Endothelial Epac1 facilitates YAP/TAZ controlled melanoma growth and angiogenesis.
The RapGEF Epac1 has emerged as an important modulator of pro-angiogenic signalling pathways, including VEGF/VEGFR2. However, its specific role in tumor angiogenesis has remained unexplored. Here, we identify endothelial Epac1 as a critical driver of melanoma angiogenesis. Analysis of patient-derived melanomas revealed that Epac1 is markedly upregulated in tumor endothelial cells. Using both global and endothelial-specific Epac1 knockout mouse models, we demonstrate that Epac1 deletion reduced melanoma growth and vascularization following subcutaneous melanoma cell inoculation. Transcriptome profiling of tumor-associated endothelial cells from Epac1-deficient mice showed broad downregulation of pro-angiogenic and YAP/TAZ target genes. This was corroborated in vitro using an Epac1 knockout endothelial cell line, where VEGFR2 expression, YAP/TAZ nuclear translocation, and YAP/TAZ target gene transcription were all suppressed. Consistently, Epac1 deletion impaired VE-cadherin/VEGFR2 interaction, VEGF-dependent nuclear YAP/TAZ and transcriptional activity, and abolished endothelial cell alignment in response to shear stress. Collectively, our results reveal Epac1 as a central modulator of VEGFR2 and YAP/TAZ signalling, integrating angiogenic and mechanosensory cues during melanoma vascularization.
Authors
Wibowo Wibowo, Ma Ma, Ren Ren, Cordero Cordero, Gahn Gahn, Chen Chen, Levay Levay, Ola Ola, Feng Feng, Dobreva Dobreva, Langer Langer, Wieland Wieland, Vettel Vettel, Jansen Jansen
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