title: Angiotensin-(1-7) inhibits tumor angiogenesis in human lung cancer xenografts with a reduction in vascular endothelial growth factor.
abstract: Angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] is an endogenous seven-amino acid peptide hormone with antiproliferative properties. Our previous studies showed that Ang-(1-7) inhibits the growth of human lung cancer cells in vitro and reduces the size of human lung tumor xenografts in vivo. In the current study, s.c. injection of Ang-(1-7) not only caused a significant reduction in human A549 lung tumor growth but also markedly decreased vessel density, suggesting that the heptapeptide inhibits angiogenesis to reduce tumor size. A decrease in human endothelial cell tubule formation in Matrigel was observed following a 16 h incubation with Ang-(1-7), with a maximal reduction at a 10 nmol/L concentration. Ang-(1-7) had similar antiangiogenic effects in the chick chorioallantoic membrane, causing a >50% decrease in neovascularization. The Ang-(1-7)-induced reduction in both endothelial cell tubule formation and vessel formation in the chick was completely blocked by the specific Ang-(1-7) receptor antagonist [d-proline(7)]-Ang-(1-7), suggesting that these biological actions are mediated by an AT((1-7)) receptor. Ang-(1-7) significantly reduced vascular endothelial growth factor-A protein and mRNA in tumors from mice treated with the heptapeptide compared with saline controls as well as in the parent A549 human lung cancer cells in culture. These results suggest that Ang-(1-7) may attenuate tumor angiogenesis by reducing vascular endothelial growth factor-A, a primary proangiogenic protein. Taken together, this study shows that Ang-(1-7) exhibits significant antiangiogenic activity and may be a novel therapeutic agent for lung cancer treatment targeting a specific AT((1-7)) receptor.
authors.affiliation: Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Soto-Pantoja
authors.forename: Jyotsana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: Patricia E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: E Ann
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Tallant
mesh_terms: D000803:Angiotensin I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D049033:Chorioallantoic Membrane / Q000098:blood supply; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000803:Angiotensin I; C118790:angiotensin I (1-7)