Angiopoietin/Tie2 pathway mediates type 2 diabetes induced vascular damage after cerebral stroke

We investigated the changes and the molecular mechanisms of cerebral vascular damage after stroke in type-2 diabetic (T2DM) mice. Adult male db/db T2DM and wild-type (WT) mice were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) and sacrificed 24 hours after MCAo. T2DM-mice exhibited significantly increased blood glucose, brain hemorrhagic rate, mortality and cerebrovascular density, but decreased cerebrovascular diameter, arteriolar density and arterial mural cell numbers in the ischemic brain compared with WT mice. The hemorrhagic rate was significantly correlated with the mortality (r = 0.85). T2DM-mice also exhibited increased blood-brain barrier leakage and concomitantly, increased Angiopoietin2, but decreased Angiopoietin1, Tie2 and tight junction protein expression in the ischemic brain. Angiopoietin1 gene expression also significantly decreased in the common carotid artery (CCA) in T2DM-mice compared with WT mice after stroke. To further test the effects of T2DM on cerebrovascular damage, we performed in vitro studies. The capillary-like tube formation of primary cultured mouse brain endothelial cells (MBECs) significantly increased, but artery cell migration in the primary CCA cultures significantly decreased both in Sham and MCAo T2DM-mice compared with the WT mice. Angiopoietin1 treatment significantly increased artery cell migration in T2DM-CCA after MCAo. Tie2-FC, a neutralized Tie2 antibody, significantly decreased artery cell migration in WT-CCA after MCAo. Therefore, decreased Angiopoietin1/Tie2 and increased Angiopoietin2 expression may contribute to diabetes-induced vascular damage after stroke.     

Nitric oxide donor up-regulation of SDF1/CXCR4 and Ang1/Tie2 promotes neuroblast cell migration after stroke

We tested the hypothesis that a nitric oxide donor, DETA-NONOate, up-regulates stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF1) and angiopoietin 1 (Ang1) in the ischemic brain and their respective receptors chemokine CXC motif receptor 4 (CXCR4) and Tie2 in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and thereby promote SVZ neuroblast cell migration after stroke. C57BL/6J mice were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo), and 24 hr later DETA-NONOate (0.4 mg/kg) or phosphate-buffered solution was intravenously administered. Mice were sacrificed at 14 days for histological assessment or sacrificed at 3 days for analysis by real-time polymerase chain reaction and migration after MCAo. To elucidate whether SDF1/CXCR4 and Ang1/Tie2 pathways mediate DETA-NONOate-induced SVZ migration after stroke, SDF1alpha, Ang1 peptide, a specific antagonist of CXCR4 (AMD3100), and a neutralizing antibody of Tie2 (anti-Tie2) were used in vitro. DETA-NONOate significantly increased the percentage area of doublecortin (DCX, a marker of migrating neuroblasts)-immunoreactive cells in the SVZ and ischemic boundary zone. DETA-NONOate significantly increased the expression of SDF1 and Ang1 in the ischemic border and up-regulated CXCR4 and Tie2 in the SVZ compared with MCAo control. DCX-positive cell migration from SVZ explants was significantly increased in the DETA-NONOate treatment group compared with MCAo-alone animals. In vitro, SDF1alpha and Ang1 significantly increased SVZ explants cell migration. In addition, inhibition of CXCR4 or Tie2 significantly attenuated DETA-NONOate-induced SVZ cell migration. Our data indicate that treatment of stroke with a nitric oxide donor up-regulates SDF1/CXCR4 and Ang1/Tie2 pathways and thereby likely increases SVZ neuroblast cell migration.     

The sonic hedgehog pathway mediates brain plasticity and subsequent functional recovery after bone marrow stromal cell treatment of stroke in mice

Bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) improve neurologic recovery after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). To examine whether in vivo blockage of the endogenous sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway affects grafted MSC-induced neurologic benefits, MCAo mice were administered: vehicle (control); cyclopamine (CP)— a specific Shh pathway inhibitor; MSC; and MSC and cyclopamine (MSC-CP). Neurologic function was evaluated after MCAo. Electron microscopy and immunofluorescence staining were employed to measure synapse density, protein expression of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), and Shh in parenchymal cells in the ischemic boundary zone (IBZ), respectively. Marrow stromal cell treatment significantly enhanced functional recovery after ischemia, concurrent with increases of synaptophysin, synapse density, and myelinated axons along the IBZ, and significantly increased tPA and Shh expression in astrocytes and neurons compared with control. After treatment with MSC-CP or CP, the above effects were reversed. Co-culture of MSCs with cortical neurons confirmed the effect of Shh on MSC-mediated neurite outgrowth. Our data support the hypothesis that the Shh pathway mediates brain plasticity via tPA and thereby functional recovery after treatment of stroke with MSCs.     

Niaspan increases angiogenesis and improves functional recovery after stroke

OBJECTIVE: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is implicated in the modulation of angiogenesis. In this study, we investigated whether the Niacin-mediated increase of HDL regulates angiogenesis and thereby improves functional outcome after stroke. METHODS: Adult male rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion and were treated with or without different doses (40 and 80 mg/kg) of Niaspan, starting 24 hours after middle cerebral artery occlusion and daily for 14 days. Neurological functional tests were performed, and serum HDL level was measured. Angiogenesis and angiogenic factor expression were measured by immunohistochemistry, corneal neovascularization and capillary tube formation assay, and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: Niaspan significantly increased HDL level, promoted angiogenesis in the ischemic brain, and improved functional outcome after stroke. Niaspan also significantly increased corneal neovascularization compared with nontreatment control. Mechanisms underlying the Niaspan-induced vascular remodeling were investigated. Niaspan increased the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin-1 (Ang1), and phosphorylation of Akt, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and Tie2 in the ischemic brain. Niacin upregulated Ang1 expression in cultured brain endothelial cells and increased vascular endothelial growth factor, Ang1, and endothelial NOS expression in cultured astrocytes, and dose-dependently increased capillary tube formation compared with nontreatment control. Inhibition of NOS partially decreased Niacin-induced capillary tube formation. Inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase or knockdown of Tie2 substantially and significantly decreased Niacin-induced capillary tube formation. INTERPRETATION: Niacin increases HDL and promotes angiogenesis, which may contribute to improvement of functional outcome after stroke. The Ang1/Tie2, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt, and endothelial NOS pathways appear to mediate Niacin-induced angiogenesis.     

Correlation of VEGF and angiopoietin expression with disruption of blood-brain barrier and angiogenesis after focal cerebral ischemia.

In an effort to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying cerebral vascular alteration after stroke, the authors measured the spatial and temporal profiles of blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakage, angiogenesis, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), associated receptors, and angiopoietins and receptors after embolic stroke in the rat. Two to four hours after onset of ischemia, VEGF mRNA increased, whereas angiopoietin 1 (Ang 1) mRNA decreased. Three-dimensional immunofluorescent analysis revealed spatial coincidence between increases of VEGF immunoreactivity and BBB leakage in the ischemic core. Two to 28 days after the onset of stroke, increased expression of VEGF/VEGF receptors and Ang/Tie2 was detected at the boundary of the ischemic lesion. Concurrently, enlarged and thin-walled vessels were detected at the boundary of the ischemic lesion, and these vessels developed into smaller vessels via sprouting and intussusception. Three-dimensional quantitative analysis of cerebral vessels at the boundary zone 14 days after ischemia revealed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in numbers of vessels (n = 365) compared with numbers (n = 66) in the homologous tissue of the contralateral hemisphere. Furthermore, capillaries in the penumbra had a significantly smaller diameter (4.8 +/- 2.0 microm) than capillaries (5.4 +/- 1.5 microm) in the homologous regions of the contralateral hemisphere. Together, these data suggest that acute alteration of VEGF and Ang 1 in the ischemic core may mediate BBB leakage, whereas upregulation of VEGF/VEGF receptors and Ang/Tie2 at the boundary zone may regulate neovascularization in ischemic brain.     

Tumor necrosis factor α primes cerebral endothelial cells for erythropoietin-induced angiogenesis

Erythropoietin (EPO) enhances angiogenesis in the ischemic brain. Stroke induces secretion of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). We investigated the effect of TNF-α on EPO-induced in vitro angiogenesis in cerebral endothelial cells. Using a capillary-like tubular formation assay, we found that transient incubation of primary rat cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (RECs) with TNF-α substantially upregulated EPO receptor (EPOR) expression and addition of EPO into TNF-α-treated RECs significantly augmented the capillary-like tube formation. Blockage of TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) suppressed TNF-α-upregulated EPOR expression and abolished EPO-induced tube formation. Attenuation of endogenous EPOR with small interfering RNA (siRNA) also inhibited EPO-enhanced tube formation. Treatment of RECs with EPO activated nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and Akt. Incubation of the TNF-α-treated endothelial cells with EPO activated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2), angiopoietin 1 (Ang1), and Tie2. Blockage of VEGFR2 and Tie2 resulted in reduction of EPO-augmented tube formation. These data indicate that interaction of TNF-α with TNFR1 sensitizes cerebral endothelial cells for EPO-induced angiogenesis by upregulation of EPOR, which amplifies the effect of EPO on activation of the VEGF/VEGFR2 and Ang1/Tie2 pathways. Our results provide the evidence for crosslink between TNF and EPOR to coordinate the onset of angiogenesis in cerebral endothelial cells.     

Niaspan enhances vascular remodeling after stroke in type 1 diabetic rats

We investigated the changes and the molecular mechanisms of cerebral vascular damage and tested the therapeutic effects of Niaspan in type-1 streptozotocin induced diabetic (T1DM) rats after stroke. T1DM-rats were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) and treated without or with Niaspan. Non-streptozotocin rats (WT) were also subjected to MCAo. Functional outcome, blood–brain-barrier (BBB) leakage, brain hemorrhage, immunostaining, and rat brain microvascular endothelial cell (RBEC) culture were performed. Compared to WT-MCAo-rats, T1DM-MCAo-rats did not show an increase lesion volume, but exhibited significantly increased brain hemorrhage, BBB leakage and vascular damage as well as decreased functional outcome after stroke. Niaspan treatment of stroke in T1DM-MCAo-rats significantly attenuated BBB damage, promoted vascular remodeling and improved functional outcome after stroke. T1DM-MCAo-rats exhibited significantly increased Angiopoietin 2 (Ang2) expression, but decreased Ang1 expression in the ischemic brain compared to WT-MCAo-rats. Niaspan treatment attenuated Ang2, but increased Ang1 expression in the ischemic brain in T1DM-MCAo-rats. In vitro data show that the capillary-like tube formation in the WT-RBECs marginally increased compared to T1DM-RBEC. Niaspan and Ang1 treatment significantly increased tube formation compared to non-treatment control. Inhibition of Ang1 attenuated Niacin-induced tube formation in T1DM-RBECs. Niaspan treatment of stroke in T1DM-rats promotes vascular remodeling and improves functional outcome. The Ang1/Ang2 pathway may contribute to Niaspan induced brain plasticity. Niaspan warrants further investigation as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of stroke in diabetics.     

心肌梗死大鼠血管生成过程中血管生成素1及其Tie2受体的表达**☆

目的：通过检测正常心肌组织及心肌梗死后血管生成素1及其受体Tie2受体 mRNA的表达水平，探讨其在心肌梗死后的血管新生过程的作用。 方法：实验于2006-04/2007-04在北京大学医学部生物化学与分子生物学基因组实验室完成。将40只雄性SD大鼠随机分为急性心肌梗死组和假手术组，急性心肌梗死组通过结扎前降支建立心肌梗死模型，假手术组只穿线不结扎。于术后3，7，14，28 d 四个时间点，每组取5只处死，取心脏左室前壁同一部位，提取总RNA，用RT-PCR的方法，以GAPDH基因为内参，进行半定量分析检测正常心脏及梗死后血管生成素1及Tie2 mRNA的表达；同时用免疫组化的方法检测各时间点梗死区域以及梗死周边区域血管数量。实验过程中动物处置符合动物伦理学标准。 结果：40只大鼠进入结果分析。血管生成素1及Tie2在正常心肌组织中均有所表达。在心肌梗死后的28 d内，血管生成素1维持在相对不变的水平，而Tie2的表达在心肌梗死后3 d略有升高，于7 d后达顶峰，14 d后恢复正常；急性心肌梗死后7 d, 梗死区及梗死周边区域的血管数量均明显增多，并不随时间的延长而改变，维持在同一水平。 结论：心肌梗死后Tie2受体的表达上调，与血管生成的时间相吻合，提示其在心肌梗死后的血管生成和稳定过程中起了一定的作用。     

Hydrogen sulfide treatment induces angiogenesis after cerebral ischemia

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a potent vasodilator and regulates cardiovascular homeostasis. Furthermore, H₂S has a crucial role in ischemia?reperfusion injuries, especially of the heart, liver, and kidneys. This study indicates that treatment with hydrogen sulfide is able to restore neurological function after ischemic stroke by promoting angiogenesis. Treatment with H₂S augments angiogenesis in the peri‐infarct area, and it significantly improves functional outcomes after 2 weeks in a rat MCAO model. H₂S promotes the phosphorylation of AKT and ERK and increases the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin‐1 (Ang‐1). H₂S‐treated rats showed more newly synthesized endothelial cells in the ischemic lesion (2.31‐fold, P < 0.01). H₂S‐treated astrocytes increased VEGF and Ang‐1 expression, and the inhibition of phosphatidylinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling by LY294002 significantly reduced H₂S‐induced VEGF and Ang‐1 expression in astrocytes. Finally, H₂S stimulated endothelial cell migration (3.92‐fold increase in wound healing assay) and tube formation (3.69‐fold increase, P < 0.001) through PI3K/AKT signaling. In conclusion, treatment with H₂S promotes angiogenesis and thereby contributes to improvement of functional outcome after cerebral ischemia. Our findings strongly suggest that H₂S may be of value in regenerative recovery after stroke. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Role of Ang1 and its interaction with VEGF-A in astrocytomas

Angiopoietins (Ang1 and Ang2) modulate the activity of the endothelial cell (EC)-specific receptor tyrosine kinase Tie2, which together with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) and its EC-specific receptors, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2, regulate normal physiological vessel development. The functional role of angiopoietins in tumor angiogenesis, in particular astrocytoma angiogenesis, remains unclear. In this study, we focus on the specific contribution of Ang1 to the vascular growth of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and its interactive role with VEGF-A. Subcutaneous and intracranial GBM xenografts were generated using 3 established astrocytoma cell lines (U87, U373, and U343) that were transfected to stably over-express Ang1. GBM xenografts were also generated to express low levels of VEGF-A and high Angl. We found that Ang1 increases the vascular growth of both subcutaneous and intracranial xenografts of GBM by approximately 3-fold. However, the increased vascular growth was only seen in xenografts with concurrent VEGF-A elevation, since decreasing VEGF-A expression resulted in a loss of the pro-angiogenic growth advantage seen with Ang1. Collectively, our data suggest that Ang1 regulates GBM vascularity in a VEGF-A dependent manner, synergizing the initial pro-angiogenic response that is triggered by VEGF-A and promoting the vascular growth of GBM.     

