Abstract
Background Vascular development, including vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, is involved in many diseases. Cystatin C ( CST 3) is a commonly used marker of renal dysfunction, and we have previously reported that its expression level is associated with variations in the gerbil circle of Willis. Thus, we hypothesized that CST 3 may affect endothelial function and angiogenic capacity. In the current study, we sought to determine the influence of CST 3 on endothelial function and explore its potential regulatory pathway. Methods and Results We analyzed CST 3 and vascular endothelial growth factor A ( VEGFA) levels in different developmental stages of gerbils using ELISA s and immunofluorescence (to examine the relationship between CST 3 and VEGFA . We used a real-time cell analyzer, cytotoxicity assays, and the chorioallantoic membrane assay to investigate the function of CST 3 in endothelial cells and the chorioallantoic membrane. Additionally, we used Western blotting to explore the downstream targets of CST 3. The expression levels of both CST 3 and VEGFA were at their highest on day 10 of the embryonic stage. CST 3 inhibited endothelial cell proliferation, migration, tube formation, and permeability, as well as vascular development in the chorioallantoic membrane. Blocking of VEGFA dose-dependently increased CST 3 expression in arterial and venous endothelial cells. Furthermore, overexpression and knockdown of CST 3 significantly affected the protein levels of p53 and CAPN10 (calpain 10), suggesting that CST 3 might play a role in vascular development through these proteins. Conclusions CST 3 may be associated with vascular development and angiogenesis, and this effect could be promoted by blocking VEGFA .