Vascular endothelial growth factor-A and platelet-derived growth factor-B combination gene therapy prolongs angiogenic effects via recruitment of interstitial mononuclear cells and paracrine effects rather than improved pericyte coverage of angiogenic vessels.
Vessel stabilization and the inhibition of side effects such as tissue edema are essential in angiogenic gene therapy. Thus, combination gene transfers stimulating both endothelial cell and pericyte proliferation have become of interest. However, there is currently little data to support combination gene transfer in large animal models. In this study, we evaluated the potential advantages of such a strategy by combining the transfer of adenoviral (Ad) vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-B into rabbit hindlimb skeletal muscle. AdLacZ alone or in combination with AdVEGF-A were used as controls. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound, modified Miles assay, and immunohistology were used to quantify perfusion, vascular permeability, and capillary size, respectively. Confocal microscopy was used in the assessment of pericyte-coverage. The transfer of AdPDGF-B alone and in combination with AdVEGF-A induced prominent proliferation of alpha-smooth muscle actin-, CD31-, RAM11-, HAM56-, and VEGF- positive cells. Although, pericyte recruitment to angiogenic vessels was not improved, combination gene transfer induced a longer-lasting increase in perfusion in both intact and ischemic muscles than AdVEGF-A gene transfer alone. In conclusion, intramuscular delivery of AdVEGF-A and AdPDGF-B, combined, resulted in a prolonged angiogenic response. However, the effects were most likely mediated via paracrine mechanisms rather than an increase in vascular pericyte coverage.
Korpisalo
Petra
P
Department of Molecular Medicine, A.I. Virtanen Institute, University of Kuopio, PO Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland. Seppo.Ylaherttuala@uku.fi
Karvinen
Henna
H
Rissanen
Tuomas T
TT
Kilpijoki
Johanna
J
Marjomäki
Varpu
V
Baluk
Peter
P
McDonald
Donald M
DM
Cao
Yihai
Y
Eriksson
Ulf
U
Alitalo
Kari
K
Ylä-Herttuala
Seppo
S
D000256:Adenoviridae; D000818:Animals; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000235:genetics; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000235:genetics; D019899:Paracrine Communication / Q000235:genetics; D020286:Pericytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A