PLoS ONE (Jan 2009)

Suppression of Sproutys has a therapeutic effect for a mouse model of ischemia by enhancing angiogenesis.

  • Koji Taniguchi,
  • Ken-ichiro Sasaki,
  • Kousuke Watari,
  • Hideo Yasukawa,
  • Tsutomu Imaizumi,
  • Toranoshin Ayada,
  • Fuyuki Okamoto,
  • Takuma Ishizaki,
  • Reiko Kato,
  • Ri-ichiro Kohno,
  • Hiroshi Kimura,
  • Yasufumi Sato,
  • Mayumi Ono,
  • Yoshikazu Yonemitsu,
  • Akihiko Yoshimura

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0005467
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 5
p. e5467

Abstract

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Sprouty proteins (Sproutys) inhibit receptor tyrosine kinase signaling and control various aspects of branching morphogenesis. In this study, we examined the physiological function of Sproutys in angiogenesis, using gene targeting and short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) knockdown strategies. Sprouty2 and Sprouty4 double knockout (KO) (DKO) mice were embryonic-lethal around E12.5 due to cardiovascular defects. The number of peripheral blood vessels, but not that of lymphatic vessels, was increased in Sprouty4 KO mice compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Sprouty4 KO mice were more resistant to hind limb ischemia and soft tissue ischemia than WT mice were, because Sprouty4 deficiency causes accelerated neovascularization. Moreover, suppression of Sprouty2 and Sprouty4 expression in vivo by shRNA targeting accelerated angiogenesis and has a therapeutic effect in a mouse model of hind limb ischemia. These data suggest that Sproutys are physiologically important negative regulators of angiogenesis in vivo and novel therapeutic targets for treating peripheral ischemic diseases.