF) and membrane-bound "full length" (fl)TF. How the differential TF isoform expression is regulated is still unknown. This study compared the impact of PI3K/Akt pathway inhibition on alternative splicing of TF in HUVECs, to the influence of transcriptional regulation by inhibiting nuclear factor κ B (NFκB). Methods and Results: The mRNA expression of TF isoforms was assessed by real-time PCR, the thrombogenic activity was measured by a chromogenic TF activity assay and the phosphorylation state of serine/arginine-rich (SR) proteins was analyzed by western blotting. Transfection of HUVECs was done 72 h before the inhibition experiments were performed. PI3K/Akt pathway inhibition reduced the mRNA expression of asHTF but not flTF. Inhibition of NFκB reduced the expression of both isoforms. Moreover, the PI3K/Akt pathway inhibition, but not that of NFκB, modified the phosphorylation of the SR proteins SRp75, SRp55 and SF2/ASF. Additionally, overexpression of SF2/ASF and SRp75 influenced the differential TF-isoform expression in HUVECs. Conclusions: The PI3K/Akt pathway modulates alternative splicing of TF in HUVECs, distinct from transcriptional regulation.

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© 2009 THE JAPANESE CIRCULATION SOCIETY
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