Capillary sprout endothelial cells exhibit a CD36 low phenotype: regulation by shear stress and vascular endothelial growth factor-induced mechanism for attenuating anti-proliferative thrombospondin-1 signaling

Human placental vascular and perivascular cell heterogeneity differs between first trimester and term, and in pregnancies affected by foetal growth restriction

Growth-restricted placentae have a reduced vascular network, impairing exchange of nutrients and oxygen. However, little is known about the differentiation events and cell types that underpin normal/abnormal placental vascular formation and function. Here, we used 23-colour flow cytometry to characterize placental vascular/perivascular populations between first trimester and term, and in foetal growth restriction (FGR). First-trimester endothelial cells had an immature phenotype (CD144+/lowCD36-CD146low), while term endothelial cells expressed mature endothelial markers (CD36+CD146+). At term, a distinct population of CD31low endothelial cells co-expressed mesenchymal markers (CD90, CD26), indicating a capacity for endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT). In FGR, compared with normal pregnancies, endothelial cells constituted 3-fold fewer villous core cells (P < 0.05), contributing to an increased perivascular: endothelial cell ratio (2.6-fold, P < 0.05). This suggests that abnormal EndMT may play a role in FGR. First-trimester endothelial cells underwent EndMT in culture, losing endothelial (CD31, CD34, CD144) and gaining mesenchymal (CD90, CD26) marker expression. Together this highlights how differences in villous core cell heterogeneity and phenotype may contribute to FGR pathophysiology across gestation.

Fluid shear stress modulates endothelial inflammation by targeting LIMS2

Mechanosensitive genes regulate multiple cardiovascular pathophysiological processes and disorders; however, the role of flow-sensitive genes in atherosclerosis is still unknown. In this study, we identify LIM Zinc Finger Domain Containing 2 (LIMS2) that acts as a mechanosensitive gene downregulated by disturbed flow (d-flow) both in human endothelial cells (ECs) in vitro and in mice in vivo. Mechanistically, d-flow suppresses LIMS2 expression, which leads to endothelial inflammation by upregulating typical inflammatory factors, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 in human ECs. The findings indicate that LIMS2, the new flow-sensitive gene, may help us to find a new insight to explain how d-flow caused endothelial inflammation and provide a new therapeutic approach for atherosclerosis in the future.

Competing Fluid Forces Control Endothelial Sprouting in a 3-D Microfluidic Vessel Bifurcation Model

Sprouting angiogenesis-the infiltration and extension of endothelial cells from pre-existing blood vessels-helps orchestrate vascular growth and remodeling. It is now agreed that fluid forces, such as laminar shear stress due to unidirectional flow in straight vessel segments, are important regulators of angiogenesis. However, regulation of angiogenesis by the different flow dynamics that arise due to vessel branching, such as impinging flow stagnation at the base of a bifurcating vessel, are not well understood. Here we used a recently developed 3-D microfluidic model to investigate the role of the flow conditions that occur due to vessel bifurcations on endothelial sprouting. We observed that bifurcating fluid flow located at the vessel bifurcation point suppresses the formation of angiogenic sprouts. Similarly, laminar shear stress at a magnitude of ~3 dyn/cm² applied in the branched vessels downstream of the bifurcation point, inhibited the formation of angiogenic sprouts. In contrast, co-application of ~1 µm/s average transvascular flow across the endothelial monolayer with laminar shear stress induced the formation of angiogenic sprouts. These results suggest that transvascular flow imparts a competing effect against bifurcating fluid flow and laminar shear stress in regulating endothelial sprouting. To our knowledge, these findings are the first report on the stabilizing role of bifurcating fluid flow on endothelial sprouting. These results also demonstrate the importance of local flow dynamics due to branched vessel geometry in determining the location of sprouting angiogenesis.

