title: Agmatine promotes the migration of murine brain endothelial cells via multiple signaling pathways.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The combination of adhesion and migration of endothelial cells (ECs) is an integral process for evolution, organization, repair and vessel formation in living organisms. Agmatine, a polycationic amine existing in brain, has been investigated to exert neuroprotective effects. Up to date, there are no studies reporting that agmatine modulates murine brain endothelial (bEnd.3) cells migration. In the present study, we intend to investigate the role of agmatine in bEnd.3 cells migration and the molecular mechanism mediating this action.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of agmatine on the bEnd.3 cells migration was examined by migration assay, and the mechanism involved for this effect was investigated by western blot analysis and NO contents measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Agmatine treatment (50, 100 and 200 μM) significantly accelerated bEnd.3 cells migration in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blotting revealed that agmatine treatment significantly induced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor 2 (Flk-1/KDR or VEGFR2), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt/protein kinase B (also known as PKB, PI3K downstream effector protein), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) nitric oxide (NO; product by eNOS) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) expressions during bEnd.3 cells migration. The expression of ICAM-1 and migration of bEnd.3 cells, induced by agmatine, were significantly attenuated by treatment of wortmannin, a specific PI3K inhibitor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, we provide the first evidence that activation of VEGF/VEGFR2 and the consequential PI3K/Akt/eNOS/NO/ICAM-1 signaling pathways are serial events, through which the treatment of agmatine could lead to bEnd.3 cells migration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Joo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Yong-Heui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Kiran Kumar
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Bokara
authors.forename: Bon-Nyeo
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Won Taek
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyung Ah
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jong-Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000376:Agmatine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000376:Agmatine; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2