Irisin attenuates oxidized low-density lipoprotein impaired angiogenesis through AKT/mTOR/S6K1/Nrf2 pathway

It is known that irisin increases total body energy expenditure, decreases body weight, and enhances insulin sensitivity. Although previous studies have demonstrated that irisin induces vascular endothelial cell (EC) angiogenesis, the molecular mechanisms underlying irisin-induced angiogenesis under conditions reflecting atherosclerosis are not known. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether irisin could inhibit oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) impaired angiogenesis. We investigated the effect of irisin on angiogenesis in vitro by evaluating cell viability, cell migration, and the capacity to form capillary-like tubes using human umbilical vein endothelial cells and human microvascular endothelial cells (HUVECs and HMEC-1) that were treated with oxLDL. We also evaluated the effects of irisin on angiogenesis in vivo by Matrigel plug angiogenesis assay and in a chicken embryo membrane (CAM) model. Our results demonstrated that irisin increased oxLDL-treated EC viability as well as migration and tube formation. Moreover, oxLDL inhibited angiogenic response in vivo, both in the Matrigel plug angiogenesis assay and in the CAM model, and was attenuated by irisin. Furthermore, irisin decreased apoptosis, inflammatory cytokines, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in oxLDL-treated EC. In addition, we found that irisin upregulated pAkt/mTOR/Nrf2 in oxLDL-treated EC. Both mTOR/Nrf2 shRNA and LY294002 could inhibit the protective effect of irisin. Taken together these results, they suggested that irisin attenuates oxLDL-induced vascular injury by activating the Akt/mTOR/Nrf2 pathway. Our findings suggest that irisin attenuates oxLDL-induced blood vessel injury.     

Coptis japonica Makino extract suppresses angiogenesis through regulation of cell cycle-related proteins

Angiogenesis, neovascularization from pre-existing vessels, is a key step in tumor growth and metastasis, and anti-angiogenic agents that can interfere with these essential steps of cancer development are a promising strategy for human cancer treatment. In this study, we characterized the anti-angiogenic effects of Coptis japonica Makino extract (CJME) and its mechanism of action. CJME significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-stimulated HUVECs. Furthermore, CJME suppressed VEGF-induced tube formation in vitro and VEGF-induced microvessel sprouting ex vivo. According to our study, CJME blocked VEGF-induced cell cycle transition in G1. CJME decreased expression of cell cycle-regulated proteins, including Cyclin D, Cyclin E, Cdk2, and Cdk4 in response to VEGF. Taken together, the results of our study indicate that CJME suppresses VEGF-induced angiogenic events such as proliferation, migration, and tube formation via cell cycle arrest in G1.     

缺氧条件下血管活性因子对血管内皮细胞中VEGF表达的影响

 探讨在缺氧条件下人脐静脉血管内皮细胞对血管内皮生长因子 (vascular endothelialgrowth factor,VEGF)表达及缩血管活性物质内皮素 (ET)、舒血管活性物质一氧化氮 (NO)和 NO抑制剂 LNNA对 VEGF基因表达的影响 .体外培养人脐静脉血管内皮细胞 ,经缺氧及血管活性物质处理 .Northern杂交、酶联免疫检测和计算机图象分析等观察 VEGF m RNA和蛋白表达水平 .发现缺氧 6h内皮细胞可见 VEGF表达 .ET可促进 VEGF m RNA的表达 ,NO可明显抑制 VEGFm RNA的表达 ,NO抑制剂 LNNA也影响 VEGF m RNA的表达 .ELISA检测 VEGF蛋白水平分别为 6h组 8.2± 1 .1 ng/ L,ET+6h组 9.37± 1 .0 2 ng/ L,NO+6h组 2 .86± 0 .91 ng/ L,L - NNA+6h组 1 4.75± 1 .87ng/ L.缺氧可诱导人脐静脉血管内皮细胞分泌 VEGF并受血管活性物质ET和 NO的调控 ,ET促进其表达 ,NO抑制其表达 .     