Flow cytometric characterization of the saphenous veins endothelial cells in patients with chronic venous disease and in patients undergoing bypass surgery: an exploratory study

Recent findings have suggested that the primary factors for development of chronic venous disease (CVD), which commonly manifests as varicose veins (VV), are due to structural and biochemical modifications of the vessel wall. The aim of this exploratory study was to characterize by flow cytometry the endothelial cells (EC) mechanically extracted from the varicose saphenous veins (VSV) segments of patients submitted to VV surgery, and to compare the expression of cell surface molecules in these EC with that observed in the EC from the graft SV (GSV) of patients undergoing bypass surgery. EC were isolated from distal- (varicose trunk) and from proximal- (nearly normal) VSV segments of 30 patients submitted to VV surgery, and from proximal GSV segments of 20 patients submitted to bypass surgery (control group), using a mechanical method, and their immunophenotype was characterized by flow cytometry. EC were identified as being CD45^negCD146^brightCD31^bright, and analyzed for expression of activation-related (CD54, CD62E, CD106), procoagulant (CD142), and cell junction (CD31, CD146) molecules, and for the scavenger receptor, CD36. The EC harvested from the SV segments of CVD patients had lower expression of all the molecules evaluated, in comparison to controls; these differences were more evident for the EC isolated from the distal-VSV. The EC extracted from the proximal- and distal-VSV segments of the CVD patients also differ from each other, the first having lower levels of CD62E, CD106, CD142 and CD36. Groups did not match for gender and controls were heterogeneous concerning the underlying pathologies, which may have a confounding effect. Our study revealed that the EC isolated from varicose (distal) and nearly normal (proximal) VSV segments of the CVD patients differ phenotypically from each other, and from the EC of the control group. The VSV segments more affected by the CVD have the lowest expression of the studied markers. We hypothesize that CVD is associated with a decrease on the EC surface molecules, causing EC dysfunctionality. Further studies with a large number of gender-matched participants are needed, to confirm the results obtained in this exploratory study.

Induction of microvascular network growth in the mouse mesentery

OBJECTIVE

Motivated by observations of mesenteries harvested from mice treated with tamoxifen dissolved in oil for inducible gene mutation studies, the objective of this study was to demonstrate that microvascular growth can be induced in the avascular mouse mesentery tissue.

METHODS

C57BL/6 mice were administered an IP injection for five consecutive days of: saline, sunflower oil, tamoxifen dissolved in sunflower oil, corn oil, or peanut oil.

RESULTS

Twenty-one days post-injection, zero tissues from saline group contained branching microvascular networks. In contrast, all tissues from the three oils and tamoxifen groups contained vascular networks with arterioles, venules, and capillaries. Smooth muscle cells and pericytes were present in their expected locations and wrapping morphologies. Significant increases in vascularized tissue area and vascular density were observed when compared to saline group, but sunflower oil and tamoxifen group were not significantly different. Vascularized tissues also contained LYVE-1-positive and Prox1-positive lymphatic networks, indicating that lymphangiogenesis was stimulated. When comparing the different oils, vascularized tissue area and vascular density of sunflower oil were significantly higher than corn and peanut oils.

CONCLUSIONS

These results provide novel evidence supporting that induction of microvascular network growth into the normally avascular mouse mesentery is possible.

A Novel ex vivo Mouse Mesometrium Culture Model for Investigating Angiogenesis in Microvascular Networks

BACKGROUND

The development of models that incorporate intact microvascular networks enables the investigation of multicellular dynamics during angiogenesis. Our laboratory introduced the rat mesentery culture model as such a tool, which would be enhanced with mouse tissue. Since mouse mesentery is avascular, an alternative is mouse mesometrium, the connective tissue of uterine horns. The study's objective was to demonstrate that mouse mesometrium contains microvascular networks that can be cultured to investigate multicellular dynamics during angiogenesis.

METHODS

Harvested mesometrium tissues from C57Bl/6 female mice were cultured in media with serum for up to 7 days. PECAM, NG2, αSMA, and LYVE-1 labeling identified endothelial cells, pericytes, smooth muscle cells, and lymphatic endothelial cells, respectively.

