Recombinant TAT-Thymosin β-4 Promotes Angiogenesis by Activating VEGFR2 Signaling Pathway

Thymosin β-4 is a 43-amino acid intracellular polypeptide that was originally isolated from bovine thymus. Of the 16 known thymosin families, thymosin β-4 is the most common type found in all tissues. Thymosin β-4 regulates angiogenesis, cell differentiation, morphogenesis, migration, and organogenesis and is linked to a dynamic equilibrium between G-actin and F-actin. In particular, thymosin β-4 is well-known for its angiogenic and anti-apoptotic functions. In this study, we synthesized thymosin β-4 linked with the well-known cell-penetrating peptide TAT (YGRKKRRRQRRR). TAT-thymosin β-4 promotes angiogenesis and cell migration in vitro via the VEGFR2 signaling pathway and reduces apoptosis. To examine angiogenic potential in vivo, a Matrigel Plus assay was conducted that revealed the angiogenic effect of TAT-thymosin β-4. In conclusion, TAT-thymosin β-4 promotes blood vessels and is expected to be applicable in regenerative medicine for all organs requiring blood vessels.

Galectin-3 Enhances Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A Receptor 2 Activity in the Presence of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

Galectin-3 (Gal3) is a carbohydrate-binding protein reported to promote angiogenesis by influencing vascular endothelial growth factor-A receptor 2 (VEGFR2) signal transduction. Here we evaluated whether the ability of Gal3 to function as an angiogenic factor involved vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). To address this possibility we used human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRECs) to determine whether exogenous Gal3 requires VEGF to activate VEGFR2 signaling and if Gal3 is required for VEGF to activate VEGFR2. VEGFR2 phosphorylation and HREC migration assays, following either VEGF neutralization with ranibizumab or Gal3 silencing, revealed that VEGF endogenously produced by the HRECs was essential for the effect of exogenous Gal3 on VEGFR2 activation and cell migration, and that VEGF-induced VEGFR2 activation was not dependent on Gal3 in HRECs. Gal3 depletion led to no reduction in VEGF-induced cell function. Since Gal3 has been suggested to be a potential therapeutic target for VEGFR2-mediated angiogenesis, it is crucial to define the possible Gal3-mediated VEGFR2 signal transduction mechanism to aid the development of efficacious therapeutic strategies.

Expression of VEGF-A Signaling Pathway in Cartilage of ACLT-induced Osteoarthritis Mouse Model

Background Anterior cruciate ligament transection surgery (ACLT)-induced OA model was often used to investigate the molecular mechanism of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Researches have shown that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) played an important role in OA. The present study aimed to investigate the pathological changes after ACLT surgery and reveal the expression characteristics of the VEGF-A/VEGFR2 signaling pathway in this model. Methods Moderate KOA model was established by ACLT, and 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Safranin-O(S-O) staining were used to detect the pathological changes in mouse knee cartilage, and the matrix biomarkers A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin Motifs 5(ADAMTS5), Collagen II (COL-II) were detected using immunohistochemistry (IHC), CD31 was detected by immunofluorescence (IF) to show the vascular invasion in cartilage, and proteins expression of VEGF-A pathway were detected by Western blot (WB). Meanwhile, the inflammatory biomarkers cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in cartilage were detected by WB. Results ACLT surgery can lead to degeneration of cartilage in mice, and the characteristics of the lesion were time-dependent. The ADAMTS5-positive cells increased while COL-II decreased in OA cartilage with time, and new blood vessels labeled by CD31 can be seen from 1 week in OA cartilage, and increased in 8 and 12 weeks. The expression of VEGF-A, VEGFR2, COX-2, and iNOS were higher than control groups, which were basically consistent with the degree of osteoarthritis. Conclusions The degenerative degree of articular cartilage was time-dependent; angiogenesis and inflammation were important pathological changes of cartilage in KOA. The expression of the VEGF-A/VEGFR2 signaling pathway was basically correlated with the degree of KOA.