A novel Ca2+/calmodulin antagonist HBC inhibits angiogenesis and down-regulates hypoxia-inducible factor

J Biol Chem. 2010 Aug 13;285(33):25867-74. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.135632. Epub 2010 Jun 16.

Abstract

Recent reports have shown that Ca(2+)/calmodulin (Ca(2+)/CaM) signaling plays a crucial role in angiogenesis. We previously developed a new Ca(2+)/CaM antagonist, HBC (4-{3,5-bis-[2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-4,5-dihydropyrazol-1-yl}benzoic acid), from a curcumin-based synthetic chemical library. Here, we investigated its anti-angiogenic activity and mode of action. HBC potently inhibited the proliferation of human umbilical vascular endothelial cells with no cytotoxicity. Furthermore, HBC blocked in vitro characteristics of angiogenesis such as tube formation and chemoinvasion, as well as neovascularization of the chorioallantoic membrane of growing chick embryos in vivo. Notably, HBC markedly inhibited expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) at the translational level during hypoxia, thereby reducing HIF-1 transcriptional activity and expression of its major target gene, vascular endothelial growth factor. In addition, combination treatment with HBC and various HIF-1 inhibitors, including suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, rapamycin, and terpestacin, had greater anti-angiogenic activity than treatment with each single agent. Collectively, our findings indicate that HBC is a new anti-angiogenic agent targeting HIF that can be used to explore the biological role of Ca(2+)/CaM in angiogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzoic Acid / chemistry
  • Benzoic Acid / therapeutic use*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds / therapeutic use
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Calmodulin / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Chickens
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Humans
  • Hydroxamic Acids / therapeutic use
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 / genetics
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 / metabolism*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sirolimus / therapeutic use
  • Vorinostat

Substances

  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds
  • Calmodulin
  • Hydroxamic Acids
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1
  • terpestacin
  • Vorinostat
  • Benzoic Acid
  • Calcium
  • Sirolimus