胎儿骨髓源Flk1+间充质干细胞的归巢机制

背景：间充质干细胞移植后是否成功,依赖于经静脉输注后能否定居于靶器官并长期存活,这个过程被称为归巢。然而,调节和控制间充质干细胞归巢的分子机制目前尚不十分清楚。 目的：探讨胎儿骨髓源Flk1+间充质干细胞向骨髓归巢的机制,观察基质细胞衍生生长因子1及其受体CXCR4对干细胞归巢效率的影响,摸索提高其归巢和长期植入效率的方法。 设计、时间及地点：细胞学体内实验,于2005-09/2006-07在中国医学科学院、中国协和医科大学组织工程中心完成。 材料：Flk1+骨髓间充质干细胞来源于流产胎儿,由天津医科大学第二附属医院妇产科提供。6~8周龄NOD/SCID小鼠购自中国医学科学院实验动物研究所。 方法：采用流式细胞仪、实时定量PCR等方法检测特定细胞因子刺激前后Flk1+间充质干细胞CXCR4表达和体外迁移能力的变化。NOD/SCID小鼠预先经全身亚致死量照射后,从尾静脉输入经或未经细胞因子刺激的Flk1+间充质干细胞,对照组注射等体积生理盐水。移植后24 h,应用流式细胞仪分析骨髓中供体细胞的含量,或在移植后定期从小鼠的尾静脉取血,分析外周血中白细胞、红细胞及血小板的数量变化。移植后6个月,实时定量PCR法检测小鼠骨髓中的人特异性DNA含量,了解人源细胞的植入情况。 结果：Flk1+间充质干细胞的胞浆中有CXCR4表达,在适当细胞因子刺激下,能够在短时间内被诱导至细胞表面表达。通过24 h短时间细胞因子刺激,不仅能够上调细胞表面及内部的CXCR4,而且可以增加细胞在体外沿基质细胞衍生生长因子1浓度梯度迁移的活性,促进细胞植入经亚致死量照射的NOD/SCID小鼠体内后向骨髓的归巢及长期存活,同时也加快了受体小鼠的造血恢复;用CXCR4中和抗体处理的Flk1+间充质干细胞,则明显减少其移植后在受体小鼠中的归巢和植入。 结论：基质细胞衍生生长因子1及其受体CXCR4在Flk1+间充质干细胞迁移和归巢中发挥着重要作用,增加细胞表面CXCR4的表达,有助于促进Flk1+间充质干细胞向骨髓归巢和加快受体造血恢复。     

Gliosis and brain remodeling after treatment of stroke in rats with marrow stromal cells

The long-term (4-month) responses to treatment of stroke in the older adult rat, using rat bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs), have not been investigated. Retired breeder rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) alone, or injected intravenously with 3 x 10(6) MSCs, at 7 days after MCAo. Functional recovery was measured using an adhesive-removal patch test and a modified neurological severity score. Bromodeoxyuridine, a cell proliferation marker, was injected daily for 14 before sacrifice. Animals were sacrificed 4 months after stroke. Double immunostaining was used to identify cell proliferation and cell types for axons, astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes. MSC treatment induced significant improvement in neurological outcome after MCAo compared with control rats. MSC treatment reduced the thickness of the scar wall (P < 0.05) and reduced the numbers of microglia/macrophages within the scar wall (P < 0.01). Double staining showed increased expression of an axonal marker (GAP-43), among reactive astrocytes in the scar boundary zone and in the subventricular zone in the treated rats. Bromodeoxyuridine in cells preferentially colocalized with markers of astrocytes (GFAP) and oligodendrocytes (RIP) in the ipsilateral hemisphere, and gliogenesis was enhanced in the subventricular zone of the rats treated with MSCs. This is the first report to show that MSCs injected at 7 days after stroke improve long-term neurological outcome in older animals. Brain tissue repair is an ongoing process with reactive gliosis, which persists for at least 4 months after stroke. Reactive astrocytes responding to MSC treatment of ischemia may also promote axonal regeneration during long-term recovery.     

Transplantation of Flk-1+ human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells promotes angiogenesis and neurogenesis after cerebral ischemia in rats

Transplantation of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) is a potential therapy for cerebral ischemia. Although BMSCs‐induced angiogenesis is considered important for neurological functional recovery, the neurorestorative mechanisms are not fully understood. We examined whether BMSCs‐induced angiogenesis enhances cerebral tissue perfusion and creates a suitable microenvironment within the ischemic brain, which in turn accelerates endogenous neurogenesis and leads to improved functional recovery. Adult female rats subjected to 2 h middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) were transplanted with a subpopulation of human BMSCs from male donors (Flk‐1+ hBMSCs) or saline into the ipsilateral brain parenchymal at 3 days after MCAO. Flk‐1+ hBMSCs‐treated rats exhibited significant behavioral recovery, beginning at 2 weeks after cerebral ischemia compared with controls. Moreover, rats treated with Flk‐1+ hBMSCs showed increased glucose metabolic activity and reduced infarct volume. Flk‐1+ hBMSCs treatment significantly increased the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor, promoted angiogenesis, and facilitated cerebral blood flow in the ischemic boundary zone. Further, Flk‐1+ hBMSCs treatment enhanced proliferation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) in the subventricular zone and subgranular zone of the hippocampus. Finally, more NSPCs migrated toward the ischemic lesion and differentiated to mature neurons or glial cells with less apoptosis in Flk‐1+ hBMSCs‐treated rats. These data indicate that angiogenesis induced by Flk‐1+ hBMSCs promotes endogenous neurogenesis, which may cause functional recovery after cerebral ischemia.     

Apelin/APJ信号系统对脑缺血后血管内皮细胞修复及机制的研究

目的 探讨Apelin/APJ信号系统对脑缺血损伤的血管内皮细胞的修复作用.方法 采用电凝烧灼法制备局灶性大脑皮质梗死模型,通过侧脑室注射腺病毒Ad-Apelin或对照病毒Ad-RFP.实验动物随机分为4组,分别为假手术(sham)组、脑梗死组(MCAO)、Ad-Apelin+脑梗死组(Ad-Apelin)组、Ad-R...     

Caspase inhibition by Z-VAD increases the survival of grafted bone marrow cells and improves functional outcome after MCAo in rats

Marrow stromal cells (MSCs) transplantation into brain has been employed to treat experimental ischemia. However, MSCs undergo apoptosis and few survive in the ischemic brain. We test the hypotheses that coadministration of bone marrow cells (BMCs) with a cell-permeable inhibitor of caspases, Z-Val-Ala-DL-Asp-fluoromethylketone (Z-VAD), into the ischemic boundary zone (IBZ) of brain promotes BMCs survival and improve outcome. Experimental groups consist of: 24 h after MCAo, either phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, n=4), dead BMC (n=4), fresh BMC (n=10), Z-VAD only (n=4), or BMC with Z-VAD (n=6) were intracerebrally injected. BMCs were harvested from donor adult rats labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Rats were subjected to an adhesive-removal somatosensory and motor-rotarod functional tests before MCAo and at 1 and 7 days after MCAo. Rats treated with a combination of Z-VAD and BMCs exhibited significant improvement in the adhesive-removal test at 7 days compared with the control group (combined MCAo+PBS and MCAo+dead BMC) (p<0.01), and the numbers of BrdU-BMC increased (p<0.05) and apoptotic cells decreased (p<0.05) compared with BMC alone transplantation. Our data suggest that intracerebral coadministration of BMC with Z-VAD enhances the survival of grafted BMC and improves neurological functional recovery after MCAo.     

慢病毒载体介导血管生长素1基因修饰骨髓间充质干细胞对颈动脉粥样硬化的影响

背景：骨髓间充质干细胞易于被外源基因转染,且具有向损伤组织趋化聚集的特性,便于将目的基因导入其中并发挥治疗性作用,可以通过分化为血管内皮细胞修复损伤的血管内膜。 目的：探讨慢病毒载体介导的血管生长素1基因修饰骨髓间充质干细胞移植后,对大鼠颈动脉粥样硬化的影响。 设计、时间及地点：随机对照动物实验,于2007-02/2008-05在福建省高血压研究所及福建医大附属第一医院中心实验室完成。 材料：4周龄雄性SD大鼠32只,8只用于制备骨髓间充质干细胞,剩余24只随机分为3组：模型对照组、空载体组、血管生长素1转染组,8只/组。 方法：以重组慢病毒为载体构建血管生长素1基因工程干细胞,以绿色荧光蛋白为报告基因,调整细胞密度为(1.0~2.0)× 1010 L-1。3组大鼠均采用球囊损伤法+高脂饮食构建颈动脉粥样硬化模型,造模后即刻,空载体组将未感染的0.1 mL骨髓间充质干细胞悬液注入颈总动脉外膜,分3点注射;血管生长素1转染组同法注入等量重组慢病毒感染的骨髓间充质干细胞悬液,饲养2个月后处死大鼠,取颈动脉组织。 主要观察指标：Western blot法检测转基因干细胞中血管生长素1的表达,荧光免疫组织化学及苏木精-伊红染色检测动脉内膜/中膜面积比。 结果：24只大鼠均进入结果分析。血管生长素1转染组表达血管生长素1蛋白,另2组无血管生长素1蛋白表达。移植后2个月,荧光显微镜下空载体组、血管生长素1转染组动脉壁内均可见绿色荧光蛋白阳性细胞;各组均可见动脉内膜增生,斑块形成;与模型对照组比较,空载体组内膜面积/中膜面积值无明显变化(P > 0.05),血管生长素1转染组内膜面积/中膜面积值明显减小(P < 0.05)。 结论：经血管生长素1基因修饰的骨髓间充质干细胞移植可明显减轻动脉粥样硬化程度。     

