LYP,a novel bestatin derivative,inhibits cell growth and suppresses APN/CD13 activity in human ovarian carcinoma cells more potently than bestatin

LYP is a bestatin dimethylaminoethyl ester which inhibits aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13). Our goal in this study was to evaluate LYP as a candidate compound for cancer treatment, beginning by studying its inhibitory effects on tumors and then comparing it to bestatin. Experiments were performed on human ovarian carcinoma (OVCA) ES-2 and SKOV-3 cell lines, which have high and low levels of APN/CD13 respectively. LYP effectively inhibited ES-2 cell growth as estimated by the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and the trypan blue dye-exclusion test. LYP significantly suppressed APN/CD13 activity on the surface of ES-2 cells as measured by quantifying the enzymatic cleavage of the substrate L-leucine-p-nitroanilide. The inhibitory effects of LYP were greater than those of bestatin at the same concentrations. In contrast, LYP was a weak inhibitor of SKOV-3 cell growth, suggesting that LYP may inhibit ES-2 cell growth via suppression of APN/CD13. Inhibition of APN/CD13 expression was also demonstrated with immunofluorescent flow cytometry and Western blot analysis. Inhibitory effects of LYP were confirmed by using a mouse model in which LYP delayed the growth of ES-2 xenografts in mice after 2 weeks of LYP injections. Inhibition of APN/CD13 expression was demonstrated in the ES-2 xenografts using Western blot analysis. The inhibitory effects of LYP on the ES-2 xenografts were stronger than those of bestatin. These results suggest that LYP has a powerful inhibitory effect on the growth of OVCA cells and that the mechanism may be via a decrease in the expression of APN/CD13.     

The synthesis and preliminary activity assay <Emphasis Type="Italic">In Vitro</Emphasis> of peptide-like derivatives as APN inhibitors

Both the aminopeptidase N (APN) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) are essential metallopeptidases in the development of tumor invasion and angiogenesis. A series of novel peptide-like derivatives were designed and synthesized as antitumor agents. Their structures were confirmed by IR, MS, and ¹H-NMR. These compounds exhibited potent inhibitory activities against APN and low activity against MMP in vitro. The derivatives with methoxy group show better activities than those with other substituted group and could be used as lead compounds for exploring new APN inhibitors in the future.     

Synthesis and activity evaluation of a new bestatin derivative LYP2 as an aminopeptidase N inhibitor

As a ubiquitous enzyme overexpressed on the epithelium of the tumor, aminopeptidase N (APN) plays important roles in the angiogenesis and metastasis of the tumor. Bestatin as an effective inhibitor against APN is used in the ancillary treatment of various cancers. In this study, we modified the structure of a bestatin derivative LYP reported in our former study to provide a new bestatin derivative LYP2 with enhanced stability. We also tested the inhibitive activity of LYP2, which retained good efficacy in vitro and in vivo towards APN.     

The effect of different species aminopeptidase N structure on the activity screening of aminopeptidase N inhibitor

Aminopeptidase N (APN) is a transmembrane metallopeptidase, which participates in the tumor progress such as proliferation, attachment, angiogenesis and tumor invasion. All of this makes APN as a good chemical therapeutic anti-tumor target. In the present study, we got a novel compound 16l which markedly inhibited the enzyme activity of porcine APN, and the inhibition constant, K(i), of 16l are similar to the positive medicine Bestatin determined using porcine APN. However, when tested using human tumor cells, 16l couldn't effectively inhibit the enzyme activity, cell viability, cell migration and invasion. Computer aided drug design verified that because of the difference in structure, the binding pattern of 16l in the active site of homo sapien and porcine APN was different. The compound 16l could effectively inhibit the enzyme activity of porcine APN, but not homo sapien APN located on the surface of tumor cells. Therefore, the activity screening of APN inhibitor using aminopeptidase N from porcine should be only preliminary determination. The real activity screening should be determined using homo sapien aminopeptidase N.     

