人IL-35单克隆抗体制备及其在定量ELISA检测方法中的应用

为了建立人白细胞介素-35 (IL-35)的定量ELISA检测方法,RT-PCR克隆了人IL-35的IL-27EBI3亚基和IL-12p35亚基的编码基因,在大肠杆菌中实现了2个亚基的高效表达。以大肠杆菌表达的IL-27EBI3和IL-12p35重组蛋白作为免疫原,免疫BaLb/c小鼠,选取阳性血清小鼠的脾细胞与小鼠骨髓瘤SP2/0细胞融合,用间接ELISA和有限稀释法进行单克隆杂交瘤细胞的筛选和克隆,获得了稳定分泌抗IL-27EBI3和抗IL-12p35单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株。在效价测定和特异性鉴定的基础上,进一步筛选出一株能稳定分泌抗IL-27EBI3单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株3B11和一株能稳定分泌抗IL-12p35单克隆抗体杂交瘤细胞株3A10,亚类鉴定两株单抗均为IgG1。应用单抗3B11和3A10建立了IL-35双抗夹心定量ELISA检测方法,借助生物素-亲和素放大效应,该方法检测IL-35线性范围为3.12–200pg/mL,最低检测限为1.26pg/mL,与多种其他抗原的交叉反应率为0.1%,批内相对标准偏差(RSD)为5.1%–5.6%,批间RSD为5.6%–7.2%,添加回收率为89%–103%,达到定量分析的要求,为进一步组装IL-35定量ELISA检测试剂盒打下了基础。     

布鲁菌bp26基因的原核表达及间接ELISA方法的临床初步应用

构建诊断人布病的优势抗原BP26原核表达载体,并建立以该蛋白作为包被抗原的间接ELISA方法。人工合成bp26基因片段,构建原核表达载体pET30a-bp26,并转化入大肠埃希菌BL21(DE3)中,IPTG诱导表达,Ni柱亲和纯化BP26重组蛋白,间接ELISA检测其抗原活性,并优化间接ELISA方法的各个参数,检测临床大量样本,对该方法性能进行评价。PCR鉴定及DNA测序证实pET30a-bp26重组质粒构建成功,并在0.8 mmol/L IPTG 20 ℃过夜诱导的条件下大量表达,经亲和纯化获得高纯度的可溶性BP26重组蛋白,间接ELISA结果显示该重组蛋白具有抗原活性,优化参数后,该方法的敏感度为70.00%,特异性为94.74%。成功获得高抗原活性的原核表达可溶性BP26重组蛋白,并建立用于临床特异性诊断人类布病的间接ELISA方法。     

电转染哺乳类动物细胞DG44-CHO的方法探讨

目的：建立并验证DG44-CHO细胞快速、无血清培养体系的转染方法。方法：将绿色荧光蛋白表达质粒pEGFP-N1电转入DG44-CHO细胞,用流式细胞仪检测绿色荧光蛋白的表达量;将不同重组蛋白表达质粒C1—28／GL1／pCMV163、C1-28／GL2／pCMV163和TmHL／pCMV163分别电转入DGd4-CHO细胞,ELISA检测其培养上清中相应重组蛋白的表达。结果：280V电压电击20ms、质粒用量为20pg时,转染细胞中绿色荧光蛋白的表达量最高;同样在该条件下,培养上清中重组蛋白浓度最高。结论：上述电转染条件具有一定的适用性。     

基于磁性纳米微球的Gamma干扰素酶联免疫检测方法建立

目的：建立及评价使用磁性纳米微球作为固相载体的人酌干扰素（Interferon-gamma,IFN-gamma）双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附实验 （Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA）检测方法。方法：以杂化细乳液合成法制备磁性纳米微球,将其作为免疫检测的固相 载体。将磁性微球与IFN-酌抗体进行偶联,建立基于磁性微球的ELISA 检测方法,检测人IFN-gamma,绘制IFN-gamma标准曲线并进行方法 学评价。结果：获得包被有人IFN-gamma抗体的免疫微球, 抗体偶联率为54.5 %。用它建立IFN-gamma的双抗体夹心的ELISA 检测方法,检 测范围为0-1000 pg/mL,相关系数为0.9996,灵敏度23.2 pg/mL,功能灵敏度0 pg/mL,批内和批间变异系数（Coefficients of Variance,CVs）＜8 %,检测总共需要2 小时。结论：成功制备了IFN-酌免疫微球并建立了定量检测人IFN-gamma的双抗体夹心磁珠 酶联免疫方法。     

中华鲟Vtg间接竞争ELISA检测方法的建立和应用

卵黄蛋白原(Vitellogenin, Vtg)被认为是一种理想的雌激素和类雌激素标志物, 通过建立一种中华鲟Acipenser sinensis血浆Vtg水平的检测方法, 进而开发一项中华鲟性腺成熟度的诊断技术。首先通过RACE-PCR方法扩增得到中华鲟vtg基因cDNA序列, 氨基酸序列分析预测其蛋白分子量大小为196 kD。构建Vtg功能区段融合原核表达载体pET32a(+)-vtg并表达纯化重组蛋白, 并以重组蛋白免疫兔子获得多克隆抗血清, Western blotting检测显示抗血清的特异性较好。以纯化的中华鲟重组Vtg蛋白为抗原, 中华鲟Vtg多克隆抗血清为抗体, 建立了中华鲟血浆Vtg的间接竞争酶联免疫检测方法(ELISA), 标准曲线线性回归方程为y= –0.2916x+0.6794, 相关系数R2为0.9976。该方法检测的灵敏度为4.12 μg/mL, 最低检测限为0.3 μg/mL, 批内和批间变异系数分别为2.52%和3.42%。通过对不同发育时期雌性中华鲟血样检测, 表明此ELISA方法可初步用于雌性中华鲟性腺发育时期监测。     

单纯疱疹病毒1型囊膜糖蛋白gD在大肠杆菌中的表达、纯化及其免疫活性的鉴定

目的:在大肠杆菌中表达1型单纯疱疹病毒(HSV-1)囊膜糖蛋白gD,纯化重组蛋白并对其免疫活性进行鉴定。方法:将HSV-1 gD 基因克隆入原核表达载体pET-28b,利用异丙基-B-D-硫代吡喃半乳糖苷(IPTG)诱导重组质粒转化的大肠杆菌,探讨IPTG浓度、诱导时间、诱导温度对重组蛋白表达的影响;盐酸胍裂解变性包涵体,镍柱亲和层析法纯化gD蛋白,并对纯化后的蛋白进行透析复性;Western blot和ELISA检测gD蛋白的免疫活性。结果:酶切和测序结果表明gD基因克隆入pET-28b载体。该重组质粒转化的大肠杆菌经IPTG诱导后重组蛋白主要以包涵体形式存在,大小约40kDa。gD蛋白诱导表达的最佳条件为0.5mmol/L IPTG于37℃诱导8h。镍柱亲和层析法纯化获得的gD蛋白总量为3.1mg/L,透析复性后获得的gD蛋白总量为1.3mg/L,复性率为41.37%。Western blot及ELISA检测表明表达的gD蛋白具有免疫活性。结论:在大肠杆菌中表达并纯化获得具有免疫活性的HSV-1 gD蛋白,为进一步制备HSV-1诊断试剂和预防疫苗奠定了基础。     

Ⅰ型前胶原氨基端肽化学发光免疫分析检测方法的建立及评价

为了建立定量检测人血清中Ⅰ型前胶原氨基端肽 (Type Ⅰ procollagen N-terminal peptide,PINP) 的化学发光免疫分析检测方法,首先在谷氨酸棒状杆菌中分泌表达了PINP-α1链重组蛋白,以其为免疫原制备单抗,获得了2B10、8C12和1F11共3株可稳定分泌抗PINP-α1链的单抗杂交瘤细胞株。进一步配对筛选后,以单抗8C12偶联生物素作为捕获抗体,单抗1F11标记辣根过氧化物酶作为检测抗体,二者与样本中的PINP结合形成夹心复合物,再与包被有链霉亲和素的磁微粒形成完整的检测系统,从而定量检测人血清中PINP的浓度。对该方法进行条件优化后,确定捕获抗体、检测抗体的最佳工作浓度均为3 μg/mL,孵育时间为30 min;本方法的最低检测限为1.22 ng/mL,批内、批间的变异系数均在10%以内,线性范围为5–1 100 ng/mL,回收率在93%–107%之间。通过对160份临床样本进行检测,本方法检测结果与罗氏诊断试剂盒检测结果的相关系数R2为0.906 2。开发的磁微粒化学发光免疫分析检测方法可定量检测人血清中PINP的含量,有望成为骨骼疾病检查的辅助手段。     

定量检测囊性纤维化跨膜传导调节因子BA-ELISA方法的建立与评价

目的:建立一种定量检测囊性纤维化跨膜传导调节因子(CFTR)的生物素-亲和素ELISA(BA-ELISA)方法并评价其可靠性。方法:优选设计CFTR三个表位的大肠杆菌表达抗原,免疫新西兰白兔获得CFTR多克隆抗体,用纯化后的抗体包被酶标板,并用生物素对其标记,从人精子提取CFTR作为抗原,用辣根过氧化物酶偶联的亲和素检测,优化两种抗体浓度及实验参数,建立可定量检测CFTR蛋白的双抗体夹心BA-ELISA方法;用临床精子标本评估所建立方法的重复性、特异性等。结果:CFTR包被抗体和生物素化CFTR抗体最适浓度分别为4μg/ml和10μg/ml,最佳封闭液为1%BSA-PBST,抗原与包被抗体最佳反应时间60 min,底物显色最佳时间15 min。批内、批间变异系数分别为2.16%~9.23%和2.29%~11.71%,包被的CFTR抗体与精子胞浆蛋白无交叉反应,最低检出下限为0.15 ng/ml,标准反应曲线具有良好的线性关系R2=0.962。结论:成功创建了定量检测CFTR蛋白的ELISA方法,具有特异性强、灵敏度高等特点。     

定量检测 IL-2-HSA 融合蛋白双抗体夹心 ELISA 法的建立

目的:通过抗体配对方法,建立能高特异、高灵敏地定量检测食蟹猴体内 IL-2-HSA 融合蛋白浓度的双抗体夹心 ELISA 法.方法:以 IL-2单克隆抗体为包被抗体、IL-2-HSA 融合蛋白为夹心抗、生物素标记的 HSA 为检测抗体,一抗和二抗的工作浓度分别为8μg/mL 和1∶5000,HRP 标记的亲和素为1∶200.结果:IL-2-HSA 融合蛋白标准品的曲线范围为3.9~250 ng/mL,最低检测限为3.9 ng/mL,与 IL-2、HSA、GLP-1/HSA 和 CD20单抗均无交叉反应,方法的回收率为98.9%~101.5%,批内和批间准确度分别为96.1%~98.3%和93.9%~105.4%.结论:本方法符合新生物制品临床前药代动力学研究指导则的要求,可用 IL-2-HSA 融合蛋白在临床前药代动力学试验的定量检测.     

猪嵴病毒结构蛋白VP0与VP1原核表达及间接ELISA方法的建立

分别建立基于猪嵴病毒(PKV)结构蛋白VP0与VP1的间接ELISA检测方法。对PKV结构蛋白VP0与VP1的基因进行合成并连接至原核表达载体pET-32a后,转入感受态细胞BL21中,用IPTG诱导表达的重组蛋白经Ni柱纯化后,分别以重组蛋白pET-32a-VP0与pET-32a-VP1作为包被抗原,采用棋盘滴定法建立两种间接ELISA检测方法,并进行重复性、敏感性、特异性实验和临床检测。结果显示重组蛋白pET-32a-VP0与pET-32a-VP1抗原的最佳包被浓度分别为2 mg/mL和2.5 mg/mL,反应条件均为37℃、1 h;封闭液最佳条件为5%脱脂乳,37℃、2 h;血清最佳孵育条件为1∶200,37℃、1 h;二抗最佳孵育条件分别为1∶20 000和1∶15 000,37℃、1 h;最佳显色时间为10 min,两种间接ELISA检测方法临界值分别为0.306和0.277。试验结果表明本研究成功建立了能够有效检测PKV血清特异性抗体的间接ELISA方法,且方法具有重复性好、敏感性高、特异性强、稳定性好等特点,对今后PKV的临床诊断及抗体检测试剂盒的开发奠定了重要基础。     

Angiogenic factors in women ten years after severe very early onset preeclampsia

Background

Women with a history of mainly severe and early onset preeclampsia have an increased risk of future cardiovascular disease. During these complicated pregnancies increased levels of anti-angiogenic factors can be found. We hypothesize that women with a history of severe very early onset preeclampsia still have increased levels of these biomarkers years after this pregnancy, resulting in increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

Methods

Twenty women with severe early onset preeclampsia before 24 weeks'' gestation, who delivered between 1993–2003 in a tertiary referral centre and twenty matched controls with uncomplicated pregnancies and healthy term infants, were addressed for participation in the study. Venous plasma samples were analyzed for basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), placental growth factor (PLGF), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), E- and P-selectin, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-3 (sICAM-3) and thrombomodulin by ELISA.

Results

Sixteen case subjects and 18 control subjects consented participation. The median time interval index pregnancy to study was 9.4 and 9.7 years for cases and controls, respectively. Median levels for cases-controls (p-value) were not different; bFGF: 17.43–11.11 pg/mL (0.33), sFlt-1: 102.98–101.92 pg/ml (0.84), PLGF: 3.57–4.20 pg/mL (0.38), VEGF: 64.05–45.72 pg/mL (0.73), E-selectin: 5.11–4.68 ng/mL (0.20), P-selectin: 85.35–71.69 ng/mL (0.69), sICAM-3: 0.42–0.63 ng/mL (0.41) and Thrombomodulin: 0.92–0.93 ng/mL (0.59).

Conclusion

There were no differences in angiogenic biomarkers between women with a history of severe early onset preeclampsia versus uncomplicated pregnancy almost 10 years later, suggesting that these angiogenic factors will not contribute to the early detection of women at risk for future cardiovascular disease.     

Helper-dependent adenovirus for the gene therapy of proliferative retinopathies: stable gene transfer, regulated gene expression and therapeutic efficacy

BACKGROUND: Ocular neovascular disorders, such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, are the principal causes of blindness in developed countries. Current treatments are of limited efficacy, whereas a therapy based on intraocular gene transfer of angiostatic factors represents a promising alternative. For the first time we have explored the potential of helper-dependent adenovirus (HD-Ad), the last generation of Ad vectors, in the therapy of retinal neovascularization. METHODS: We first analyzed efficiency and stability of intraretinal gene transfer following intravitreous injection in mice. A HD-Ad vector expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter (HD-Ad/GFP) was compared with a first-generation (E1/E3-deleted) Ad vector carrying an identical GFP expression cassette (FG-Ad/GFP). We also constructed HD-Ad vectors expressing a soluble form of the VEGF receptor (sFlt-1) in a constitutive (HD-Ad/sFlt-1) or doxycycline (dox)-inducible (HD-Ad/S-M2/sFlt-1) manner and tested their therapeutic efficacy upon intravitreous delivery in a rat model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). RESULTS: HD-Ad/GFP promoted long-lasting (up to 1 year) transgene expression in retinal Müller cells, in marked contrast with the short-term expression observed with FG-Ad/GFP. Intravitreous injection of HD-Ad vectors expressing sFlt-1 resulted in detectable levels of sFlt-1 and inhibited retinal neovascularization by more than 60% in a rat model of OIR. Notably, the therapeutic efficacy of the inducible vector HD-Ad/S-M2/sFlt-1 was strictly dox-dependent. CONCLUSIONS: HD-Ad vectors enable stable gene transfer and regulated expression of angiostatic factors following intravitreous injection and thus are attractive vehicles for the gene therapy of neovascular diseases of the retina.     

Quantification of Escherichia coli genomic DNA contamination in recombinant protein preparations by polymerase chain reaction and affinity-based collection

This study describes the development of a novel assay for the quantification of Escherichia coli genomic DNA contamination in recombinant protein samples. The technique is based on PCR amplification and digoxygenin labeling of the genes encoding 5S ribosomal RNA followed by affinity-based collection and detection. Samples containing 1 pg x mL(-1) of extracted E. coli genomic DNA (gDNA) could be measured using this method. Using extracted E. coli gDNA as standards, a 35-cycle PCR reaction exhibited a linear response versus template concentration between 1 pg x mL(-1) and1 ng x mL(-1) genomic DNA even when diluted in a variety of buffering conditions. Comparison of the novel assay with a traditional filter binding and hybridization technique using recombinant protein samples confirmed that the procedure was accurate and sensitive. The assay described in this report is a safer and less expensive alternative to radioactive techniques employed for DNA quantification, utilizing readily available reagents and apparatus.     