Activation of ERK pathway is required for 15-HETE-induced angiogenesis in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells

Angiogenesis plays a critical role in the progression of cardiovascular disease, retinal ischemia, or tumorigenesis. The imbalance of endothelial cell proliferation and apoptosis disturbs the establishment of the vasculogenesis, which is affected by several arachidonic acid metabolites. 15-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) is one of the metabolites. However, the underlying mechanisms of angiogenesis induced by 15-HETE in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) are still poorly understood. Since extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is a critical regulator of cell proliferation, there may be a crosstalk between 15-HETE-regulating angiogenic process and ERK-proliferative effect in HUVECs. To test this hypothesis, we study the effect of 15-HETE on cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and apoptosis using cell viability measurement, cell cycle analysis, western blot, scratch–wound, tube formation assay, and nuclear morphology determination. We found that 15-HETE promoted HUVEC angiogenesis, which were mediated by ERK. Moreover, 15-HETE-induced proliferation and cell cycle transition from the G₀/G₁ phase to the G₂/M?+?S phase. All these effects were reversed after blocking ERK with PD98059 (an ERK inhibitor). In addition, HUVEC apoptosis was relieved by 15-HETE through the ERK pathway. Thus, ERK is necessary for the effects of 15-HETE in the regulation of HUVEC angiogenesis, which may be a novel potential target for the treatment of angiogenesis-related diseases.     

Intracellular proteolytic activity of cathepsin B is associated with capillary-like tube formation by endothelial cells in vitro

The lysosomal cysteine protease cathepsin B is implicated in degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM), a crucial step in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, including tumor dissemination and angiogenesis. In this study, we analyzed the contribution of extracellular and intracellular cathepsin B activity on the formation of capillary-like tubular structures by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) grown on Matrigel matrix, using general and specific cysteine protease inhibitors. We demonstrated, by confocal assay using quenched fluorescent protein substrate DQ-collagen IV, that endothelial cells degrade ECM both intracellularly and pericellularly. Intracellular cathepsin B activity detected by degradation of Z-Arg-Arg cresyl violet substrate was co-localized with the products of DQ-collagen IV degradation in the perinuclear region and in the capillary-like tubular structures. Treatment of cells with membrane-permeable CA-074 Me effectively abolished intracellular cathepsin B activity, and resulted in reduced tube length (32.3+/-9.4% at 10 microM), total tubule area (49.6+/-12.4% at 10 microM), and the number of branch points of tubules (47.5+/-7.7% at 10 microM) in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, CA-074 (0.1-10 microM), a membrane-impermeable cathepsin B specific inhibitor, general cysteine protease inhibitors chicken cystatin (5 microM) and E-64 (10 microM), and the metalloprotease inhibitor Minocycline (10 microM) showed no significant inhibitory effect in our angiogenesis model. These results show that, besides multiple regulatory molecules, intracellular cathepsin B also contributes to the neovascularization process and should be considered as a potential therapeutic target.     

腺苷对人脐静脉内皮细胞三维管状结构形成的影响

目的:探讨腺苷对脐静脉内皮细胞(human umbilical vein endothelial cells,HUVEC)三维管状结构形成的影响.方法:建立上、下两层内皮细胞,中间为胶原凝胶的三维培养方式.设对照和试验各3孔.对照孔不加腺苷,实验孔内加入10-4mol/L腺苷.观察并记录特定视野下芽生的管状结构数目.结果:HUVEC可以在Ⅰ型胶原凝胶中形成三维网状结构,腺苷实验组细胞生长快,出芽快,管状结构粗大,甚可形成贯穿胶原的三维网状结构.血管芽生数与对照组比较在24 h、48 h、72 h、96 h均有统计学差异(P＜0.05或P＜0.01).结论:腺苷对HUVEC三维网状结构的形成有促进作用.     

人血小板源性生长因子受体β启动子的结构与功能分析

通过PCR扩增人血小板源性生长因子受体β(PDGFR-β)基因启动子片段,经双酶切后克隆到pGL3-basic载体构建了5个PDGFR-β基因启动子5′系列缺失重组载体,与作为内参的pRL-TK共转染人脐静脉内皮细胞(ECV304,HUVEC)后,通过荧光素酶活性检测鉴定出人PDGFR-β启动子中具有转录调控作用的2个活性区(-983～+53)和(+540～+1457),前者执行正调控,后者则起负调控作用.这2个转录活性区分别含有在人、大鼠、小鼠PDGFR-β基因启动子区都高度保守的区域A-box、B-box和C-box,凝胶迁移或电泳迁移率检测(EMSA)证实,核因子能与B-box*、C-box*特异结合.     

Differential effects of cyclic stretch on bFGF‐ and VEGF‐induced sprouting angiogenesis

How mechanical factors affect angiogenesis and how they and chemical angiogenic factors work in concert remain not yet well‐understood. This study investigated the interactive effects of cyclic uniaxial stretch and two potent proangiogenic molecules [basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)] on angiogenesis using a stretchable three‐dimensional (3‐D) cell culture model. Endothelial cells seeded atop a 3‐D collagen gel underwent sprouting angiogenesis while being subjected to either 10 or 20% cyclic uniaxial stretch at a frequency of either 1/12 or 1 Hz, in conjunction with an elevated concentration of bFGF or VEGF. Without the presence of additional growth factors, 10 and 20% stretch at 1 Hz induced angiogenesis and the perpendicular alignment of new sprouts, and both inductive effects were abolished by cytochalasin D (an actin polymerization inhibitor). While “10% stretch at 1 Hz,” “20% stretch at 1 Hz,” bFGF, and VEGF were strong angiogenesis stimulants individually, only the combination of “20% stretch at 1 Hz” and bFGF had an additive effect on inducing new sprouts. Interestingly, the combination of “20% stretch at a lower frequency (1/12 Hz)” and bFGF decreased sprouting angiogenesis, even though the level of perpendicular alignment of new sprouts was the same for both stretch frequencies. Taken together, these results demonstrate that both stretch frequency and magnitude, along with interactions with various growth factors, are essential in mediating formation of endothelial sprouts and vascular patterning. Furthermore, work in this area is warranted to elucidate synergistic or competitive signaling mechanisms. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 30:879–888, 2014     

重组福安泰-03抑制人脐静脉血管内皮细胞的迁移和增殖

研究重组福安泰-03(recombinant Fuantai-03,rFAT-03)对人脐静脉血管内皮细胞(human umbilical vein endothelial cells,HUVECs)迁移和增殖的影响.聚碳酸酯膜小室趋化运动模型(transwell model)检测rFAT-03对HUVECs迁移能力的影响;MTT法检测rFAT-03对HUVECs和多种人癌细胞生长的影响;荧光显微镜观察rFAT-03作用下HUVECs的形态变化;膜联蛋白V-异硫氰酸荧光素(annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate,annexinV-FITC)双染检测rFAT-03对HUVECs早期凋亡的影响;流式细胞术分析rFAT-03对HUVECs周期及凋亡的影响;Western印迹检查rFAT-03对HUVECs血管内皮细胞生长因子(VEGF)、Bax和Bcl-2表达的影响.结果显示,rFAT-03明显抑制HUVECs细胞的迁移和增殖,其抑制效果与剂量和作用时间相关.0.20mg/mL恩度(endostar),0.10、0.20mg/mLrFAT-03作用HUVECs24h,对细胞迁移的抑制率分别为32.0%、32.6%、57.1%(P0.01).0.20mg/mL恩度,0.05、0.10、0.20mg/mLrFAT-03作用HUVECs72h,其对细胞生长的抑制率分别为40.9%、63.7%、69.3%、87.0%.但rFAT-03对多种人癌细胞株的生长却无明显影响.rFAT-03处理HUVECs24h,细胞的早期凋亡率增加(P0.05).rFAT-03阻滞HUVECs于G0/G1期,并呈现典型的凋亡峰.终浓度为0.05、0.10、0.20mg/mLrFAT-03作用于HUVECs24h,G0/G1期细胞指数分别为63.4%、67.5%和75.7%(对照组为62.1%),凋亡指数分别为4.2%、8.5%和10.3%.rFAT-03下调HUVECs的VEGF和抑调亡基因Bcl-2的表达,上调促凋亡基因Bax的表达,其效果与剂量相关.结果提示,rFAT-03明显抑制HUVECs细胞的迁移和增殖,诱导其凋亡,它的这些作用与其下调VEGF、Bcl-2表达,上调Bax表达密切相关.     

