芸香宁碱抑制血管生成作用的研究

目的：研究芸香宁碱对血管生成的抑制作用,并研究其初步的作用机制。方法用人脐静脉内皮细胞（HUVEC）的生长、迁移实验及体内动物模型－鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜法（CAM 法）研究化合物的体内外抗血管生成作用;用酶联免疫吸附法检测芸香宁碱在非凋亡剂量时对肿瘤细胞培养上清液中 VEGF 蛋白分泌量的影响。结果芸香宁碱对血管内皮细胞具有优先抑制作用,对 HUVEC 的半数抑制剂量为（33．2±0．4）μmol·L －1,而对其他肿瘤细胞的 IC50值均大于这一数值;芸香宁碱在体外能够明显抑制内皮细胞的迁移和对细胞外基质黏附作用,并呈剂量依赖性,体内实验显示30μmol·L －1剂量浓度时显著抑制 CAM新生血管形成;芸香宁碱在15μmol·L －1和30μmol·L －1的浓度剂量时显著抑制人肝癌 HepG2细胞培养上清液中VEGF 蛋白的分泌,具有显著性差异。结论芸香宁碱在非凋亡浓度剂量具有抑制新生血管形成作用,其机制与抑制血管内皮细胞增殖以及抑制肿瘤细胞表达 VEGF 有关。     

青蒿琥酯的抗血管生成作用

目的研究青蒿琥酯对血管生成的抑制作用。方法用人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVEC)的生长、迁移及小管形成实验研究药物的体外抗血管生成作用;用人卵巢癌裸鼠移植瘤模型和免疫组化法研究药物的体内抗血管生成作用。结果青蒿琥酯浓度2.5 μmol·L^-1时,对HUVEC的增殖、迁移和小管形成均有显著的抑制作用;HUVEC 48 h的IC₅₀值为(21±3) μmol·L^-1。在整体实验中,青蒿琥酯50 mg·kg^-1·d^-1即可明显减少肿瘤的血管生成,抑制肿瘤生长;免疫组化结果表明,青蒿琥酯可以抑制VEGF和KDR/flk-1在肿瘤组织中的表达。结论青蒿琥酯有抗血管生成作用,提示该类药物在抗血管生成中有潜在的应用价值。     

Arenobufagin, a bufadienolide compound from toad venom, inhibits VEGF-mediated angiogenesis through suppression of VEGFR-2 signaling pathway

Angiogenesis is crucial for carcinogenesis and other angiogenic processes. Arenobufagin, one of the major components of toad venom, is a traditional Chinese medicine used for cancer therapy. It inhibits cell growth in several cancer cell lines. However, little is known about arenobufagin's anti-angiogenic activity. In this study, we showed that arenobufagin inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced viability, migration, invasion and tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro. Arenobufagin also suppressed sprouting formation from VEGF-treated aortic rings in an ex vivo model. Furthermore, we found that arenobufagin blocked angiogenesis in a matrigel plugs assay. Computer simulations suggested that arenobufagin interacted with the ATP-binding sites of VEGFR-2 by docking. In addition, arenobufagin inhibited VEGF-induced VEGFR-2 auto-phosphorylation and suppressed the activity of VEGFR-2-mediated signaling cascades. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that arenobufagin is a specific inhibitor of VEGF-mediated angiogenesis.     

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor (pravastatin) inhibits endothelial cell proliferation dependent on G1 cell cycle arrest

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors have been developed as lipid-lowering drugs, and are well recognized to reduce morbidity and mortality from coronary artery disease. Several recent experimental studies have focused on the inhibitory effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor on tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo, dependent on a direct effect on cancer cells. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the potential anti-angiogenic effect of pravastatin and its mechanism of action. Using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) as a model of angiogenesis, we investigated the effect of pravastatin on the various steps of angiogenesis, including endothelial cell proliferation and adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins. Pravastatin induced a dose-dependent decrease in the proliferative activity of endothelial cells, which was dependent on the cell cycle arrest to the G1 phase and not on cell apoptosis. G1 arrest was due to the decrease of cyclin D, cyclin E and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 levels. In addition, pravastatin inhibited tube formation on Matrigel and adhesion to extracellular matrix, but did not affect matrix metalloproteinase production. The present results demonstrate the anti-angiogenic activity of pravastatin and its potential use as an anticancer drug is suggested.     

