RNA stability protein ILF3 mediates angiogenesis

What is it about?

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from existing vessels, is a vital physiological process. It is required for common processes such as growth, development, and wound healing. Endothelial cells which line the inner layer of blood vessels, have direct contact with the blood, and are the major cell type involved in angiogenesis. A protein known as Interleukin Enhancer-binding Factor 3 (ILF3) has the unique ability to bind and stabilize RNA and ultimately impact gene expression. ILF3 is best known for host responses againts viral infection, and a role for ILF3 in development angiogenesis is undocumented. Various stimuli including growth factors have the ability to promote angiogenesis; these same proteins lead to increased ILF3 expression specifically in human endothelial cells. When protein levels of ILF3 are decreased in endothelial cells several pro-angiogenic parameters are also decreased. Conversely, when levels of ILF3 are increased, several pro-angiogenic parameters are increased. Additionally, factors that promote angiogenesis also lead to the movement of ILF3 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, where mRNA transcripts are processed and regulated. In response to these factors ILF3 binds and stabilizes RNA and this leads to increased expression of pro-angiogenic factors. Together these data suggest that in endothelial cells, the RNA stability protein, ILF3 plays a novel and central role in angiogenesis. The angiogenic activity of various angiogenic factors is dependent on ILF3 activity, making ILF3 expression and RNA-binding activity attractive targets in angiogenic therapy.

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Why is it important?

This study identified ILF3 as a previously unrecognized, cytokine-responsive pro-angiogenic RNA-binding protein. The angiogenic activity of two pro-angiogenic cytokines is dependent on ILF3 activity, making ILF3 expression and RNA-binding activity attractive targets in angiogenic therapy.