Work

Axon guidance cue Netrin-1 has dual function in angiogenesis

Year: 2007

Type: article

Abstract: Angiogenesis is an important process required for cancer. Netrin-1, an axon guidance cue used to guide axon pathfinding and regulate neuron proliferation, may also be involved in the angiogenesis respecting the anatomical similarity of neural and vascular system. Surprisingly, we demonstrate that Netrin-1 has a dual role in regulating angiogenesis. It produces either facilitative or inhibitory effect depending upon its concentration. Moreover, UNC5B was the only subtype of Netrin-1 receptors detected in HUVECs in our study. Target knockdown of UNC5B in vascular endothelial cells, using a specific siRNA, resulted in a significant in cell proliferation and migration along with a loss of the inhibitory effect, regardless of concentration. Our study revealed Netrin-1 as a dual-function regulator of angiogenesis and its possible mechanism. The study might be used in anti-angiogenic therapies of cancer in the future.

Source: Cancer Biology & Therapy

DOI: 10.4161/cbt.6.5.3976

Authors: Yun Yang, Li Zou, Yong Wan, Ke-Shu Xu, Jin-Xiang Zhang, Jing-Hui Zhang

Institutions: Wuhan Union Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Angiogenesis and VEGF in Cancer

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China