Inhibition of human cancer cell line growth and human umbilical vein endothelial cell angiogenesis by artemisinin derivatives in vitro.

Artemisinin derivatives artesunate (ART) and dihydroartemisinin are remarkable anti-malarial drugs with low toxicity to humans. In the present investigation, we find they also inhibited tumor cell growth and suppressed angiogenesis in vitro. The anti-cancer activity was demonstrated by inhibition (IC(50)) of four human cancer cell lines: cervical cancer Hela, uterus chorion cancer JAR, embryo transversal cancer RD and ovarian cancer HO-8910 cell lines growth by the MTT assay. IC(50) values ranged from 15.4 to 49.7 microM or from 8.5 to 32.9 microM after treatment with ART or dihydroartemisinin for 48 h, indicating that dihydroartemisinin was more effective than ART in inhibiting cancer cell lines. The anti-angiogenic activities were tested on in vitro models of angiogenesis, namely, proliferation, migration and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) cells. We investigated the inhibitory effects of ART and dihydroartemisinin on HUVE cells proliferation by cell counting, migration into the scratch wounded area in HUVE cell monolayers and microvessel tube-like formation on collagen gel. The results showed ART and dihydroartemisinin significantly inhibited angiogenisis in a dose-dependent form in range of 12.5-50 microM and 2.5-50 microM, respectively. They indicated that dihydroartemisinin was more effective than ART in inhibiting angiogenesis either. These results and the known low toxicity are clues that ART and dihydroartemisinin may be promising novel candidates for cancer chemotherapy.     

Effect of beta-escin sodium on endothelial cells proliferation, migration and apoptosis

beta-Escin, the major active compound in extracts of the horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum seed, has shown clinically significant activity in chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Our previous studies had shown that beta-escin sodium inhibited angiogenesis in chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and in aortic disk assay. In this study, we explored the direct effect of beta-escin sodium on proliferation, migration and apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and ECV304 cells. Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay showed that beta-escin sodium (10, 20, 40 microg/ml) inhibited endothelial cells (ECs) proliferation dose-dependently. beta-escin sodium also induced ECs apoptosis at 40 microg/ml. Cell migration was evaluated by an improved wound assay: barren spot assay. And the direct effect on cell motility excluding influence of cell proliferation was examined by High Content Screening (HCS, Cellomics) assay. The data indicated that beta-escin sodium suppressed ECs migration and cell motility. Western blot results suggested that beta-escin sodium acts on ECs possibly by increasing expression of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), and decreasing expression of PKC-alpha and activation of p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK). Our findings give the evidence that beta-escin sodium might have potential anti-angiogenic activity via its direct effects on ECs.     

Piper longum inhibits VEGF and proinflammatory cytokines and tumor-induced angiogenesis in C57BL/6 mice

The antiangiogenic activity of Piper longum was studied using in vivo as well as in vitro models. In vivo, antiangiogenic activity was studied using B16F-10 melanoma cell-induced capillary formation in C57BL/6 mice. Intraperitoneal administration of the extract (10 mg/dose/animal) significantly inhibited (50.6%) the number of tumor-directed capillaries induced by injecting B16F-10 melanoma cells on the ventral side of C57BL/6 mice. The cytokine profile in the serum of these animals showed a drastically increased level of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, GM-CSF and the direct endothelial cell proliferating agent, VEGF. Administration of the methanolic extract of P. longum could differentially regulate the level of these cytokines. The level of IL-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease-1 (TIMP-1) was increased significantly when the angiogenesis-induced animals were treated with the extract. The extract of P. longum at non-toxic concentrations (10 microg/ml, 5 microg/ml, 1 microg/ml) inhibited the VEGF-induced vessel sprouting in rat aortic ring assay. Moreover, P. longum was able to inhibit the VEGF-induced proliferation, cell migration and capillary-like tube formation of primary cultured human endothelial cells. Hence, the observed antiangiogenic activity of the plant P. longum is related to the regulation of these cytokines and growth factors in angiogenesis-induced animals.     

Cytotoxic activity and inhibition of tumor cell invasion by derivatives of a chemically modified tetracycline CMT-3 (COL-3)

Tetracyclines such as chlortetracycline and doxycycline with antimicrobial activity were reported to possess cytostatic and cytotoxic activity against mammalian tumor cells, often at high doses. Non-antimicrobial chemically modified tetracyclines (CMTs), with limited systemic toxicity but with significant tumor cell toxicity and antimetastatic activity, are attractive for long term treatment for cancer. We recently reported one such CMT, 6-deoxy,6-demethyl 4-dedimethylamino tetracycline (CMT-3) is a potent anti-tumor and anti-metastatic drug. Here we report on the anti-cell proliferation and anti-invasive activity of five nitro derivatives of CMT-3 (CMT-3N).All the five CMT-3Ns (CMT-302, CMT-303, CMT-306, CMT-308 and CMT-316) inhibited in vitro cell proliferation of prostate cancer cells. The 50% growth inhibition concentration (IC(50)) of CMT-3Ns was similar to that of CMT-3. Although CMT-3 was by far the most potent anti-cell proliferation drug, all CMT-3Ns except CMT-303 and CMT-308 had similar anti-cell proliferation activity (IC(50): 2.5 -5.7 microg/ml). IC(50)s for CMT-303 and CMT-308 were approximately 8.1 and -12.4 microg/ml, respectively. Activity against tumor cell invasion was tested in vitro using the Matrigel invasion assay. All CMT-3Ns had similar anti- invasive activity. While cytotoxic activity of CMT-3 was strongly associated with cell death-effector caspase activation, mitochondrial permeablization and apoptosis, the CMT-3Ns weakly induced apoptosis and did not activate Caspase-3. However, the CMT-3Ns were able to induce mitochondrial permeabilization. This dichotomous mechanism of cytotoxic activity of CMTs may have significance in their selection for clinical application.     

Luminacins: a family of capillary tube formation inhibitors from Streptomyces sp. II. Biological activities

Twelve of the fourteen isolated components of the luminacin family were assayed for activity to inhibit capillary tube formation in vitro. Seven of them showed potent activity with IC50 values of less than 0.1 microg/ml in a rat aorta matrix culture model. Luminacin D, the strongest inhibitor, inhibited both endothelial cell proliferation and capillary tube formation. Morphological observation suggested that luminacin D inhibited the rearrangement of endothelial cells in the initial stage of tube formation. Luminacins and their derivatives are good candidates for application as angiogenesis inhibitors with a novel mechanism of action.     

Extract from Serenoa repens suppresses the invasion activity of human urological cancer cells by inhibiting urokinase-type plasminogen activator

We used three human urological cancer cell lines, PC-3, LNCaP and SKRC-1, to investigate the effects of the extract from Serenoa repens (Palmae) on tumor cell invasion. The invasion activity of these cell lines was determined in vitro using a Transwell cell-culture chamber. The invasion activity of PC-3 cells into Matrigel was effectively suppressed by the extract at the concentration range of 1-10 microg/ml, while that of LNCaP and SKRC-1 cells was unaffected by the extract. The extract did not affect the viability, adhesion ability, or motility of the cell lines. uPA is more strongly expressed on the membrane fraction of PC-3 cells than that of LNCaP or SKRC-1 cells. The purified uPA activity is inhibited by the extract from S. repens in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that the suppression of PC-3 cell invasion by the extract is based on an inhibition of the uPA activity which is necessary for tumor cell invasion. These data suggest that the extract from S. repens specifically inhibits the uPA activity and may therefore be useful for the therapeutic treatment of prostate cancer.     

ICM0301s, new angiogenesis inhibitors from Aspergillus sp. F-1491. I. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and biological activities

In the course of screening program for inhibitors of angiogenesis, novel substances designated as ICM0301A approximately H (1 approximately 8) were isolated from the culture broth of Aspergillus sp. F-1491. ICM0301s inhibited the growth of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) with IC50 values of 2.2 approximately 9.3 microg/ml. ICM0301A (1) showed significant anti-angiogenic activity at lower than 10 microg/ml in the angiogenesis model using rat aorta cultured in fibrin gel. ICM0301s showed very low cytotoxicity against various tumor cells. Furthermore, 1CM0301A did not show any toxic symptom in mice by intraperitoneal injection at 100 mg/kg.     

XR5967, a novel modulator of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity, suppresses tumor cell invasion and angiogenesis in vitro

Recent reports suggest that elevated levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 may contribute to tumor progression. We have recently shown that antibodies to PAI-1 block the invasive and migratory potential of human fibrosarcoma cells and suppress angiogenesis in vitro. Here we report the in vitro evaluation of a low-molecular-weight modulator of PAI-1, XR5967, on invasion, migration and angiogenesis. XR5967, a diketopiperazine, dose-dependently inhibited the activity of human and murine PAI-1, towards urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), with IC50 values of 800 nM and 8.3 microM, respectively. This was confirmed by SDS-PAGE, revealing that XR5967 inhibited complex formation between PAI-1 and uPA. This suppression may be caused by XR5967 promoting insertion of the reactive center loop within PAI-1. XR5967 dose-dependently inhibited the invasion of human HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells through Matrigel. Their invasion was reduced by 57% (p<0.001) at 5 microM. HT1080 cell migration was inhibited in a similar manner, indicating that PAI-1 may play an additional role in invasion, which is distinct to its role in the regulation of proteolysis. The potential of XR5967 to inhibit the invasion/migration of human endothelial cells was investigated in an in vitro model of angiogenesis. In this model XR5967 reduced tubule formation by 77% at 5 microM (p<0.001), highlighting a crucial role for PAI-1 in angiogenesis. These data stress the importance of a balanced proteolysis in the processes of invasion, migration and angiogenesis. Our results support the clinical findings and indicate that modulation of PAI-1 activity, with low-molecular-weight inhibitor of PAI-1 activity, may be of therapeutic benefit for the treatment of cancer.     

新生霉素抑制血管生成及其与长春新碱的协同作用

目的研究新生霉素的抑制血管生成作用及其机制。方法以鸡胚尿囊膜模型测定对血管生成的作用，并分别用MTT法、明胶酶谱法等观察新生霉素对于内皮细胞和肺癌PG细胞的影响。结果新生霉素200 μg/egg对鸡胚尿囊膜血管生成的抑制率为68.7％，且呈浓度依赖性抑制内皮细胞的增殖、运动、MMP-2分泌以及管腔的形成；新生霉素和长春新碱对血管生成及PG细胞的增殖均有明显的协同作用。结论本研究首次确定新生霉素具有抑制血管生成活性,与长春新碱联合可增强对血管生成的抑制作用。     

王不留行提取物对内皮细胞增殖、迁移及其黏附的作用评价

目的体外分析王不留行抑制人微血管内皮细胞(HMEC)增殖、迁移和黏附的有效部位。方法SRB法测定药物干预细胞增殖的IC50和药物作用时间与药效学的关系;划线灼伤法研究细胞迁移;体外基质胶分析药物对细胞黏附能力的影响;HE染色观察药物对细胞染色体的影响。结果王不留行有效部位对HMEC增殖抑制的IC50为3.60mg.L-1,加药4h后起作用。加药48h后HMEC迁移受到明显抑制(迁移率为40.33%,对照组迁移率为77.68%)。加药组细胞黏附受到明显抑制,且呈浓度依赖关系。结论王不留行提取物能明显抑制内皮细胞增殖、迁移及黏附,因此具有潜在的价值用于抑制血管生成。     

Screening of natural compounds for inhibitory activity on colon cancer cell migration.

We examined the effects of 75 kinds of natural compounds, such as alkaloids, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, steroids and terpenoids on the in vitro migration and proliferation of colon 26-L5 cells, in comparison with anti-cancer drugs used for chemotherapy. Twenty-three of the 75 compounds inhibited markedly tumor cell migration. Among the 23 compounds, evodiamine showed the most potent and selective inhibitory activity on tumor cell migration with an IC50 value of 1.25 microg/ml, which was about 20 times lower than that for tumor cell proliferation. The migratory inhibition reached about 70% at 10 microg/ml of evodiamine. On the other hand, most of anti-cancer drugs tested, except for paclitaxel, had little effect on tumor cell migration at the concentrations strongly inhibiting tumor cell proliferation. Paclitaxel suppressed tumor cell migration in a concentration-dependent manner and achieved about 70% inhibition at 10 microg/ml with a marginal effect on cell proliferation. These results suggest that evodiamine and paclitaxel may be regarded as leading compounds for anti-metastatic agents acting through the inhibition of tumor cell migration without cytotoxicity.     

The inhibition of neutrophil-endothelial cell adhesion by hyaluronan independent of CD44

Objective: To study the effect of hyaluronan on cell adhesion and recruitment both in vitro and in vivo, since hyaluronan both inhibits restenosis and is anti-inflammatory. When administered to animals undergoing angioplasty the recruitment of cells into the restenotic plaque is inhibited, as well as into inflammatory lesions. The recent discovery that ICAM-1 binds hyaluronan and exhibits the B(X(7))B HA binding motif, led us also to investigate whether cell adhesion could be modulated by hyaluronan. Materials and methods: Human neutrophils were adhered to human umbilical vein (HUVEC) or Ea.hy.926 HUVEC cells stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or tumour necrosis factor (TNFα). Neutrophil binding in vivo utilized FMLP-stimulated hamster cheek pouch post-capillary venules. Results: Hyaluronan inhibited human neutrophil adhesion to both PMA and TNFα-stimulated HUVEC. Ea.hy.926 human immortal HUVECs expressed ICAM-1 in response to TNFα and PMA. E-selectin was also upregulated by 6 h with TNFα but not significantly with PMA. TNFα induced CD44 expression within 4 h, but PMA not significantly up to 6 h. However, specific binding of [¹²⁵I]hyaluronan to Ea.hy.926 cells was increased by PMA-stimulation at 4 h. Neutrophil adhesion to PMA-stimulated Ea.hy.926 HUVECs was inhibited in a concentration dependent fashion by both anti-ICAM-1 and hyaluronan (1 ng/ml-10 μg/ml) at 4 h. At 1 mg/ml adhesion was stimulated by hyaluronan. Hyaluronan had no effect on neutrophil adhesion to resting Ea.hy.926 cells. Hyaluronan (25 mg/kg, i.v.) inhibited cell adhesion to FMLP-stimulated post capillary venules of the hamster cheek pouch, whilst leaving cell rolling unaffected. Conclusions: These results show that hyaluronan, at concentrations below those where intramolecular associations occur, binds selectively to stimulated endothelial cells and inhibits neutrophil adhesion in vitro and in vivo via a mechanism which may involve molecules other than CD44, such as ICAM-1. Deceased.     

