Angiopoietin 2 alters pancreatic vascularization in diabetic conditions

Sophie Calderari (1) , Cécile Chougnet (1) , Maud Clemessy (1) , Hervé Kempf (1, 2) , Pierre Corvol (1, 3) , Etienne Larger (1, 4)

1 Angiogénèse embryonnaire et pathologique
2 PPIA - Physiopathologie, Pharmacologie et Ingénierie articulaires
3 INSERM U36 - Pathologie vasculaire et endocrinologie rénale - Chaire de médecine expérimentale
4 Faculté de Médecine

Islet vascularization, by controlling beta-cell mass expansion in response to increased insulin demand, is implicated in the progression to glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes. We investigated how hyperglycaemia impairs expansion and differentiation of the growing pancreas. We have grafted xenogenic (avian) embryonic pancreas in severe combined immuno-deficient (SCID) mouse and analyzed endocrine and endothelial development in hyperglycaemic compared to normoglycaemic conditions. 14 dpi chicken pancreases were grafted under the kidney capsule of normoglycaemic or hyperglycaemic, streptozotocin-induced, SCID mice and analyzed two weeks later. Vascularization was analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively using either in situ hybridization with both mouse- and chick-specific RNA probes for VEGFR2 or immunohistochemistry with an antibody to nestin, a marker of endothelial cells that is specific for murine cells. To inhibit angiopoietin 2 (Ang2), SCID mice were treated with 4 mg/kg IP L1-10 twice/week. In normoglycaemic condition, chicken-derived endocrine and exocrine cells developed well and intragraft vessels were lined with mouse endothelial cells. When pancreases were grafted in hyperglycaemic mice, growth and differentiation of the graft were altered and we observed endothelial discontinuities, large blood-filled spaces. Vessel density was decreased. These major vascular anomalies were associated with strong over-expression of chick-Ang2. To explore the possibility that Ang2 over-expression could be a key step in vascular disorganization induced by hyperglycaemia, we treated mice with L1-10, an Ang-2 specific inhibitor. Inhibition of Ang2 improved vascularization and beta-cell density. this work highligghted an important role of Ang2 in pancreatic vascular defects induced by hyperglycemia.

Domaines: Médecine humaine et pathologie; Endocrinologie et métabolisme

Sophie Calderari, Cécile Chougnet, Maud Clemessy, Hervé Kempf, Pierre Corvol, et al.. Angiopoietin 2 alters pancreatic vascularization in diabetic conditions. PLoS ONE, 2012, 7 (1), pp.1-9. ⟨10.1371/journal.pone.0029438⟩. ⟨hal-02650730⟩