1
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Wang L, Liu WQ, Broussy S, Han B, Fang H. Recent advances of anti-angiogenic inhibitors targeting VEGF/VEGFR axis. Front Pharmacol 2024; 14:1307860. [PMID: 38239196 PMCID: PMC10794590 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1307860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), Vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR) and their downstream signaling pathways are promising targets in anti-angiogenic therapy. They constitute a crucial system to regulate physiological and pathological angiogenesis. In the last 20 years, many anti-angiogenic drugs have been developed based on VEGF/VEGFR system to treat diverse cancers and retinopathies, and new drugs with improved properties continue to emerge at a fast rate. They consist of different molecular structures and characteristics, which enable them to inhibit the interaction of VEGF/VEGFR, to inhibit the activity of VEGFR tyrosine kinase (TK), or to inhibit VEGFR downstream signaling. In this paper, we reviewed the development of marketed anti-angiogenic drugs involved in the VEGF/VEGFR axis, as well as some important drug candidates in clinical trials. We discuss their mode of action, their clinical benefits, and the current challenges that will need to be addressed by the next-generation of anti-angiogenic drugs. We focus on the molecular structures and characteristics of each drug, including those approved only in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Department of Oncology, Zhejiang Xiaoshan Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wang-Qing Liu
- CiTCoM, CNRS, INSERM, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | | | - Bingnan Han
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongming Fang
- Department of Oncology, Zhejiang Xiaoshan Hospital, Hangzhou, China
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2
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Namjoo M, Ghafouri H, Assareh E, Aref AR, Mostafavi E, Hamrahi Mohsen A, Balalaie S, Broussy S, Asghari SM. A VEGFB-Based Peptidomimetic Inhibits VEGFR2-Mediated PI3K/Akt/mTOR and PLCγ/ERK Signaling and Elicits Apoptotic, Antiangiogenic, and Antitumor Activities. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:906. [PMID: 37375853 DOI: 10.3390/ph16060906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) mediates VEGFA signaling mainly through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and PLCγ/ERK1/2 pathways. Here we unveil a peptidomimetic (VGB3) based on the interaction between VEGFB and VEGFR1 that unexpectedly binds and neutralizes VEGFR2. Investigation of the cyclic and linear structures of VGB3 (named C-VGB3 and L-VGB3, respectively) using receptor binding and cell proliferation assays, molecular docking, and evaluation of antiangiogenic and antitumor activities in the 4T1 mouse mammary carcinoma tumor (MCT) model showed that loop formation is essential for peptide functionality. C-VGB3 inhibited proliferation and tubulogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), accounting for the abrogation of VEGFR2, p-VEGFR2 and, subsequently, PI3K/AKT/mTOR and PLCγ/ERK1/2 pathways. In 4T1 MCT cells, C-VGB3 inhibited cell proliferation, VEGFR2 expression and phosphorylation, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, FAK/Paxillin, and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition cascade. The apoptotic effects of C-VGB3 on HUVE and 4T1 MCT cells were inferred from annexin-PI and TUNEL staining and activation of P53, caspase-3, caspase-7, and PARP1, which mechanistically occurred through the intrinsic pathway mediated by Bcl2 family members, cytochrome c, Apaf-1 and caspase-9, and extrinsic pathway via death receptors and caspase-8. These data indicate that binding regions shared by VEGF family members may be important in developing novel pan-VEGFR inhibitors that are highly relevant in the pathogenesis of angiogenesis-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohadeseh Namjoo
- Department of Biology, University Campus II, University of Guilan, Rasht P.O. Box 14155-6619, Iran
| | - Hossein Ghafouri
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht P.O. Box 14155-6619, Iran
| | - Elham Assareh
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht P.O. Box 14155-6619, Iran
| | - Amir Reza Aref
- Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ebrahim Mostafavi
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ali Hamrahi Mohsen
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran P.O. Box 1841, Iran
| | - Saeed Balalaie
- Peptide Chemistry Research Center, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran P.O. Box 1841, Iran
| | - Sylvain Broussy
- CiTCoM, UMR CNRS 8038, U1268 INSERM, UFR de Pharmacie, Faculté de Santé, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
| | - S Mohsen Asghari
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran P.O. Box 1841, Iran
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3
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Di Stasi R, De Rosa L, D'Andrea LD. Structure-Based Design of Peptides Targeting VEGF/VEGFRs. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:851. [PMID: 37375798 DOI: 10.3390/ph16060851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (VEGFRs) play a main role in the regulation of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Furthermore, they are implicated in the onset of several diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative eye conditions, tumor growth, ulcers and ischemia. Therefore, molecules able to target the VEGF and its receptors are of great pharmaceutical interest. Several types of molecules have been reported so far. In this review, we focus on the structure-based design of peptides mimicking VEGF/VEGFR binding epitopes. The binding interface of the complex has been dissected and the different regions challenged for peptide design. All these trials furnished a better understanding of the molecular recognition process and provide us with a wealth of molecules that could be optimized to be exploited for pharmaceutical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucia De Rosa