Antiangiogenic activity of Diallyl Sulfide (DAS)

Antiangiogenic activity of Diallyl sulfide (DAS) 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. DAS significantly inhibited tumour directed capillary formation. Studies of serum cytokine profile of angiogenesis induced animals clearly showed that DAS significantly reduced the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha and GM-CSF which are known proangiogenic factors. The serum level of VEGF, an important proangiogenic factor, in angiogenesis induced animals was found to be significantly reduced upon treatment with DAS which may be due to its efficacy in the down regulation of VEGF mRNA expression. Administration of DAS significantly enhanced the production of antiangiogenic factors such as IL-2 and TIMP. In vitro studies using rat aortic ring assay showed that administration of DAS at no n-toxic concentrations significantly inhibited microvessel sprouting. Studies using Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) clearly demonstrated that administration of DAS significantly retarded endothelial cell proliferation, migration, invasion and tube formation. These data clearly suggests that antiangiogenic activity of DAS can be related to its negative regulation of proangiogenic factors such as VEGF and proinflammatory cytokines and positive regulation of antiangiogenic factors such as IL-2 and TIMP.     

Induction of DNA polymerase alpha and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase in the human lymphoblastoid cell line Molt-4 by the immunomodulator bestatin

The influence of the immunomodulator bestatin on the expression of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase and of DNA polymerase alpha and beta in Molt-4 cells has been studied. Bestatin was found to stimulate cell growth within the range of 0.3-33 microM, while concentrations higher than 300 microM were inhibitory during an incubation period of 48 h. The cell surface bound microsomal leucine aminopeptidase (bestatin receptor) activity decreased gradually during incubation at concentrations of bestatin above 3 microM. This effect was also observed after incubation with amastatin, but not with leupeptin or tunicamycin. Determinations of the activities of DNA synthesizing enzymes from bestatin-treated Molt-4 cells revealed a direct correlation between the decrease of the surface bound microsomal leucine aminopeptidase activity and the increase of the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase and DNA polymerase alpha activity; the DNA polymerase beta activity remained unchanged. From these experiments it is hypothesized that bestatin might cause a promoting effect on the differentiation processes of precursor T cells in vivo.     

卡立泊来德对K562细胞诱导的血管生成的影响

目的研究卡立泊来德(cariporide)处理对K562细胞诱导的血管生成能力的影响。方法应用MTT检测K562细胞上清液对脐静脉内皮细胞增殖能力的影响;transwell检测K562细胞上清液对脐静脉内皮细胞迁移能力的影响;基质胶血管形成法检测K562细胞上清液对脐静脉内皮细胞体外血管形成能力的影响;激光扫描共聚焦显微镜测定K562细胞的细胞内的pH;酶联免疫吸附实验(ELISA)检测K562细胞上清中血管内皮生长因子的表达水平。结果cariporide处理可以明显降低K562细胞上清液对脐静脉内皮细胞增殖,迁移和体外成管能力的诱导;cariporide处理后K562细胞的细胞内pH明显下降,分泌VEGF能力也受到抑制。结论 cariporide能抑制K562细胞的血管生成诱导能力,这种抑制是通过细胞内pH下降以及VEGF分泌减少引起的。     

Potent homophthalimide-type inhibitors of B16F10/L5 mouse melanoma cell invasion.

Recently, we developed a series of novel and potent aminopeptidase inhibitors with a homophthalimide skeleton. Among them, N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)homophthalimide (PIQ-22) possesses a specific aminopeptidase-inhibiting activity more potent than that of bestatin or actinonin, as assayed in terms of hydrolysis of L-alanine 4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide (Ala-AMC) by human acute lymphoblastic leukemia MOLT-4 cells. We show here that PIQ-22 and its 2,6-dimethylphenyl derivative (PIQ-11) are more potent inhibitors of tumor cell invasion than bestatin and actinonin in a Matrigel assay using mouse melanoma B16F10/L5 cells.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel flavone-8-acetic acid derivatives as reversible inhibitors of aminopeptidase N/CD13

The cell surface aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13), overexpressed in tumor cells, plays a critical role in angiogenesis. However, potent, selective, and, particularly, noncytotoxic inhibitors ot this protein are lacking, and the present work was undertaken with the aim of developing a new generation of noncytotoxic inhibitors that bind to APN/CD13. In this context, we have synthesized a series of novel flavone-8-acetic acid derivatives. Among the herein described and evaluated compounds, the 2',3-dinitroflavone-8-acetic acid (19b) proved to be the most efficient and exhibited an IC(50) of 25 microM which is 2.5 times higher than that of bestatin (1), the natural known inhibitor of APN/CD13. However, in contrast to bestatin (1), the dinitroflavone 19b did not induce any cytotoxicity to cultured human model cells. The presence of other substituents such as NO(2) or OCH(3) groups at the 3'- or 4'-position of the B phenyl group, or the existence of steric constraints (compounds 24 and 29), did not improve selectivity and potency. The flavone 19b affinity for APN/CD13 is not recovered with other proteases such as matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE/CD143), neutral endopeptidase (NEP/CD10), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (CD224), or the serine proteases dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV/CD26) or cathepsin G.     

