The superoxide-producing NAD(P)H oxidase Nox4 was initially identified as an enzyme that is highly expressed in the kidney and is possibly involved in oxygen sensing and cellular senescence. Although the oxidase is also abundant in vascular endothelial cells, its role remains to be elucidated. Here we show that Nox4 preferentially localizes to the nucleus of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), by immunocytochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy using three kinds of affinity-purified antibodies raised against distinct immunogens from human Nox4. Silencing of Nox4 by RNA interference (RNAi) abrogates nuclear signals given with the antibodies, confirming the nuclear localization of Nox4. The nuclear fraction of HUVECs exhibits an NAD(P)Hdependent superoxide-producing activity in a manner dependent on Nox4, which activity can be enhanced upon cell stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. This stimulant also facilitates gene expression as estimated in the present transfection assay of HUVECs using a reporter regulated by the Maf-recognition element MARE, a DNA sequence that constitutes a part of oxidative stress response. Both basal and stimulated transcriptional activities are impaired by RNAi-mediated Nox4 silencing. Thus Nox4 appears to produce superoxide in the nucleus of HUVECs, thereby regulating gene expression via a mechanism for oxidative stress response.
VEGF derived from RPE cells, macrophages and Müller cells may play a role in the formation of CNV.
Abstract-Recent studies suggest the possible therapeutic effect of intramuscular vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene transfer in individuals with critical limb ischemia. Little information, however, is available regarding (1) the required expression level of VEGF for therapeutic effect, (2) the related expression of endogenous angiogenic factors, including fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), and (3) the related adverse effects due to overexpression of VEGF.To address these issues, we tested effects of overexpression of VEGF165 using recombinant Sendai virus (SeV), as directly compared with FGF-2 gene transfer. Intramuscular injection of SeV strongly boosted FGF-2, resulting in significant therapeutic effects for limb salvage with increased blood perfusion associated with enhanced endogenous VEGF expression in murine models of critical limb ischemia. In contrast, VEGF165 overexpression, 5-times higher than that of baseline on day 1, also strongly evoked endogenous VEGF in muscles, resulting in an accelerated limb amputation without recovery of blood perfusion. Interestingly, viable skeletal muscles of either VEGF165-or FGF-2-treated ischemic limbs showed similar platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1-positive vessel densities. Maturation of newly formed vessels suggested by smooth muscle cell actin-positive cell lining, however, was significantly disturbed in muscles with VEGF. Further, therapeutic effects of FGF-2 were completely diminished by anti-VEGF neutralizing antibody in vivo, thus indicating that endogenous VEGF does contribute to the effect of FGF-2. These results suggest that VEGF is necessary, but should be delicately regulated to lower expression to treat ischemic limb. The therapeutic effect of FGF-2, associated with the harmonized angiogenic effects seen with endogenous VEGF, provides important insights into therapeutic angiogenesis.
Abstract-Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent angiogenic polypeptide that stimulates angiogenesis. Transcriptional regulation of HGF, however, has not been fully defined, with the exception of the hypoxia-mediated downregulation in cultured cells. In the present study, we report that angiogenic growth factors, including HGF, were upregulated in a murine model of critical limb ischemia in vivo, a finding that was in conflict with previous in vitro data. Mice deficient in basic fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) showed reduced induction of HGF protein in ischemic muscles, and overexpression of FGF-2 via gene transfer stimulated endogenous HGF, irrespective of the presence of ischemia. In culture, FGF-2 rapidly stimulated HGF mRNA, and a sustained expression was evident in the time course in vascular smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. FGF-2-mediated induction of HGF was fully dependent on the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway yet was not affected by either hypoxia or a protein kinase A inhibitor. In the early expression, FGF-2 directly stimulated HGF mRNA without the requirement of new protein synthesis, whereas sustained induction of HGF in the later phase was partly mediated by platelet-derived growth factor-AA. Furthermore, in vivo overexpression of FGF-2 significantly improved the blood perfusion, and the effect was abolished by systemic blockade of HGF in ischemic limbs. This is the first demonstration of a regulational mechanism of HGF expression via FGF-2 that was independent of the presence of hypoxia. The harmonized therapeutic effects of FGF-2, accompanied with the activity of endogenous HGF, may provide a beneficial effect for the treatment of limb ischemia.
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