Angiomodulin is a specific marker of vasculature and regulates vascular endothelial growth factor-A-dependent neoangiogenesis

Circ Res. 2009 Jul 17;105(2):201-8. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.109.196790. Epub 2009 Jun 18.

Abstract

Blood vessel formation is controlled by the balance between pro- and antiangiogenic pathways. Although much is known about the factors that drive sprouting of neovessels, the factors that stabilize and pattern neovessels are undefined. The expression of angiomodulin (AGM), a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A binding protein, was increased in the vasculature of several human tumors as compared to normal tissue, raising the hypothesis that AGM may modulate VEGF-A-dependent vascular patterning. To elucidate the expression pattern of AGM, we developed an AGM knockin reporter mouse (AGM(lacZ/+)), with which we demonstrate that AGM is predominantly expressed in the vasculature of developing embryos and adult organs. During physiological and pathological angiogenesis, AGM is upregulated in the angiogenic vasculature. Using the zebrafish model, we found that AGM is restricted to developing vasculature by 17 to 22 hours postfertilization. Blockade of AGM activity with morpholino oligomers results in prominent angiogenesis defects in vascular sprouting and remodeling. Concurrent knockdown of both AGM and VEGF-A results in synergistic angiogenesis defects. When VEGF-A is overexpressed, the compensatory induction of the VEGF-A receptor, VEGFR2/flk-1, is blocked by the simultaneous injection of AGM morpholino oligomers. These results demonstrate that the vascular-specific marker AGM modulates vascular remodeling in part by temporizing the proangiogenic effects of VEGF-A.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Morpholines / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / blood supply*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / physiopathology
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic* / genetics
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Retinal Neovascularization / genetics
  • Retinal Neovascularization / metabolism*
  • Retinal Neovascularization / physiopathology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Skin / blood supply*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / metabolism
  • Wound Healing
  • Zebrafish / embryology
  • Zebrafish Proteins / genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Morpholines
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • tumor-derived adhesion factor
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2

Grants and funding