Secretoneurin gene therapy improves blood flow in an ischemia model in type 1 diabetic mice by enhancing therapeutic neovascularization

PLoS One. 2013 Sep 23;8(9):e74029. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074029. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Deficient angiogenesis after ischemia may contribute to worse outcome of peripheral arterial disease in patients with diabetes mellitus. Based on our previous work where we demonstrated that Secretoneurin (SN) is up-regulated under hypoxic conditions and enhances angiogenesis, we analyzed the therapeutic potential of SN gene therapy using a model of severe hind limb ischemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice (STZ-DM). After induction of hind limb ischemia, blood flow was assessed by means of laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) and increased blood perfusion in the SN-treated animal group was observed. These results were complemented by the clinical observation of reduced necrosis and by an increased number of capillaries and arterioles in the SN-treated animal group. In vitro, we found that SN is capable of promoting proliferation and chemotaxis and reduces apoptosis in HUVECs cultured under hyperglycemic conditions. Additionally, SN activated ERK, eNOS and especially AKT as well as EGF-receptor in hyperglycemic HUVECs. In conclusion, we show that SN gene therapy improves post-ischemic neovascularization in diabetic mice through stimulation of angiogenesis and arteriogenesis indicating a possible therapeutic role of this factor in ischemia-related diseases in diabetic patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / physiopathology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / physiopathology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / therapy*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Genetic Therapy*
  • Humans
  • Ischemia / complications
  • Ischemia / therapy
  • Mice
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic*
  • Neuropeptides / genetics*
  • Regional Blood Flow*
  • Secretogranin II / genetics*
  • Streptozocin

Substances

  • Neuropeptides
  • Secretogranin II
  • secretoneurin
  • Streptozocin

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Austrian Science Fund grant P-21021-B05 to R.K. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.