Angiopoietin-2 modulates eEOC-mediated renoprotection in AKI in a dose-dependent manner

Early endothelial outgrowth cells (eEOCs) significantly protect mice from acute kidney injury (AKI). Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) has been shown to be critically involved in vascular repair and homeostasis. The aim of this study was to investigate consequences of Ang-2 treatment of syngeneic murine eEOCs in a cell-based therapeutic approach for AKI.

Male 8- to 12-week-old C57/Bl6N mice, subjected to unilateral renal ischemia (40 minutes) postuninephrectomy were systemically injected with 0.5 × 10(6) untreated or Ang-2-pretreated syngeneic murine eEOCs. Renal function and morphology were analyzed 48 hours later. Cellular consequences of eEOC treatment with Ang-2 were evaluated using different in vitro assays (direct and indirect migration, apoptosis/necrosis, ELISA studies).

Administration of untreated eEOCs did not protect mice from AKI. Ang-2 dose-dependently modulated cell effects in AKI. While incubating the cells at a concentration of 200 ng/mL (1 hour) did not have any effect on renal function, doubling the concentration (400 ng/mL) resulted in significant renoprotection of cell-injected mice. With 800 ng/mL, cell injection dramatically worsened renal function of treated animals. In vitro analysis showed significantly accelerated migration of cultured mature endothelial cells after incubation with supernatant from Ang-2-treated eEOCs (200 and 400 ng/mL). These effects were most pronounced with 400 mg/mL. In addition, Ang-2 promoted survival of eEOCs. Cellular releases of VEGF and IL-6 were decreased by Ang-2, while TGF-β levels in the medium of Ang-2-stimulated eEOCs were not different from those in untreated cells.

Ang-2 acts as modulator of eEOCs in AKI. The migration analysis indicates that the Ang-2 significantly alters indirect (paracrine) activity of eEOCs, thus promoting renoprotection in a dose-dependent manner.