Differential expression of α-smooth muscle actin and vascular endothelial growth factor in skin biopsy of patients with systemic sclerosis

2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 464-472
Author(s):  
Ranya A. Lotfi ◽  
Hanan E. Hassan ◽  
Ghada F. Mohamed ◽  
Khaled Hamdy
Author(s):  
Sunil Abraham ◽  
Geetha Sanjay ◽  
Noushin Abdul Majiyd ◽  
Amutha Chinnaiah

Abstract Background In this study, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor 121 expressed abundantly in endometrial stromal cells is encapsulated with poly-l-lactide and characterized the properties for endometrial angiogenesis. We studied the migration, proliferation and the protein levels of human immortalized endometrium stromal cells after treating the cells with recombinant Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (200 and 500 nanogram), and poly-l-lactide loaded Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor 121 (day 1, 20 and 30). The present study explains endometrium angiogenesis because endometrium plays an important role in pregnancy. Results Migration and proliferation studies in endometrium cells proved the efficiency of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and poly-l-lactide loaded Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor 121. This proliferated and increased the migration of the cells in vitro and also activated the Protein kinase B, Phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-Bisphosphate 3-Kinase Catalytic Subunit Beta, α-Smooth muscle actin and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 pathways. Western blot analysis showed the increased expression levels of kinases, smooth muscle actin and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 after the treatment with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and poly-l-lactide loaded Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor 121 particles in comparison to the control group. The elevated levels of α-Smooth muscle actin in endometrium cells with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor prove the regulation of angiogenesis in vitro. Conclusion Endometrium thickness is one of the important factors during implantation of embryo and pregnancy. Slow release of VEGF from PLA encapsulated microparticle further controls the endothelial cell proliferation and migration and helps in the promotion of angiogenesis. The combined effect studied in vitro could be used as a pro-angiogenic drug on further in vivo confirmation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 126 (04) ◽  
pp. 213-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Lv ◽  
Shizhen Zhang ◽  
Yu Hu ◽  
Peizhi Zhou ◽  
Ling Gao ◽  
...  

AbstractTumor-associated fibroblasts are the most abundant population in tumor stroma and impact on tumor initiation and progression. However, the biological function of tumor-associated fibroblasts in pituitary adenomas has not been fully elucidated to date. So, this study aims to clarify the function and significance of primary cultured pituitary adenoma-derived tumor-associated fibroblasts on rat pituitary adenoma cells. We identified primary cultured tumor-associated fibroblasts and normal fibroblasts based on the expression of α-smooth muscle actin as well as morphology. Furthermore, we investigated cell biological influences on rat pituitary adenoma cells through indirectly co-culturing tumor-associated fibroblasts with GH3 cells and subcutaneous xenograft model. All sorts of fibroblasts showed positive staining for α-smooth muscle actin. But α-smooth muscle actin and vascular endothelial growth factor highly expressed in invasive pituitary adenoma-derived tumor-associated fibroblasts compared to non-invasive pituitary adenoma-derived tumor-associated fibroblasts and normal fibroblasts. Besides, invasive pituitary adenoma-derived tumor-associated fibroblasts promoted the proliferation of GH3 cells in vitro as well as tumor growth in vivo. Finally, vascular endothelial growth factor was highly expressed in tumor specimens co-injected with invasive pituitary adenoma-derived tumor-associated fibroblasts. Our results suggested that invasive pituitary adenoma-derived tumor-associated fibroblasts displayed apparent growth promotion effects on rat pituitary cells both in vitro and in vivo accompanied by over-expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in invasive pituitary adenoma-derived tumor-associated fibroblasts and tumor specimens.


2001 ◽  
Vol 168 (3) ◽  
pp. 409-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
SE Dickson ◽  
R Bicknell ◽  
HM Fraser

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is essential for the angiogenesis required for the formation of the corpus luteum; however, its role in ongoing luteal angiogenesis and in the maintenance of the established vascular network is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether VEGF inhibition could intervene in ongoing luteal angiogenesis using immunoneutralisation of VEGF starting in the mid-luteal phase. In addition, the effects on endothelial cell survival and the recruitment of periendothelial support cells were examined. Treatment with a monoclonal antibody to VEGF, or mouse gamma globulin for control animals, commenced on day 7 after ovulation and continued for 3 days. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), used to label proliferating cells to obtain a proliferation index, was administered one hour before collecting ovaries from control and treated animals. Ovarian sections were stained using antibodies to BrdU, the endothelial cell marker, CD31, the pericyte marker, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and 3' end DNA fragments as a marker for apoptosis. VEGF immunoneutralisation significantly suppressed endothelial cell proliferation and the area occupied by endothelial cells while increasing pericyte coverage and the incidence of endothelial cell apoptosis. Luteal function was markedly compromised by anti-VEGF treatment as judged by a 50% reduction in plasma progesterone concentration. It is concluded that ongoing angiogenesis in the mid-luteal phase is primarily driven by VEGF, and that a proportion of endothelial cells of the mid-luteal phase vasculature are dependent on VEGF support.


2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (1) ◽  
pp. L153-L161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janette K. Burgess ◽  
Qi Ge ◽  
Maree H. Poniris ◽  
Sarah Boustany ◽  
Stephen M. Twigg ◽  
...  

Airway remodeling describes the structural changes that occur in the asthmatic airway that include airway smooth muscle hyperplasia, increases in vascularity due to angiogenesis, and thickening of the basement membrane. Our aim in this study was to examine the effect of transforming growth factor-β on the release of connective tissue growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor from human airway smooth muscle cells derived from asthmatic and nonasthmatic patients. In addition we studied the immunohistochemical localization of these cytokines in the extracellular matrix after stimulating bronchial rings with transforming growth factor-β. Connective tissue growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor were released from both cell types and colocalized in the surrounding extracellular matrix. Prostaglandin E2 inhibited the increase in connective tissue growth factor mRNA but augmented the release of vascular endothelial growth factor. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 decreased the amount of connective tissue growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor, but not fibronectin deposited in the extracellular matrix. This report provides the first evidence that connective tissue growth factor may anchor vascular endothelial growth factor to the extracellular matrix and that this deposition is decreased by matrix metalloproteinase-2 and prostaglandin E2. This relationship has the potential to contribute to the changes that constitute airway remodeling, therefore providing a novel focus for therapeutic intervention in asthma.


2004 ◽  
Vol 286 (3) ◽  
pp. L539-L545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Altaf S. Kazi ◽  
Shidan Lotfi ◽  
Elena A. Goncharova ◽  
Omar Tliba ◽  
Yassine Amrani ◽  
...  

In severe asthma, cytokines and growth factors contribute to the proliferation of smooth muscle cells and blood vessels, and to the increased extracellular matrix deposition that constitutes the process of airway remodeling. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which regulates vascular permeability and angiogenesis, also modulates the function of nonendothelial cell types. In this study, we demonstrate that VEGF induces fibronectin secretion by human airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells. In addition, stimulation of ASM with VEGF activates ERK, but not p38MAPK, and fibronectin secretion is ERK dependent. Both ERK activation and fibronectin secretion appear to be mediated through the VEGF receptor flt-1, as evidenced by the effects of the flt-1-specific ligand placenta growth factor. Finally, we demonstrate that ASM cells constitutively secrete VEGF, which is increased in response to PDGF, transforming growth factor-β, IL-1β, and PGE2. We conclude that ASM-derived VEGF, through modulation of the extracellular matrix, may play an important role in airway remodeling seen in asthma.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonietta Gigante ◽  
Luca Navarini ◽  
Domenico Margiotta ◽  
Biagio Barbano ◽  
Antonella Afeltra ◽  
...  

Introduction: Since female sexual dysfunction in systemic sclerosis women is multifactorial, we can assume that vascular damage may play a role in pathogenesis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clitoral blood flow, by Echo color Doppler, and to correlate it whit serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and endostatin. Methods: A total of 15 systemic sclerosis women and 10 healthy controls matched for sex and age were enrolled in this study. Serum VEGF165 and endostatin levels were determined in systemic sclerosis patients by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Clitoral blood flow was measured by Doppler indices of clitoral artery: pulsatile index, resistive index, and systolic/diastolic ratio were measured. Sexual dysfunction was assessed by Female Sexual Function Index. Results: Vascular endothelial growth factor (pg/mL) and endostatin (ng/mL) median values were significantly higher in systemic sclerosis women than healthy controls. Resistive index and systolic/diastolic ratio median values were significantly higher in systemic sclerosis women than healthy controls. Negative correlation exists between serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and resistive index (r = −0.55, p < 0.05). Positive correlation was observed between serum levels of endostatin and resistive index (r = 0.70, p < 0.01) and systolic/diastolic ratio (r = 0.77, p < 0.01). Discussion: We can suppose that clitoral blood flow in systemic sclerosis women is reduced not only for macro- and microvascular damage but also for impaired angiogenesis.


Author(s):  
Yuh-Huey Chao ◽  
Wan-Ting Yang ◽  
Ming-Chang Li ◽  
Fwu-Lin Yang ◽  
Ru-Ping Lee

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provides alternative treatment choices for diabetic wounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Angelica dahurica and Rheum officinale (ARE) on diabetic wounds and its underlying action mechanism. A total of 36 healthy male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: diabetes mellitus (DM) rats treated with ARE (DM-ARE), DM rats treated with 0.9% saline (DM-NS), and non-DM rats treated with 0.9% saline (NDM-NS). DM was induced by intraperitoneal administration of 40 mg/kg of streptozotocin after a 2-week high-fat diet feeding. After excisional skin wounds and treatments, the remaining wound area (RWA) in each group was measured. The RWA in the DM-NS group (69.60% ± 2.35%) was greater than that in the DM-ARE (55.70% ± 1.85%) and NDM-NS groups (52.50% ± 2.77%) on day 6. Besides, the DM-ARE group showed higher vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), higher inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOs), higher [Formula: see text]-smooth muscle actin ([Formula: see text]-SMA), and lower nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cell (NF-[Formula: see text]B) expression in the wound skin tissue. These results showed that treatment with ARE shifted the recovery pattern of diabetic rats to the pattern of nondiabetic rats, indicating that ARE may improve wound healing in diabetic conditions.


2003 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 643-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Li ◽  
Suzanne Oparil ◽  
Ju-Zhong Sun ◽  
John A. Thompson ◽  
Yiu-Fai Chen

We have previously demonstrated that endothelin (ET)-1 and its subtype A receptor (ET-AR) expression are increased in lung under hypoxic conditions and that activation of ET-AR by ET-1 is a major mediator of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in the rat. The present study tested the hypothesis that the hypoxia-responsive tyrosine kinase receptor-activating growth factors fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-1, FGF-2, and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB stimulate expression of the ET-AR in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Quiescent rat PASMCs were incubated under hypoxia (1% O2), or with FGF-1, FGF-2, PDGF-BB, vascular endothelial growth factor, ET-1, angiotensin II, or atrial natriuretic peptide under normoxic conditions for 24 h. FGF-1 and -2 and PDGF-BB, but not hypoxia, vascular endothelial growth factor, ET-1, angiotensin II, or atrial natriuretic peptide, significantly increased ET-AR mRNA levels. FGF-1-induced ET-AR expression was inhibited by FGF-receptor inhibitor PD-166866, MEK inhibitor U-0126, transcription inhibitor actinomycin D, and translation inhibitor cycloheximide. In contrast, the stimulatory effect of FGF-1 on ET-AR mRNA expression was not altered by PI3 kinase, PKA, PKC, or adenylate cyclase inhibitors. PASMC ET-AR gene transcription, assessed by nuclear-runoff analysis, was increased by FGF-1. These results provide novel finding that ET-AR in PASMCs in vitro is unresponsive to hypoxia per se but is robustly simulated by tyrosine kinase receptor-associated growth factors (FGF-1, FGF-2, PDGF-BB) that themselves are stimulated by hypoxia in lung. This observation suggests a novel signaling mechanism that may be responsible for overexpression of ET-AR in lung, and may contribute to the hypoxia-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction, hypertension, and vascular remodeling in hypoxia-adapted animal.


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