Peptides encoded by exon 6 of VEGF inhibit endothelial cell biological responses and angiogenesis induced by VEGF.
VEGF induces pathological angiogenesis and is an important target for the development of novel antiangiogenic molecules. In this study, we tested synthetic peptides based on the sequence of VEGF(189) for their ability to inhibit VEGF receptor binding and biological responses. We identified 12-amino acid peptides derived from exon 6 that inhibited VEGF binding to HUVECs, VEGF-stimulated ERK activation, and prostacyclin production. These peptides inhibited VEGF-induced mitogenesis, migration, and VEGF-dependent survival of endothelial cells, but caused no increase in apoptosis in the absence of VEGF. Exon 6-encoded peptides also caused a marked inhibition of VEGF-induced angiogenesis in vitro. Studies of effects of peptides on cross-linking of VEGF to its receptors and on binding of VEGF to porcine aortic endothelial cells expressing either KDR or neuropilin-1 showed that exon 6-encoded peptides effectively blocked the interaction of VEGF with both receptors. Exon 6-derived peptides caused release of bFGF from endothelial cells but inhibited bFGF-dependent ERK activation, cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Our findings indicate that VEGF exon 6-encoded peptides inhibit VEGF-induced angiogenesis, at least in part through inhibition of VEGF binding to KDR. In addition, exon 6-encoded peptides are also effective inhibitors of bFGF-mediated angiogenesis.
Jia
H
H
Department of Medicine, Ark Therapeutics Limited, The Rayne Institute, University College London, WC1E 6JJ, United Kingdom. haiyan.jia@ucl.ac.uk
Jezequel
S
S
Löhr
M
M
Shaikh
S
S
Davis
D
D
Soker
S
S
Selwood
D
D
Zachary
I
I
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D039942:Neuropilin-1; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D013552:Swine; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D039942:Neuropilin-1; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases