Open AccessStimulation of In Vitro Angiogenesis by Tetrahydrobiopterin in Bovine Aortic Endothelial Cells
Author(s) -
Shunichi Shimizu,
Masako Yasuda,
Masakazu Ishii,
Tsutomu Nagai,
Yuji Kiuchi,
Toshinori Yamamoto
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
japanese journal of pharmacology/japanese journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1347-3506
pISSN - 0021-5198
DOI - 10.1254/jjp.80.177
Subject(s) - tetrahydrobiopterin , angiogenesis , in vitro , stimulation , chemistry , endothelial stem cell , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , endocrinology , biology , biochemistry , enzyme , nitric oxide synthase
This study examined whether tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) stimulates angiogenesis by measuring the formation of tube-like structures in vascular endothelial cells. Bovine aortic endothelial cells that were cultured between two layers of collagen type I gel formed tube-like networks. Addition of BH4 or sepiapterin, a precursor of BH4 synthesis, stimulated the formation of tube-like structures. The sepiapterin-stimulated tube formation was completely inhibited by co-treatment with N-acetylserotonin, an inhibitor of sepiapterin reductase. These findings show that BH4 stimulates in vitro angiogenesis in vascular endothelial cells.