scholarly journals Activin-A is overexpressed in severe asthma and is implicated in angiogenic processes

2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 769-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Samitas ◽  
Nikolaos Poulos ◽  
Maria Semitekolou ◽  
Ioannis Morianos ◽  
Sofia Tousa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Severe Asthma ◽  
Allergic Inflammation ◽  
Lavage Fluid ◽  
Activin A ◽  
Endothelial Cell Proliferation ◽  
Vegf Receptor ◽  
Asthmatic Patients

Activin-A is a pleiotropic cytokine that regulates allergic inflammation. Its role in the regulation of angiogenesis, a key feature of airways remodelling in asthma, remains unexplored. Our objective was to investigate the expression of activin-A in asthma and its effects on angiogenesisin vitro.Expression of soluble/immunoreactive activin-A and its receptors was measured in serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and endobronchial biopsies from 16 healthy controls, 19 patients with mild/moderate asthma and 22 severely asthmatic patients.In vitroeffects of activin-A on baseline and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced human endothelial cell angiogenesis, signalling and cytokine release were compared with BALF concentrations of these cytokinesin vivo.Activin-A expression was significantly elevated in serum, BALF and bronchial tissue of the asthmatics, while expression of its protein receptors was reduced.In vitro, activin-A suppressed VEGF-induced endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis, inducing autocrine production of anti-angiogenic soluble VEGF receptor (R)1 and interleukin (IL)-18, while reducing production of pro-angiogenic VEGFR2 and IL-17. In parallel, BALF concentrations of soluble VEGFR1 and IL-18 were significantly reduced in severe asthmaticsin vivoand inversely correlated with angiogenesis.Activin-A is overexpressed and has anti-angiogenic effectsin vitrothat are not propagatedin vivo, where reduced basal expression of its receptors is observed particularly in severe asthma.

scholarly journals Prenatal inflammation impairs intestinal microvascular development through a TNF-dependent mechanism and predisposes newborn mice to necrotizing enterocolitis

2019 ◽  
Vol 317 (1) ◽  
pp. G57-G66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaocai Yan ◽  
Elizabeth Managlia ◽  
Xiao-Di Tan ◽  
Isabelle G. De Plaen
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Necrotizing Enterocolitis ◽  
Endothelial Cell Proliferation ◽  
Vegf Receptor ◽  
Fetal Serum ◽  
Prenatal Inflammation ◽  
Vegfr2 Signaling

Prenatal inflammation is a risk factor for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and it increases intestinal injury in a rat NEC model. We previously showed that maldevelopment of the intestinal microvasculature and lack of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor 2 (VEGFR2) signaling play a role in experimental NEC. However, whether prenatal inflammation affects the intestinal microvasculature remains unknown. In this study, mouse dams were injected intraperitoneally with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or saline at embryonic day 17. Neonatal intestinal microvasculature density, endothelial cell proliferation, and intestinal VEGF-A and VEGFR2 proteins were assessed in vivo. Maternal and fetal serum TNF concentrations were measured by ELISA. The impact of TNF on the neonatal intestinal microvasculature was examined in vitro and in vivo, and we determined whether prenatal LPS injection exacerbates experimental NEC via TNF. Here we found that prenatal LPS injection significantly decreased intestinal microvascular density, endothelial cell proliferation, and VEGF and VEGFR2 protein expression in neonatal mice. Prenatal LPS injection increased maternal and fetal serum levels of TNF. TNF decreased VEGFR2 protein in vitro in neonatal endothelial cells. Postnatal TNF administration in vivo decreased intestinal microvasculature density, endothelial cell proliferation, and VEGF and VEGFR2 protein expression and increased the incidence of severe NEC. These effects were ameliorated by stabilizing hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, the master regulator of VEGF. Furthermore, prenatal LPS injection significantly increased the incidence of severe NEC in our model, and the effect was dependent on endogenous TNF. Our study suggests that prenatal inflammation increases the susceptibility to NEC, downregulates intestinal VEGFR2 signaling, and affects perinatal intestinal microvascular development via a TNF mechanism. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This report provides new evidence that maternal inflammation decreases neonatal intestinal VEGF receptor 2 signaling and endothelial cell proliferation, impairs intestinal microvascular development, and predisposes neonatal mouse pups to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) through inflammatory cytokines such as TNF. Our data suggest that alteration of intestinal microvascular development may be a key mechanism by which premature infants exposed to prenatal inflammation are at risk for NEC and preserving the VEGF/VEGF receptor 2 signaling pathway may help prevent NEC development.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in cartilage neovascularization and chondrocyte differentiation: auto-paracrine role during endochondral bone formation

2000 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.F. Carlevaro ◽  
S. Cermelli ◽  
R. Cancedda ◽  
F. Descalzi Cancedda
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Cell Migration ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Hypertrophic Chondrocytes ◽  
Endothelial Cell Migration ◽  
Vegf Receptor ◽  
Hypertrophic Cartilage ◽  
Endothelial Growth Factor

Vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor (VEGF/VPF) induces endothelial cell migration and proliferation in culture and is strongly angiogenic in vivo. VEGF synthesis has been shown to occur in both normal and transformed cells. The receptors for the factor have been shown to be localized mainly in endothelial cells, however, the presence of VEGF synthesis and the VEGF receptor in cells other than endothelial cells has been demonstrated. Neoangiogenesis in cartilage growth plate plays a fundamental role in endochondral ossification. We have shown that, in an avian in vitro system for chondrocyte differentiation, VEGF was produced and localized in cell clusters totally resembling in vivo cartilage. The factor was synthesized by hypertrophic chondrocytes and was released into their conditioned medium, which is highly chemotactic for endothelial cells. Antibodies against VEGF inhibited endothelial cell migration induced by chondrocyte conditioned media. Similarly, endothelial cell migration was inhibited also by antibodies directed against the VEGF receptor 2/Flk1 (VEGFR2). In avian and mammalian embryo long bones, immediately before vascular invasion, VEGF was distinctly localized in growth plate hypertrophic chondrocytes. In contrast, VEGF was not observed in quiescent and proliferating chondrocytes earlier in development. VEGF receptor 2 colocalized with the factor both in hypertrophic cartilage in vivo and hypertrophic cartilage engineered in vitro, suggesting an autocrine loop in chondrocytes at the time of their maturation to hypertrophic cells and of cartilage erosion. Regardless of cell exposure to exogenous VEGF, VEGFR-2 phosphorylation was recognized in cultured hypertrophic chondrocytes, supporting the idea of an autocrine functional activation of signal transduction in this non-endothelial cell type as a consequence of the endogenous VEGF production. In summary we propose that VEGF is actively responsible for hypertrophic cartilage neovascularization through a paracrine release by chondrocytes, with invading endothelial cells as a target. Furthermore, VEGF receptor localization and signal transduction in chondrocytes strongly support the hypothesis of a VEGF autocrine activity also in morphogenesis and differentiation of a mesoderm derived cell.

Kallistatin Inhibits Endothelial Cell Proliferation, Migration and Adhesion in Vitro and Angiogenesis in the Ischemic Hindlimb of Rats

Hypertension ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 36 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 706-707
Author(s):  
Robert Q Miao ◽  
Jun Agata ◽  
Lee Chao ◽  
Julie Chao
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Gene Delivery ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Regional Blood Flow ◽  
Endothelial Cell Proliferation ◽  
Hek 293

