title: 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors interfere with angiogenesis by inhibiting the geranylgeranylation of RhoA.
abstract: Angiogenesis is implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and atherosclerosis and in the treatment of coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease. Here, cholesterol-lowering agents, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, are shown to interfere with angiogenesis. In vivo, the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor simvastatin dose-dependently inhibited capillary growth in both vascular endothelial growth factor-stimulated chick chorioallantoic membranes and basic fibroblast growth factor-stimulated mouse corneas. In vitro, the development of tubelike structures by human microvascular endothelial cells cultured on 3D collagen gels was inhibited at simvastatin concentrations similar to those found in the serum of patients on therapeutic doses of this agent. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors interfered with angiogenesis via inhibition of the geranylgeranylation and membrane localization of RhoA. Simvastatin inhibited membrane localization of RhoA with a concentration dependence similar to that for the inhibition of tube formation, whereas geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, the substrate for the geranylgeranylation of Rho, reversed the effect of simvastatin on tube formation and on the membrane localization of RhoA. Furthermore, tube formation was inhibited by GGTI, a specific inhibitor of the geranylgeranylation of Rho; by C3 exotoxin, which inactivates Rho; and by the adenoviral expression of a dominant-negative RhoA mutant. The expression of a dominant-activating RhoA mutant reversed the effect of simvastatin on tube formation. Finally, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors inhibited signaling by vascular endothelial growth factor, Akt, and focal adhesion kinase, three RhoA-dependent pathways known to be involved in angiogenesis. This study demonstrates a new relationship between lipid metabolism and angiogenesis and an antiangiogenic effect of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors with possible important therapeutic implications.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Ho-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dequan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iruela-Arispe
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Begley
authors.forename: Dongjiang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Jonas B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Galper
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology; D003315:Cornea / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D017368:Protein Prenylation / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D003094:Collagen; D019821:Simvastatin; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein