Statin treatment decreases serum angiostatin levels in patients with ischemic heart disease

ZNF667 facilitates angiogenesis after myocardial ischemia through transcriptional regulation of VASH1 and Wnt signaling pathway

Zinc finger protein 667 (ZNF667, also referred as Mipu1), a widely expressed KRAB/C₂H₂-type zinc finger transcription factor, can protect against hypoxic-ischemic myocardial injury. Pro-angiogenesis is regarded as a promising strategy for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, whether ZNF667 is involved in the angiogenesis following AMI remains to be elucidated. The present study reported that the expression of ZNF667 in CD31-positive endothelial cells (ECs) was upregulated in the heart of AMI mice. Hypoxic challenge (1% oxygen) promoted the mRNA and protein expression of ZNF667 in the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in a time-dependent manner. Moreover, ZNF667 promoted hypoxia-induced invasion and tube formation of HUVECs. Mechanically, ZNF667 could directly bind to the promoter of anti-angiogenic gene VASH1 and inhibit its expression. Consequently, VASH1 overexpression abolished hypoxic challenge or ZNF667 overexpression-induced invasion and tube formation of HUVECs. Further bioinformatic analyses suggested that overexpression of ZNF667 or knockdown of VASH1-induced differentially expressed genes in HUVECs were greatly enriched in the Wnt signaling pathway (DAAM1, LEF1, RAC2, FRAT1, NFATc2 and WNT5A). Together, these data suggested that ZNF667 facilitates myocardial ischemia-driven angiogenesis through transcriptional repression of VASH1 and regulation of Wnt signaling pathway.

Assessment of selected angiogenesis markers in the serum of middle-aged male patients with plaque psoriasis

Local angiogenesis accompanies inflammation in psoriasis-affected skin. To determine the serum concentrations of selected pro- and anti-angiogenic factors and their interrelationships in patients with plaque psoriasis. The study included 41 men diagnosed with psoriasis, aged 43.5 ± 11.7 years. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score was 23.4 ± 5.2 points. The control group consisted of 38 healthy, age-matched men. The levels of pro-angiogenic cytokines and angiogenesis inhibitors, including fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), endostatin, and angiostatin, were determined from the serum of patients and controls using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Compared with controls, patients with psoriasis had a significantly lower concentration of FGF-1 (P = .01) but higher concentrations of endostatin (P = .04) and angiostatin (P = .02). The concentration of VEGF-A was also higher in patients with psoriasis but not significantly (P = .25). The concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) was significantly higher among patients with psoriasis than controls (P < .0001). Among controls, CRP concentrations did not correlate significantly with the concentrations of FGF-1, VEGF-A, endostatin, or angiostatin. Among patients with psoriasis, CRP concentrations correlated moderately with the concentrations of VEGF-A (r = .35; P = .02) and angiostatin (r = .31; P = .04). The concentration of VEGF-A correlated positively with PASI (r = .05; P = .0009) and BSA values (r = .39; P = .01). Psoriasis is associated with an altered systemic balance between pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors. The increase in serum angiogenesis inhibitors may be associated with unfavorable changes in the development of coronary collateral circulation. However, the clinical significance of this has not yet been established.

Research Progress of Angiogenesis in Atherosclerotic Plaque in Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine

Angiogenesis in atherosclerotic plaque plays a critical role in the mechanism of atherosclerotic physiopathology. Present consensus shows that angiogenesis in atherosclerotic plaque is mainly resulted in hypoxia, inflammation and some pro-angiogenic factors. The homeostasis in plaque, which is hypoxic and infiltrated by inflammatory cells, may lead to angiogenesis, increase the plaque instability and the incidence rate of vascular events. This article reviews the progression of pathogenetic mechanism, physiopathological significance, relevant detecting technique and corresponding therapeutic methods of Chinese and Western medicine of angiogenesis in atherosclerotic plaque, so as to provide more theoretical basis for atherosclerotic clinical treatment.

PLASMINOGEN AND ANGIOSTATIN LEVELS IN FEMALE BENIGN BREAST LESIONS

It is known that benign breast tissue exhibit relatively low angiogenic capacity. Activation of angiogenesis in mammary pre-malignant lesions could be associated with disease progression and high risk of transformation into the breast cancer. However, insight into the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in angiogenesis regulation in non-cancerous breast pathologies is still poorly defined. The purpose of the present study was to determine levels of plasminogen and its proteolytic fragments (angiostatins) in mammary dysplasia (mastopathy and breast cyst) and benign neoplasms (fibroadenomas). Plasminogen and angiostatins were analyzed using immunoblotting and quantified by densitometric scanning. The significant increase in plasminogen levels was found in fibrocystic, cysts, and non-proliferatious fibroadenoma masses (4.7-, 3.7-, and 3.5-fold, respectively) compared to healthy breast tissues (control). In the same benign lesions, 6.7-, 4-, and 3.7-fold increase in plasminogen 50 kDa fragment (angiostatin) levels as compared with control were also observed. Activation of matrix metalloproteinase-9, which was detected using gelatine zymography, could be responsible for plasminogen cleavage and abundance of angiostatin infibrocystic and cyst masses. In contrast, dramatic decrease of both plasminogen and angiostatin levels (3.8- and 5.3-folds, respectively) was shown in tissues of proliferatious form of fibroadenoma in comparison with that of the dormant type of this neoplasm. Based on the obtained results, we concluded that angiostatin, a potent vessel growth inhibitor and anti-inflammatory molecule, can play a crucial role in pathophysiology of non-cancerous breast diseases. Further studies are needed to evaluate potential diagnostic and clinical implications of these proteins for prediction and therapy of benign breast pathologies.