Differentiation state determines neural effects on microvascular endothelial cells

Growing evidence indicates that nerves and capillaries interact paracrinely in uninjured skin and cutaneous wounds. Although mature neurons are the predominant neural cell in the skin, neural progenitor cells have also been detected in uninjured adult skin. The aim of this study was to characterize differential paracrine effects of neural progenitor cells and mature sensory neurons on dermal microvascular endothelial cells. Our results suggest that neural progenitor cells and mature sensory neurons have unique secretory profiles and distinct effects on dermal microvascular endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and nitric oxide production. Neural progenitor cells and dorsal root ganglion neurons secrete different proteins related to angiogenesis. Specific to neural progenitor cells were dipeptidyl peptidase-4, IGFBP-2, pentraxin-3, serpin f1, TIMP-1, TIMP-4 and VEGF. In contrast, endostatin, FGF-1, MCP-1 and thrombospondin-2 were specific to dorsal root ganglion neurons. Microvascular endothelial cell proliferation was inhibited by dorsal root ganglion neurons but unaffected by neural progenitor cells. In contrast, microvascular endothelial cell migration in a scratch wound assay was inhibited by neural progenitor cells and unaffected by dorsal root ganglion neurons. In addition, nitric oxide production by microvascular endothelial cells was increased by dorsal root ganglion neurons but unaffected by neural progenitor cells.     

Regulation of sterol transport in human microvascular endothelial cells

In cultured human dermal microvessel endothelial cells, the rate of efflux (about twofold greater than for fibroblasts under equivalent conditions) was coupled to an equivalent high rate of sterol net transport from the cells to the medium. This net transport was linked with esterification via lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase. Since the use of free sterol by plasma transferase is constant, such increased net transport indicates that endothelial cells are highly efficient, in competition with plasma lipoproteins, in supplying free sterol for esterification. These results indicate the marked ability of endothelial cells to regulate and maintain their sterol balance in the face of high sterol levels to which these cells are uniquely exposed in human plasma.     

Opposing effects of the angiopoietins on the thrombin-induced permeability of human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells

Background

Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) is associated with lung injury in ALI/ARDS. As endothelial activation by thrombin plays a role in the permeability of acute lung injury and Ang-2 may modulate the kinetics of thrombin-induced permeability by impairing the organization of vascular endothelial (VE-)cadherin, and affecting small Rho GTPases in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMVECs), we hypothesized that Ang-2 acts as a sensitizer of thrombin-induced hyperpermeability of HPMVECs, opposed by Ang-1.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Permeability was assessed by measuring macromolecule passage and transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER). Angiopoietins did not affect basal permeability. Nevertheless, they had opposing effects on the thrombin-induced permeability, in particular in the initial phase. Ang-2 enhanced the initial permeability increase (passage, P = 0.010; TEER, P = 0.021) in parallel with impairment of VE-cadherin organization without affecting VE-cadherin Tyr685 phosphorylation or increasing RhoA activity. Ang-2 also increased intercellular gap formation. Ang-1 preincubation increased Rac1 activity, enforced the VE-cadherin organization, reduced the initial thrombin-induced permeability (TEER, P = 0.027), while Rac1 activity simultaneously normalized, and reduced RhoA activity at 15 min thrombin exposure (P = 0.039), but not at earlier time points. The simultaneous presence of Ang-2 largely prevented the effect of Ang-1 on TEER and macromolecule passage.

Conclusions/Significance

Ang-1 attenuated thrombin-induced permeability, which involved initial Rac1 activation-enforced cell-cell junctions, and later RhoA inhibition. In addition to antagonizing Ang-1, Ang-2 had also a direct effect itself. Ang-2 sensitized the initial thrombin-induced permeability accompanied by destabilization of VE-cadherin junctions and increased gap formation, in the absence of increased RhoA activity.     

Spontaneous immortalization of human dermal microvascular endothelial cells

AIM: To establish and characterize a spontaneously immortalized human dermal microvascular endothelial cell line, iHDME1.METHODS: We developed a spontaneous immortalization method. This approach is based on the application of optimized culture media and culture conditions without addition of any exogenous oncogenes or carcinogens. Using this approach, we have successfully established a microvascular endothelial cell line, iHDME1, from primary human dermal microvascular endothelial cells. iHDME1 cells have been maintained in culture dishes for more than 50 passages over a period of 6 mo. Using a GFP expressing retrovirus, we generated a GFP-stable cell line (iHDME1-GFP).RESULTS: iHDME1 retain endothelial morphology and uniformly express endothelial markers such as VEGF receptor 2 and VE-cadherin but not α-smooth muscle actin (α-SM-actin) and cytokeratin 18, markers for smooth muscle cells and epithelial cells respectively. These cells retain endothelial properties, migrate in response to VEGF stimulation and form 3-D vascular structures in Matrigel, similar to the parental cells. There is no significant difference in cell cycle profile between the parental cells and iHDME1 cells. Further analysis indicates enhanced stemness in iHDME1 cells compared to parental cells. iHDME1 cells display elevated expression of CD133 and hTERT.CONCLUSION: iHDME1 cells will be a valuable source for studying angiogenesis.     

Cytotoxicity,permeability, and inflammation of metal oxide nanoparticles in human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells

Wide applications and extreme potential of metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) increase occupational and public exposure and may yield extraordinary hazards for human health. Exposure to NPs has a risk for dysfunction of the vascular endothelial cells. The objective of this study was to assess the cytotoxicity of six metal oxide NPs to human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (HCMECs) in vitro. Metal oxide NPs used in this study included zinc oxide (ZnO), iron(III) oxide (Fe₂O₃), iron(II,III) oxide (Fe₃O₄), magnesium oxide (MgO), aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), and copper(II) oxide (CuO). The cell viability, membrane leakage of lactate dehydrogenase, intracellular reactive oxygen species, permeability of plasma membrane, and expression of inflammatory markers vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, macrophage cationic peptide-1, and interleukin-8 in HCMECs were assessed under controlled and exposed conditions (12–24 h and 0.001–100 μg/ml of exposure). The results indicated that Fe₂O₃, Fe₃O₄, and Al₂O₃ NPs did not have significant effects on cytotoxicity, permeability, and inflammation response in HCMECs at any of the concentrations tested. ZnO, CuO, and MgO NPs produced the cytotoxicity at the concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner, and elicited the permeability and inflammation response in HCMECs. These results demonstrated that cytotoxicity, permeability, and inflammation in vascular endothelial cells following exposure to metal oxide nanoparticles depended on particle composition, concentration, and exposure time.     

Cancer cells regulate biomechanical properties of human microvascular endothelial cells

Metastasis is a key event of malignant tumor progression. The capability to metastasize depends on the ability of the cancer cell to migrate into connective tissue, adhere, and possibly transmigrate through the endothelium. Previously we reported that the endothelium does not generally act as barrier for cancer cells to migrate in three-dimensional extracellular matrices (3D-ECMs). Instead, the endothelium acts as an enhancer or a promoter for the invasiveness of certain cancer cells. How invasive cancer cells diminish the endothelial barrier function still remains elusive. Therefore, this study investigates whether invasive cancer cells can decrease the endothelial barrier function through alterations of endothelial biomechanical properties. To address this, MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells were used that invade deeper and more numerous into 3D-ECMs when co-cultured with microvascular endothelial cells. Using magnetic tweezer measurements, MDA-MB-231 cells were found to alter the mechanical properties of endothelial cells by reducing endothelial cell stiffness. Using spontaneous bead diffusion, actin cytoskeletal remodeling dynamics were shown to be increased in endothelial cells co-cultured with MDA-MB-231 cells compared with mono-cultured endothelial cells. In addition, knockdown of the α5 integrin subunit in highly transmigrating α5β1(high) cells derived from breast, bladder, and kidney cancer cells abolished the endothelial invasion-enhancing effect comparable with the inhibition of myosin light chain kinase. These results indicate that the endothelial invasion-enhancing effect is α5β1 integrin-dependent. Moreover, inhibition of Rac-1, Rho kinase, MEK kinase, and PI3K reduced the endothelial invasion-enhancing effect, indicating that signaling via small GTPases may play a role in the endothelial facilitated increased invasiveness of cancer cells. In conclusion, decreased stiffness and increased cytoskeletal remodeling dynamics of endothelial cells may account for the breakdown of endothelial barrier function, suggesting that biomechanical alterations are sufficient to facilitate the transmigration and invasion of invasive cancer cells into 3D-ECMs.     

Mechanisms of endotoxin tolerance in human intestinal microvascular endothelial cells

Lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) tolerance is well described in monocytes and macrophages, but is less well characterized in endothelial cells. Because intestinal microvascular endothelial cells exhibit a strong immune response to LPS challenge and play a critical regulatory role in gut inflammation, we sought to characterize the activation response of these cells to repeated LPS exposure. Primary cultures of human intestinal microvascular endothelial cells (HIMEC) were stimulated with LPS over 6-60 h and activation was assessed using U937 leukocyte adhesion, expression of E-selectin, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, IL-6, IL-8, manganese superoxide dismutase, HLA-DR, and CD86. Effect of repeat LPS stimulation on HIMEC NF-kappaB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, generation of superoxide anion, and Toll-like receptor 4 expression was characterized. LPS pretreatment of HIMEC for 24-48 h significantly decreased leukocyte adhesion after subsequent LPS stimulation. LPS pretreatment inhibited expression of E-selectin, VCAM-1, IL-6, and CD86, while ICAM-1, IL-8, and HLA-DR were not altered. Manganese superoxide dismutase expression increased with repeated LPS stimulation, with a reduction in intracellular superoxide. NF-kappaB activation was transiently inhibited by LPS pretreatment for 6 h, but not at later time points. In contrast, p44/42 MAPK, p38 MAPK, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation demonstrated inhibition by LPS pretreatment 24 or 48 h prior. Toll-like receptor 4 expression on HIMEC was not altered by LPS. HIMEC exhibit endotoxin tolerance after repeat LPS exposure in vitro, characterized by diminished activation and intracellular superoxide anion concentration, and reduced leukocyte adhesion. HIMEC possess specific mechanisms of immunoregulatory hyporesponsiveness to repeated LPS exposure.     

Cultivation of microvascular endothelial cells from human preputial skin

A procedure is described for the isolation and cultivation of microvascular endothelium from human skin. Neonatal foreskins are pooled, washed, minced, and dissociated by a mixture of collagenase and dispase. Microvascular endothelium, liberated in the form of intact capillary fragments, is incompletely separated from fibroblasts and epidermal cells by sieving through nylon mesh, followed by velocity sedimentation on 5% bovine serum albumin. The endothelium-enriched fraction has been maintained in primary culture for up to 3 weeks. The resulting epithelioid colonies have been characterized morphologically by both light and transmission electron microscopy and manifest all of the structural features that distinguish other, large-vessel endothelia in culture. In addition, immunohistochemical studies using an indirect fluorescent antibody technique demonstrate that these cells contain the endothelium-specific product, Factor VIII antigen.     

Origin of periendothelial cells in microvessels derived from human microvascular endothelial cells

In microvessels, periendothelial cells expressing alpha smooth muscle actin (alphaSMA) interact with the endothelial cells and are essential for vessel maturation and stabilization. In adult tissues, the cellular origin of the periendothelial cells is still not clear, in particular in humans. To determine the origin of human periendothelial cells, we used a recently developed 3D co-culture system that mimics human skin connective tissue. This system is composed of normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF), human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1), and a collagen matrix. In this system, "microvessels" composed of an endothelial lumen associated with periendothelial cells develop. Using this co-culture system, we (i) labelled fibroblasts with the vital dye CFDA-SE, cultured them with unlabelled endothelial cells, and observed that only endothelium-associated CFDA-SE-labelled cells express alphaSMA; (ii) infected endothelial cells with a retrovirus stably expressing eGFP, cultured them with unlabelled fibroblasts, and observed that cells expressing alphaSMA did not co-express eGFP, but were associated with the eGFP-expressing endothelial cells of the microvessels. Together, these results indicate that periendothelial cells arise by differentiation from fibroblasts and that they require interaction with endothelial cells to do so.     

