Since hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a typical hypervascular malignant tumor with poor prognosis, targeting angiogenesis is an important therapeutic strategy for advanced HCC. Involvement of bone morphologic protein 9 (BMP9), a transforming growth factor-beta superfamily member, has recently been reported in the development of liver diseases and angiogenesis. Here, we aimed to elucidate the role of BMP9 signaling in promoting HCC angiogenesis and to assess the antiangiogenic effect of BMP receptor inhibitors in HCC. By analyzing HCC tissue gene expression profiles, we found that BMP9 expression was significantly correlated with angiogenesis-associated genes, including HIF-1α and VEGFR2. In vitro, BMP9 induced HCC cell HIF-1α/VEGFA expression and VEGFA secretion. Silencing of the inhibitor of DNA-binding protein 1 (ID1), a transcription factor targeted by BMP9 signaling, suppressed BMP9-induced HIF-1α/VEGFA expression and VEGFA secretion, resulting in decreased human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) lumen formation. BMP receptor inhibitors, which inhibit BMP9-ID1 signaling, suppressed BMP9-induced HIF-1α/VEGFA expression, VEGFA secretion, and HUVEC lumen formation. In vivo, the BMP receptor inhibitor LDN-212854 successfully inhibited HCC tumor growth and angiogenesis by inhibiting BMP9-ID1 signaling. In summary, BMP9-ID1 signaling promotes HCC angiogenesis by activating HIF-1α/VEGFA expression. Thus, targeting BMP9-ID1 signaling could be a pivotal therapeutic option for advanced HCC.
Keywords: BMP receptor inhibitor; BMP9-ID1 signaling; HIF-1α; VEGFA; angiogenesis; hepatocellular carcinoma.