scholarly journals Effects of P4 Antagonist RU486 on VEGF and Its Receptors’ Signaling during the In Vivo Transition from the Preovulatory to Periovulatory Phase of Ovarian Follicles

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (24) ◽  
pp. 13520
Author(s):  
Annunziata Mauro ◽  
Paolo Berardinelli ◽  
Valentina Russo ◽  
Nicola Bernabò ◽  
Alessandra Martelli ◽  
...  

The development of an adequate blood vessel network is crucial for the accomplishment of ovarian follicle growth and ovulation, which is necessary to support the proliferative and endocrine functions of the follicular cells. Although the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) through gonadotropins guides ovarian angiogenesis, the role exerted by the switch on of Progesterone (P4) during the periovulatory phase remains to be clarified. The present research aimed to investigate in vivo VEGF-mediated mechanisms by inducing the development of periovulatory follicles using a pharmacologically validated synchronization treatment carried out in presence or absence of P4 receptor antagonist RU486. Spatio-temporal expression profiles of VEGF, FLT1, and FLK1 receptors and the two major MAPK/ERKs and PI3K/AKT downstream pathways were analyzed on granulosa and on theca compartment. For the first time, the results demonstrated that in vivo administration of P4 antagonist RU486 inhibits follicular VEGF receptors’ signaling mainly acting on the theca layer by downregulating the activation of ERKs and AKTs. Under the effect of RU486, periovulatory follicles’ microarchitecture did not move towards the periovulatory stage. The present evidence provides new insights on P4 in vivo biological effects in driving vascular and tissue remodeling during the periovulatory phase.

eLife ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasuhiro Yokota ◽  
Hiroyuki Nakajima ◽  
Yuki Wakayama ◽  
Akira Muto ◽  
Koichi Kawakami ◽  
...  

Sprouting angiogenesis is a well-coordinated process controlled by multiple extracellular inputs, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). However, little is known about when and how individual endothelial cell (EC) responds to angiogenic inputs in vivo. Here, we visualized endothelial Ca2+ dynamics in zebrafish and found that intracellular Ca2+ oscillations occurred in ECs exhibiting angiogenic behavior. Ca2+ oscillations depended upon VEGF receptor-2 (Vegfr2) and Vegfr3 in ECs budding from the dorsal aorta (DA) and posterior cardinal vein, respectively. Thus, visualizing Ca2+ oscillations allowed us to monitor EC responses to angiogenic cues. Vegfr-dependent Ca2+ oscillations occurred in migrating tip cells as well as stalk cells budding from the DA. We investigated how Dll4/Notch signaling regulates endothelial Ca2+ oscillations and found that it was required for the selection of single stalk cell as well as tip cell. Thus, we captured spatio-temporal Ca2+ dynamics during sprouting angiogenesis, as a result of cellular responses to angiogenic inputs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 931
Author(s):  
Jihyun Lee ◽  
Yujin Jung ◽  
Seo won Jeong ◽  
Ga Hee Jeong ◽  
Gue Tae Moon ◽  
...  

The Hippo signaling pathway plays a key role in regulating organ size and tissue homeostasis. Hippo and two of its main effectors, yes-associated protein (YAP) and WWTR1 (WW domain-containing transcription regulator 1, commonly listed as TAZ), play critical roles in angiogenesis. This study investigated the role of the Hippo signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of rosacea. We performed immunohistochemical analyses to compare the expression levels of YAP and TAZ between rosacea skin and normal skin in humans. Furthermore, we used a rosacea-like BALB/c mouse model induced by LL-37 injections to determine the roles of YAP and TAZ in rosacea in vivo. We found that the expression levels of YAP and TAZ were upregulated in patients with rosacea. In the rosacea-like mouse model, we observed that the clinical features of rosacea, including telangiectasia and erythema, improved after the injection of a YAP/TAZ inhibitor. Additionally, treatment with a YAP/TAZ inhibitor reduced the expression levels of YAP and TAZ and diminished vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) immunoreactivity in the rosacea-like mouse model. Our findings suggest that YAP/TAZ inhibitors can attenuate angiogenesis associated with the pathogenesis of rosacea and that both YAP and TAZ are potential therapeutic targets for patients with rosacea.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (14) ◽  
pp. 4127
Author(s):  
Aline de Cristo Soares Alves ◽  
Franciele Aline Bruinsmann ◽  
Silvia Stanisçuaski Guterres ◽  
Adriana Raffin Pohlmann

Bevacizumab (BCZ) is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody against the vascular endothelial growth factor, which is involved in the angiogenesis process. Pathologic angiogenesis is observed in several diseases including ophthalmic disorders and cancer. The multiple administrations of BCZ can cause adverse effects. In this way, the development of controlled release systems for BCZ delivery can promote the modification of drug pharmacokinetics and, consequently, decrease the dose, toxicity, and cost due to improved efficacy. This review highlights BCZ formulated in organic nanoparticles providing an overview of the physicochemical characterization and in vitro and in vivo biological evaluations. Moreover, the main advantages and limitations of the different approaches are discussed. Despite difficulties in working with antibodies, those nanocarriers provided advantages in BCZ protection against degradation guaranteeing bioactivity maintenance.


2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (11) ◽  
pp. 1528-1544 ◽  
Author(s):  
HE Abo Mansour ◽  
MM El-Batsh ◽  
NS Badawy ◽  
ET Mehanna ◽  
NM Mesbah ◽  
...  

This study aimed to investigate the potential role of co-treatment with doxorubicin (DOX) and verapamil (VRP) nanoparticles in experimentally induced hepatocellular carcinoma in mice and to investigate the possible mechanisms behind the potential favorable effect of the co-treatment. DOX and VRP were loaded into chitosan nanoparticles (CHNPs), and cytotoxicity of loaded and unloaded drugs against HepG2 cells was evaluated. Male albino mice were divided into eight groups ( n = 15): (1) normal control, (2) diethylnitrosamine, (3) CHNPs, (4) free DOX, (5) CHNPs DOX, (6) free VRP, (7) CHNPs VRP, and (8) CHNPs DOX + CHNPs VRP. Either VRP or DOX loaded into CHNPs showed stronger growth inhibition of HepG2 cells than their free forms. DOX or VRP nanoparticles displayed pronounced anticancer activity in vivo through the decline of vascular endothelial growth factor and B cell lymphoma-2 contents in liver tissues, upregulation of antioxidant enzymes, and downregulation of multidrug resistance 1. Moreover, reduced cardiotoxicity was evident from decreased level of tumor necrosis factor-α and malondialdehyde in heart tissues coupled with decreased serum activity of creatine kinase-myocardial band and lactate dehydrogenase. Co-treatment with CHNPs DOX and CHNPs VRP showed superior results versus other treatments. Liver sections from the co-treatment group revealed the absence of necrosis, enhanced apoptosis, and nearly normal hepatic lobule architecture. Co-treatment with CHNPs DOX and CHNPs VRP revealed enhanced anticancer activity and decreased cardiotoxicity versus the corresponding free forms.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 326-329
Author(s):  
Piotr Barć ◽  
Tomasz Płonek ◽  
Dagmara Baczyńska ◽  
Artur Pupka ◽  
Wojciech Witkiewicz ◽  
...  

Endocrinology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 145 (6) ◽  
pp. 2896-2905 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Greenaway ◽  
Kristin Connor ◽  
Hanne G. Pedersen ◽  
Brenda L. Coomber ◽  
Jonathan LaMarre ◽  
...  

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