The angiogenic factor secretoneurin induces coronary angiogenesis in a model of myocardial infarction by stimulation of vascular endothelial growth factor signaling in endothelial cells.
BACKGROUND
Secretoneurin is a neuropeptide located in nerve fibers along blood vessels, is upregulated by hypoxia, and induces angiogenesis. We tested the hypothesis that secretoneurin gene therapy exerts beneficial effects in a rat model of myocardial infarction and evaluated the mechanism of action on coronary endothelial cells.


RESULTS
In vivo secretoneurin improved left ventricular function, inhibited remodeling, and reduced scar formation. In the infarct border zone, secretoneurin induced coronary angiogenesis, as shown by increased density of capillaries and arteries. In vitro secretoneurin induced capillary tubes, stimulated proliferation, inhibited apoptosis, and activated Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase in coronary endothelial cells. Effects were abrogated by a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody, and secretoneurin stimulated VEGF receptors in these cells. Secretoneurin furthermore increased binding of VEGF to endothelial cells, and binding was blocked by heparinase, indicating that secretoneurin stimulates binding of VEGF to heparan sulfate proteoglycan binding sites. Additionally, secretoneurin increased binding of VEGF to its coreceptor neuropilin-1. In endothelial cells, secretoneurin also stimulated fibroblast growth factor receptor-3 and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor, and in coronary vascular smooth muscle cells, we observed stimulation of VEGF receptor-1 and fibroblast growth factor receptor-3. Exposure of cardiac myocytes to hypoxia and ischemic heart after myocardial infarction revealed increased secretoneurin messenger RNA and protein.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data show that secretoneurin acts as an endogenous stimulator of VEGF signaling in coronary endothelial cells by enhancing binding of VEGF to low-affinity binding sites and neuropilin-1 and stimulates further growth factor receptors like fibroblast growth factor receptor-3. Our in vivo findings indicate that secretoneurin may be a promising therapeutic tool in ischemic heart disease.
Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, Innsbruck, Austria.
Karin
K
Albrecht-Schgoer
Wilfried
W
Schgoer
Johannes
J
Holfeld
Markus
M
Theurl
Dominik
D
Wiedemann
Christina
C
Steger
Rajesh
R
Gupta
Severin
S
Semsroth
Reiner
R
Fischer-Colbrie
Arno G E
AG
Beer
Ursula
U
Stanzl
Eva
E
Huber
Sol
S
Misener
Daniel
D
Dejaco
Raj
R
Kishore
Otmar
O
Pachinger
Michael
M
Grimm
Nikolaos
N
Bonaros
Rudolf
R
Kirchmair
D000818:Animals; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D010957:Plasmids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D053381:Secretogranin II / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000502:physiology*
D009479:Neuropeptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053381:Secretogranin II; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C081159:secretoneurin