Effects of Parietaria judaica pollen extract on human microvascular endothelial cells

Pollinosis from Parietaria judaica is one of the main causes of allergy in the Mediterranean area. The present study is designed to assess if P. judaica pollens contain bioactive compounds able to elicit a functional response in endothelial cells.We have demonstrated that addition of pollen extract to human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC-L) induces a modification of cell morphology, actin cytoskeletal rearrangements and an increase in endothelial cell permeability. We further showed that the treatment of endothelial cells with pollen extract causes an increase of E-selectin and VCAM-1 protein levels as well as an increase of IL-8 production. The stimulation of cell-cell adhesion molecules was paralleled by a dose-dependent increase of adhesion of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) to HMVEC-L monolayer. Our results suggest for the first time that pollen affect directly endothelial cells (EC) modulating critical functions related to the inflammatory response.     

HIV-1 Tat-mediated apoptosis in human brain microvascular endothelial cells

The integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is critical for normal brain function. Neuropathological abnormalities in AIDS patients have been associated with perivascular HIV-infected macrophages, gliosis, and abnormalities in the permeability of the BBB. The processes by which HIV causes these pathological conditions are not well understood. To characterize the mechanism by which HIV-1 Tat protein modulates human brain microvascular endothelial cell (HBMEC) functions, we studied the effects of HIV-1 Tat in modulating HBMEC apoptosis and permeability. Treatment of HBMEC with HIV-1 Tat led to Flk-1/KDR and Flt-4 receptor activation and the release of NO. The protein levels of endothelial NO synthase (NOS) and inducible NOS were increased by HIV-1 Tat stimulation. Importantly, HIV-1 Tat caused apoptosis of HBMEC, as evidenced by changes in the cleavage of poly(A)DP-ribose polymerase, DNA laddering, and incorporation of fluorescein into the nicked chromosomal DNA (TUNEL assay). HIV-1 Tat-mediated apoptosis in HBMEC was significantly inhibited in the presence of N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (an inhibitor of NOS) and wortmannin (a phosphoinositol 3-kinase inhibitor). Furthermore, HIV-1 Tat treatment significantly increased HBMEC permeability, and pretreatment with both N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and wortmannin inhibited the Tat-induced permeability. Taken together, these results indicate that dysregulated production of NO by HIV-1 Tat plays a pivotal role in brain endothelial injury, resulting in the irreversible loss of BBB integrity, which may lead to enhanced infiltration of virus-carrying cells across the BBB.     

Syndecan-2 downregulation impairs angiogenesis in human microvascular endothelial cells

The formation of new blood vessels, or angiogenesis, is a necessary process during development but also for tumour growth and other pathologies. It is promoted by different growth factors that stimulate endothelial cells to proliferate, migrate, and generate new tubular structures. Syndecans, transmembrane heparan sulphate proteoglycans, bind such growth factors through their glycosaminoglycan chains and could transduce the signal to the cytoskeleton, thus regulating cell behaviour. We demonstrated that syndecan-2, the major syndecan expressed by human microvascular endothelial cells, is regulated by growth factors and extracellular matrix proteins, in both bidimensional and tridimensional culture conditions. The role of syndecan-2 in “in vitro” tumour angiogenesis was also examined by inhibiting its core protein expression with antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotides. Downregulation of syndecan-2 reduces spreading and adhesion of endothelial cells, enhances their migration, but also impairs the formation of capillary-like structures. These results suggest that syndecan-2 has an important function in some of the necessary steps that make up the angiogenic process. We therefore propose a pivotal role of this heparan sulphate proteoglycan in the formation of new blood vessels.     

