促红细胞生成素通过P13-K／Akt信号通路抑制血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导的新生大鼠心脏成纤维细胞增殖

目的：探讨促红细胞生成素（EPO）对血管紧张素11（AngⅡ）诱导的心脏成纤维细胞（CFs）增殖的影响,以及磷脂酰肌醇-3-激酶／蛋白激酶B（P13-K／Akt）信号途径和-氧化氮合酶（NOS）的作用。方法：应用胰酶和胶原酶双酶和差速贴壁法分离培养新生大鼠CFs细胞,应用EPO、AngⅡ、P13-K抑制剂LY294002、NOS抑制剂L—NAME不同因素干预。细胞计数和MTT法作出CFs的生长曲线,检测CFs的增殖。化学酶法检测CFs培养液中的-氧化氮（NO）浓度以及总NOS和其亚型的活性。Western blotting检测Akt、P—Akt、内皮型-氧化氮合酶（eNOS）和诱生型-氧化氮合酶（iNOS）蛋白的表达。结果：AngⅡ促CFs增殖的作用显著。EPO剂量依赖性的增加CFs培养液中的NO浓度,同时剂量依赖性的抑制AngⅡ诱导的CFs增殖。在给药后第4d,和单纯的AngⅡ相比,浓度为5×10。U／L、1×10^4U／L和2×10^4U／LEPO对CFs增殖的抑制率分别达到了24．4％、41．5％和50．5％。EPO显著提高Akt的磷酸化水平,促进eNOS蛋白的表达。应用P13-K抑制剂LY294002和NOS抑制剂L—NAME均能使培养液中的NO浓度也随之下降,EPO抑制AngⅡ诱导CFs增殖的作用均被阻断。但LY294002同时阻断了cNOS蛋白表达,而L—NAME对cNOS没有影响。结论：EPO可剂量依赖性的抑制AngⅡ诱导的新生大鼠CFs的增殖。其作用机制是通过激活P13-K／Akt信号途径促使CFs中eNOS表达来促进NO的生成,从而抑制CFs的增殖。     

黄芪多糖对2型糖尿病患者外周血内皮祖细胞PI3K/Akt/eNOS信号通路的影响

背景：前期研究证实黄芪通过P38MAPK通路促进内皮祖细胞增殖,其影响是否通过PI3K/Akt/eNOS途径实现？ 目的：观察黄芪多糖对2型糖尿病患者外周血内皮祖细胞蛋白激酶B、内皮型一氧化氮合酶表达的影响。 方法：采用密度梯度离心法获取糖尿病患者外周血单个核细胞,培养7 d后鉴定内皮祖细胞。观察0,50,200,800,3 200,6 400 mg/L黄芪多糖分别干预6,12,24,48 h对内皮祖细胞影响的量效和时效关系;用黄芪多糖及黄芪多糖与PI3K抑制剂LY294002联合干预糖尿病患者内皮祖细胞,Western blot检测磷酸化Akt及磷酸化内皮型一氧化氮合酶的表达水平。以未进行任何处理健康人内皮祖细胞作为对照组。 结果与结论：糖尿病患者内皮祖细胞的增殖能力较对照组明显下降(P  < 0.05)。黄芪多糖显著增加糖尿病患者内皮祖细胞的增殖能力,当黄芪多糖在200~800 mg/L质量浓度范围,干预6~24 h可呈时间及剂量依赖性增强内皮祖细胞的增殖能力(P < 0.01),并呈剂量依赖性升高内皮祖细胞磷酸化Akt及磷酸化内皮型一氧化氮合酶的表达(P < 0.05);PI3K抑制剂LY294002能阻断黄芪多糖诱导的Akt、内皮型一氧化氮合酶的磷酸化(P < 0.05)。说明黄芪多糖通过激活PI3K/Akt/eNOS信号通路促进内皮祖细胞增殖和向内皮细胞的分化。     