RESULTS

These cells comprised microvascular networks with arterioles, venules, and capillaries. Compared to day 0, capillary sprouts per vascular length were increased by 3 and 5 days in culture (day 0, 0.08 ± 0.01; day 3, 3.19 ± 0.78; day 5, 2.49 ± 0.05 sprouts/mm; p < 0.05). Time-lapse imaging of cultured tissues from FlkEGFP mice showcases the use of the model for lineage studies. The impact is supported by the identification of endothelial cell jumping from one sprout to another.

CONCLUSION

These results introduce a novel culture model for investigating multicellular dynamics during angiogenesis in real-time ex vivo microvascular networks.

Endothelial Cell Phenotypes are Maintained During Angiogenesis in Cultured Microvascular Networks

A challenge in tissue engineering biomimetic models for studying angiogenesis is building the physiological complexity of real microvascular networks. Our laboratory recently introduced the rat mesentery culture model as an ex vivo experimental platform for investigating multicellular dynamics involved in angiogenesis within intact microvascular networks. The objective of this study was to compare endothelial cell phenotypes along capillary sprouts in cultured ex vivo rat mesentery microvascular networks to in vivo endothelial cell phenotypes. For Day 3 (Ex Vivo) tissues, adult rat mesentery tissues were cultured for three days in media supplemented with 10% serum. For Day 3 (In Vivo) tissues, adult rats were anesthetized and the mesentery was exteriorized for twenty minutes to induce angiogenesis. Microvascular networks from Day 3 (Ex Vivo) and Day 3 (In Vivo) groups were angiogenic, characterized by an increase in vessel density, capillary sprouting, and identification of similar BrdU-positive endothelial cell distributions along sprouts. Endothelial cells in both groups extended pseudopodia at the distal edge of capillary sprouts and displayed similar endothelial cell UNC5b, VEGFR-2, and CD36 labeling patterns. The results from this study support the physiological relevance of the rat mesentery culture model and highlight its novelty as a biomimetic tool for angiogenesis research.

VEGF-C induces lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in the rat mesentery culture model

OBJECTIVE

Lymphatic and blood microvascular systems are critical for tissue function. Insights into the coordination of both systems can be gained by investigating the relationships between lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis. Recently, our laboratory established the rat mesentery culture model as a novel tool to investigate multicellular interactions during angiogenesis in an intact microvascular network scenario. The objective of this study was to determine whether the rat mesentery culture model can be used to study lymphangiogenesis.

METHODS

Mesenteric tissue windows were harvested from adult male Wistar rats and cultured for three or five days in either serum-free MEM or MEM supplemented with VEGF-C. Tissues were immunolabeled for PECAM and LYVE-1 to identify blood and lymphatic endothelial cells, respectively. Tissues selected randomly from those containing vascular networks were quantified for angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.

RESULTS

VEGF-C treatment resulted in an increase in the density of blood vessel sprouting compared to controls by day 3. By day 5, lymphatic sprouting was increased compared to controls.

CONCLUSIONS

These results are consistent with in vivo findings that lymphangiogenesis lags angiogenesis after chronic stimulation and establish a tool for investigating the interrelationships between lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in a multisystem microvascular environment.

Intermittent whole-body vibration attenuates a reduction in the number of the capillaries in unloaded rat skeletal muscle

Background

Whole-body vibration has been suggested for the prevention of muscle mass loss and muscle wasting as an attractive measure for disuse atrophy. This study examined the effects of daily intermittent whole-body vibration and weight bearing during hindlimb suspension on capillary number and muscle atrophy in rat skeletal muscles.

Methods

Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control (CONT), hindlimb suspension (HS), HS + weight bearing (WB), and HS + whole-body vibration (VIB) (n = 15 each). Hindlimb suspension was applied for 2 weeks in HS, HS + WB, and HS + VIB groups. During suspension, rats in HS + VIB group were placed daily on a vibrating whole-body vibration platform for 20 min. In HS + WB group, suspension was interrupted for 20 min/day, allowing weight bearing. Untreated rats were used as controls.