Protective effects of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids on human endothelial cells from the pulmonary and coronary vasculature

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are cytochrome P-450 (CYP) metabolites synthesized from the essential fatty acid arachidonic acid to generate four regioisomers, 14,15-, 11,12-, 8,9-, and 5,6-EET. Cultured human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) contain endogenous EETs that are increased by stimulation with physiological agonists such as bradykinin. Because EETs are known to modulate a number of vascular functions, including angiogenesis, we tested each of the four regioisomers to characterize their effects on survival and apoptosis of HCAECs and cultured human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMVECs). A single application of physiologically relevant concentration of 14,15-, 11,12-, and 8,9-EET but not 5,6-EET (0.75-300 nM) promoted concentration-dependent increase in cell survival of HLMVECs and HCAECs after removal of serum. The lipids also protected the same cells from death via the intrinsic, as well as extrinsic, pathways of apoptosis. EETs did not increase intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) or phosphorylate mitogen-activated protein kinase p44/42 when applied to these cells, and their protective action was attenuated by the phosphotidylinositol-3 kinase inhibitor wortmannin (10 microM) but not the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (20 microM). Our results demonstrate for the first time the capacity of EETs to enhance human endothelial cell survival by inhibiting both the intrinsic, as well as extrinsic, pathways of apoptosis, an important underlying mechanism that may promote angiogenesis and endothelial survival during atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular ailments.     

Retinoids upregulate phagocytosis by human dermal microvascular endothelial cells

Animals fed a diet deficient in vitamin A show severe physiological changes that often result in death. At the cellular level, retinoids have been shown to induce differentiation of cells dervied from a wide spectrum of tissues, including the vasculature. To understand further the mechanisms for these events, we studied the effects of 13-cis-retinoic acid, all trans-retinoic acid, all-trans-retinol, and all-trans-retinol acetate on human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMEC). Concentrations of retinoids in the physiological range from 0 to 1 μM were used in our experiments. These concentrations were nontoxic to HDMEC. Here we report that in addition to the known effect of retinoids on keratinocytes and sebacytes, retinoids induced morphological and functional changes in HDMEC that gave these cells macrophage like characteristics. 13-Cis-retinoic acid and all-trans-RA induced HDMEC to phagocytize and to increase the production of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion. These two retinoids also changed the morphology of endothelial cells from typical small compact cuboidal epithelioid cells to cells with larger cytoplasm and indistinct cell membranes. The retinoidstimulated HDMEC deposited increased amounts of extracellular matrix. All-trans-retinol and all-trans-retinol acetate did not significantly affect HDMEC in all parameters tested. The induction of these properties provides a new model with which to study how retinoids regulate gene expression using a normal, nontransformed cell line. © 1994 wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Hypoxia enhances CXCR4 expression in human microvascular endothelial cells and human melanoma cells

The influence of environmental factors (cytokines, matrix components, serum factors and O(2) level) on expression of receptors for angiogenic versus angiostatic CXC chemokines in human microvascular endothelial cells has not been extensively investigated. Our semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma repressed CXCR4 mRNA levels in immortalized human microvascular endothelial HMEC-1 cells after 4 h, whereas only TNF-alpha displayed inhibitory activity in primary human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC). CXCR4 mRNA expression was not affected by VEGF, GM-CSF, IL-1beta or various basal membrane matrix components, but was significantly up-regulated after serum starvation and/or hypoxic treatment of the microvascular endothelial cells. The alternative CXCL12 receptor, CXCR7/RDC1, was also up-regulated by hypoxia in HMEC-1 cells, although less consistently than CXCR4. Furthermore, hypoxia and serum starvation were required for cell surface display of CXCR4 and CXCL12 induction of ERK activation in HMEC-1 cells. In contrast, CXCR2 and CXCR3 mRNA levels remained, respectively, low and undetectable under all the conditions tested, and surface expression of CXCR2, CXCR3 and CXCR7 on the HMEC- 1 cells could not be demonstrated by FACS. In the human SK-MEL-5 melanoma cell line, CXCR4 mRNA expression was also increased under hypoxic conditions, whereas CXCR2 mRNA levels remained low and levels of CXCR3 and CXCR7 were undetectable. However, immunohistochemical staining of human metastatic melanoma sections demonstrated that CXCR2, CXCR3, CXCR4 and CXCR7 are expressed on tumor cells and, to a lesser extent, on endothelial cells. These results demonstrate that the tumor microenvironment regulates chemokine receptor expression through both cytokine and oxygen levels.     

Oxytocin induces proliferation and migration in immortalized human dermal microvascular endothelial cells and human breast tumor-derived endothelial cells

Oxytocin either increases or inhibits cell growth in different cell subtypes. We tested here the effect of oxytocin on cell proliferation and migration of human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC) and tumor-associated endothelial cells purified from human breast carcinomas (B-TEC). Oxytocin receptors were expressed in both cell subtypes at mRNA and protein levels. Through oxytocin receptor, oxytocin (1 nmol/L-1 mumol/L) significantly increased cell proliferation and migration in both HMEC and B-TEC, and addition of a selective oxytocin antagonist fully reverted these effects. To verify whether a different expression of adhesion molecule-related genes could be responsible for the oxytocin-induced cell migration, untreated and treated cells were compared applying a microarray technique. In HMEC, oxytocin induced the overexpression of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-17, cathepsin D, and integrin beta(6) genes. In B-TEC, oxytocin significantly switched on the gene profile of some MMP (MMP-11 and MMP-26) and of integrin beta(6). The up-regulation of the integrin beta(6) gene could be involved in the oxytocin-induced cell growth, because this subunit is known to determine activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase-extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2, which is involved in the oxytocin mitogenic effect. In B-TEC, oxytocin also increased the expression of caveolin-1 at gene and protein levels. Because oxytocin receptor localization within caveolin-1-enriched membrane domains is necessary for activation of the proliferative (instead of the inhibitory) response to oxytocin, its enhanced expression can be involved in the oxytocin-induced B-TEC growth as well. Altogether, these data indicate that oxytocin contributes to cell motility and growth in HMEC and B-TEC.     

Lipid peroxidation and growth inhibition of human microvascular endothelial cells

Peroxidation products of polyunsaturated fatty acids may cause growth inhibition of cells in culture. This study was carried out to elucidate to what extent peroxidation products may be found in growth media, with and without cells and albumin, using thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and protein carbonyl groups as measures of peroxidation. The growth of human microvascular endothelial cells was studied as influenced by docosahexaenoic (C22:6, n - 3), arachidonic acid (C20:4. n - 6), and serum albumin. Cell growth was strongly inhibited by the fatty acids, and the inhibition was related to the concentration of TBARS in the medium. Defatted albumin (0.5 g/100 ml) nullified the increase of TBARS in the medium and released the growth inhibition by the fatty acids. With polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) there was a time- and concentration-dependent increase in media TBARS, observed both with and without cells, but the TBARS increase was somewhat greater in the presence of cells. Surprisingly, TBARS in cell-free media also increased somewhat upon increasing the albumin concentration from 0.5 to 5 g/100 ml, and the TBARS increase differed among various preparations of albumin. Unexpectedly, the albumin that had not been defatted gave the lowest TBARS values. The amount of protein carbonyl groups did not differ among various albumin preparations. It is concluded that PUFA may autooxidize in media used for cell cultures, and thereby cause an unspecific growth inhibition, which can be prevented by a low albumin concentration. However, even defatted albumin preparations may contain lipid peroxidation products, the causes and implications of which remain to be elucidated.     

p38丝裂原素激活的蛋白激酶在调节低氧诱导人内皮细胞分泌血管内皮生长因子过程中的作用

血管内皮细胞中血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growthfactor,VEGF)的合成增加在促进血管新生的过程中起着非常重要的作用.然而低氧诱导VEGF分泌的细胞内信号转导机制还不是很清楚.人脐静脉内皮细胞系(ECV304)在低氧或常氧的状态下培养12～24 h后分别用实时定量PCR和Western blot的方法来检测VEGF mRNA的表达及ERK1/2和p38激酶的磷酸化水平.分泌到培养液中的VEGF蛋白用酶联免疫吸附(ELISA)的方法来检测.业已报道,ERK的抑制剂PD98059能够抑制低氧诱导的VEGF基因的表达,根据这个报道,我们发现在低氧情况下,ECV304细胞的ERK1/2磷酸化水平增高以及VEGF的合成增加等这些变化也能被PD98059所抑制.本次实验的新发现是p38激酶的激活在低氧诱导VEGF合成增加中的作用.p38激酶的抑制剂SB202190能抑制低氧诱导的VEGF合成增加.这些数据首次直接证实了p38激酶在低氧诱导人内皮细胞分泌VEGF增加过程中的作用.