4-Hexylresorcinol and silk sericin increase the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor via different pathways

Sci Rep. 2019 Mar 5;9(1):3448. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-40027-5.

Abstract

Angiogenesis plays an important role in active inflammation and wound healing. Our results showed that silk sericin and 4-hexylresorcinol (4HR) increased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in a dose-dependent manner in RAW264.7 cells. Unlike 4HR, silk sericin increased the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and HIF-2α. Pretreatment with an HIF inhibitor decreased the sericin-induced increase in VEGF expression. However, the HIF inhibitor did not affect the 4HR-induced increase in VEGF expression. An inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) declined the 4HR-induced increase in VEGF expression. Silk sericin increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), whereas 4HR decreased ROS. M1 markers were increased by silk sericin treatment, and M2 markers were increased by 4HR treatment. VEGF and angiogenin expression were higher in rats treated with a 4HR-incorporated silk mat than in rats treated with a silk mat alone. In conclusion, silk sericin and 4HR increased VEGF expression in RAW264.7 cells via HIF-mediated and MMP-mediated pathways, respectively. Silk sericin exerted like pro-oxidant effects and 4HR exerted anti-oxidant effects. Rats treated with a 4HR-incorporated silk mat showed higher levels of VEGF and angiogenin than those treated with a silk mat alone.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • Hexylresorcinol / pharmacology*
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological
  • RAW 264.7 Cells
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Ribonuclease, Pancreatic / genetics
  • Sericins / pharmacology*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Sericins
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • angiogenin
  • Ribonuclease, Pancreatic
  • Hexylresorcinol