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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

A Simple Bioassay for the Evaluation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
09:04

A Simple Bioassay for the Evaluation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

Published on: March 15, 2016

Cardiac microvascular endothelial cells express and release nerve growth factor but not fibroblast growth factor-2

Shimon Lecht1, Carola Foerster, Hadar Arien-Zakay

  • 1The School of Pharmacy Institute for Drug Research, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91120, Israel.

In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology. Animal
|January 30, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Endothelial cells (ECs) in the heart and brain show distinct neuro-angiogenic factor secretion. Brain ECs release FGF-2, while both release NGF, with secretion impacted by ischemic conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Cellular Physiology

Background:

  • Endothelial cells (ECs) exhibit heterogeneity across vascular beds.
  • This heterogeneity influences their distinct physiological roles.
  • Differential expression of neuro-angiogenic factors contributes to EC function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate gene expression and secretion of neuro-angiogenic factors (NGF, FGF-2) by myocardial and cerebral ECs.
  • To assess the impact of oxygen-glucose deprivation on these factors.
  • To understand the role of EC heterogeneity in tissue homeostasis.

Main Methods:

  • RT-PCR for gene expression analysis.
  • PC12 bioassay for neurotropic activity.
  • ELISAs for NGF and FGF-2 quantification in conditioned media.
  • Culture of ECs from myocardial and cerebral capillaries.

Main Results:

  • NGF was expressed and released by both heart and brain ECs.
  • FGF-2 was exclusively expressed and released by brain ECs.
  • Ischemic insult blocked NGF secretion from both EC types and reduced brain EC FGF-2 secretion by 70%.

Conclusions:

  • Differential expression of NGF and FGF-2 highlights EC heterogeneity.
  • This heterogeneity is crucial for tissue-specific homeostasis.
  • Microenvironmental factors, like ischemia, significantly modulate EC factor secretion.

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