Monoclonal antibody selection for interleukin-4 quantification using suspension arrays and forward-phase protein microarrays

A recombinant mouse interleukin-4 (IL-4) and three different purified rat antimouse IL-4 monoclonal antibodies (Mab) with different clonalities were employed as a model system. This system was used to examine monoclonal antibody effectiveness using both conventional and high-throughput measurement techniques to select antibodies for attaining the most sensitive detection of the recombinant IL-4 through the "sandwich-type" immunoassays. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measurements and two high-throughput methods, suspension arrays (also called multiplexed bead arrays) and forward-phase protein microarrays, predicted the same capture (BVD4-1D11) and detection (BVD6-24G2) antibody pair for the most sensitive detection of the recombinant cytokine. By using this antibody pair, we were able to detect as low as 2 pg/mL of IL-4 in buffer solution and 13.5 pg/mL of IL-4 spiked in 100% normal mouse serum with the multiplexed bead arrays. Due to the large amount of material required for SPR measurements, the study suggests that the multiplexed bead arrays and protein microarrays are both suited for the selection of numerous antibodies against the same analyte of interest to meet the need in the areas of systems biology and reproducible clinical diagnostics for better patient care.     

Microarray of recombinant antibodies using a streptavidin sensor surface self-assembled onto a gold layer

We have developed a sensitive method for the detection of recombinant antibody-antigen interactions in a microarray format. The biochip sensor platform used in this study is based on an oriented streptavidin monolayer that provides a biological interface with well-defined surface architecture that dramatically reduces nonspecific binding interactions. All the antibody or antigen probes were biotinylated and coupled onto streptavidin-coated biochip surfaces (1 microL total volume). The detection limits for the immobilized probes on the microarray surface were 0.5 microgram/mL (200 fmol/spot) for the peptide antigen and 0.1 microgram/mL (3 fmol/spot) for the recombinant antibodies. Optimal concentrations for the detection of the Cy5-labeled protein target were in the range of 20 micrograms/mL. Protein microchips were used to measure antibody-antigen kinetics, to find optimal temperature conditions, and to establish the shelf life of recombinant antibodies immobilized on the streptavidin surface. For recombinant antibody fragments with a kDa of 10-100 nM, we have established an easy and direct immunoassay. In addition, we developed an indirect method for antibody detection with no need for expensive and time-consuming antibody purifications and modifications. Such a method was shown to be useful for large-scale screening of recombinant antibody fragments directly after their functional expression in bacteria. Our data demonstrate that recombinant antibody fragments are suitable components in the construction of antibody chips.     

猪细小病毒VP2蛋白主要抗原域间接ELISA方法的建立及初步应用

将已获得的含猪细小病毒VP2蛋白主要抗原域编码基因VP2I重组酵母菌株在优化的条件下进行诱导表达,表达产物蛋白含量达227.6μg/mL,在此基础上以重组蛋白作为包被抗原初步建立了检测猪细小病毒抗体水平的间接ELISA方法,并对该方法进行了优化,结果表明抗原最佳包被浓度5.69μg/mL,而血清最佳稀释倍数为1:80。阳性标准初步定为：OD待测样品＞0.5,且OD待测样品/OD阴性血清＞2.0。采用iVP2I-ELISA对猪血清样品进行检测,结果显示iVP2I-ELISA与HI试验的符合率为97.2%,与国外同类试剂盒的符合率达到91.2%。     

An electrochemical immunosensor to minimize the nonspecific adsorption and to improve sensitivity of protein assays in human serum

An electrochemical immunoassay which minimizes nonspecific protein adsorption and improves detection sensitivity of proteomic cancer biomarker is described. Our technique comprises two novel features: (i) a high density terminally functionalized poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) 'brush' layer is grown by surface initiated reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization method from the electrode surface in order to minimize nonspecific adsorption of serum proteins and other biomolecules, and (ii) a signal amplifying 'bionanoconjugate' comprised of graphene oxide nanosheets decorated with CdSe quantum dots and recombinant single-chain variable fragments towards MSLN, is used to 'physically' amplify the anodic stripping voltammetric signal. This method enabled a detection limit of ca. 1pg/mL MSLN (RSD=4.6%, n=4) spiked in serum samples. Because of the simple, specific and sensitive nature of this methodology, we feel that it may find potential use in serum-based protein diagnostics.     