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, 80131 Napoli, Italy
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4
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Shahbazi B, Arab SS, Mafakher L, Azadmansh K, Teimoori-Toolabi L. Computational assessment of pigment epithelium-derived factor as an anti-cancer protein during its interaction with the receptors. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022:1-17. [PMID: 35510592 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2069863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a member of the serine proteinase inhibitor (serpin) with antiangiogenic, anti-tumorigenic, antioxidant, anti-atherosclerosis, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. The PEDF can bind to low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6), laminin (LR), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), and ATP synthase β-subunit receptors. In this study, we aimed to investigate the structural basis of the interaction between PEDF and its receptors using bioinformatics approaches to identify the critical amino acids for designing anticancer peptides. The human ATP synthase β-subunit was predicted by homology modeling. The molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, and Molecular mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) were used to study this protein-receptor complex. The molecular docking showed PEDF could bind to the Laminin and VEGFR2 much stronger than ATP synthase β-subunit, VEGFR1, and LRP6. The PEDF could effectively interact with various receptors during the simulation. The N-terminal of PEDF has an important role in the interaction with the receptors. The MM/PBSA showed the electrostatic (ΔEElec) and van der Waals interactions (ΔEVdW) contributed positively to the binding process of the complexes. The critical amino acids in the binding interaction of PEDF to its receptors in the MD simulation were determined. The interaction mode of 34-mer PEDF to laminin, VEGFR2, and LRP6 were different from VEGFR1, ATP synthase β-subunit. The 34-mer PEDF has an important role in the interaction with different receptors and these critical amino acids can be used for designing peptides for future therapeutic aims.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behzad Shahbazi
- Molecular Medicine Department, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Shahriar Arab
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ladan Mafakher
- Molecular Medicine Department, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Ladan Teimoori-Toolabi
- Molecular Medicine Department, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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5
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Wang L, Xu M, Hu H, Zhang L, Ye F, Jin J, Fang H, Chen J, Chen G, Broussy S, Vidal M, Lv Z, Liu WQ. A Cyclic Peptide Epitope of an Under-Explored VEGF-B Loop 1 Demonstrated In Vivo Anti-Angiogenic and Anti-Tumor Activities. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:734544. [PMID: 34658874 PMCID: PMC8511632 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.734544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathological angiogenesis is mainly initiated by the binding of abnormal expressed vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) to their receptors (VEGFRs). Blocking the VEGF/VEGFR interaction is a clinically proven treatment in cancer. Our previous work by epitope scan had identified cyclic peptides, mimicking the loop 1 of VEGF-A, VEGF-B and placental growth factor (PlGF), inhibited effectively the VEGF/VEGFR interaction in ELISA. We described here the docking study of these peptides on VEGFR1 to identify their binding sites. The cellular anti-angiogenic activities were examined by inhibition of VEGF-A induced cell proliferation, migration and tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The ability of these peptides to inhibit MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling pathway was examined as well. On chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model, a cyclic peptide named B-cL1 with most potent in vitro activity showed important in vivo anti-angiogenic effect. Finally, B-cL1 inhibited VEGF induced human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells proliferation. It showed anti-tumoral effect on SGC-7901 xenografted BALB/c nude mouse model. The cyclic peptides B-cL1 constitutes an anti-angiogenic peptide drug lead for the design of new and more potent VEGFR antagonists in the treatment of angiogenesis related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Meng Xu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haofeng Hu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lun Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fei Ye
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jia Jin
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongming Fang
