In this study we identified the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in signaling and biological effects of the angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1)/tie-2 receptor pathway. Exposure of human umbilical vein endothelial cells to Ang-1 (50 ng/ml) induced rapid and transient production of ROS, particularly superoxide anions. ROS production was attenuated by preincubation with a peptide (gp91ds-tat) that inhibits the association of the gp91(phox) subunit with the p47(phox) subunit of NADPH oxidase and by the expression of a dominant-negative form of Rac-1 (Rac1N17). These results suggest that ROS production in response to Ang-1 exposure originates mainly from a Rac-1-dependent NADPH oxidase. Overexpression of antioxidants (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and Rac1N17, as well as preincubation with selective inhibitors of NADPH oxidase augmented basal p38 phosphorylation, inhibited Ang-1-induced PAK-1 phosphorylation and potentiated Ang-1-induced Erk1/2 phosphorylation but had no influence on AKT and SAPK/JNK phosphorylation by Ang-1. Exposure to Ang-1 (100 ng/ml) for 5 h induced a threefold increase in endothelial cell migration, a response that was strongly inhibited by overexpression of antioxidants, Rac1N17, and selective NADPH oxidase inhibitors. We conclude that activation of tie-2 receptors by Ang-1 triggers the production of ROS through activation of NADPH oxidase and that ROS generation by Ang-1 promotes endothelial cell migration while negatively regulating Erk1/2 phosphorylation.

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