正常人脐静脉内皮细胞的原子力显微镜观察

目的:利用原子力显微镜(AFM)在单细胞水平分析正常人脐静脉内皮细胞的形貌特征和机械性质,为了解内皮细胞结构与功能的关系奠定基础.方法:新鲜人脐静脉内灌注质量分数为0.25%胰蛋白酶消化,获得人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs),M199培养基进行培养,免疫细胞化学检测内皮细胞第Ⅷ因子的表达.将体外培养的HUVECs用质量...     

橙皮素对血管内皮细胞NO分泌功能的影响

考察了橙皮素对人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs)NO分泌功能的影响,探讨其作用机制.为此采用DAN法测定HUVECs分泌NO的水平,用人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞(雌激素受体阳性)促增殖实验和报告基因模型实验评价橙皮素的雌激素样活性.结果显示在内源雌激素水平较低的条件下,橙皮素在12.5～100 μmoL/L浓度范围内,能够促进HUVECs分泌NO,并呈剂量依赖性.此作用能够被雌激素受体拮抗剂ICI182,780和放线菌素D阻断.橙皮素与E2同时作用时,HUVECs分泌NO水平较两者单独作用时显著下降.而在内源雌激素水平较高的条件下,橙皮素抑制HUVECs分泌NO.橙皮素能够促进MCF-7细胞增殖,并且能够被ICI182,780完全阻断,同时,橙皮素能够部分拮抗E2对MCF-7细胞的促增殖作用.另外,橙皮素能够诱导ERα控制的报告基因表达.从而可认为橙皮素属于雌激素受体部分激动剂,对血管内皮细胞NO分泌功能具有调节作用,其机理涉及雌激素受体信号途径和基因转录调节.     

艳山姜挥发油对TGF-β_1诱导内皮细胞氧化应激损伤的保护作用研究

通过体外离体培养人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs),建立转化生长因子-β_1(TGF-β_1)诱导的血管内皮细胞氧化应激损伤模型,观察艳山姜挥发油(EOFAZ)对TGF-β_1诱导的HUVECs氧化应激损伤的保护作用,并初步分析其机制.实验结果显示TGF-β_1显著引起内皮细胞氧化应激损伤,艳山姜挥发油能够明显抑制内皮细胞存活率降低、细胞内ROS水平升高及细胞迁移能力增强,并上调Nrf2蛋白的表达.上述结果表明,艳山姜挥发油对TGF-β_1诱导的HUVECs氧化应激损伤具有保护作用,其机制可能与其调控Nrf2蛋白的表达相关.     

红景天苷抑制Hcy诱导的血管内皮细胞氧化应激损伤的实验研究

研究红景天苷(SAL)对同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)诱导体外培养的人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs)氧化应激损伤的保护作用及可能机制.选择3-8代生长状态良好的HUVECs用于实验,采用SAL预孵育HUVECs 2h后,再加入Hcy(1 mmol/L)共孵育12 h诱导内皮细胞氧化应激损伤.采用MTT和LDH法分析细胞损伤,荧光探针法DCFH-DA分析细胞内活性氧(ROS)水平,酶联免疫吸附法分析细胞内丙二醛(MDA),超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的含量,qRT-PCR技术检测Nrf2、HO-1、NQO1的基因表达.结果显示,Hcy显著引起血管内皮细胞损伤,而10、50μmol/L的红景天苷干预给药后,能够提高Hcy诱导的细胞存活率,明显降低LDH、MDA的水平,增加胞内SOD活性.与Hcy处理组相比,SAL干预给药能够降低Hcy所致细胞内ROS的增高,上调Nrf2、抗氧化酶基因HO-1、醌氧化还原酶NQO1的mRNA表达.本研究表明,红景天苷有效抑制Hcy诱导的HUVECs氧化应激损伤,其作用与红景天苷增强细胞清除自由基能力,调控Nrf2信号有关.     

