Background.
Angiogenesis is an important process in tissue development and wound healing. The Tie-2 receptor tyrosine kinases and ligands, angiopoietin (Ang)-1 and -2 have been postulated to play key roles in vascular development. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of Tie-2 and Ang-1 and -2 in an acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer healing process in rats. Methods. Gastric specimens were obtained at 0 (control), 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 days after ulcer induction for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemical analysis. Results. Expression of Tie-2 and Ang-1 and -2 mRNAs was detected in normal gastric tissue and ulcerative tissues by RT-PCR. Western blot analysis revealed that Tie-2 expression reached a maximum on the third to fifth days. Expression of Ang-1 and -2 peaked on the first day. Ang-1 expression gradually became weaker in 2 weeks, whereas Ang-2 expression returned to normal in a few days. Immunohistochemically, Tie-2 was expressed constitutively in the endothelial cells of pre-existing vessels of the gastric wall, and Tie-2 expression was increased in the new capillaries of the ulcer base. Conclusions. These findings suggest that Tie-2 and Ang-1 and -2 play an important role in angiogenesis in the early phase of ulcer healing.
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Received: January 9, 2002 / Accepted: November 22, 2002
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Wen, C., Ito, M., Chen, LD. et al. Expression of Tie-2 and angiopoietin-1 and -2 in early phase of ulcer healing. J Gastroenterol 38, 431–435 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-002-1078-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-002-1078-3