title: In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the anti-angiogenic actions of 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  4-Hydroxybenzyl alcohol (HBA) is a phenolic plant compound, which has been shown to influence many cellular mechanisms. In the present study, we analysed in vitro and in vivo the anti-angiogenic actions of this pleiotropic agent.
  
  
  METHODS
  Migration and protein expression of HBA- and vehicle-treated endothelial-like eEND2 cells was assessed by cell migration assay and Western blot analyses. HBA action on vascular sprouting was analysed in an aortic ring assay. In vivo anti-angiogenic actions of HBA were studied in the dorsal skinfold chamber model of endometriosis in mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Western blot analyses demonstrated that HBA inhibited proliferation of eEND2 cells, as indicated by down-regulation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression, and reduced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase 9. HBA suppressed the migration of eEND2 cells, accompanied by inhibition of actin filament reorganization, revealed by fluorescence staining of the cytoskeleton. In addition, HBA reduced vascular sprouting in the aortic ring assay. Finally, we found, in the dorsal skinfold chamber model in vivo using intravital fluorescence microscopy, that HBA inhibited the vascularization of developing endometriotic lesions, as indicated by a decreased functional capillary density of lesions in HBA-treated mice and a reduced lesion size, compared with control animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HBA targets several angiogenic mechanisms and therefore represents a promising anti-angiogenic agent for the treatment of angiogenic diseases, such as endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical & Experimental Surgery, University of Saarland, Homburg/Saar, Germany. matthias.laschke@uniklinik-saarland.de
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Laschke
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Vorsterman van Oijen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scheuer
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Menger
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects; D001592:Benzyl Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D001592:Benzyl Alcohols; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C018966:4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9