鱼腥草素钠对人脐静脉内皮细胞NO合成及NOS活力的影响

目的:研究鱼腥草素钠对脂多糖(LPS)诱导的人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs)NO合成及一氧化氮合酶(NOS)活力的影响.方法:采用15μg/ml LPS作用于HUVECs,共同孵育12h建立炎性损伤细胞模型.考察不同剂量鱼腥草素钠对各组HUVECs细胞存活率、培养上清液中LDH活力、NO含量、内皮型NOS(eNOS)及诱导型NOS(iNOS)表达的影响.结果:鱼腥草素钠可明显提高HUVECs细胞存活率,增加NO的分泌与释放,提高eNOS与降低iNOS活力,从而保护脂多糖诱导的HUVECs炎性损伤.结论:鱼腥草素钠对脂多糖诱导损伤的内皮细胞具有保护作用,其机制与其促进内皮细胞NO分泌与释放,增强eNOS活性和表达,改善血管内皮功能状态相关.     

人脐静脉内皮细胞培养液的选择

目的:筛选出人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs)原代、传代最适培养液.方法:0.02%II型胶原酶灌注脐静脉消化15min获得细胞,用不同的培养液培养.24h后观察细胞贴壁状况,细胞计数法得到贴壁细胞数量;内皮细胞标志性蛋白vWF进行细胞鉴定.传代培养后,用MTT法比较不同培养液对HUVECs活力的影响.结果:用含ECGS、20%FBS的ECM组进行原代培养,可获得贴壁细胞数量最多的HUVECs,且与其他组间有显著差异;用含30ng·mL-1 VEGF165、10%FBS的M199进行传代培养,HUVECs活力较ECM组无明显差异.结论:HUVECs原代、传代培养分别选用优化后的培养液,既保证原代HUVECs的质量和数量,又使传代培养成本降低60.8%.     

风车子抑素A4对人脐静脉内皮细胞的抑制增殖与诱导自噬作用研究

目的研究自噬在风车子抑素A4(Combretastatin A4,CA4)抑制人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs)增殖中的作用,探讨CA4抑制血管生成的机制。方法体外培养HUVECs,采用不同浓度的CA4处理HUVECs,药物作用不同时间后用MTT法检测CA4对细胞存活率的影响,MDC染色检测10n M CA4处理不同时间自噬小体变化的情况,RT-PCR检测自噬相关基因LC3B和Beclin 1基因转录水平的变化,Western Blot检测LC3B和Beclin1的蛋白表达水平的变化。结果 CA4能抑制HUVECs增殖并在一定范围呈浓度依赖性和时间依赖性;10n M CA4处理12小时和24小时自噬小体显著增加,诱导HUVECs自噬;荧光定量PCR结果显示自噬相关基因LC3Ⅰ表达下调、LC3Ⅱ表达上调,LC3Ⅰ/LC3Ⅱ比值显著上调,Beclin 1表达上调;Western Blot结果与荧光定量PCR结果一致,但m TOR蛋白未见明显变化。结论 CA4能显著抑制HUVECs增殖和诱导HUVECs自噬。     

原代HUVECs分离培养关键影响因素分析

内皮细胞与心脑血管病变和癌症发生密切相关,人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs)是最佳的研究工具.针对影响原代HUVECs培养的主要因素提出解决办法,建立稳定可靠的原代HUVECs培养方法.方法是取自剖宫产手术的脐带,消化法分离HUVECs,M199培养传代.针对消化条件、培养液、培养瓶/板处理、传代时间、胰酶浓度等因素考察.结果表明培养瓶/板预先2%明胶包被,采用I型胶原酶分离消化,含10%胎牛血清的M199培养,24h后换液,细胞生长至紧密后传代,O.05%胰酶传代消化,取4～5代细胞用于实验.认为经过控制原代HUVECs培养的主要影响因素,建立了不易污染、纯活度高的原代HUVECs培养方法.     

黄连素调节eNOS/NO保护软脂酸诱导的HUVECs损伤作用机制研究

目的研究黄连素对软脂酸诱导人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs)损伤的保护作用,并初步探讨其作用机制.方法采用500μmol/L软脂酸培养HUVECs 24 h,建立内皮细胞损伤模型,MTT法观察黄连素对细胞存活率的影响;检测细胞培养上清液中一氧化氮(NO)含量;RT-PCR法检测内皮型一氧化氮合酶(e NOS)mRNA水平;Western blot方法检测e NOS和磷酸化e NOS蛋白的表达.结果与对照组比较,软脂酸组细胞存活率降低(P0.05),培养液中NO含量下降(P0.05),细胞内e NOS mRNA水平、e NOS及磷酸化e NOS蛋白表达水平均显著下降(P0.01,P0.05).与软脂酸组比较,黄连素组细胞存活率增加,培养液中NO含量明显提高(P0.05),细胞内e NOS mRNA水平和磷酸化蛋白表达水平均显著提高(P0.01,P0.05).结论黄连素对软脂酸引起的血管内皮细胞损伤有显著的保护作用,并可能与上调e NOS、促进NO生成有关.     

重组VE-cad-Fc融合蛋白仿生构建细胞外基质

利用基因重组技术设计和构建了一种仿生的双功能仿生细胞外基质蛋白.其基本策略是将人血管内皮钙粘素胞外区(VE-cad)和免疫球蛋白(IgG1)Fc段进行基因融合构建真核表达载体,并利用FreeStyle293真核蛋白表达系统制备融合蛋白VE-cad-Fc,利用Western blot鉴定融合蛋白,并观察了该VE-cad-Fc融合蛋白基质对人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs)粘附和形态的影响.结果显示,成功克隆了VE-cad胞外段基因,并与Fc段重组形成VE-cad-Fc融合基因.在转染24h后,利用兔抗人VE钙粘素胞外区抗体验明该融合蛋白的免疫抗原性,其分子质量约为90.3KD,进一步的结果证明VE-cad-Fc融合蛋白是以二聚体的形式存在.优化该制备体系最佳表达时间为72h.细胞试验表明,VE-cad-Fc融合蛋白可显著促进HUVECs的粘附和生长.这种工程化的多功能融合蛋白基质在组织工程、再生医学和分子生物学领域有广阔的应用前景.     

HERG1 K+ channels on the leukemic cells mediated angiogenesis in vitro

Human ether-a-go-go-related gene （HERG1） K^＋ channels are overexpressed in leukemia, which contributes to neoangiogene- sis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of HERG1 K^＋ channels on leukemia angiogenesis. We cultured human umbili- cal vein endothelial cells （HUVECs） in conditioned media, which were derived from leukemic cells with or without E-4031, a HERG1 K^＋ channel special inhibitor. The HUVECs proliferation was mea- sured using CCK-8 assay and migration by a Trans-well. Endothelial tube formation was investigated using Matrigel. Vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） levels were tested by ELISA and VEGF mRNA expression using RT-PCR. Our results revealed that blocking HERG1 K^＋ channels could inhibit leukemia-induced HUVECs pro- liferation, migration, and tube formation in vitro. The results sug- gested that HERG1 K~ channels could increase leukemia angio- genesis. Furthermore, blockage of HERG1 K^＋ channels could also decrease leukemic cells secreting VEGF and expressing VEGF mRNA. HERG1 K^＋ channels have a promoting effect on leukemia angiogenesis, and the possible mechanism may be that HERG1 K^＋ channels enhance VEGF expression. Thus, HERG1 K4 channel is a potential target of antiangiogenesis in leukemia.     

A Hybrid Mathematical Model of Tumor-Induced Angiogenesis with Blood Perfusion

Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessel from existing ones, is a pivotal stage in cancer development,and is an important target for cancer therapy. We develop a hybrid mathematical model to understand the mechanisms behind tumor-induced angiogenesis. This model describes uptake of Tumor Angiogenic Factor（TAF）at extracellular level, uses partial differential equation to describe the evolution of endothelial cell density including TAF induced proliferation, chemotaxis to TAF, and haptotaxis to extracellular matrix. In addition we also consider the phenomenon of blood perfusion in the micro-vessels. The model produces sprout formation with realistic morphological and dynamical features, including the so-called brush border effect, the dendritic branching and fusing of the capillary sprouts forming a vessel network. The model also demonstrates the effects of individual mechanisms in tumor angiogenesis： Chemotaxis to TAF is the key driving mechanisms for the extension of sprout cell; endothelial proliferation is not absolutely necessary for sprout extension; haptotaxis to Extra Cellular Matrix（ECM） gradient provides additional guidance to sprout extension, suggesting potential targets for anti-angiogenic therapies.     

