Project description:ObjectivePathological angiogenesis is a hallmark of various diseases characterized by local hypoxia and inflammation. These disorders can be treated with inhibitors of angiogenesis, but current compounds display a variety of side effects and lose efficacy over time. This makes the identification of novel signaling pathways and pharmacological targets involved in angiogenesis a top priority. Approach and Results: Here, we show that inactivation of FAAH (fatty acid amide hydrolase), the enzyme responsible for degradation of the endocannabinoid anandamide, strongly impairs angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Both, the pharmacological FAAH inhibitor URB597 and anandamide induce downregulation of gene sets for cell cycle progression and DNA replication in endothelial cells. This is underscored by cell biological experiments, in which both compounds inhibit proliferation and migration and evoke cell cycle exit of endothelial cells. This prominent antiangiogenic effect is also of pathophysiological relevance in vivo, as laser-induced choroidal neovascularization in the eye of FAAH-/- mice is strongly reduced.ConclusionsThus, elevation of endogenous anandamide levels by FAAH inhibition represents a novel antiangiogenic mechanism.
Project description:RhoB null mice show decreases in pathological angiogenesis in the ischemic retina and reduces angiogenesis in response to cutaneous wounding, but enhances lymphangiogenesis following both dermal wounding and inflammatory challenge. We used microarrays to link these unique and opposing roles of RhoB in blood versus lymphatic vasculatures to RhoB/VEZF1-mediated gene regulation in primary human blood versus lymphatic endothelial cells. Pure populations of human primary BVECs and LVECs silenced for RhoB or VEZF1 were used for RNA extraction and hybridization on Affymetrix microarrays. We extracted these cells from human male foreskins from at least four individuals and purified them using Dynabeads associated with vascular markers (CD31 and Podoplanin).
Project description:In this study we used in vitro approaches to investigate whether it has any inhibitory properties on OSCC cells. We also tried to understand the possible mechanisms of Sal B on this type of malignancy with respect to angiogenesis. 2 OSCC cell lines were treated with 100ug/ml Sal B for 48hours. cDNAmicroarray was used to evaluated the expressions of 96 genes known to be involving in modulating the biological process of angiogenesis.
Project description:RhoB null mice show decreases in pathological angiogenesis in the ischemic retina and reduces angiogenesis in response to cutaneous wounding, but enhances lymphangiogenesis following both dermal wounding and inflammatory challenge. We used microarrays to link these unique and opposing roles of RhoB in blood versus lymphatic vasculatures to RhoB/VEZF1-mediated gene regulation in primary human blood versus lymphatic endothelial cells.
Project description:A Microarray Search for Effects of Thyrotropin and Iodide on Angiogenesis Factors Objective: Excess iodide has been administered to hyperthyroid patients before thyroid surgery to reduce intraoperative bleeding and oozing. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanism by which iodide reduces blood flow in the hypervascular thyroid gland. Design: Human thyroid follicles were cultured in the presence or absence of thyrotropin (TSH), or in medium containing various concentrations of iodide, and TSH- or iodide-regulated gene expression was analyzed by cDNA microarray. Main outcome: TSH stimulated the expression of thyroglobulin, peroxidase, sodium-iodide symporter, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, VEGF-B, and placental growth factor (PGF) but decreased that of VEGF-C by half. When thyroid follicles were cultured in high-iodide (10-5M) medium, TSH-induced expression of VEGF-A, VEGF-B and PGF was decreased, accompanied by a reduction of VEGF-A release into the medium. Furthermore, expression of putative angiogenesis inhibitors such as urokinase-type plasminogen activator (PLAU) was increased. These findings were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Northern blot hybridization. Conclusions: We have demonstrated for the first time that iodide at high concentration decreases the expression of the angiogenic factors VEGF-A, VEGF-B, and PGF, accompanied by an increase in the expression of possible anti-angiogenic factors such as PLAU. These proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors may at least partly account for the iodide-induced decrease in thyroid blood flow.
Project description:Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a fatal malignancy that has limited treatment options. This study focused on the potential therapeutic effects of curcumin (CUR) and berberine (BBR) on the miR-221/SRY-box transcription factor 11 (SOX11) axis in HCC. We investigated the combined effects of CUR and BBR on HEPG2 and Huh7 cell survival and miR-221 expression using Cell Counting Kit-8 assays and RT-qPCR, respectively. Western blotting was used to detect changes in the apoptosis-related caspase-3/9 protein levels. We performed bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase assays and measured apoptotic protein levels to assess the role of the miR-221/SOX11 axis in mediating the effects of CUR-BBR. Both CUR and BBR suppressed HCC cell growth in a dose-dependent manner, with the most potent combined effect observed at a 2:1 ratio. CUR-BBR treatment significantly downregulated miR-221 expression, and miR-221 overexpression partially reversed the CUR-BBR-mediated decrease in cell survival. In addition, SOX11 was found to be a direct target of miR-221. CUR-BBR treatment upregulated SOX11 expression, and overexpression of SOX11 restored the inhibitory effects of CUR-BBR on cell growth, migration, and invasion and promoted apoptosis in the presence of miR-221. Furthermore, CUR-BBR activated pro-apoptotic proteins caspase-3/9 through the miR-221/SOX11 axis. The combined effect of CUR-BBR played an important role in inhibiting the growth of HCC cells. This combined effect was achieved by regulating the miR-221/SOX11 axis and activating the synthesis of pro-apoptotic proteins. Our findings highlight a promising combined therapeutic approach for HCC and underscore the importance of targeting the miR-221/SOX11 axis.
Project description:Proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a primary mechanism underlying cardiovascular proliferative disorders. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt (or protein kinase B) axis has been assigned at the center of pathways that regulate cell proliferation. Here we demonstrate that enhanced PI3K-Akt signaling by mitogenic stimulation or arterial injury profoundly elevates expression of receptor interacting protein 3 (RIP3) in primary cultured rat VSMCs and in vivo and that the up-regulation of RIP3 leads to VSMC growth arrest and apoptosis via inhibiting the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, thereby alleviating balloon injury-induced neointimal formation. Specifically, mitogenic stimulation with platelet-derived growth factor-BB or angiotensin II leads to a profound increase in RIP3 expression, which is abolished by inhibition of PI3K or Akt, and increased PI3K-Akt signaling by expression of a constitutively active PI3K mutant also elevates RIP3 expression. Importantly, adenoviral overexpression of RIP3 not only triggers apoptosis but also causes cell cycle arrest at G(1)/G(0) phases that is associated with suppressed Akt activation. In sharp contrast, RIP3 gene silencing enhances serum- and platelet-derived growth factor-induced cell proliferation and Akt activation. In vivo adenoviral gene delivery of rat RIP3 (rRIP3) increased apoptosis and reduced VSMC proliferation, thus, effectively alleviating balloon injury-induced neointimal formation. The growth-suppressive and pro-apoptotic effects are independent of rRIP3 Ser/Thr kinase activity, because overexpression of a kinase-inactive mutant of rRIP3, similar to its wild type, is sufficient to induce growth arrest and apoptosis. These findings reveal a novel growth-suppressive action of RIP3, marking RIP3 as an important factor to prevent excessive mitogenic stimulation- or injury-induced vascular smooth muscle cells hyperplasia.
Project description:In this study we used in vitro approaches to investigate whether it has any inhibitory properties on OSCC cells. We also tried to understand the possible mechanisms of Sal B on this type of malignancy with respect to angiogenesis.
Project description:This is a clinical trial investigating the effectiveness and safety of the combination of the study drugs bevacizumab and AMG386 in patients with advanced (metastatic) chemotherapy-naive bowel (colorectal) cancer. Chemotherapy has a significant impact in metastatic bowel cancer in terms of maintenance of quality of life and extension of survival. However, ultimately tumours will develop resistance to these agents and further treatment options are urgently required.
Angiogenesis is a process that results in the formation of new blood vessels. Similar to normal tissues, solid tumours require new blood vessels for growth and survival. Hence, drugs targeting angiogenesis may be useful treatment options for patients with bowel cancer.
AMG386 and bevacizumab act on 2 different pathways relevant to angiogenesis. There is evidence from laboratory and animal studies to suggest that such a combination could be useful as a cancer treatment. Previous studies in humans have shown that AMG386 and bevacizumab can be combined safely.. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the combination of AMG386 and bevacizumab in patients with advanced bowel cancer.
40 patients from approximately four hospitals in Australia will participate in this trial, with approximately 20 patients being enrolled at Austin Health. All participants will receive the same treatment.