CXCL16 is a novel angiogenic factor for human umbilical vein endothelial cells

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 331; no. 4; pp. 1295 - 1300
• Main Authors: Zhuge, Xin, Murayama, Toshinori, Arai, Hidenori, Yamauchi, Ryoko, Tanaka, Makoto, Shimaoka, Takeshi, Yonehara, Shin, Kume, Noriaki, Yokode, Masayuki, Kita, Toru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 17.06.2005
• Subjects: Angiogenesis; Cell Movement - physiology; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Chemokine CXCL16; Chemokines, CXC - physiology; CXCL16; Endothelial cell; Endothelium, Vascular - cytology; Humans; Membrane Proteins - physiology; Neovascularization, Physiologic - physiology; Receptors, Immunologic - physiology; Receptors, Scavenger; Umbilical Veins - cytology; Angiogenesis; Endothelial cell; CXCL16
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.03.200

CXCL16 is a unique chemokine with characteristics as a receptor for phosphatidylserine and oxidized low density lipoproteins in macrophages, and is involved in the accumulation of cellular cholesterol during atherosclerotic lesion development. In this study, we report a new function of CXCL16 as a novel angiogenic factor in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). CXCL16 stimulated proliferation and chemotaxis of HUVEC in a dose-dependent manner, reaching a maximum at 1 nM. CXCL16 also significantly induced tube formation of HUVEC on Matrigel. Further, exposure of HUVEC to CXCL16 led to a time- and dose-dependent activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK1/2), which was completely inhibited by a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor, PD98059. Proliferation and tube formation in response to CXCL16 were also blocked by the pretreatment with PD98059, but not CXCL16-induced chemotaxis. Thus, our data indicate that CXCL16 may act as a novel angiogenic factor for HUVEC and that ERK is involved as an important signaling molecule to mediate its angiogenic effects.