ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to explore the correlations of iodide ions with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors during the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells (VECs). The proliferation rates of VECs in the presence of iodide ions and VEGF inhibitor were determined using the CCK-8 method. The effect of iodide ions on the phosphorylation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) was observed using Western blot analysis. In the presence of 300 µg/L iodide ions, the application of VEGF inhibitor did not inhibit VEC proliferation (P < 0.05). At a certain concentration, iodide ions upregulated the phosphorylation level of VEGFR-2 at the Tyr1214 site (P < 0.05). Iodide ions did not influence the phosphorylation of VEGFR-2 at the Tyr1175 and Tyr951 sites. At an appropriate concentration, iodide ions serve as an independent VEC proliferation-promoting factor. They mediate VEC migration by stimulating the upregulation of the phosphorylation level of VEGFR-2 (Tyr1214) and do not influence VEGFR-2 phosphorylation at Tyr1175. Therefore, their VEC proliferation-promoting effect is independent of membrane receptors.