20-HETE regulates the angiogenic functions of human endothelial progenitor cells and contributes to angiogenesis in vivo

J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2014 Mar;348(3):442-51. doi: 10.1124/jpet.113.210120. Epub 2014 Jan 8.

Abstract

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) contribute to postnatal neovascularization. We identified the cytochrome P450 4A/F-20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (CYP4A/F-20-HETE) system as a novel regulator of EPC functions associated with angiogenesis in vitro. Here, we explored cellular mechanisms by which 20-HETE regulates EPC angiogenic functions and assessed its contribution to EPC-mediated angiogenesis in vivo. Results showed that both hypoxia and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induce CYP4A11 gene and protein expression (the predominant 20-HETE synthases in human EPC), and this is accompanied by an increase in 20-HETE production by ~1.4- and 1.8-fold, respectively, compared with the control levels. Additional studies demonstrated that 20-HETE and VEGF have a synergistic effect on EPC proliferation, whereas 20-HETE antagonist 20-HEDGE or VEGF-neutralizing antibody negated 20-HETE- or VEGF-induced proliferation, respectively. These findings are consistent with the presence of a positive feedback regulation on EPC proliferation between the 20-HETE and the VEGF pathways. Furthermore, we found that 20-HETE induced EPC adhesion to fibronectin and endothelial cell monolayer by 40 ± 5.6 and 67 ± 10%, respectively, which was accompanied by a rapid induction of very late antigen-4 and chemokine receptor type 4 mRNA and protein expression. Basal and 20-HETE-stimulated increases in adhesion were negated by the inhibition of the CYP4A-20-HETE system. Lastly, EPC increased angiogenesis in vivo by 3.6 ± 0.2-fold using the Matrigel plug angiogenesis assay, and these increases were markedly reduced by the local inhibition of 20-HETE system. These results strengthened the notion that 20-HETE regulates the angiogenic functions of EPC in vitro and EPC-mediated angiogenesis in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / pharmacology
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Hypoxia
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP4A
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiology*
  • Feedback, Physiological
  • Female
  • Fibronectins / physiology
  • Humans
  • Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids / metabolism*
  • Integrin alpha4beta1 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Microvessels / physiology
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic*
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / metabolism
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / immunology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Fibronectins
  • Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids
  • Integrin alpha4beta1
  • Receptors, CXCR4
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • 20-hydroxy-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • CYP4A11 protein, human
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP4A