- Department of Oncology, Zhejiang Xiaoshan Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guiqian Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sylvain Broussy
- Université de Paris, CiTCoM-UMR 8038 CNRS, U 1268 INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Michel Vidal
- Université de Paris, CiTCoM-UMR 8038 CNRS, U 1268 INSERM, Paris, France.,Biologie du médicament, toxicologie, AP-HP, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Zhengbing Lv
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wang-Qing Liu
- Université de Paris, CiTCoM-UMR 8038 CNRS, U 1268 INSERM, Paris, France
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6
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Lee W, Park JW, Go YJ, Kim WJ, Rhee YM. Considering both small and large scale motions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is crucial for reliably predicting its binding affinities to DNA aptamers. RSC Adv 2021; 11:9315-9326. [PMID: 35423456 PMCID: PMC8695334 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra10106k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Considering both small and large scale motions of VEGF is crucial to predict its relative binding affinities to DNA aptamer variants with docking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wook Lee
- Department of Chemistry
- Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)
- Pohang 37673
- Korea
- Department of Chemistry
| | - Jae Whee Park
- Department of Chemistry
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
- Daejeon 34141
- Korea
| | - Yeon Ju Go
- Department of Chemistry
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
- Daejeon 34141
- Korea
| | - Won Jong Kim
- Department of Chemistry
- Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)
- Pohang 37673
- Korea
| | - Young Min Rhee
- Department of Chemistry
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
- Daejeon 34141
- Korea
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7
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Assareh E, Mehrnejad F, Asghari SM. Structural Studies on an Anti-Angiogenic Peptide Using Molecular Modeling. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY 2020; 18:e2553. [PMID: 34056022 PMCID: PMC8148638 DOI: 10.30498/ijb.2020.2553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Development of VEGF antagonists, which inhibit its interaction with the receptors, is a widely used strategy for the inhibition of angiogenesis and tumor growth. OBJECTIVES In the present study, a VEGFR-1 antagonistic peptide was designed and its potential for binding to VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 was evaluated by theoretical studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS Based on the X-ray structure of VEGF-B/VEGFR-1 D2 (PDB ID: 2XAC), an antagonistic peptide (known as VGB1) was designed, and its model structure was constructed using homology modeling in the MODELLER, version 9.16. The validity of the modeled structures was estimated employing several web tools. Finally, one model was chosen and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was applied using the GROMACS package, version 5.1.4, to allow conformational relaxation of the structure. Next, docking process of the peptide with VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 was performed by HADDOCK web server and the docking structures were optimized by MD simulation for 20 ns. The far-UV circular dichroism (CD) spectrum of VGB1 was recorded to evaluate the overall structure of the peptide. RESULTS The far-UV CD spectrum indicated that VGB1 contains α helix structure. The results from docking studies suggested that Van der Waals and nonpolar interactions play the most important role in the peptide binding to VEGFR-1. In addition, our results implicated the relevance of both Van der Waals and electrostatic interactions in the formation of complex between VGB1 and VEGFR-2. In addition to the common binding residues in the corresponding region of VEGF-A and VEGF-B, additional binding residues also were predicted for the interaction of VGB1 with VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2. CONCLUSIONS The results of MD and molecular docking simulations predicted that VGB1 recognizes both VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2, which may lead to the prevention of the downstream signaling triggered by these receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Assareh
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
| | - Faramarz Mehrnejad
- Department of Life Sciences Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences & Technology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - S Mohsen Asghari
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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8
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Molecular docking, synthesis and biological evaluation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) B based peptide as antiangiogenic agent targeting the second domain of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 1 (VEGFR1D2) for anticancer application. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2020; 5:76. [PMID: 32499505 PMCID: PMC7272640 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-0177-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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9
