Vitamin D3 induces mesenchymal-to-endothelial transition and promotes a proangiogenic niche through IGF-1 signaling
Lei Chen,
Anweshan Samanta,
Lin Zhao,
Nathaniel R. Dudley,
Tanner Buehler,
Robert J. Vincent,
Jeryl Hauptman,
Magdy Girgis,
Buddhadeb Dawn
Affiliations
Lei Chen
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
Anweshan Samanta
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
Lin Zhao
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine, 1701 W. Charleston Boulevard, Suite 230, Las Vegas, NV 89102, USA
Nathaniel R. Dudley
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
Tanner Buehler
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
Robert J. Vincent
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
Jeryl Hauptman
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine, 1701 W. Charleston Boulevard, Suite 230, Las Vegas, NV 89102, USA
Magdy Girgis
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine, 1701 W. Charleston Boulevard, Suite 230, Las Vegas, NV 89102, USA
Buddhadeb Dawn
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine, 1701 W. Charleston Boulevard, Suite 230, Las Vegas, NV 89102, USA; Corresponding author
Summary: Although vitamin D3 (VitD3) prevents angiogenesis in cancer, VitD3 deficiency is associated with greater incidence of cardiovascular events in patients. We examined the influence of VitD3 on the angiogenic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). VitD3 treatment increased the expression of proangiogenic molecules in MSCs, which exhibited an endothelial cell-like phenotype and promoted vascularization in vitro and in vivo. VitD3 activated the IGF-1 promoter and boosted IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) signaling, which was essential for the mesenchymal-to-endothelial transition (MEndoT) of MSCs. VitD3-treated MSCs created a proangiogenic microenvironment for co-cultured arterial endothelial cells, as well as aortic rings. The induction of MEndoT and angiogenesis promotion by VitD3-stimulated MSCs was attenuated by IGF-1R inhibitor picropodophyllin. We conclude that VitD3 promotes MEndoT in MSCs, and VitD3-treated MSCs augment vascularization by producing a proangiogenic niche through continued IGF-1 secretion. These results suggest a potential therapeutic role of VitD3 toward enhancing MSC-induced angiogenesis.
