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AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The islet vasculature, including its constituent islet endothelial cells, is a key contributor to the microenvironment necessary for normal beta cell health and function. In type 2 diabetes, islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) aggregates, forming amyloid deposits that accumulate between beta cells and islet capillaries. This process is known to be toxic to beta cells but its impact on the islet vasculature has not previously been studied. Here, we report the first characterisation of the effects of IAPP aggregation on islet endothelial cells/capillaries using cell-based and animal models. METHODS: Primary and immortalised islet endothelial cells were treated with amyloidogenic human IAPP (hIAPP) alone or in the presence of the amyloid blocker Congo Red or the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/4 antagonist OxPAPc. Cell viability was determined along with mRNA and protein levels of inflammatory markers. Islet capillary abundance, morphology and pericyte coverage were determined in pancreases from transgenic mice with beta cell expression of hIAPP using conventional and confocal microscopy. RESULTS: Aggregated hIAPP decreased endothelial cell viability in immortalised and primary islet endothelial cells (by 78% and 60%, respectively) and significantly increased expression of inflammatory markers Il6, Vcam1 and Edn1 mRNA relative to vehicle treatment in both cell types (p

Islet endothelial cells produce paracrine factors important for islet beta-cell function and survival. Under conditions of type 2 diabetes, islet endothelial cells exhibit a dysfunctional phenotype including increased expression of genes involved in cellular adhesion and inflammation. We sought to determine whether treatment of hyperglycemia with the sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor empagliflozin, either alone or in combination with metformin, would improve markers of endothelial cell function in islets, assessed ex vivo, and if such an improvement is associated with improved insulin secretion in a mouse model of diabetes in vivo. For these studies, db/db diabetic mice and non-diabetic littermate controls were treated for 6 weeks with empagliflozin or metformin, either alone or in combination. For each treatment group, expression of genes indicative of islet endothelial dysfunction was quantified. Islet endothelial and beta-cell area was assessed by morphometry of immunochemically stained pancreas sections. Measurements of plasma glucose and insulin secretion during an intravenous glucose tolerance test were performed on vehicle and drug treated diabetic animals. We found that expression of endothelial dysfunction marker genes is markedly increased in diabetic mice. Treatment with either empagliflozin or metformin lowered expression of the dysfunction marker genes ex vivo, which correlated with improved glycemic control, and increased insulin release in vivo. Empagliflozin treatment was more effective than metformin alone, with a combination of the two drugs demonstrating the greatest effects. Improving islet endothelial function through strategies such as empagliflozin/metformin treatment may provide an effective approach for improving insulin release in human type 2 diabetes.

