Long-term and sustained COMP-Ang1 induces long-lasting vascular enlargement and enhanced blood flow

CH Cho, KE Kim, J Byun, HS Jang, DK Kim… - Circulation …, 2005 - Am Heart Assoc
CH Cho, KE Kim, J Byun, HS Jang, DK Kim, P Baluk, F Baffert, GM Lee, N Mochizuki, J Kim…
Circulation research, 2005Am Heart Assoc
Vascular enlargement is a characteristic feature of angiopoietin-1 (Ang1)-induced changes
in adult blood vessels. However, it is unknown whether tissues having Ang1-mediated
vascular enlargement have more blood flow or whether the enlargement is reversible. We
have recently created a soluble, stable and potent Ang1 variant, COMP-Ang1. In the present
study, we investigated the effects of varied dose and duration of COMP-Ang1 on vascular
enlargement and blood flow in the tracheal microvasculature of adult mice and explored a …
Vascular enlargement is a characteristic feature of angiopoietin-1 (Ang1)-induced changes in adult blood vessels. However, it is unknown whether tissues having Ang1-mediated vascular enlargement have more blood flow or whether the enlargement is reversible. We have recently created a soluble, stable and potent Ang1 variant, COMP-Ang1. In the present study, we investigated the effects of varied dose and duration of COMP-Ang1 on vascular enlargement and blood flow in the tracheal microvasculature of adult mice and explored a possible mechanism of long-lasting vascular enlargement. We found that COMP-Ang1 administered by adenoviral vector induced long-lasting vascular enlargement and increased tracheal blood flow. In contrast, short-term administration of COMP-Ang1 recombinant protein induced transient vascular enlargement that spontaneously reversed within a month. In both cases, the vascular enlargement resulted from endothelial proliferation. The COMP-Ang1–induced vascular remodeling is mediated mainly through Tie2 activation. Sustained overexpression of Tie2 could participate in the maintenance of vascular changes. Together, our findings indicate that sustained treatment with COMP-Ang1 can produce long-lasting vascular enlargement and increased blood flow.
Am Heart Assoc