title: Activation of CD137 Signaling Promotes Angiogenesis in Atherosclerosis via Modulating Endothelial Smad1/5-NFATc1 Pathway.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Excessive angiogenesis is a key feature of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques, and is considered an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk. CD137 signaling has previously been shown to be involved in atherosclerosis. However, the possible role of CD137 signaling in regulating angiogenesis has not been reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE-/-) mice were used as the in vivo model of atherosclerosis. Masson and immunohistochemical analysis of atherosclerotic plaques and Matrigel plug assay were used to evaluate the angiogenesis. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells and mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells were used as in vitro and ex vivo models to study how CD137 signaling affects angiogenesis. Matrigel tube formation assay, mouse aortic ring angiogenesis assay, and migration and proliferation assay were employed to assess angiogenesis. Western blot was used to detect protein expression. We found increased neovessel formation in atherosclerotic plaques of ApoE-/-mice treated with agonist anti-CD137 antibody. Activation of CD137 signaling induced angiogenesis, endothelial proliferation, and endothelial cell migration. CD137 signaling activates the pro-angiogenic Smad1/5 pathway, induces the phosphorylation of Smad1/5 and nuclear translocation of p-Smad1/5, which in turn promotes the expression and translocation of NFATc1. Blocking CD137 signaling with inhibitory anti-CD137 antibody could inhibit this activation and attenuated agonist anti-CD137 antibody-induced angiogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that CD137 signaling is a new regulator of angiogenesis by modulating the Smad1/5-NFATc1 pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Jiayi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Cuiping
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Zhongqun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China yanjinchuan@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jinchuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency; D002465:Cell Movement; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D051898:Smad1 Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D051902:Smad5 Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D053261:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; C494005:Nfatc1 protein, mouse; D051898:Smad1 Protein; C497401:Smad1 protein, mouse; D051902:Smad5 Protein; C497798:Smad5 protein, mouse; D053261:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9
keywords: CD137; Smad1/5; angiogenesis; atherosclerosis; nuclear factor of activated T cells 1