AIM: To explore the role of lipocalin-2(LCN-2)in retinal angiogenesis in vitro by observing its effects on proliferation, migration and capillary-like tube formation of murine retinal vascular endothelial cells(RVECs).

METHODS: Well cultured RVECs were divided to different groups which were treated with 0, 5, 10 μmol/L LCN-2 for 48h, respectively. Cell proliferation, migration and tube formation were detected by using the EDU assay, transwell assay and matrigel assay, respectively.

RESULTS: The cell proliferation rate was promoted in both low and high dose of LCN-2 groups compared to the control cells(P<0.05). The number of migrated cells in both LCN-2 groups was significantly larger than that of the control group(P<0.05). The number of capillary-like tube structures of both LCN-2 groups was significantly larger than that of the control cells(P<0.05). In addition, cell proliferation, migration and tube formation were all increased with the increase of LCN-2 concentration.

CONCLUSION: LCN-2 could obviously promote the angiogenesis capacity of RVECs, suggesting that LCN-2 is an important pro-angiogenic factor in retinal angiogenesis.