Microtubule Dynamics Control Tail Retraction in Migrating Vascular Endothelial Cells

Abstract

Drugs that target microtubules are potent inhibitors of angiogenesis, but their mechanism of action is not well understood. To explore this, we treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells with paclitaxel, vinblastine, and colchicine and measured the effects on microtubule dynamics and cell motility. In general, lower drug concentrations suppressed microtubule dynamics and inhibited cell migration whereas higher concentrations were needed to inhibit cell division; however, surprisingly, large drug-dependent differences were seen in the relative concentrations needed to inhibit these two processes. Suppression of microtubule dynamics did not significantly affect excursions of lamellipodia away from the nucleus or prevent cells from elongating; but, it did inhibit retraction of the trailing edges that are normally enriched in dynamic microtubules, thereby limiting cell locomotion. Complete removal of microtubules with a high vinblastine concentration caused a loss of polarity that resulted in roundish, rather than elongated, cells, rapid but nondirectional membrane activity, and little cell movement. The results are consistent with a model in which more static microtubules stabilize the leading edge of migrating cells, whereas more dynamic microtubules locate to the rear where they can remodel and allow tail retraction. Suppressing microtubule dynamics interferes with tail retraction, but removal of microtubules destroys the asymmetry needed for cell elongation and directional motility. The prediction that suppressing microtubule dynamics might be sufficient to prevent angiogenesis was supported by showing that low concentrations of paclitaxel could prevent the formation of capillary-like structures in an in vitro tube formation assay.