Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40314836›Full record

ArticleAngiogenesis2025

The VEGF decoy receptor soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 binds to macrophages.

Cleo C L van Aanhold, Qing Yong, Lisa Landman, Samiksha Sardana, Anouk B Bouwmeester, Kyra L Dijkstra, Ron Wolterbeek, Hailiang Mei, Rayman T N Tjokrodirijo, Arnoud H de Ru and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Angiogenesis, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Cleo C L van AanholdDepartment of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Qing YongDepartment of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Lisa LandmanDepartment of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Samiksha SardanaBiomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Anouk B BouwmeesterDepartment of Pathology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Kyra L DijkstraDepartment of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Ron WolterbeekDepartment of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Hailiang MeiSequencing Analysis Support Core, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Rayman T N TjokrodirijoCenter for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Arnoud H de RuCenter for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Peter A van VeelenCenter for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Jan A BruijnDepartment of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Cees van KootenDepartment of Nephrology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Hans J BaeldeDepartment of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. j.j.baelde@lumc.nl.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSoluble Fms-like Tyrosine kinase-1 (sFLT1) is a native inhibitor of VEGF, best known for its antiangiogenic effects in preeclampsia. sFLT1 also reduces chronic inflammation and promotes tissue repair. In experimental diabetic nephropathy, we previously found that sFLT1 ameliorates kidney fibrosis and reduces the infiltration of macrophages. How sFLT1 regulates inflammation is still incompletely understood. Based on the direct association of sFLT1 with various cell types, we here studied whether sFLT1 interacts with macrophages to modulate inflammation.

methodsUsing various macrophage cell lines, sFLT1 cell surface binding was detected with flow cytometry. Enzyme studies, mass spectrometry and RNAseq were employed to identify potential sFLT1 cell surface interactors and effects of sFLT1 on macrophage signaling.

resultsSoluble FLT1 binds to primary macrophages, THP-1 and RAW264.7 macrophages in vitro. Alternative activation with IL-4 increases sFLT1 binding in THP-1 macrophages, whereas proinflammatory activation with IFN-γ and LPS decreases binding. Binding of sFLT1 depends on heparan sulphates, and colocalizes with the membrane heparin sulfate proteoglycan neuropilin-1. Incubation with sFLT1 reduces the gene expression of chemokine receptors.

conclusionOur results show that sFLT1, while typically associated with angiogenesis, also directly interacts with macrophages. Alternative activation of macrophages by IL-4 strongly increases binding of sFLT1 to the cell surface membrane, possibly via the VEGF co-receptor neuropilin-1. Considering sFLT1's anti-inflammatory effects in animal studies, our findings indicate a novel function for sFLT1 to directly control anti-inflammatory macrophage function.

Indexed as

MacrophagesVascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1AnimalsHumansMiceProtein BindingRAW 264.7 CellsTHP-1 CellsFLT1 protein, humanVascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1Anti-angiogenesisInflammationMacrophageSoluble Fms-like Tyrosine kinase-1

Identifiers

PMID40314836
PMCPMC12048422

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.