title: C5a promotes migration, proliferation, and vessel formation in endothelial cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this paper is to investigate the effects of activated complement C5a on vascular endothelium during vessel formation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A human microvascular endothelial cell line (HMEC-1) derived from post-capillary venules in skin was used to measure DNA synthesis, proliferation and cell-cycle progression. In vitro ring-shaped formation by the cells was assessed by using type I collagen gel matrix and a cell-migration assay using the Chemotaxicell chamber. A Matrigel plug assay was performed to confirm the effect of C5a in vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  C5a progressed the cell cycle of HMEC-1 into G2/M phases, and induced DNA synthesis and proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. C5a efficiently induced migration and ring-shaped structure formation both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, a C5a receptor antagonist (W-54011) suppressed all HMEC-1 activities including proliferation and migration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Proliferation, migration, and ring-shaped formation by HMEC-1 cells was induced by C5a. The actions were efficiently inhibited by a specific antagonist against C5a. Our results implicated C5a in vessel formation and as a potent target for management of inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: The First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryuji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kurihara
authors.forename: Kunihiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamaoka
authors.forename: Norifumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sawamukai
authors.forename: Shohei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimajiri
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oshita
authors.forename: Sonosuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yukawa
authors.forename: Mikiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tokunaga
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chiba
authors.forename: Yoshiya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003167:Complement Activation; D015936:Complement C5a / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic
chemical_list: D015936:Complement C5a