In-vitro inhibitory effect of EGFL7-RNAi on endothelial angiogenesis in glioma.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the role and mechanism of epidermal growth factor like domain 7 (EGFL7) in glioma angiogenesis by cell co-culture and RNA interference. METHODS NSCs-HUVECs co-culture system was established using Transwell culturing techniques. The interactions between glioma and endothelial cells were simulated in-vitro. Cellular expression of EGFL7 in NSCs and HUVEC was targeted and suppressed by lentiviral vector carrying siRNA. The effect of EGFL7 on angiogenesis in glioma in-vitro micro-environment was detected by endothelial cell proliferation, adhesion and tube formation assay. RESULTS Following EGFL7 gene silencing, expression of EGFL7 in HUVECs was reduced and cell adhesion capability was inhibited significantly. Endothelial cells failed to form a lumen-like structure after EGFL7 gene silencing, shown by the tube formation assay. CONCLUSION By regulating endothelial cell adhesion, EGFL7 plays a key role in the regulation of glioma angiogenesis.