Plasmin modulates vascular endothelial growth factor-A-mediated angiogenesis during wound repair.

ABSTRACT: Plasmin-catalyzed cleavage of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A isoform VEGF165 results in loss of its carboxyl-terminal heparin-binding domain and significant loss in its bioactivity. Little is known about the in vivo significance of this process. To investigate the biological relevance of the protease sensitivity of VEGF165 in wound healing we assessed the activity of a VEGF165 mutant resistant to plasmin proteolysis (VEGF165(A111P)) in a genetic mouse model of impaired wound healing (db/db mouse). In the present study we demonstrate that in this mouse model plasmin activity is increased at the wound site. The stability of the mutant VEGF165 was substantially increased in wound tissue lysates in comparison to wild-type VEGF165, thus indicating a prolonged activity of the pl

SUBMITTER: Roth D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1606492 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature