Endostar, a novel recombinant human endostatin, exerts antiangiogenic effect via blocking VEGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of KDR/Flk-1 of endothelial cells

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2007 Sep 14;361(1):79-84. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.06.155. Epub 2007 Jul 10.

Abstract

Endostar, a novel recombinant human endostatin expressed and purified in Escherichia coli with an additional nine-amino acid sequence and forming another his-tag structure, was approved by the SFDA in 2005 for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. But its mechanism of action has not been illustrated before. In this study, we examined the antiangiogenic activities of endostar in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that endostar suppressed the VEGF-stimulated proliferation, migration, and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro. Endostar blocked microvessel sprouting from rat aortic rings in vitro. Moreover, it could inhibit the formation of new capillaries from pre-existing vessels in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay and affect the growth of vessels in tumor. We further found the antiangiogenic effects of endostar were correlated with the VEGF-triggered signaling. Endostar suppressed the VEGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of KDR/Flk-1(VEGFR-2) as well as the overall VEGFR-2 expression and the activation of ERK, p38 MAPK, and AKT in HUVECs. Collectively, these data indicated the relationship between endostar and VEGF signal pathways and provided a molecular basis for the antiangiogenic effects of endostar.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Carcinoma, Lewis Lung / blood supply
  • Carcinoma, Lewis Lung / pathology
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Chick Embryo
  • Endostatins / pharmacology*
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / physiology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Mice
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Rats
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Tyrosine / metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / chemistry
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / metabolism

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Endostatins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Tyrosine
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2
  • endostar protein