P76 Kallistatin is a serine proteinase inhibitor (serpin) which has multifunctions including regulation of tissue kallikrein activity, blood pressure, inflammation and neointima hyperplasia. In this study, we investigated the potential role of kallistatin in vascular biology by studying its effects on the proliferation, migration and adhesion of cultured primary human endothelial cells in vitro, and angiogenesis in the ischemic hindlimb of rats. Purified kallistatin significantly inhibits cultured endothelial cell proliferation, migration and adhesion induced by VEGF or bFGF. To further investigate the role of kallistatin in vascular growth in vivo, we prepared adenovirus carrying the human kallistatin gene under the control of the cytomegalovirus promoter/enhancer (Ad.CMV-cHKBP). Expression of recombinant human kallistatin in HEK 293 cells transfected with Ad.CMV-cHKBP was identified by a specific ELISA. The effect of adenovirus-mediated kallistatin gene delivery on angiogenesis was evaluated in a rat model of hindlimb ischemia. Adenovirus carrying the human kallistatin or green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene were injected locally into the ischemic adductor at the time of surgery. Histological and morphometric analysis at 14 days post injection showed that adenovirus-mediated kallistatin gene delivery significantly reduced capillary density in the ischemic muscle as compared to that of control rats injected with GFP. The anti-angiogenic effect of kallistatin was associated with reduced regional blood flow in the ischemic hindlimb measured by microsphere assays. Expression of human kallistatin was identified in the injected muscle and immunoreactive human kallistatin levels were measured in the muscle and in the circulation of rats following kallistatin gene delivery. These results demonstrate a novel role of kallistatin in the inhibition of angiogenesis and in vascular remodeling.

scholarly journals Endothelial cell PTP1B regulates leukocyte recruitment during allergic inflammation

2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (4) ◽  
pp. L240-L249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergejs Berdnikovs ◽  
Hiam Abdala-Valencia ◽  
Joan M. Cook-Mills
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Lung Tissue ◽  
Adhesion Molecule ◽  
Tyrosine Phosphatase ◽  
Allergic Inflammation ◽  
Leukocyte Recruitment ◽  
Cell Protein ◽  
Eosinophil Recruitment

Pulmonary eosinophilia is a consistent hallmark of allergic lung inflammation. Infiltration of eosinophils into ovalbumin (OVA)-challenged lungs is dependent on the adhesion molecule vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) on endothelial cells. Ligation of VCAM-1 activates endothelial cell protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), which is required for VCAM-1-dependent leukocyte migration in vitro. To examine whether nonhematopoietic PTP1B modulates eosinophil recruitment in vivo, mice deficient in PTP1B were irradiated and received wild-type hematopoietic cells to generate chimeric PTP1B−/− mice. In response to OVA challenge, the chimeric PTP1B−/− mice had reduced eosinophilia in the lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage, indicating a role for PTP1B in nonhematopoietic cells during leukocyte recruitment. To determine whether endothelial cell PTP1B modulates eosinophil recruitment, mice with an inducible endothelial cell-specific PTP1B deletion (iePTP1B mice) were generated and the PTP1B deletion was induced after antigen sensitization before antigen challenge. In response to OVA challenge, the iePTP1B mice with the endothelial cell PTP1B deletion had an increased accumulation of eosinophils bound to the luminal surface of the endothelium in the lung vasculature and had a decrease in leukocyte recruitment into the lung tissue. In the iePTP1B mice, expression of adhesion molecules, cytokines, or chemokines that regulate leukocyte recruitment during inflammation was not altered, consistent with other studies that deletion of endothelial adhesion molecule signals does not alter lung cytokines and chemokines. In summary, these data suggest that VCAM-1 activation of PTP1B in the endothelium is necessary for eosinophil recruitment during allergic inflammation. Moreover, these studies provide a basis for targeting VCAM-1-dependent signaling pathways in allergy therapies.

scholarly journals VEGF-A-Cleavage by FSAP and Inhibition of Neo-Vascularization

Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 1396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Özgür Uslu ◽  
Joerg Herold ◽  
Sandip M. Kanse
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Tissue Injury ◽  
Factor Vii ◽  
Endothelial Cell Proliferation ◽  
Vegf Receptor ◽  
Vascular Endothelial ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Endothelial Growth Factor

Alternative splicing leads to the secretion of multiple forms of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) that differ in their activity profiles with respect to neovascularization. FSAP (factor VII activating protease) is the zymogen form of a plasma protease that is activated (FSAPa) upon tissue injury via the release of histones. The purpose of the study was to determine if FSAPa regulates VEGF-A activity in vitro and in vivo. FSAP bound to VEGF165, but not VEGF121, and VEGF165 was cleaved in its neuropilin/proteoglycan binding domain. VEGF165 cleavage did not alter its binding to VEGF receptors but diminished its binding to neuropilin. The stimulatory effects of VEGF165 on endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and signal transduction were not altered by FSAP. Similarly, proliferation of VEGF receptor-expressing BAF3 cells, in response to VEGF165, was not modulated by FSAP. In the mouse matrigel model of angiogenesis, FSAP decreased the ability of VEGF165, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and their combination, to induce neovascularization. Lack of endogenous FSAP in mice did not influence neovascularization. Thus, FSAP inhibited VEGF165-mediated angiogenesis in the matrigel model in vivo, where VEGF’s interaction with the matrix and its diffusion are important.

scholarly journals Preparation and Characterization of a Novel Chimeric Protein VEGI-CTT inEscherichia coli

2008 ◽  
Vol 2008 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiping Cai ◽  
Ruili Wei ◽  
Jinwei Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Recombinant Expression ◽  
Tumor Therapy ◽  
Vascular Endothelial Cell ◽  
Chimeric Protein ◽  
Growth Inhibitor ◽  
Endothelial Cell Proliferation

Vascular endothelial cell growth inhibitor (VEGI) is a recently identified antiangiogenic cytokine that belongs to the TNF superfamily, and could effectively inhibit endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Synthetic peptide CTT (CTTHWGFTLC) has been found to suppress invasion and migration of both tumor and endothelial cells by potent and selective inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9. To prepare chimeric protein VEGI-CTT for more potent antitumor therapy, the recombinant expression vector pET-VEGI-CTT was constructed. This fusion protein was expressed in inclusion bodies inE. coliBL21 (DE3), and was refolded and purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography using His-tag. Purified VEGI-CTT protein was characterized by proliferation assays of the endothelial cells and casein degradation assay in vitro. The results demonstrated that chimeric protein VEGI-CTT had a potent activity of antiangiogenesis through inhibiting the proliferation of endothelial cells, and could effectively reduce the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9. The preliminarily in vivo study demonstrated that chimeric protein VEGI-CTT had more potent antitumor activity than VEGI and/or CTT peptide against CA46 human lymphoma xenografts in nude mice. Thus, these facts that are derived from the present study suggest that the chimeric protein VEGI-CTT may be used for tumor therapy in the future.

JS-K, a Novel Nitric Oxide (NO) Generator, Shows Potent Anti-Angiogenic Activity.

Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 3414-3414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. Shami ◽  
Gurmeet Kaur ◽  
Jagadambal Thillainathan ◽  
Lee Jia ◽  
Joseph E. Saavedra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Migration ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Cell Growth ◽  
Cancer Therapeutics ◽  
Myelogenous Leukemia ◽  
Endothelial Cell Migration ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Endothelial Cell Proliferation

