Bestatin, an inhibitor of aminopeptidase B, suppresses the proliferation and differentiation of human B-cells in vitro

Bestatin, an inhibitor of aminopeptidase B, was examined for its effect on B-cell activation. Small, dense B-cells from human tonsil samples were isolated by Percoll density gradients from non-rosetted (E-) cells and were used as target cells. Although bestatin was not cytotoxic towards B-cells, it inhibited the proliferative response of B-cells induced by SAC- or PMA-stimulation. The inhibition of cell proliferation by bestatin was manifested as cell arrest caused by the selective block of G1b to S phase transition. This inhibitory effect was prevented by the addition of B-cell growth factor (BCGF) or interleukin-2 (IL-2). The presence of BCGF or IL-2 at the initiation of the culture prevented the bestatin-mediated suppressive effect on B-cell proliferation. Bestatin also has a direct inhibitory effect on the differentiation of B-cells independent of its suppressive effect on B-cell proliferation, which was not relieved by T-cell help. Conversely, bestatin suppressed neither proliferation nor Ig secretion of human B lymphoblastoid cell lines, although aminopeptidase activities on the membrane of these cell lines were strongly inhibited by bestatin. These results indicated that bestatin selectively suppressed normal B-cell proliferation and differentiation. Although several studies have demonstrated that bestatin has immunopotentiating effects in tumor-bearing subjects, the above results indicated that the mechanism of immunopotentiation by bestatin is not a direct stimulatory effect on B-cells.     

Human melanoma invasion and metastasis enhancement by high expression of aminopeptidase N/CD13

Aminopeptidase N/CD13 is a Zn²⁺-dependent exoprotease present on the cell surface as a transmembrane protein. Our previous studies using aminopeptidase inhibitors and antibodies demonstrated that aminopeptidase N is involved in the degradation and invasion of the extracellular matrix (ECM) by metastatic tumor cells. In the present study we transfected human A375M melanoma cells with eukaryotic plasmid expression vectors that contained full length cDNA of aminopeptidase N/CD13 and examined their characteristics. The transfectants that expressed extremely high levels of aminopeptidase N/CD13 degraded type IV collagen and invaded ECM more actively than the parental and control vector-transfected cells. Furthermore, the aminopeptidase N/CD13-transfected A375M cells had significantly augmented lung colonizing potential in nude mice. The results show that the aminopeptidase N/CD13 plays an active role in degradation and invasion of ECM and may be involved in the molecular mechanisms of blood-borne metastasis.     

An aminopeptidase inhibitor, bestatin, enhances progesterone and oestradiol secretion by porcine granulosa cells stimulated with follicle stimulating hormone in vitro

We examined the presence of cell surface aminopeptidase on culturedporcine granuiosa cells by employing the aminopeptidase assayusing alanine-p-nitroanilide and histochemical staining usingL-leucyl-β-naphthylamide. Porcine granuiosa cells obtainedfrom follicles 4–5 mm in diameter were cultured for 7days. The aminopeptidase assay showed that the porcine granuiosacell culture had aminopeptidase activity and that this activitywas inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by bestatin which bindsto cell surfaces and inhibits cell surface aminopeptidases.Histochemical staining also indicated that cultured granuiosacells had aminopeptidase activity. Porcine granuiosa cells werecultured in the presence or absence of porcine follicle stimulatinghormone (FSH, 3.125 nmol/1) and/or bestatin (0.4, 4.0 and 40.0µ/ml) for 7 days, and the production of progesterone andoestradiol was measured. In the presence of porcine FSH, theproduction of progesterone and oestradiol by granuiosa cellswas increased significantly by 5- and 2-fold respectively. Theseincreases were enhanced further by bestatin (40.0 (µg/ml).In the absence of porcine FSH, progesterone production was enhancedby bestatin (40.0 µg/ml), whereas no significant effectof bestatin on oestradiol secretion was observed. These findingsindicate that the inhibition of membrane-bound amino-peptidase(s)on the cell surfaces affects the steroidogenesis of granuiosacells, and that these aminopeptidase(s) are important regulatorsof granuiosa cell differentiation.     