Diarsenic and tetraarsenic oxide inhibit cell cycle progression and bFGF- and VEGF-induced proliferation of human endothelial cells

Arsenic trioxide (As2O3, diarsenic oxide) has recently been reported to induce apoptosis and inhibit the proliferation of various human cancer cells derived from solid tumors as well as hematopoietic malignancies. In this study, the in vitro effects of As2O3 and tetraasrsenic oxide (As4O6) on cell cycle regulation and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)- or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-stimulated cell proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were investigated. Significant dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation was observed when HUVEC were treated with either arsenical compound for 48 h, and flow cytometric analysis revealed that these two arsenical compounds induced cell cycle arrest at the G1 and G2/M phases--the increases in cell population at the G1 and G2/M phase were dominantly observed in As2O3- and As4O6-treated cells, respectively. In both arsenical compounds-treated cells, the protein levels of cyclin A and CDC25C were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner, concomitant to the reduced activities of CDK2- and CDC2-associated kinase. In G1-synchronized HUVEC, the arsenical compounds prevented the cell cycle progression from G1 to S phase, which was stimulated by bFGF or VEGF, through the inhibition of growth factor-dependent signaling. These results suggest that arsenical compounds inhibit the proliferation of HUVEC via G1 and G2/M phase arrest of the cell cycle. In addition, these inhibitory effects on bFGF- or VEGF-stimulated cell proliferation suggest antiangiogenic potential of these arsenical compounds.     

PEG-PEI共聚物介导VEGF165基因转染及对内皮细胞生长的影响

为了考察PEG-PEI共聚物作为基因载体介导VEGF165基因的能力,合成不同接枝量的PEG-PEI共聚物,考察共聚物的细胞毒性,同时采用PCR技术获得上下游含有HindⅢ和BamHⅠ酶切位点的目的基因VEGF165,与pEGFP-C1构建重组质粒pEGFP-VEGF165,将PEG-PEI作为基因载体,与pEGFP-VEGF165通过自组装成DNA复合物,使其转染脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVEc),测定发荧光细胞百分数获得转染率,利用ELISA、RT-PCR检测VEGF的表达,用MTT法考察VEGF165转染HUVEc后对内皮细胞生长的影响.结果显示,形成PEG-PEI共聚物后可显著降低PEI的细胞毒性.作为基因载体介导pEGFP-VEGF165转染HUVEc后,在荧光显微镜下可见强绿色荧光蛋白表达,转染率与接枝PEG的量及N/P有关,PEG-PEI(5-25-1)在N/P=30时转染率达到最大值,比PEI显著提高.转染后血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)蛋白表达及mRNA水平均有显著提高,且可有效地刺激内皮细胞增殖.研究表明,PEG-PEI共聚物可做为基因载体,有效地介导pEGFP-VEGF165基因的传递.     

Purpurin inhibits adipocyte-derived leucine aminopeptidase and angiogenesis in a zebrafish model

Adipocyte-derived leucine aminopeptidase (A-LAP) is a novel member of the M1 family of zinc metallopeptidases, which has been reported to play a crucial role in angiogenesis. In the present study, we conducted a target-based screening of natural products and synthetic chemical libraries using the purified enzyme to search novel inhibitors of A-LAP. Amongst several hits isolated, a natural product purpurin was identified as one of the most potent inhibitors of A-LAP from the screening. In vitro enzymatic analyses demonstrated that purpurin inhibited A-LAP activity in a non-competitive manner with a K_i value of 20 M. In addition, purpurin showed a strong selectivity toward A-LAP versus another member of M1 family of zinc metallopeptidase, aminopeptidase N (APN). In angiogenesis assays, purpurin inhibited the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced invasion and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Moreover, purpurin inhibited in vivo angiogenesis in zebrafish embryo without toxicity. These data demonstrate that purpurin is a novel specific inhibitor of A-LAP and could be developed as a new anti-angiogenic agent.     

Mammalian sprouty-1 and -2 are membrane-anchored phosphoprotein inhibitors of growth factor signaling in endothelial cells

Growth factor-induced signaling by receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) plays a central role in embryonic development and in pathogenesis and, hence, is tightly controlled by several regulatory proteins. Recently, Sprouty, an inhibitor of Drosophila development-associated RTK signaling, has been discovered. Subsequently, four mammalian Sprouty homologues (Spry-1-4) have been identified. Here, we report the functional characterization of two of them, Spry-1 and -2, in endothelial cells. Overexpressed Spry-1 and -2 inhibit fibroblast growth factor- and vascular endothelial growth factor-induced proliferation and differentiation by repressing pathways leading to p42/44 mitogen-activating protein (MAP) kinase activation. In contrast, although epidermal growth factor-induced proliferation of endothelial cells was also inhibited by Spry-1 and -2, activation of p42/44 MAP kinase was not affected. Biochemical and immunofluorescence analysis of endogenous and overexpressed Spry-1 and -2 reveal that both Spry-1 and -2 are anchored to membranes by palmitoylation and associate with caveolin-1 in perinuclear and vesicular structures. They are phosphorylated on serine residues and, upon growth factor stimulation, a subset is recruited to the leading edge of the plasma membrane. The data indicate that mammalian Spry-1 and -2 are membrane-anchored proteins that negatively regulate angiogenesis-associated RTK signaling, possibly in a RTK-specific fashion.     

A fusion protein composed of receptor binding domain of vascular endothelial growth factor-A and constant region fragment of antibody: angiogenesis antagonistic activity

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promotes the growth of solid tumor mainly via VEGF receptor-1 and receptor-2, which are expressed preferentially in proliferating endothelial cells. Therefore, a strategy for simultaneous blockage of both VEGF receptors may have a useful therapeutic effect in tumor growth. In this study, we utilized a fusion protein which is composed of receptor binding domain of VEGF-A (RBDV) and the constant region fragment (Fc) of a human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1), to interfere with the growth of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) via VEGF receptors. The results showed that RBDV-IgG1 Fc was able to bind with both VEGF receptor-1 and receptor-2. In addition, RBDV-IgG1 Fc could decrease VEGF-induced proliferation and tube formation among HUVECs. Moreover, the cytotoxic test showed RBDV-IgG1 Fc could also enhance the cytotoxic activity of human natural killing cells. The data are suggesting that the fusion protein, RBDV-IgG1 Fc, may have potential as an angiogenesis antagonist for future tumor therapy.     

Comparison of two in vitro angiogenesis assays for evaluating the effects of netrin-1 on tube formation

Netrin-1 is a neural guidance cue that also regulates vascu- lar development. Controversial results, however, have been obtained concerning the roles of netrin-1 in vascular devel- opment both in vivo and in vitro. In the present study, two in vitro angiogenesis assays were compared to evaluate the effects of netrin-1 secreted by retrovirally transduced mel- anoma cells （Mel2a-netrinl） on tube formation. The results showed that there was no obvious difference in tube forma- tion induced by conditioned media （CM） from the control, Mel2a-netrinl and Mel2a cells in a matrigel assay. The results of another in vitro assay, in which endothelial cells were co-cultured with human fibroblasts, however, showed that Mel2a-netrinl CM inhibited the tube formation, sup- posedly through blocking the elongation and coalescence of human umbilical vein endothelial cells （HUVECs）. These results confirmed that the matrigel assay is not able to demonstrate the anti-angiogenic roles of netrin-1.     

Long-term serial cultivation and growth requirements for human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Summary Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUV-EC) grew rapidly in vitro in medium supplemented with epidermal growth factor, fetal bovine serum (FBS) and human diploid fibroblast-conditioned medium. The effect of FBS could be replaced partially by bovine serum albumin, cholesterol, and vitamin E, and completely by further addition of serum dialysate or refeeding every other day. Among these components, fibroblast-conditioned medium is essential for HUV-EC growth. The HUV-EC were cultured serially for over 50 population doublings in the 10% FBS containing fibroblast-conditioned medium and for over 40 population doublings in the serum-free medium. Mitogenic factor(s) present in the medium conditioned by fibroblasts may be related to endothelial cell growth factor and play an important role angiogenesis and regeneration of vascular endothelium in vitro.