Stem cell factor is a potent endothelial permeability factor.

OBJECTIVE Although stem cell factor (SCF) has been shown to play a critical role in hematopoiesis, gametogenesis, and melanogenesis, the function of SCF in the regulation of vascular integrity has not been studied. APPROACH AND RESULTS We demonstrated that SCF binds to and activates the cKit receptor in endothelial cells, thereby increasing the internalization of vascular endothelial-cadherin and enhancing extravasation of dyes to a similar extent as vascular endothelial growth factor. SCF-mediated cKit activation in endothelial cells enhanced the phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase via the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway and subsequently increased the production of NO. Inhibition of endothelial NO synthase expression and NO synthesis using small interfering RNA knockdown and chemical inhibitors substantially diminished the ability of SCF to increase the internalization of vascular endothelial-cadherin and in vitro endothelial permeability. SCF-induced increase in extravasation of the dyes was abrogated in endothelial NO synthase knockout mice, which indicates that endothelial NO synthase-mediated NO production was responsible for the SCF-induced vascular leakage. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the expression of SCF and cKit was significantly higher in the retina of streptozotocin-injected diabetic mice than in the nondiabetic control animals. Depletion of SCF by intravitreous injection of anti-SCF-neutralizing immunoglobulin G significantly prevented vascular hyperpermeability in the retinas of streptozotocin-injected diabetic mice. CONCLUSIONS Our data reveal that SCF disrupts the endothelial adherens junction and enhances vascular leakage, as well as suggest that anti-SCF/cKit therapy may hold promise as a potential therapy for the treatment of hyperpermeable vascular diseases.