Recombinant adeno-associated virus-delivered anginex inhibits angiogenesis and growth of HUVECs by regulating the Akt, JNK and NF-κB signaling pathways

Oncol Rep. 2016 Jun;35(6):3505-13. doi: 10.3892/or.2016.4711. Epub 2016 Mar 28.

Abstract

Anginex is an artificial synthetic small molecule β-sheet-forming peptide shown to have anti-angiogenesis and antitumor effects in various solid tumors. However, its molecular mechanism remains largely unclear and efficient delivery methods for anginex remains to be developed. We report on the development of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV2)-delivered anginex and the underlying mechanism of anti-angiogenesis and antitumor effects of anginex. We have successfully developed the rAAV2 vector to efficiently express anginex (rAAV2‑anginex). Transduction of rAAV2-anginex significantly induced apoptosis, and inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro. Western blot analysis revealed that rAAV2‑anginex inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt, while inducing the phosphorylation of JNK and activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. In an in vivo CAM assay and xenograft model of SKOV3, rAAV2-anginex significantly reduced microvessel density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF165), as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry analysis. Importantly, rAAV2-anginex inhibited tumor growth in an ovarian cancer SKOV3 cell nude mouse xenograft model. Our results suggest that rAAV2-anginex may inhibit tumor angiogenesis and growth through regulating Akt, JNK and NF-κB signaling pathways.

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / genetics
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Chick Embryo
  • Dependovirus / genetics*
  • Drug Carriers
  • Female
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Drug Carriers
  • NF-kappa B
  • Peptides
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • anginex peptide
  • vascular endothelial growth factor A, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases