Expression and Roles of AMIGO Gene Family in Vascular Endothelial Cells

In the study, researchers have developed shRNA expression vector and determined their RNAi activity. The Endothelial Cells (ECs) were transfected with the Amphoterin-induced gene and ORF (AMIGO-2) expression vector or AMIGO-2 shRNA expression vector using Hemagglutinating Virus of Japan (HVJ) envelope vector and then, the cells were assayed for AMIGO-2 mRNA levels and its survival. In the study, researchers performed expression of AMIGO gene family in primary cultured human vascular cells and found predominant expression on Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HMVEC). The expression of AMIGO-2 gene in HMVEC under hypoxia showed AMIGO-2 gene decreased significantly, suggested that AMIGO-2 may be involved in vascular remodeling. Based on the study of AMIGO-2 down regulation and over expression showed the down regulation appeared to cause cell death of ECs and over expression appeared to protect EC death due to reactive oxygen species. Finally, the study suggest that AMIGO-2 may have an important role in the vascular system as a cell survival promoting factor for vascular ECs, probably being involved in vascular development, angiogenesis and/or vascular remodeling.