Anti-VEGF therapy reduces intestinal inflammation in Endoglin heterozygous mice subjected to experimental colitis

Angiogenesis. 2014 Jul;17(3):641-59. doi: 10.1007/s10456-014-9421-x. Epub 2014 Feb 9.

Abstract

Chronic intestinal inflammation is associated with pathological angiogenesis that further amplifies the inflammatory response. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), is a major angiogenic cytokine that has been implicated in chronic colitis and inflammatory bowel diseases. Endoglin (CD105), a transforming growth factor-β superfamily co-receptor expressed on endothelial and some myeloid cells, is a modulator of angiogenesis involved in wound healing and potentially in resolution of inflammation. We showed previously that Endoglin heterozygous (Eng (+/-)) mice subjected to dextran sodium sulfate developed severe colitis, abnormal colonic vessels and high tissue VEGF. We therefore tested in the current study if treatment with a monoclonal antibody to VEGF could ameliorate chronic colitis in Eng (+/-) mice. Tissue inflammation and microvessel density (MVD) were quantified on histological slides. Colonic wall thickness, microvascular hemodynamics and targeted MAdCAM-1(+) inflamed vessels were assessed in vivo by ultrasound. Mediators of angiogenesis and inflammation were measured by Milliplex and ELISA assays. Colitic Eng (+/-) mice showed an increase in intestinal inflammation, MVD, colonic wall thickness, microvascular hemodynamics and the number of MAdCAM-1(+) microvessels relative to colitic Eng (+/+) mice; these parameters were all attenuated by anti-VEGF treatment. Of all factors up-regulated in the inflamed gut, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and amphiregulin were further increased in colitic Eng (+/-) versus Eng (+/+) mice. Anti-VEGF therapy decreased tissue VEGF and inflammation-induced endoglin, IL-1β and G-CSF in colitic Eng (+/-) mice. Our results suggest that endoglin modulates intestinal angiogenic and inflammatory responses in colitis. Furthermore, contrast-enhanced ultrasound provides an excellent non-invasive imaging modality to monitor gut angiogenesis, inflammation and responses to anti-angiogenic treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Colitis / drug therapy*
  • Colitis / pathology
  • Colon / drug effects
  • Colon / pathology
  • Endoglin
  • Female
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / metabolism
  • Hemodynamics / drug effects
  • Heterozygote
  • Inflammation / drug therapy*
  • Inflammation / physiopathology
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Intestines / drug effects
  • Intestines / pathology*
  • Intestines / physiopathology
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / deficiency
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microvessels / drug effects
  • Microvessels / pathology
  • Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism
  • Smad Proteins / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Endoglin
  • Eng protein, mouse
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Smad Proteins
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor