Regulation of neovascularization by human neutrophil peptides (α‐defensins): a link between inflammation and angiogenesis

ABSTRACT Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels, is a complex biological process that is orchestrated by several growth factors and components of the extracellular matrix, including fibronectin (FN) and its receptor the integrin α5β1. Angiogenesis is a critical part of inflammation and wound repair, but the mechanism by which vascular proliferation and migration is regulated by inflammatory cells is not completely understood. We have previously shown that human neutrophil peptides (HNPs), also known as α‐defensins, which are secreted in high concentrations when neutrophils are activated, bind specifically to FN in the extracellular matrix and inhibit plasminogen activation. Therefore, we asked whether HNPs act as a link between inflammation and angiogenesis. α5β1‐Mediated endothelial cell adhesion and migration to FN, both under control conditions and under stimulation by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), were inhibited specifically and in a dose‐dependent manner by HNPs, whereas endothelial cell adhesion and migration to other components of the extracellular matrix, such as vitronectin, collagen, or fibrinogen/fibrin were not. Consistent with this finding, HNPs bound to and promoted the binding of fibronectin to α5β1 integrin in arginine‐ glycine‐aspartic acid (RGD)‐independent manner. HNPs also completely inhibited VEGF‐induced proliferation and induced apoptosis of endothelial cells in a dose‐dependent manner. Moreover, HNPs inhibited capillary tube formation in three‐dimensional fibrin‐matrices as well as neovascularization in vivo in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane assay. Taken together, these data indicate that HNPs can regulate angiogenesis by affecting endothelial cell adhesion and migration in an FN‐dependent manner as well as endothelial cell proliferation. These findings provide new insight into the role of inflammatory cells in angiogenesis and might provide a platform for developing a novel class of anti‐angiogenesis drugs.