Vascular endothelial growth factor-induced migration of vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro

Angiogenesis is a complex process that includes recruitment and proliferati on of mural cells-smooth muscle cells (SMC) and pericytes. Vascular endothe lial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to play an important role in angio genesis and is an endothelial cell chemoattractant. In addition, certain VE GF isoforms have been implicated in the normal formation of smooth muscle c ell-surrounded arteries. Because VEGF's role as a mural cell chemoattractan t had not been explored, we examined the ability of VEGF to influence vascu lar SMC migration in vitro. A Boyden chamber migration assay demonstrated t hat VEGF (0-100 ng/ml) caused a dose-dependent migration of SMC. VEGF did n ot cause proliferation of SMC. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain react ion analysis demonstrated the presence of both KDR and fit mRNA, two known VEGF receptors, in SMC cultures. Western blot analysis of SMC lysates confi rmed these data, revealing bands migrating at approximately 200 kDa and sli ghtly below 200 kDa consistent with KDR and fit. These observations demonst rate that VEGF receptors are present on SMC, and that VEGF can act as an SM C chemoattractant, (C) 1999 Academic Press.