Hypoxia-induced endothelial progenitor cell function is blunted in angiotensinogen knockout mice

Jin Hwa Choi, Minh Phuong Nguyen, Dongjin Lee, Goo Taeg Oh, You Mie Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Angiotensinogen (AGT), the precursor of angiotensin I, is known to be involved in tumor angiogenesis and associated with the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis. This study was undertaken to determine the role played by AGT in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in tumor progression and metastasis. It was found that the number of EPC colonies formed by AGT heterozygous knockout (AGT+/-) cells was less than that formed by wild-type (WT) cells, and that the migration and tube formation abilities of AGT+/- EPCs were significantly lower than those of WT EPCs. In addition, the gene expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Flk1, angiopoietin (Ang)-1, Ang-2, Tie-2, stromal derived factor (SDF)-1, C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), and of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were suppressed in AGT +/- EPCs. Furthermore, the expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α and -2α were downregulated in AGT+/- early EPCs under hypoxic conditions, suggesting a blunting of response to hypoxia. Moreover, the activation of Akt/eNOS signaling pathways induced by VEGF, epithelial growth factor (EGF), or SDF-1α were suppressed in AGT +/- EPCs. In AGT+/- mice, the incorporation of EPCs into the tumor vasculature was significantly reduced, and lung tumor growth and melanoma metastasis were attenuated. In conclusion, AGT is required for hypoxia-induced vasculogenesis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)487-496
Number of pages10
JournalMolecules and Cells
Volume37
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2014

Keywords

  • Angiotensinogen
  • Endothelial progenitor cell
  • Hypertension
  • Tumor
  • Vasculogenesis

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