Molecular Characterization of EG-VEGF-mediated Angiogenesis: Differential Effects on Microvascular and Macrovascular Endothelial Cells

Endocrine gland derived vascular endothelial growth factor (EG-VEGF) also called prokineticin (PK1), has been identified and linked to several biological processes including angiogenesis. EG-VEGF is abundantly expressed in the highest vascularized organ, the human placenta. Here we characterized its angiogenic effect using different experimental procedures. Immunohistochemistry was used to localize EG-VEGF receptors (PROKR1 and PROKR2) in placental and umbilical cord tissue. Primary microvascular placental endothelial cell (HPEC) and umbilical vein-derived macrovascular EC (HUVEC) were used to assess its effects on proliferation, migration, cell survival, pseudovascular organization, spheroid sprouting, permeability and paracellular transport. siRNA and neutralizing antibody strategies were used to differentiate PROKR1- from PROKR2-mediated effects. Our results show that 1) HPEC and HUVEC express both types of receptors 2) EG-VEGF stimulates HPEC''s proliferation, migration and survival, but increases only survival in HUVECs. and 3) EG-VEGF was more potent than VEGF in stimulating HPEC sprout formation, pseudovascular organization, and it significantly increases HPEC permeability and paracellular transport. More importantly, we demonstrated that PROKR1 mediates EG-VEGF angiogenic effects, whereas PROKR2 mediates cellular permeability. Altogether, these data characterized angiogenic processes mediated by EG-VEGF, depicted a new angiogenic factor in the placenta, and suggest a novel view of the regulation of angiogenesis in placental pathologies.     

Differential Cellular Effects of Electroporation and Electrochemotherapy in Monolayers of Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells

In vivo electroporation of tumours shows disruption of blood flow and creates a vascular effect with an initial rapid and transient vasoconstriction phase and a much longer lasting phase with changed microvascular endothelium. These changes are not well understood but are presumed to involve the cytoskeleton. The paper presents for the first time differential in vitro effects describing cytoskeleton changes and monolayer integrity changes by both electroporation and electrochemotherapy of monolayers of human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1). After the application of electric field pulses, the morphology of cells, and both the F-actin and Beta-tubulin cytoskeleton proteins were affected. During both electroporation and electrochemotherapy, the initial phase of cellular damage was noticed at 10 min as swollen cells and honeycomb-like actin bundles. The electroporation-induced cellular effects, observed from electric pulses >150 V, were voltage-dependent and within 24 hrs partly recoverable. The electrochemotherapy-induced cellular effects developed at 2 hrs in spindle-like cells, and more densely packed F-actin and Beta-tubulin were observed, which were dependent on the amount of bleomycin and the voltages applied (>50 V). In addition, for electrochemotherapy with electric pulses >150 V cellular changes were not recoverable within 24 hrs. The effects on monolayer integrity were reflected in the enhanced monolayer permeability, with the electrochemotherapy showing an earlier onset and synergy. We conclude that electrochemotherapy as compared to electroporation leads within 24 hrs to a quicker and more pronounced monolayer integrity damage and endothelial cell death, which together provide further insight into the cellular changes of the vascular disruption of electrochemotherapy.     

大鼠脑微血管内皮细胞培养及其药物转运体Oatp2和P-gp的表达

贴块法培养脑微血管内皮细胞(BMECs),倒置显微镜动态观察细胞生长及形态,Ⅷ因子相关抗原、CD34免疫细胞化学联合鉴定细胞并确定纯度。免疫细胞化学和Western印迹法检测药物转运体有机阴离子转运多肽亚型2(Oatp2)及P-糖蛋白(P-gp)在培养内皮细胞上的表达。结果显示,获得的BMECs呈多角形或铺路石形,单层贴壁生长;培养细胞Ⅷ因子相关抗原免疫细胞化学、CD34免疫荧光染色均为阳性,细胞纯度90%;培养细胞有Oatp2及P-gp表达,且二者均主要表达于BMECs细胞膜。提示贴块法可获得原代培养BMECs,方法简便易行,细胞纯度较高。原代培养的BMECs上有药物转运体Oatp2及P-gp的表达,为血脑屏障上药物转运体的体外研究提供了可能途径。     

