Caspase-8 is involved in neovascularization-promoting progenitor cell functions

Dörte Scharner, Lothar Rössig, Guillaume Carmona, Emmanouil Chavakis, Carmen Urbich, Ariane Fischer, Tae Bong Kang, David Wallach, Yungping Jeffrey Chiang, Yonathan Lissanu Deribe, Ivan Dikic, Andreas M. Zeiher, Stefanie Dimmeler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) comprise a heterogeneous population of cells, which improve therapeutic neovascularization after ischemia. The neovascularization-promoting potential of progenitor cells depends on survival and retention of the infused cells to the tissue. Caspases mediate apoptosis but are also involved in other critical biological processes. Therefore, we aimed to address the role of caspases in proangiogenic cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: The caspase-8 inhibitor zIETD abrogated the ex vivo formation of EPCs, inhibited EPC adhesion and migration, and reduced their capacity to improve neovascularization in vivo. Consistently, cells isolated from caspase-8-deficient mice exhibited a reduced capacity for enhancing neovascularization when transplanted into mice after hindlimb ischemia. Because inhibition of Caspase-8 reduced the adhesion and homing functions of EPCs, we further determined the surface expression of integrins and receptors involved in cell recruitment to ischemic tissues. Pharmacological inhibition of caspase-8 and genetic depletion of caspase-8 reduced the expression of the fibronectin receptor subunits α5 and β1 and the SDF-1 receptor CXCR4. Moreover, we identified the E3 ubiquitin ligase Cbl-b, which negatively regulates integrin and receptor-mediated signaling, as a potential Caspase-8 substrate. CONCLUSION: In summary, our data demonstrate a novel apoptosis-unrelated role of caspase-8 in proangiogenic cells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)571-578
Number of pages8
JournalArteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology
Volume29
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Angiogenesis
  • Cell therapy
  • Homing
  • Integrin
  • Progenitor cells

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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