title: Phagocytosis of platelets enhances endothelial cell survival under serum deprivation.
abstract: Platelets are key players in fundamental processes of vascular biology, such as angiogenesis, tissue regeneration, and tumor metastasis. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, some tumor vascular endothelial cells were positively stained by antiplatelet antibodies. Further investigation revealed that platelets were taken up by endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo. Human umbilical vascular endothelial cells were rendered apoptotic under conditions of serum deprivation. However, endothelial apoptosis was suppressed and cell viability was enhanced when platelets were added to the cultures. Endothelial survival was paralleled by an upregulation of phosphorylated Akt and p70 S6K. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that platelets can be phagocytosed by endothelial cells, and the phagocytosed platelets could suppress endothelial apoptosis and promote cell viability level. The mechanism underlying this process involves the activation of Akt signaling.
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital & Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Ministry of Health, Beijing 100730, China pingjiang@bjmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Ya-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Beijing Hospital, Ministry of Health, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital, Guangzhou 510665, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Liang
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital & Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Ministry of Health, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital & Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Ministry of Health, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital & Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Ministry of Health, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D001792:Blood Platelets; D015153:Blotting, Western; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000473:pathology; D002450:Cell Communication; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000502:physiology*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014471:Umbilical Veins
chemical_list: D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
keywords: Phagocytosis; apoptosis; platelet