Multi-Carotenoids at Physiological Levels Inhibit VEGF-Induced Tube Formation of Endothelial Cells and the Possible Mechanisms of Action Both In Vitro and Ex Vivo

Nutr Cancer. 2018 Jan;70(1):116-124. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2018.1380205. Epub 2017 Nov 7.

Abstract

Carotenoids have been shown to exhibit antiangiogenic activities. Several studies have indicated that carotenoids used in combination were more effective on antioxidation and anticancer actions than carotenoids used singly. However, it is unclear whether multi-carotenoids have antiangiogenic effects. We investigated the effects of multi-carotenoids at physiological plasma levels of Taiwanese (abbreviated as MCT, with a total of 1.4 μM) and Americans (abbreviated as MCA, with a total of 1.8 μM), and of post-supplemental plasma levels (abbreviated as HMC with a total of 3.55 μM) on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and rat aortic rings. MCT, MCA, and HMC inhibited VEGF-induced migration, invasion, and tube formation of HUVECs as well as new vessels formation in rat aortic rings. MCT, MCA, and HMC inhibited activities o\f matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, urokinase plasminogen activator, and phosphorylation of VEGF receptor 2 induced by VEGF. Moreover, MCT, MCA, and HMC significantly upregulated protein expression of tissue inhibitors of MMP-2 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. These results demonstrate the antiangiogenic effect of multi-carotenoids both in vitro and ex vivo with possible mechanistic actions involving attenuation of VEGF receptor 2 phosphorylation and extracellular matrix degradation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Aorta / drug effects*
  • Carotenoids / blood
  • Carotenoids / pharmacology*
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / metabolism
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / metabolism
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / pharmacology*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / metabolism

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1
  • SERPINE1 protein, human
  • TIMP2 protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2
  • Carotenoids
  • KDR protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator
  • MMP2 protein, human
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2