title: Toluhydroquinone, the secondary metabolite of marine algae symbiotic microorganism, inhibits angiogenesis in HUVECs.
abstract: Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels from the existing ones, occurs during embryo development and wound healing. However, most malignant tumors require angiogenesis for their growth and metastasis as well. Therefore, inhibition of angiogenesis has been focused as a new strategy of cancer therapies. To treat cancer, there are marine microorganism-derived secondary metabolites developed as chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, we used toluhydroquinone (2-methyl-1,4-hydroquinone), one of the secondary metabolites isolated from marine algae symbiotic fungus, Aspergillus sp. We examined the effects of toluhydroquinone on angiogenesis using HUVECs. We identified that toluhydroquinone inhibited the activity of β-catenin and down-regulated Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling which are crucial components during angiogenesis. In addition, the expression and activity of MMPs are reduced by the treatment of toluhydroquinone. In conclusion, we confirmed that toluhydroquinone has inhibitory effects on angiogenic behaviors of human endothelial cells, HUVECs. Our findings suggest that toluhydroquinone can be proposed as a potent anti-angiogenesis drug candidate to treat cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Fisheries Science, Pukyong National University, 608-737 Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Nan-Hee
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Fisheries Science, Pukyong National University, 608-737 Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Il
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Fisheries Science, Pukyong National University, 608-737 Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Woo-Suk
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, College of Fisheries Science, Pukyong National University, 608-737 Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byeng-Wha
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Son
authors.affiliation: Institute of Fisheries Science, College of Fisheries Science, Pukyong National University, 608-737 Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Bae
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Fisheries Science, Pukyong National University, 608-737 Busan, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: choijs@pknu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jae Sue
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Fisheries Science, Pukyong National University, 608-737 Busan, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: gundokim@pknu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Gun-Do
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006873:Hydroquinones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000378:metabolism*; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D006873:Hydroquinones; C031927:hydroquinone
keywords: Angiogenesis; Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling; Toluhydroquinone; β-catenin