American Heart Association, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 9(35), p. 1975-1986, 2015
DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.115.305912
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Objective— Thrombospondin-4 (TSP-4) is 1 of the 5 members of the thrombospondin protein family. TSP-1 and TSP-2 are potent antiangiogenic proteins. However, angiogenic properties of the 3 other TSPs, which do not contain the domains associated with the antiangiogeneic activity of TSP-1 and TSP-2, have not been explored. In our previous studies, we found that TSP-4 is expressed in the vascular matrix of blood vessels of various sizes and is especially abundant in capillaries. We sought to identify the function of TSP-4 in the regulation of angiogenesis. Approach and Results— The effect of TSP-4 in in vivo angiogenesis models and its effect on angiogenesis-related properties in cultured cells were assessed using Thbs4 −/− mice, endothelial cells (EC) derived from these mice, and recombinant TSP-4. Angiogenesis was decreased in Thbs4 −/− mice compared with wild-type mice. TSP-4 was detected in the lumen of the growing blood vessels. Mice expressing the P387 TSP-4 variant, which was previously associated with coronary artery disease and found to be more active in its cellular interactions, displayed greater angiogenesis compared with A387 form. Lung EC from Thbs4 −/− mice exhibited decreased adhesion, migration, and proliferation capacities compared with EC from wild-type mice. Recombinant TSP-4 promoted proliferation and the migration of EC. Integrin α 2 and gabapentin receptor α 2 δ-1 were identified as receptors involved in regulation of EC adhesion, migration, and proliferation by TSP-4. Conclusion— TSP-4, an extracellular matrix protein previously associated with tissue remodeling, is now demonstrated to possess proangiogenic activity.