Regulation of retinal angiogenesis by endothelial nitric oxide synthase signaling pathway.
Angiogenesis plays an essential role in embryo development, tissue repair, inflammatory diseases, and tumor growth. In the present study, we showed that endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) regulates retinal angiogenesis. Mice that lack eNOS showed growth retardation, and retinal vessel development was significantly delayed. In addition, the number of tip cells and filopodia length were significantly reduced in mice lacking eNOS. Retinal endothelial cell proliferation was significantly blocked in mice lacking eNOS, and EMG-2-induced endothelial cell sprouting was significantly reduced in aortic vessels isolated from eNOS-deficient mice. Finally, pericyte recruitment to endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cell coverage to blood vessels were attenuated in mice lacking eNOS. Taken together, we suggest that the endothelial cell function and blood vessel maturation are regulated by eNOS during retinal angiogenesis.
Gene and Cell Therapy Center for Vessel-Associated Disease, Medical Research Institute, and Department of Pharmacology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan 50612, Korea.
Jung Min
JM
Ha
Gene and Cell Therapy Center for Vessel-Associated Disease, Medical Research Institute, and Department of Pharmacology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan 50612, Korea.
Seo Yeon
SY
Jin
Gene and Cell Therapy Center for Vessel-Associated Disease, Medical Research Institute, and Department of Pharmacology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan 50612, Korea.
Hye Sun
HS
Lee
Department of Anatomy, Pusan National University of Korean Medicine, Yangsan 50612, Korea.
Hwa Kyoung
HK
Shin
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pusan National University Hospital, Yangsan 50612, Korea.
Dong Hyung
DH
Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan 49241, Korea.
Sang Heon
SH
Song
Gene and Cell Therapy Center for Vessel-Associated Disease, Medical Research Institute, and Department of Pharmacology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan 50612, Korea.
Chi Dae
CD
Kim
Gene and Cell Therapy Center for Vessel-Associated Disease, Medical Research Institute, and Department of Pharmacology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan 50612, Korea.
Sun Sik
SS
Bae
Angiogenesis; Proliferation; Retina; Signal transduction; eNOS