title: Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor PTK787/ZK 222584 inhibits both the induction and elicitation phases of contact hypersensitivity.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its endothelial cell receptors (VEGFR) have been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of the contact hypersensitivity (CHS) reaction. Previous studies have demonstrated that anti-VEGFR-2 antibody significantly suppresses the elicitation phase of CHS but does not affect the induction phase. PTK787/ZK 222584 (1-[4-chloroanilino]-4-[4-pyridylmethyl] phthalazine succinate; PTK/ZK) is a potent inhibitor of VEGFR tyrosine kinases. To test the effect of PTK/ZK on the induction and elicitation phases of CHS separately, we used an established method of CHS assay-sensitization and challenge in BALB/c mice. Either 50 mg/kg/day PTK/ZK or vehicle serving as a control was administered orally in the induction or elicitation phases separately. In the afferent phase, flow cytometry of skin-draining lymph node cells revealed that the migration of Langerhans cells was suppressed in the mice treated with PTK/ZK at sensitization. The degrees of ear swelling at 24 and 48 h were significantly diminished in mice treated with PTK/ZK at sensitization (P < 0.05). In the efferent phase, the degrees of ear swelling at 24 h (P < 0.01) and 48 h (P < 0.05), ear blood flow at 24 and 48 h (P < 0.01), and production of VEGF in the epidermis at 24 h (P < 0.05) were significantly suppressed in mice treated with PTK/ZK at elicitation. These findings and previous demonstrations suggest that both VEGF R-1 and VEGF R-2 are needed during the induction phase, and that VEGFR-2 has a pivotal role in the elicitation phase of the CHS reaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Showa University School of Medicine, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Aisaku
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Hirohiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sueki
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yasuhara
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iijima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD; D002464:Cell Migration Inhibition; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020405:Dermis / Q000098:blood supply; D004431:Ear, External / Q000098:blood supply / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000494:pharmacology; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010081:Oxazolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D010793:Phthalazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D010793:Phthalazines; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D010081:Oxazolone; C404768:vatalanib; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate