Angiogenesis and growth factor modulation induced by alternagin C, a snake venom disintegrin-like, cysteine-rich protein on a rat skin wound model.
In this work, we show that alternagin-C (ALT-C) and ALT-C PEP, a peptide derived from its sequence, were able to induce angiogenesis in wounded rat skin. A spherical cutaneous excision was made in the back of each animal and treated with three different concentrations of ALT-C or ALT-C PEP. After that, the skin was removed and analyzed to verify the presence of new vessels and the expression of growth factors. ALT-C and ALT-C PEP induced the formation of new vessels and modulated the expression of growth factors, mainly VEGF and FGF1. The expression of VEGF increased and it could be detected up to 7 days after injury. FGF1 also significantly increased, but at a lesser extent than VEGF. In conclusion, the present study shows for the first time the stimulation of angiogenesis in an injured tissue by a disintegrin-like protein and that ALT-C may exert this effect by modulating the expression of growth factors.
Sant'Ana
Estela Maria Correia
EM
Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
Gouvêa
Cibele Marli Cação Paiva
CM
Nakaie
Clóvis Ryuichi
CR
Selistre-de-Araújo
Heloisa Sobreiro
HS