Hyperglycosylated human chorionic gonadotropin stimulates angiogenesis through TGF-β receptor activation.

Embryo implantation requires extensive angiogenesis at the maternal-fetal interface. Hyperglycosylated human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG-H), a trophoblast invasive signal produced by extravillous cytotrophoblasts and by choriocarcinoma, was evaluated for its angiogenic role. hCG-H was purified by HPLC from choriocarcinoma supernatant, and the glycosylation pattern was determined by 2D gel analysis. Angiogenesis models used were aortic ring assay with wild-type and LHCGR-knockout mice, endothelial and mural cell proliferation, and migration assays. The TGF-β signaling pathway was studied by coimmunoprecipitation, competitive binding, TGF-β reporter gene assays, and Smad immunoblotting. hCG-H displayed a potent angiogenic effect [3.2-fold increase of number of vessel intersections in wild-type aortic rings (11.406 to 36.964)]. hCG-H-induced angiostimulation was independent of the classic hCG signaling pathway since it persisted in LHCGR-knockout mice [4.73-fold increase of number of vessel intersections (10.826 to 51.288)]. Using TGF-β signaling inhibitors, Tβ-RII was identified as the hCG-H receptor responsible for its angiogenic switch. hCG-H exposure enhanced phosphorylation of Smad 2 in endothelial and mural cells and genomic activation of Smad-responsive elements. Interaction between hCG-H and Tβ-RII was demonstrated by coimmunoprecipitation and binding competition with (125)I-TGF-β. This new paracrine interaction between trophoblast and endothelial cells through the hCG-H and the TGF-β receptor complex plays a key role in angiogenesis associated with placental development and tumorigenesis.

Citation

Sarah Berndt, Silvia Blacher, Carine Munaut, Julien Detilleux, Sophie Perrier d'Hauterive, Ilpo Huhtaniemi, Danièle Evain-Brion, Agnès Noël, Thierry Fournier, Jean-Michel Foidart. Hyperglycosylated human chorionic gonadotropin stimulates angiogenesis through TGF-β receptor activation. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 2013 Apr;27(4):1309-21

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PMID: 23233533

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