BACKGROUNDAngiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) plays a crucial role in hypoxia-induced angiogenesis and is expressed only in sites of vascular remodeling. Ang-2 expression can be regulated by hypoxia inducible factors and other regulators with exposure to hypoxia. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on serum Ang-2 concentrations, and analyze the correlation between serum Ang-2 and the severity of coronary artery stenosis in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODSSixty-four patients with CHD were selected as the study group, each undergone PCI. Thirty-two healthy subjects were selected as the control group. Pre-PCI and post-PCI serum Ang-2 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The severity of coronary artery stenosis was evaluated using angiographic Gensini scores, and the coronary collateral vessels were scored according to Rentrop's classification.

RESULTSConcentrations of pre-PCI serum Ang-2 in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (4625.06 ± 1838.06 vs. 1945.74 ± 1588.17 pg/ml, P < 0.01); however, concentrations of post-PCI serum Ang-2 were significantly lower than those of pre-PCI (3042.63 ± 1845.33 pg/ml vs. 4625.06 ± 1838.06 pg/ml, P < 0.01). Concentrations of pre-PCI serum Ang-2 were significantly correlated with Gensini scores (r = 0.488, P < 0.01); however, the decrease in serum Ang-2 after PCI was not correlated with Gensini scores, coronary collateral vessel grading, or left ventricular ejection fraction.

CONCLUSIONSSerum Ang-2 concentrations significantly increased in patients with CHD, and PCI treatment significantly decreased these concentrations. Serum Ang-2 concentrations, but not the decrease in serum Ang-2 concentrations, were significantly correlated with the severity of coronary artery stenosis. These results suggested that Ang-2 may be a biomarker of myocardial ischemia and vessel remodeling.

Adult ; Angiopoietin-2 ; blood ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

PURPOSE: Microvascular endothelial integrity is important for maintaining the blood-brain barrier (BBB). However, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) disrupts this integrity, making the BBB dysfunctional—an important pathophysiological change after SAH. Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) regulate microvascular permeability by balancing each other’s expression. METHODS: This study investigated the dynamics of Ang-1 and Ang-2 expression after SAH and the protective effect of Ang-1 on BBB functioning using an endovascular puncture model of rat SAH. The Ang-1 and Ang-2 expression in brain tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry. In addition, Western blotting was used to estimate Ang-1 and Ang-2 concentration and to compare them at 6–72 hours post-SAH cortex and hippocampus. Evans blue viability assay was used to evaluate BBB permeability, and neurological testing was implemented to evaluate neurological impairment during SAH. RESULTS: It was found that following SAH, Ang-1 expression decreases and Ang-2 expression increases in the cortex, hippocampus, and microvessels. The Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio decreased as quickly as 6 hours after SAH and reached its lowest 1 day after SAH. Finally, it was found that exogenous Ang-1 reduces SAH-associated BBB leakage and improves neurological function in post-SAH rats. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the equilibrium between Ang-1 and Ang-2 is broken in a period shortly after SAH, and the treatment of exogenous Ang-1 injection alleviates neurological dysfunctions through decreasing BBB destruction.
Angiopoietin-1* ; Angiopoietin-2* ; Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Blotting, Western ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Capillary Permeability ; Evans Blue ; Hippocampus ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microvessels ; Permeability ; Punctures ; Rats ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage*

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Taohong Siwu decoction (THSWD) on micro-vascular density (MVD) in rat uterus, the content of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) in serum, and the expression of tyrosine kinasa receptor (Tie-2) in uterus.

METHODEarly pregnancy rats were intragastrically administrated with misoprostol (100 microg x kg(-1)) and mifepristong (8.3 mg x kg(-1)) to established the incomplete-abortion model. The incomplete-abortion rats were randomly divided into the model group (the same volume of distilled water), the positive control group (at the daily dose of 4.3 g x kg(-1) Motherwort Particles), and THSWD-treated groups (at the daily dose of 18.0, 9.0 and 4.5 g x kg(-1)). Pregnant rats were taken as the control group (the same volume of distilled water). After the successive oral administration for 7 days, blood was collected from aorta abdominalis, and rat uterine tissues were collected. The content of serum Ang-1 and Ang-2 were detected by ELISA; And the levels of Tie-2 and MVD in uterine tissues were detected by SP immunohistochemistry.

RESULTTHSWD remarkably increased the levels of MVD in uterus of medicine-induced abortion rats, the content of Ang-1 and Ang-2 in serum, and the expression of Tie-2 in uterine tissues.

CONCLUSIONTHSWD has the effect in markedly promoting angiogenesis in incomplete-abortion rats. Its mechanism may be related to the regulation of concentrations of Ang-1 and Ang-2 in serum and Tie-2 in uterine tissues.

Abortion, Incomplete ; blood ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Angiopoietin-1 ; blood ; genetics ; Angiopoietin-2 ; blood ; genetics ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, TIE-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Uterus ; blood supply ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of the expressions of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in colorectal cancer tissues with Dukes' clinicopathological features.

METHODSAng-2 and Tie-2 mRNA expressions were detected in colorectal cancer tissues, adjacent tissues, and normal tissues by real time-PCR. Quantikine immunoassays were used to measure the protein expressions of Ang-2 and VEGF in the tissues and serum samples.

RESULTSAng-2 and Tie-2 levels were significantly higher in the serum of the patients than in the normal tissues (P<0.05), and their expressions were strongly correlated (r=0.879, P=0.000). Tumor tissue Ang-2 and VEGF levels were significantly higher than their levels in the adjacent and normal tissues (P<0.05). In colorectal cancer patients, the peripheral blood level of Ang-2 was significantly higher than that in healthy control subjects, and comparable with that in mesenteric blood (P>0.05). In Dukes' stage C and D patients, serum Ang-2 and VEGF levels were significantly higher than those in patients in Dukes' stage A and B (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAng-2 and VEGF over expressions may play an important role in the occurrence and progression of colorectal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Angiopoietin-2 ; blood ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood ; metabolism

PURPOSE: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) are major mediators of angiogenesis and are induced by tissue inflammation and hypoxia. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether serum VEGF and Ang-2 are associated with the presence of hemoptysis and the extent of systemic inflammation in patients with inflammatory lung diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 52 patients with inflammatory lung disease between June 2008 and October 2009. RESULTS: The median values of VEGF and Ang-2 were 436 pg/mL and 2383 pg/mL, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between serum Ang-2 and VEGF levels. VEGF levels were not significantly different according to the presence of hemoptysis. C-reactive protein (CRP) and Ang-2 level were significantly higher in patients without hemoptysis (n=26) than in those with hemoptysis (n=26; p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). CRP and arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) were significantly correlated with both serum VEGF (p=0.032 and p=0.016, respectively) and Ang-2 levels (p<0.001 and p=0.041, respectively), after adjusting for other factors. Age and the absence of hemoptysis were factors correlated with serum Ang-2 levels CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that serum VEGF and Ang-2 levels are associated with PaO2 and the severity of inflammation rather than the presence of hemoptysis in patients with inflammatory lung diseases. Thus, hemoptysis may not be mediated by increased serum levels of VEGF and Ang-2 in patients with inflammatory lung diseases, and further studies are required to determine the mechanisms of hemoptysis.
Aged ; Angiopoietin-2/*blood ; Female ; Hemoptysis/*blood ; Humans ; Inflammation/*blood ; Lung Diseases/*blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/*blood

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of angiotensin-2 (Ang-2), Tie-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) in colorectal cancer and analyze their relationship with the occurrence, recurrence, metastasis, angiogenesis and prognosis of colorectal cancer.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry with SP method was used to detect the expressions of Ang-2, Tie-2 and VEGFR-2 in 118 colorectal cancer, 40 adjacent normal tissue and 40 benign colorectal lesion specimens.