Results

Soleus muscle wet weights and muscle fiber cross-sectional areas (CSA) significantly decreased in HS, HS + WB, and HS + VIB groups compared with CONT group. Both muscle weights and CSA were significantly greater in HS + WB and HS + VIB groups compared with HS group. Capillary numbers (represented by capillary-to-muscle fiber ratio) were significantly smaller in all hindlimb suspension-treated groups compared with CONT group. However, a reduction in capillary number by unloading hindlimbs was partially prevented by whole-body vibration. These findings were supported by examining mRNA for angiogenic-related factors. Expression levels of a pro-angiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor-A mRNA, were significantly lower in all hindlimb suspension-treated groups compared with CONT group. There were no differences among hindlimb suspension-treated groups. Expression levels of an anti-angiogenic factor, CD36 (receptor for thrombospondin-1) mRNA, were significantly higher in all hindlimb suspension-treated groups compared with CONT group. Among the hindlimb suspension-treated groups, expression of CD36 mRNA in HS + VIB group tended to be suppressed (less than half the HS group).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that weight bearing with or without vibration is effective for disuse-derived disturbance by preventing muscle atrophy, and whole-body vibration exercise has an additional benefit of maintaining microcirculation of skeletal muscle.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2474-15-315) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Metronomic chemotherapy and anti-angiogenesis: can upgraded pre-clinical assays improve clinical trials aimed at controlling tumor growth?

Metronomic chemotherapy, which is continuously administered systemically at close to non-toxic doses, targets the endothelial cells (ECs) that are proliferating during tumor angiogenesis. This leads to harmful effects of an even greatly increased number contiguous tumor cells. Although pre-clinical studies of angiogenesis-related EC features in vitro and of the anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor effects in vivo of metronomic chemotherapy have provided valuable insights, clinical trials with this type of therapy have been less successful in inhibiting tumor growth. One possible reason for the apparent disconnect between the pre-clinical and clinical outcomes is that most of the currently used experimental angiogenesis assays and tumor models are incapable of yielding data that can be translated readily into the clinical setting. Many of the assays used suffer from unintentional artifactual effects, e.g., oxidative stress in vitro, and inflammation in vivo, which reduces the sensitivity and discriminatory power of the assays. Co-treatment with an antioxidant or the inclusion of antioxidants in the vehicle often significantly affects the angiogenesis-modulating outcome of metronomic mono-chemotherapy in vivo. This ‘metronomic chemotherapy vehicle factor’ merits further study, as do the observations of antagonistic effects following metronomic treatment with a combination of standard chemotherapeutic drugs in vivo.

Relationships between lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis during inflammation in rat mesentery microvascular networks

BACKGROUND

Lymphatic and blood microvascular systems play a coordinated role in the regulation of interstitial fluid balance and immune cell trafficking during inflammation. The objective of this study was to characterize the temporal and spatial relationships between lymphatic and blood vessel growth in the adult rat mesentery following an inflammatory stimulus.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Mesenteric tissues were harvested from unstimulated adult male Wistar rats and at 3, 10, and 30 days post compound 48/80 stimulation. Tissues were immunolabeled for PECAM, LYVE-1, Prox1, podoplanin, CD11b, and class III β-tubulin. Vascular area, capillary blind end density, and vascular length density were quantified for each vessel system per time point. Blood vascular area increased compared to unstimulated tissues by day 10 and remained increased at day 30. Following the peak in blood capillary sprouting at day 3, blood vascular area and density increased at day 10. The number of blind-ended lymphatic vessels and lymphatic density did not significantly increase until day 10, and lymphatic vascular area was not increased compared to the unstimulated level until day 30. Lymphangiogenesis correlated with the upregulation of class III β-tubulin expression by endothelial cells along lymphatic blind-ended vessels and increased lymphatic/blood endothelial cell connections. In local tissue regions containing both blood and lymphatic vessels, the presence of lymphatics attenuated blood capillary sprouting.

CONCLUSIONS

Our work suggests that lymphangiogenesis lags angiogenesis during inflammation and motivates the need for future investigations aimed at understanding lymphatic/blood endothelial cell interactions. The results also indicate that lymphatic endothelial cells undergo phenotypic changes during lymphangiogenesis.

