Aggretin Venom Polypeptide as a Novel Anti-angiogenesis Agent by Targeting Integrin alpha2beta1

Sci Rep. 2017 Mar 2:7:43612. doi: 10.1038/srep43612.

Abstract

VEGF and VEGFR antibodies have been used as a therapeutic strategy to inhibit angiogenesis in many diseases; however, frequent and repeated administration of these antibodies to patients induces immunogenicity. In previous studies, we demonstrated that aggretin, a heterodimeric snake venom C-type lectin, exhibits pro-angiogenic activities via integrin α2β1 ligation. We hypothesised that small-mass aggretin fragments may bind integrin α2β1 and act as antagonists of angiogenesis. In this study, the anti-angiogenic efficacy of a synthesised aggretin α-chain C-terminus (AACT, residue 106-136) was evaluated in both in vitro and in vivo angiogenesis models. The AACT demonstrated inhibitory effects on collagen-induced platelet aggregation and HUVEC adhesion to immobilised collagen. These results indicated that AACT may block integrin α2β1-collagen interaction. AACT also inhibited HUVEC migration and tube formation. Aortic ring sprouting and Matrigel implant models demonstrated that AACT markedly inhibited VEGF-induced neovascularisation. In addition, induction of FAK/PI3K/ERK1/2 tyrosine phosphorylation and talin 1/2 associated with integrin β1 which are induced by VEGF were blocked by AACT. Similarly, tyrosine phosphorylation of VEFGR2 and ERK1/2 induced by VEGF was diminished in integrin α2-silenced endothelial cells. Our results demonstrate that AACT is a potential therapeutic candidate for angiogenesis related-diseases via integrin α2β1 blockade.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Collagen / metabolism
  • Drug Combinations
  • Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 / metabolism
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Integrin alpha2beta1 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Laminin
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / drug effects
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Platelet Aggregation / drug effects
  • Protein Binding
  • Proteoglycans
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Snake Venoms / chemistry
  • Snake Venoms / pharmacology*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Drug Combinations
  • Integrin alpha2beta1
  • Laminin
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Peptides
  • Proteoglycans
  • Snake Venoms
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • matrigel
  • Collagen
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Focal Adhesion Kinase 1
  • PTK2 protein, human