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Dmytriyeva O, de Diego Ajenjo A, Lundø K, Hertz H, Rasmussen KK, Christiansen AT, Klingelhofer J, Nielsen AL, Hoeber J, Kozlova E, Woldbye DPD, Pankratova S. Neurotrophic Effects of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B and Novel Mimetic Peptides on Neurons from the Central Nervous System. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:1270-1282. [PMID: 32283014 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGFB) is a pleiotropic trophic factor, which in contrast to the closely related VEGFA is known to have a limited effect on angiogenesis. VEGFB improves survival in various tissues including the nervous system, where the effect was observed mainly for peripheral neurons. The neurotrophic effect of VEGFB on central nervous system neurons has been less investigated. Here we demonstrated that VEGFB promotes neurite outgrowth from primary cerebellar granule, hippocampal, and retinal neurons in vitro. VEGFB protected hippocampal and retinal neurons from both oxidative stress and glutamate-induced neuronal death. The VEGF receptor 1 (VEGFR1) is required for VEGFB-induced neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects. Using a structure-based approach, we designed short peptides, termed Vefin1-7, mimicking the binding interface of VEGFB to VEGFR1. Vefins were analyzed for their secondary structure and binding to VEGF receptors and compared with previously described peptides derived from VEGFA, another ligand of VEGFR1. We show that Vefins have neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects on primary hippocampal, cerebellar granule, and retinal neurons in vitro with potencies comparable to VEGFB. Similar to VEGFB, Vefins were not mitogenic for MCF-7 cancer cells. Furthermore, one of the peptides, Vefin7, even dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in vitro. Unraveling the neurotrophic and neuroprotective potentials of VEGFB, the only nonangiogenic factor of the VEGF family, is promising for the development of neuroprotective peptide-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oksana Dmytriyeva
- Laboratory of Neural Plasticity, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
- Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Science and Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Amaia de Diego Ajenjo
- Laboratory of Neural Plasticity, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Kathrine Lundø
- Laboratory of Neural Plasticity, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Henrik Hertz
- Laboratory of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Kim K. Rasmussen
- Laboratory of Neural Plasticity, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Anders T. Christiansen
- Laboratory of Neural Plasticity, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Jorg Klingelhofer
- Laboratory of Neural Plasticity, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Alexander L. Nielsen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - Jan Hoeber
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75124, Sweden
| | - Elena Kozlova
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75124, Sweden
| | - David P. D. Woldbye
- Laboratory of Neural Plasticity, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Stanislava Pankratova
- Laboratory of Neural Plasticity, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
- Research Laboratory for Stereology and Neuroscience, Bispebjerg-Frederiksberg Hospital, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
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10
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Structural studies of the binding of an antagonistic cyclic peptide to the VEGFR1 domain 2. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 169:65-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.02.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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11
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A cyclic peptide reproducing the α1 helix of VEGF-B binds to VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 and inhibits angiogenesis and tumor growth. Biochem J 2019; 476:645-663. [DOI: 10.1042/bcj20180823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Revised: 01/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and their receptors (VEGFRs) are pivotal regulators of angiogenesis. The VEGF–VEGFR system is therefore an important target of anti-angiogenesis therapy. Based on the X-ray structure of VEGF-B/VEGFR-1 D2, we designed a cyclic peptide (known as VGB1) reproducing the α1 helix and its adjacent region to interfere with signaling through VEGFR-1. Unexpectedly, VGB1 bound VEGFR-2 in addition to VEGFR-1, leading to inhibition of VEGF-stimulated proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and 4T1 murine mammary carcinoma cells, which express VGEFR-1 and VEGFR-2, and U87 glioblastoma cells that mostly express VEGFR-2. VGB1 inhibited different aspects of angiogenesis, including proliferation, migration and tube formation of endothelial cells stimulated by VEGF-A through suppression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and AKT (Protein Kinase B) phosphorylation. In a murine 4T1 mammary carcinoma model, VGB1 caused regression of tumors without causing weight loss in association with impaired cell proliferation (decreased Ki67 expression) and angiogenesis (decreased CD31 and CD34 expression), and apoptosis induction (increased TUNEL staining and p53 expression, and decreased Bcl-2 expression). According to far-UV circular dichroism (CD) and molecular dynamic simulation data, VGB1 can adopt a helical structure. These results, for the first time, demonstrate that α1 helix region of VEGF-B recognizes both VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2.
