TY - JOUR
T1 - Decrease in VEGF expression induces intussusceptive vascular pruning
AU - Hlushchuk, Ruslan
AU - Ehrbar, Martin
AU - Reichmuth, Philipp
AU - Heinimann, Niklas
AU - Styp-Rekowska, Beata
AU - Escher, Robert
AU - Baum, Oliver
AU - Lienemann, Philipp
AU - Makanya, Andrew
AU - Keshet, Eli
AU - Djonov, Valentin
PY - 2011/12
Y1 - 2011/12
N2 - Objective-The concept of vascular pruning, the "cuting-off" of vessels, is gaining importance due to expansion of angio-modulating therapies. The proangiogenic effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are broadly described, but the mechanisms of structural alterations by its downregulation are not known. Methods and results-VEGF165-releasing hydrogels were applied onto the chick chorioallantoic membrane on embryonic day 10. The hydrogels, designed to completely degrade within 2 days, caused high-level VEGF presentation followed by abrupt VEGF withdrawal. Application of VEGF resulted in a pronounced angiogenic response within 24 hours. The drastic decrease in level of exogenous VEGF-A within 48 hours was corroborated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Following this VEGF withdrawal we observed vasculature adaptation by means of intussusception, including intussusceptive vascular pruning. As revealed on vascular casts and serial semithin sections, intussusceptive vascular pruning occurred by emergence of multiple eccentric pillars at bifurcations. Time-lapse in vivo microscopy has confirmed the de novo occurrence of transluminal pillars and their capability to induce pruning. Quantitative evaluation corroborated an extensive activation of intussusception associated with VEGF withdrawal. Conclusion-Diminution of VEGF level induces vascular tree regression by intussusceptive vascular pruning. This observation may allude to the mechanism underlying the "normalization" of tumor vasculature if treated with antiangiogenic drugs. The mechanism described here gives new insights into the understanding of the processes of vasculature regression and hence provides new and potentially viable targets for antiangiogenic and/or angio-modulating therapies during various pathological processes.
AB - Objective-The concept of vascular pruning, the "cuting-off" of vessels, is gaining importance due to expansion of angio-modulating therapies. The proangiogenic effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are broadly described, but the mechanisms of structural alterations by its downregulation are not known. Methods and results-VEGF165-releasing hydrogels were applied onto the chick chorioallantoic membrane on embryonic day 10. The hydrogels, designed to completely degrade within 2 days, caused high-level VEGF presentation followed by abrupt VEGF withdrawal. Application of VEGF resulted in a pronounced angiogenic response within 24 hours. The drastic decrease in level of exogenous VEGF-A within 48 hours was corroborated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Following this VEGF withdrawal we observed vasculature adaptation by means of intussusception, including intussusceptive vascular pruning. As revealed on vascular casts and serial semithin sections, intussusceptive vascular pruning occurred by emergence of multiple eccentric pillars at bifurcations. Time-lapse in vivo microscopy has confirmed the de novo occurrence of transluminal pillars and their capability to induce pruning. Quantitative evaluation corroborated an extensive activation of intussusception associated with VEGF withdrawal. Conclusion-Diminution of VEGF level induces vascular tree regression by intussusceptive vascular pruning. This observation may allude to the mechanism underlying the "normalization" of tumor vasculature if treated with antiangiogenic drugs. The mechanism described here gives new insights into the understanding of the processes of vasculature regression and hence provides new and potentially viable targets for antiangiogenic and/or angio-modulating therapies during various pathological processes.
KW - angiogenesis
KW - intussusceptive vascular pruning
KW - morphogenesis
KW - vascular biology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=81755184136&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1161/ATVBAHA.111.231811
DO - 10.1161/ATVBAHA.111.231811
M3 - ???researchoutput.researchoutputtypes.contributiontojournal.article???
C2 - 21921259
AN - SCOPUS:81755184136
SN - 1079-5642
VL - 31
SP - 2836
EP - 2844
JO - Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology
JF - Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology
IS - 12
ER -