A peptide corresponding to the C-terminal region of pleiotrophin inhibits angiogenesis in vivo and in vitro.

Pleiotrophin (PTN) is a heparin-binding growth factor that plays a significant role in tumor growth and angiogenesis. We have previously shown that in order for PTN to induce migration of endothelial cells, binding to both α(ν) ß(3) integrin and its receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase beta/zeta (RPTPß/ζ) is required. In the present study we show that a synthetic peptide corresponding to the last 25 amino acids of the C-terminal region of PTN (PTN(112-136) ) inhibited angiogenesis in the in vivo chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay and PTN-induced migration and tube formation of human endothelial cells in vitro. PTN(112-136) inhibited binding of PTN to α(ν) ß(3) integrin, and as shown by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measurements, specifically interacted with the specificity loop of the extracellular domain of ß(3) . Moreover, it abolished PTN-induced FAK Y397 phosphorylation, similarly to the effect of a neutralizing α(ν) ß(3) -selective antibody. PTN(112-136) did not affect binding of PTN to RPTPß/ζ in endothelial cells and induced ß(3) Y773 phosphorylation and ERK1/2 activation to a similar extent with PTN. This effect was inhibited by down-regulation of RPTPß/ζ by siRNA or by c-src inhibition, suggesting that PTN(112-136) may interact with RPTPß/ζ. NMR spectroscopy studies showed that PTN(112-136) was characterized by conformational flexibility and absence of any element of secondary structure at room temperature, although the biologically active peptide segment 123-132 may adopt a defined structure at lower temperature. Collectively, our data suggest that although PTN(112-136) induces some of the signaling pathways triggered by PTN, it inhibits PTN-induced angiogenic activities through inhibition of PTN binding to α(ν) ß(3) integrin.

Formation of polymer brushes inside cylindrical pores: a computer simulation study.

The formation process of polymer brushes, formed by the adsorption of flexible end-functionalized chains from dilute solutions on the inner surface of cylindrical pores is studied by bond fluctuation Monte Carlo simulations. Various properties as the grafting density, monomer, and free-end distribution are monitored as a function of pore diameter D and chain length N. Two different modes of end-segment attachment on the inner pore surface are considered: (a) pure-irreversible "hard" grafting and (b) irreversible "soft" grafting where grafted-ends can move freely on the pore surface but cannot detach from it. Different regimes of pore coating are identified, depending on the mode of end-segment attachment and on the ratio of D to the radius of gyration of the free polymer chains in solution R(g). These initial findings can be used as a guide for the preparation of actual polymer brushes inside ordered porous membranes by the "grafting to" approach.

Polymer brushes on periodically nanopatterned surfaces.

Structural properties of polymer brushes tethered on a periodically nanopatterned substrate are investigated by computer simulations. The substrate consists of an alternating succession of two different types of equal-width parallel stripes, and the polymers are end-tethered selectively on every second stripe. Three distinct morphologies of the nanopatterned brush have been identified, and their range of stability has been determined in terms of a single universal parameter that combines the grafting density, the polymer length, and the stripe width. We propose scaling relations for the average brush height and for the architectural properties of the outer surface of the nanopatterned brush under good solvent conditions. Our analysis provides guidelines for fabricating well-defined and tunable nanopatterned polymeric films.