Vascular islands during microvascular regression and regrowth in adult networks

Objective: Angiogenesis is the growth of new vessels from pre-existing vessels and commonly associated with two modes: capillary sprouting and capillary splitting. Previous work by our laboratory suggests vascular island incorporation might be another endothelial cell dynamic involved in microvascular remodeling. Vascular islands are defined as endothelial cell segments disconnected from nearby networks, but their origin remains unclear. The objective of this study was to determine whether vascular islands associated with microvascular regression are involved in network regrowth.

Methods: Mesenteric tissues were harvested from adult male Wistar rats according to the experimental groups: unstimulated, post stimulation (10 and 70 days), and 70 days post stimulation + restimulation (3 and 10 days). Stimulation was induced by mast cell degranulation via intraperitoneal injections of compound 48/80. Tissues were immunolabeled for PECAM (endothelial cells), neuron-glial antigen 2 (NG2) (pericytes), collagen IV (basement membrane), and BrdU (proliferation).

Results: Percent vascular area per tissue area and length density increased by day 10 post stimulation compared to the unstimulated group. At day 70, vascular area and length density were then decreased, indicating vascular regression compared to the day 10 levels. The number of vascular islands at day 10 post stimulation was dramatically reduced compared to the unstimulated group. During regression at day 70, the number of islands increased. The disconnected endothelial cells were commonly bridged to surrounding networks by collagen IV labeling. NG2-positive pericytes were observed both along the islands and the collagen IV tracks. At 3 days post restimulation, vascular islands contained BrdU-positive cells. By day 10 post restimulation, when vascular area and length density were again increased, and the number of vascular islands was dramatically reduced.

Conclusion: The results suggest that vascular islands originating during microvascular regression are capable of undergoing proliferation and incorporation into nearby networks during network regrowth.

In vivo imaging of cerebral microvascular plasticity from birth to death

Cerebral function and viability are critically dependent on efficient delivery of oxygen and glucose through the microvasculature. Here, we studied individual microvessels in the intact brain using high-resolution confocal imaging and long-term time-lapse two-photon microscopy across the lifetime of a mouse. In the first postnatal month, we found large-scale sprouting but to our surprise the majority of sprouts underwent pruning and only a small fraction became perfused capillaries. After the first month, microvessel formation and elimination decreased and the net number of vessels stabilized. Although vascular stability was the hallmark of the adult brain, some vessel formation and elimination continued throughout life. In young adult mice, vessel formation was markedly increased after exposure to hypoxia; however, upon return to normoxia, no vessel elimination was observed, suggesting that new vessels constitute a long-term adaptive response to metabolic challenges. This plasticity was markedly reduced in older adults and aging where hypoxia-induced angiogenesis was absent. Our study describes, for the first time in vivo patterns of cerebral microvascular remodeling throughout life. Disruption of the observed balance between baseline turnover and vascular stability may underlie a variety of developmental and age-related degenerative neurological disorders.

An angiogenesis model for investigating multicellular interactions across intact microvascular networks

Developing therapies aimed at manipulating microvascular remodeling requires a better understanding of angiogenesis and how angiogenesis relates to other network remodeling processes, such as lymphangiogenesis and neurogenesis. The objective of this study was to develop an angiogenesis model that enables probing of multicellular and multisystem interactions at the molecular level across an intact adult microvascular network. Adult male Wistar rat mesenteric windows were aseptically harvested and cultured in serum-free minimum essential media. Viability/cytotoxicity analysis revealed that cells remain alive for at least 7 days. Immunohistochemical labeling at 3 days for platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM), neuron-glial antigen 2 (NG2), lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1 (LYVE-1), and class III β-tubulin identified endothelial cells, pericytes, lymphatics, and nerves, respectively. Media supplemented with bFGF or VEGF induced an increase in endothelial cell sprouting off existing vessels. Endothelial cell sprouting in both growth factor groups was inhibited by targeting pericytes with NG2 functional blocking antibody. VEGF caused an increase in the number of lymphatic/blood endothelial cell connections compared with media alone or bFGF groups. Finally, the comparison of the same network before and after angiogenesis stimulated by the supplement of media with 20% serum identified the ability of disconnected endothelial segments to reconnect to nearby vessels. The results establish a novel in situ angiogenesis model for investigating the location of capillary sprouting within an intact network, the role of pericytes, lymphatic/blood endothelial cell interactions, and the fate of specific endothelial cell segments. The rat mesentery culture system offers a unique tool for understanding the complex dynamics associated with angiogenesis in an intact adult tissue.

