Novel hyperactive mitogen to endothelial cells: human decidual NKG5.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was the isolation and characterization of decidual extract proteins that exhibit mitogenicity on endothelial cells.


METHODS
A partially purified extract (F1 fraction) was obtained from human decidua of the first trimester of pregnancy. F1 was separated by heparin-sepharose column and showed significant mitogenicity on bovine brain capillary endothelial (BBCE) cells in vitro, using methylene blue stain nuclear assay. Sodium-dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed four fractions with MW less than 30 KDa.


RESULTS
Mitogenic fraction, E11-12 (eluted at 1.5 M NaCl) was identified as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and acidic (a)FGF were not identified as one of the mitogenic fractions. However, fractions E5-6, and E7-8 induced statistically significant mitogenicity at concentration of 1 pg/mL, which is 10(3) times lower than bFGF. Sequencing of E5-6 fraction identified NKG5 protein, a putative secreted polypeptide derived from human natural killer (NK) cells and activated T cells of unknown function.


CONCLUSIONS
This work demonstrates that NKG5 stimulates mitogenicity of endothelial cells and may be involved in angiogenesis.
Langer
N
N
Morphology Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Technion IIT, Haifa, Israel.
Beach
D
D
Lindenbaum
E S
ES
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D003656:Decidua / Q000737:chemistry*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008934:Mitogens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011247:Pregnancy; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; C075005:GNLY protein, human; D008934:Mitogens; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2