LYP3, a new bestatin derivative for aminopeptidase N inhibition

Aminopeptidase N (APN) is a ubiquitous enzyme overexpressed on tumor cells and plays an important role in angiogenesis and metastasis of tumor. Bestatin as an effective inhibitor of aminopeptidase N is used for complementary treatment of cancer with other drugs. In this work, we reformed the structure of bestatin to a new derivative LYP3 to improve the water solubility and effectiveness. The inhibitory activity of LYP3 against APN was evaluated in vitro.     

Expression of gelatinise/type IV collagenase in tumor necrosis correlates with cell detachment and tumor invasion

We have previously observed that acellular extracts from necrotic areas (NE) of the non-metastatic murine mammary adenocarcinoma M3, enhancein vitro cell detachment and spontaneous lung metastases. In the present study, using different proteinase inhibitors along with NE, only the calcium chelator EDTA could significantly abrogate the enhanced cell detachment from M3 produced by NE. The typical cleavage products of type IV collagenase were detected inside the tumor necrotic area, mainly in association with necrobiotic cells, as evaluated by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical assays. Zymography revealed the presence of 72- and 92-kDa gelatinise/type IV collagenase in NE. Moreover, NE increased thein vitro invasive ability of cultured M3 cells. The use of specific antibodies against both 72- and 92-kDa type IV collagenases in the invasion assay showed that only the latter was able to revert the enhanced invasiveness to the baseline. It can be concluded that tumor necrosis is an important source of gelatinise/type IV collagenase, mainly in its 92 kDa form, and plays a major role in tumor invasion.     

Periplasmic aminopeptidases in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The greater part of the intracellular aminopeptidases in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus is soluble. The localization of aminopeptidases in the cells was examined using the osmotic shock method with some modifications. When the cells of A. calcoaceticus and P. aeruginosa of the logarithmic phase were subjected to an osmotic shock, all aminopeptidases investigated were mainly localized in the sucrose supernatants and in the periplasm. Acid phosphatase as marker enzyme for periplasm showed a similar distribution between the fractions as the aminopeptidases. The periplasmic aminopeptidases of both microorganisms were separated by FPLC on Superose 12 and their molecular masses were determined. The results obtained show that at least four different aminopeptidases occur in the periplasm, a leucyl aminopeptidase (LAP, cleaving Leu-NH-NH₂. 400 kDa), a glutamyl aminopeptidase (GAP, 200 kDa), an alanyl aminopeptidase (AAP, 80 kDa) and a prolyl aminopeptidase (PAP, 65 kDa). The results are in agreement for both species. Our results show clearly that aminopeptidases of these typical members of Gram-negative bacteria are mainly periplasmic like degrading enzymes (alkaline and acid phosphatases, 5′-nucleotidase, cyclic phosphodiesterase), detoxifying enzymes and binding proteins for amino acids and sugars.     

Expression and activation of pro-gelatinase A by human melanoma cell lines with different tumorigenic potential

The production of various proteolytic enzymes by tumor cells facilitate the invasion of solid tumors into surrounding tissues. We examined three cell lines (M1Dor, M4Be and M3Da) derived from malignant melanoma which exhibited different abilities to grow in nude mice following subcutaneous grafting. By in vitro invasion assay using Boyden-chambers technique, we found that none of those cell lines were able to invade the Matrigel. Several studies have substantiated the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), mainly gelatinases MMP-9 and MMP-2, in melanoma cell invasion. Each cell line constitutively produced MMP-2 (but not MMP-9) in its latent form only, with stronger production for the most tumorigenic cell line in vivo (M3Da). Integrity of the MMP-2 activation process was studied since MMP-2 was also recovered as zymogen at the cell plasma membrane. All cell lines secreted TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in a constitutive manner and again, but TIMP-2 production as well as MT1-MMP expression were found inversely related to their tumorigenic potential. Plating cells onto type I or type IV collagen did not trigger pro-MMP-2 activation; on the contrary, conversion of pro-MMP-2 to its active form could be evidenced when melanoma cell lines were seeded in a three dimensional type I collagen lattice. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Increased sensitivity of IL2-dependent cultured T cells and enhancement of in vitro IL2 production by human lymphocytes treated with Bestatin

Bestatin is an inhibitor of leucine aminopeptidase and aminopeptidase B which potentiates various immune functions, such as delayed hypersensitivity and antibody formation, and inhibits tumor cell growth in animal models. Our study focuses on the effect of Bestatin on interleukin 2 (IL2) sensitivity of IL2-dependent cultured T cells (CTC) and on IL2 production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM). Bestatin (0.01 - 10 micrograms/ml) increases CTC 3H-TdR incorporation in the presence of suboptimal (low) concentrations of exogenous IL2. Bestatin alone has no mitogenic effect on CTC. This phenomenon is due to increased CTC IL2-receptors after treatment with Bestatin. Bestatin (1 - 10 micrograms/ml) also increases (1.4 - 21 fold) IL2 production by PHA-stimulated PBM. Bestatin therefore increases both IL2 sensitivity and IL2 production. This may explain the various immunopotentiating effects of Bestatin previously described.     

Major localization of aminopeptidase M in rat brain microvessels

The localization of two enkephalin-hydrolysing aminopeptidases i.e. aminopeptidase M (aminopeptidase N, EC 3.4.11.2) relatively insensitive to puromycin (Ki = 78 microM), and a puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (Ki = 1 microM) was studied in rat brain. The two aminopeptidases were differentially identified and/or localized using polyclonal anti-aminopeptidase M antibodies displaying anticatalytic activity and the inhibitors puromycin, bestatin and amastatin. Microvessels represent a major localization of cerebral aminopeptidase M as shown by the intense immunostaining of their walls in sections from various regions as well as in a fraction isolated from cerebral cortex homogenates by a sieving procedure. As compared to the starting homogenate, aminopeptidase M activity was enriched about twenty fold in this microvascular fraction. Aminopeptidase M was identified in this fraction by comparing the inhibitory potencies of antibodies and peptidase inhibitors towards the hydrolysis of [tyrosyl-3,5-3H, Met5]enkephalin to those found for the purified enzyme. A rather high aminopeptidase M activity was also localized in choroid plexuses. Following differential and gradient centrifugation analysis of cerebral cortex homogenates, aminopeptidase M activity was also enriched (by five to six fold) in fractions containing synaptic membranes. No significant soluble aminopeptidase M activity could be detected. These data suggest a dual localization of cerebral aminopeptidase M in microvessels and synaptic membranes consistent with its roles in preventing the access of circulating peptides to brain as well as in inactivating neuropeptides released from cerebral neurones. In comparison, puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase activity, which is about 100 fold higher than aminopeptidase M activity in brain, was relatively low in microvessels and non-detectable in fractions enriched in synaptic membranes, being almost entirely restricted to soluble fractions.     

Increased expression of membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase and matrix metalloproteinase-2 with tumor dedifferentiation in hepatocellular carcinomas

Destruction of the extracellular matrices is required for tumor invasion and metastasis. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 degrades type IV collagen and laminin, major components of the basement membrane. Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase activates the latent form of matrix metalloproteinase-2. We studied changes in membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase and matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression in relation to the tumor differentiation of hepatocellular carcinomas. Activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 was also evaluated in hepatocellular carcinomas and noncancerous tissues. Overall, 37 hepatocellular carcinomas were studied. Expression of membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase and matrix metalloproteinase-2 was determined by either immunohistochemistry (n=37) or in situ hybridization (n=6). Changes in membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase and matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression were evaluated in relation to tumor differentiation. Gelatinolytic activities were analyzed by gelatin zymography (n=4). Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase and matrix metalloproteinase-2 were detected in hepatoma cells and stromal cells. In addition, these matrix metalloproteinases were detected in the same hepatoma cells. Increased expression of membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase and matrix metalloproteinase-2 was associated with tumor dedifferentiation. The active form of matrix metalloproteinase-2 was more strongly expressed by hepatocellular carcinomas than by noncancerous tissues. These findings indicate that increased expression of membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase and matrix metalloproteinase-2 was associated with tumor dedifferentiation, suggesting that these matrix metalloproteinases are intimately involved in the invasion of hepatocellular carcinomas.     

Role of extracellular matrix proteins in regulation of human glioma cell invasion in vitro

Primary brain tumors lack the metastatic behavior that is in part believed to be promoted by the extracellular matrix (ECM) components of the basement membrane. This study was intended to examine the influence of the ECM components present in the basement membrane that may act as natural barriers to tumor cell invasion. We examined the effect of type I and type IV collagens, fibronectin, laminin, and hyaluronic acid on the migration and invasion of four established glioblastoma cell lines, SNB19, U251, UWRI, and UWR2. Lower concentrations of all the ECM components induced the migration and invasion of all the cell lines. However, in the case of SNB19, laminin inhibited both migration and invasion in a concentration-dependent manner. We have also examined the influence of individual ECM components on the migration of cells from a spheroid to a monolayer on ECM component-coated coverslips. Consistent with the invasion studies using the modified Boyden chamber assays, lower concentrations of ECM components induced the migration of cells from spheroids to monolayer. Again, laminin inhibited the migration of cells from SNB19 spheroids. These results indicate that ECM components induce the invasion of glioma cells, apart from components like laminin, which may act as natural inhibitors.     

乌苯美司下调c-myc表达与其增强全反式维甲酸诱导NB4细胞

目的： 了解氨肽酶抑制剂乌苯美司（bestatin）能否增强全反式维甲酸（ATRA）对NB4细胞的诱导分化作用，及此过程中NB4细胞c-myc mRNA表达水平的改变。 方法： MTT法检测药物抑制细胞生长的作用。流式细胞仪测细胞表面分化抗原CD11b及四氮唑蓝（NBT）还原实验检测NB4细胞的分化。RT-PCR检测细胞c-myc mRNA表达水平。 结果： 50 mg/L、75 mg/L、100 mg/L乌苯美司与10 nmoL/L ATRA联合处理72 h，均能明显增强NB4细胞的NBT还原能力，与10 nmoL/L ATRA组差异显著（P<0.05，P<0.01）。从48 h到96 h，100 mg/L乌苯美司时间依赖性地增强10 nmoL/L ATRA诱导NB4细胞的NBT还原能力，与相应时点10 nmoL/L ATRA组差异明显（P<0.01）。100 mg/L乌苯美司与10 nmoL/L ATRA联合应用72 h，NB4细胞CD11b表达率明显高于10 nmoL/L ATRA组（P<0.01）。50 mg/L、75 mg/L、100 mg/L乌苯美司与10 nmoL/L ATRA联合处理4 h，NB4细胞c-myc mRNA表达水平明显低于单用ATRA组（P<0.05，P<0.01）；药物联合应用各组NB4细胞的c-myc mRNA表达水平与NBT还原能力之间呈负相关（r=-0.917,P<0.05）。 结论： 乌苯美司可能通过下调NB4细胞c-myc mRNA的表达，从而增强ATRA诱导NB4细胞分化的作用。     

组织金属蛋白酶抑制剂TIMP—2基因转染对胃癌细胞体内外侵袭能 …

了解ＴＩＭＰ－２基因转地胃癌细胞侵袭行为的影响，进行阻断肿瘤细胞侵转移的筛选尝试。     

Eicosanoids as mediators of linoleic acid-stimulated invasion and type IV collagenase production by a metastatic human breast cancer cell line

Diets rich in linoleic acid (LA) stimulate the metastasis of MDA-MB-435 human breast cancer cells from the mammary fat pads of nude mice. This omega-6 fatty acid is metabolized to various cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase products, several of which have been previously associated with tumor cell invasion and metastasis. We now report that MDA-MB-435 cells secreted increased levels of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), and 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) and 15-HETE when cultured in the presence of 2.7 µm (0.75 µg/ml) LA; 5-HETE secretion was unchanged. The 12-lipoxygenase inhibitor esculetin (20 µM) completely blocked the LA-stimulated 12-HETE secretion. Linoleic acid also increased MDA-MB-435 cell invasion in an in vitro assay; this stimulation was abolished by 20 µM esculetin, but was unaffected by piroxicam, a selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor. The effect of LA on invasion was replicated by 0.1 µM 12-HETE, but not by 5-HETE or PGE₂; 15-HETE was stimulatory only at a concentration of 1.0 µm. Zymographic and Northern blot analyses showed that these events are accompanied by the induction of 92 kDa isoform type IV collagenase (metalloproteinase-9) enzymic activity and mRNA expression by exogenous LA and 12-HETE, and their suppression by the 12-lipoxygenase inhibitor. These results suggest that the effects of dietary LA on breast cancer cell metastasis in the nude mouse model are due, at least in part, to enhanced 12-HETE biosynthesis, with an associated increase in proteolytic enzyme activity and tumor cell invasiveness.     

Participation of both 'enkephalinase' and aminopeptidase activities in the metabolism of endogenous enkephalins

The pattern of hydrolysis of [³H]Met⁵-enkephalin by slices from rat striatum has been determined by Chromatographic isolation of [³H]peptide fragments and by assessment of the effects of various selective peptidase inhibitors. It consists in the formation of [³H]Tyr, [³H]Tyr-Gly and [³H]Tyr-Gly-Gly which represent 80%, 2% and 18%, respectively, of total³H-metabolite formation.The formation of [³H]Tyr, presumably occurring under the action of membrane-bound aminopeptidases, is reduced in the presence of either 10^?4 M puromycin or 2.10^?5 M bestatin by about 40% and 75%, respectively. Both aminopeptidase inhibitors display significantly higher potency on a crude particulate fraction from rat striatum. The formation of [³H]Tyr-Gly-Gly in the slice preparation is strongly reduced by addition of 10^?7 M thiorphan, an enkephalin dipeptidylcar?ypeptidase (‘enkephalinase’) inhibitor, but only slightly in the presence of 10^?6 M captopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.When the aminopeptidase pathway is inhibited by bestatin, [³H]Tyr-Gly-Gly represents more than 60% of total hydrolysis products, suggesting that the tripeptide is partly hydrolysed after being formed under the action of ‘enkephalinase’. In the presence of both bestatin and thiorphan, the total hydrolysing activity of the slice preparation is reduced by 75% while [³H]Tyr-Gly level is slightly increased. These data indicate that the hydrolysis of exogenous Met⁵-enkephalin in the extracellular space of the slice preparation primarily involves the ‘enkephalinase’ as well as the aminopeptidase pathways.The participation of both pathways in the inactivation of endogenous Met⁵-enkephalin has also been evidenced by evaluating the recovery of the opioid peptide released by K⁺-induced depolarisation of striatal slices in the presence of bestatin and thiorphan. While the presence of either inhibitor allows a partial protection of the released peptide, their co-presence results in total recovery of the enkephalin in intact form in the medium.Finally, administration of either the aminopeptidase or the ‘enkephalinase’ inhibitor in mice results in antinociceptive effects as evaluated in the hot-plate jump test. These effects are additive and prevented by naloxone, an opiate receptor antagonist.Thus, the various experimental approaches used indicate that both (but only) the ‘enkephalinase’ and the aminopeptidase pathways play a critical role in the inactivation of endogenous enkephalins.     

The role of aminopeptidases in haemoglobin degradation in Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes

Intra-erythrocytic Plasmodium parasites digest host cell haemoglobin and use the liberated amino acids for protein synthesis. Although several endoproteases (aspartic, cysteine, and metallo-) have been shown to be involved in the initial stages of haemoglobin degradation, little is known about the steps immediately before amino acid release. In our studies, fluorometric enzyme assays indicated that the stage of the P. falciparum erythrocytic cycle with highest aminopeptidase activity was the stage at which most haemoglobin degradation occurs, i.e. the trophozoite. Consistent with these results, metabolic growth assays indicated that the late ring/trophozoite stage was most susceptible to aminopeptidase inhibitors. To reconstitute the terminal stages of haemoglobin breakdown in vitro, we synthesised three peptides with amino acid sequences corresponding to known products of the endoproteolytic digestion of haemoglobin and employed them as substrates for aminopeptidases. Both trophozoite cytosolic extract, and partially-purified aminopeptidase, hydrolysed these peptide fragments to amino acids. Hydrolysis appeared to occur sequentially from the amino-termini of the peptides, and was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by the aminopeptidase-specific inhibitor nitrobestatin. The results suggest that P. falciparum aminopeptidases could be the enzymes responsible for the hydrolysis of haemoglobin-derived peptides to free amino acids. Lack of ultrastructural change in parasites treated with relevant concentrations of aminopeptidase-specific inhibitors, however, indicated that little feedback exists whereby the inhibition of cytosolic aminopeptidases results in obvious inhibition of initial haemoglobin degradation in the digestive vacuole.     

脑啡肽与记忆巩固的调制——Ⅱ.氨基肽酶抑制剂Bestatin对记忆巩固的影响

已知Bestatin可以减少体内脑啡肽的水解。本工作研究Bestatin对小鼠记忆的影响。结果是:在两种行为实验中,训练后注射Bestatin.1.0mg/kg～2.0mg/kg能减弱记忆保持,与作者以前报告脑啡肽的作用类似。纳洛酮一方面能缓和Bstatin引起的记忆缺损,另一方面它本身对记忆的增强作用又可被Bestatin所抵消。这些结果提示内源性脑啡肽可能参与记忆巩固的调制。     

Regulation of aminopeptidase A in human brain tumor vasculature: evidence for a role of transforming growth factor-beta

Angiotensin peptides are potent vasoconstrictors, cell growth factors, and neuromodulators in normal and pathological situations. To assess the potential role of the angiotensins in brain tumor-associated vessels, the expression of the enzymes of the angiotensin cascade were evaluated in these tumors. The production of these bioactive peptides is dependent on the activities of exopeptidases, including several aminopeptidases and carboxypeptidases, producing angiotensin (Ang) I, II, III, IV and Ang 1-7. Human cerebral parenchymal and glioblastoma cells expressed renin, and tumor vasculature, but not glioblastoma cells, expressed angiotensin-converting enzyme. High aminopeptidase A (APA) activity, but no aminopeptidase N/B activity, was observed in human brain tumor vasculature, suggesting a predominant production of Ang III. Grafting of rat glioma cells in rat brains yielded tumors with high APA and low aminopeptidase N/B activities in tumor vessels, confirming human results. Tumor growth and APA activity in tumor vessels were not affected by chronic angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition. The brain-derived EC219 endothelial cells expressed high APA activity, which was not involved in endothelial cell proliferation, but was down-regulated by exposure of cells to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) or to TGF beta-secreting tumor cells, suggesting a role for this peptide in the control of APA activity in cerebral vasculature. Thus, APA is a potential marker of chronic dysfunction, involving loss of TGF beta function, of the metabolic blood-brain barrier, but not of neovascularization.     

Inhibition by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) of angiogenesis induced by murine Colon 26-L5 carcinoma cells metastasized in liver

We investigated the effect of VIP on the liver metastases and angiogenesis by Colon 26-L5 carcinoma cells in mice. Daily systemic administration of VIP, beginning 3 days after tumor inoculation into a portal vein of mice, inhibited significantly the development of their liver metastases. Immunohistochemical staining for factor VIII-related antigen in the sections of liver metastases showed that the systemic administration of VIP caused significant prevention of angiogenesis within tumor masses. VIP (10^–10 to 10^–6 M) inhibited the invasion of reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel) by hepatic sinusoidal endothelial (HSE) cells in a concentration-dependent manner in a Transwell chamber assay in vitro and achieved approximately 50% reduction of control at 10^–6 M. VIP (10^–6 M) also significantly suppressed the haptotactic migration of HSE cells to fibronectin, laminin or type I collagen substrates with a similar inhibition rate to the invasion assay. Exposure of VIP to HSE cells induced accumulation of intracellular cAMP in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of VIP (10^–6 M) on HSE cell migration was significantly abrogated in the presence of 3×10^–6 M H-89, a cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor. VIP (10^–6 M) inhibited the morphogenesis of HSE cells into capillary-like structures on Matrigel-coated wells. VIP did not affect the proliferation of HSE cells and the production of gelatinases in HSE cells in vitro at the concentrations used in the invasion assay. These observations suggest that the anti-metastatic effect of VIP on liver metastases by Colon 26-L5 carcinoma cells in mice is partly due to the prevention of tumor angiogenesis probably through suppression of the motility of endothelial cells.