Chemiluminescence sandwich enzyme immunoassay for determination of human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)

A chemiluminescence sandwich enzyme immunoassay, using a glucose oxidase (GO) label, was developed for detecting attomole amounts of human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). Purified goat F(ab′)₂ immobilized on a bead and purified goat Fab′ labelled with GO were selected in combination with a chemiluminescent detection system comprising luminol and ferricyanide. The detection limits for G-CSF were 4amol/assay (1 pg/mL) in buffer solution and 10 amol/assay (2.5 pg/mL) in human serum. Coefficients of variation within assay and between assay ranged from 5.5% to 7.8% and from 3.4% to 16.0%, respectively. The G-CSF content of serum from normal healthy individuals was measurable using this method. G-CSF in 24 normal human sera showed a mean value of 19.3 pg/mL and ranged from 3.6 to 83.0 pg/mL.     

Simultaneous determination of global DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation levels by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Methylation of DNA at the 5-position of cytosine (Cyt) is a well-studied epigenetic pathway implicated in gene silencing and embryogenesis. Recently, in addition to 5-methylcytosine (5mC), substantial amounts of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) have been detected in certain mammalian tissues. Here, we developed and validated a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous determination of Cyt, 5mC, and 5hmC levels in biological samples. DNA was extracted with phenol-chloroform, hydrolyzed using 88% formic acid at 140 °C, separated using a bridged ethylene hybrid HILIC column, and analyzed by tandem MS. The linearity was established over the concentration range of 1 to 500 ng/mL for Cyt, 0.2 to 100 ng/mL for 5mC, and 0.1 to 50 ng/mL for 5hmC, and the correlation coefficients were all >0.99. Limits of detection were 1 pg/mL for Cyt, 45 pg/mL for 5mC, and 57 pg/mL for 5hmC, and the limit of quantification values for Cyt, 5mC, and 5hmC were 2 pg/mL, 90 pg/mL, and 100 pg/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the intraday precision ranged from 1.87% to 4.84% and the interday precision from 2.69% to 4.98%. The recovery of the method varied from 88.25% to 104.39%. The method was then applied to the analysis of DNA from biological samples, establishing its potential for helping researchers understand the roles of modified nucleobases in DNA.     

A biphasic endothelial stress-survival mechanism regulates the cellular response to vascular endothelial growth factor A

Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) is an essential cytokine that regulates endothelial function and angiogenesis. VEGF-A binding to endothelial receptor tyrosine kinases such as VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 triggers cellular responses including survival, proliferation and new blood vessel sprouting. Increased levels of a soluble VEGFR1 splice variant (sFlt-1) correlate with endothelial dysfunction in pathologies such as pre-eclampsia; however the cellular mechanism(s) underlying the regulation and function of sFlt-1 are unclear. Here, we demonstrate the existence of a biphasic stress response in endothelial cells, using serum deprivation as a model of endothelial dysfunction. The early phase is characterized by a high VEGFR2:sFlt-1 ratio, which is reversed in the late phase. A functional consequence is a short-term increase in VEGF-A-stimulated intracellular signaling. In the late phase, sFlt-1 is secreted and deposited at the extracellular matrix. We hypothesized that under stress, increased endothelial sFlt-1 levels reduce VEGF-A bioavailability: VEGF-A treatment induces sFlt-1 expression at the cell surface and VEGF-A silencing inhibits sFlt-1 anchorage to the extracellular matrix. Treatment with recombinant sFlt-1 inhibits VEGF-A-stimulated in vitro angiogenesis and sFlt-1 silencing enhances this process. In this response, increased VEGFR2 levels are regulated by the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase and PKB/Akt signaling pathways and increased sFlt-1 levels by the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. We conclude that during serum withdrawal, cellular sensing of environmental stress modulates sFlt-1 and VEGFR2 levels, regulating VEGF-A bioavailability and ensuring cell survival takes precedence over cell proliferation and migration. These findings may underpin an important mechanism contributing to endothelial dysfunction in pathological states.