TY - JOUR
T1 - β2-adrenergic receptor stimulation improves endothelial progenitor cell-mediated ischemic neoangiogenesis
AU - Galasso, Gennaro
AU - De Rosa, Roberta
AU - Ciccarelli, Michele
AU - Sorriento, Daniela
AU - Del Giudice, Carmine
AU - Strisciuglio, Teresa
AU - De Biase, Chiara
AU - Luciano, Rossella
AU - Piccolo, Raffaele
AU - Pierri, Adele
AU - Di Gioia, Giuseppe
AU - Prevete, Nella
AU - Trimarco, Bruno
AU - Piscione, Federico
AU - Iaccarino, Guido
PY - 2013/3/29
Y1 - 2013/3/29
N2 - RATIONALE: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are present in the systemic circulation and home to sites of ischemic injury where they promote neoangiogenesis. β2-Adrenergic receptor (β2AR) plays a critical role in vascular tone regulation and neoangiogenesis. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the role of β2AR on EPCs' function. METHODS AND RESULTS: We firstly performed in vitro analysis showing the expression of β2AR on EPCs. Stimulation of wild-type EPCs with β-agonist isoproterenol induced a significant increase of Flk-1 expression on EPCs as assessed by fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Moreover, β2AR stimulation induced a significant increase of cell proliferation, improved the EPCs migratory activity, and enhanced the EPCs' ability to promote endothelial cell network formation in vitro. Then, we performed in vivo studies in animals model of hindlimb ischemia. Consistent with our in vitro results, in vivo EPCs' treatment resulted in an improvement of impaired angiogenic phenotype in β2AR KO mice after induction of ischemia, whereas no significant amelioration was observed when β2AR knock out (KO) EPCs were injected. Indeed, wild-type-derived EPCs' injection resulted in a significantly higher blood flow restoration in ischemic hindlimb and higher capillaries density at histological analysis as compared with not treated or β2AR KO EPC-treated mice. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides the first evidence that EPCs express a functional β2AR. Moreover, β2AR stimulation results in EPCs proliferation, migration, and differentiation, enhancing their angiogenic ability, both in vitro and in vivo, leading to an improved response to ischemic injury in animal models of hindlimb ischemia.
AB - RATIONALE: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are present in the systemic circulation and home to sites of ischemic injury where they promote neoangiogenesis. β2-Adrenergic receptor (β2AR) plays a critical role in vascular tone regulation and neoangiogenesis. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the role of β2AR on EPCs' function. METHODS AND RESULTS: We firstly performed in vitro analysis showing the expression of β2AR on EPCs. Stimulation of wild-type EPCs with β-agonist isoproterenol induced a significant increase of Flk-1 expression on EPCs as assessed by fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Moreover, β2AR stimulation induced a significant increase of cell proliferation, improved the EPCs migratory activity, and enhanced the EPCs' ability to promote endothelial cell network formation in vitro. Then, we performed in vivo studies in animals model of hindlimb ischemia. Consistent with our in vitro results, in vivo EPCs' treatment resulted in an improvement of impaired angiogenic phenotype in β2AR KO mice after induction of ischemia, whereas no significant amelioration was observed when β2AR knock out (KO) EPCs were injected. Indeed, wild-type-derived EPCs' injection resulted in a significantly higher blood flow restoration in ischemic hindlimb and higher capillaries density at histological analysis as compared with not treated or β2AR KO EPC-treated mice. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides the first evidence that EPCs express a functional β2AR. Moreover, β2AR stimulation results in EPCs proliferation, migration, and differentiation, enhancing their angiogenic ability, both in vitro and in vivo, leading to an improved response to ischemic injury in animal models of hindlimb ischemia.
KW - β-adrenergic receptor
KW - angiogenesis
KW - endothelial progenitor cells
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84876406095&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84876406095&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.111.300152
DO - 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.111.300152
M3 - Article
C2 - 23418295
AN - SCOPUS:84876406095
VL - 112
SP - 1026
EP - 1034
JO - Circulation Research
JF - Circulation Research
SN - 0009-7330
IS - 7
ER -