Biomimetic hydrogels with VEGF induce angiogenic processes in both hUVEC and hMEC.
Angiogenesis is the process by which new blood vessels arise from the pre-existing vasculature. Human endothelial cells are known to be involved in three key cellular processes during angiogenesis: increased cell proliferation, degradation of the extracellular matrix during cell migration, and the survival of apoptosis. The above processes depend upon the presence of growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor isoform 165 (VEGF(165)) that is released from the extracellular matrix as it is being degraded or secreted from activated endothelial cells. Thus, the goal of the current study is to develop a system with a backbone of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and grafted angiogenic signals to compare the initial angiogenic response of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (hUVEC) or human microvascular endothelial cells (hMEC). Adhesion ligands (PEG-RGDS) for cell attachment and PEG-modified VEGF(165) (PEG-VEGF(165)) are grafted into the hydrogels to encourage the angiogenic response. Our data suggest that our biomimetic system is equally effective in stimulating proliferation, migration, and survival of apoptosis in hMEC as compared to the response to hUVEC.
Physiology and Biophysics, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, United States.
Alex M
AM
Porter
Carolyn M
CM
Klinge
Andrea S
AS
Gobin
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D055806:Microvessels / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
D020100:Hydrogels; D009842:Oligopeptides; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C046617:arginyl-glycyl-aspartyl-serine