title: Induction of endothelial cell differentiation into capillary-like structures by substance P.
abstract: Angiogenesis is an important process in inflammatory diseases and wound healing. We observed that the proinflammatory neuropeptide, substance P, stimulated angiogenesis in an in vitro model using human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells cultured on a basement membrane (Matrigel) substrate. Substance P stimulated endothelial cell differentiation into capillary-like structures in a dose-dependent manner. Stimulation of endothelial cell differentiation is a newly recognized biological function of substance P. The increased levels of substance P found in chronic inflammatory conditions may play an important role in tissue repair by promoting the development of new vessels and thus achieving compensation for ischemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wiedermann
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Auer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sitte
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reinisch
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schratzberger
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kähler
mesh_terms: D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D002196:Capillaries / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D013373:Substance P / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D013373:Substance P