The effect of osteogenic growth peptide (OGP) on proliferation and adhesion of HEMC-1 human endothelial cells

Human osteogenic growth peptide (OGP) promotes the growth of osteoblastic, fibroblastic and bone marrow stromal cells. There is no evidence that OGP stimulates the growth or the attachment of endothelial cells to the extracellular matrix. The aim of this study was to test OGP on in vitro cultures of human microvascular endothelial HEMC-1 cells and to characterize its potential angiogenic effect when administered alone or in combination with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or its binding protein α2-macroglobulin (α2M). HEMC-1 cells were cultured in vitro under serum-free conditions to study the effects of OGP (10-14-10-10 M), VEGF (100 ng ml-1), α2M (20 ng ml-1 and their combinations on cell proliferation for 48 h. Furthermore, an adhesion assay was performed incubating the HEMC-1 cells with OGP, VEGF, α2M and their combinations for 24 h. OGP, α2M and their combination did not stimulate proliferation of HEMC-1 cells; in contrast, VEGF caused a significant enhancement of cell growth (+37.3%; P < 0.05). Pre-incubation with VEGF resulted in a fast and increased adhesion of endothelial cells to the matrix as compared to controls (+87.5% at 30 min and +86.6% at 70 min, P < 0.05); in contrast, incubation with OGP alone determined only a significant increase in the attachment at 100 min (+52% P < 0.05). The combinations of these peptides did not cause significant additive effects. These results suggest that OGP, compared to VEGF, induced neither the proliferation nor an increase in attachment of HEMC-1 cells to a matrix, either alone or in combination with VEGF and α2M. These in vitro findings may suggest a possible administration of OGP, as a haematopoietic factor, to patients affected by pathological conditions involving angiogenesis. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd.