title: Mel-18, a mammalian Polycomb gene, regulates angiogenic gene expression of endothelial cells.
abstract: Mel-18 is a mammalian homolog of Polycomb group (PcG) genes. Microarray analysis revealed that Mel-18 expression was induced during endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) differentiation and correlates with the expression of EC-specific protein markers. Overexpression of Mel-18 promoted EPC differentiation and angiogenic activity of ECs. Accordingly, silencing Mel-18 inhibited EC migration and tube formation in vitro. Gene expression profiling showed that Mel-18 regulates angiogenic genes including kinase insert domain receptor (KDR), claudin 5, and angiopoietin-like 2. Our findings demonstrate, for the first time, that Mel-18 plays a significant role in the angiogenic function of ECs by regulating endothelial gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Hyun-Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yong-Sun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Maeng
authors.forename: Jung-Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Minhyung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ja-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Yong-Won
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young-Myeong
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Daehee
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Young-Guen
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000235:genetics*; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C489348:PCGF2 protein, human; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1