The formation of new blood vessels, or angiogenesis, is a complex process that plays important roles in growth and development, tissue and organ regeneration, as well as numerous pathological conditions. Angiogenesis undergoes multiple discrete steps that can be individually evaluated and quantified by a large number of bioassays. These independent assessments hold advantages but also have limitations. This article describes in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro bioassays that are available for the evaluation of angiogenesis and highlights critical aspects that are relevant for their execution and proper interpretation. As such, this collaborative work is the first edition of consensus guidelines on angiogenesis bioassays to serve for current and future reference. Fil: Nowak Sliwinska, Patrycja. Université of Lausanne; Suiza. Univeristé of Geneve; Suiza Fil: Alitalo, Kari. Katholikie Universiteit Leuven; Bélgica Fil: Allen, Elizabeth. Katholikie Universiteit Leuven; Bélgica Fil: Anisimov, Andrey. Katholikie Universiteit Leuven; Bélgica Fil: Aplin, Alfred C.. University of Washington; Estados Unidos Fil: Auerbach, Robert. University of Wisconsin; Estados Unidos Fil: Augustin, Hellmut G.. Heidelberg University; Alemania. German Cancer Consortium; Alemania Fil: Bates, David O.. University of Nottingham; Reino Unido Fil: Beijnum, Judy R. van. Cancer Center Amsterdam; Países Bajos Fil: Bender, R. Hugh F.. University of California; Estados Unidos Fil: Bergers, Gabriele. Katholikie Universiteit Leuven; Bélgica Fil: Bikfalvi, Andreas. Universite de Bordeaux; Francia Fil: Bischoff, Joyce. Harvard Medical School; Estados Unidos Fil: Böck, Barbara C.. Heidelberg University; Alemania. German Cancer Consortium; Alemania Fil: Brooks, Peter C.. Maine Medical Center Research Institute; Estados Unidos Fil: Bussolino, Federico. Università di Torino; Italia. Candiolo Cancer Institute; Italia Fil: Cakir, Bertan. Harvard Medical School; Estados Unidos Fil: Carmeliet, Peter. Katholikie Universiteit Leuven; Bélgica Fil: Castranova, Daniel. Harvard Medical School; Estados Unidos Fil: Cimpean, Anca M.. Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy; Rumania Fil: Cleaver, Ondine. University Of Texas At Brownsville; Estados Unidos Fil: Coukos, George. Universida de Lausanne; Suiza Fil: Davis, George E.. University of Missouri; Estados Unidos Fil: De Palma, Michele. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology; Suiza Fil: Dimberg, Anna. Uppsala University; Suiza Fil: Dings, Ruud P. M.. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Estados Unidos Fil: Djonov, Valentin. University of Bern; Suiza Fil: Dudley, Andrew C.. University of Virginia; Estados Unidos Fil: Dufton, Neil P.. Imperial College London; Reino Unido Fil: Fendt, Sarah-Maria. VIB Center for Cancer Biology; Bélgica Fil: Ferrara, Napoleone. University of California at San Diego; Estados Unidos Fil: Fruttiger, Marcus. University College London; Estados Unidos Fil: Fukumura, Dai. Harvard Medical School; Estados Unidos Fil: Ghesquière, Bart. Harvard Medical School; Estados Unidos Fil: Gong, Yan. Harvard Medical School; Estados Unidos Fil: Griffin, Robert J.. VIB Center for Cancer Biology; Bélgica Fil: Harris, Adrian L.. University of Oxford; Reino Unido Fil: Hughes, Christopher C. W.. University of California at Irvine; Estados Unidos Fil: Hultgren, Nan W.. University of California at Irvine; Estados Unidos Fil: Iruela-Arispe, M. Luisa. University of California at Los Angeles; Estados Unidos Fil: Irving, Melita. Universida de Lausanne; Suiza Fil: Maidana, Agostina Jainen. Harvard Medical School; Estados Unidos Fil: Kalluri, Raghu. Texas A&M University; Estados Unidos Fil: Kalucka, Joanna. Katholikie Universiteit Leuven; Bélgica Fil: Kerbel, Robert S.. University of Toronto; Canadá Fil: Kitajewski, Jan. University of Illinois; Estados Unidos Fil: Klaassen, Ingeborg. University of Amsterdam; Países Bajos Fil: Kleinmann, Hynda K.. The George Washington University; Estados Unidos Fil: Koolwijk, Pieter. Fondation Asile des Aveugles; Suiza. Universida de Lausanne; Suiza Fil: Kuczynski, Elisabeth. University of Toronto; Canadá Fil: Kwak, Brenda R.. University of Geneva; Suiza Fil: Koen, Marien. HistoGeneX; Bélgica Fil: Melero Martin, Juan M.. University of Liège; Bélgica Fil: Munn, Lance L.. Harvard Medical School; Estados Unidos Fil: Nicosia, Roberto F.. VA Puget Sound Health Care System; Estados Unidos Fil: Noel, Agnes. University of Liège; Bélgica Fil: Nurro, Jussi. University of Eastern Finland; Finlandia Fil: Olsson, Anna-Karin. Uppsala University; Suiza Fil: Petrova, Tatiana V.. Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne; Suiza Fil: Pietras, Kristian. Division of Translational Cancer Research; Suecia Fil: Pili, Roberto. Indiana University Simon Cancer Center; Estados Unidos Fil: Pollard, Jeffrey W.. University of Edinburgh; Reino Unido Fil: Post, Mark J.. Maastricht University; Países Bajos Fil: Quax, Paul H. A.. Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine; Países Bajos Fil: Rabinovich, Gabriel Adrián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica; Argentina Fil: Raica, Marius. Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy; Rumania Fil: Randi, Anna M.. Imperial College London; Reino Unido Fil: Ribatti, Domenico. Università degli Studi di Bari; Italia Fil: Ruegg, Curzio. University of Fribourg; Suiza Fil: Schlingemann, Reinier O.. University of Amsterdam; Países Bajos Fil: Schulte Merker, Stefan. Institute of Cardiovascular Organogenesis and Regeneration; Alemania Fil: Smith, Lois E. H.. Harvard Medical School; Estados Unidos Fil: Song, Jonathan W.. Ohio State University; Estados Unidos Fil: Stacker, Steven A.. University of Melbourne; Australia Fil: Stalin, Jimmy. Institute of Cardiovascular Organogenesis and Regeneration; Alemania Fil: Stratman, Amber N.. National Institutes of Health; Estados Unidos Fil: Van de Velde, Maureen. University of Liège; Bélgica Fil: van Hinsbergh, Victor W. M.. Universida de Lausanne; Suiza Fil: Vermeulen, Peter B.. HistoGeneX; Bélgica. University of Antwerp; Bélgica Fil: Waltenberger, Johannes. University of Münster; Alemania Fil: Weinstein, Brant M.. National Institutes of Health; Estados Unidos Fil: Xin, Hong. University of California at San Diego; Estados Unidos Fil: Yetkin Arik, Bahar. University of Amsterdam; Países Bajos Fil: Yla Herttuala, Seppo. University of Eastern Finland; Finlandia Fil: Yoder, Mervin C.. Indiana University; Estados Unidos Fil: Griffioen, Arjan W.. VU University Medical Center; Países Bajos

Loss of the microvascular (MV) network results in tissue ischemia, loss of tissue function, and is a hallmark of chronic diseases. The incorporation of a functional vascular network with that of the host remains a challenge to utilizing engineered tissues in clinically relevant therapies. We showed that vascular-bed-specific endothelial cells (ECs) exhibit differing angiogenic capacities, with kidney microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs) being the most deficient, and sought to explore the underlying mechanism. Constitutive activation of the phosphatase PTEN in kidney MVECs resulted in impaired PI3K/AKT activity in response to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Suppression of PTEN in vivo resulted in microvascular regeneration, but was insufficient to improve tissue function. Promoter analysis of the differentially regulated genes in KMVECs suggests that the transcription factor FOXO1 is highly active and RNAseq analysis revealed that hyperactive FOXO1 inhibits VEGF-Notch-dependent tip-cell formation by direct and indirect inhibition of DLL4 expression in response to VEGF. Inhibition of FOXO1 enhanced angiogenesis in human bio-engineered capillaries, and resulted in microvascular regeneration and improved function in mouse models of injury-repair.

Progression of atherosclerotic plaques into life-threatening lesions is associated with angiogenesis which contributes to intraplaque hemorrhages and plaque instability. The lack of adequate models for the study of human plaque-induced angiogenesis has limited progress in this field. We describe here a novel ex vivo model which fills this gap. Plaques obtained from 15 patients who underwent endarterectomy procedures were co-cultured in collagen gels with rat aorta rings which served as read-out of human plaque angiogenic activity. The majority of plaque fragments markedly stimulated angiogenic sprouting from the aortic rings while concurrently promoting the outgrowth of resident macrophages from the aortic adventitia. This stimulatory activity correlated with the presence of intraplaque macrophages. Proteomic analysis of plaque secretomes revealed heterogeneity of macrophage-stimulatory cytokine and angiogenic factor production by different plaques. VEGF was identified in some of the plaque secretomes. Antibody-mediated blockade of VEGF had significant but transient inhibitory effect on angiogenesis, which suggested redundancy of plaque-derived angiogenic stimuli. Pharmacologic ablation of adventitial macrophages permanently impaired the angiogenic response of aortic rings to plaque stimuli. Our results show that human plaque-induced angiogenesis can be reproduced ex vivo using rat aortic rings as read-out of plaque angiogenic activity. This model can be used to identify key cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for the neovascularization of human plaques.

The angiogenic response to injury can be studied by culturing rat or mouse aortic explants in collagen gels. Gene expression studies show that aortic angiogenesis is preceded by an immune reaction with overexpression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and TLR-inducible genes. TLR1, 3, and 6 are transiently upregulated at 24 h whereas TLR2, 4, and 8 expression peaks at 24 h but remains elevated during angiogenesis and vascular regression. Expression of TLR5, 7 and 9 steadily increases over time and is highest during vascular regression. Studies with isolated cells show that TLRs are expressed at higher levels in aortic macrophages compared to endothelial or mural cells with the exception of TLR2 and TLR9 which are more abundant in the aortic endothelium. LPS and other TLR ligands dose dependently stimulate angiogenesis and vascular endothelial growth factor production. TLR9 ligands also influence the behavior of nonendothelial cell types by blocking mural cell recruitment and inducing formation of multinucleated giant cells by macrophages. TLR9-induced mural cell depletion is associated with reduced expression of the mural cell recruiting factor PDGFB. The spontaneous angiogenic response of the aortic rings to injury is reduced in cultures from mice deficient in myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88), a key adapter molecule of TLRs, and following treatment with an inhibitor of the NFκB pathway. These results suggest that the TLR system participates in the angiogenic response of the vessel wall to injury and may play an important role in the regulation of inflammatory angiogenesis in reactive and pathologic processes.

The gut hormone apelin is a major therapeutic focus for several diseases involving inflammation and aberrant cell growth. We investigated whether apelin-36 contained alternative bioactive peptides associated with normal physiology or disease. Amino acid sequence analysis of apelin-36 identified an amidation motif consistent with the formation of a secondary bioactive peptide (SCNH2). SCNH2 is proven to be mitogenic and chemotactic in normal/malignant cells and augments angiogenesis via a PTX-resistant/CT-X-sensitive G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). Notably, SCNH2 is substantially more potent and sensitive than apelin-13 and vascular endothelial growth factor-A. Endogenous SCNH2 is highly expressed in human tumors and placenta and in mouse embryonic tissues. Our findings demonstrate that SCNH2 is a new apelinergic member with critical pluripotent roles in angiogenesis related diseases and embryogenesis via a non-APJ GPCR.

This chapter describes protocols developed in our laboratory to prepare and analyze angiogenic cultures of rat aorta. Rings of rat aorta cultured in collagen gels produce neovessel outgrowths which reproduce ex vivo key steps of the angiogenic process including endothelial migration, proliferation, proteolytic digestion of the extracellular matrix, capillary tube formation, pericyte recruitment, and vascular regression. The angiogenic response of aortic explants can be stimulated with growth factors or inhibited with anti-angiogenic molecules. Aortic ring cultures can also be used to study tumor angiogenesis. Protocols outlined in this chapter describe how this assay can be modified to investigate the angiogenic activity of cancer cells.

Objective— The goal of this study was to define the role of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) in the cascade of gene activation that regulates aortic angiogenesis in response to injury. Methods and Results— Angiogenesis was studied by culturing rat or mouse aortic rings in collagen gels. Gene expression was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, microarray analysis, immunocytochemistry, and ELISA. TNFα gene disruption and recombinant TNFα or blocking antibodies against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or TNF receptors were used to investigate TNFα-mediated angiogenic mechanisms. Resident aortic macrophages were depleted with liposomal clodronate. Angiogenesis was preceded by overexpression of TNFα and TNFα-inducible genes. Studies with isolated cells showed that macrophages were the main source of TNFα. Angiogenesis, VEGF production, and macrophage outgrowth were impaired by TNFα gene disruption and promoted by exogenous TNFα. Antibody-mediated inhibition of TNF receptor 1 significantly inhibited angiogenesis. The proangiogenic effect of TNFα was suppressed by blocking VEGF or by ablating aortic macrophages. Exogenous TNFα, however, maintained a limited proangiogenic capacity in the absence of macrophages and macrophage-mediated VEGF production. Conclusion— Overexpression of TNFα is required for optimal VEGF production and angiogenesis in response to injury. This TNFα/VEGF-mediated angiogenic pathway requires macrophages. The residual capacity of TNFα to stimulate angiogenesis in macrophage-depleted aortic cultures implies the existence of a VEGF-independent alternate pathway of TNFα-induced angiogenesis.

