Publications [#80103] of Christopher D. Kontos

Papers Published

1. RR White, S Shan, CP Rusconi, G Shetty, MW Dewhirst, CD Kontos, BA Sullenger, Inhibition of rat corneal angiogenesis by a nuclease-resistant RNA aptamer specific for angiopoietin-2., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 100 no. 9 (April, 2003), pp. 5028-33, ISSN 0027-8424 [doi]
   (last updated on 2013/05/16)

   Abstract:
   Angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) appears to be a naturally occurring antagonist of the endothelial receptor tyrosine kinase Tie2, an important regulator of vascular stability. Destabilization of the endothelium by Ang2 is believed to potentiate the actions of proangiogenic growth factors. To investigate the specific role of Ang2 in the adult vasculature, we generated a nuclease-resistant RNA aptamer that binds and inhibits Ang2 but not the related Tie2 agonist, angiopoietin-1. Local delivery of this aptamer but not a partially scrambled mutant aptamer inhibited basic fibroblast growth factor-mediated neovascularization in the rat corneal micropocket angiogenesis assay. These in vivo data directly demonstrate that a specific inhibitor of Ang2 can act as an antiangiogenic agent.

   Keywords:
   Angiogenesis Inducing Agents • Angiopoietin-2 • Animals • Base Sequence • Cell Line • Cornea • DNA Primers • Female • Humans • Neovascularization, Pathologic • Precipitin Tests • Protein Binding • RNA • Rats • Rats, Inbred F344 • blood supply* • genetics* • metabolism • pharmacology* • prevention & control*