Apelin is a novel angiogenic factor in retinal endothelial cells

Atsushi Kasai; Norihito Shintani; Maki Oda; Michiya Kakuda; Hitoshi Hashimoto; Toshio Matsuda; Shuji Hinuma; Akemichi Baba

doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.10.042

Apelin is a novel angiogenic factor in retinal endothelial cells

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004 Dec 10;325(2):395-400. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.10.042.

Authors

Atsushi Kasai¹, Norihito Shintani, Maki Oda, Michiya Kakuda, Hitoshi Hashimoto, Toshio Matsuda, Shuji Hinuma, Akemichi Baba

Affiliation

¹ Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Japan.

PMID: 15530405
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.10.042

Abstract

There has been much focus recently on the possible functions of apelin, an endogenous ligand for the orphan G-protein-coupled receptor APJ, in cardiovascular and central nervous systems. We report a new function of apelin as a novel angiogenic factor in retinal endothelial cells. The retinal endothelial cell line RF/6A highly expressed both apelin and APJ transcripts, while human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVECs) only expressed apelin mRNA. In accordance with these observations, apelin at concentrations of 1 pM-1 microM significantly enhanced migration, proliferation, and capillary-like tube formation of RF/6A cells, but not those of HUVECs, whereas VEGF stimulates those parameters of both cell types. In vivo Matrigel plug assay for angiogenesis, the inclusion of 1 nM apelin in the Matrigel resulted in clear capillary-like formations with an increase of hemoglobin content in the plug. This is the first report showing that apelin is an angiogenic factor in retinal endothelial cells.

MeSH terms

Adipokines
Angiogenesis Modulating Agents / metabolism
Angiogenesis Modulating Agents / pharmacology
Angiogenic Proteins / pharmacology*
Angiogenic Proteins / physiology
Animals
Apelin
Capillaries / growth & development
Capillaries / ultrastructure
Carrier Proteins / pharmacology*
Carrier Proteins / physiology
Cell Movement / drug effects
Cell Proliferation / drug effects
Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism*
Hemoglobins / analysis
Humans
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
Mice
Neovascularization, Physiologic / drug effects
Recombinant Proteins / genetics
Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
Retina / cytology
Retina / drug effects
Retina / metabolism*
Umbilical Veins / cytology
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / pharmacology

Substances

Adipokines
Angiogenesis Modulating Agents
Angiogenic Proteins
Apelin
Apln protein, mouse
Carrier Proteins
Hemoglobins
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
Recombinant Proteins
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A