This study was designed to investigate the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) in the reabsorption of neovessels in collagen gel cultures of rat and mouse aortic rings. Aortic angiogenesis was associated with collagen lysis and production of the matrix-degrading enzymes MMP-2, MMP-9, and membrane-type MMP (MT1-MMP, or MMP-14). Vascular growth and regression were not affected by disruption of MMP-2 or MMP-9. In addition, no effect on vascular regression was observed by blocking plasmin, a protease implicated in the activation of MMPs, with ε-aminocaproic acid or by adding plasminogen, which caused a modest increase in vascular proliferation. Conversely, angiogenesis was blocked and vessels stabilized by inhibiting MT1-MMP with neutralizing antibodies, TIMP-2, TIMP-3, or TIMP-4. TIMP-1, which blocks MMP-2 and MMP-9 but is a poor inhibitor of MT1-MMP, had no antiangiogenic effect. However, TIMP-1 prolonged the survival of neovessels following angiogenesis. Vascular regression was accelerated in aortic cultures from TIMP-1- and TIMP-2-deficient mice. The vascular survival effect of anti-MT1-MMP antibodies and TIMPs with MT1-MMP inhibitory activity was associated with complete inhibition of collagen lysis. In contrast, TIMP-1 had no anticollagenolytic effect. These results indicate that MT1-MMP plays a critical role not only in angiogenesis but also in vascular regression and demonstrate that TIMPs with anti-MT1-MMP activity have opposite effects on angiogenic outcomes depending on the stage of the angiogenic process. This study also suggests the existence of a TIMP-1-mediated alternate pathway of vascular survival that is unrelated to MT1-MMP inhibitory activity.

The proteolytic activation by thrombin of the proteinase-activated receptor 1 unveils the tethered peptide ligand and cleaves a 41-amino acid peptide. In this report, we show that this peptide, which we have designated as "parstatin," is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis. Synthesized parstatin suppressed both the basic angiogenesis and that stimulated by basic fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in the chick embryo model in vivo and in the rat aortic ring assay. Parstatin also abrogated endothelial cell migration and capillary-like network formation on the Matrigel and fibrin angiogenesis models in vitro. Treatment of endothelial cells with parstatin resulted in inhibition of cell growth by inhibiting the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases in a specific and reversible fashion and by promoting cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through a mechanism involving activation of caspases. We have shown that parstatin acts as a cell-penetrating peptide, exerting its biological effects intracellularly. The uptake into cells and the inhibitory activity were dependent on parstatin hydrophobic region. These results support the notion that parstatin may represent an important negative regulator of angiogenesis with possible therapeutic applications.

This chapter describes protocols developed in our laboratory to prepare and analyze angiogenic cultures of rat aorta. Rings of rat aorta cultured in collagen gels produce neovessel outgrowths which reproduce ex vivo key steps of the angiogenic process including endothelial migration, proliferation, proteolytic digestion of the extracellular matrix, capillary tube formation, pericyte recruitment, and vascular regression. The angiogenic response of aortic explants can be stimulated with growth factors or inhibited with anti-angiogenic molecules. Aortic ring cultures can also be used to study tumor angiogenesis. Protocols outlined in this chapter describe how this assay can be modified to investigate the angiogenic activity of cancer cells.

This study was designed to investigate how changes in O2 levels affected angiogenesis in vascular organ culture. Although hypoxia is a potent inducer of angiogenesis, aortic rings cultured in collagen paradoxically failed to produce an angiogenic response in 1-4 % O2. Additionally, aortic neovessels preformed in atmospheric O2 lost pericytes and regressed at a faster rate than control when exposed to hypoxia. Aortic explants remained viable in hypoxia and produced an angiogenic response when returned to atmospheric O2. Hypoxic aortic rings were unresponsive to VEGF, while increased oxygenation of the system dose-dependently enhanced VEGF-induced angiogenesis. Hypoxia-induced refractoriness to angiogenic stimulation was not restricted to the aorta because similar results were obtained with vena cava explants or isolated endothelial cells. Unlike endothelial cells, aorta-derived mural cells were unaffected by hypoxia. Hypoxia downregulated expression in aortic explants of key signaling molecules including VEGFR2, NRP1 and Prkc-beta while upregulating expression of VEGFR1. Medium conditioned by hypoxic cultures exhibited angiostatic and anti-VEGF activities likely mediated by sVEGFr1. Hypoxia reduced expression of VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 in endothelial cells while upregulating VEGFR1 in macrophages and VEGF in both macrophages and mural cells. Thus, changes in O2 levels profoundly affect the endothelial response to angiogenic stimuli. These results suggest that hypoxia-induced angiogenesis is fine-tuned by complex regulatory mechanisms involving not only production of angiogenic factors including VEGF but also differential regulation of VEGFR expression in different cell types and production of inhibitors of VEGF function such as sVEGFR1.

We used the aortic ring model of angiogenesis to investigate the role of β1 and β3 integrins in postangiogenic vascular survival in collagen and fibrin matrices. Confocal microscopy studies showed that both β1 and β3 integrins were expressed in endothelial cells and pericytes of sprouting neovessels. Antibody blocking experiments demonstrated that β1 integrins but not β3 integrins were required for angiogenic sprouting in collagen. Conversely, in fibrin, blockade of both integrins was needed to inhibit angiogenesis whereas treatment with either antibody alone was ineffective. Antibody-mediated blockade of β1 but not β3 integrins accelerated vascular regression in collagen. In contrast, both anti-β1 and -β3 integrin antibodies were required to promote neovessel breakdown in fibrin. These results demonstrate that angiogenic sprouting and postangiogenic neovessel survival in collagen are critically dependent on β1 integrins. They also indicate that these processes involve a redundant repertoire of β1 and β3 integrins when angiogenesis occurs in fibrin. Thus, pharmacologic targeting of integrin receptors aimed at blocking neovessel formation and survival must be tailored to the specific extracellular matrix environment in which angiogenesis takes place.

The purpose of this study was to identify novel transcriptional events occurring in the aortic wall before angiogenesis. We used a defined tissue culture system that takes advantage of the capacity of rat aortic rings to generate neovessels ex vivo in response to angiogenic factor stimulation. Total RNA isolated from aortic rings 18 h posttreatment with angiopoietin (Ang)-1 or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was used to probe oligonucleotide microarrays. Many genes were up- or downregulated by either Ang-1 or VEGF, with a subset being affected by treatment with both growth factors. Grouping of genes by biological function revealed that Ang-1 and VEGF both upregulated a host of immune-related genes including many inflammatory cytokines. A mixture of the Ang-1- and VEGF-induced cytokines stimulated the spontaneous angiogenic response of aortic rings and was synergistic with a low dose of recombinant VEGF. This effect was associated with enhanced recruitment of adventitial macrophages and dendritic cells in the angiogenic outgrowths. Thus Ang-1 and VEGF activate the innate immune system of the vessel wall, stimulating the production of proangiogenic inflammatory cytokines before the emergence of neovessels. This hitherto unreported feature of the angiogenic response might represent an important early component of the cellular and molecular cascade responsible for the angiogenic response of the aortic wall.

Pericytes play an important role in modulating angiogenesis, but the origin of these cells is poorly understood. To evaluate whether the mature vessel wall contains pericyte progenitor cells, nonendothelial mesenchymal cells isolated from the rat aorta were cultured in a serum-free medium optimized for stem cells. This method led to the isolation of anchorage-independent cells that proliferated slowly in suspension, forming spheroidal colonies. This process required basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the culture medium, because bFGF withdrawal caused the cells to attach to the culture dish and irreversibly lose their capacity to grow in suspension. Immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR analysis revealed the expression of the precursor cell markers CD34 and Tie-2 and the absence of endothelial cell markers (CD31 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase, eNOS) and smooth muscle cell markers (alpha-smooth muscle actin, alpha-SMA). In addition, spheroid-forming cells were positive for NG2, nestin, PDGF receptor (PDGFR)-alpha, and PDGFR-beta. Upon exposure to serum, these cells lost CD34 expression, acquired alpha-SMA, and attached to the culture dish. Returning these cells to serum-free medium failed to restore their original spheroid phenotype, suggesting terminal differentiation. When embedded in collagen gels, spheroid-forming cells rapidly migrated in response to PDGF-BB and became dendritic. Spheroid-forming cells cocultured in collagen with angiogenic outgrowths of rat aorta or isolated endothelial cells transformed into pericytes. These results demonstrate that the rat aorta contains primitive mesenchymal cells capable of pericyte differentiation. These immature cells may represent an important source of pericytes during angiogenesis in physiological and pathological processes. They may also provide a convenient supply of mural cells for vascular bioengineering applications.

Explants of rat inferior vena cava embedded in collagen gel and cultured under serum-free conditions produced microvascular outgrowths composed of endothelial cells and pericytes. Exogenous vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) dose-dependently stimulated angiogenesis and induced the formation of complex networks of highly branched microvessels. VEGF and the VEGF/bFGF combination also promoted pericyte recruitment. Medium conditioned by untreated vena cava cultures contained endogenous VEGF, and a blocking antibody against VEGF significantly reduced the spontaneous angiogenic response of the explants. Vena cava explants exhibited a greater capacity to form neovessels than aortic rings when tested in parallel cultures from the same animal. When compared with aorta-derived microvessels, neovessels of vena cava origin were longer and had fewer pericytes. Vena cava-aorta cocultures produced extensive anastomosing networks of microvessels, which were primarily contributed by the venous explants. Because of its florid angiogenesis and exquisite sensitivity to angiogenic factor stimulation, the vena cava model may provide novel insights into the regulation of the angiogenic process, which typically initiates from the venous side of the vascular bed. Combined with the aortic ring model, this new assay may also enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of anastomosis formation between the arterial and the venous circulations.

Protocols outlined in this chapter illustrate how to prepare and analyze angiogenic cultures of rat aorta. Aortic rings embedded in gels of extracellular matrix generate vascular outgrowths that can easily be monitored over time with inverted microscopy. The angiogenic response can be measured by counting vessels or with image analysis. Aortic ring cultures can be used to investigate molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis and test the efficacy of stimulators and inhibitors of the angiogenic process. As such this assay is an invaluable tool for both basic and applied angiogenesis research.

Protocols outlined in this chapter illustrate how to prepare and analyze angiogenic cultures of rat aorta. Aortic rings embedded in gels of extracellular matrix generate vascular outgrowths that can easily be monitored over time with inverted microscopy. The angiogenic response can be measured by counting vessels or with image analysis. Aortic ring cultures can be used to investigate molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis and test the efficacy of stimulators and inhibitors of the angiogenic process. As such this assay is an invaluable tool for both basic and applied angiogenesis research.

