Pronerve Growth Factor Induces Angiogenesis via Activation of TrkA: Possible Role in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Figure 2
PDR-aqueous humor stimulates tube-like structures in a proNGF-dependent manner. HRE cells were grown into confluence then trypsinized and mixed with reduced-growth factor Matrigel and treated with aqueous humor samples (10 μL/mL) in the presence or absence of either anti-proNGF antibody or rabbit IgG (1 μg/mL). Representative micrographs for alignment of HRE into tube-like structures are shown after 18 hrs of incubation. Statistical analysis of tube length showed that aqueous humor increased mean tube formation 1.7-fold compared to the control group. Addition of anti-proNGF antibodies to aqueous humor samples significantly reduced the relative mean tube length but did not affect control group. Prior treatment of humor samples with rabbit IgG did not significantly reduce relative mean length when compared to the untreated aq. humor group (*,‡statistically significant compared to control and aqueous humor groups, resp., (), of aqueous humor samples = 7, of cell cultures = 14–16).
