Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) modulate vascular wall cell function in vitro and angiogenesis in vivo. The aim of the current study was to determine how bovine aorta endothelial cells (BAECs) respond to the simultaneous exposure to PDGF-BB and bFGF. It was found that bFGF-dependent BAEC migration, proliferation, and differentiation into tubelike structures on reconstituted extracellular matrix (Matrigel) were inhibited by PDGF-BB. The role played by PDGF receptor ␣ (PDGF-R␣) was investigated by selective stimulation with PDGF-AA, by blocking PDGF-BB-binding to PDGF-R␣ with neomycin, or by transfecting cells with dominant-negative forms of the receptors to selectively impair either PDGF-R␣ or PDGF-R function. In all cases, PDGF-R␣ impairment abolished the inhibitory effect of PDGF-BB on bFGF-directed BAEC migration. In addition, PDGF-R␣ phosphorylation was increased in the presence of bFGF and PDGF, as compared to PDGF alone, whereas mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation was decreased in the presence of PDGF-BB and bFGF compared with bFGF alone. In vivo experiments showed that PDGF-BB and PDGF-AA inhibited bFGF-induced angiogenesis in vivo in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay and that PDGF-BB inhibited bFGF-induced angiogenesis in Matrigel plugs injected subcutaneously in CD1 mice. Taken
IntroductionThe endothelial layer represents a physical and chemical barrier between the vessel lumen and the underlying tissues. Endothelial cells (ECs) exert a variety of functions and modulate underlying smooth muscle cells by releasing molecules with vasoactive and growth-regulatory properties. 1 Endothelial cells present an active replication phenotype in vitro, but in vivo they are quiescent. 2 The different expression of membrane-bound receptors 3,4 and the in vivo action of specific inhibitors 5-7 may account, at least in part, for the different replication pattern observed.Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a potent EC growth factor; it is known to induce a proangiogenic phenotype in ECs and is released under acidosis conditions that induce EC protection from apoptosis. 8 bFGF plays a critical role in physiologic and pathologic angiogenesis, including tumor angiogenesis. 9,10 It exerts its functions by direct action, 11 by inducing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) synthesis, 12 or by potentiating VEGF activity. 13,14 Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a growth factor known to be active on ECs. Three PDGF isoforms have been identified as disulfide-linked dimers, namely PDGF-AA, PDGF-BB, and PDGF-AB, expressed by ECs under various conditions. 15-19 They interact with different affinity with 2 tyrosine-kinase receptors, PDGF-R␣ and PDGF-R, which are expressed on ECs in normal 4,20-22 and in pathologic conditions. [23][24][25][26] Recently, PDGF-C and PDGF-D isoforms were also identified. 27,28 PDGF isoforms are reported to exert mitogenic and chemotactic action on EC, although PDGF-AA appears to be less potent or inactive...