Evaluation of angiopoietins and cell-derived microparticles after stem cell transplantation

Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2008 Jul;14(7):766-74. doi: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2008.04.005.

Abstract

Although stem cell transplantation (SCT) is being used for hematopoietic reconstitution following high-dose chemotherapy for malignancy, it involves certain serious transplant-related complications such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Angiopoietins play important roles in angiogenesis. However, the role of angiopoietins after SCT is poorly understood. In this study, 52 patients underwent SCT; 26 patients received allogeneic SCT, while the remaining 26 received autologous SCT. In 48 of 52 patients, levels of angiopoietins, cytokines, and soluble factors were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) and endothelial cell-derived microparticle (EDMP) exhibited significant elevation in the early phase (2-3 weeks) after SCT. In addition, the elevation of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and sIL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), which are GVHD markers after allogeneic SCT was observed. The level of angiopoietin (Ang)-2 in allogeneic SCT continued to increase for up to 4 weeks, although the level of Ang-1 did not show significant changes. The patients with high Ang-2 exhibited significant increase of sFasL and EDMP compared with those with low Ang-2. In addition, the patients with high-grade GVHD exhibited a significant increase in Ang-2 compared to patients with low-grade GVHD. In the in vitro experiment using endothelial cells, the suppressive effect of Ang-1 on EDMP generation by TNF-alpha was partially inhibited by the addition of Ang-2. Furthermore, multivariate regression analysis showed that EDMP and sFasL were significant factors in Ang-2 elevation. Our results suggest that Ang-2 generation after allogeneic SCT relates to GVHD.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Angiopoietin-1 / blood*
  • Angiopoietin-2 / blood*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Child
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology*
  • Fas Ligand Protein / blood*
  • Female
  • Graft vs Host Disease / blood*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*

Substances

  • ANGPT1 protein, human
  • Angiopoietin-1
  • Angiopoietin-2
  • Fas Ligand Protein