Angiogenesis and growth factor modulation induced by alternagin C, a snake venom disintegrin-like, cysteine-rich protein on a rat skin wound model

Arch Biochem Biophys. 2008 Nov 1;479(1):20-7. doi: 10.1016/j.abb.2008.07.030. Epub 2008 Aug 14.

Abstract

In this work, we show that alternagin-C (ALT-C) and ALT-C PEP, a peptide derived from its sequence, were able to induce angiogenesis in wounded rat skin. A spherical cutaneous excision was made in the back of each animal and treated with three different concentrations of ALT-C or ALT-C PEP. After that, the skin was removed and analyzed to verify the presence of new vessels and the expression of growth factors. ALT-C and ALT-C PEP induced the formation of new vessels and modulated the expression of growth factors, mainly VEGF and FGF1. The expression of VEGF increased and it could be detected up to 7 days after injury. FGF1 also significantly increased, but at a lesser extent than VEGF. In conclusion, the present study shows for the first time the stimulation of angiogenesis in an injured tissue by a disintegrin-like protein and that ALT-C may exert this effect by modulating the expression of growth factors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disintegrins
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Models, Biological*
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / physiology*
  • Prostaglandins F / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Random Allocation
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Skin / blood supply
  • Skin / drug effects*
  • Skin / metabolism
  • Snake Venoms / chemistry
  • Snake Venoms / metabolism
  • Snake Venoms / pharmacology*
  • Time Factors
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Disintegrins
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Prostaglandins F
  • Snake Venoms
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
  • alternagin-C
  • prostaglandin F1