Cathepsin L derived from skeletal muscle cells transfected with bFGF promotes endothelial cell migration

Ji Hyung Chung, Eun Kyoung Im, Taewon Jin, Seung Min Lee, Soo Hyuk Kim, Eun Young Choi, Min Jeong Shin, Kyung Hye Lee, Yangsoo Jang

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    26 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Gene transfer of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has been shown to induce significant endothelial migration and angiogenesis in ischemic disease models. Here, we investigate what factors are secreted from skeletal muscle cells (SkMCs) transfected with bFGF gene and whether they participate in endothelial cell migration. We constructed replication-defective ad-enovirus vectors containing the human bFGF gene (Ad/bFGF) or a control LacZ gene (Ad/LacZ) and obtained conditioned media, bFGF-CM and LacZ-CM, from SkMCs infected by Ad/bFGF or Ad/LacZ, respectively. Cell migration significantly increased in HUVECs incubated with bFGF-CM compared to cells incubated with LacZ-CM. Interestingly, HUVEC migration in response to bFGF-CM was only partially blocked by the addition of bFGF-neutralizing antibody, suggesting that bFGF-CM contains other factors that stimulate endothelial cell migration. Several proteins, matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and cathepsin L, increased in bFGF-CM compared to LacZ-CM; based on 1-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Their increased mRNA and protein levels were confirmed by RT-PCR and immunoblot analysis. The recombinant human bFGF protein induced MMP-1, PAI-1, and cathepsin L expression in SkMCs. Endothelial cell migration was reduced in groups treated with bFGF-CM containing neutralizing antibodies against MMP-1 or PAI-1. In particular, HUVECs treated with bFGF-CM containing cell-impermeable cathepsin L inhibitor showed the most significant decrease in cell migration. Cathepsin L protein directly promotes endothelial cell migration through the JNK pathway. These results indicate that cathepsin L released from SkMCs transfected with the bFGF gene can promote endothelial cell migration.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)179-188
    Number of pages10
    JournalExperimental and Molecular Medicine
    Volume43
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2011 Apr

    Keywords

    • Cathepsin L
    • Cell migration
    • Endothelium
    • Fibroblast growth factor 2
    • JNK mitogen-activated protein kinases

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Biochemistry
    • Molecular Medicine
    • Molecular Biology
    • Clinical Biochemistry

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