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12
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Farzaneh Behelgardi M, Zahri S, Mashayekhi F, Mansouri K, Asghari SM. A peptide mimicking the binding sites of VEGF-A and VEGF-B inhibits VEGFR-1/-2 driven angiogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17924. [PMID: 30560942 PMCID: PMC6298961 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36394-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Interfering with interactions of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) with their receptors (VEGFRs) effectively inhibits angiogenesis and tumor growth. We designed an antagonist peptide of VEGF-A and VEGF-B reproducing two discontinuous receptor binding regions of VEGF-B (loop 1 and loop3) covalently linked together by a receptor binding region of VEGF-A (loop3). The designed peptide (referred to as VGB4) was able to bind to both VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 on the Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) surface and inhibited VEGF-A driven proliferation, migration and tube formation in HUVECs through suppression of ERK1/2 and AKT phosphorylation. The whole-animal fluorescence imaging demonstrated that fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-VGB4 accumulated in the mammary carcinoma tumors (MCTs). Administration of VGB4 led to the regression of 4T1 murine MCT growth through decreased expression of p-VEGFR1 and p-VEGFR2 and abrogation of ERK1/2 and AKT activation followed by considerable decrease of tumor cell proliferation (Ki67 expression) and angiogenesis (CD31 and CD34 expression), induction of apoptosis (increased p53 expression, TUNEL staining and decreased Bcl2 expression), and suppression of metastasis (increased E-cadherin and decreased N-cadherin, NF-κB and MMP-9 expression). These findings indicate that VGB4 may be applicable for antiangiogenic and antitumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saber Zahri
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
| | - Farhad Mashayekhi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
| | - Kamran Mansouri
- Medical Biology Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - S Mohsen Asghari
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
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13
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Zhang C, Wang N, Tan HY, Guo W, Li S, Feng Y. Targeting VEGF/VEGFRs Pathway in the Antiangiogenic Treatment of Human Cancers by Traditional Chinese Medicine. Integr Cancer Ther 2018; 17:582-601. [PMID: 29807443 PMCID: PMC6142106 DOI: 10.1177/1534735418775828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Bearing in mind the doctrine of tumor angiogenesis hypothesized by Folkman
several decades ago, the fundamental strategy for alleviating numerous cancer
indications may be the strengthening application of notable antiangiogenic
therapies to inhibit metastasis-related tumor growth. Under physiological
conditions, vascular sprouting is a relatively infrequent event unless when
specifically stimulated by pathogenic factors that contribute to the
accumulation of angiogenic activators such as the vascular endothelial growth
factor (VEGF) family and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Since VEGFs have
been identified as the principal cytokine to initiate angiogenesis in tumor
growth, synthetic VEGF-targeting medicines containing bevacizumab and sorafenib
have been extensively used, but prominent side effects have concomitantly
emerged. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCM)–derived agents with distinctive
safety profiles have shown their multitarget curative potential by impairing
angiogenic stimulatory signaling pathways directly or eliciting synergistically
therapeutic effects with anti-angiogenic drugs mainly targeting VEGF-dependent
pathways. This review aims to summarize (a) the up-to-date
understanding of the role of VEGF/VEGFR in correlation with proangiogenic
mechanisms in various tissues and cells; (b) the elaboration of
antitumor angiogenesis mechanisms of 4 representative TCMs, including
Salvia miltiorrhiza, Curcuma longa, ginsenosides, and
Scutellaria baicalensis; and (c)
circumstantial clarification of TCM-driven therapeutic actions of suppressing
tumor angiogenesis by targeting VEGF/VEGFRs pathway in recent years, based on
network pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhang
- 1 The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Ning Wang
- 1 The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Hor-Yue Tan
- 1 The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Wei Guo
- 1 The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Sha Li
- 1 The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Yibin Feng
- 1 The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
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14
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Failla CM, Carbo M, Morea V. Positive and Negative Regulation of Angiogenesis by Soluble Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19051306. [PMID: 29702562 PMCID: PMC5983705 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-1 exists in different forms, derived from alternative splicing of the same gene. In addition to the transmembrane form, endothelial cells produce a soluble VEGFR-1 (sVEGFR-1) isoform, whereas non-endothelial cells produce both sVEGFR-1 and a different soluble molecule, known as soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt)1-14. By binding members of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family, the soluble forms reduce the amounts of VEGFs available for the interaction with their transmembrane receptors, thereby negatively regulating VEGFR-mediated signaling. In agreement with this activity, high levels of circulating sVEGFR-1 or sFlt1-14 are associated with different pathological conditions involving vascular dysfunction. Moreover, sVEGFR-1 and sFlt1-14 have an additional role in angiogenesis: they are deposited in the endothelial cell and pericyte extracellular matrix, and interact with cell membrane components. Interaction of sVEGFR-1 with α5β1 integrin on endothelial cell membranes regulates vessel growth, triggering a dynamic, pro-angiogenic phenotype. Interaction of sVEGFR-1/sFlt1-14 with cell membrane glycosphingolipids in lipid rafts controls kidney cell morphology and glomerular barrier functions. These cell⁻matrix contacts represent attractive novel targets for pharmacological intervention in addition to those addressing interactions between VEGFs and their receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Miriam Carbo
- Department of Biochemical Sciences "A. Rossi Fanelli", Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Veronica Morea
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Department of Biochemical Sciences "A. Rossi Fanelli", Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology c/o, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy.
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15
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Trapiella-Alfonso L, Broussy S, Liu WQ, Vidal M, Lecarpentier E, Tsatsaris V, Gagey-Eilstein N. Colorimetric immunoassays for the screening and specificity evaluation of molecules disturbing VEGFs/VEGFRs interactions. Anal Biochem 2018; 544:114-120. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2017.12.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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16
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Disrupting VEGF-VEGFR1 Interaction: De Novo Designed Linear Helical Peptides to Mimic the VEGF 13-25 Fragment. Molecules 2017; 22:molecules22111846. [PMID: 29143774 PMCID: PMC6150346 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22111846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Revised: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (VEGFR) has important implications in angiogenesis and cancer, which moved us to search for peptide derivatives able to block this protein–protein interaction. In a previous work we had described a collection of linear 13-mer peptides specially designed to adopt helical conformations (Ac-SSEEX5ARNX9AAX12N-NH2), as well as the evaluation of seven library components for the inhibition of the interaction of VEGF with its Receptor 1 (VEGFR1). This study led to the discovery of some new, quite potent inhibitors of this protein–protein system. The results we found prompted us to extend the study to other peptides of the library. We describe here the evaluation of a new selection of peptides from the initial library that allow us to identify new VEGF-VEGFR1 inhibitors. Among them, the peptide sequence containing F, W, and I residues at the 5, 9, and 12 positions, show a very significant nanomolar IC50 value, competing with VEGF for its receptor 1, VEGFR1 (Flt-1), which could represent a new tool within the therapeutic arsenal for cancer detection and therapy.
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