Characterization of heparin affin regulatory peptide signaling in human endothelial cells

Heparin affin regulatory peptide (HARP) is an 18-kDa secreted growth factor that has a high affinity for heparin and a potent role on tumor growth and angiogenesis. We have previously reported that HARP is mitogenic for different types of endothelial cells and also affects cell migration and differentiation (12). In this study we examined the signaling pathways involved in the migration and tube formation on matrigel of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) induced by HARP. We report for the first time that receptor-type protein-tyrosine phosphatase beta/zeta (RPTPbeta/zeta), which is a receptor for HARP in neuronal cell types, is also expressed in HUVEC. We also document that HARP signaling through RPTPbeta/zeta leads to activation of Src kinase, focal adhesion kinase, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and Erk1/2. Sodium orthovanadate, chondroitin sulfate-C, PP1, wortmannin, LY294002, and U0126 inhibit HARP-mediated signaling and HUVEC migration and tube formation. In addition, RPTPbeta/zeta suppression using small interfering RNA technology interrupts intracellular signals and HUVEC migration and tube formation induced by HARP. These results establish the role of RPTPbeta/zeta as a receptor of HARP in HUVEC and elucidate the HARP signaling pathway in endothelial cells.     

Identification of heparin affin regulatory peptide domains with potential role on angiogenesis

Heparin affin regulatory peptide (HARP) is a growth factor displaying high affinity for heparin. It is present in the extracellular matrix of many tissues, interacting with heparan sulfate and dermatan/chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans. We have previously shown that HARP is implicated in the control of angiogenesis and its effects are mimicked, at least in part, by synthetic peptides that correspond to its N and C termini. In the present work, we show that HARP is cleaved by plasmin, leading to the production of five peptides that correspond to distinct domains of the molecule. Heparin, heparan sulfate and dermatan sulfate, at various HARP to glycosaminoglycan ratios, partially protect HARP from plasmin degradation. The molecules with higher affinity to HARP are the more protective, heparin being the most efficient. The peptides that are produced from cleavage of HARP by plasmin, affect in vivo and in vitro angiogenesis and modulate the angiogenic activity of vascular endothelial growth factor on human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Similar results were obtained in vitro with recombinant HARP peptides, identical to the peptides generated after treatment of HARP with plasmin. These results suggest that different regions of HARP may induce or inhibit angiogenesis.     

Angiogenesis and the role of the endothelial nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

An endothelial nicotinic acetycholine receptor (nAChR) mediates endothelial proliferation, survival, migration and tube formation in vitro, and angiogenesis in vivo. Exogenous nicotine stimulates this angiogenic pathway. This action of nicotine may contribute to tumor angiogenesis and tumor growth; atherosclerotic plaque neovascularization and progression; and other tobacco-related diseases. The endothelial nAChR mediates an angiogenic pathway that is interdependent with growth factor mediated pathways, as shown by pharmacological and molecular studies. The characterization of this new angiogenic pathway may provide a new therapeutic avenue for disorders of insufficient or pathological angiogenesis.     

N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline stimulates angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo

N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP), a natural inhibitor of pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell proliferation, has been suggested as capable of promoting an angiogenic response. We studied whether Ac-SDKP stimulates endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation; enhances angiogenic response in the rat cornea after implantation of a tumor spheroid; and increases capillary density in rat hearts with myocardial infarction (MI). In vitro, an immortal BALB/c mouse aortic endothelial 22106 cell line was used to determine the effects of Ac-SDKP on endothelial cell proliferation and migration and tube formation. In vivo, a 9L-gliosarcoma cell spheroid (250-300 microm in diameter) was implanted in the rat cornea and vehicle or Ac-SDKP (800 microg.kg(-1).day(-1) ip) infused via osmotic minipump. Myocardial capillary density was studied in rats with MI given either vehicle or Ac-SDKP. We found that Ac-SDKP 1) stimulated endothelial cell proliferation and migration and tube formation in a dose-dependent manner, 2) enhanced corneal neovascularization, and 3) increased myocardial capillary density. Endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis stimulated by Ac-SDKP could be beneficial in cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and MI. Furthermore, because Ac-SDKP is mainly cleaved by ACE, it may partially mediate the cardioprotective effect of ACE inhibitors.     

Fibroblast growth factor-2 is a downstream mediator of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt signaling in 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid-induced angiogenesis

To determine the efficacy of cytochrome P450 2C9 metabolites of arachidonic acid, viz. 5,6-, 8,9-, 11,12-, and 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), in inducing angiogenesis, we have studied their effects on human dermal microvascular endothelial cell (HDMVEC) tube formation and migration. All four EETs stimulated HDMVEC tube formation and migration in a dose-dependent manner. Because 14,15-EET was found to be slightly more efficacious than 5,6-, 8,9-, and 11,12-EETs in stimulating HDMVEC tube formation and migration, we next focused on elucidation of the signaling mechanisms underlying its angiogenic activity. 14,15-EET stimulated Akt and S6K1 phosphorylation in Src- and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-dependent manner in HDMVECs. Inhibition of Src and PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling by both pharmacological and dominant-negative mutant approaches suppressed 14,15-EET-induced HDMVEC tube formation and migration in vitro and Matrigel plug angiogenesis in vivo. In addition, 14,15-EET induced the expression of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) in Src- and PI3K-Akt-dependent and mTOR-independent manner in HDMVECs. Neutralizing anti-FGF-2 antibodies completely suppressed 14,15-EET-induced HDMVEC tube formation and migration in vitro and Matrigel plug angiogenesis in vivo. Together, these results show for the first time that Src and PI3K-Akt signaling via targeting in parallel with FGF-2 expression and mTOR-S6K1 activation plays an indispensable role in 14,15-EET-induced angiogenesis.     

Angiogenic activity of human CC chemokine CCL15 in vitro and in vivo

CCL15 is a novel human CC chemokine and exerts its biological activities on immune cells through CCR1 and CCR3. Because a number of chemokines induce angiogenesis and endothelial cells express CCR1 and CCR3, we investigated the angiogenic activity of CCL15. Both CCL15(1-92) and N-terminal truncated CCL15(25-92) stimulate the chemotactic endothelial cell migration and differentiation, but CCL15(25-92) is at least 100-fold more potent than CCL15(1-92). Treatment with pertussis toxin (PTX), with anti-CCR1, or with anti-CCR3 antibody inhibits the CCL15(25-92)-induced endothelial cell migration. CCL15(25-92) also stimulates sprouting of vessels from aortic rings and mediates angiogenesis in the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. Our findings demonstrate that CCL15(25-92) has in vitro and in vivo angiogenic activity, and suggest roles of the chemokine in angiogenesis.     

Visfatin promotes angiogenesis by activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2

Adipose tissue is highly vascularized and requires the angiogenic properties for its mass growth. Visfatin has been recently characterized as a novel adipokine, which is preferentially produced by adipose tissue. In this study, we report that visfatin potently stimulates in vivo neovascularization in chick chorioallantoic membrane and mouse Matrigel plug. We also demonstrate that visfatin activates migration, invasion, and tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Moreover, visfatin evokes activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in endothelial cells, which is closely linked to angiogenesis. Inhibition of ERK activation markedly decreases visfatin-induced tube formation of HUVECs and visfatin-stimulated endothelial cell sprouting from rat aortic rings. Taken together, these results demonstrate that visfatin promotes angiogenesis via activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase ERK-dependent pathway and suggest that visfatin may play important roles in various pathophysiological angiogenesis including adipose tissue angiogenesis.     

Evidence of IL-18 as a novel angiogenic mediator

Angiogenesis, or new blood vessel growth, is a key process in the development of synovial inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Integral to this pathologic proliferation are proinflammatory cytokines. We hypothesized a role for IL-18 as an angiogenic mediator in RA. We examined the effect of human IL-18 on human microvascular endothelial cell (HMVEC) migration. IL-18 induced HMVEC migration at 1 nM (p < 0.05). RA synovial fluids potently induced endothelial cell migration, but IL-18 immunodepletion resulted in a 68 +/- 5% decrease in HMVEC migration (p < 0.05). IL-18 appears to act on HMVECs via alpha(v)beta(3) integrin. To test whether IL-18 induced endothelial cell tube formation in vitro, we quantitated the degree of tube formation on Matrigel matrix. IL-18, 1 or 10 nM, resulted in a 77% or 87% increase in tube formation compared with control (p < 0.05). To determine whether IL-18 may be angiogenic in vivo, we implanted IL-18 in Matrigel plugs in mice, and IL-18 at 1 and 10 nM induced angiogenesis (p < 0.05). The angiogenesis observed appears to be independent of the contribution of local TNF-alpha, as evidenced by adding neutralizing anti-TNF-alpha Ab to the Matrigel plugs. In an alternative in vivo model, sponges embedded with IL-18 or control were implanted into mice. IL-18 (10 nM) induced a 4-fold increase in angiogenesis vs the control (p < 0.05). These findings support a novel function for IL-18 as an angiogenic factor in RA and may elucidate a potential therapeutic target for angiogenesis-directed diseases.     

Heparin affin regulatory peptide/pleiotrophin negatively affects diverse biological activities in C6 glioma cells

Heparin affin regulatory peptide (HARP) or pleiotrophin seems to be involved in the progression of several tumors of diverse origin. In this study, we tried to determine the role of HARP in rat C6 glioma cells by using an antisense strategy for inhibition of HARP expression. Decrease of the expression of endogenous HARP in C6 cells (AS-C6 cells) significantly increased proliferation, migration, and anchorage-independent growth of cells. Implantation of AS-C6 cells onto chicken embryo chorioallantoic membranes resulted in a significant increase of tumor-induced angiogenesis compared with that induced by non-transfected or C6 cells transfected with the plasmid alone (PC-C6 cells). In the same line, conditioned medium from AS-C6 cells significantly increased endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation in vitro compared with the effect of conditioned medium from C6 or PC-C6 cells. Interestingly, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induced C6 cell proliferation and migration, and SU1496, a selective inhibitor of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2), blocked increased glioma cell growth, migration, and angiogenicity observed in AS-C6 cell cultures. The above results seem to be due to a direct interaction between HARP and VEGF in the culture medium of C6 and PC-C6 cells, while AS-C6 cells secreted comparable amounts of VEGF that do not interact with HARP. Collectively, these data suggest that HARP negatively affects diverse biological activities in C6 glioma cells, mainly due to binding of HARP to VEGF, which may sequester secreted VEGF from signalling through VEGFR2.     

Targeted disruption of endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule inhibits angiogenic processes in vitro and in vivo

Endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule (ESAM) is a member of the immunoglobulin receptor family that mediates homophilic interactions between endothelial cells. To address potential in vivo angiogenic functions of this molecule, mice lacking ESAM (ESAM-/-) were generated by gene-targeted deletion. ESAM-/- mice did not show overt morphological defects in the vasculature. To evaluate the role of ESAM in pathological angiogenesis, wild type (WT) and ESAM-/- mice were injected with melanoma and Lewis lung carcinoma cells. By 14 days after injection, tumor volumes of B16F10 and LL/2 in ESAM-/- mice were 48 and 37% smaller, respectively, compared with WT mice. Vascular density of the tumors, as determined by CD31 staining, was also decreased in the ESAM null animals. Matrigel plug assays showed less neovascularization in ESAM-/- mice than in WT mice. ESAM-/- endothelial cells exhibited less in vitro tube formation and decreased migration in response to basic fibroblast growth factor when compared with WT cells, and endothelial-like yolk sac cells engineered to overexpress ESAM showed accelerated tube formation in vitro. These in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that ESAM has a redundant functional role in physiological angiogenesis but serves a unique and essential role in pathological angiogenic processes such as tumor growth.     

Cyclooxygenase Regulates Angiogenesis Induced by Colon Cancer Cells

To explore the role of cyclooxygenase (COX) in endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis, we have used two in vitro model systems involving coculture of endothelial cells with colon carcinoma cells. COX-2-overexpressing cells produce prostaglandins, proangiogenic factors, and stimulate both endothelial migration and tube formation, while control cells have little activity. The effect is inhibited by antibodies to combinations of angiogenic factors, by NS-398 (a selective COX-2 inhibitor), and by aspirin. NS-398 does not inhibit production of angiogenic factors or angiogenesis induced by COX-2-negative cells. Treatment of endothelial cells with aspirin or a COX-1 antisense oligonucleotide inhibits COX-1 activity/expression and suppresses tube formation. Cyclooxygenase regulates colon carcinoma-induced angiogenesis by two mechanisms: COX-2 can modulate production of angiogenic factors by colon cancer cells, while COX-1 regulates angiogenesis in endothelial cells.     

Neuromedin B induces angiogenesis via activation of ERK and Akt in endothelial cells

Neuromedin B (NMB) is one of the bombesin-like peptides in mammals. Recently, bombesin-like peptides have been characterized as growth factors in highly vascularized tumors. In this study, we report that NMB potently stimulates in vivo neovascularization in a mouse Matrigel plug and the sprouting of endothelial cells ex vivo in rat aortic rings. In addition, NMB increases the migration and tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Moreover, treatment of HUVECs with NMB activates the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK_1/2), Akt, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and increases the level of NO production in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, ERK activation and angiogenic sprouting in response to NMB are significantly blocked by the MEK inhibitor. Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) suppresses the NMB-stimulated tubular formation of HUVECs, along with reduction in the phosphorylation of Akt and eNOS. Taken together, these results indicate that NMB is a novel angiogenic peptide, and its angiogenic activity is mediated by activating the MEK/ERK- and PI3K/Akt/eNOS-dependent pathways. This study suggests that NMB may play important roles in mediating a variety of pathophysiological angiogenesis.     

ARTEMIN Promotes De Novo Angiogenesis in ER Negative Mammary Carcinoma through Activation of TWIST1-VEGF-A Signalling

The neurotrophic factor ARTEMIN (ARTN) has been reported to possess a role in mammary carcinoma progression and metastasis. Herein, we report that ARTN modulates endothelial cell behaviour and promotes angiogenesis in ER-mammary carcinoma (ER-MC). Human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) do not express ARTN but respond to exogenously added, and paracrine ARTN secreted by ER-MC cells. ARTN promoted endothelial cell proliferation, migration, invasion and 3D matrigel tube formation. Angiogenic behaviour promoted by ARTN secreted by ER-MC cells was mediated by AKT with resultant increased TWIST1 and subsequently VEGF-A expression. In a patient cohort of ER-MC, ARTN positively correlated with VEGF-A expression as measured by Spearman’s rank correlation analysis. In xenograft experiments, ER-MC cells with forced expression of ARTN produced tumors with increased VEGF-A expression and increased microvessel density (CD31 and CD34) compared to tumors formed by control cells. Functional inhibition of ARTN by siRNA decreased the angiogenic effects of ER-MC cells. Bevacizumab (a humanized monoclonal anti-VEGF-A antibody) partially inhibited the ARTN mediated angiogenic effects of ER-MC cells and combined inhibition of ARTN and VEGF-A by the same resulted in further significant decrease in the angiogenic effects of ER-MC cells. Thus, ARTN stimulates de novo tumor angiogenesis mediated in part by VEGF-A. ARTN therefore co-ordinately regulates multiple aspects of tumor growth and metastasis.     