Abstract NO induces differentiation and apoptosis in Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) cells. Glutathione S-Transferases (GST) play an important role in multidrug resistance and are upregulated in 90% of AML cells. We have designed a novel prodrug class that releases NO on metabolism by GST. O2-(2,4-Dinitrophenyl) 1-[(4-ethoxycarbonyl)piperazin-1-yl]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (JS-K, a member of this class) has potent antileukemic activity in vitro and in vivo (Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2:409-417,2003). The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of JS-K on angiogenesis. The anti-angiogenic properties of JS-K were tested in 3 different in vitro assays: proliferation, cord formation (reflecting new vessel formation) and migration using Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC). JS-K inhibited the proliferation of HUVEC’s with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.432, 0.466, and 0.505 μM at 24, 48, and 72 hours, respectively. At concentrations of 1 μM or above, HUVEC proliferation was totally inhibited. In the cord formation assay, treatment with JS-K lad to a decrease in both the number of cord junctions and cord length with an IC50 of 0.637 and 0.696 μM, respectively. At a concentration of 1 μM, JS-K inhibited cord formation completely. JS-K inhibited cell migration at 5 hours using 10 ng/mL VEGF as a chemoattractant. At that time point, migration inhibition occurred at JS-K concentrations that did not affect cell growth with an IC50 of 0.493 μM. We conclude that JS-K is a potent inhibitor of 3 important elements of angiogenesis, namely endothelial cell proliferation, cord formation, and endothelial cell migration. These experiments identify a new mechanism by which JS-K and similar compounds may inhibit leukemia and solid tumor cell growth in vivo. Determining whether the anti-angiogenic effects of JS-K are NO-dependent will require further studies. (NO1-CO-12400).

Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) Regulates Tumor-Angiogenesis in Colon Carcinomas.

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 1897-1897
Author(s):  
Kira Braemswig ◽  
Marina Poettler ◽  
Wazlawa Kalinowska ◽  
Christoph Zielinski ◽  
Gerald W Prager
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Tumor Angiogenesis ◽  
Endothelial Cell Proliferation ◽  
Erk Phosphorylation ◽  
Dose Dependent Increase ◽  
Dose Dependent

Abstract Human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a cell surface adhesion molecule member of the Immunoglobulin Superfamily (IgSF). Aberrant upregulation and secretion of soluble CEA is a common feature found in a wide variety of human cancers such as colon, breast and lung. Previous in vitro and in vivo results have demonstrated that CEA can affect tumor cell behavior including the inhibition of cell differentiation and apoptosis. However, any functional effects on angiogenic endothelial cell behavior are so far unknown. In the present work we found that in endothelial cells exogenous CEA led to a time and dose dependent increase in ERK phosphorylation, which was inhibited by the specific MEK inhibitor U0126. Thereby, the observed CEA effect was comparable in time and intense with the canonical angiogenic growth factor VEGF. The CEA-induced ERK phosphorylation was not affected by the blockage of VEGFR-2 / flk-1 using a specific inhibiting peptide (CBO-P11), which indicates a VEGF-independent mechanism. Furthermore, co-stimulation of endothelial cells with VEGF and CEA shows synergistic effects on ERK phosphorylation. While in endothelial cells no endogenous expression of CEA is detected, its putative receptor, the CEA receptor (CEAR), is highly expressed as shown by immunohistochemical staining of paraffin-embedded colon carcinoma sections as well as in biochemical analyses. When an activating antibody against CEAR was used, CEA-induced ERK phosphorylation was mimicked, while downregulation of CEAR by siRNA diminished CEA-induced signal transduction, significantly. To test a biological relevance of our findings, we first measured endothelial cell proliferation: CEA led to a dose dependent increase in endothelial cell proliferation in vitro, which again revealed a synergistic effect with VEGF. Thereby, CEA-induced endothelial cell proliferation was again independent of VEGFR-2 / flk-1. A biological role of CEA in tumor-angiogenesis was reflected by an in vivo model using CEA Mimotope immunized BALB/c mice, which were transplanted with MethA/CEA overexpressing tumor cells. Immunohistological analyses of these tumors revealed a significantly reduced vascular density, which was accompanied with diminished tumor growth. Our data provide first evidence of CEA as a novel pro-angiogenic activator of endothelial cells, which results in an increase in endothelial cell proliferation, independent of VEGFR-2. Furthermore, by targeting CEA in an in vivo mouse model, tumor-angiogenesis was markley reduced, indicating a potential therapeutic target in cancer.

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