The angiogenic factor CCN1 promotes adhesion and migration of circulating CD34+ progenitor cells: potential role in angiogenesis and endothelial regeneration

Blood. 2007 Aug 1;110(3):877-85. doi: 10.1182/blood-2006-07-036202. Epub 2007 Apr 11.

Abstract

Tissue regeneration involves the formation of new blood vessels regulated by angiogenic factors. We reported recently that the expression of the angiogenic factor CCN1 is up-regulated under various pathophysiologic conditions within the cardiovascular system. Because CD34+ progenitor cells participate in cardiovascular tissue regeneration, we investigated whether CCN1-detected for the first time in human plasma-promotes the recruitment of CD34+ progenitor cells to endothelial cells, thereby enhancing endothelial proliferation and neovascularization. In this study, we demonstrated that CCN1 and supernatants from CCN1-stimulated human CD34+ progenitor cells promoted proliferation of endothelial cells and angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. In addition, CCN1 induced migration and transendothelial migration of CD34+ cells and the release of multiple growth factors, chemokines, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) from these cells. Moreover, the CCN1-specific integrins alpha(M)beta(2) and alpha(V)beta(3) are expressed on CD34+ cells and CCN1 stimulated integrin-dependent signaling. Furthermore, integrin antagonists (RGD-peptides) suppressed both binding of CCN1 to CD34+ cells and CCN1-induced adhesion of CD34+ cells to endothelial cells. These data suggest that CCN1 promotes integrin-dependent recruitment of CD34+ progenitor cells to endothelial cells, which may contribute to paracrine effects on angiogenesis and tissue regeneration.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD34*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cardiovascular System / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cysteine-Rich Protein 61
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immediate-Early Proteins / metabolism*
  • Immediate-Early Proteins / pharmacology
  • Integrin alphaVbeta3 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Integrin alphaVbeta3 / metabolism
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / pharmacology
  • Macrophage-1 Antigen / metabolism
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / drug effects
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / physiology*
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology
  • Paracrine Communication / drug effects
  • Paracrine Communication / physiology*
  • Regeneration / drug effects
  • Regeneration / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • Up-Regulation / physiology

Substances

  • Antigens, CD34
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • CCN1 protein, human
  • Cysteine-Rich Protein 61
  • Immediate-Early Proteins
  • Integrin alphaVbeta3
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Macrophage-1 Antigen
  • Oligopeptides
  • arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9