Cell proliferation along vascular islands during microvascular network growth

Background

Observations in our laboratory provide evidence of vascular islands, defined as disconnected endothelial cell segments, in the adult microcirculation. The objective of this study was to determine if vascular islands are involved in angiogenesis during microvascular network growth.

Results

Mesenteric tissues, which allow visualization of entire microvascular networks at a single cell level, were harvested from unstimulated adult male Wistar rats and Wistar rats 3 and 10 days post angiogenesis stimulation by mast cell degranulation with compound 48/80. Tissues were immunolabeled for PECAM and BRDU. Identification of vessel lumens via injection of FITC-dextran confirmed that endothelial cell segments were disconnected from nearby patent networks. Stimulated networks displayed increases in vascular area, length density, and capillary sprouting. On day 3, the percentage of islands with at least one BRDU-positive cell increased compared to the unstimulated level and was equal to the percentage of capillary sprouts with at least one BRDU-positive cell. At day 10, the number of vascular islands per vascular area dramatically decreased compared to unstimulated and day 3 levels.

Conclusions

These results show that vascular islands have the ability to proliferate and suggest that they are able to incorporate into the microcirculation during the initial stages of microvascular network growth.

Rat mesentery exteriorization: a model for investigating the cellular dynamics involved in angiogenesis

Microvacular network growth and remodeling are critical aspects of wound healing, inflammation, diabetic retinopathy, tumor growth and other disease conditions^{1, 2}. Network growth is commonly attributed to angiogenesis, defined as the growth of new vessels from pre-existing vessels. The angiogenic process is also directly linked to arteriogenesis, defined as the capillary acquisition of a perivascular cell coating and vessel enlargement. Needless to say, angiogenesis is complex and involves multiple players at the cellular and molecular level³. Understanding how a microvascular network grows requires identifying the spatial and temporal dynamics along the hierarchy of a network over the time course of angiogenesis. This information is critical for the development of therapies aimed at manipulating vessel growth.

The exteriorization model described in this article represents a simple, reproducible model for stimulating angiogenesis in the rat mesentery. It was adapted from wound-healing models in the rat mesentery^4-7, and is an alternative to stimulate angiogenesis in the mesentery via i.p. injections of pro-angiogenic agents^{8, 9}. The exteriorization model is attractive because it requires minimal surgical intervention and produces dramatic, reproducible increases in capillary sprouts, vascular area and vascular density over a relatively short time course in a tissue that allows for the two-dimensional visualization of entire microvascular networks down to single cell level. The stimulated growth reflects natural angiogenic responses in a physiological environment without interference of foreign angiogenic molecules. Using immunohistochemical labeling methods, this model has been proven extremely useful in identifying novel cellular events involved in angiogenesis. Investigators can readily correlate the angiogenic metrics during the time course of remodeling with time specific dynamics, such as cellular phenotypic changes or cellular interactions^{4, 5, 7, 10, 11}.

The association of CD36 variants with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy compared to typical neovascular age-related macular degeneration

PURPOSE

To clarify the association of cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) variants with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and compare them with those in typical neovascular age-related macular degeneration (tAMD).

METHODS

We included 349 Japanese AMD patients (210 PCV, 139 tAMD) and 198 age-matched controls. Four tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)-rs10499862, rs3173798, rs3211883, and rs3173800-in the CD36 region were genotyped using the TaqMan assay. Allelic and genotypic frequencies of the SNPs were tested.

