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Background Signaling through vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and VEGF receptor 3 (VEGFR-3) plays a central role in lymphangiogenesis and the metastasis of several cancers via the lymphatics. Recently, the Slit2/Robo4 pathway has been recognized as a modulator of vascular permeability and integrity. Signaling via the Robo receptor inhibits VEGF-mediated effects; however, its effects on lymphatic endothelial cell function have not been well characterized. Results We found that pretreatment with Slit2N, an active fragment of Slit2, inhibited VEGF-C-mediated lung-derived lymphatic endothelial cell (L-LEC) proliferation, migration, and in vitro tube formation. Slit2N induced the internalization of VEGFR-3, which blocked its activation, and inhibited the activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway by VEGF-C in L-LECs. Moreover, we found that inhibition of VEGF-C-induced effects by Slit2N was Robo4-dependent. Conclusion These results indicate that Slit2N/Robo4 modulates several key cellular functions, which contribute to lymphangiogenesis, and identify this ligand-receptor pair as a potential therapeutic target to inhibit lymphatic metastasis of VEGF-C-overexpressing cancers and manage lymphatic dysfunctions characterized by VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 activation. Cellular signaling initiated by the binding of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) to the receptor, VEGFR-3, is central to the growth of lymphatic channels, their constituent endothelial cells, and the spread of several types of cancer via the lymphatic system. Signaling through the ligand-receptor pair, Slit2/Robo4, modulates the permeability and integrity of vascular endothelium, the cells that line blood vessels. The Slit2/Robo pathway inhibits cellular effects induced by VEGF; however, its effects on lymphatic channels and lymphatic endothelium have not been fully studied. We found that pretreating lung-derived lymphatic endothelial cells (L-LECs) with Slit2N, an active fragment of the protein Slit2, inhibited VEGF-C-induced functions critical for the formation of the lymphatics, i.e. lymphangiogenesis. Specifically, it blocked the growth and migration of L-LECs, and the formation of tube-like structures on a gelatinous matrix. Slit2N induced the internalization VEGR-3, which blocked its activation, and inhibited signaling through PI3K/Akt, a pathway that modulates diverse cellular processes, including cell growth and cancer progression. In addition, we found that inhibition of VEGF-C-induced effects by Slit2N required sufficient levels of Robo4, indicating that Robo4 is the receptor to which Slit2N binds to inhibit the aforementioned effects. These results indicate that Slit2N/Robo4 modulates key cellular functions that contribute to lymphangiogenesis, and identify this ligand-receptor pair as a potential drug target to inhibit cancer metastasis via the lymphatic system and to treat other lymphatic pathologies characterized by abnormal VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissemination of HIV in the host involves transit of the virus and virus-infected cells across the lymphatic endothelium. HIV may alter lymphatic endothelial permeability to foster dissemination, but the mechanism is largely unexplored. Using a primary human lymphatic endothelial cell model, we found that HIV-1 envelope protein gp120 induced lymphatic hyperpermeability by disturbing the normal function of Robo4, a novel regulator of endothelial permeability. HIV-1 gp120 induced fibronectin expression and integrin a5b1 phosphorylation, which led to the complexing of these three proteins, and their subsequent interaction with Robo4 through its fibronectin type III repeats. Moreover, pretreatment with an active N-terminus fragment of Slit2, a Robo4 agonist, protected lymphatic endothelial cells from HIV-1 gp120-induced hyperpermeability by inhibiting c-Src kinase activation. Our results indicate that targeting Slit2/Robo4 signaling may protect the integrity of the lymphatic barrier and limit the dissemination of HIV in the host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendritic cells are among the first cells to encounter sexually acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), in the mucosa, and they can transmit HIV-1 to CD4+ T-cells via an infectious synapse. Recent studies reveal that actin-rich membrane extensions establish direct contact between cells at this synapse and facilitate virus transmission. Genesis of these contacts involves signaling through c-Src and Cdc42, which modulate actin polymerization and filopodia formation via the Arp2/3 complex and Diaphanous 2 (Diaph2). We found that Slit2N, a ligand for the Roundabout (Robo) receptors, blocked HIV-1-induced signaling through Arp2/3 and Diaph2, decreased filopodial extensions on dendritic cells, and inhibited cell-to-cell transmission of HIV-1 in a Robo1-dependent manner. Employing proteomic analysis, we identified Flightless-1 as a novel, Robo1-interacting protein. Treatment with shRNAs reduced levels of Flightless-1 and demonstrated its role in efficient cell-to-cell transfer of HIV-1. These results suggest a novel strategy to limit viral infection in the host by targeting the Slit/Robo pathway with modulation of cytoskeletal elements previously unrecognized in HIV-1 transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]