title: Sequential induction of angiogenic growth factors by TNF-alpha in choroidal endothelial cells.
abstract: Inflammatory mediators have been proposed to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of choroidal neovascularization, a blinding complication of age-related macular degeneration. We evaluated the expression of TNF-alpha in human choroidal neovascular membranes and found that it colocalized with cells expressing VEGF, angiopoietin (Ang)-1 and Ang2. In cultured choroidal endothelial cells we found that TNF-alpha increased Ang2 mRNA (increased transcription) and protein levels prior to those of Ang1 and VEGF. The results raise the possibility that during neovascularization, TNF-alpha may modulate endothelial plasticity and survival by sequential inactivation of Tie2 followed by activation of Tie2 and VEGF receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Doheny Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hangai
authors.forename: Shikun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Jennifer I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hinton
mesh_terms: D042683:Angiopoietin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015152:Blotting, Northern / Q000379:methods; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002829:Choroid / Q000473:pathology*; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000473:pathology; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005123:Eye / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D003609:Dactinomycin