Leptin promotes the mobilization of vascular progenitor cells and neovascularization by NOX2-mediated activation of MMP9

Abstract

Our findings suggest that the angiogenic effects of leptin involve sca-1(+), flk-1(+) vascular progenitor cells mobilized from the BM in response to ObR-mediated activation of NOX2, increased MMP9 expression, and sKitL release.