Abstract 403: BMPER Is an Angiogenic Modulator that is Regulated by KLF-15 and FoxO3A and Controls Bone Morphogentic Protein Activity

Abstract

BMPER (bone morphogenetic protein [BMP] endothelial precursor cell derived regulator) is an extracellular protein, that interacts with BMPs and thereby modulates BMP dependent vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. Our previous observations suggest a complex regulation of BMPER expression. During embryogenesis BMPER is expressed at the time and at sites of vasculogenesis, whereas in the adult organism it is expressed in heart, lung and skin. Methods and Results: We have cloned the mouse BMPER promoter and appropriate deletion constructs into pGL3 to regulate luciferase expression. As predicted in silicio, we found that Sp1 and Sp1-like transcription factors such as the krueppel-like factors (KLFs) regulate BMPER transcription. KLF-15 resulted in a 4.5 fold upregulation. Accordingly, BMPER expression was inhibited by the Sp-1/SP-1 like inhibitor mitramycin A. Site specific mutation of a proximal KLF-15 binding site reduced the effect of KLF-15 on BMPER expression. Along the same lines, knock down of KLF-15 in HUVEC by siRNA reduced BMPER expression. The transactivating effect of KLF-15 could be competed away by coexpression of Sp-1 suggesting that both factors may compete for the same binding site in the BMPER promoter. In EMSA, an oligo representing a well characterized KLF-15 binding site in the AceCs2 promoter but not an oligo encoding for a NFkappa-B site competed with the oligo coding for the KLF-15 site in the BMPER promoter. In contrast FoxO3A, a member of the FoxO family of transcription factors, serves as an inhibitor of BMPER expression, as shown by gain and lack of FoxO3A experiments. Additionally, we found that BMPER stimulates angiogenesis in a BMP-4 dependent manner in several in vitro and in vivo assays. Vice versa, BMPER is necessary for BMP-4 to exert is angiogenic activity on endothelial cells. Conclusion: BMPER is upregulated by KLF-15 and inhibited by FoxO3a. BMPER has angiogenic activity and is a key modulator of the BMP pathway.