Matrigel induces thymosin beta 4 gene in differentiating endothelial cells.
We performed differential cDNA hybridization using RNA from endothelial cells cultured for 4 hours on either plastic or basement membrane matrix (Matrigel), and identified early genes induced during the morphological differentiation into capillary-like tubes. The mRNA for one clone, thymosin beta 4, was increased 5-fold. Immunostaining localized thymosin beta 4 in vivo in both growing and mature vessels as well as in other tissues. Endothelial cells transfected with thymosin beta 4 showed an increased rate of attachment and spreading on matrix components, and an accelerated rate of tube formation on Matrigel. An antisense oligo to thymosin beta 4 inhibited tube formation on Matrigel. The results suggest that thymosin beta 4 is induced and likely involved in differentiating endothelial cells. Thymosin beta 4 may play a role in vessel formation in vivo.
Grant
D S
DS
Laboratory of Developmental Biology, National Institute of Dental Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Kinsella
J L
JL
Kibbey
M C
MC
LaFlamme
S
S
Burbelo
P D
PD
Goldstein
A L
AL
Kleinman
H K
HK
D001483:Base Sequence; D002196:Capillaries / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007797:Laminin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013947:Thymosin / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection; D000099201:Thymosin beta(4)
D003094:Collagen; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007797:Laminin; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D011509:Proteoglycans; D013947:Thymosin; D000099201:Thymosin beta(4); C059485:matrigel