The Drosophila homeotic gene proboscipedia (pb) specifies labial identity and directs formation of the adult distiproboscis from the labial imaginal discs. pb null alleles result in the homeotic transformation of the distiproboscis into prothoracic (T1) legs [ Kaufman (1978) Genetics 90, 579–596 ; Pultz et al. (1988) Genes Dev. 2, 901–920 ]. Homology with other transcription factors, localization to the nucleus, and restricted embryonic and imaginal expression implicate the pb protein (PB) as a transcription factor. In order to examine the possible roles that PB may play in the specification of adult mouthparts, we have expressed PB in cells of wing, leg and eye-antennal imaginal discs and assayed for effects on the development of adult structures. We report here that the ectopic expression of PB in the imaginal discs under the control of the inducible GAL4 system [ Brand and Perrimon (1993) Development 118, 401–415 ] alters the developmental program of adult legs into maxillary or labial palps. These homeotic transformations have an equal effect on all three sets of legs, indicating an activity that is not solely dependent upon the unique combinations of other homeotic genes present in each of the leg discs. Segment polarity genes required for establishing the AP compartment boundary were found to be undisturbed by ectopic PB. Furthermore, normal patterns of apoptosis are observed in animals expressing ectopic PB, indicating that PB does not alter or affect cell death. These results suggest that molecular events occurring downstream of the establishment of the compartment boundary are affected by ectopic PB expression in imaginal discs and point to a general role in ‘palp’ formation in addition to the specification of labial identity.

The treatment of festering wounds is one of the most important aspects of medical care. Macrophages are important components of wound repair, both in fending off infection and in coordinating tissue repair. Here we show that macrophages use a Wnt-Calcineurin-Flt1 signaling pathway to suppress wound vasculature and delay repair. Conditional mutants deficient in both Wntless/GPR177, the secretory transporter of Wnt ligands, and CNB1, the essential component of the nuclear factor of activated T cells dephosporylation complex, displayed enhanced angiogenesis and accelerated repair. Furthermore, in myeloid-like cells, we show that noncanonical Wnt activates Flt1, a naturally occurring inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor-A–mediated angiogenesis, but only when calcineurin function is intact. Then, as expected, conditional deletion of Flt1 in macrophages resulted in enhanced wound angiogenesis and repair. These results are consistent with the published link between enhanced angiogenesis and enhanced repair, and establish novel therapeutic approaches for treatment of wounds.

Protocols outlined in this chapter illustrate how to prepare and analyze angiogenic cultures of rat or mouse aorta. Aortic rings embedded in gels of extracellular matrix generate vascular outgrowths that can be visualized and monitored over time with inverted microscopy. The angiogenic response is measured by counting vessels or with image analysis. The expression of angioregulatory genes is evaluated by quantitative real-time RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, and ELISA. Angiogenesis is modulated by adding growth factors, cytokines or chemical inhibitors to the growth medium. Aortic rings isolated from genetically modified animals or transduced with viral vectors are used to evaluate how gene disruption or overexpression affects the angiogenic response. Aortic ring cultures can be used to investigate molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis and test the efficacy of stimulators and inhibitors of the angiogenic process. As such this assay is an invaluable tool for both basic and applied angiogenesis research.

Background Tissues respond to injury by releasing acute phase reaction (APR) proteins which regulate inflammation and angiogenesis. Among the genes upregulated in wounded tissues are tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) and the acute phase reactant orosomucoid-1 (ORM1). ORM1 has been shown to modulate the response of immune cells to TNFα, but its role on injury- and TNFα-induced angiogenesis has not been investigated. This study was designed to characterize the role of ORM1 in the angiogenic response to injury and TNFα. Methods and Results Angiogenesis was studied with in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo angiogenesis assays. Injured rat aortic rings cultured in collagen gels produced an angiogenic response driven by macrophage-derived TNFα. Microarray analysis and qRT-PCR showed that TNFα and ORM1 were upregulated prior to angiogenic sprouting. Exogenous ORM1 delayed the angiogenic response to injury and inhibited the proangiogenic effect of TNFα in cultures of aortic rings or isolated endothelial cells, but stimulated aortic angiogenesis over time while promoting VEGF production and activity. ORM1 inhibited injury- and TNFα-induced phosphorylation of MEK1/2 and p38 MAPK in aortic rings, but not of NFκB. This effect was injury/TNFα-specific since ORM1 did not inhibit VEGF-induced signaling, and cell-specific since ORM1 inhibited TNFα-induced phosphorylation of MEK1/2 and p38 MAPK in macrophages and endothelial cells, but not mural cells. Experiments with specific inhibitors demonstrated that the MEK/ERK pathway was required for angiogenesis. ORM1 inhibited angiogenesis in a subcutaneous in vivo assay of aortic ring-induced angiogenesis, but stimulated developmental angiogenesis in the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Conclusion ORM1 regulates injury-induced angiogenesis in a time- and context-dependent manner by sequentially dampening the initial TNFα-induced angiogenic response and promoting the downstream stimulation of the angiogenic process by VEGF. The context-dependent nature of ORM1 angioregulatory function is further demonstrated in the CAM assay where ORM1 stimulates developmental angiogenesis without exerting any inhibitory activity.

The development of blood vessels during angiogenesis is the result of paracrine interactions between tube-forming endothelial cells and angiogenic factor-producing nonendothelial cells. This process can be reproduced and studied under chemically defined culture conditions by culturing vascular explants in three-dimensional gels of extracellular matrix. Rings of rat or mouse aorta cultured in collagen, fibrin or basement membrane gels produce angiogenic outgrowths composed of a mixed population of endothelial cells and nonendothelial cells. Aortic angiogenesis is regulated by endogenous angiogenic factors, inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, extracellular matrix molecules, and proteolytic enzymes produced by cells of the vessel wall in response to the injury of the dissection procedure. In this paper, we review how macrophages, mural cells and fibroblasts regulate different stages of the angiogenic process, from the formation of immature endothelial sprouts to the reabsorption of the neovessels. We also describe how aortic cultures can be used to study interactions between angiogenic outgrowths and nonvascular cell types such as bone marrow macrophages, platelets or cancer cells. Morphologic, genetic and functional studies of this model have provided invaluable information on how vessels form, mature, interact with nonvascular cell types, and are eventually reabsorbed. Further analysis of the paracrine cross-talk between aortic endothelial and nonendothelial cells is likely to provide new insights into the angiogenic process and its key mechanisms.

Methods to target/isolate aorta resident immunocytes and study their angiogenic behavior. Angiogenesis in the aortic ring model is preceded by activation of the immune system and impaired by ablation of adventitial macrophages. Treatment of aortic cultures with M-CSF induced extensive periaortic outgrowth of CD45+ CD68+ mononuclear cells with ultrastructural features of macrophages and DCs. Periaortic lysis of collagen caused many CD45+ CD68+ cells to attach to the bottom of the culture dish. Lifting the collagen gels left behind patches of CD45+ CD68+ cells, which focally organized into branching cords. These cells also expressed CD14, CD169, F4/80, and α-SMA but not CD31, vWF, desmin, or CD163. DNA synthesis studies showed that M-CSF-stimulated cells were actively proliferating. Aortic patch cells showed phagocytic properties and responded to IL-4 and GM-CSF by expressing MHC II, differentiating into DCs, and forming multinucleated giant cells. They also stimulated angiogenesis and VEGF production in aortic ring cultures. This study demonstrates that the rat aorta contains a distinct subset of immature immunocytes capable of proliferating, differentiating into macrophages and DCs, and stimulating angiogenesis. Isolation of these cells in patches from M-CSF-stimulated aortic rings provides a reproducible system to study the biology and angiogenic role of the resident immune system of the aortic wall.

Angiogenesis during reactive and pathologic processes is characteristically associated with inflammation. Macrophages and dendritic cells present in the inflammatory infiltrate contribute to the angiogenic process by multiple mechanisms. Macrophages produce a broad array of angiogenic growth factors and cytokines, generate conduits for blood flow through proteolytic mechanisms, and promote the remodeling of arterioles into arteries. They can also inhibit angiogenesis and cause reabsorption of neovessels by inducing endothelial cell death. Dendritic cells can stimulate or inhibit angiogenesis depending on their activation status and subset specificity. Dendritic cells stimulate angiogenesis by secreting angiogenic factors and cytokines, promoting the proangiogenic activity of T lymphocytes, and trans-differentiating into endothelial cells. Inflammatory infiltrates associated with angiogenesis also contain Tie2+, VEGFR2+, and GR1+ myelomonocytic cells which actively regulate the angiogenic process through paracrine mechanisms. In this paper we review our current knowledge of this field and discuss how recent advances have provided the rationale for novel therapeutic approaches against cancer.

The purpose of this study was to define early events during the angiogenic response of the aortic wall to injury. Rat aortic rings produced neovessels in collagen culture but lost this capacity over time. These quiescent rings responded to vascular endothelial growth factor but not to a mixture of macrophage-stimulatory cytokines and chemokines that was angiogenically active on fresh rings. Analysis of cytokine receptor expression revealed selective loss in quiescent rings of the proangiogenic chemokine receptor CXCR2, which was expressed predominantly in aortic macrophages. Pharmacologic inhibition of CXCR2 impaired angiogenesis from fresh rings but had no effect on vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis from quiescent explants. Angiogenesis was also impaired in cultures of aortic rings from CXCR2-deficient mice. Reduced CXCR2 expression in quiescent rat aortic rings correlated with marked macrophage depletion. Pharmacologic ablation of macrophages from aortic explants blocked formation of neovessels in vitro and reduced aortic ring-induced angiogenesis in vivo. The angiogenic response of macrophage-depleted rings was completely restored by adding exogenous macrophages. Moreover, angiogenesis from fresh rings was promoted by macrophage CSF (CSF-1) and inhibited with anti-CSF-1 Ab. Thus, aortic angiogenic sprouting following injury is strongly influenced by conditions that modulate resident macrophage numbers and function.

Angiogenesis is regulated by a complex cascade of cellular and molecular events. The entire process can be reproduced in vitro by culturing rat or mouse aortic explants in three-dimensional biomatrices under chemically defined conditions. Angiogenesis in this system is driven by endogenous growth factors released by the aorta and its outgrowth. Sprouting endothelial cells closely interact with pericytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts in an orderly sequence of morphogenetic events that recapitulates all stages of angiogenesis. This model can be used to study the basic mechanisms of the angiogenic process and to test the efficacy of proangiogenic or antiangiogenic compounds. Aortic cultures can be evaluated with a range of morphologic and molecular techniques for the study of gene expression. In this chapter we describe basic protocols currently used in our laboratory to prepare, quantify, and analyze this assay.

