EphB4 Activates Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase in An Akt-dependent Mechanism to Regulate Vein Graft Adaptation

Abstract

Introduction: EphB4, a receptor tyrosine kinase, is a marker of venous identity in adult veins that also controls wall thickness during vein graft adaptation to the arterial environment. Since the role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in vein graft adaptation is not well understood, we evaluated whether eNOS is a downstream effector of EphB4 mediated signaling that controls vein graft thickness. Methods: Intrathoracic inferior vena cava was harvested from wild-type (WT) or eNOS knockout (KO) mice and placed as an interposition vein graft into the infrarenal aorta of WT mice.