Inhibition of angiogenesis and tumor growth by a novel 1,4-naphthoquinone derivative.

Hit, Lead & Candidate Discovery Antiangiogenesis therapy is a promising way for treatment of solid cancers, and many angiogenesis inhibitors that target vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or its receptors have been developed. We explored novel antiangiogenic compounds other than anti-VEGF drugs by screening our synthetic compound library and found that 6-thiophen-3-yl-2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (6-TMNQ) had potential as a novel angiogenesis inhibitor. This paper describes the effects of 6-TMNQ on angiogenesis and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo.

Inhibition of the proliferation and acceleration of migration of vascular endothelial cells by increased cysteine-rich motor neuron 1.

Cysteine-rich motor neuron 1 (CRIM1) is upregulated only in extracellular matrix gels by angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). It then plays a critical role in the tube formation of endothelial cells. In the present study, we investigated the effects of increased CRIM1 on other endothelial functions such as proliferation and migration.

Resveratrol inhibits angiogenic response of cultured endothelial F-2 cells to vascular endothelial growth factor, but not to basic fibroblast growth factor.

Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol in grapes, is known to prevent the cardiovascular diseases and to exert the antiangiogenic effect in in vivo models with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). We examined the effect of resveratrol on tubule formation of cultured endothelial F-2 cells. In collagen gel matrix, F-2 cells formed an extended network of tubular structures in response to VEGF or bFGF.

Differential effect of resveratrol on nitric oxide production in endothelial f-2 cells.

We examined the rapid effect of resveratrol on nitric oxide (NO) production in endothelial F-2 cells. During an incubation period of 10 min, resveratrol at low concentrations (<20 microM) had no effect on NO production, whereas it significantly increased NO production at high concentrations (>50 microM). In contrast, pretreatment with resveratrol at low concentrations caused a significant decrease in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-stimulated NO production.

Carnosine facilitates nitric oxide production in endothelial f-2 cells.

We examined the effect of carnosine (beta-alanyl-histidine) on nitric oxide (NO) production and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) activation in endothelial F-2 cells. Carnosine enhanced NO production in a dose-dependent manner, and the stimulatory effect of carnosine was observed at concentrations exceeding 5 mM. The carnosine-stimulated NO production was inhibited by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, but not by N(G)-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester.

Cyclophosphamide enhances TNF-alpha-induced apoptotic cell death in murine vascular endothelial cell.

Cyclophosphamide (CPA) is one of the therapeutic agents for systemic inflammatory disorders. In murine dermal endothelial cells (F-2), 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide (4-HC), which is active metabolite of CPA, enhanced TNF-alpha-induced DNA fragmentation. In addition, 4-HC was shown to elevate TNF-alpha-induced caspase-3 activation.

Roles of cell adhesion molecules in tumor angiogenesis induced by cotransplantation of cancer and endothelial cells to nude rats.

Roles of cell adhesion molecules mediating the interaction of cancer and endothelial cells in tumor angiogenesis were investigated using new in vitro and in vivo model systems with a cultured murine endothelial cell line (F-2) and human cultured epidermoid cancer cells (A431). The A431 cells exhibited typical in vitro cell adhesion to the endothelial F-2 cells. The initial step of adhesion was mediated by sialyl Lewis(x) (Le(x)) and sialyl Le(a), the carbohydrate determinants expressed on the cancer cells, and E-selectin expressed constitutively on F-2 cells.

Cytotoxicity of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha for vascular endothelial cell is mediated by nitric oxide.

Endothelial cell injury is a critical event in tissue damage accompanying inflammation, in which both inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species may play pivotal roles, although the exact mechanism has not yet been clarified. We found that combined stimulation with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induced both cytotoxicity to murine vascular endothelial cell line F-2 and an increase in nitric oxide (NO). Therefore, in the present study, the implication of NO in cytotoxicity was examined.