Endothelial Cell News Volume 1.08 | May 2 2016

Neuropilin-1 Mediates Vascular Permeability Independently of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 Activation
The authors report that the neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) intracellular domain mediates vascular permeability. Stimulation with the 165–amino acid isoform of vascular endothelial growth factor A, a ligand-blocking antibody, and a CendR peptide led to NRP1 accumulation at cell-cell contacts in endothelial cell monolayers, increased cellular permeability in vitro and vascular leakage in vivo. [Sci Signal] Abstract

ERβ Expression in the Endothelium Ameliorates Ischemia/Reperfusion-Mediated Oxidative Burst and Vascular Injury
Scientists established reliable in vivo monitoring systems to measure the variations in circulating reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide (NO) during ischemia/reperfusion. They found that during the first few minutes of post-ischemia reperfusion, an oxidative burst occurred concurrent with a rapid loss of NO. [Free Radic Biol Med] Abstract

Dual Blockade of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF-2) Exhibits Potent Anti-Angiogenic Effects
Researchers developed a novel chimeric decoy receptor VF-Trap fusion protein to simultaneously block activity of both VEGF and FGF pathways in order to achieve an additive or synergistic anti-tumor effect. In vitro data showed that VF-Trap potently blocked proliferation and migration of both VEGF- and FGF-2-induced vascular endothelial cells. [Cancer Lett] Abstract

Up-Regulation of FGFBP1 Signaling Contributes to miR-146a-Induced Angiogenesis in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
Investigators evaluated whether miR-146a promotes angiogenesis in HUVECs by increasing FGFBP1 expression via directly targeting CREB3L1. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Phosphorylation Inactivation of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthesis in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
The authors hypothesized that low NO production by pulmonary arterial endothelial cells in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is due to inactivation of eNOS by aberrant phosphorylation of the protein. To test the hypothesis, they evaluated eNOS levels, dimerization and phosphorylation in the vascular endothelial cells and lungs of patients with PAH in comparison to controls. [Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol] Abstract

MDA-5 Activation by Cytoplasmic Double-Stranded RNA Impairs Endothelial Function and Aggravates Atherosclerosis
Investigators studied the effect of melanoma differentiation associated gene 5 (MDA-5) stimulation in vascular biology. To gain insights into MDA-5 dependent effects on endothelial function, cultured human coronary artery endothelial cells were transfected with the synthetic MDA-5 agonist polyIC. [J Cell Mol Med] Abstract

Arsenic-Induced Anti-Angiogenesis via miR-425-5p-Regulated CCM3
Sodium arsenite (NaAsO₂) inhibited angiogenesis by decreasing cells proliferation, migration and tube formation in HUVECs. After NaAsO₂ treatment, scientists found the expression of microRNA-425-5p (miR-425-5p) was reduced in vitro and in vivo and over-expression of miR-425-5p reversed the NaAsO₂-induced anti-angiogenesis through its direct target cerebral cavernous malformation 3 (CCM3). [Toxicol Lett] Abstract

NOTCH3 Is Induced in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts and Promotes Angiogenesis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
In vitro angiogenesis assays involving co-culture of normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) with HO1-N-1 and human umbilical endothelial cells, and NOTCH3 knockdown in NHDFs using siRNA, demonstrated that HO1-N-1 cells significantly promoted tube formation dependent on NOTCH3-expression in NHDFs. [PLoS One] Full Article

Vasculogenic Potential Evaluation of Bottom-Up, PCL Scaffolds Guiding Early Angiogenesis in Tissue Regeneration
Poly(ε-caprolactone) scaffolds composed of orderly and randomly assembled sintered microspheres were used to assess the degree of vascularization in a pilot in vivo study. Scaffolds were implanted in a rat subcutaneous pocket model, and retrieved after seven days. [J Mater Sci Mater Med] Abstract

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Regenerating Blood Vessels Gets $2.7 Million Grant
Biomedical engineers at The University of Texas at Austin have received a three-year, $2.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to advance a promising treatment that could help millions of people with diabetes affected by peripheral ischemia, a condition that restricts blood flow to muscles in the lower limbs. [The University of Texas at Austin] Press Release

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NEW Fellow/Senior Fellow – Cancer Research (Australian National University)

NEW Postdoctoral Research Associate – Critical Care Medicine (The University of Illinois at Chicago)

NEW PhD Position – Atherosclerosis (Sahlgrenska Academy)

PhD Position – Bioinformatics (VIB)

Postdoctoral Positions – Translational Research (UConn Health)

Postdoctoral Position – Angiogenesis, Proteases and Extracellular Matrix (GENYO)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Mechanoregulation of Fibrosis and Vascular Injury (St. Michael’s Hospital)

Postdoctoral Positions – Tissue Repair/Inflammation (Institut Pasteur)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Angiogenesis and Metabolic Microenvironment Contributing to Carcinogenesis (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center – Harvard Medical School)

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