Molecular insights on the proangiogenic effects of VEGF like growth factor derived from horseshoe crab perivitelline fluid

The current study investigated the proangiogenic effects of fraction VII of perivitelline fluid (hscPVF-VEGF) obtained from the late-stage embryos of Indian horseshoe crab (Tachypleus gigas; Müller) using human umbilical cord tissue-derived MSCs (hUCMSCs). Angiogenic potential of hscPVF-VEGF was investigated by analyzing transcripts of signature angiogenic markers, key transcription factors and matrix metalloproteases. Molecular docking studies were performed to predict the binding site of hscPVF-VEGF with the VEGF receptor (VEGFR). hscPVF-VEGF significantly upregulated VEGF, vWF, and downregulated sFlt-1. Significant increase in transcriptional levels of HOXA7, HOXB3, HOXB5, CD31, MMP2, and MMP9 further elucidated the molecular mechanism underlying the angiogenic ability of hscPVF-VEGF. Wound healing assay revealed the migratory potential of hscPVF-VEGF. Molecular docking studies predicted that hscPVF-VEGF may modulate hVEGFR activity by binding in a pocket within the extracellular domains (D5, D6, and D7) distal to the VEGF binding site (D2 and D3). This study infers the potential and molecular mechanism of hscPVF-VEGF inducing angiogenic differentiation in hUCMSCs, suggesting clinical application of a recombinant form of hsPVF-VEGF in disorders with dysfunctional angiogenesis.