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    Monomeric C-reactive protein and Notch-3 co-operatively increase angiogenesis through PI3K signalling pathway

    Boras, E, Slevin, M ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3767-4861, Alexander, MY, Aljohi, A, Gilmore, W, Ashworth, J ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7045-7899, Krupinski, J ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5136-8898, Potempa, LA, Al Abdulkareem, I, Elobeid, A and Matou-Nasri, S (2014) Monomeric C-reactive protein and Notch-3 co-operatively increase angiogenesis through PI3K signalling pathway. Cytokine, 69 (2). pp. 165-179. ISSN 1096-0023

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    Abstract

    C-reactive protein (CRP) is the most acute-phase reactant serum protein of inflammation and a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease. Its expression is associated with atherosclerotic plaque instability and the formation of immature micro-vessels. We have previously shown that CRP upregulates endothelial-derived Notch-3, a key receptor involved in vascular development, remodelling and maturation. In this study, we investigated the links between the bioactive monomeric CRP (mCRP) and Notch-3 signalling in angiogenesis. We used in vitro (cell counting, wound-healing and tubulogenesis assays) and in vivo (chorioallantoic membrane) angiogenic assays and Western blotting to study the angiogenic signalling pathways induced by mCRP and Notch-3 activator chimera protein (Notch-3/Fc). Our results showed an additive effect on angiogenesis of mCRP stimulatory effect combined with Notch-3/Fc promoting bovine aortic endothelial cell (BAEC) proliferation, migration, tube formation in Matrigel<sup>TM</sup> with up-regulation of phospho-Akt expression. The pharmacological blockade of PI3K/Akt survival pathway by LY294002 fully inhibited in vitro and in vivo angiogenesis induced by mCRP/Notch-3/Fc combination while blocking Notch signalling by gamma-secretase inhibitor (DAPT) partially inhibited mCRP/Notch-3/Fc-induced angiogenesis. Using a BAEC vascular smooth muscle cell co-culture sprouting angiogenesis assay and transmission electron microscopy, we showed that activation of both mCRP and Notch-3 signalling induced the formation of thicker sprouts which were shown later by Western blotting to be associated with an up-regulation of N-cadherin expression and a down-regulation of VE-cadherin expression. Thus, mCRP combined with Notch-3 activator promote angiogenesis through the PI3K/Akt pathway and their therapeutic combination has potential to promote and stabilize vessel formation whilst reducing the risk of haemorrhage from unstable plaques. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

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