Antiangiogenic properties of lupulone, a bitter acid of hop cones.

Background: Angiogenesis is the result of intricate steps regulated by the balance between agonistic and antagonistic effectors. Disturbance of this balance leads to an 'angiogenic' switch critical for tumor development.

Materials And Methods: Using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) the effects of lupulone were analyzed on proliferation induced by angiogenic growth factors, transmembrane cell migration toward fibronectin and formation of a network of tubular-like structures on Matrigel.

Antiangiogenic effects of spironolactone and other potassium-sparing diuretics in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and in fibrin gel chambers implanted in rats.

Objective: Potassium-sparing diuretics have different effects on angiogenesis that may mediate some abilities to treat cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the current study was to compare the effects of spironolactone and an active metabolite, canrenone, or a derivative, eplerenone, and amiloride, a diuretic without affecting mineralocorticoid activity, on the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and on angiogenesis in fibrin gel chambers implanted in rats.

Materials And Methods: We measured the effects of spironolactone, canrenone, eplerenone, and amiloride on the proliferation of HUVEC in the presence or absence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF).