VEGF and Ang-1 promotes endothelial progenitor cells homing in the rat model of renal ischemia and reperfusion injury

The aim of this study was to determine whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) promoted the mobilization and recruitment of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to protect kidneys from ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI) in male rats. At 24 h and 72 h after reperfusion, serum samples were respectively collected for renal function. Besides, kidney tissues were harvested to observe renal morphology changes. Subsequently, VEGF, Ang-1 and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) expression levels in different groups were measured at the indicated time points after reperfusion. Compared with IRI-operated group, rats that were intervened with EPCs significantly reduced in the levels of blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine at 24 hours and 72 hours, particularly in injecting EPCs suspension liquid transfected by VEGF₁₆₅-adenovirus and Ang-1-adenovirus. At 72 hours after reperfusion, renal function and morphology were exhibited significant improvements in two EPCs-transfected VEGF₁₆₅-adenovirus and Ang-1-adenovirus groups. In addition, expression levels of VEGF, Ang-1 and Ang-2 in the kidneys of EPCs-treated rats which were transfected by VEGF₁₆₅-adenovirus and Ang-1-adenovirus were markedly increased compared to rats subjected to IRI. The present work suggested that VEGF and Ang-1 might play important roles in the protective effect of homing of EPCs on renal acute IRI.