Publication: VEGF gene expression in adult human thymus fat: a correlative study with hypoxic induced factor and cyclooxygenase-2.
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Identifiers
Date
2009-12-14
Authors
Tinahones, Francisco J
Salas, Julian
Mayas Torres, María Dolores
Ruiz-Villalba, Adrián
Macías-González, Manuel
Garrido-Sánchez, Lourdes
DeMora, Manuel
Moreno-Santos, Inmaculada
Bernal, Rosa
Cardona Díaz, Fernando
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Public Library of Science
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Abstract
It is well known that the adult human thymus degenerates into fat tissue; however, it has never been considered as a potential source of angiogenic factors. Recently, we have described that this fat (TAT) produces angiogenic factors and induces human endothelial cell proliferation and migration, indicating its potential angiogenic properties.
DESIGN
Adult thymus fat and subcutaneous adipose tissue specimens were obtained from 28 patients undergoing cardiac surgery, making this tissue readily available as a prime source of adipose tissue. We focused our investigation on determining VEGF gene expression and characterizing the different genes, mediators of inflammation and adipogenesis, and which are known to play a relevant role in angiogenesis regulation.
RESULTS
We found that VEGF-A was the isoform most expressed in TAT. This expression was accompanied by an upregulation of HIF-1alpha, COX-2 and HO-1 proteins, and by increased HIF-1 DNA binding activity, compared to SAT. Furthermore, we observed that TAT contains a high percentage of mature adipocytes, 0.25% of macrophage cells, 15% of endothelial cells and a very low percentage of thymocyte cells, suggesting the cellular variability of TAT, which could explain the differences in gene expression observed in TAT. Subsequently, we showed that the expression of genes known as adipogenic mediators, including PPARgamma1/gamma2, FABP-4 and adiponectin was similar in both TAT and SAT. Moreover the expression of these latter genes presented a significantly positive correlation with VEGF, suggesting the potential association between VEGF and the generation of adipose tissue in adult thymus.
CONCLUSION
Here we suggest that this fat has a potential angiogenic function related to ongoing adipogenesis, which substitutes immune functions within the adult thymus. The expression of VEGF seems to be associated with COX-2, HO-1 and adipogenesis related genes, suggesting the importance that this new fat has acquired in research in relation to adipogenesis and angiogenesis.
Description
Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't;
MeSH Terms
Medical Subject Headings::Anatomy::Tissues::Connective Tissue::Adipose Tissue
Medical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Age Groups::Adult
Medical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Age Groups::Adult::Aged
Medical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Chemical Actions and Uses::Pharmacologic Actions::Therapeutic Uses::Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Medical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Biological Factors::Biological Markers
Medical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Cell Physiological Phenomena::Cell Physiological Processes::Cell Movement
Medical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Enzymes and Coenzymes::Enzymes::Multienzyme Complexes::Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases::Cyclooxygenase 2
Medical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Genetic Phenomena::Genetic Structures::Nucleic Acid Conformation
Medical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins::Proteins::Carrier Proteins::Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins
Medical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Genetic Phenomena::Genetic Processes::Gene Expression Regulation
Medical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Enzymes and Coenzymes::Enzymes::Oxidoreductases::Oxygenases::Mixed Function Oxygenases::Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing)
Medical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::Humans
Medical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins::Proteins::Transcription Factors::Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors::Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1
Medical Subject Headings::Diseases::Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms::Pathologic Processes::Inflammation
Medical Subject Headings::Anatomy::Cells::Connective Tissue Cells::Macrophages
Medical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Chemical Phenomena::Biochemical Phenomena::Biochemical Processes::Protein Binding
Medical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins::Proteins::Protein Isoforms
Medical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Nucleic Acids, Nucleotides, and Nucleosides::Nucleic Acids::RNA::RNA, Messenger
Medical Subject Headings::Anatomy::Tissues::Connective Tissue::Subcutaneous Tissue
Medical Subject Headings::Anatomy::Tissues::Lymphoid Tissue::Thymus Gland
Medical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins::Peptides::Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins::Angiogenic Proteins::Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors::Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Medical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists::Hormones::Peptide Hormones::Adipokines::Adiponectin
Medical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Age Groups::Adult
Medical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Age Groups::Adult::Aged
Medical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Chemical Actions and Uses::Pharmacologic Actions::Therapeutic Uses::Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Medical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Biological Factors::Biological Markers
Medical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Cell Physiological Phenomena::Cell Physiological Processes::Cell Movement
Medical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Enzymes and Coenzymes::Enzymes::Multienzyme Complexes::Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases::Cyclooxygenase 2
Medical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Genetic Phenomena::Genetic Structures::Nucleic Acid Conformation
Medical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins::Proteins::Carrier Proteins::Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins
Medical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Genetic Phenomena::Genetic Processes::Gene Expression Regulation
Medical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Enzymes and Coenzymes::Enzymes::Oxidoreductases::Oxygenases::Mixed Function Oxygenases::Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing)
Medical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::Humans
Medical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins::Proteins::Transcription Factors::Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors::Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1
Medical Subject Headings::Diseases::Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms::Pathologic Processes::Inflammation
Medical Subject Headings::Anatomy::Cells::Connective Tissue Cells::Macrophages
Medical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Chemical Phenomena::Biochemical Phenomena::Biochemical Processes::Protein Binding
Medical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins::Proteins::Protein Isoforms
Medical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Nucleic Acids, Nucleotides, and Nucleosides::Nucleic Acids::RNA::RNA, Messenger
Medical Subject Headings::Anatomy::Tissues::Connective Tissue::Subcutaneous Tissue
Medical Subject Headings::Anatomy::Tissues::Lymphoid Tissue::Thymus Gland
Medical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins::Peptides::Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins::Angiogenic Proteins::Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors::Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Medical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists::Hormones::Peptide Hormones::Adipokines::Adiponectin
DeCS Terms
CIE Terms
Keywords
FABP4 protein, human, PPAR gamma, Protein Isoforms, VEGFA protein, human, Cyclooxygenase 2, PTGS2 protein, human, PPAR gamma, Isoformas de Proteínas, Ciclooxigenasa 2, Tejido adiposo, Antiinflamatorios, Marcadores Biológicos, Movimiento Celular, Ciclooxigenasa 2, ADN, Proteínas de Unión a Ácidos Grasos, Regulación de la Expresión Génica, Hemo-Oxigenasa 1, Hipoxia Inducible, Inflamación, Macrófagos, Unión proteica, Isoformas de proteínas, ARN Mensajero, Tejido subcutáneo, Timo, Factor A de crecimiento endotelial vascular, Adiponectina
Citation
Tinahones F, Salas J, Mayas MD, Ruiz-Villalba A, Macias-Gonzalez M, Garrido-Sanchez L, et al. VEGF gene expression in adult human thymus fat: a correlative study with hypoxic induced factor and cyclooxygenase-2. PLoS ONE; 4(12):e8213