title: Wnt-1 signaling inhibits human umbilical vein endothelial cell proliferation and alters cell morphology.
abstract: Cell to cell interaction is one of the key processes effecting angiogenesis and endothelial cell function. There are many factors which can mediate this interaction including Wnt-signaling-related molecules. Wnt signaling is involved in many developmental processes and cellular functions. There is increasing evidence suggesting that Wnt signaling has a role in regulating endothelial cell growth although the precise mechanism is unclear. In this study, we established a coculture system to examine how Wnt-1 signaling regulates human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) growth and behavior. We found that Wnt-1 signals inhibited BrdU incorporation in HUVECs and the number of labeled cells also decreased in proportion to the number of Wnt-1-expressing cells present (P < 0.05). Moreover, HUVECs cocultured with Wnt-1-expressing C57MG cells clumped together rather than remaining scattered throughout the culture. These effects were dependent on cell contact. Treatment of HUVEC with LiCl, which inhibits the activity of GSK-3beta and mimicked Wnt-1 signaling, also inhibited the BrdU incorporation in endothelial cells. Our results suggest that Wnt signaling has a role in endothelial cell growth control and this is mediated through cell-cell contact. They also suggest that Wnt signaling might participate in angiogenesis by regulating endothelial cell growth and function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK.
authors.forename: Ching-wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Stephen K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D Stephen
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Charnock-Jones
mesh_terms: D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002450:Cell Communication; D002455:Cell Division; D048429:Cell Size; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology*; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
chemical_list: D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C495247:WNT1 protein, human; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins