In vitro and in vivo pro-angiogenic effects of thymosin-β4-derived peptides

Cell Immunol. 2011;271(2):299-307. doi: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2011.07.008. Epub 2011 Jul 29.

Abstract

Thymosin-β4 (Tβ4) is a G-actin sequestering peptide involved in regeneration and remodeling of injured tissues. In this work, we have designed and synthesized three peptide sequences containing the N-terminus (TYB4-n), the central part (TYB4-i) or the C-terminus (TYB4-c) of Tβ4. All fragments are overlapping on the main central binding actin site. After a structural characterization, we have evaluated in vitro and in vivo their pro-angiogenic effects. The results of this study have shown that: (i) each fragment reproduces the native conformation; (ii) Tβ4-derived peptides exert both in vitro and in vivo pro-angiogenic effects; (iii) their in vitro effect seem to be related to the activation of several signaling pathways and is positively modulated by the N-terminus of Tβ4.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / chemistry
  • Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Chick Embryo
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / drug effects*
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / physiology
  • Peptide Fragments / chemical synthesis
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology
  • Protein Conformation
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Thymosin / chemistry
  • Thymosin / genetics
  • Thymosin / pharmacology*
  • Thymosin / physiology
  • Wound Healing / drug effects
  • Wound Healing / physiology

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inducing Agents
  • Peptide Fragments
  • thymosin beta(4)
  • Thymosin