Sp1 inhibition-mediated upregulation of VEGF 165 b induced by rh-endostatin enhances antiangiogenic and anticancer effect of rh-endostatin in A549

Tumour Biol. 2011 Aug;32(4):677-87. doi: 10.1007/s13277-011-0168-3. Epub 2011 Mar 26.

Abstract

Recombinant human endostatin (rh-endostatin), a potential antiangiogenic agent, is used in non-small cell lung carcinoma treatment and represses vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) levels in tumor cell. However, precise affection of rh-endostatin on the proangiogenic VEGF isoforms (VEGF(165)) or antiangiogenic VEGF isoforms (VEGF(165)b) is not clear. We therefore tested the hypothesis that rh-endostatin could alter expression of these isoforms to regulate tumor growth. A549 cells were exposed to rh-endostatin, and the expression of VEGF(165) and VEGF(165)b was detected. The role of SP1 as a regulator of isoform expression was investigated. We then examined the anticancer and antiangiogenic efficacy of rh-endostatin in combination with exogenous VEGF(165)b against A549 cells, EA.HY 926 cells and xenograft model of human lung cancer. rh-Endostatin reduced VEGF(165) and induced VEGF(165)b as well as inhibited SP1 in A549 cells. SP1 inhibitor (betulinic acid) also developed those changes. VEGF(165)b-rh-endostatin combination was highly synergistic and inhibited growth, survival, and migration of A549 cells, VEGF-mediated VEGFR2 phosphorylation in EA.HY 926 cells, and tumor growth in xenograft model of human lung cancer. rh-Endostatin downregulates proangiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) isoform and upregulates antiangiogenic VEGFA isoform, possibly through inhibition of SP1. Furthermore, VEGF(165)b sensitizes A549 to rh-endostatin treatment and enhances the anticancer effect of rh-endostatin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Endostatins / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / physiology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism
  • Protein Isoforms / biosynthesis
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Up-Regulation
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / biosynthesis*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Endostatins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Protein Kinases
  • Sp1 kinase