Cystatin C Expression is Promoted by VEGFA Blocking, With Inhibitory Effects on Endothelial Cell Angiogenic Functions Including Proliferation, Migration, and Chorioallantoic Membrane Angiogenesis

Background Vascular development, including vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, is involved in many diseases. Cystatin C (CST3) is a commonly used marker of renal dysfunction, and we have previously reported that its expression level is associated with variations in the gerbil circle of Willis. Thus, we hypothesized that CST3 may affect endothelial function and angiogenic capacity. In the current study, we sought to determine the influence of CST3 on endothelial function and explore its potential regulatory pathway. Methods and Results We analyzed CST3 and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) levels in different developmental stages of gerbils using ELISAs and immunofluorescence (to examine the relationship between CST3 and VEGFA. We used a real‐time cell analyzer, cytotoxicity assays, and the chorioallantoic membrane assay to investigate the function of CST3 in endothelial cells and the chorioallantoic membrane. Additionally, we used Western blotting to explore the downstream targets of CST3. The exp...