Physiological levels of tumstatin, a fragment of collagen IV alpha3 chain, are generated by MMP-9 proteolysis and suppress angiogenesis via alphaV beta3 integrin

Cancer Cell. 2003 Jun;3(6):589-601. doi: 10.1016/s1535-6108(03)00133-8.

Abstract

We demonstrate a physiological role for tumstatin, a cleavage fragment of the alpha3 chain of type IV collagen (Col IValpha3), which is present in the circulation. Mice with a genetic deletion of Col IValpha3 show accelerated tumor growth associated with enhanced pathological angiogenesis, while angiogenesis associated with development and tissue repair are unaffected. Supplementing Col IValpha3-deficient mice with recombinant tumstatin to a normal physiological concentration abolishes the increased rate of tumor growth. The suppressive effects of tumstatin require alphaVbeta3 integrin expressed on pathological, but not on physiological, angiogenic blood vessels. Mice deficient in matrix metalloproteinase-9, which cleaves tumstatin efficiently from Col IValpha3, have decreased circulating tumstatin and accelerated growth of tumor. These results indicate that MMP-generated fragments of basement membrane collagen can have endogenous function as integrin-mediated suppressors of pathologic angiogenesis and tumor growth.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoantigens / pharmacology
  • Autoantigens / physiology*
  • Basement Membrane / chemistry
  • Carcinoma, Lewis Lung / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Lewis Lung / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Lewis Lung / prevention & control*
  • Cell Division
  • Collagen / metabolism
  • Collagen Type IV / pharmacology
  • Collagen Type IV / physiology*
  • Drug Combinations
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Epitopes
  • Female
  • Heterozygote
  • Homozygote
  • Humans
  • Integrin alphaVbeta3 / metabolism*
  • Laminin / metabolism
  • Liver Regeneration
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / genetics
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout / embryology
  • Mice, Knockout / growth & development
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic*
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy, Animal
  • Proteoglycans / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
  • Survival Rate
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Wound Healing

Substances

  • Autoantigens
  • Collagen Type IV
  • Drug Combinations
  • Epitopes
  • Integrin alphaVbeta3
  • Laminin
  • Proteoglycans
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • type IV collagen alpha3 chain
  • matrigel
  • Collagen
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9