scholarly journals β-Caryophyllene Induces Apoptosis and Inhibits Angiogenesis in Colorectal Cancer Models

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (19) ◽  
pp. 10550
Author(s):  
Saad S. Dahham ◽  
Yasser Tabana ◽  
Muhammad Asif ◽  
Marawan Ahmed ◽  
Dinesh Babu ◽  
...  

Beta-Caryophyllene (BCP), a naturally occurring sesquiterpene abundantly found in cloves, hops, and cannabis, is the active candidate of a relatively new group of vascular-inhibiting compounds that aim to block existing tumor blood vessels. Previously, we have reported the anti-cancer properties of BCP by utilizing a series of in-vitro anti-tumor-related assays using human colorectal carcinoma cells. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of BCP on in-vitro, ex-vivo, and in-vivo models of anti-angiogenic assays and evaluate its anti-cancer activity in xenograft tumor (both ectopic and orthotopic) mice models of human colorectal cancer. Computational structural analysis and an apoptosis antibody array were also performed to understand the molecular players underlying this effect. BCP exhibited strong anti-angiogenic activity by blocking the migration of endothelial cells, tube-like network formation, suppression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion from human umbilical vein endothelial cells and sprouting of rat aorta microvessels. BCP has a probable binding at Site#0 on the surface of VEGFR2. Moreover, BCP significantly deformed the vascularization architecture compared to the negative control in a chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay. BCP showed a remarkable reduction in tumor size and fluorescence molecular tomography signal intensity in all the mice treated with BCP, in a dose-dependent relationship, in ectopic and orthotopic tumor xenograft models, respectively. The histological analysis of the tumor from BCP-treated mice revealed a clear reduction of the density of vascularization. In addition, BCP induced apoptosis through downregulation of HSP60, HTRA, survivin, and XIAP, along with the upregulation of p21 expressions. These results suggest that BCP acts at multiple stages of angiogenesis and could be used as a promising therapeutic candidate to halt the growth of colorectal tumor cells.

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessia Lo Curto ◽  
Simona Taverna ◽  
Maria Assunta Costa ◽  
Rosa Passantino ◽  
Giuseppa Augello ◽  
...  

Fabry disease (FD) is a lysosomal storage disorder (LSD) characterized by lysosomal accumulation of glycosphingolipids in a wide variety of cytotypes, including endothelial cells (ECs). FD patients experience a significantly reduced life expectancy compared to the general population; therefore, the association with a premature aging process would be plausible. To assess this hypothesis, miR-126-3p, a senescence-associated microRNA (SA-miRNAs), was considered as an aging biomarker. The levels of miR-126-3p contained in small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), with about 130 nm of diameter, were measured in FD patients and healthy subjects divided into age classes, in vitro, in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) “young” and undergoing replicative senescence, through a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) approach. We confirmed that, in vivo, circulating miR-126 levels physiologically increase with age. In vitro, miR-126 augments in HUVECs underwent replicative senescence. We observed that FD patients are characterized by higher miR-126-3p levels in sEVs, compared to age-matched healthy subjects. We also explored, in vitro, the effect on ECs of glycosphingolipids that are typically accumulated in FD patients. We observed that FD storage substances induced in HUVECs premature senescence and increased of miR-126-3p levels. This study reinforces the hypothesis that FD may aggravate the normal aging process.


Endocrinology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 151 (12) ◽  
pp. 5927-5934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thayalini Ramaesh ◽  
James J. Logie ◽  
Antonia K. Roseweir ◽  
Robert P. Millar ◽  
Brian R. Walker ◽  
...  

Recent studies suggest that kisspeptin (a neuropeptide central to the regulation of gonadotrophin secretion) has diverse roles in human physiology, including a putative role in implantation and placental function. Kisspeptin and its receptor are present in human blood vessels, where they mediate vasoconstriction, and kisspeptin is known to inhibit tumor metastasis and trophoblast invasion, both processes involving angiogenesis. We hypothesized that kisspeptin contributes to the regulation of angiogenesis in the reproductive system. The presence of the kisspeptin receptor was confirmed in human placental blood vessels and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) using immunochemistry. The ability of kisspeptin-10 (KP-10) (a shorter biologically active processed peptide) to inhibit angiogenesis was tested in explanted human placental arteries and HUVEC using complementary ex vivo and in vitro assays. KP-10 inhibited new vessel sprouting from placental arteries embedded in Matrigel and tube-like structure formation by HUVEC, in a concentration-dependent manner. KP-10 had no effect on HUVEC viability or apoptosis but induced concentration-dependent inhibition of proliferation and migration. In conclusion, KP-10 has antiangiogenic effects and, given its high expression in the placenta, may contribute to the regulation of angiogenesis in this tissue.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke Xu ◽  
Kai Fang ◽  
Yueping Zhan ◽  
Yuqian Wang ◽  
Chengqi Wu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Anti-angiogenesis therapy has increasingly become an important strategy for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Recent studies have shown that tumor microenvironment (TME) promotes tumour angiogenesis. Bufalin is an active compound whose anti-tumor efficacy has been proven by previous studies. However, there are very few studies on the anti-angiogenic effects of bufalin. Methods Herein, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) tube formation, migration and adhesion test were used to assess angiogenesis in vitro. Western blot and quantitative PCR were used to detect relevant protein levels and the expressions of mRNAs. Subcutaneous xenograft tumor model and hepatic metastasis model in mice were established to investigate the influence of bufalin on angiogenesis-mediated by TME in vivo. Results We found that the angiogenesis mediated by tumor microenvironment cells was significantly inhibited in the present of bufalin. The results demonstrated that the pro-angiogenic gene in HUVEC such as VEGF, PDGFA, E-selectin and P-selectin were downregulated by bufalin, and the downregulation was regulated by inhibiting the STAT3 pathway. Overexpression STAT3 could reverse the inhibitory effect of bufalin on angiogenesis. What is more, few reduction of angiogenesis when bufalin directly acted on tumor microenvironment cells. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that bufalin suppresses tumour microenvironment-mediated angiogenesis by inhibiting the STAT3 signaling pathway of vascular endothelial cells, which reveals that bufalin may be used as a new anti-angiogenic adjuvant therapy medicine in the treatment of colorectal cancer.


