title: Induction of tube formation by angiopoietin-1 in endothelial cell/fibroblast co-culture is dependent on endogenous VEGF.
abstract: The angiopoietin-1 (Ang1)/Tie2 receptor system is known to be important for angiogenesis and vascular remodeling. However, its contribution to the survival and morphogenesis of endothelial cells is still not well elucidated. In this study, we analyzed the role of the Ang1/Tie2 pathway in cell survival and tube formation using a human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) cell and fibroblast co-culture system. In this system, which mimics angiogenesis in vivo, fibroblasts secrete a basal level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and Ang1 stimulated tube formation. However, anti-VEGF or anti-VEGF receptor-2 neutralizing antibody blocked the Ang1-induced tube formation. Furthermore, other angiogenic factors such as hepatic growth factor (HGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) showed the same phenotype as Ang1, i.e., a stimulatory effect only in the presence of endogenous VEGF. The Ang1-promoted tube formation was mainly due to suppression of HUVE cell apoptosis in a PI3-kinase-dependent manner. These findings suggest that Ang1 stimulates tube formation in vivo via the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway, but this effect takes place only in a VEGF-dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Division of Genetics, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan.
authors.forename: Momomi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Maho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamasaki
authors.forename: Masabumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shibuya
mesh_terms: D042683:Angiopoietin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D010641:Phenotype; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C494918:AKT1 protein, human