Tumour biology: herceptin acts as an anti-angiogenic cocktail

Malignant tumours secrete factors that enable them to commandeer their own blood supply (angiogenesis), and blocking the action of these factors can inhibit tumour growth. But because tumours may become resistant to treatments that target individual angiogenic factors by switching over to other angiogenic molecules, a cocktail of multiple anti-angiogenic agents should be more effective. Here we show that herceptin, a monoclonal antibody against the cell-surface receptor HER2 (for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2; ref. 4), induces normalization and regression of the vasculature in an experimental human breast tumour that overexpresses HER2 in mice, and that it works by modulating the effects of different pro- and anti-angiogenic factors. As a single agent that acts against multiple targets, herceptin, or drugs like it, may offer a simple alternative to combination anti-angiogenic treatments.     

Angiogenesis in life, disease and medicine

The growth of blood vessels (a process known as angiogenesis) is essential for organ growth and repair. An imbalance in this process contributes to numerous malignant, inflammatory, ischaemic, infectious and immune disorders. Recently, the first anti-angiogenic agents have been approved for the treatment of cancer and blindness. Angiogenesis research will probably change the face of medicine in the next decades, with more than 500 million people worldwide predicted to benefit from pro- or anti-angiogenesis treatments.     

Molecular mechanisms and clinical applications of angiogenesis

Blood vessels deliver oxygen and nutrients to every part of the body, but also nourish diseases such as cancer. Over the past decade, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis (blood vessel growth) has increased at an explosive rate and has led to the approval of anti-angiogenic drugs for cancer and eye diseases. So far, hundreds of thousands of patients have benefited from blockers of the angiogenic protein vascular endothelial growth factor, but limited efficacy and resistance remain outstanding problems. Recent preclinical and clinical studies have shown new molecular targets and principles, which may provide avenues for improving the therapeutic benefit from anti-angiogenic strategies.     

Angiogenesis in cancer and other diseases

Pathological angiogenesis is a hallmark of cancer and various ischaemic and inflammatory diseases. Concentrated efforts in this area of research are leading to the discovery of a growing number of pro- and anti-angiogenic molecules, some of which are already in clinical trials. The complex interactions among these molecules and how they affect vascular structure and function in different environments are now beginning to be elucidated. This integrated understanding is leading to the development of a number of exciting and bold approaches to treat cancer and other diseases. But owing to several unanswered questions, caution is needed.     

Fabrication and biological evaluation of polyether ether ketone(PEEK)/bioceramic composites

The repair of vascularized bone defects represents a significantly clinical challenge, and vascular regeneration is one of the necessary factors to promote bone tissue regeneration. To effectively repair large bone defects, new bone tissue must regenerate with a rich vascular network. Therefore, the development of biomaterials that can promote the regeneration of vascularized bone tissue is currently receiving attention from researchers. In this study, Li–Ca–Si bioceramics (LCS) containing Li, Ca, and Si elements was developed, then LCS was compounded with PEEK to prepare PEEK+10% LCS, PEEK+20% LCS, PEEK+30% LCS, and the effect of LCS-PEEK composite biomaterials on the proliferation and angiogenic ability of human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) further explored by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), scanning electron microscope (SEM), quantitative real-time PCR (QPCR), Western Blotting and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that HUVECs inoculated on 30%LCS ?+ ?PEEK material exhibited the best proliferation ability. And the adhesion ability of endothelial cells on PEEK gradually increased with the increase of LCS contents. Furthermore, the angiogenic ability of HUVECs on LCS-PEEK composites was examined using QPCR and Western blotting, and the results showed that the expression of angiogenic-related genes and proteins of HUVECs on PEEK composites gradually increased with increasing LCS concentration. These results demonstrated that the angiogenic ability of HUVECs was effectively stimulated by LCS-modified PEEK materials. The present results indicate that the PEEK material can be modified with bioceramics to promote angiogenesis, and this study lay the foundation for the subsequent development of scaffolds that promote vascularized bone tissue regeneration.     

p53-induced inhibition of Hif-1 causes cardiac dysfunction during pressure overload

Cardiac hypertrophy occurs as an adaptive response to increased workload to maintain cardiac function. However, prolonged cardiac hypertrophy causes heart failure, and its mechanisms are largely unknown. Here we show that cardiac angiogenesis is crucially involved in the adaptive mechanism of cardiac hypertrophy and that p53 accumulation is essential for the transition from cardiac hypertrophy to heart failure. Pressure overload initially promoted vascular growth in the heart by hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (Hif-1)-dependent induction of angiogenic factors, and inhibition of angiogenesis prevented the development of cardiac hypertrophy and induced systolic dysfunction. Sustained pressure overload induced an accumulation of p53 that inhibited Hif-1 activity and thereby impaired cardiac angiogenesis and systolic function. Conversely, promoting cardiac angiogenesis by introducing angiogenic factors or by inhibiting p53 accumulation developed hypertrophy further and restored cardiac dysfunction under chronic pressure overload. These results indicate that the anti-angiogenic property of p53 may have a crucial function in the transition from cardiac hypertrophy to heart failure.     

Molecular imaging of tumor angiogenesis using RGD-labeled iron oxide nanoparticles

Integrin is often significantly up­regulated in activated endothelial cells during tumor angiogenesis. The arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide sequence is a specific recognition motif to α_νβ₃ integrin. In this study, a RGD labeled, Poly lactic acid (PLA) coated ultrasmall paramagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) (referred to as RGD-PLA-USPIO) were developed and the ability to detect tumor angiogenesis was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Increased uptake of RGD-PLA-USPIO by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was detected by Prussian blue stain and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM). Pronounced signal decrease in T₂^*-weighted magnetic resonance image (MRI) and heterogeneous arrangement of neovasculature of tumor tissue were clearly identified in Vx-2 tumor model. The MR signal of contralateral muscle only could be seen a slight background change after either RGD-PLA-USPIO or PLA-USPIO injection. These studies demonstrate the efficiency of RGD-PLA-USPIO to visualize α_νβ₃ integrin in activated tumor endothelial cells and its potential for detecting and monitoring tumor vasculature change after therapy.     

Bojungbangdocktang inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor induced angiogenesis via blocking the VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling pathway in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Oriental herbal medicines have been widely used for the prevention or treatment of various diseases including cancer in Asia. However, to prove their chemo preventive efficacies in modern times, scientific evidence for those herbal medicines is required. Thus, in the present study, an effective herbal cocktail Bojungbangdocktang (BJBDT) was investigated to elucidate antiangiogenic mechanism in vitro and in vivo. BJBDT significantly inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induced proliferation in HUVECs at nontoxic concentrations, despite weak cytotoxicity against human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). BJBDT also significantly suppressed VEGF-induced migration and tube formation of HUVECs. Furthermore, BJBDT treatment resulted in pale color and low hemoglobin level in Matrigel plugs, as well as dark red color and high hemoglobin level in untreated control. Interestingly, BJBDT specifically inhibited the binding of VEGF to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), but not VEGFR1. In addition, friedelin, formononetin, ginsenoside Rb1, naringin, atractyloside, diosgenin, and allantonin were identified from BJBDT by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis as a quality of control. Taken together, these results suggest that BJBDT is a potent angiogenesis inhibitor blocking the VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling pathway in HUVECs. Supported by the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation Grant from the Korean Government (Ministry of Science and Technology) (Grant No. R13-2007-019-00000-0)