EAF2 loss enhances angiogenic effects of Von Hippel-Lindau heterozygosity on the murine liver and prostate

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease results from the inactivation of the VHL gene and is characterized by highly vascular tumors. A consequence of VHL loss is the stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) alpha subunits and increased expression of HIF target genes, which include pro-angiogenic growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In mice, homozygous deletion of VHL is embryonic lethal due to vascular abnormalities in the placenta; and, VHL(+/−) mice develop proliferative vascular lesions in several major organs, most prominently the liver. Loss of ELL-associated factor (EAF2) in murine models has also been shown to induce increased vascular density in the liver as well as the prostate. Previously, EAF2 was determined to be a binding partner of VHL and loss of EAF2 induced a reduction in pVHL levels and an increase in hypoxia induced factor 1α (HIF1α) levels in vitro. Here we characterized the cooperative effects of VHL- and EAF2-deficiency on angiogenesis in the liver and prostate of male mice. VHL deficiency consistently increased the incidence of hepatic vascular lesions across three mouse strains. These vascular lesions where characterized by an increase in microvessel density, and staining intensity of VHL target proteins HIF1α and VEGF. EAF2(−/−)VHL(+/−) mice had increased incidence of proliferative hepatic vascular lesions (4/4) compared to VHL(+/−) (10/18) and EAF2(−/−) (0/5) mice. Prostates of EAF2(−/−)VHL(+/−) mice also displayed an increase in microvessel density, as well as stromal inflammation and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. These results suggest that cooperation of VHL and EAF2 may be critical for angiogenic regulation of the liver and prostate, and concurrent loss of these two tumor suppressors may result in a pro-angiogenic phenotype. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10456-011-9217-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.