Anti-Tumor Activity of a Novel HS-Mimetic-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Binding Small Molecule

The angiogenic process is controlled by variety of factors of which the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway plays a major role. A series of heparan sulfate mimetic small molecules targeting VEGF/VEGFR pathway has been synthesized. Among them, compound 8 (2-butyl-5-chloro-3-(4-nitro-benzyl)-3H-imidazole-4-carbaldehyde) was identified as a significant binding molecule for the heparin-binding domain of VEGF, determined by high-throughput-surface plasmon resonance assay. The data predicted strong binding of compound 8 with VEGF which may prevent the binding of VEGF to its receptor. We compared the structure of compound 8 with heparan sulfate (HS), which have in common the functional ionic groups such as sulfate, nitro and carbaldehyde that can be located in similar positions of the disaccharide structure of HS. Molecular docking studies predicted that compound 8 binds at the heparin binding domain of VEGF through strong hydrogen bonding with Lys-30 and Gln-20 amino acid residues, and consistent with the prediction, compound 8 inhibited binding of VEGF to immobilized heparin. In vitro studies showed that compound 8 inhibits the VEGF-induced proliferation migration and tube formation of mouse vascular endothelial cells, and finally the invasion of a murine osteosarcoma cell line (LM8G7) which secrets high levels of VEGF. In vivo, these effects produce significant decrease of tumor burden in an experimental model of liver metastasis. Collectively, these data indicate that compound 8 may prevent tumor growth through a direct effect on tumor cell proliferation and by inhibition of endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis mediated by VEGF. In conclusion, compound 8 may normalize the tumor vasculature and microenvironment in tumors probably by inhibiting the binding of VEGF to its receptor.     

Class IIb HDAC6 regulates endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis by deacetylation of cortactin

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) deacetylate histones and non-histone proteins, thereby affecting protein activity and gene expression. The regulation and function of the cytoplasmic class IIb HDAC6 in endothelial cells (ECs) is largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that HDAC6 is upregulated by hypoxia and is essential for angiogenesis. Silencing of HDAC6 in ECs decreases sprouting and migration in vitro and formation of functional vascular networks in matrigel plugs in vivo. HDAC6 regulates zebrafish vessel formation, and HDAC6-deficient mice showed a reduced formation of perfused vessels in matrigel plugs. Consistently, overexpression of wild-type HDAC6 increases sprouting from spheroids. HDAC6 function requires the catalytic activity but is independent of ubiquitin binding and deacetylation of α-tubulin. Instead, we found that HDAC6 interacts with and deacetylates the actin-remodelling protein cortactin in ECs, which is essential for zebrafish vessel formation and which mediates the angiogenic effect of HDAC6. In summary, we show that HDAC6 is necessary for angiogenesis in vivo and in vitro, involving the interaction and deacetylation of cortactin that regulates EC migration and sprouting.     

Peptides derived from two separate domains of the matrix protein thrombospondin-1 have anti-angiogenic activity

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) is a large modular matrix protein containing three identical disulfide-linked 180-kD chains that inhibits neovascularization in vivo (Good et al., 1990). To determine which of the structural motifs present in the 180-kD TSP1 polypeptide mediate the anti-angiogenic activity, a series of protease-generated fragments were tested using several in vitro and in vivo assays that reflect angiogenic activity. The majority of the anti-angiogenic activity of TSP1 resides in the central 70-kD stalk region which alone could block neovascularization induced by bFGF in the rat cornea in vivo and inhibit both migration in a modified Boyden chamber and [3H]thymidine incorporation stimulated by bFGF in cultured capillary endothelial cells. Although TSP1 has been shown to bind active TGF beta 1, this cytokine could not account for the inhibitory effects of the stalk region of TSP1 on cultured endothelial cells. Peptides and truncated molecules were used to further localize inhibitory activity to two domains of the central stalk, the procollagen homology region and the properdin-like type 1 repeats. Trimeric recombinant TSP1 containing NH2- terminal sequences truncated after the procollagen-like module inhibited endothelial cell migration in vitro and corneal neovascularization in vivo whereas trimeric molecules truncated before this domain were inactive as was the NH2-terminal heparin-binding domain that is present in both recombinant molecules. A series of peptides from the procollagen-like region, the smallest of which consisted of residues 303-309 of TSP1, inhibited angiogenesis in vivo in the rat cornea and the migration of endothelial cells in vitro. A 19- residue peptide containing these sequences blocked vessel formation in the granulation tissue invading a polyvinyl sponge implanted into the mouse. Nineteen residue peptides derived from two of the three type 1 repeats present in the intact TSP1 molecule blocked neovascularization in vivo in the rat cornea and inhibited the migration of cultured endothelial cells with ED50's of 0.6-7 microM. One of these peptides, containing residues 481-499 of TSP1, also inhibited vessel formation in granulation tissue invading sponges in vivo. These results suggest that the large TSP1 molecule employs at least two different structural domains and perhaps two different mechanisms to accomplish a single physiological function, the inhibition of neovascularization. The definition of short peptides from each of these domains that are able to block the angiogenic process may be of use in designing targeted inhibitors of the pathological neovascularization that underlies many diseases.     

SPARC is a source of copper-binding peptides that stimulate angiogenesis

SPARC is a transiently expressed extracellular matrix-binding protein that alters cell shape and regulates endothelial cell proliferation in vitro. In this study, we show that SPARC mRNA and protein are synthesized by endothelial cells during angiogenesis in vivo. SPARC and peptides derived from a cationic region of the protein (amino acids 113- 130) stimulated the formation of endothelial cords in vitro; moreover, these peptides stimulated angiogenesis in vivo. Mapping of the active domain demonstrated that the sequence KGHK was responsible for most of the angiogenic activity; substitution of the His residue decreased the effect. We found that proteolysis of SPARC provided a source of KGHK, GHK, and longer peptides that contained these sequences. Although the Cu(2+)-GHK complex had been identified as a mitogen/morphogen in normal human plasma, we found KGHK and longer peptides to be potent stimulators of angiogenesis. SPARC113-130 and KGHK were shown to bind Cu2+ with high affinity; however, previous incubation with Cu2+ was not required for the stimulatory activity. Since a peptide from a second cationic region of SPARC (SPARC54-73) also bound Cu2+ but had no effect on angiogenesis, the angiogenic activity appeared to be sequence specific and independent of bound Cu2+. Thus, specific degradation of SPARC, a matrix-associated protein expressed by endothelial cells during vascular remodeling, releases a bioactive peptide or peptides, containing the sequence (K)GHK, that could regulate angiogenesis in vivo.     

Angiomotin: an angiostatin binding protein that regulates endothelial cell migration and tube formation

Angiostatin, a circulating inhibitor of angiogenesis, was identified by its ability to maintain dormancy of established metastases in vivo. In vitro, angiostatin inhibits endothelial cell migration, proliferation, and tube formation, and induces apoptosis in a cell type-specific manner. We have used a construct encoding the kringle domains 1--4 of angiostatin to screen a placenta yeast two-hybrid cDNA library for angiostatin-binding peptides. Here we report the identification of angiomotin, a novel protein that mediates angiostatin inhibition of migration and tube formation of endothelial cells. In vivo, angiomotin is expressed in the endothelial cells of capillaries as well as larger vessels of the human placenta. Upon expression of angiomotin in HeLa cells, angiomotin bound and internalized fluorescein-labeled angiostatin. Transfected angiomotin as well as endogenous angiomotin protein were localized to the leading edge of migrating endothelial cells. Expression of angiomotin in endothelial cells resulted in increased cell migration, suggesting a stimulatory role of angiomotin in cell motility. However, treatment with angiostatin inhibited migration and tube formation in angiomotin-expressing cells but not in control cells. These findings indicate that angiostatin inhibits cell migration by interfering with angiomotin activity in endothelial cells.