High-density lipoproteins augment
hypoxia-induced angiogenesis by inducing the key angiogenic
vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and total
protein levels of its receptor 2 (VEGFR2). The activation/phosphorylation of VEGFR2 is critical for mediating downstream, angiogenic signaling events. This study aimed to determine whether reconstituted
high-density lipoprotein (rHDL) activates VEGFR2 phosphorylation and the downstream signaling events and the importance of VEGFR2 in the proangiogenic effects of rHDL in
hypoxia. In vitro, rHDL increased VEGFR2 activation and enhanced phosphorylation of downstream, angiogenic signaling
proteins ERK1/2 and
p38 MAPK in
hypoxia. Incubation with a VEGFR2-neutralizing antibody attenuated rHDL-induced phosphorylation of VEGFR2, ERK1/2,
p38 MAPK, and tubule formation. In a murine model of
ischemia-driven neovascularization, rHDL infusions enhanced blood perfusion and augmented capillary and arteriolar density. Infusion of a VEGFR2-neutralizing antibody ablated those proangiogenic effects of rHDL. Circulating
Sca1+/CXCR4+ angiogenic progenitor cell levels, important for neovascularization in response to
ischemia, were higher in rHDL-infused mice 3 d after ischemic induction, but that did not occur in mice that also received the VEGFR2-neutralizing antibody. In summary, VEGFR2 has a key role in the proangiogenic effects of rHDL in
hypoxia/
ischemia. These findings have therapeutic implications for angiogenic diseases associated with an impaired response to tissue
ischemia.-Cannizzo, C. M., Adonopulos, A. A., Solly, E. L., Ridiandries, A., Vanags, L. Z., Mulangala, J., Yuen, S. C. G., Tsatralis, T., Henriquez, R., Robertson, S., Nicholls, S. J., Di Bartolo, B. A., Ng, M. K. C.,
Lam, Y. T., Bursill, C. A., Tan, J. T. M. VEGFR2 is activated by
high-density lipoproteins and plays a key role in the proangiogenic action of HDL in
ischemia.