The lipoxygenase inhibitor, baicalein, modulates cell adhesion and migration by up-regulation of integrins and vinculin in rat heart endothelial cells

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Endothelial cell proliferation, migration and adhesion are necessary for the formation of new blood vessels. We reported previously that baicalein strongly inhibited proliferation of rat heart endothelial cells and here we assess effects on migration and adhesion of these cells. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Effects of baicalein on endothelial migration and adhesion were determined by in vitro wound assays and in modified Boyden chambers. Protein expression and subcellular distribution in rat heart endothelial cells were analysed by immunoblots and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Pretreatment with baicalein for 48 h resulted in a concentration-dependent inhibition of endothelial migration, with an IC(50) of approximately 20 microM. Adhesion assays revealed that baicalein stimulated endothelial cell adhesion to fibronectin and vitronectin, effects blocked by the synthetic peptide Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD). Moreover, treatment with a blocking antibody against integrin alpha5beta1 drastically attenuated baicalein-mediated endothelial adhesion to fibronectin, but not to vitronectin. Furthermore, baicalein-mediated anti-migration effect and adhesion promotion could be partially reversed by the addition of 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12(S)-HETE). Western blot analysis indicated that baicalein increased expression levels of integrin-alpha5beta1, -alphavbeta3 and vinculin proteins. Immunofluorescence staining showed that baicalein induced a marked reorganization of actin stress fibres and the recruitment of vinculin and integrins to focal adhesion plaques, with consequently increased formation of focal adhesion contacts. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Baicalein markedly inhibited the migration and enhanced the adhesion of rat heart endothelial cells, possibly by up-regulation of the integrins (alpha5beta1 and alphavbeta3) and vinculin and by promotion of actin reorganization and focal adhesion contact formation.     

Natural antioxidant pedicularioside G inhibits angiogenesis and tumourigenesis in vitro and in vivo

Pedicularioside G is a new compound of phenylpropanoid glycosides, isolated from Pedicularis striata in our laboratory. Pedicularioside G inhibited two major angiogenic responses, human umbilical vein endothelial cell proliferation and migration, as well as neovascularization in a chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane model. In addition, pedicularioside G inhibited human hepatoma cells proliferation and migration in vitro along with transplanting tumour formation and growth in a chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane model. So pedicularioside G has anti-angiogenic, antitumour growth, antimetastatic and antitumoural effects. Pedicularioside G also remarkably reduced reactive oxygen species level in both vein endothelial cells and hepatoma cells in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that the anti-angiogenic and antitumoural effects of pedicularioside G might partially attribute to its antioxidative activity.     

Bisphosphonates inhibit stromelysin-1 (MMP-3), matrix metalloelastase (MMP-12), collagenase-3 (MMP-13) and enamelysin (MMP-20), but not urokinase-type plasminogen activator, and diminish invasion and migration of human malignant and endothelial cell lines

Bisphosphonates (clodronate, alendronate, pamidronate and zoledronate) at therapeutically attainable non-cytotoxic concentrations inhibited MMP-3, -12, -13 and -20 as well as MMP-1, -2, -8 and -9, but not urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), a serine proteinase and a pro-MMP activator. Dose-dependent inhibition was shown by three independent MMP assays. The inhibition was reduced in the presence of an increased concentration of Ca(2+) when compared to physiologic Ca(2+) concentration. Alendronate inhibited the in vitro invasion (Matrigel) of human HT1080 fibrosarcoma and C8161 melanoma cells, and the random migration of these malignant and endothelial cell lines capable of expressing MMPs and uPA. The concentration of alendronate required to inhibit 50% of the activity (IC(50)=40-70 microM) of MMPs corresponded to the IC(50) of down-regulation of in vitro invasion and migration. The ability of bisphosphonates to down-regulate the in vitro invasion and random migration was comparable or slightly better in relation to the selective gelatinase inhibitor CTTHWGFTLC peptide. Alendronate but not CTTHWGFTLC peptide promoted the adhesion of HT1080 fibrosarcoma and C8161 melanoma cell lines on fibronectin. Bisphosphonates are broad-spectrum MMP inhibitors and this inhibition involves cation chelation. Bisphosphonates further exert antimetastatic, anti-invasive and cell adhesion-promoting properties, which may prevent metastases not only into hard tissues but also to soft tissues.