Identification of an Osteopontin-Derived Peptide That Binds Neuropilin-1 and Activates Vascular Cells

September 2023 in “ bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) ”

Yihong Chen, Chrysostomi Gialeli, Jiaxu Shen, Pontus Dunér, Björn Walse, Annette Duelli, Rhawnie Caing-Carlsson, Anna M. Blom, John R. Zibert, Anna Nilsson, Jan Alenfall, Chang-Min Liang, Jan Nilsson

neuropilin-1 osteopontin-derived peptide vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF endothelial cell growth angiogenesis apoptosis RNA sequencing tissue repair pathways vascular repair diabetes-related vascular complications peripheral artery disease ischemic myocardium salvage NRP-1 FOL-026

Studysummary In this study, FOL-026, a peptide based on osteopontin, was shown to promote angiogenesis and stimulate vascular cell proliferation and migration through neuropilin-1, similar to VEGF, suggesting potential therapeutic applications in vascular repair and angiogenesis-related conditions. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The study identifies neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) as the receptor for the osteopontin-derived peptide FOL-026, which mimics the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). FOL-026 binds to the NRP-1 b1-subdomain, stimulating endothelial cell growth, migration, tube formation, and angiogenesis, while inhibiting apoptosis. These effects were confirmed through various in vitro and in vivo assays, including RNA sequencing that showed activation of tissue repair pathways. The findings suggest that FOL-026 has therapeutic potential for conditions requiring vascular repair and enhanced angiogenesis, such as diabetes-related vascular complications, peripheral artery disease, and ischemic myocardium salvage.

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