Angiopoietins: a link between angiogenesis and inflammation

The angiopoietin (Ang)–Tie ligand–receptor system has a key regulatory role in regulating vascular integrity and quiescence. Besides its role in angiogenesis, it is an important regulator in numerous diseases including inflammation. Ang-1-mediated Tie2 activation is required to maintain the quiescent resting state of the endothelium. Agonistic Ang-1 functions are antagonized by Ang-2, which is believed to inhibit Ang-1–Tie2 signaling. Ang-2 destabilizes the quiescent endothelium and primes it to respond to exogenous stimuli, thereby facilitating the activities of inflammatory (tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1) and angiogenic (vascular endothelial growth factor) cytokines. Intriguingly, Ang-2 is expressed weakly by the resting endothelium but becomes strongly upregulated following endothelial activation. Moreover, endothelial cells store Ang-2 in Weibel–Palade bodies from where it can be made available quickly following stimulation, suggesting a role of Ang-2 in controlling rapid vascular adaptive processes. This suggests that Ang-2 is the dynamic regulator of the Ang–Tie2 axis, thereby functioning as a built-in switch controlling the transition of the resting quiescent endothelium towards the activated responsive endothelium.