title: Beta amyloid angiogenic activity in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: Angiogenesis has been suggested as a direct contributor to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. The major pathological hallmarks of AD are the presence of neurofibrillary tangles and, beta-amyloid plaques associated with activated microglia, astrocytes, degenerating neurons and vascular toxicity. In this study, Abeta1-40 and Abeta1-42 peptides, both components of the senile plaques in AD, were used to study their angiogenic activity in vitro, by using normal human cerebral endothelial cells (HCECs), and in vivo, by using the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Results showed that both peptides stimulate in vitro endothelial cell proliferation, chemotaxis and morphogenesis in Matrigel. Moreover, by using the aorta ring assay, both peptides stimulated the formation of capillary-like structures. An angiogenic response was induced in the CAM assay, similar to that induced by fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), a well-known angiogenic cytokine. Overall, these data support the hypothesis that Abeta peptides may contribute to angiogenesis occurring in AD and suggest that limiting the pro-angiogenic activity of Abeta peptides may therefore provide a useful target to control angiogenesis associated to AD and therefore limit the disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boscolo
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Folin
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nico
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grandi
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mangieri
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scienza
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zampieri
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Conconi
authors.forename: Pier Paolo
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Parnigotto
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ribatti
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C078592:amyloid beta-protein (1-40); C075222:amyloid beta-protein (1-42)