Pronerve Growth Factor Induces Angiogenesis via Activation of TrkA: Possible Role in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Figure 7
Inhibiting TrkA prevents proNGF-mediated retinal endothelial cell tube formation. BRE cells were grown into confluence and then trypsinized and mixed with reduced-growth factor Matrigel and treated with mutant proNGF (50 ng/mL) in the presence or absence of either TrkA receptor antagonist, K252a (0.1 μM), or inhibitor (20 μM). Representative micrographs for alignment of BRE into tube-like structures are shown after 18 hrs of incubation. Statistical analysis of tube length showed that proNGF increased mean tube formation 1.5-fold compared to the control group. This effect was blocked by the specific TrkA receptor antagonist (K252a) but not with p75 inhibitor (*,‡statistically significant compared to control and proNGF groups, resp., (), ).
