Suppression of DNA-PKcs enhances FGF-2 dependent human endothelial cell proliferation via negative regulation of Akt

Angiogenesis initiation is crucially dependent on endothelial proliferation and can be stimulated by the fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2). The DNA dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), long known for its importance in repairing DNA double strand breaks, belongs to the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3-K) super family and has recently been identified as one of the enzymes phosphorylating and activating Akt. Due to its similarity with PI3-K, we hypothesized that DNA-PK may have similar effects on endothelial angiogenic processes and signalling. We used primary endothelial cells (HUVEC and PAEC) and human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC) to study the role of DNA-PK in endothelial proliferation and signalling. DNA-PKcs suppression with the compound NU7026 or with siRNA induced basal endothelial cell proliferation as well as enhanced FGF-2 dependent proliferation. This was associated with an increase in phosphorylated Akt. Tube formation was not affected by DNA-PKcs clearly showing that the role of DNA-PK in endothelial processes differs from that of PI3-K. Our findings indicate DNA-PK as an important enzyme maintaining the quiescent endothelial phenotype by actively inhibiting Akt thus restraining endothelial cell proliferation preventing excessive growth.