VEGF contributes to postnatal neovascularization by mobilizing bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to promote neovascularization in animal models and, more recently, in human subjects. This feature has been assumed to result exclusively from its direct effects on fully differentiated endothelial cells, i.e. angiogenesis. Given its regulatory role in both angiogenesis and vasculogenesis during fetal development, we investigated the hypothesis that VEGF may modulate endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) kinetics for postnatal neovascularization. Indeed, we observed an increase in circulating EPCs following VEGF administration in vivo. VEGF-induced mobilization of bone marrow-derived EPCs resulted in increased differentiated EPCs in vitro and augmented corneal neovascularization in vivo. These findings thus establish a novel role for VEGF in postnatal neovascularization which complements its known impact on angiogenesis.
Asahara
T
T
Departments of Medicine (Cardiology) and Biomedical Research, St Elizabeth's Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, 736 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02135, USA.
Takahashi
T
T
Masuda
H
H
Kalka
C
C
Chen
D
D
Iwaguro
H
H
Inai
Y
Y
Silver
M
M
Isner
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002452:Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D004247:DNA