The Effect of Interleukin 38 on Angiogenesis in a Model of Oxygen-induced Retinopathy

• Published in: Scientific reports 2017-06, Vol.7 (1), p.2756-9, Article 2756
• Main Authors: Zhang, Jing, Zhao, Ruijuan, Chen, Jianping, Jin, Jiayi, Yu, Ying, Tian, Yunzhe, Li, Weihua, Wang, Wencong, Zhou, Hongyan, Bo Su, Shao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 13/21; 13/51; 631/250/127/1213; 64/60; 692/699/249/2510; Angiogenesis; Angiogenesis Inhibitors - pharmacology; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Cell Movement - drug effects; Cell proliferation; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cytokines; Data processing; Disease Models, Animal; Endothelial cells; Endothelial Cells - drug effects; Endothelial Cells - metabolism; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Hyperoxia; Interleukin 1; Interleukins - pharmacology; Mice; multidisciplinary; Oxygen; Oxygen - adverse effects; Retina; Retinal Diseases - etiology; Retinal Diseases - metabolism; Retinal Diseases - pathology; Retinal Neovascularization - etiology; Retinal Neovascularization - metabolism; Retinal Neovascularization - pathology; Retinopathy; Rodents; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Vascular endothelial growth factor; Wound healing
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03079-z

Interleukin 38 (IL-38) is a novel identified cytokine of IL-1 family in which some members are important in inflammation and angiogenesis. However, the role of IL-38 in regulating angiogenesis is unknown. The aim of the present study is to explore the effect of IL-38 on angiogenesis. Oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) of C57BL/6 J mice was induced by exposure of hyperoxia (75% oxygen) from postnatal day 7 (P7) to P12 and then returned to room air. The mice were injected with IL-38. At P17, neovascular region (tufts) and avascular area of the retinas were analyzed. The data showed that administration of IL-38 in vivo inhibited retinal angiogenesis significantly. Furthermore, the addition of IL-38 to the cell cultures attenuated the proliferation, scratch wound healing and tube formation of vascular endothelial cells induced by VEGF significantly. Our findings suggest that IL-38 is an antiangiogenic cytokine in pathophysiological settings and may have therapeutic potential for angiogenesis related diseases.