title: Structural features in heparin that interact with VEGF165 and modulate its biological activity.
abstract: The 165 amino acid form of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF165) is a heparin-binding growth factor with mitogenic activity for vascular endothelial cells. We examined activities of various heparin derivatives toward their interactions with VEGF165 using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and elucidated the structural features in heparin for the interactions. Native heparin interacted with VEGF165, whereas N-desulfated, N-acetylated (N-DS, N-Ac-) heparin, and 6-O-desulfated (6-O-DS-) heparin did not. The 2-O-desulfated (2-O-DS-) heparin retained the ability for the interaction with VEGF165. In contrast, the 2-O-DS-heparin exhibited no ability for the interaction with FGF-2 and HGF. Thus, structural requirements in heparin for the specific interaction with VEGF165 are distinct from those with FGF-2 and HGF which require a high content of 2-O-sulfate groups. In a cell proliferation assay, native heparin and 2-O-DS-heparin exhibited inhibitory abilities for VEGF165-induced proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with their high concentrations (more than 64 microg/ml), while only native heparin could enhance the proliferation of the chlorate-treated cells. These results suggested that a high content of 2-O-sulfate groups is not required for the specific interaction with VEGF165alone, although it is essential for the mitogenic activity of the growth factor.
authors.affiliation: National Defense Medical College, Department of Surgery II, 3-2 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-8513 Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takeshita
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurita
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishihara
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000737:chemistry; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006493:Heparin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015394:Molecular Structure; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D004187:Disaccharides; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D008222:Lymphokines; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D006493:Heparin