Hypoxia induces the proliferation of endothelial progenitor cells via upregulation of Apelin/APLNR/MAPK signaling

  • Authors:
    • Jingchang Zhang
    • Qiming Liu
    • Zhenfei Fang
    • Xinqun Hu
    • Feng Huang
    • Liang Tang
    • Shenghua Zhou
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 17, 2015     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2015.4691
  • Pages: 1801-1806
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) can form new vessels through differentiation into endothelial cells (ECs), thus being important in the prevention of hypoxia/ischemia. Apelin can activate different signaling pathways through its receptor, APLNR, which regulate diverse biological functions, including cardiovascular function. However, the molecular mechanism by which Apelin mediates hypoxia‑induced EPCs proliferation remain to be fully elucidated. The present study aimed to determine the role of Apelin/APLNR signaling in hypoxia‑induced proliferation of EPCs. MTT assay was used to determine cell proliferation. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting analysis were conducted to examine mRNA and protein expression. It was revealed that hypoxia promoted the proliferation of the EPCs. Further investigation demonstrated that hypoxia promoted the expression levels of hypoxia‑inducible factor (HIF)‑1α, Apelin and APLNR in the EPCs. In addition, upregulation of Apelin or APLNR promoted the hypoxia‑induced proliferation of the EPCs, while knockdown of Apelin or APLNR by small interfering RNA suppressed the hypoxia‑induced proliferation of the EPCs, suggesting that the Apelin/APLNR axis is involved in hypoxia‑induced proliferation of EPCs. Furthermore, pretreatment of the EPCs with SB‑239063 or PD98059, two inhibitors of mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK), eliminated the Apelin upregulation‑induced EPC proliferation, suggesting that MAPK signaling is a downstream effecter of Apelin/APLNR in EPCs. Therefore, the findings of the present study indicated that the production of HIF‑1α, induced by hypoxia, activated the Apelin/APLNR and the downstream MAPK signaling pathways, leading to upregulated proliferation of the EPCs. These findings suggested that Apelin/APLNR signaling may be used as a potential therapeutic target for hypoxic/ischemic injury.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

February-2016
Volume 13 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Zhang J, Liu Q, Fang Z, Hu X, Huang F, Tang L and Zhou S: Hypoxia induces the proliferation of endothelial progenitor cells via upregulation of Apelin/APLNR/MAPK signaling. Mol Med Rep 13: 1801-1806, 2016
APA
Zhang, J., Liu, Q., Fang, Z., Hu, X., Huang, F., Tang, L., & Zhou, S. (2016). Hypoxia induces the proliferation of endothelial progenitor cells via upregulation of Apelin/APLNR/MAPK signaling. Molecular Medicine Reports, 13, 1801-1806. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2015.4691
MLA
Zhang, J., Liu, Q., Fang, Z., Hu, X., Huang, F., Tang, L., Zhou, S."Hypoxia induces the proliferation of endothelial progenitor cells via upregulation of Apelin/APLNR/MAPK signaling". Molecular Medicine Reports 13.2 (2016): 1801-1806.
Chicago
Zhang, J., Liu, Q., Fang, Z., Hu, X., Huang, F., Tang, L., Zhou, S."Hypoxia induces the proliferation of endothelial progenitor cells via upregulation of Apelin/APLNR/MAPK signaling". Molecular Medicine Reports 13, no. 2 (2016): 1801-1806. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2015.4691