RESULTSThe positivity rates of Ang-2, Tie-2 and VEGFR-2 in colorectal cancer tissue were 74.58%, 69.49%, and 61.02%, respectively, significantly higher than those in the adjacent normal tissues (25.00%, 17.50%, and 17.50%, P<0.05) and benign colorectal lesion tissues (35.00%, 32.50%, and 32.50%, P<0.05). The rates of two or three coexpression were significantly higher than that of a single expression in the cancer tissues (61.02% vs 15.25%). The microvascular density (MVD) of colorectal cancer tissues was 31.43∓10.50, significantly higher than that of the adjacent normal tissues (10.61∓3.76) and benign colorectal lesions (16.89∓3.83) (P<0.05). The expressions of Ang-2, Tie-2, and VEGFR-2 were positively correlated with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and MVD (P<0.05). The expression of Ang-2, but not Tie-2 and VEGFR-2, was positively correlated with CA199. Ang-2, Tie-2, and VEGFR-2 expressions showed significant differences between cases with tumor recurrence/metastasis and those without 5 years after radical mastectomy, and were all positively correlated with the 5-year survival rates (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAng-2, Tie-2 and VEGFR-2 are involved in the development, invasion, metastasis, and prognosis of colorectal cancer, and play important roles in the angiogenesis of the tumors.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Angiopoietin-2 ; metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Receptor, TIE-2 ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diagnostic value of serum angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) level in pancreatic cancer patients.

METHODSSerum Ang-2 level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) in samples from 116 patients with pancreatic cancer, 50 patients with chronic pancreatitis, and 50 normal control subjects.

RESULTSThe serum Ang-2 level in patients with pancreatic cancer [(1539.0 ± 449.3) ng/L] was significantly higher than those in patients with pancreatitis [(1044.6 ± 246.1) ng/L, P < 0.01] and normal control subjects [(1075.6 ± 228.2) ng/L, P < 0.01]. There was no significant difference of serum Ang-2 levels between patients with pancreatitis and normal controls. Pancreatic caner patients with lymph node metastasis had a significantly higher serum Ang-2 level [(1890.1 ± 354.9) ng/L] than those without metastasis [(1212.1 ± 224.2) ng/L, P < 0.01]. The area under ROC curve of serum Ang-2 level for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer was 0.819.

CONCLUSIONThe serum Ang-2 level can be a useful indicator for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Angiopoietin-2 ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Pancreatitis ; blood ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies

Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Angiopoietin-2 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Molecular Structure ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; prevention & control ; RNA Interference ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism

OBJECTIVECastrated rats exhibit significant shrinkage of the ventral prostate and apoptosis of prostatic cells, which can be attributed to the reduced blood supply to the prostate. But what causes the blood decrease in the prostate remains unknown. This study aims to explore the molecular mechanism of the changes in the microcirculation of the ventral prostate of rats following castration.

METHODSWe randomized 24 male adult rats into 6 groups of equal number, and collected their ventral prostates at 0, 1/2, 1, 2, 3 and 7 d, respectively, after castration. Then we observed the changes of the microvessels under the transmission electron microscope, detected the apoptosis of endothelial cells by TUNEL, and determined the expressions of VEGF, endostatin, angiostatin and angiopoietin-2 by Western blot.

RESULTSThe castrated rats showed dramatic changes in the microvessels of the ventral prostate, obvious apoptosis of the endothelial cells, down-regulated expression of VEGF, and up-regulated expressions of endostatin and angiostatin, while angiopoietin-2 remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONThe decreased level of VEGF and increased levels of endostatin and angiostatin might underlie the mechanism of the changes in the microcirculation of the ventral prostate of rats following castration.

Angiopoietin-2 ; metabolism ; Angiostatins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Endostatins ; metabolism ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Microcirculation ; Orchiectomy ; Prostate ; blood supply ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

Adult ; Aged ; Angiopoietin-2 ; physiology ; Female ; Glioma ; blood ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; physiopathology