PI3K/Akt/eNOS信号通路在葛根素抑制ox-LDL诱导的血管内皮细胞组织因子表达中的作用

目的:探讨磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶/蛋白激酶B/内皮型一氧化氮合酶(PI3K/Akt/eNOS)信号通路在葛根素(puerarin)抑制氧化型低密度脂蛋白(oxidized low-density lipoprotein,ox-LDL)诱导的血管内皮细胞组织因子(tissue factor,TF)表达中的作用。方法:实时荧光定量PCR检测TF的mRNA表达,Western blot检测TF和Akt的蛋白表达,硝酸盐还原酶法检测一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO)含量。结果:与对照组相比,ox-LDL孵育内皮细胞后,内皮细胞TF的mRNA和蛋白表达升高,Akt蛋白磷酸化水平降低,细胞内NO产生减少;而葛根素预孵育内皮细胞1 h后,再用ox-LDL孵育,内皮细胞TF mRNA和蛋白表达下降,Akt蛋白磷酸化升高,细胞内NO产生增多;PI3K抑制剂LY294002和葛根素共同预孵育内皮细胞1 h后,再用ox-LDL孵育,内皮细胞TF的mRNA和蛋白表达升高,Akt蛋白磷酸化降低,细胞内NO产生减少;eNOS抑制剂NG-硝基-L-精氨酸甲酯(L-NAME)和葛根素共同预孵育内皮细胞,也明显阻断葛根素对ox-LDL诱导的内皮细胞TF mRNA和蛋白表达、细胞Akt蛋白磷酸化和细胞内NO产生的作用。结论:葛根素可通过上调PI3K/Akt/eNOS信号通路抑制ox-LDL诱导的人脐静脉内皮细胞TF mRNA和蛋白表达。     

Nephrin稳定血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导的足细胞细胞骨架改变的机制研究

 目的：研究足细胞裂孔膜分子nephrin调节血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）诱导的足细胞骨架分布改变的分子机制。方法：用AngⅡ及AngⅡ受体拮抗剂氯沙坦或Akt抑制剂LY294002刺激足细胞,FITC-phalloidin染色标记F-actin,分析足细胞骨架运动。Real-time RT-PCR、RT-PCR和Western blotting检测nephrin mRNA和蛋白表达。转染nephrin全长表达质粒（pcDNA3.1-mNPHS1）,建立稳定转染足细胞系,Western blotting检测转染细胞的Akt磷酸化水平,FITC-phalloidin染色分析高表达nephrin对F-actin分布影响。结果：AngⅡ和LY294002刺激后,足细胞的F-actin重组,应力纤维减少,形成F-actin外周环。氯沙坦显著抑制F-actin重排。AngⅡ刺激后nephrin mRNA和蛋白表达显著降低,Akt磷酸化水平降低。pcDNA3.1-mNPHS1转染显著上调足细胞Akt磷酸化水平,促进足细胞短线状足突形成,部分抑制AngⅡ诱导的骨架重排。结论：PI3K/Akt是nephrin和AngⅡ的共同下游通路。Nephrin能通过PI3K/Akt途径部分稳定AngⅡ诱导的足细胞细胞骨架改变。     

红景天苷对内皮祖细胞功能及其PI3K/Akt通路的影响

 目的：研究红景天苷对人内皮祖细胞（EPCs）功能及其对磷酸肌醇3羟基激酶（PI3K）/Akt通路的影响。方法：体外培养正常人外周血EPCs,观察红景天苷或PI3K抑制剂的干预对EPCs增殖、黏附、迁移及一氧化氮（NO）分泌量的影响。MTT法检测细胞增殖、Western blotting检测Akt蛋白表达。结果：与对照组比较, 红景天苷能促进EPCs的增殖、黏附及迁移功能（P<0.05）,促进EPCs分泌NO,增加细胞内磷酸化Akt蛋白的水平。但这些作用均被PI3K抑制剂LY294002抑制（P<0.05）。结论：红景天苷通过PI3K/Akt通路调节EPCs的功能。     

一氧化氮及其信号转导通路在糖尿病性勃起功能障碍的作用

勃起功能障碍（erectile dysfunction,ED）是糖尿病的常见并发症,影响人们的生活质量,其病变机理还不甚清楚.一氧化氮（NO）由一氧化氮合酶（NOS）合成,是调节海绵体肌肉松弛和阴茎勃起的重要的神经递质.PI3-kinase/Akt （PKB）通路使eNOS磷酸化,NO的产量增加;NO/cGMPPKG通路参与平滑肌的舒张;RhoA和Rho-kinase参与平滑肌的收缩,抑制eNOS基因表达和酶的活性.周围血管病变和自主神经变性是引起糖尿病性ED的主要原因之一.基因和干细胞（eNOS、 RhoA/Rho-kinase与Mesenchymal stem cell-based cell）治疗糖尿病性ED取得一些进展.     

促红细胞生成素促进内皮祖细胞增殖依赖于PI3K/Akt信号通路

背景:促红细胞生成素能促进组织损伤部位血管生成,与其促进内皮祖细胞增殖、分化密切相关,但促红细胞生成素促进内皮祖细胞增殖、分化的机制尚不清楚。目的:观察促红细胞生成素对小鼠骨髓来源内皮祖细胞功能活性的影响,并初步阐明其信号机制。方法:密度梯度离心法分离获取小鼠骨髓内皮祖细胞,鉴定后传代培养,以PI3K特异性抑制剂LY294002作干预处理,实验细胞分为EGM-2组、促红细胞生成素处理组(培养液中促红细胞生成素浓度分别为1,5,10 U/m L)、促红细胞生成素+LY组(培养液中分别含有10 U/m L促红细胞生成素及10 mmol/L LY294002)、LY组(培养液中含10 mmol/L LY294002)、二甲基亚砜组(培养液中含1 m L/L二甲基亚砜),分别采用CCK8试剂盒、流式细胞法检测细胞增殖和凋亡,采用ELISA法检测细胞裂解液内皮型一氧化氮合酶、血管内皮生长因子含量,Western blot法测定细胞裂解液中Akt及p-Akt表达。结果与结论:促红细胞生成素能显著促进内皮祖细胞增殖,并随培养基中促红细胞生成素含量增加而呈现量效关系,而促红细胞生成素的促增殖作用可被LY294002完全抑制。促红细胞生成素处理组细胞凋亡率明显低于促红细胞生成素+LY组。LY组、促红细胞生成素+LY组细胞裂解液中内皮型一氧化氮合酶、血管内皮生长因子含量显著低于促红细胞生成素处理各组。各组Akt表达无明显差异,而促红细胞生成素+LY组p-Akt表达显著低于促红细胞生成素各组。上述结果提示,促红细胞生成素能显著促进体外培养的内皮祖细胞的增殖、降低内皮祖细胞的凋亡率,其作用依赖于PI3K/Akt信号通路。     

PI3K/Akt通路在滋养细胞增殖中的调控机制研究

旨在探讨PI3K/Akt信号转导通路在滋养细胞增殖中的作用及具体调控机制。体外培养滋养细胞系EVT。应用MTT法检测不同浓度表皮生长因子（EGF）刺激后EVT的增殖情况;应用流式细胞技术检测不同处理组EVT凋亡情况。使用PI3K抑制剂LY294002处理细胞后,检测以上各项结果的变化。结果发现：1.随EGF浓度增高,EVT增殖呈现增强趋势,EGF在10ng/ml及其以上时效应明显;2.EGF能够显著降低EVT的凋亡发生;3.使用PI3K抑制剂LY294002明显逆转EGF的促进EVT增殖的效应。提示表皮生长因子可以活化滋养细胞的PI3K/Akt信号通路,进而促进细胞增殖,并且抑制其凋亡,PI3K抑制剂可以明显抑制EGF的促EVT增殖作用。     

姜黄素联合LY294002对鼠卵巢癌转基因细胞系T1、T2、T3的抑制作用

目的探讨姜黄素与PI3K抑制剂LY294002及两者联合用药对鼠卵巢癌转基因细胞系T1、T2、T3的增殖抑制作用及其作用机制。方法体外培养鼠卵巢癌转基因细胞系T1、T2、T3,0～80μmol/L姜黄素与相同浓度LY294002单独及联合用药分别作用12、24、48 h,MTT方法检测T1、T2、T3细胞的增殖活性;Western blot法检测细胞内Akt、p-Akt蛋白表达水平。结果姜黄素能显著抑制T1、T2、T3细胞增殖,呈时间与剂量依赖性,其中对T2、T3抑制作用更明显;姜黄素明显降低T2、T3细胞内p-Akt蛋白的表达,对Akt蛋白表达改变不明显;姜黄素与LY294002联合用药明显加强姜黄素对T2、T3细胞增殖抑制作用。结论姜黄素能显著抑制Akt转基因型细胞系T2和T3的生长;小剂量PI3K抑制剂LY294002即能明显增强其对Akt转基因型细胞系T2、T3的增殖抑制作用,其作用机制可能是通过PI3K/Akt通路下调p-Akt表达来实现的。     

