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Tissue kallikrein promotes neovascularization and improves cardiac function by the Akt-glycogen synthase kinase-3β pathway

  1. Yu-Yu Yao§,
  2. Hang Yin*,
  3. Bo Shen*,
  4. Robert S. Smith Jr.*,
  5. Yuying Liu*,
  6. Lin Gao*,
  7. Lee Chao* and
  8. Julie Chao*
  1. *
    Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
    , Medical University of South Carolina,
    Charleston, South Carolina 29425, U.S.A.
  2. §
    Department of Cardiology, Zhongda Hospital
    , Southeast University,
    Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029
    , People's Republic of China
  1. Correspondence to: Julie Chao, Ph.D.,
    Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
    , Medical University of South Carolina,
    173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425
    , Phone: (843) 792-9927 FAX: (843) 792-4850 E-mail: chaoj{at}musc.edu
  • Received July 29, 2008.
  • Accepted August 5, 2008.

Abstract

Aims We investigated the role of the Akt-glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β signaling pathway in mediating the protective effects of tissue kallikrein on myocardial injury by promoting angiogenesis and blood flow in rats after myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods and Results Human tissue kallikrein gene in an adenoviral vector, with or without co-administration of dominant-negative Akt (Ad.DN-Akt) or constitutively active GSK-3β (Ad.GSK-3βS9A), was injected into rat myocardium after MI. Expression of recombinant human kallikrein in rat heart significantly improved cardiac function and reduced infarct size 10 days after gene delivery. Kallikrein administration significantly increased myocardial blood flow as well as capillary and arteriole densities in the infarcted myocardium. Kallikrein increased cardiac Akt and GSK-3β phosphorylation in conjunction with decreased GSK-3β activity and up-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). All of kallikrein's effects in the myocardium were abrogated by Ad.DN-Akt and Ad.GSK-3βS9A. Moreover, in cultured human aortic endothelial cells, tissue kallikrein stimulated capillary tube formation and promoted cell migration; however, these effects were blocked by Ad.DN-Akt, Ad.GSK-3βS9A, icatibant (a kinin B2 receptor antagonist), Tki (a VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor), and a neutralizing VEGF antibody. Additionally, tissue kallikrein decreased GSK-3β activity via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathway and enhanced VEGF and VEGFR-2 expression in endothelial cells.

Conclusions These data provide the first direct evidence that tissue kallikrein protects against acute-phase MI by promoting neovascularization, restoring regional blood flow and improving cardiac function through the kinin B2 receptor-Akt-GSK-3β and VEGF signaling pathways.

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    1. Cardiovasc Res (2008) doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvn223 First published online: August 9, 2008
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