BMP-2 induces angiogenesis by provoking integrin α6 expression in human endothelial progenitor cells.

Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) is a multifunctional cytokine, capable of governing several cellular functions, including proliferation, motility, differentiation, and angiogenesis. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been shown to facilitate tissue repair, postnatal neovascularization, and tumor associated angiogenesis. Nevertheless, the impact of BMP-2 on angiogenesis of human EPCs has largely remained a mystery. In this study, we found that BMP-2 promoted cell migration and tube formation of EPCs in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating BMP-2 induced in vitro angiogenesis in human EPCs. Furthermore, BMP-2 significantly increased microvessel formation in Matrigel plug assay, and BMP-2 antagonist noggin prevented BMP-2-induced in vivo angiogenesis. Mechanistic investigations showed BMP-2 profoundly induced the expression of Id-1 and integrin α6 as well as EPCs angiogenesis by activating PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK signaling pathways. Moreover, knockdown of Id-1 and integrin α6 by siRNA transfection obviously attenuated BMP-2-indueced tube formation of EPCs. These results suggest that BMP-2 promotes angiogenesis in human EPCs through the activation of PI3K/Akt, MEK/ERK, and Id-1/integrin α6 signaling cascades. This is the first demonstration that BMP-2 exhibits the angiogenesis property on human EPCs. BMP-2 might serve as the potential therapeutic target for treatment of angiogenesis-related diseases.

Effects of various hydrogenated treatments on formation and photocatalytic activity of black TiO2 nanowire arrays.

The effects of hydrogen thermal and plasma treatment on the formation and photocatalytic activities of black TiO2 nanowire arrays were investigated and discussed. After either the hydrogen thermal or plasma treatment, the TiO2 nanowires remained. However, in contrast to the plasma treated nanowires, the diameter of the thermal treated TiO2 nanowires reduced more significantly, which was attributed to a thicker surface amorphous layer and more oxygen vacancies. A higher photoresponse in both UV and visible light regions and more hydroxide groups were also observed for the thermal treated nanowires. In addition, the black nanowires possessed greater carrier concentration, leading to a more efficient separation of electron-hole pairs. As a consequence, much enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue were obtained.