Isolation of Primary Murine Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells

The blood-brain-barrier is ultrastructurally assembled by a monolayer of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC) interconnected by a junctional complex of tight and adherens junctions. Together with other cell-types such as astrocytes or pericytes, they form the neurovascular unit (NVU), which specifically regulates the interchange of fluids, molecules and cells between the peripheral blood and the CNS. Through this complex and dynamic system BMECs are involved in various processes maintaining the homeostasis of the CNS. A dysfunction of the BBB is observed as an essential step in the pathogenesis of many severe CNS diseases. However, specific and targeted therapies are very limited, as the underlying mechanisms are still far from being understood. Animal and in vitro models have been extensively used to gain in-depth understanding of complex physiological and pathophysiological processes. By reduction and simplification it is possible to focus the investigation on the subject of interest and to exclude a variety of confounding factors. However, comparability and transferability are also reduced in model systems, which have to be taken into account for evaluation. The most common animal models are based on mice, among other reasons, mainly due to the constantly increasing possibilities of methodology. In vitro studies of isolated murine BMECs might enable an in-depth analysis of their properties and of the blood-brain-barrier under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Further insights into the complex mechanisms at the BBB potentially provide the basis for new therapeutic strategies.This protocol describes a method to isolate primary murine microvascular endothelial cells by a sequence of physical and chemical purification steps. Special considerations for purity and cultivation of MBMECs as well as quality control, potential applications and limitations are discussed.     

辛伐他汀对雷帕霉素作用下心肌微血管内皮细胞的影响

目的:研究辛伐他汀(SIM)对雷帕霉素(RAPA)引起的体外心肌微血管内皮细胞(CMECs)损害的保护机制。方法:分离、培养大鼠心肌微血管内皮细胞。经形态学及Dil-ac-LDL吞噬试验进行鉴定后,采用RAPA(100 nM)处理24小时建立CMECs损伤模型,然后加入不同浓度的SIM(0,10-2,10-1,100,101μM)培养24小时后,采用MTT,WST-8及Transwell检测受损后CMECs的增殖和迁移;采用Hoechst 33258及Caspase-3检查各组CMECs的凋亡;采用蛋白免疫印迹(Western blotting)检测Akt/p70 S6K磷酸化的程度;格里斯反应及实时逆转录PCR分别检测一氧化氮(NO)含量及一氧化氮合酶(eNOS)mRNA的表达。结果:①经形态学及Dil-ac-LDL吞噬试验均表明,成功培养CMECs;②低浓度SIM 100μM可显著改善100 nM RAPA对CMECs增殖、迁移和凋亡的影响;③SIM可通过上调PI3K/Akt进而上调p70s6K磷酸化(P0.05或P0.01);④SIM通过PI3K/Akt促进CMECs分泌NO及eNOS mRNA的表达(P0.05或P0.01)。结论:一定浓度下的SIM可改善RAPA作用下CMECs的增殖,迁移和凋亡,这些保护作用可能是通过其激活PI3K/Akt/mTOR/p70S6K信号通路实现的。     

AIBP基因表达下调促进心肌微血管内皮细胞血管新生

目的:探讨阻断载脂蛋白A-I结合蛋白(AIBP)的表达后对心肌微血管内皮细胞(CMECs)血管新生的作用。方法:消化法分离SD大鼠CMECs,通过慢病毒介导的siRNA转染CMECs下调AIBP基因表达,并设立空白对照组及阴性转染组。RT-PCR法检测AIBP基因的表达;CCK-8比色法检测细胞增殖;Transwell小室评价细胞迁移能力;成管实验评价血管新生能力。结果:RT-PCR结果显示,与空白对照组及阴性转染组相比,转染组CMECs中AIBP表达显著降低(P0.01);CCK-8结果显示,与空白对照组及阴性转染组相比,转染组CMECs增值水平显著增高(P0.01);Transwell法结果显示,与空白对照组及阴性转染组相比,转染组CMECs迁移能力显著增高(P0.01);成管实验显示,与空白对照组及阴性转染组相比,转染组CMECs成管能力显著增高(P0.01)。结论:抑制AIBP表达可以明显促进CMECs增殖,促进其迁移和成管。     

运用植块法培养脑微血管内皮细胞

探讨简易可行的脑微血管内皮细胞(brain microvascular endothelial cells,BMECs培)养方法,为研究BMECs细胞在脑血管疾病中的重要作用提供技术支持。分离出生后1~7天内的SD乳鼠大脑皮质区,植块法培养BMECs细胞。用倒置显微镜观察BMECs细胞的形态以及从皮质块迁出的过程;MTT比色法检测BMECs细胞的生长曲线;采用免疫组化染色检测VIII因子相关抗原和CD34抗原,以鉴定内皮细胞。结果发现,大脑皮质块植块法培养的大鼠BMECs细胞呈单层贴壁生长,细胞形态以长梭形、多角形三角形、四边形为主,呈典型的“铺路石”样征象,经鉴定为内皮细胞,第三代纯度达95%以上。提示该方法具有经济、简便、要求条件不高,易于纯化的优点,可作为大鼠BMECs细胞体外培养的良好模型。     

Phenotypic Alterations in Senescent Large-Vessel and Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Endothelial cell senescence likely plays a key role in age-associated vascular diseases. A close relationship between in vitro and in vivo senescence of endothelial cells has been established. Therefore, elucidating the structural and functional changes occurring during long-term cultures of endothelial cells would contribute to clarifying the pathogenesis of vascular disorders in the elderly. We investigated the effects of replicative senescence on the architecture of bovine aortic vs microvascular endothelial cells. A marked increase in cell area was observed in both cell types, whereas dramatic morphological alterations were detected in microvascular endothelial cells only. The latter also showed age-associated reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. Finally, both aortic and microvascular endothelial cells lost their migratory response to basic fibroblast growth factor with age. Our results highlight dramatic structural and functional alterations in senescent endothelial cells. Such rearrangements might account for in vivo endothelial cell alterations involved in age-associated vascular dysfunction.     

大鼠脑微血管内皮细胞的分离与原代培养

为了建立大鼠脑微血管内皮细胞体外培养模型,探索纯度较高的大鼠脑微血管内皮细胞分离和原代培养的方法并进行形态学观察。采用2～3周龄的SD大鼠,解剖得到大脑皮质,两次酶消化及牛血清白蛋白或葡聚糖和Percoll梯度离心获得较纯的脑微血管段后,接种于涂布基质的培养皿进行原代培养;培养的细胞采用相差显微镜形态学观察、透射电镜观察及Ⅷ因子相关抗原免疫组化检测鉴定。结果发现,培养12h即可见细胞从贴壁的脑微血管段周围长出,细胞呈短梭形,区域性单层生长,5～7天内皮细胞融合,内皮细胞纯度达90％以上;内皮细胞的贴壁和生长有赖于所涂布的基质,纤连蛋白／Ⅳ型胶原优于鼠尾胶和明胶;Ⅷ因子相关抗原免疫组化检测内皮细胞表达阳性,透射电镜观察可见相邻内皮细胞间存在紧密连接结构。提示该方法能成功进行纯度较高的大鼠脑微血管内皮细胞原代培养,可用于脑微血管内皮的生理、生化及药理学研究,亦可用于构建大鼠血脑屏障模型。     

Glycosyltransferase Activities in Cultured Endothelial Cells of Bovine Brain Microvascular Origin

Bovine brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) express GM3 (NeuAc) and GM3 (NeuGc) as the major gangliosides, and GM1, GD1a, GD1b, GT1b as well as sialosylparagloboside and sialosyllactosaminylparagloboside as the minor species. To investigate the metabolic basis of this ganglioside pattern, the activities of eight glycosyltransferases (GM3-, GD1a-, GD3-, LM1-, GM2 (NeuAc)-, GM2 (NeuGc)-, LacCer-, and GM1-synthases) in cultured BMECs were studied. It was found that BMECs possessed high activities of GM3- and GD1a-synthases, and low activities of GM2-, GM1-, and GD3-synthases. Thus, the present study provides evidence that endothelial cells are capable of synthesizing gangliosides in situ and that the high content of GM3 in BMEC is closely associated with high activities of GM3-synthase and low activities of GM2-, GM1-, and GD3-synthases.     

Direct Cytotoxicity of Ethylcholine Mustard Aziridinium in Cerebral Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Abstract: The choline analogue ethylcholine mustard aziridinium (AF64A) is a potent and irreversible inhibitor of choline uptake in brain synaptosomes and is used as a neurotoxin to produce animal models of cholinergic hypofunction. However, previous studies have shown that intraocular administration of AF64A in rats not only reduced the number of cholinergic neurons in the retina, but also induced ultrastructural alterations in the microvasculature. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether AF64A has a direct cytotoxic effect on endothelial cells. As revealed by the measurement of lactate dehydrogenase activity in the culture medium, AF64A produced similar concentration-dependent cellular damage in cultures of bovine cerebral endothelial cells and in the human cholinergic neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-MC, but not in bovine cerebral smooth muscle cells. The toxic effect of AF64A correlated well with the affinity of the choline transport system detected in each cell type. The effect of the toxin on endothelial cells was mediated by its interaction with the endothelial cell choline carrier, as demonstrated by the following observations: (a) AF64A inhibited [³H]choline uptake in a concentration-dependent manner in both cultured and freshly isolated cerebral endothelial cells, and (b) the addition of choline or hemicholinium-3 to the culture medium prevented the AF64A-induced toxicity in endothelial cell cultures.     

Stathmin 在微血管内皮细胞的表达与胶质瘤恶性程度关系

目的:检测Stathmin在正常脑组织及不同级别胶质瘤微血管内皮细胞中的表达情况。方法:利用结合CD105单克隆抗体的免疫磁珠内皮细胞分选系统特异性分选出68例胶质瘤微血管内皮细胞(其中低级别胶质瘤(WHO分级Ⅰ-Ⅱ)24例,高级别胶质瘤(WHO分级Ⅲ-Ⅳ)44例)和20例正常脑组织微血管内皮细胞。应用免疫组化、RT-PCR和Western blot检测Stathmin在胶质瘤微血管内皮细胞和正常脑组织微血管内皮细胞中的表达。结果:免疫组化证实Stathmin在正常脑组织微血管内皮细胞、低级别胶质瘤微血管内皮细胞和高级别胶质瘤微血管内皮细胞的表达百分率分别是20%,66%和95%(P<0.05)。RT-PCR和Western blot法检测显示,Stathmin在胶质瘤微血管内皮细胞中的表达明显增高。低级别胶质瘤组、高级别胶质瘤组分别与正常组比较,均有显著性差异(P<0.01);且低级别胶质瘤组与高级别胶质瘤组比较,有显著性差异(P<0.01),随着胶质瘤恶性程度的增加,Stathmin表达上调,具有统计学意义。结论:Stathmin在脑胶质瘤微血管内皮细胞中表达随肿瘤恶性程度增高而增加,可能为脑胶质瘤的生物治疗提供一个新靶点。     

Synthesis of Apolipoprotein A-1 in Pig Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells

In an approach toward the identification of hitherto unknown proteins involved in the function of the blood-brain barrier, we constructed a pig brain microvessel-derived cDNA library that is enriched in blood-brain barrier specific sequences by means of subtractive cloning. Sequence analysis of selected clones revealed that one of the cDNAs encoded porcine apolipoprotein (apo) A-1. The identity of apo A-1 mRNA was further confirmed by in vitro translation of RNA from brain microvascular endothelial cells and subsequent immunoprecipitation with an antibody against human apo A-1. We further investigated the expression of apo A-1 mRNA in several tissues and in endothelial cells of the pig. It is shown that cultured brain microvascular endothelial cells provide an in vitro model to study the expression and function of apo A-1 in the microvasculature of the brain.