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Role of soluble endoglin in BMP9 signaling.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Lawera, Aleksandra 
Tong, Zhen 
Thorikay, Midory 
Redgrave, Rachael E 
Cai, Jie 

Abstract

Endoglin (ENG) is a coreceptor of the transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) family signaling complex, which is highly expressed on endothelial cells and plays a key role in angiogenesis. Its extracellular domain can be cleaved and released into the circulation as soluble ENG (sENG). High circulating levels of sENG contribute to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE). Circulating bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9), a vascular quiescence and endothelial-protective factor, binds sENG with high affinity, but how sENG participates in BMP9 signaling complexes is not fully resolved. sENG was thought to be a ligand trap for BMP9, preventing type II receptor binding and BMP9 signaling. Here we show that, despite cell-surface ENG being a dimer linked by disulfide bonds, sENG purified from human placenta and plasma from PE patients is primarily in a monomeric form. Incubating monomeric sENG with the circulating form of BMP9 (prodomain-bound form) in solution leads to the release of the prodomain and formation of a sENG:BMP9 complex. Furthermore, we demonstrate that binding of sENG to BMP9 does not inhibit BMP9 signaling. Indeed, the sENG:BMP9 complex signals with comparable potency and specificity to BMP9 on human primary endothelial cells. The full signaling activity of the sENG:BMP9 complex required transmembrane ENG. This study confirms that rather than being an inhibitory ligand trap, increased circulating sENG might preferentially direct BMP9 signaling via cell-surface ENG at the endothelium. This is important for understanding the role of sENG in the pathobiology of PE and other cardiovascular diseases.

Description

Keywords

ALK1, BMP9, placenta, preeclampsia, soluble endoglin, Endoglin, Endothelial Cells, Female, Growth Differentiation Factor 2, Humans, Placenta, Pre-Eclampsia, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Proteins, Signal Transduction

Journal Title

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0027-8424
1091-6490

Volume Title

116

Publisher

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Sponsorship
British Heart Foundation (None)
British Heart Foundation (PG/15/39/31519)
British Heart Foundation (PG/17/1/32532)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/R008590/1)
British Heart Foundation (None)
British Heart Foundation (RG/19/3/34265)
British Heart Foundation, Cancer Genomics Centre Netherlands and from the Netherlands CardioVascular Research Initiative, the Dutch Heart Foundation, Dutch Federation of University Medical Centers, the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development, and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences (CVON PHEADRA).