HTATIP2 regulates arteriogenic activity in monocytes from patients with limb ischemia

Use of autologous cells isolated from elderly patients with multiple comorbidities may account for the modest efficacy of cell therapy in patients with chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI). We aimed to determine whether proarteriogenic monocyte/macrophages (Mo/M phi s) from patients with CLTI were functionally impaired and to demonstrate the mechanisms related to any impairment. capacity to promote neovascularization in vitro and in vivo compared with those isolated from healthy controls. This was associated with increased expression of human HIV-1 TAT interactive protein-2 (HTATIP2), a transcription factor known to suppress angiogenesis/arteriogenesis. Silencing HTATIP2 restored the functional capacity of CLTI Mo/M phi s, which was associated with increased expression of arteriogenic regulators Neuropilin-1 and Angiopoietin-1, and their ability to enhance angiogenic (endothelial tubule formation) and arteriogenic (smooth muscle proliferation) processes in vitro. In support of the translational relevance of our findings, silencing HTATIP2 in arteriogenic Mo/M phi s prior to autologous delivery and increase the likelihood of clinical efficacy.