title: beta-Carotene stimulates chemotaxis of human endothelial progenitor cells.
abstract: Angiogenesis is a crucial process in tissue remodeling during growth, both in the embryo and the adult. In our study we concentrated on the direct effect of beta-carotene on human umbilical cord originating from endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). beta-Carotene uptake by EPCs was measured using a HPLC method. The determination of cell surface antigens was performed by flow cytometry. The effect on cell proliferation was estimated by measuring bromo-deoxyuridine incorporation. The influence on the formation of a tubular-like structure was investigated in a 3D assay in matrigel. Quantitative gene expression was estimated using real-time PCR. We demonstrated that beta-carotene in the physiological range of concentrations found in human blood is a potent activator of EPC chemotaxis, which is accompanied by a change in the expression of genes mediating cell adhesion and homing, but does not activate the final markers of endothelial differentiation. This study points to the prochemotactic and homing activity of beta-carotene in undifferentiated endothelial cell progenitors for the first time, which may suggest a potential role of this carotenoid in progenitor cell therapy aimed at angiogenesis and tissue repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kieć-Wilk
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polus
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grzybowska
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mikołajczyk
authors.forename: Jadwiga
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hartwich
authors.forename: Juliusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pryjma
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Skrzeczyńska
authors.forename: Aldona
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dembińska-Kieć
mesh_terms: D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D016718:Arachidonic Acid