Abstract 1130: Role Of PI3Kγ For Integrin-dependent Adhesive And Migratory Functions Of Progenitor Cells In Vitro And In Vivo

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are recruited to ischemic regions to improve neovascularization. β1- and β2-integrins play a crucial role for progenitor cell homing to ischemic tissues. Chemokines and their respective G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are involved in the EPC homing to ischemic tissues. The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase catalytic subunit gamma (PI3Kγ) is the PI3K isoform, which selectively transduces signals from GPCRs. Here, we investigated the role of PI3Kγ for integrin-dependent homing functions of progenitor cells. As assessed by western blot, EPC express the catalytic subunit PI3Kγ. We then studied the role of PI3Kγ for EPC migration. AS-605240 (100 nM), a selective PI3Kγ-inhibitor (Camps M, Nat. Med., 2005), significantly reduced the SDF1- and the IL-8-induced migration and the SDF1-induced transendothelial migration of human EPC. Adhesion is a further essential step during EPC homing to ischemic tissues. In this regard, the PI3Kγ-inhibitor significantly reduced the SDF1-induced adhesion of EPC on HUVEC monolayers by 69 ± 8 % and on ICAM-1, a β2-integrin ligand. However, the PI3Kγ-inhibitor did not affect the SDF1-induced adhesion of EPC on fibronectin, a β1-integrin ligand, suggesting that PI3Kγ in EPC is involved in the regulation of β2-, but not of β 1-integrin-dependent adhesion. In line with these results, inhibition PI3Kγ blocked the SDF1-induced increase of β2-, but not of β1-integrin-affinity in EPC. Beside EPC, the SDF1-induced migration and adhesion on ICAM-1 of murine bone marrow (BM)-derived Lin − progenitor cells from PI3Kγ-deficient mice (PI3Kγ − / − ) were reduced in comparison to wild type (WT) cells. In addition, PI3Kγ-deficiency led to a significant reduction of homing of murine BM-Lin − progenitor cells to ischemic muscles after intravenous infusion in the model of hind limb ischemia in comparison to WT cells (48 ± 8 % inhibition). In conclusion, these data demonstrate that PI3Kγ plays an essential role for the integrin-dependent homing of progenitor cells in vitro and in vivo. The understanding of the molecular mechanisms of progenitor cell homing is essential for the development of new therapeutic strategies in order to improve the efficacy of cell-based therapies in patients with ischemic disorders.