The Impact of Simulated Weightlessness on Endothelium-Dependent Angiogenesis and the Role of Caveolae/Caveolin-1

Cell Physiol Biochem. 2016;38(2):502-13. doi: 10.1159/000438646. Epub 2016 Feb 1.

Abstract

Background/aims: The potential role of caveolin-1 in modulating angiogenesis in microgravity environment is unexplored.

Methods: Using simulated microgravity by clinostat, we measured the expressions and interactions of caveolin-1 and eNOS in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Results: We found that decreased caveolin-1 expression is associated with increased expression and phosphorylation levels of eNOS in endothelial cells stimulated by microgravity, which causes a dissociation of eNOS from caveolin-1 complexes. As a result, microgravity induces cell migration and tube formation in endothelial cell in vitro that depends on the regulations of caveolin-1.

Conclusion: Our study provides insight for the important endothelial functions in altered gravitational environments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Caveolae / metabolism*
  • Caveolin 1 / analysis
  • Caveolin 1 / metabolism*
  • Cell Movement
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / analysis
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / metabolism*
  • Protein Interaction Maps
  • Weightlessness Simulation*

Substances

  • Caveolin 1
  • NOS3 protein, human
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III