Endothelial progenitor cell–derived microvesicles activate an angiogenic program in endothelial cells by a horizontal transfer of mRNA

Membrane-derived microvesicles (MVs) are released from the cell surface and are implicated in cell-to-cell communication. We evaluated whether MVs derived from endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are able to trigger angiogenesis. We found that EPC-derived MVs were incorporated in endothelial cells by interaction with alpha4 and beta1 integrins expressed on the MV surface. In vitro, MVs promoted endothelial cell survival, proliferation, and organization in capillary-like structures. In vivo, in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, MV-stimulated human endothelial cells organized in patent vessels. When incubated with RNase, despite their internalization into endothelial cells, MVs failed to induce in…

• MD
  Ministero della Salute
• MD
  Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca
• AI
  Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro
• RP
  Regione Piemonte