Cloning an artificial gene encoding angiostatic anginex: From designed peptide to functional recombinant protein

Anginex, a designed peptide 33-mer, is a potent angiogenesis inhibitor and anti-tumor agent in vivo. Anginex functions by inhibiting endothelial cell (EC) proliferation and migration leading to detachment and apoptosis of activated EC's. To better understand tumor endothelium targeting properties of anginex and enable its use in gene therapy, we constructed an artificial gene encoding the biologically exogenous peptide and produced the protein recombinantly in Pichia pastoris. Mass spectrometry shows recombinant anginex to be a dimer and circular dichroism shows the recombinant protein folds with beta-strand structure like the synthetic peptide. Moreover, like parent anginex, the recombinant protein is active at inhibiting EC growth and migration, as well as inhibiting angiogenesis in vivo in the chorioallantoic membrane of the chick embryo. This study demonstrated that it is possible to produce a functionally active protein version of a rationally designed peptide, using an artificial gene and the recombinant protein approach.     

Advances and prospects of anginex as a promising anti-angiogenesis and anti-tumor agent

Anginex, a novel artificial cytokine-like peptide (βpep-25), is designed by using basic folding principles and incorporating short sequences from the β-sheet domains of anti-angiogenic agents, including platelet factor-4 (PF4), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and bactericidal-permeability increasing protein 1 (BP1). Anginex can specially block the adhesion and migration of the angiogenically activated endothelial cells (ECs), leading to apoptosis and ultimately to the inhibition of angiogenesis and tumor growth. In vitro and in vivo studies have proved its inhibitory effects on the formation of new blood vessels and tumor growth even though the mechanism is not clear. The inhibitory effects of anginex can be enhanced when it is applied in combination with other therapies, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other anti-angiogenic agents. The limitations of anginex, including poor stability, short half life, complicated synthesis and low purity, have been conquered by modifying its structure or designing novel compound anginex and recombinant anginex, which makes possible the clinical application of anginex. Here, we summarize the basic and preclinical trials of anginex and discuss the prospects of anginex in clinical application. We come to the conclusion that anginex and compound or recombinant anginex can be used as effective anti-angiogenic agents.     

Principals of neovascularization for tissue engineering

The goals in tissue engineering include the replacement of damaged, injured or missing body tissues with biological compatible substitutes such as bioengineered tissues. However, due to an initial mass loss after implantation, improved vascularization of the regenerated tissue is essential. Recent advances in understanding the process of blood vessel growth has offered significant tools for therapeutic neovascularization. Several angiogenic growth factors including vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were used for vascularization of ischemic tissues. Three approaches have been used for vascularization of bioengineered tissue: incorporation of angiogenic factors in the bioengineered tissue, seeding endothelial cells with other cell types and prevascularization of matrices prior to cell seeding. This paper reviews the process of blood vessel growth and tissue vascularization, and discuss strategies for efficient vascularization of engineered tissues.     

源于Ⅳ型胶原的肿瘤血管生成抑制剂

新血管生成是各种生理和病理过程发生的基础。在胚胎形成和胎盘发育等正常生理过程中,新血管的生成是至关重要的;然而对于一些疾病的产生,特别是肿瘤的生长、进展和转移,同样离不开血管生成的作用。伴随着“抗肿瘤血管生成疗法”的提出,控制血管生成“开关”的血管生成刺激因子和抑制因子成为研究的热点。Arresten、Canstatin、Tumstatin和Hexastatin是近些年发现的内源性的血管生成抑制因子,它们同系Ⅳ型胶原α链的非胶原区NC1,具有相似的结构和分子量大小,现有研究表明,它们能与内皮细胞表面整合素受体相结合,有效地抑制内皮细胞的增殖和迁移,降低肿瘤组织的微血管密度,切断肿瘤的营养和氧气供给,从而抑制肿瘤的生长和转移。对其作用机制的研究,将有助于肿瘤血管生成抑制剂新药的研发。     

Leptin-induced transphosphorylation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor increases Notch and stimulates endothelial cell angiogenic transformation

Leptin increases vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), and Notch expression in cancer cells, and transphosphorylates VEGFR-2 in endothelial cells. However, the mechanisms involved in leptin’s actions in endothelial cells are not completely known. Here we investigated whether a leptin-VEGFR-Notch axis is involved in these leptin’s actions. To this end, human umbilical vein and porcine aortic endothelial cells (wild type and genetically modified to overexpress VEGFR-1 or -2) were cultured in the absence of VEGF and treated with leptin and inhibitors of Notch (gamma-secretase inhibitors: DAPT and S2188, and silencing RNA), VEGFR (kinase inhibitor: SU5416, and silencing RNA) and leptin receptor, OB-R (pegylated leptin peptide receptor antagonist 2: PEG-LPrA2). Interestingly, in the absence of VEGF, leptin induced the expression of several components of Notch signaling pathway in endothelial cells. Inhibition of VEGFR and Notch signaling significantly decreased leptin-induced S-phase progression, proliferation, and tube formation in endothelial cells. Moreover, leptin/OB-R induced transphosphorylation of VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 was essential for leptin’s effects. These results unveil for the first time a novel mechanism by which leptin could induce angiogenic features via upregulation/trans-activation of VEGFR and downstream expression/activation of Notch in endothelial cells. Thus, high levels of leptin found in overweight and obese patients might lead to increased angiogenesis by activating VEGFR-Notch signaling crosstalk in endothelial cells. These observations might be highly relevant for obese patients with cancer, where leptin/VEGFR/Notch crosstalk could play an important role in cancer growth, and could be a new target for the control of tumor angiogenesis.     

Intestinal and peri-tumoral lymphatic endothelial cells are resistant to radiation-induced apoptosis

Radiation therapy is a widely used cancer treatment, but it is unable to completely block cancer metastasis. The lymphatic vasculature serves as the primary route for metastatic spread, but little is known about how lymphatic endothelial cells respond to radiation. Here, we show that lymphatic endothelial cells in the small intestine and peri-tumor areas are highly resistant to radiation injury, while blood vessel endothelial cells in the small intestine are relatively sensitive. Our results suggest the need for alternative therapeutic modalities that can block lymphatic endothelial cell survival, and thus disrupt the integrity of lymphatic vessels in peri-tumor areas.     

Tumor skewing of CD34+ cell differentiation from a dendritic cell pathway into endothelial cells

Patients and animals bearing tumors have increased levels of CD34⁺ progenitor cells, which are capable of developing into dendritic cells. However, addition of medium conditioned by murine Lewis lung carcinoma cells increases the cellularity of the CD34⁺ cell cultures and redirects their differentiation into endothelial cells. The resulting cells resemble endothelial cells phenotypically as well as functionally by their capacity to reorganize into cord structures. Mechanisms by which tumors induced the increased cellularity and skewing toward endothelial cells were examined. Tumor-derived VEGF contributed to the increase in cellularity, but not to the redirection of differentiation. Differentiation into endothelial cells was blocked with sTie-2, suggesting tumor-derived angiopoietins in skewing differentiation. These studies show the capacity of tumors to skew progenitor cell development toward endothelial cells and define the mediators that contribute to endothelial cell development.     

The multiple personality disorder phenotype(s) of circulating endothelial cells in cancer

Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and circulating endothelial progenitors (CEPs) are currently being investigated in a variety of diseases as markers of vascular turnover or damage and, also in the case of CEPs, vasculogenesis. CEPs appear to have a “catalytic” role in different steps of cancer progression and recurrence after therapy, and there are preclinical and clinical data suggesting that CEC enumeration might be useful to select and stratify patients who are candidates for anti-angiogenic treatments. In some types of cancer, CECs and CEPs might be one of the possible hidden identities of cancer stem cells. The definition of CEC and CEP phenotype and the standardization of CEC and CEP enumeration strategies are highly desirable goals in order to exploit these cells as reliable biomarkers in oncology clinical trials.     

