FOXO-dependent expression of the proapoptotic protein Bim: pivotal role for apoptosis signaling in endothelial progenitor cells Carmen Urbich, Andrea Knau, Stephan Fichtlscherer, Dirk H. Walter, Thomas Brühl, Michael Potente, Wolf K. Hofmann * , Sven de Vos † , Andreas M. Zeiher and Stefanie Dimmeler 1 Molecular Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine IV, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany; * Department of Hematology and Oncology, Internal Medicine III, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany; and † Department of Hematology and Oncology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA 1 Correspondence: Molecular Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine IV, University of Frankfurt, Theodor Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany. E-mail: Dimmeler@em.uni-frankfurt.de <h3>SPECIFIC AIMS</h3> Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) contribute to postnatal neovascularization. Since EPC apoptosis might be a potential mechanism to regulate the number of EPCs, we investigated the effects of oxidative stress and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) on EPC apoptosis and the underlying mechanism. Because forkhead transcription factors (FOXO1, FOXO3a, FOXO4) exert proapoptotic effects, we elucidated the involvement of forkhead transcription factors and demonstrated that FOXO4 plays a crucial role in apoptosis signaling in EPCs. We further examined whether FOXO-dependent regulation of the proapoptotic protein Bim is involved in the protective effects
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