L-NAME对人脐静脉内皮细胞VE-cadherin表达的影响

目的　探讨一氧化氮合酶（NOS）抑制剂N-硝基-L-精氨酸甲酯（L-NAME）对人脐静脉内皮细胞（HUVEC）的eNOS、VE-cadherin蛋白表达的影响。 方法 HUVEC传代培养并用CD31特异性抗体进行鉴定,实验分为对照组、0.1 mmol/L L-NAME组、1.0 mmol/L L-NAME组,运用MTT比色法检测L-NAME对HUVEC细胞活性的影响,并采用免疫荧光细胞化学法或Western blot检测实验各组HUVEC细胞的eNOS、VE-cadherin等蛋白的表达,以观察L-NAME对HUVEC的eNOS蛋白、VE-cadherin蛋白的影响。 结果 95%以上传代后的细胞为CD31免疫阳性细胞。MTT比色法结果显示,随着L-NAME的浓度增加,HUVEC的细胞活力值逐渐减弱。免疫荧光细胞化学或Western blot结果显示,与对照组比较,0.1 mmol/L L-NAME组和1.0 mmol/L L-NAME组 HUVEC中eNOS的表达减弱（P<0.01）,并呈剂量依赖性降低;与对照组比较,0.1 mmol/L L-NAME组和1.0 mmol/L L-NAME组 HUVEC中VE-cadherin的表达增强（P<0.01）,呈剂量依赖性增加。 结论 L-NAME能抑制HUVEC 的eNOS表达和细胞活性,并影响细胞粘附连接的主要蛋白-VE-cadherin的表达。     

Angiogenic actions of angiopoietin-1 require endothelium-derived nitric oxide

Angiopoietin1 (Ang1) is a novel angiogenic factor with important actions on endothelial cell (EC) differentiation and vascular maturation. Ang1 has been shown to prevent EC apoptosis through activation of PI3-kinase/Akt, a pathway that is also known to activate endothelium nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Therefore, we hypothesized that the angiogenic effects of Ang1 would also be dependent on the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway, possibly mediated by increased eNOS activity and NO release. Treatment of human umbilical vein endothelial cells with recombinant Ang1* (300 ng/ml) for 15 minutes resulted in PI3-kinase-dependent Akt phosphorylation, comparable to that observed with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (50 ng/ml), and increased NO production in a PI3-kinase/Akt-dependent manner. Capillary-like tube formation induced by Ang1* in fibrin matrix at 24 hours (differentiation index, DI: 13.74 +/- 0.76 versus control 1.71 +/- 0.31) was abolished in the presence of the selective PI3-kinase inhibitor, LY294002 (50 micro mol/L) (DI: 0.31 +/- 0.31, P < 0.01) or the NOS inhibitor, L-NAME (3 mmol/L) (DI: 4.10 +/- 0.59, P < 0.01). In subcutaneous Matrigel implants in vivo, addition of recombinant Ang1* or wild-type Ang1 from conditioned media of COS-1 cells transfected with a pFLAG Ang1 expression vector, induced significant neovascularization to a degree similar to VEGF. Finally, angiogenesis in vivo in response to both Ang1 and VEGF was significantly reduced in eNOS-deficient compared with wild-type mice. In summary, our results demonstrate for the first time that endothelial-derived NO is required for Ang1-induced angiogenesis, and that the PI3-kinase signaling mediates the activation of eNOS and NO release in response to Ang1.     

Silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) promotes the migration and proliferation of endothelial progenitor cells through the PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway

Silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) mediates many effects of caloric restriction (CR) on an organism’s lifespan and metabolic pathways. Recent reports have also emphasized its role in vascular function. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of SIRT1 on the properties of mouse spleen derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). SIRT1 in EPCs was significantly increased by serum and by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Moreover, an adenovirus (Ad) vector expressing SIRT1 (Ad-SIRT1)-mediated overexpression of SIRT1 directly enhanced migration and proliferation of EPCs, whereas silencing of endogenous SIRT1 in EPCs inhibited cell functions. In addition, LY294002 (a PI3K inhibitor), sc-221226 (an Akt inhibitor), and L-NAME (an NOS inhibitor) abolished Ad-SIRT1-induced migration and proliferation of EPCs, and prevented nitric oxide (NO) production. Phosphorylation of Akt, PI3K, and endothelial nitricoxide synthase (eNOS) were up-regulated by Ad-SIRT1, which was attenuated by LY294002, sc-221226, and L-NAME. Together, the results suggested that through the PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway, SIRT1 plays an important role in the biological properties of EPCs.     

LY294002 inhibits LPS-induced NO production through a inhibition of NF-kappaB activation: independent mechanism of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) is critical player in cell proliferation and survival. The effects of LY294002 and wortmannin, inhibitors of PI3K, on nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in lipoploysaccharide (LPS)-induced Raw 264.7 cells were investigated. Significant inhibition of LPS-induced protein kinase B (PKB, Akt) phosphorylation occurred at 25 microM LY294002 or 0.5 microM wortmannin. At the same concentrations, LY294002, but not wortmannin, significantly inhibited NO production and iNOS expression. LY303511, an inactive analogue of LY294002, also inhibited NO production and iNOS expression. In addition, LY294002 and LY303511 significantly inhibited the DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB and NF-kappaB dependent reporter gene expression. These results suggest that LY294002 inhibits iNOS expression at least in part via inhibition of NF-kappaB activation, independent of PI3K.     

Nitric oxide decreases subventricular zone stem cell proliferation by inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor and phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt pathway

Nitric oxide (NO) inhibits proliferation of subventricular zone (SVZ) neural precursor cells in adult mice in vivo under physiological conditions. The mechanisms underlying this NO effect have now been investigated using SVZ-derived neural stem cells, which generate neurospheres in vitro when stimulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF). In these cultures, NO donors decreased the number of newly formed neurospheres as well as their size, which indicates that NO was acting on the neurosphere-forming neural stem cells and the daughter neural progenitors. The effect of NO was cytostatic, not proapoptotic, and did not involve cGMP synthesis. Neurosphere cells expressed the neuronal and endothelial isoforms of NO synthase (NOS) and produced NO in culture. Inhibition of NOS activity by N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME) promoted neurosphere formation and growth, thus revealing an autocrine/paracrine action of NO on the neural precursor cells. Both exogenous and endogenous NO impaired the EGF-induced activation of the EGF receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase and prevented the EGF-induced Akt phosphorylation in neurosphere cells. Inhibition of the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3-K)/Akt pathway by LY294002 significantly reduced the number of newly formed neurospheres, which indicates that this is an essential pathway for neural stem cell self-renewal. Chronic administration of l-NAME to adult mice enhanced phospho-Akt staining in the SVZ and reduced nuclear p27(Kip1) in the SVZ and olfactory bulb. The inhibition of EGFR and PI3-K pathway by NO explains, at least in part, its antimitotic effect on neurosphere cells and may be a mechanism involved in the physiological role of NO as a negative regulator of SVZ neurogenesis in adult mice.     

PI3K/AKT signaling pathway plays a role in enhancement of eNOS activity by recombinant human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in the activity of recombinant human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (rhACE2) promoted the activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). The human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were cultured in vitro. Then treated with Ang II (1×10^-6 mol/L) for 24 h. The rhACE2 (100 μmol/L) was added and incubated for 5, 10, 15, 30, 60 min respectively which was based on Ang II intervention. The effect of rhACE2 on phosphorylation eNOS level was also observed in the presence of {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"LY294002","term_id":"1257998346","term_text":"LY294002"}}LY294002 (10 μmol/L) (PI3K/AKT inhibitors). Griess reagent method was applied to measure NO contents in cell culture supernatant, RT-PCR to detect the expression of eNOSmRNA in HUVEC, and Western blot to detect the expression of eNOS and phosphorylated eNOS. In Ang II intervention group, NO contents were significantly lower than control group (P < 0.05). Through rhACE2 treatment, the NO contents in cell culture medium and the expression level of phosphorylated eNOS were significantly higher than in Ang II intervention group (P < 0.05), but eNOSmRNA and non-phosphorylated eNOS protein expression level showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). After HUVEC was intervened by PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"LY294002","term_id":"1257998346","term_text":"LY294002"}}LY294002, the expression level of phosphorylated eNOS was significantly lower than that in the rhACE2 30 min treatment group (P < 0.05). rhACE2 may reduce the activity of Ang II inhibited endothelial cell eNOS, which can be blocked by PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"LY294002","term_id":"1257998346","term_text":"LY294002"}}LY294002, suggesting PI3K/AKT signaling pathway plays an important role in rhACE2’s promotion of the activity of endothelial cell eNOS.     

Lipoteichoic acid induces nuclear factor-kappaB activation and nitric oxide synthase expression via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, Akt, and p38 MAPK in RAW 264.7 macrophages

We previously demonstrated that lipoteichoic acid (LTA) might activate phosphatidylcholine-phospholipase C (PC-PLC) and phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C (PI-PLC) to induce protein kinase C activation, which in turn initiates nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation and finally induces inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) release in RAW 264.7 macrophages. In this study, we further investigated the roles of tyrosine kinase, phosphatidylinositiol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in LTA-induced iNOS expression and NO release in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (genistein and tyrphostin AG126), PI3K inhibitors (wortmannin and LY 294002), and a p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB 203580) attenuated LTA-induced iNOS expression and NO release in concentration-dependent manners. Treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with LTA caused time-dependent activations of Akt and p38 MAPK. The LTA-induced Akt activation was inhibited by wortmannin, LY 294002, genistein, and tyrphostin AG126. The LTA-induced p38 MAPK activation was inhibited by genistein, tyrphostin AG126, wortmannin, LY 294002, and SB 203580. The LTA-induced formation of an NF-kappaB-specific DNA-protein complex in the nucleus was inhibited by wortmannin, LY 294002, genistein, tyrphostin AG126, and SB 203580. Treatment of macrophages with LTA caused an increase in kappaB-luciferase activity, and this effect was inhibited by tyrphostin AG126, wortmannin, LY 294002, the Akt dominant negative mutant (AktDN), and SB 203580. Based on those findings, we suggest that LTA might activate the PI3K/Akt pathway through tyrosine kinase to induce p38 MAPK activation, which in turn initiates NF-kappaB activation, and ultimately induces iNOS expression and NO release in RAW 264.7 macrophages.     

The behavior of endothelial cells on polyurethane nanocomposites and the associated signaling pathways

A series of nanocomposites from polyurethane (PU) incorporated with various low concentrations (17.4–174 ppm) of gold nanoparticles (approximately 5 nm) (denoted “PU–Au”) were used as a model system to study the mechanisms that influenced endothelial cell (EC) migration on biomaterial surfaces. The migration rate of ECs on the PU–Au nanocomposites was determined by a real-time image system. It was found that ECs had the highest migration rate on the nanocomposite containing 43.5 ppm of gold (“PU–Au 43.5 ppm”). The high EC migration rate was associated with increased levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and phosphorylated-Akt (p-Akt) expressed by ECs cultured on PU–Au. The inductions of both eNOS and p-Akt on PU–Au were abolished by the addition of LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor), suggesting that these cellular events may be regulated through the PI3K signaling pathway. Using a biotinylated VEGF-165 that recognizes VEGF receptors and by FACS analysis, slightly higher expression of VEGF receptors for ECs on PU–Au was also demonstrated. Phalloidin staining showed that actin appeared as a circumferential band surrounding each cell on tissue culture polystyrene, whereas on PU–Au, especially on PU–Au 43.5 ppm, the cells had their margin spread out and extend processes with stress fibers in the protruding lamellipodia. Moreover, the higher EC migration rate on PU–Au 43.5 ppm was suppressed by LY294002. The higher protein expression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) on PU–Au 43.5 ppm was observed in FAK-GFP transfected ECs. It was concluded that PU–Au nanocomposites activated FAK and the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in ECs, leading to proliferation and migration of ECs on these surfaces.