Objective: To explore anti-angiogenesis effect of Mer, a member of tyrosine kinase receptor family, and its mechanism.
Methods: Human Mer full length plasmid was transfected into HMEC-1 cells through liposome. G418 was used to select positive clone. Expression of Mer at mRNA and protein level was detected by real-time PCR and Western-blot, respectively. Transwell and Matrigel were used to evaluate the effect of overexpressed Mer on migration and angiogenesis of HMEC-1 cells. Primary angiogenesis associated factor VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, VEGF-D and VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2 were screened by real-time PCR.
Results: After G418 selection, the Mer expression in transfected HMEC-1 cells was increased 3.61- and 2.12 fold at mRNA and protein level, respectively. Compared with negative control, the migration of Mer-HMEC-1 was decreased (21 +/- 6 vs 36 +/- 11), and angiogenesis capability on Matrigel significantly decreased. By real-time PCR, the expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-2 was down-regulated to 44.7% and 25.6% of the negative control.
Conclusion: Overexpressed Mer tyrosine kinase receptor can inhibit the migration and angiogenesis of HMEC-1 cells through VEGF-C/VEGFR-2 signal pathway.