title: Interleukin-17 induces angiogenesis in human choroidal endothelial cells in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17) has recently been shown to promote angiogenesis. In addition, a receptor for IL-17, IL-17 receptor C (IL-17RC), is enriched in patients with wet, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a disease characterized by the formation of choroidal neovascularization. However, the role of IL-17 in choroidal endothelial cells (CECs) angiogenesis has not been defined. This study was conducted to determine the effect of IL-17 on proliferation, migration, and tube formation of human CECs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression patterns of IL-17 receptor A (IL-17RA) and IL-17RC on isolated human CECs were analyzed by flow cytometry and immunofluorescent staining. Proangiogenic effects of IL-17 on CECs was determined by proliferation assays with a water-soluble tetrazolium cell proliferation reagent kit, wound healing migration assays, and tube formation assays using basement membrane matrix. Cytoskeletal changes were observed by F-actin immunofluorescent staining. Activated Rac1 and RhoA levels were analyzed by pull-down assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interleukin-17RA and IL-17RC were present on human CECs. Interleukin-17 enhanced migration and tube formation but did not affect proliferation. Moreover, IL-17 induced rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton and upregulated activated Rac1 and RhoA in CECs. The PI3K inhibitor wortmannin suppressed CEC migration, cytoskeleton rearrangement, and upregulation of activated Rac1 and RhoA induced by IL-17.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interleukin-17 elicits a proangiogenesis effect on human CECs in vitro by promoting migration and tube formation. The promoted migration effect was dependent on PI3K-Rac1 and RhoA-mediated actin cytoskeleton remodeling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Murui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Fengjuan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17
keywords: F-actin; PI3K; Rac1; RhoA; choroidal endothelial cell; neovascularization