Allograft inflammatory factor 1
positive regulation of cell migration
Overexpression of allograft inflammatory factor-1 promotes the proliferation and migration of human endothelial cells (HUV-EC-C) probably by up-regulation of basic fibroblast growth factor.
Our previous study demonstrated that allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1) is present in the vessels of infantile hemangiomas but neither in the vessels of vascular malformations, pyogenic granulomas, normal skin, placental tissues nor in the neovessels of squamous cell carcinomas of the tongue. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of AIF-1 alterations on endothelial cells (EC). Stable introduction of AIF-1 to the human umbilical vein EC line (HUV-EC-C) in vitro revealed that AIF-1 enhances the proliferation and migration of the EC and promotes G0/G1-to-S-phase transition, accompanied by up-regulation of basic fibroblast growth factor (p < 0.05). In contrast, AIF-1 did not affect the expression of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, VEGF-a, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, or tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1. AIF-1 expression was not induced by hypoxia, VEGF-a, basic fibroblast growth factor, or insulin-like growth factor-2 in EC. Taken together, these findings suggest that the impact of AIF-1 on EC would stimulate angiogenesis and consequently affect the progression of infantile hemangiomas.