Regulation of antigen presentation machinery in human dendritic cells by recombinant adenovirus

Recombinant adenoviral vectors (AdV) are potent vehicles for antigen engineering of dendritic cells (DC). DC engineered with AdV to express full length tumor antigens are capable stimulators of antigen-specific polyclonal CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. To determine the impact of AdV on the HLA class I antigen presentation pathway, we investigated the effects of AdV transduction on antigen processing machinery (APM) components in human DC. Interactions among AdV transduction, maturation, APM regulation and T cell activation were investigated. The phenotype and cytokine profile of DC transduced with AdV was intermediate, between immature (iDC) and matured DC (mDC). Statistically significant increases in expression were observed for peptide transporters TAP-1 and TAP-2, and HLA class I peptide-loading chaperone ERp57, as well as co-stimulatory surface molecule CD86 due to AdV transduction. AdV transduction enhanced the expression of APM components and surface markers on mDC, and these changes were further modulated by the timing of DC maturation. Engineering of matured DC to express a tumor-associated antigen stimulated a broader repertoire of CD8+ T cells, capable of recognizing immunodominant and subdominant epitopes. These data identify molecular changes in AdV-transduced DC (AdV/DC) that could influence T cell priming and should be considered in design of cancer vaccines.     

Influences of the recombinant artificial cell adhesive proteins on the behavior of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in serum-free culture

To improve the safety of cellular therapy products, it is necessary to establish a serum-free cell culture method that can exclude animal-derived materials in order to avoid contamination with transmissible agents. It would be optimal if the proteins necessary to a serum-free culture could be provided as recombinant proteins. In this study, the influences of recombinant artificial cell adhesive proteins on the behavior of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in serum-free culture were examined in comparison with the influence of plasma fibronectin (FN). The recombinant proteins used were Pronectin F (PF), Pronectin F PLUS (PFP), Pronectin L (PL), Retronectin (RN), and Attachin (AN). HUVECs adhered more efficiently on PF or PFP than on FN. No cells adhered on PL. Regarding the VEGF or bFGF-induced cell growth, the cells on PF and PFP proliferated at a similar rate to the cells on FN. RN and AN were less effective in supporting cell growth. Since cell adhesion on PF and PFP induced phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase, they are thought to activate integrin-mediated intracellular signaling. The cells cultured on PF or PFP were able to produce prostaglandin I(2) or tissue-plasminogen activator in response to thrombin. However, thrombin caused detachment of the cells from PF but not from PFP or FN, meaning that the cells were able to adhere more tightly on PFP or FN than on PF. These data indicate that PFP could be applicable as a substitute for plasma FN.     

Angiogenic activity of osteopontin-derived peptide SVVYGLR

Angiogenesis plays an important role in various pathological conditions as well as some physiological processes. Although a number of soluble angiogenic factors have been reported, extracellular matrix also has crucial effect on angiogenesis through interaction with endothelial cells. Since recent reports showed osteopontin had some angiogenic activity, the effect of the SVVYGLR peptide, novel binding motif in osteopontin molecule, on angiogenesis was examined in this study. Synthetic peptide SVVYGLR did not have proliferative effect on endothelial cells but adhesion and migration activity to endothelial cells. Furthermore, SVVYGLR had as potent activity for tube formation in three-dimensional collagen gel as vascular endothelial growth factor which is known to be the strongest angiogenic factor. Electron microscopical analysis showed a number of microvilli on the endothelial luminar surface and tight junction formation in the luminar intercellular border between endothelial cells, indicating SVVYGLR induced cell porarity and differentiation of endothelial cells. This small peptide might be expected to stimulate angiogenesis to improve some ischemic conditions in the future because of some advantages due to smaller molecular weight.     

Manufacturing of recombinant adeno‐associated viruses using mammalian expression platforms

Manufacturing practices for recombinant adeno‐associated viruses (AAV) have improved in the last decade through the development of new platforms in conjunction with better production and purification methods. In this review, we discuss the advantages and limitations of the most popular systems and methods employed with mammalian cell platforms. Methods and systems such as transient transfection, packaging and producer cells and adenovirus and herpes simplex virus are described. In terms of best production yields, they are comparable with about 10⁴–10⁵ vector genomes produced per cell but transient transfection of HEK293 cells is by far the most commonly used. For small‐scale productions, AAV can be directly purified from the producing cell lysate by ultracentrifugation on a CsCl or iodixanol‐step gradient whereas large‐scale purification requires a combination of multiple steps. Micro/macrofiltration (i.e. including tangential flow filtration and/or dead‐end filtration) and chromatography based‐methods are used for large‐scale purification. Purified AAV products must then be quantified and characterized to ensure quality. Recent purification methods and current analytical techniques are reviewed here. Finally, AAV technology is very promising, but manufacturing improvements are still required to meet the needs of affordable, safe and effective AAV vectors essential for licensing of gene therapy clinical protocols.     

