Isogambogenic acid inhibits tumour angiogenesis by suppressing Rho GTPases and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 signalling pathway

J Chemother. 2013 Oct;25(5):298-308. doi: 10.1179/1973947813Y.0000000079.

Abstract

Isogambogenic acid (iso-GNA) is a well-known herbal medicine extracted from Garcinia hanburyi. Although it is thought to have anti-tumour effects, its function is still unknown. This study carried out in vitro and in vivo evaluations of the anti-tumour and anti-angiogenic activity of iso-GNA and underlying mechanisms. A standard methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay showed that iso-GNA was more effective in inhibiting the proliferation of human umbilical vascular endothelial cells than A549 cancer cells. Iso-GNA demonstrated potent anti-angiogenic activity and low toxicity at appropriate concentrations in zebrafish embryos. In a xenograft nude mouse model of lung tumour, iso-GNA effectively inhibited tumour growth and tumour angiogenesis. Iso-GNA suppressed neovascularization of implanted matrigel plugs in vivo and inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced microvessel sprouting from mouse aortic rings ex vivo. Iso-GNA inhibited VEGF-induced migration, invasion, and tube formation in vitro and affected cytoskeletal rearrangement in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells. The results show that iso-GNA suppressed angiogenesis-mediated tumour growth by targeting VEGFR2, Akt, mitogen-activated protein kinase, Rho GTPase, vascular endothelium-cadherin, and focal adhesion kinase signalling pathways. Together, these data suggest that iso-GNA inhibits angiogenesis and may be a viable drug candidate in anti-angiogenesis and anti-cancer therapies.

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Female
  • Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Terpenes / pharmacology*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Xanthenes
  • Xanthones / pharmacology*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
  • Zebrafish
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Terpenes
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Xanthenes
  • Xanthones
  • neo-gambogic acid
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2
  • Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins