SDF-1α/CXCR4 decreases endothelial progenitor cells apoptosis under serum deprivation by PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway

Recent studies have demonstrated that stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α)/CXCR4 interaction regulates multiple cell signal pathways and a variety of cellular functions such as cell migration, proliferation, survival and angiogenesis. In present study, we aimed to determine the effect of SDF-1α on endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) apoptosis induced by serum deprivation and the implication of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling in this effect. EPCs were isolated and characterized. SDF-1α decreased EPCs apoptosis induced by serum deprivation in a dose-dependent manner and the inhibitory effect was CXCR4 dependent as confirmed by the total abolishment by AMD3100, a CXCR4-specific peptide antagonist. SDF-1α treatment also significant decreased caspase-3 expression and activity. The inhibitory effect of SDF-1α on EPCs apoptosis was nearly completely abolished by PI3K inhibitors (either Wortmannin or LY294002) and partially abolished by NOS inhibitor, NG-nitro-arginine methyl ester, whereas inhibitors of MAPKs had no significant effect on this inhibitory effect. The treatment of EPCs with SDF-1α resulted in time-dependent Akt, eNOS, extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), p38 MAPK and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylations. These findings suggest that PI3K/Akt/eNOS activation, but not MAPKs activation, is required for the inhibitory effect of SDF-1α on EPCs apoptosis.