Journal Article

IGF-binding proteins 3 and 4 are regulators of sprouting angiogenesis

Van Noorden, Cornelis J. F., Kayser, Richelle P., Habani, Yasmin I., Klaassen, Ingeborg, Dallinga, Marchien G., Schlingemann, Reinier O.

2020

Overview

Purpose We have previously identified insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) as essential proteins for tip cell maintenance and sprouting angiogenesis. In this study, we aim to identify other IGF family members involved in endothelial sprouting angiogenesis. Methods Effects on sprouting were analyzed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) using the spheroid-based sprouting model, and were quantified as mean number of sprouts per spheroid and average sprout length. RNA silencing technology was used to knockdown gene expression. Recombinant forms of the ligands (IGF1 and IGF2, insulin) and the IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP) 3 and 4 were used to induce excess effects. Effects on the tip cell phenotype were analyzed by measuring the fraction of CD34 + tip cells using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry in a 3D angiogenesis model. Experiments were performed in the presence and absence of serum. Results Knockdown of IGF2 inhibited sprouting in HUVECs, in particular when cultured in the absence of serum, suggesting that components in serum influence the signaling of IGF2 in angiogenesis in vitro. We then determined the effects of IGFBP3 and IGFBP4, which are both present in serum, on IGF2-IGF1R signaling in sprouting angiogenesis in the absence of serum: knockdown of IGFBP3 significantly reduced sprouting angiogenesis, whereas knockdown of IGFBP4 resulted in increased sprouting angiogenesis in both flow cytometry analysis and immunohistochemical analysis of the 3D angiogenesis model. Other IGF family members except INSR did not affect IGF2-IGF1R signaling. Conclusions Serum components and IGF binding proteins regulate IGF2 effects on sprouting angiogenesis. Whereas IGFBP3 acts as co-factor for IGF2-IGF1R binding, IGFBP4 inhibits IGF2 signaling.

• Publisher: Springer Netherlands,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Angiogenesis / Angiogenesis Inducing Agents - metabolism / Animal Anatomy / Animal Biochemistry / Biomedical and Life Sciences / blood serum / CD34 antigen / Cell Line, Tumor / cell structures / Endothelial cells / Flow cytometry / Gene expression / Gene Knockdown Techniques / Histology / Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Humans / Immunohistochemistry / Insulin / Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 - metabolism / Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 - physiology / Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 4 - metabolism / Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 4 - physiology / Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / insulin-like growth factor I receptor / Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 / Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 4 / Insulin-like growth factors / Life Sciences / ligands / molecular biology / Morphogenesis / Morphology / Neovascularization, Pathologic - metabolism / Organoids - metabolism / Original Article / Phenotypes / Proteins / Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Receptor, IGF Type 2 / RNA / RNA-mediated interference / Signal Transduction / Umbilical vein