Expression and function of ephrin-B1 and its cognate receptor EphB2 in human abdominal aortic aneurysm

We examined the expression of ephrin-B1 and its cognate receptor EphB2, key regulators of angiogenesis and embryogenesis, in human abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and analyzed their functional roles in cell migration. From 10 patients (9 males and 1 female; age, 68.5 ± 2.4) who underwent vascular surgery for AAA, we obtained AAA and adjacent control tissues. Using real-time RT-PCR, we analyzed expression of ephrin-B1 and EphB2. We also histologically localized these molecules in AAA tissues. Finally, effects of ephrin-B1 and EphB2 on inflammatory cell chemotaxis were examined by cell migration assay. Expression levels of ephrin-B1 (0.410 ± 0.046 versus 1.198 ± 0.252, P = 0.027) and EphB2 (0.764 ± 0.212 versus 1.272 ± 0.137, P = 0.594) were higher in AAA than normal control. Both ephrin-B1 and EphB2 were expressed in macrophages, T lymphocytes, and endothelial cells within AAA. In chemotaxis assay, ephrin-B1 and EphB2 inhibited mononuclear-cell chemotaxis induced by stromal derived factor-1 down to 54.7 ± 12.7 (P = 0.01) and 50.7 ± 13.1 (P = 0.01), respectively. These data suggest that ephrin-B1 and EphB2 might be functional in human adult inflammatory cells and involved in the pathogenesis of AAA, although specific roles of these molecules should further be sought. © 2012 Aiji Sakamoto et al

Expression and function of ephrin-B1 and its cognate receptor EphB2 in human abdominal aortic aneurysm

We examined the expression of ephrin-B1 and its cognate receptor EphB2, key regulators of angiogenesis and embryogenesis, in human abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and analyzed their functional roles in cell migration. From 10 patients (9 males and 1 female; age, 68.5 ± 2.4) who underwent vascular surgery for AAA, we obtained AAA and adjacent control tissues. Using real-time RT-PCR, we analyzed expression of ephrin-B1 and EphB2. We also histologically localized these molecules in AAA tissues. Finally, effects of ephrin-B1 and EphB2 on inflammatory cell chemotaxis were examined by cell migration assay. Expression levels of ephrin-B1 (0.410 ± 0.046 versus 1.198 ± 0.252, P = 0.027) and EphB2 (0.764 ± 0.212 versus 1.272 ± 0.137, P = 0.594) were higher in AAA than normal control. Both ephrin-B1 and EphB2 were expressed in macrophages, T lymphocytes, and endothelial cells within AAA. In chemotaxis assay, ephrin-B1 and EphB2 inhibited mononuclear-cell chemotaxis induced by stromal derived factor-1 down to 54.7 ± 12.7 (P = 0.01) and 50.7 ± 13.1 (P = 0.01), respectively. These data suggest that ephrin-B1 and EphB2 might be functional in human adult inflammatory cells and involved in the pathogenesis of AAA, although specific roles of these molecules should further be sought. © 2012 Aiji Sakamoto et al

Expression profiling of the ephrin (EFN) and Eph receptor (EPH) family of genes in atherosclerosis-related human cells

金沢大学医薬保健研究域医学系Ephrin B1 and its cognate receptor, Eph receptor B2, key regulators of embryogenesis, are expressed in human atherosclerotic plaque and inhibit adult human monocyte chemotaxis. Few data exist, however, regarding the gene expression profiles of the ephrin (EFN) and Eph receptor (EPH) family of genes in atherosclerosis-related human cells. Gene expression profiles were determined of all 21 members of this gene family in atherosclerosis-related cells by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. The following 17 members were detected in adult human peripheral blood monocytes: EFNA1 and EFNA3 - EFNA5 (coding for ephrins A1 and A3 - A5); EPHA1, EPHA2, EPHA4 - EPHA6 and EPHA8 (coding for Eph receptors A1, A2, A4 - A6 and A8); EFNB1 and EFNB2 (coding for ephrins B1 and B2); and EPHB1 - EPHB4 and EPHB6 (coding for Eph receptors B1 - B4 and B6). THP-1 monocytic cells, Jurkat T cells and adult arterial endothelial cells also expressed multiple EFN and EPH genes. These results indicate that a wide variety of ephrins and Eph receptors might affect monocyte chemotaxis, contributing to the development of atherosclerosis. Their pathological significance requires further study. © 2011 Field House Publishing LLP