title: Androgen Modulates Functions of Endothelial Progenitor Cells through Activated Egr1 Signaling.
abstract: Researches show that androgens have important effects on migration of endothelial cells and endothelial protection in coronary heart disease. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) as a progenitor cell type that can differentiate into endothelial cells, have a critical role in angiogenesis and endothelial protection. The relationship between androgen and the functions of EPCs has animated much interest and controversy. In this study, we investigated the angiogenic and migratory functions of EPCs after treatment by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and the molecular mechanisms as well. We found that DHT treatment enhanced the incorporation of EPCs into tubular structures formed by HUVECs and the migratory activity of EPCs in the transwell assay dose dependently. Moreover, microarray analysis was performed to explore how DHT changes the gene expression profiles of EPCs. We found 346 differentially expressed genes in androgen-treated EPCs. Angiogenesis-related genes like Egr-1, Vcan, Efnb2, and Cdk2ap1 were identified to be regulated upon DHT treatment. Furthermore, the enhanced angiogenic and migratory abilities of EPCs after DHT treatment were inhibited by Egr1-siRNA transfection. In conclusion, our findings suggest that DHT markedly enhances the vessel forming ability and migration capacity of EPCs. Egr1 signaling may be a possible pathway in this process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China ; Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China.
authors.forename: Yizhou
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China.
authors.forename: Xizhe
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China.
authors.forename: You
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China.
authors.forename: Zhenya
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China.
authors.forename: Junjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang