Prostacyclin as a Negative Regulator of Angiogenesis in the Neurovasculature

In this study, multiple measures of angiogenic processes were assessed in murine brain endothelial (bEnd.3) cells after exposure to the stable prostacyclin analog, iloprost. Additionally, changes in the γ-secretase enzyme were evaluated after activation of prostacyclin signaling using PGI2 overexpressing mouse brain tissue and immunohistology studies in bEnd.3 cells. A three-dimensional assay of tube formation revealed that iloprost inhibits normal formation by significantly reduced tube lengths and vessel mesh area. The iloprost-mediated inhibition of tube-like structures was ameliorated by a specific IP-receptor antagonist, CAY10449. Reductions in wound healing were observed with iloprost application in a dose-dependent manner and this effect was reversed using CAY10449. Iloprost did not exhibit anti-proliferative effects in the bEnd.3 cells. When subjected to a Transwell assay to evaluate changes in trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER), bEnd.3 cells displayed reduced TEER values in the presence of iloprost an effect that lasted over prolonged periods (24 hours). Again, CAY10449 was able to reverse iloprost-mediated reductions in TEER value. Surprisingly, the adenylyl cyclase activator, forskolin, produced higher TEER values in the bEnd.3 cells over the same time. The TEER results suggest that iloprost may not activating the Gs protein of the IP receptor to increase cAMP levels given by the opposing results seen with iloprost and forskolin. In terms of γ-secretase expression, PGI2 overexpression in mice increased the expression of the APH-1α subunit in the hippocampus and cortex. In bEnd.3 cells, iloprost application slightly increased APH-1α subunit expression measured by western blot and interrupted the colocalization of Presenilin 1 and APH-1α subunits using immunohistochemistry. The results suggest that prostacyclin signaling within bEnd.3 cells is anti-angiogenic and further downstream events have effects on the expression and most likely the activity of the Aβ cleaving enzyme, γ-secretase. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.