A critical role for Lyn kinase in strengthening endothelial integrity and barrier function

Jingyan Han, Guoying Zhang, Emily J. Welch, Ying Liang, Jian Fu, Stephen M. Vogel, Clifford A. Lowell, Xiaoping Du, David A. Cheresh, Asrar B. Malik, Zhenyu Li

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Src family kinases (SFKs) c-Src and Yes mediate vascular leakage in response to various stimuli including lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Here, we define an opposing function of another SFK, Lyn, which in contrast to other SFKs, strengthens endothelial junctions and thereby restrains the increase in vascular permeability. Mice lacking Lyn displayed increased mortality in LPS-induced endotoxemia and increased vascular permeability in response to LPS or VEGF challenge compared with wild-type littermates. Lyn knockout mice repopulated with wild-type bone marrow-derived cells have higher vascular permeability than wild-type mice, suggesting a role of endothelial Lyn in the maintenance of the vascular barrier. Small interfering RNA-mediated down-regulation of Lyn disrupted endothelial barrier integrity, whereas expression of a constitutively active mutant of Lyn enhanced the barrier. However, down-regulation of Lyn did not affect LPS-induced endothelial permeability. We demonstrate that Lyn association with focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and phosphorylation of FAK at tyrosine residues 576/577 and 925 were required for Lyn-dependent stabilization of endothelial adherens junctions. Thus, in contrast to c-Src and Yes, which increase vascular permeability in response to stimuli, Lyn stabilizes endothelial junctions through phosphorylation of FAK. Therefore, therapeutics activating Lyn kinasemay strengthen the endothelial barrier junction and hence have anti-inflammatory potential.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4140-4149
Number of pages10
JournalBlood
Volume122
Issue number25
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by American Heart Association Midwest Affiliate grant-in-aid 0855698G (to Z.L.) and in part by the American Society of Hematology bridge grant award (to Z.L.) and the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease grant P20RR021954 from the National Institutes of Health/National Center for Research Resources.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2013 by The American Society of Hematology.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Immunology
  • Hematology
  • Cell Biology

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