Angiogenesis is regulated by a complex cascade of cellular and molecular events. The entire process can be reproduced in vitro by culturing rat or mouse aortic explants in three-dimensional biomatrices under chemically defined conditions. Angiogenesis in this system is driven by endogenous growth factors released by the aorta and its outgrowth. Sprouting endothelial cells closely interact with pericytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts in an orderly sequence of morphogenetic events that recapitulates all stages of angiogenesis. This model can be used to study the basic mechanisms of the angiogenic process and to test the efficacy of proangiogenic or antiangiogenic compounds. Aortic cultures can be evaluated with a range of morphologic and molecular techniques for the study of gene expression. In this chapter we describe basic protocols currently used in our laboratory to prepare, quantify, and analyze this assay.

EGR2 is a human zinc finger encoding gene whose expression is induced with fos-like kinetics by diverse mitogens in several cell types. Since its cDNA sequence predicts a protein which contains zinc finger motifs, EGR2 may play a transcriptional regulatory role in cellular proliferation. The present study was undertaken to: 1) examine the genomic organization and 5' flanking sequence of EGR2 so as to identify upstream regulatory elements; 2) test whether these elements are functional in gel shift assays and by transient expression; and 3) examine whether pathways other than protein kinase C lead to serum induction of EGR2, and if they do, ask whether the different pathways converge on a serum response element. The EGR2 gene spans 4.3 kb and has one intron. The translation initiation site is located within the first exon. The transcription start site of EGR2 was determined by S1 nuclease and primer extension analysis and a TATA box was identified 28 bp upstream. Two putative serum response elements, designated CArG-1 and CArG-2 were identified in the 5' flanking sequence. By deletion analyses and mutagenesis, serum and PMA responsiveness of the cloned EGR2 promoter region was traced to the CArG-1 region in transient CAT assays performed in NIH 3T3 cells. Both protein kinase C dependent and independent pathways were found to converge on the CArG-1 box to induce the expression of EGR2.

Rat or mouse aortic rings produce angiogenic outgrowths in vitro through endogenous production of growth factors and inflammatory cytokines. To further investigate this process in vivo, collagen-Gelfoam constructs containing aortic rings were implanted subcutaneously in syngeneic animals. Aortic rings stimulated a prominent angiogenic response characterized by peri- and intra-aortic accumulation of florid granulation tissue. Conversely, implants without rings elicited a non-specific inflammatory reaction without significant angiogenesis. The angiogenic response to the rings peaked at day 14 and was followed by regression of neovessels, which were mostly reabsorbed by day 28. Gene expression studies showed upregulated expression of angiogenic growth factors and cytokines in implants with rings. Tracking experiments with LacZ expressing ROSA26 transgenic mice demonstrated that both the aorta and the host contributed to the angiogenic response. These studies show that the angiogenic properties of the rodent aorta can be studied in the live animal under conditions that can be monitored and quantified. This in vivo assay can be used to study the molecular mechanisms by which the arterial wall and its proangiogenic cytokines regulate formation of granulation tissue during wound healing.

We used the aortic ring model of angiogenesis to investigate the role of beta(1) and beta(3) integrins in postangiogenic vascular survival in collagen and fibrin matrices. Confocal microscopy studies showed that both beta(1) and beta(3) integrins were expressed in endothelial cells and pericytes of sprouting neovessels. Antibody blocking experiments demonstrated that beta(1) integrins but not beta(3) integrins were required for angiogenic sprouting in collagen. Conversely, in fibrin, blockade of both integrins was needed to inhibit angiogenesis whereas treatment with either antibody alone was ineffective. Antibody-mediated blockade of beta(1) but not beta(3) integrins accelerated vascular regression in collagen. In contrast, both anti-beta(1) and -beta(3) integrin antibodies were required to promote neovessel breakdown in fibrin. These results demonstrate that angiogenic sprouting and postangiogenic neovessel survival in collagen are critically dependent on beta(1) integrins. They also indicate that these processes involve a redundant repertoire of beta(1) and beta(3) integrins when angiogenesis occurs in fibrin. Thus, pharmacologic targeting of integrin receptors aimed at blocking neovessel formation and survival must be tailored to the specific extracellular matrix environment in which angiogenesis takes place.

Angiogenesis is a complex morphogenetic process characterized by multiple mechanisms of vessel wall assembly and remodeling. During primary angiogenesis (vasculogenesis) blood vessels arise de novo from a subpopulation of mesodermal cells, which differentiate into a polygonal network of endothelial tubes lacking a mural cell coating. Further expansion of the primitive embryonal vascular system occurs through sprouting of neovessels from the differentiated endothelium of preexisting vessels. Progenitor endothelial cells participate in this secondary form of angiogenesis by becoming incorporated into neovessels from the adjacent perivascular mesenchyme. Capillary loops form through end-to-end fusion of endothelial sprouts or by intussusceptive microvascular growth, a variant of angiogenesis in which transluminal endothelial pillars subdivide the luminal space of an individual sinusoidal capillary into two separate vessels. Neovessels enlarge by intercalated growth of endothelial cells, which proliferate without sprouting, and by lateral fusion of preformed vascular tubes, like the paired dorsal aortas. As blood starts to flow and tissues differentiate, the primary vascular plexus transforms into an arborizing network of arteries, capillaries, and veins. Blood vessel walls thicken by acquiring a coating of mural cells (pericytes and smooth muscle cells) that originate from the mesodermal and neural crest mesenchyme.