RESULTS

Although none of the SNPs tested were associated with PCV, the allelic frequencies of rs3173798 and rs3173800 were significantly different between PCV and tAMD patients. Genotype association analysis demonstrated different associations of these two SNPs between PCV and tAMD in the genotype model. Haplotype analysis revealed that the association of the major haplotype (T-T-T-T) at four selected SNPs in CD36 differed significantly between PCV and tAMD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The CD36 region may be associated with the difference in genetic susceptibility for PCV and tAMD.

Fluid forces control endothelial sprouting

During angiogenesis, endothelial cells (ECs) from intact blood vessels quickly infiltrate avascular regions via vascular sprouting. This process is fundamental to many normal and pathological processes such as wound healing and tumor growth, but its initiation and control are poorly understood. Vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) can promote vessel dilation and angiogenic sprouting, but given the complex nature of vascular morphogenesis, additional signals are likely necessary to determine, for example, which vessel segments sprout, which dilate, and which remain quiescent. Fluid forces exerted by blood and plasma are prime candidates that might codirect these processes, but it is not known whether VEGF cooperates with mechanical fluid forces to mediate angiogenesis. Using a microfluidic tissue analog of angiogenic sprouting, we found that fluid shear stress, such as exerted by flowing blood, attenuates EC sprouting in a nitric oxide-dependent manner and that interstitial flow, such as produced by extravasating plasma, directs endothelial morphogenesis and sprout formation. Furthermore, positive VEGF gradients initiated sprouting but negative gradients inhibited sprouting, promoting instead sheet-like migration analogous to vessel dilation. These results suggest that ECs integrate signals from fluid forces and local VEGF gradients to achieve such varied goals as vessel dilation and sprouting.

Passive recruitment of circulating leukocytes into capillary sprouts from existing capillaries in a microfluidic system

Recent evidence implicating leukocytes in angiogenesis raises the question of whether leukocytes and other cells circulating with the blood in microvascular networks can home to capillary sprouts intraluminally. This study describes an investigation of leukocyte trafficking in sprouting capillaries fabricated using soft lithography. The leukocytes passing with whole blood through existing capillaries were able to enter microfabricated capillary sprouts of variable length and sprouting angle due to the mechanical interaction with red blood cells (RBCs) at the sprouting bifurcation, in spite of the complete absence of blood flow through the blind-ended sprouts or any chemoattractants. The RBCs formed "comet tails" (the densely packed cellular trains forming behind leukocytes as they move through narrow capillaries) and effectively pushed leukocytes into the microfabricated sprouts while bypassing them at the sprouting bifurcation. Individual sprouts filled with several leukocytes, as wells as RBCs and platelets, were observed. The results of this study suggest that (i) blood cells are likely present in capillary sprouts throughout their development, (ii) leukocytes and other circulating cells may use this mechanism to home to capillary sprouts intraluminally for direct engraftment, and (iii) tissues may use this phenomenon as another mechanism for local recruitment of leukocytes from the blood stream.

Lymphatic/Blood endothelial cell connections at the capillary level in adult rat mesentery

Analyses of microvascular networks with traditional tracer filling techniques suggest that the blood and lymphatic systems are distinct without direct communications, yet involvement of common growth factors during angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis suggest that interactions at the capillary level are possible. To investigate the structural basis for lymphatic/blood endothelial cell connections during normal physiological growth, the objective of this study was to characterize the spatial relations between lymphatic and blood capillaries in adult rat mesenteric tissue. Using immunohistochemical methods, adult male Wistar rat mesenteric tissues were labeled with antibodies against PECAM (an endothelial marker) and LYVE-1, Prox-1, or Podoplanin (lymphatic endothelial markers) or NG2 (a pericyte marker). Positive PECAM labeling identified apparent lymphatic/blood endothelial cell connections at the capillary level characterized by direct contact or direct alignment with one another. In PECAM labeled networks, a subset of the lymphatic and blood capillary blind ends were connected with each other. Intravital imaging of FITC-Albumin injected through the femoral vein did not identify lymphatic vessels. At contact sites, lymphatic endothelial markers did not extend along blood capillary segments. However, PECAM positive lymphatic sprouts, structurally similar to blood capillary sprouts, lacked observable lymphatic marker labeling. These observations suggest that nonlumenal lymphatic/blood endothelial cell interactions exist in unstimulated adult microvascular networks and highlight the potential for lymphatic/blood endothelial cell plasticity.

Anticancer Role of PPARgamma Agonists in Hematological Malignancies Found in the Vasculature, Marrow, and Eyes

The use of targeted cancer therapies in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic agents and/or radiation treatment has increased overall survival of cancer patients. However, longer survival is accompanied by increased incidence of comorbidities due, in part, to drug side effects and toxicities. It is well accepted that inflammation and tumorigenesis are linked. Because peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma agonists are potent mediators of anti-inflammatory responses, it was a logical extension to examine the role of PPARgamma agonists in the treatment and prevention of cancer. This paper has two objectives: first to highlight the potential uses for PPARgamma agonists in anticancer therapy with special emphasis on their role when used as adjuvant or combined therapy in the treatment of hematological malignancies found in the vasculature, marrow, and eyes, and second, to review the potential role PPARgamma and/or its ligands may have in modulating cancer-associated angiogenesis and tumor-stromal microenvironment crosstalk in bone marrow.

Phthalimide neovascular factor 1 (PNF1) modulates MT1-MMP activity in human microvascular endothelial cells

We are creating synthetic pharmaceuticals with angiogenic activity and potential to promote vascular invasion. We previously demonstrated that one of these molecules, phthalimide neovascular factor 1 (PNF1), significantly expands microvascular networks in vivo following sustained release from poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLAGA) films. In addition, to probe PNF1 mode of action, we recently applied a novel pathway-based compendium analysis to a multi-timepoint, controlled microarray data set of PNF1-treated (vs. control) human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs), and we identified induction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and, subsequently, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling networks by PNF1. Here we validate this microarray data set with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Subsequently, we probe this data set and identify three specific TGF-beta-induced genes with regulation by PNF1 conserved over multiple timepoints-amyloid beta (A4) precursor protein (APP), early growth response 1 (EGR-1), and matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14 or MT1-MMP)-that are also implicated in angiogenesis. We further focus on MMP14 given its unique role in angiogenesis, and we validate MT1-MMP modulation by PNF1 with an in vitro fluorescence assay that demonstrates the direct effects that PNF1 exerts on functional metalloproteinase activity. We also utilize endothelial cord formation in collagen gels to show that PNF1-induced stimulation of endothelial cord network formation in vitro is in some way MT1-MMP-dependent. Ultimately, this new network analysis of our transcriptional footprint characterizing PNF1 activity 1-48 h post-supplementation in HMVECs coupled with corresponding validating experiments suggests a key set of a few specific targets that are involved in PNF1 mode of action and important for successful promotion of the neovascularization that we have observed by the drug in vivo.

Positive association of common variants in CD36 with neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of legal blindness among older individuals of industrialized countries. In neovascular AMD, which is an advanced stage of AMD, choroidal neovascularization develops underneath the macula and destroys central vision. Oxidative stress is a hypothesized pathway for the pathophysiology of AMD. CD36 was chosen as a candidate gene for neovascular AMD because the protein plays an important role in this pathway as well as in angiogenesis and in maintaining chorioretinal homeostasis. We tested 19 tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across CD36 for their association with the disease in a Japanese population comprising 109 neovascular AMD subjects and 182 unrelated controls. Five of the 19 SNPs demonstrated a nominally significant association with neovascular AMD (P < 0.05), of which two (rs3173798 and rs3211883) withstood Bonferroni correction for multiple testing (rs3173798, nominal P = 9.96 x 10-4, allele-specific odds ratio = 0.55; rs3211883, nominal P = 2.09 x 10-4, allele-specific odds ratio = 0.50). Population structure analyses excluded stratification artifacts in our study cohort. This study supports the candidacy of CD36 as a novel susceptibility gene for neovascular AMD. Replication of our results in other populations will provide further convincing evidence for the genetic association.