Anti-angiogenic activity and intracellular distribution of epigallocatechin-3-gallate analogs

Angiogenesis, a process of construction of new blood capillaries, is crucial for tumor progression and metastasis. Our previous studies demonstrated that a component of green tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), suppressed angiogenesis and subsequent tumor growth. In this study, to elucidate the detailed mechanism of the anti-angiogenic effect of EGCG and to enhance the antiangiogenic activity of EGCG, we designed and synthesized EGCG derivatives and examined their biological effect and intracellular localization in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). EGCG derivatives aminopentyl dideoxyEGCG and aminopentyl dideoxygallocatechin-3-gallate (cis-APDOEGCG and trans-APDOEGCG) had an enhanced inhibitory effect on the proliferation when used at more than 30 μM. To elucidate antiangiogenic effect of EGCG, we used a 1 μM concentration for subsequent experiments where no effect on proliferation was observed. These EGCG derivatives showed a stronger inhibitory effect on migration, invasion, and tube formation by HUVECs than the non-derivatized EGCG. Furthermore, the derivatives induced a change in the distribution of F-actin and subsequent morphology of the HUVECs. Next, we synthesized fluorescent TokyoGreen-conjugated EGCG derivative (EGCG-TG) and observed the distribution in HUVECs under a confocal laser scanning microscope. Abundant fluorescence was observed in the cells after a 3-h incubation, and was localized in mitochondria as well as in cytoplasm. These results suggest that EGCG was incorporated into the HUVECs, that a portion of it entered into their mitochondria.     

Artemisinin reduces human melanoma cell migration by down-regulating αVβ3 integrin and reducing metalloproteinase 2 production

Artemisinin and its derivatives are well known antimalarial drugs, particularly useful after resistance to traditional antimalarial pharmaceuticals has started to occur in Plasmodium falciparum. In recent years, anticancer activity of artemisinin has been reported both in vitro and in vivo. Artemisinin has inhibitory effects on cancer cell growth and anti-angiogenetic activity. In the present investigation, we analyzed the inhibitory effects of artemisinin on migratory ability of melanoma cell lines (A375P and A375M, low and medium metastatic properties, respectively). We demonstrate that artemisinin induces cell growth arrest in A375M, and affects A375P cells viability with cytotoxic and growth inhibitory effects, while it was not effective in contrasting proliferation of other tumor cell lines (MCF7 and MKN). In addition, artemisinin affected the migratory ability of A375M cells by reducing metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) production and down-regulating αvβ3 integrin expression. These findings introduce a potential of artemisinin as a chemotherapeutic agent in melanoma treatment.     

Oxytocin stimulates migration and invasion in human endothelial cells

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It has recently been reported that oxytocin is produced by some tumour cell types, and that oxytocin receptors, belonging to the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family, are expressed in a variety of cell types. Among these, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) respond to oxytocin with an increased proliferation, suggesting a possible role for the hormone in the regulation of angiogenesis.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: We employed chemotaxis and chemoinvasion assays to characterize the effect of oxytocin on HUVEC motility, and immunoblot analysis to study its molecular mechanisms of action.KEY RESULTS: We showed that oxytocin stimulates migration and invasion in HUVECs via oxytocin receptor activation. Searching for the molecular mechanism(s) responsible for oxytocin's pro-migratory effect, we identified the Gq coupling of oxytocin receptors and phospholipase C (PLC) as the main effectors of oxytocin's action in HUVECs. We also found that oxytocin stimulates the phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) via the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI-3-K)/AKT pathway, and that the activation of PI-3-K and formation of nitric oxide (NO) are required for the pro-migratory effect of oxytocin.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The ability of oxytocin to stimulate HUVEC motility and invasion suggests that the hormone can participate in physiopathological processes where activation of endothelial cells plays an important role, for example, in angiogenesis. Interestingly, both the AKT and eNOS phosphorylation induced by oxytocin receptor activation depended on PLC activity, thus suggesting the existence of a still undefined mechanism connecting PLC to the PI-3-K/AKT pathway, upon oxytocin stimulation.     

Alprostadil suppresses angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo in the murine Matrigel plug assay

1. Prostaglandin E(1) (PGE(1), alprostadil) is used as a vasodilator for the treatment of peripheral vascular diseases. 2. Previous reports suggested a pro-angiogenic effect for PGE(1). 3. We studied the in vitro and in vivo effect of PGE(1), complexed with alpha-cyclodextrin, on the angiogenic process. Contrary to what was expected, we found that, in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), PGE(1) inhibited proliferation, migration and capillary-like structure formation in Matrigel. 4. By RT-PCR studies, the expression of the EP(2) and EP(3) subtypes of the PG receptor was detected in HUVECs. 5. PGE(1) alone stimulated adenylate cyclase activity at micromolar concentrations, while at nanomolar concentrations potentiated the forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation. 6. 8-Bromoadenosine-3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (Br-cAMP) mimicked the inhibitory effect of PGE(1) on endothelial cell growth, motility and tube formation. 7. Sulprostone, an agonist at the EP(3) subtype of PG receptors, mimicked the in vitro anti-angiogenic effects of PGE(1), while butaprost, an EP(2) receptor agonist, had no effect. 8. Finally, in the plug assay model of angiogenesis in mice, PGE(1) showed a strong inhibitory effect on Matrigel neovascularization. 9. Thus, PGE(1) possesses strong anti-angiogenic activity in vitro and in vivo.     

Effects of Cordyceps militaris extract on angiogenesis and tumor growth

INTRODUCTIONAngiogenesis is the process of new blood vesselformation from existing blood vessels and a natural re-sponse of tissues to ischemia[1]. The steps of angio-genesis involve proteolytic degradation of extracelluarmatrix, endothelial cell-matrix adhesion, migration,proliferation, and differentiation[2]. This biological re-action is often associated with some diseases, such assolid tumor[3], diabetic retinopathy[4], and rheumatoidarthritis[5].Tumor formation requires the developm…     

蟾毒灵通过下调PKM2抑制黑色素瘤细胞增殖、 迁移与侵袭的实验研究

目的：考察蟾毒灵（Bufalin）对黑色素瘤细胞增殖、迁移与侵袭,以及对有氧糖酵解关键酶M2型丙酮酸激酶（pyruvate kinase M2,PKM2）的调控作用。方法：分别使用MTT、划痕及Transwell实验,考察蟾毒灵对A375黑色素瘤细胞增殖、迁移与侵袭的影响;利用试剂盒检测蟾毒灵对A375细胞有氧糖酵解主要指标乳酸、葡萄糖及丙酮酸激酶的影响;蛋白免疫印迹实验探讨蟾毒灵对PKM2蛋白表达的影响,以及对下游肿瘤迁移与侵袭相关蛋白表达的影响。结果：蟾毒灵能显著抑制A375细胞的增殖、迁移与侵袭;还能抑制A375细胞的有氧糖酵解及PKM2的蛋白表达,进而下调肿瘤转移相关蛋白MMP-2、MMP-9、N-cadherin的表达。结论：蟾毒灵对A375黑色素瘤细胞的增殖、迁移与侵袭具有明显的抑制作用,其抑制机制可能与抑制肿瘤有氧糖酵解途径中关键酶PKM2有关。     

Wf-536 prevents tumor metastasis by inhibiting both tumor motility and angiogenic actions

The signaling pathway of Rho and Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase (ROCK) is involved in tumor metastasis. In the present study, we investigated the suppressive effect of a novel inhibitor of ROCK, Wf-536 [(+)-(R)-4-(1-Aminoethyl)-N-(4-pyridyl) benzamide monohydrochloride], on spontaneous tumor metastasis in vivo and analyzed its action on tumor cell motility and angiogenesis to clarify its action mechanism. Wf-536 (0.3-3 mg/kg/day) was found to inhibit Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) metastasis and LLC-induced angiogenesis in orally treated mice; in vitro, it inhibited both invasion and migration by LLC cells and invasion, migration, and formation of capillary-like tubes on Matrigel by endothelial cells, without cytotoxicity or anti-proliferative action in either cell type. We conclude that Wf-536 has tumor anti-metastatic activity which may depend on inhibition of tumor motility and angiogenesis. The findings support its further clinical development as an anti-metastatic agent.     

Diallyl trisulfide inhibits cell migration and invasion of human melanoma a375 cells via inhibiting integrin/facal adhesion kinase pathway

Melanoma is the leading cause of death from skin disease due to its propensity for metastasis. Studies have shown that integrin‐mediated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signal pathway is implicated in cell proliferation, survival and metastasis of tumor cells. Our previous results indicated that diallyl trisulfide (DATS) provided its antimelanoma activity via inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The aim of this study was to explore DATS mediated antimetastatic effect and the corresponding mechanism in human melanoma A375 cells. We found that DATS exhibited an inhibitory effect on the abilities of migration and invasion in A375 cells under noncytotoxic concentrations analyzed by wound healing assays and Matrigel invasion chamber system. DATS attenuated invasion of A375 cells with characteristic of decreased activities and protein expressions of matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) and MMP‐9. Moreover, DATS exerted an inhibitory effect on cell adhesion of A375 cells, which is in correlation with the change in integrin signaling pathway. Results of Western blotting showed that DATS decreased the levels of several integrin subunits, including α4, α5, αv, β1, β3 and β4. Subsequently, DATS induced a strong decrease in total FAK, phosphorylated FAK Tyr‐397,‐576, ?577, and disorganized F‐actin stress fibers, resulting in a nonmigratory phenotype. These results suggest that the antimetastatic potential of DATS for human melanoma cells might be due to the disruption of integrin/FAK signaling pathway.     

Effects of naturally occurring stilbene glucosides from medicinal plants and wine, on tumour growth and lung metastasis in Lewis lung carcinoma-bearing mice

Stilbene glucosides are naturally occurring phytoalexins, found in a variety of medicinal plants. Among the stilbene derivatives, resveratrol 3-O-D-glucoside (piceid) is found in grapes and wine. We studied the effects of stilbene glucosides isolated from medicinal plants and grapes on tumour growth and lung metastasis in mice bearing highly metastatic Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) tumours. We also studied the inhibitory effects of stilbene glucosides on differentiation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to form a capillary network. Tumour growth in the right hind paw and lung metastasis were inhibited by oral administration of the stilbene glucosides, piceid and 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-D-glucoside for 33 consecutive days, in LLC-bearing mice. As the number of CD8+ and NK1.1+ T cells in the spleen was not affected, the inhibitory effects of these stilbene glucosides on tumour growth and lung metastasis could not be explained by natural killer or cytotoxic T lymphocyte activation. Piceid inhibited the DNA synthesis in LLC cells at a concentration of 1000 microM, but not at lower concentrations (10-100 microM). 2,3,5,4'-Tetra-hydroxystilbene-2-O-D-glucoside also inhibited DNA synthesis in LLC cells (IC50 81 microM). In addition, both stilbene glucosides inhibited the formation of capillary-like tube networks (angiogenesis) of HUVECs at concentrations of 100 to 1000 microM. We suggest that the antitumour and antimetastatic activity of the stilbene glucosides, piceid and 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-D-glucoside, might be due to the inhibition of DNA synthesis in LLC cells and angiogenesis of HUVECs.     

Preparation of novel specific aminopeptidase inhibitors with a cyclic imide skeleton

The studies on both structure-activity relationship study and identification of the target enzyme of novel nonpeptide aminopeptidase inhibitors with cyclic imide skeleton are reviewed. Some N-phenylphthalimide or N-phenylhomophthalimide derivative showed potent protease inhibitory activity in an assay system using human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells, Molt-4, with alanin-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide (ala-AMC) as a substrate. Especially, 2-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-1,3-dione (PIQ-22) (3) was found to be the most potent inhibitor and further it showed potent tumor-cell invasion inhibitory activity that is more effective than potent peptide aminopeptidase inhibitors such as bestatin (1) or actinonin (2). For the further investigation of this novel protease inhibitory activity, we have carried out the structural development of PIQ-22 (3) and it is assumed that tautomerism of imidobenzoylketone in cyclic imide structure may be related to the inhibitory activity. The requirement for the activity of electron donating groups such as NH2 or OH to the condensed phenyl ring in phthalimide inhibitors also supports this possibility. The target aminopeptidase of PIQ-22 was identified as puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (PSA), by N-terminal amino acid sequencing, and by comparison with chromatographic behavior and substrate-selectivity, and so on. Lineweaver-Burk plot showed that PSA is inhibited by PIQ-22 (3) in a noncompetitive manner while puromycin (83) and bestatin (1) inhibit PSA competitively.