ANGPTL2 overexpression promotes angiogenic responses in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells with accompanying integrin α5β1 molecular changes

The study investigated the role of ANGPTL2 protein in diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of preventable vision loss worldwide. Researchers overexpressed ANGPTL2 in human retinal endothelial cells and found that it significantly increased cell viability, migration, invasion, and tube formation. Additionally, expression of VEGF, integrin α5β1, and PI3K/AKT phosphorylation increased. In experiments on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, similar changes were observed—elevated integrin α5β1 expression and increased PI3K/AKT phosphorylation compared to control animals. Analyses revealed a direct protein association between ANGPTL2 and integrin α5β1. The results suggest that ANGPTL2 plays an important role in pathological angiogenesis in diabetic retinopathy.