PSGL-1-mediated activation of EphB4 increases the proangiogenic potential of endothelial progenitor cells

J Clin Invest. 2007 Jun;117(6):1527-37. doi: 10.1172/JCI28338. Epub 2007 May 17.

Abstract

Endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) transplantation has beneficial effects for therapeutic neovascularization; however, only a small proportion of injected cells home to the lesion and incorporate into the neocapillaries. Consequently, this type of cell therapy requires substantial improvement to be of clinical value. Erythropoietin-producing human hepatocellular carcinoma (Eph) receptors and their ephrin ligands are key regulators of vascular development. We postulated that activation of the EphB4/ephrin-B2 system may enhance EPC proangiogenic potential. In this report, we demonstrate in a nude mouse model of hind limb ischemia that EphB4 activation with an ephrin-B2-Fc chimeric protein increases the angiogenic potential of human EPCs. This effect was abolished by EphB4 siRNA, confirming that it is mediated by EphB4. EphB4 activation enhanced P selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) expression and EPC adhesion. Inhibition of PSGL-1 by siRNA reversed the proangiogenic and adhesive effects of EphB4 activation. Moreover, neutralizing antibodies to E selectin and P selectin blocked ephrin-B2-Fc-stimulated EPC adhesion properties. Thus, activation of EphB4 enhances EPC proangiogenic capacity through induction of PSGL-1 expression and adhesion to E selectin and P selectin. Therefore, activation of EphB4 is an innovative and potentially valuable therapeutic strategy for improving the recruitment of EPCs to sites of neovascularization and thereby the efficiency of cell-based proangiogenic therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cells, Cultured
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • E-Selectin / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Ephrin-B2 / metabolism
  • Ephrin-B2 / pharmacology
  • Fetal Blood / cytology
  • Fetal Stem Cells / cytology
  • Fetal Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Fetal Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Hindlimb / blood supply
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Ischemia / metabolism
  • Ischemia / pathology
  • Ischemia / therapy
  • Male
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic* / drug effects
  • P-Selectin / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Receptor, EphB4 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptor, EphB4 / genetics
  • Receptor, EphB4 / metabolism*

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • E-Selectin
  • Ephrin-B2
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • P-Selectin
  • P-selectin ligand protein
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Ephb4 protein, mouse
  • Receptor, EphB4