Science and Research

Identification of specific Tie2 cleavage sites and therapeutic modulation in experimental sepsis

Endothelial Tie2 signaling plays a pivotal role in vascular barrier maintenance at baseline and after injury. We previously demonstrated that a sharp drop in Tie2 expression observed across various murine models of critical illnesses is associated with increased vascular permeability and mortality. Matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-14-mediated Tie2 ectodomain shedding has recently been recognized as a possible mechanism for Tie2 downregulation in sepsis. Here, we identified the exact MMP14-mediated Tie2 ectodomain cleavage sites and could show that pharmacological MMP14 blockade in experimental murine sepsis exerts barrier protective and anti-inflammatory effects predominantly through the attenuation of Tie2 cleavage to improve survival both in a pre-treatment and rescue approach. Overall, we show that protecting Tie2 shedding might offer a new therapeutic opportunity for the treatment of septic vascular leakage.

  • Idowu, T. O.
  • Etzrodt, V.
  • Seeliger, B.
  • Bolanos-Palmieri, P.
  • Thamm, K.
  • Haller, H.
  • David, S.

Keywords

  • *mmp14
  • *Sepsis
  • *Tie2
  • *endothelial cells
  • *immunology
  • *inflammation
  • *medicine
  • *mouse
  • *permeability
  • *vascular barrier function
Publication details
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.59520
Journal: Elife
Work Type: Original
Location: BREATH
Disease Area: PALI
Partner / Member: MHH
Access-Number: 32838837
See publication on PubMed

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