title: The interplay of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) with basic fibroblast growth factor and adipokines on angiogenesis in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is suggested to regulate placental angiogenesis, however, its role is incompletely understood. hCG may directly stimulate angiogenesis or influence the effect of other angiogenic factors. We examined the effect of hCG and the interplay of hCG with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and with various adipokines on proliferation of vascular endothelial cells in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were incubated for 2 days with combinations of hCG, bFGF, leptin, resistin, adiponectin, IL6 and TNFα. Incorporation of radiolabelled thymidine was used to assess cell proliferation. Immunofluorescence and flow cytometry were used to examine activation of p44/42 mitogen-activated kinase (MAPK).
  
  
  RESULTS
  hCG induced proliferation of HUVEC alone and in combination with bFGF. Cells exposed to both hCG and bFGF displayed increased activation of p44/42 MAPK as compared to hCG or bFGF alone. Increased HUVEC proliferation was observed in the presence of increasing concentrations of leptin, resistin, adiponectin, and IL6, whereas HUVEC proliferation decreased in the presence of TNFα. hCG in combination with leptin, resistin, adiponectin or IL6 stimulated HUVEC proliferation beyond the effect of hCG alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An interplay of hCG with adipose tissue-derived factors with angiogenic properties is plausible. Thus, maternal obesity may affect placental angiogenesis in pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  hCG may directly stimulate angiogenesis. Also, hCG may indirectly stimulate angiogenesis through interplay with bFGF and adipokines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Akershus University Hospital, Norway; Section for Reproductive Medicine, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Norway.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Połeć
authors.affiliation: Section for Reproductive Medicine, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Norway.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fedorcsák
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Akershus University Hospital, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eskild
authors.affiliation: Section for Reproductive Medicine, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: tom.tanbo@ous-hf.no.
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Tanbo
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000378:metabolism*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
keywords: Adipokines; Angiogenesis; Basic fibroblast growth factor; Cell signaling; Human chorionic gonadotropin; Placenta