Unconjugated
Angiogenesis has become an attractive target for the treatment of certain diseases such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Our previous studies demonstrated that the saponin fraction from Gleditsia sinensis fruits had anti-angiogenic potential, and Gleditsiosides B (GB) was probably the main active constituent. In the present study, we assessed the effect of GB on endothelial cell migration, a crucial event in angiogenesis, and explored the underlying mechanisms. The migration of endothelial cells was assessed by transwell. The expressions of MMP-2/-9 and TIMP-1/-2 were analyzed by Western blotting, and the activities of MMP-2/-9 were detected by gelatin zymography assay. Moreover, migration-related proteins and signaling pathways, including FAK, MAPKs and PI3K/AKT, were analyzed by Western blotting. It was shown that GB, at a concentration of 10 μM without significant cytotoxicity, could effectively abrogate the migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by bFGF. GB also inhibited the expression and activity of MMP-2, elevated the expression of TIMP-1, and restrained the phosphorylations of FAK, ERK, PI3K and AKT in a concentration-dependent manner. The findings suggest that GB was able to abrogate the migration of endothelial cells through down-regulating the activation of MMP-2 and FAK via preventing ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.
BACKGROUND/AIMS:
Annexin II receptor (AXIIR) is able to mediate Annexin II signal and induce apoptosis, but its role in angiogenesis remains unclear. This study tries to investigate the role of AXIIR in angiogenesis and the plausible molecular mechanism.
METHODS/RESULTS:
RNA interference technology was used to silence AXIIR, and the subsequent effects in vitro and in vivo were evaluated thereafter. Our data indicated that human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) expressed AXIIR and knockdown of AXIIR significantly inhibited HUVECs proliferation, adhesion, migration, and tube formation in vitro and suppressed angiogenesis in vivo. Furthermore, AXIIR siRNA induced cell arrest in the S/G2 phase while had no effect on cell apoptosis. We found that these subsequent effects might be via suppressing the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2and matrix metalloproteinase 9.
CONCLUSION:
AXIIR participates in angiogenesis, and may be a potential therapeutic target for angiogenesis related diseases.
© 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.