Autocrine and Paracrine Effects of VEGF‐A on PLGF in an <i>In Vitro</i> Model of the Vessel Wall

TL;DRAbstract

Placenta growth factor (PLGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) are important regulators of both physiological and pathological vascular remodeling. PLGF mediates these effects by activation and recruitment of monocytes to the vessel wall, while VEGF-A primarily acts upon endothelial cells (EC) inducing their proliferation and migration. We previously reported that human coronary EC primarily express PLGF, while human coronary smooth muscle cells (SMC) primarily express VEGF-A. In the vasculature, EC and SMC are in close proximity to each other. Thus, in study we tested the hypothesis that EC VEGF-A and/or PLGF production influences SMC VEGF-A and/or PLGF expression, and vice versa. EC and SMC were cultured on either side of a porous Transwell insert. SMC were cultured either on the bottom of the well (no cell-cell interaction) or on the opposite side of the insert (some cell-cell interaction). In both instances, coculture of EC and SMC increased PLGF in media relative

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