title: Anti-angiogenesis and anti-tumor activity of recombinant anginex.
abstract: Anginex, a synthetic 33-mer angiostatic peptide, specifically inhibits vascular endothelial cell proliferation and migration along with induction of apoptosis in endothelial cells. Here we report on the in vivo characterization of recombinant anginex and use of the artificial anginex gene for gene therapy approaches. Tumor growth of human MA148 ovarian carcinoma in athymic mice was inhibited by 80% when treated with recombinant anginex. Histological analysis of the tumors showed an approximate 2.5-fold reduction of microvessel density, suggesting that angiogenesis inhibition is the cause of the anti-tumor effect. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between the gene expression patterns of 16 angiogenesis-related factors after treatment with both recombinant and synthetic anginex. To validate the applicability of the anginex gene for gene therapy, stable transfectants of murine B16F10 melanoma cells expressing recombinant anginex were made. Supernatants of these cells inhibited endothelial cell proliferation in vitro. Furthermore, after subcutaneous injection of these cells in C57BL/6 mice, an extensive delay in tumor growth was observed. These data show that the artificial anginex gene can be used to produce a recombinant protein with similar activity as its synthetic counterpart and that the gene can be applied in gene therapy approaches for cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Angiogenesis Laboratory, Research Institute Growth and Development GROW, Department of Pathology, Maastricht University and University Hospital, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ricardo J M G E
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Brandwijk
authors.forename: Ruud P M
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Dings
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van der Linden
authors.forename: Kevin H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Mayo
authors.forename: Victor L J L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Thijssen
authors.forename: Arjan W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Griffioen
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C111993:betapep-25 protein, synthetic