Roles of the endogenous VEGF receptors flt-1 and flk-1 in astroglial and vascular remodeling after brain injury

Following trauma to the brain significant changes occur in both the astroglial and vascular components of the neuropil. Angiogenesis is required to re-establish metabolic support and astrocyte activation encompasses several functions including scar formation and the production of growth factors. VEGF has seminal involvement in the process of brain repair and is upregulated during many pathological events. VEGF signaling is regulated mainly through its two primary receptors: flk-1 (KDR/VEGF-R2) is expressed on vascular endothelium and some neurons and flt-1 (VEGF-R1) in the CNS, is expressed predominantly by activated astrocytes. Using an injury model of chronic minipump infusion of neutralizing antibodies (NA) to block VEGF receptor signaling, this study takes advantage of these differences in VEGF receptor distribution in order to understand the role the cytokine plays after brain injury. Infusion of NA to flk-1 caused a significant decrease in vascular proliferation and increased endothelial cell degeneration compared to control IgG infusions but had no effect on astrogliosis. By contrast infusion of NA to flt-1 significantly decreased astroglial mitogenicity and scar formation and caused some increase in endothelial degeneration. Neutralization of the flt-1 receptor function, but not flk-1, caused significant reduction in the astroglial expression of the growth factors, CNTF and FGF by 7days. These data suggest that after CNS injury, endogenous VEGF upregulation (by astrocytes) induces angiogenesis and, by autocrine signaling, increases both astrocyte proliferation and facilitates expression of growth factors. It is likely that VEGF plays an important role in aspects of astroglial scar formation.     

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells increase tPA expression and concomitantly decrease PAI-1 expression in astrocytes through the sonic hedgehog signaling pathway after stroke (in vitro study)

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) increase tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) activity in astrocytes of the ischemic boundary zone, leading to increased neurite outgrowth in the brain. To probe the mechanisms that underlie MSC-mediated activation of tPA, we investigated the morphogenetic gene, sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway. In vitro oxygen and glucose deprivation and coculture of astrocytes and MSCs were used to mimic an in vivo ischemic condition. Both real-time-PCR and western blot showed that MSC coculture significantly increased the Shh level and concomitantly increased tPA and decreased plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) levels in astrocytes. Inhibiting the Shh signaling pathway with cyclopamine blocked the increase of tPA and the decrease of PAI-1 expression in astrocytes subjected to MSC coculture or recombinant mouse Shh (rm-Shh) treatment. Both MSCs and rm-Shh decreased the transforming growth factor-β1 level in astrocytes, and the Shh pathway inhibitor cyclopamine reversed these decreases. Both Shh-small-interfering RNA (siRNA) and Glil-siRNA downregulated Shh and Gli1 (a key mediator of the Shh transduction pathway) expression in cultured astrocytes and concomitantly decreased tPA expression and increased PAI-1 expression in these astrocytes after MSC or rm-Shh treatment. Our data indicate that MSCs increase astrocytic Shh, which subsequently increases tPA expression and decreases PAI-1 expression after ischemia.