title: The COOH-terminal peptide of platelet factor-4 variant (CXCL4L1/PF-4var47-70) strongly inhibits angiogenesis and suppresses B16 melanoma growth in vivo.
abstract: Chemokines influence tumor growth directly or indirectly via both angiogenesis and tumor-leukocyte interactions. Platelet factor-4 (CXCL4/PF-4), which is released from alpha-granules of activated platelets, is the first described angiostatic chemokine. Recently, it was found that the variant of CXCL4/PF-4 (CXCL4L1/PF-4var) could exert a more pronounced angiostatic and antitumoral effect than CXCL4/PF-4. However, the molecular mechanisms of the angiostatic activities of the PF-4 forms remain partially elusive. Here, we studied the biological properties of the chemically synthesized COOH-terminal peptides of CXCL4/PF-4 (CXCL4/PF-4(47-70)) and CXCL4L1/PF-4var (CXCL4L1/PF-4var(47-70)). Both PF-4 peptides lacked monocyte and lymphocyte chemotactic activity but equally well inhibited (25 nmol/L) endothelial cell motility and proliferation in the presence of a single stimulus (i.e., exogenous recombinant fibroblast growth factor-2). In contrast, when assayed in more complex angiogenesis test systems characterized by the presence of multiple mediators, including in vitro wound-healing (2.5 nmol/L versus 12.5 nmol/L), Matrigel (60 nmol/L versus 300 nmol/L), and chorioallantoic membrane assays, CXCL4L1/PF-4var(47-70) was found to be significantly (5-fold) more angiostatic than CXCL4/PF-4(47-70). In addition, low (7 microg total) doses of intratumoral CXCL4L1/PF-4var(47-70) inhibited B16 melanoma growth in mice more extensively than CXCL4/PF-4(47-70). This antitumoral activity was predominantly mediated through inhibition of angiogenesis (without affecting blood vessel stability) and induction of apoptosis, as evidenced by immunohistochemical and fluorescent staining of B16 tumor tissue. In conclusion, CXCL4L1/PF-4var(47-70) is a potent antitumoral and antiangiogenic peptide. These results may represent the basis for the design of CXCL4L1/PF-4var COOH-terminal-derived peptidomimetic anticancer drugs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vandercappellen
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liekens
authors.forename: Annelies
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bronckaers
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noppen
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ronsse
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dillen
authors.forename: Mirella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belleri
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mitola
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Proost
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Presta
authors.forename: Sofie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Struyf
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Damme
mesh_terms: D043165:Angiostatic Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001681:Biological Assay; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010978:Platelet Factor 4 / Q000819:agonists / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D043165:Angiostatic Proteins; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C064936:PF4V1 protein, human; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010978:Platelet Factor 4