Role of specific microRNAs for endothelial function and angiogenesis

Accumulating evidence indicates that various aspects of angiogenesis, such as proliferation, migration, and morphogenesis of endothelial cells, can be regulated by specific miRNAs in an endothelial-specific manner. As novel molecular targets, miRNAs have a potential value for treatment of angiogenesis-associated diseases such as cancers, inflammation, and vascular diseases. In this article, we review the latest advances in the identification and validation of angiogenesis-regulatory miRNAs and their targets, and discuss their roles and mechanisms in regulating endothelial cell function and angiogenesis.     

Modulation of the antigenic phenotype of human breast carcinoma cells by modifiers of protein kinase C activity and recombinant human interferons

Summary In the present study we have analyzed the effect of a synthetic protein kinase C (PKC) activator 3-(N-acetylamino)-5-(N-decyl-N-methylamino)-benzyl alcohol (ADMB) and the natural PKC-activating tumor-promoting agents 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and mezerein on the antigenic phenotype of T47D human breast carcinoma cells. All three agents increased the surface expression of the tumor-associated antigen BCA 225 and various cellular antigens, including HLA class II antigens, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and c-erbB-2. Expression of the same antigens was also upregulated to various extents in T47D cells by recombinant fibroblast (IFN) and immune (IFN) interferon. Shedding of BCA 225 from T47D cells was induced by TPA, mezerein, IFN and IFN, whereas ADMB did not display this activity. The ability of ADMB, TPA and mezerein to modulate the antigenic phenotype of T47D cells appears to involve a PKC-mediated pathway, since the PKC inhibitor, H-7, eliminates antigenic modulation. In contrast, the ability of IFN and IFN to enhance the synthesis, expression and shedding of BCA 225, as well as to enhance HLA class II antigens, c-erbB-2 and ICAM-1 expression, was either unchanged or modestly reduced by simultaneous exposure to H-7. Analysis of steady-state mRNA levels for HLA class I antigens, HLA class II-DR antigen, ICAM-1 and c-erbB-2 indicated that the ability of H-7 to inhibit expression of these antigens in TPA-, mezerein- and ADMB-treated cells was not a consequence of a reduction in the steady-state levels of mRNAs for these antigens. The results of the present investigation indicate that the biochemical pathways mediating enhanced antigenic expression in T47D cells induced by TPA, mezerein and the synthetic PKC activator ADMB are different from those induced by recombinant interferons. Furthermore, up-regulation of antigenic expression in T47D cells can occur by a PKC-dependent or a PKC-independent pathway.     

Inhibitory effect of recombinant adenovirus carrying immunocaspase-3 on hepatocellular carcinoma

Previously, Srinivasula devised a contiguous molecule (C-cp-3 or immunocaspase-3) containing the small and large subunits similar to that in the active form of caspas-3 and found C-cp-3 had similar cleavage activity to the active form of caspase-3. To search for a new clinical application of C-cp-3 to treat hepatocellular carcinoma, recombinant adenoviruses carrying the C-cp-3 and a-fetoprotein (AFP) promoter (Ad-rAFP-C-cp-3) were constructed through a bacterial homologous recombinant system. The efficiency of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer and the inhibitory effect of Ad-rAFP-C-cp-3 on the proliferation of hepatocarcinoma cells were determined by X-gal stain and MTT assay, respectively. The tumorigenicity of hepatocarcinoma cells transfected by Ad-rAFP-C-cp-3 and the antitumor effect of Ad-rAFP-C-cp-3 on transplanted tumor in nude mice were detected in vivo. The results suggested that Ad-rAFP-C-cp-3 can inhibit specifically proliferation of AFP-producing human hepatocarcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo and adenovirus-mediated C-cp-3 transfer could be used as a new method to treat human hepatocarcinoma.     

Integrin alpha2beta1 mediates the anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor activities of angiocidin, a novel tumor-associated protein

We recently characterized an anti-tumor protein termed angiocidin. Here, we report that angiocidin may inhibit angiogenesis by binding collagen and its receptors. Angiocidin bound purified type I collagen and alpha2beta1 with high affinity. K562 cells expressing alpha2beta1 bound and adhered to angiocidin while K562 cells which only expressed alpha5beta1 integrin showed no binding and adhesion. Binding was specific since a neutralizing antibody against alpha2beta1 inhibited binding but antibodies against alpha5beta1 had no effect. Additionally, angiocidin co-localized with alpha2beta1 on K562 alpha2beta1 transfected cells, pancreatic cancer colo 357 cells, breast cancer MB-231 cells and human umbilical endothelial vein (HUVE) cells. In an alpha2beta1-dependent collagen gel angiogenesis assay, angiocidin showed potent inhibitory activity. We identified a 20-amino-acid amino terminal peptide of angiocidin that bound both alpha2beta1 and type I collagen. This peptide promoted alpha2beta1-dependent cell adhesion and inhibited tumor growth and angiogenesis. Taken together, these results are consistent with the conclusion that the anti-tumor activity of angiocidin arises from its ability to ligate collagen and alpha2beta1 on endothelial cells and tumor cells. Our results provide support for the concept that targeting matrix-cell interactions is a viable strategy for the development of anti-cancer therapeutics.     

Chronic increases in sphingosine kinase-1 activity induce a pro-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic phenotype in endothelial cells

Sphingosine kinase-1 (SK1) promotes the formation of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), which has potent pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic effects. We investigated the effects of raised SK1 levels on endothelial cell function and the possibility that this signaling pathway is activated in rheumatoid arthritis. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells with 3- to 5-fold SK1 (EC^SK) overexpression were generated by adenoviral and retroviralmediated gene delivery. The activation state of these cells and their ability to undergo angiogenesis was determined. S1P was measured in synovial fluid from patients with RA and OA. EC^SK showed an enhanced migratory capacity and a stimulated rate of capillary tube formation. The cells showed constitutive activation as evidenced by the induction of basal VCAM-1 expression, and further showed a more augmented VCAM-1 and E selectin response to TNF compared with empty vector control cells (EC^EV). These changes had functional consequences in terms of enhanced neutrophil binding in the basal and TNFstimulated states in EC^SK. By contrast, over-expression of a dominant-negative SK inhibited the TNF-induced VCAM-1 and E selectin and inhibited PMN adhesion, confirming that the observed effects were specifically mediated by SK. The synovial fluid levels of S1P were significantly higher in patients with RA than in those with OA. Small chronic increases in SK1 activity in the endothelial cells enhance the ability of the cells to support inflammation and undergo angiogenesis, and sensitize the cells to inflammatory cytokines. The SK1 signaling pathway is activated in RA, suggesting that manipulation of SK1 activity in diseases of aberrant inflammation and angiogenesis may be beneficial.     

Adipose tissue,angiogenesis and angio-MIR under physiological and pathological conditions

Angiogenesis is a crucial process for the maintenance of normal tissue physiology and it is involved in tissue remodeling and regeneration. This process is essential for adipose tissue maintenance. The adipose tissue is composed by different cell types including stromal vascular cells as well as adipose stem cells (ASCs). In particular, ASCs are multipotent somatic stem cells that are able to differentiate and secrete several growth factors; they are recently emerging as a new cell reservoir for novel therapies and strategies in many diseases. Several studies suggest that ASCs have peculiar properties and participate in different disease-related processes such as angiogenesis. Furthermore, pathological expansion of adipose tissue brings to hypoxia, a major condition of unhealthy angiogenesis.Recent evidences have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role also on ASCs as they take part in stemness maintenance, proliferation, and differentiation. It has been suggested that some miRNAs (MIR126, MIR31, MIR221 MIR222, MIR17-92 cluster, MIR30, MIR100 and MIR486) are directly involved in the angiogenic process by controlling multiple genes involved in this pathway. With the present review, we aim at providing an updated summary of the importance of adipose tissue under physiological and pathological conditions and of its relationship with neovascularization process. In particular, we report an overview of the most important miRNAs involved in angiogenesis focusing on ASCs. Hopefully the data presented will bring benefit in developing new therapeutic strategies.