title: Glucagon-like peptide-1 improves proliferation and differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells via upregulating VEGF generation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1), released from enteroendocrine cells of the intestine, exerted cardiovascular protective effect. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important role in maintaining endothelial integrity regulating neovascularization and reendothelialization after endothelial injury. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important cytokine in the process of EPCs vascular differentiation and proliferation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was designed to investigate the association between VEGF changes and the proliferation/differentiation function of EPCs in the presence of GLP-1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We demonstrated that GLP-1 markedly enhanced the EPCs proliferation and expression of EC-specific markers, and simultaneously upregulated VEGF secretion in EPCs. Exogenous VEGF augmented EPCs proliferation/differentiation abilities in a dose-dependent manner. However, all of the beneficial effects of GLP-1were suppressed by anti-VEGFmAb or the KDR-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor SU1498.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that GLP-1 improves VEGF generation, which contributed to improvement of EPCs biological function, partly by tyrosine kinase KDR. VEGF is a necessary intermediate, mediating the effects of GLP-1 on EPCs. These changes offer a novel explanation that upregulation EPCs bioactivities may be one of the mechanisms of GLP-1 cardiovascular protective effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, 3rd Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan Province, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Xie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiao-Yun
authors.forename: Mo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao-Hui
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hong-Hui
authors.forename: Xie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yan-Hong
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000099152:Cadherin 5
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D000099152:Cadherin 5