2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Afra Hadjizadeh ◽  
Davod Mohebbi-Kalhori

Fabrication of a pre-vascularized tissue in vitro is an extensive research activity. The idea behind this approach is that a network of newly formed micro-vessels may be engineered in vitro by the seeding of a scaffold with endothelial cells. To this aim, understanding the effect of physicochemical properties of the scaffolding material and the method of cell seeding, in regulating endothelial cells’ behavior in the in vitro constructs, is an emerging requirement. In this study, the effect of interfacial self-assembly and contact guidance for the endothelial cell behavior and angiogenic network formation have been studied. This has been done by the fabrication of in vitro three-dimensional tissue constructs, using multilayer surface-modified polymer fibers, and two different methods of cell seeding by human umbilical vein endothelial cells. In the first method, human umbilical vein endothelial cells, fibers, and fibrin gel matrix were combined simultaneously. In the second method, the human umbilical vein endothelial cells and fibers, having various surface coatings, were sandwiched between two layers of fibrin gel matrix with or without fibroblast cell monolayer over the fibrin gel. In the optimal conditions, the effect of fibers in conjunction with the interfacial self-assembly enhanced a tube-like and interconnected network structure formation. This design could therefore have a major impact in the generation of the pre-vascularized tissue-engineered constructs.


Planta Medica ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (11) ◽  
pp. 779-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanisa Mittraphab ◽  
Nattaya Ngamrojanavanich ◽  
Kuniyoshi Shimizu ◽  
Kiminori Matsubara ◽  
Khanitha Pudhom

The plants in the genus Derris have proven to be a rich source of rotenoids, of which cytotoxic effect against cancer cells seem to be pronounced. However, their effect on angiogenesis playing a crucial role in both cancer growth and metastasis has been seldom investigated. This study aimed at investigating the effect of the eight rotenoids (1–8) isolated from Derris trifoliata stems on three cancer cells and angiogenesis. Among them, 12a-hydroxyrotenone (2) exhibited potent inhibition on both cell growth and migration of HCT116 colon cancer cells. Further, anti-angiogenic assay in an ex vivo model was carried out to determine the effect of the isolated rotenoids on angiogenesis. Results revealed that 12a-hydroxyrotenone (2) displayed the most potent suppression of microvessel sprouting. The in vitro assay on human umbilical vein endothelial cells was performed to determine whether compound 2 elicits anti-angiogenic effect and its effect was found to occur via suppression of endothelial cells proliferation and tube formation, but not endothelial cells migration. This study provides the first evidence that compound 2 could potently inhibit HCT116 cancer migration and anti-angiogenic activity, demonstrating that 2 might be a potential agent or a lead compound for cancer therapy.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 105 (7) ◽  
pp. 2783-2786 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Ingram ◽  
Laura E. Mead ◽  
Daniel B. Moore ◽  
Wayne Woodard ◽  
Amy Fenoglio ◽  
...  

AbstractEndothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) can be isolated from adult peripheral and umbilical cord blood and expanded exponentially ex vivo. In contrast, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) or human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) derived from vessel walls are widely considered to be differentiated, mature endothelial cells (ECs). However, similar to adult- and cord blood–derived EPCs, HUVECs and HAECs derived from vessel walls can be passaged for at least 40 population doublings in vitro. Based on this paradox, we tested whether EPCs reside in HUVECs or HAECs utilizing a novel single cell deposition assay that discriminates EPCs based on their proliferative and clonogenic potential. We demonstrate that a complete hierarchy of EPCs can be identified in HUVECs and HAECs derived from vessel walls and discriminated by their clonogenic and proliferative potential. This study provides evidence that a diversity of EPCs exists in human vessels and provides a conceptual framework for determining both the origin and function of EPCs in maintaining vessel integrity.


2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (5) ◽  
pp. C1385-C1398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leoni A. Kunz-Schughart ◽  
Josef A. Schroeder ◽  
Marit Wondrak ◽  
Frank van Rey ◽  
Karla Lehle ◽  
...  

The development of vessel-like structures in vitro to mimic as well as to realize the possibility of tissue-engineered small vascular networks presents a major challenge to cell biologists and biotechnologists. We aimed to establish a three-dimensional (3-D) culture system with an endothelial network that does not require artificial substrates or ECM compounds. By using human skin fibroblasts and endothelial cells (ECs) from the human umbilical vein (HUVECs) in diverse spheroid coculture strategies, we verified that fibroblast support and modulate EC migration, viability, and network formation in a 3-D tissue-like stromal environment. In mixed spheroid cultures consisting of human ECs and fibroblasts, a complex 3-D network with EC tubular structures, lumen formation, pinocytotic activity, and tight junction complexes has been identified on the basis of immunohistochemical and transmission electron microscopic imaging. Tubular networks with extensions up to 400 μm were achieved. When EC suspensions were used, EC migration and network formation were critically affected by the status of the fibroblast. However, the absence of EC migration into the center of 14-day, but not 3-day, precultured fibroblast spheroids could not be attributed to loss of F viability. In parallel, it was also confirmed that migrated ECs that entered cluster-like formations became apoptotic, whereas the majority of those forming vessel-like structures remained viable for >8 days. Our protocols allow us to study the nature of tubule formation in a manner more closely related to the in vivo situation as well as to understand the basis for the integration of capillary networks in tissue grafts and develop methods of quantifying the amount of angiogenesis in spheroids using fibroblast and other cells isolated from the same patient, along with ECs.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 583-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoping Niu ◽  
Li Sun ◽  
Yunfeng Pei ◽  
Duping Wang

Background: Angiogenesis is a crucial process that regulated by multiple intracellular signaling pathways including MEK/ERK and JNK/SAPK. Thus, many inhibitors have developed to these pathways as anti-cancer therapeutic strategies. Oleanolic acid (OA) is a natural pentacyclic triterpenoic acid compound that present in various herbal medicines. It has been used as antitumor agent for various cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC), which attenuates angiogenesis. Objective: To study the molecular mechanism of OA suppressing angiogenesis. Method: The proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was determined by MTT and the invasion and migration of them were measured by wound-healing Assay, transwell migration assay and tube formation assay. The xenograft mouse model was used to study the effect of OA blocking angiogenesis in vivo. The Western blot was used to checked the phosphorylation of VEGFR2. Results: OA attenuates HUVECs invasion, migration, tube formation and vascular sprouting. Moreover, OA suppresses HUVECs sprout and tube formation. Importantly, OA also blocks angiogenesis in HUVECs and colorectal cancer cells (HCT-116) both in vitro and in vivo. OA-dependent suppression of tumor angiogenesis mediated by blocking the phosphorylation of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) that results in inhibition of MEK/ERK/JNK pathway. Conclusion: Our results suggest that inhibition of tumor angiogenesis via the suppression VEGFR2 phosphorylation may be one of the underlying mechanisms by which OA exerts its anti-cancer effect.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 2319-2332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng Sun ◽  
Shi-Bin Feng ◽  
Zheng-Wang Cao ◽  
Jun-Jie Bei ◽  
Qiang Chen ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Platelet microvesicles (PMVs) contribute to angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, but the mechanisms underlying these contributions have not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we investigated whether PMVs regulate the angiogenic properties of endothelial cells (ECs) via mechanisms extending beyond the transport of angiogenic regulators from platelets. Methods: In vitro Matrigel tube formation assay and in vivo Matrigel plug assay were used to evaluate the pro-angiogenic activity of PMVs. The effects of PMVs on the migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were detected by transwell assay and wound-healing assay. Real-time PCR and western blot were conducted to examine mRNA and protein expression of pro-angiogenic factors in HUVECs. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity was assayed by gelatin zymography. Moreover, the effects of specific MMP inhibitors were tested. Results: PMVs promoted HUVEC capillary-like network formation in a dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile, PMVs dose-dependently facilitated HUVEC migration. Levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression and activity were up-regulated in HUVECs stimulated with PMVs. Inhibition of MMPs decreased their pro-angiogenic and pro-migratory effects on HUVECs. Moreover, we confirmed the pro-angiogenic activity of PMVs in vivo in mice with subcutaneous implantation of Matrigel, and demonstrated that blockade of MMPs attenuated PMV-induced angiogenesis. Conclusion: The findings of our study indicate that PMVs promote angiogenesis by up-regulating MMP expression in ECs via mechanism extending beyond the direct delivery of angiogenic factors.


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