Targeting of integrin-linked kinase with small interfering RNA inhibits VEGF-induced angiogenesis in retinal endothelial cells.

The pathological angiogenesis in the retina is a major cause of vision loss at all ages. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been reported as the most potent inducer of retinal neovascularization. We previously demonstrated that integrin-linked kinase (ILK) regulates retinal vascular endothelial proliferation, migration and tube formation. However, little is known about the existence of cross-talk between ILK and VEGF signaling in retinal vascular endothelial cells and the probable regulatory role of ILK during VEGF-induced retinal endothelial cell migration. The purpose of this work was to investigate the role of ILK in VEGF-induced retinal neovascularization. Cultured retinal endothelial cells (RF/6A) were knocked down for ILK using a small interfering RNA (siRNA). For this, cellular ILK expression was quantified by real-time quantitative PCR, Western blot analysis and immunocytochemical assay, and cytotoxicity of transfection was determined by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. ILK siRNA-transfected RF/6A cells were induced by VEGF, and cell proliferation was determined by the MTT assay, cell migration was measured by cell counting in modified Boyden chambers and cell spreading and tube formation assays were performed. Furthermore, the impact of ILK-specific siRNA on VEGF-induced VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) phosphorylation and activation of downstream signal pathways were tested by Western blot analysis. Both ILK mRNA and protein levels were virtually undetectable after transfection with ILK siRNA, and blocking the expression of ILK by siRNA significantly inhibited VEGF-induced retinal endothelial cell proliferation, attachment, spreading, migration and tube formation. Knockdown of ILK effectively suppressed VEGF-induced p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Akt phosphorylation, but had no effects on VEGFR-2, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase and Jun N terminus kinase phosphorylation. We conclude that knockdown of ILK with siRNA effectively inhibited VEGF-induced retinal endothelial cell attachment, spreading, migration and tube formation. p38 MAPK and Akt are downstream signaling pathways of the ILK that regulated VEGF-induced retinal neovascularization. Targeting ILK may be a potentially useful therapeutic approach for treating ocular neovascularization.

Xie W ，Zhao M ，Zhou W ，Guo L ，Huang L ，Yu W ，Li X ... -  《-》

Targeting of integrin-linked kinase with a small interfering RNA inhibits endothelial cell migration, proliferation and tube formation in vitro.

To investigate the role of integrin-linked kinase (ILK) in endothelial cell migration, proliferation and tube formation in vitro. Cultured RF/6A cells were knocked down for ILK using small interfering RNA (siRNA). Cellular ILK expression was quantified by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis. Cell migration was measured by cell counting in modified Boyden chambers, while microfilament dynamics were assessed by immunofluorescence analysis. Cell cycling was determined using a FACS Calibur flow cytometer, and the expression of cyclin D(1) was also measured by the Western blot assay. The secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in culture medium samples was assessed by ELISA, and capillary/tube-like network formation assays were performed using matrigel. Both ILK mRNA and protein levels were virtually undetectable after transfection with ILK siRNA. In addition, there was a significant accumulation of cells in the G(0)-G(1) phase and a marked decrease in cell numbers in the S phase in ILK-specific siRNA-transfected cells, and the expression of cyclin D(1) was decreased after transfection. The knockdown of ILK significantly inhibited cell migration ability by disturbing F actin assembly, and VEGF secretion in conditioned medium was also reduced by 33%. Furthermore, treatment with ILK siRNA suppressed tube formation in RF/6A cells and significantly reduced the overall length of the tubes. Knockdown of ILK with siRNA effectively inhibits endothelial cell migration, proliferation and tube formation in vitro.

Guo L ，Yu W ，Li X ，Zhao G ，He P ... -  《-》

Targeting of integrin-linked kinase with a small interfering RNA suppresses progression of experimental proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Guo L ，Yu W ，Li X ，Zhao G ，Liang J ，He P ，Wang K ，Zhou P ，Jiang Y ，Zhao M ... -  《-》

Quercetin inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor-induced choroidal and retinal angiogenesis in vitro.

Li F ，Bai Y ，Zhao M ，Huang L ，Li S ，Li X ，Chen Y ... -  《-》

Suppression of transient receptor potential canonical channel 4 inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor-induced retinal neovascularization.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key regulator of angiogenesis and thus contributes to many vasoproliferative retinopathies including retinopathy of prematurity. Based on the importance of canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) channels in VEGF signaling, we firstly evaluated the expression of TRPC channels in mouse retina by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. All seven TRPC channels were expressed in mouse retina. TRPC4 channels were chosen for further analysis based on their upregulation on hypoxic retina according to the GEO database under the identifier GSE19886. Interestingly, TRPC4 suppression by intravitreal injection of siRNA against mTRPC4 significantly inhibited retinal neovascularization. To further investigate the effect of TRPC4 suppression on neovascularization, human retina microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs) that are responsible for initiating neovascularization in response to increased VEGF in OIR retina were transfected with siRNA against TRPC4. As we have expected, suppression of TRPC4 effectively inhibited VEGF-induced migration and tube formation as well. Further evaluation on VEGF signaling pathway by western blot analysis of signaling molecules discovered that VEGF-induced activation of ERK, p38 MAPK and AKT signaling pathways were inhibited by suppression of TRPC4. These findings suggest that suppression of TRPC4 could be an alternative therapeutic option for VEGF-induced retinal neovascularization.

Song HB ，Jun HO ，Kim JH ，Fruttiger M ，Kim JH ... -  《-》