Purification and biological properties of vasculotropin, a new angiogenic cytokine

Angiogenesis is a key step in organ development and remodeling during embryogenesis or tissue regeneration. Some pathological events such as tumor growth or diabetic retinopathy also lead to angiogenesis formation. Several molecules have already been identified as promoting angiogenesis in vivo. Whether their bioactivity is mediated by other angiogenic growth factors or not is still unclear. We identified and purified recently a new angiogenic growth factor. Its unique specificity for vascular endothelial cells led us to provisionally name it vasculotropin (VAS). We describe the biochemical properties of VAS and its biological functions. Structural data showed that VAS is related to the SIS family. In vivo VAS was recognized as an inducer of angiogenesis and vascular permeability. In vitro, despite a moderate action on proliferation, VAS strongly stimulates the cell migration. The screening of the presence of cellular receptors and VAS production showed that the cells which bind VAS do not synthesize it, whereas the cells which synthesize VAS do not bind it. Thus, VAS seems to act through a paracrine pathway. We also present data suggesting that VAS has a lymphokine activity.