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Role of chemokines in angiogenesis: CXCL12/SDF-1 and CXCR4 interaction, a key regulator of endothelial cell responses.

Chemokines are small proteins that act as cell attractants via the activation of G protein-coupled receptors. Chemokines play an important role in several pathophysiological processes such as inflammation and immunity. Many proinflammatory chemokines also support the development of vascular blood supply at the site of inflammation. Similarly, tumor-generated chemokines can contribute to tumor growth by promoting angiogenesis. Recently, significant advances have been made in understanding the contribution of chemokines to the angiogenesis process. This review will discuss first the evidence supporting the direct contribution of different chemokine subfamily members, including CC, CXC, and CX3C chemokines, as positive or negative regulators of the angiogenesis process based on the expression of their cognate receptors on endothelial cells. Additionally, the relationship between classic angiogenic factors and chemokine receptor expression on endothelial cells, and the implications of chemokine production by cancer cells will be analyzed with particular emphasis on the CXCL12/stromal-cell derived factor-1 interaction with CXCR4.

Animals↗

VEGF/VPF overexpression in skin of transgenic mice induces angiogenesis, vascular hyperpermeability and accelerated tumor development.

Upregulation of keratinocyte-derived VEGF-A expression has recently been established in non-neoplastic processes of skin such as wound healing, blistering diseases and psoriasis, as well as in skin neoplasia. To further characterize the effects of VEGF-A in skin in vivo, we have developed transgenic mice expressing the mouse VEGF120 under the control of a 2.4 kb 5' fragment of keratin K6 gene regulatory sequences that confers transgene inducibility upon hyperproliferative stimuli. As expected from the inducible nature of the transgene, two of the three founder mice obtained (V27 and V208), showed no apparent phenotype. However, one founder (V2), mosaic for transgene integration, developed scattered red spots throughout the skin at birth. The transgenic offspring derived from this founder developed a striking phenotype characterized by swelling and erythema, resulting in early postnatal lethality. Histological examination of the skin of these transgenics demonstrated highly increased vascularization and edema leading to disruption of skin architecture. Expression of the transgene was silent in adult animals of lines derived from founders V27 and V208. Phorbol ester-induced hyperplasia resulted in transgene induction and increased cutaneous vascularization in adult transgenic mice of these lines. Skin carcinogenesis experiments performed on hemizygous crosses of V208 mice with activated H-ras-carrying transgenic mice (TG.AC) resulted in accelerated papilloma development and increased tumor burden. Previous results from our laboratory showed that VEGF upregulation is a major angiogenic stimulus in mouse epidermal carcinogenesis. By overexpressing VEGF in the skin of transgenic mice we now move a step further toward showing that VEGF-mediated angiogenesis is a rate-limiting step in the genesis of premalignant lesions, such as mouse skin papilloma. Our transgenic mice constitute an interesting model system for in vivo study of the cutaneous angiogenic process and its relevance in tumorigenesis and other skin diseases.

Animals↗

Heregulin selectively upregulates vascular endothelial growth factor secretion in cancer cells and stimulates angiogenesis.

The interaction between the erbB tyrosine kinase receptors and their ligands plays an important role in tumor growth via the regulation of autocrine and paracrine loops. We report the effect of heregulin beta1, the ligand for erbB-3 and erbB-4 receptors, on the regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, using a panel of breast and lung cancer cell lines with constitutive erbB-2 overexpression or engineered to stably overexpress the erbB-2 receptor. We demonstrate that heregulin beta1 induces VEGF secretion in most cancer cell lines, while no significant effect was observed in normal human mammary and bronchial primary cells. Overexpression of erbB-2 receptor results in induction of the basal level of VEGF and exposure to heregulin further enhances VEGF secretion. This is associated with increased VEGF mRNA expression. In contrast, VEGF induction is significantly decreased in a T47D cell line where erbB-2 is functionally inactivated. Conditioned media from heregulin-treated cancer cells, but not from normal cells, stimulates endothelial cell proliferation; this paracrine stimulation is inhibited by co-exposure to a specific VEGF neutralizing antibody. Furthermore, heregulin-mediated angiogenesis is observed in the in vivo CAM assay. This study reports the first evidence of VEGF regulation by heregulin in cancer cells. Oncogene (2000) 19, 3460 - 3469

Adenocarcinoma↗

c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation is required for the inhibition of neovascularization by thrombospondin-1.

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis that acts directly on endothelial cells via the CD36 surface receptor molecule to halt their migration, proliferation, and morphogenesis in vitro and to block neovascularization in vivo. Here we show that inhibitory signals elicited by TSP-1 did not alter the ability of inducers of angiogenesis to activate p42 and p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Rather, TSP-1 induced a rapid and transient activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK). JNK activation by TSP-1 required engagement of CD36, as it was blocked by antagonistic CD36 antibodies and stimulated by short anti-angiogenic peptides derived from TSP-1 that act exclusively via CD36. TSP-1 inhibition of corneal neovascularization induced by bFGF was severely impaired in mice null for JNK-1, pointing to a critical role for this stress-activated kinase in the inhibition of neovascularization by TSP-1.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

The Id proteins and angiogenesis.

Since the identification of the Id proteins over a decade ago, a great many cell cycle and cell fate decisions have been shown to be under the control of these proteins as described in other sections of this review issue. Perhaps the most unsuspected activity of this class of proteins has been their essential role in angiogenesis, both in the forebrain during development and during the growth and metastasis of tumors in adults. This section of the review issue will focus on the key observations which have led to these conclusions, speculations about potential mechanisms and the outlook for potential therapeutic interventions.

Animals↗

Apoptotic cues from the extracellular matrix: regulators of angiogenesis.

A variety of factors cooperate to regulate neovessel formation and persistence. Proangiogenic growth factors have remained an area of intense interest due to their capacity to promote endothelial cell (EC) proliferation and to initiate the angiogenic program. These growth factors are associated with increased cell survival, yet paradoxically, angiogenic ECs are more susceptible to apoptosis than quiescent ECs. Survival is regulated by cooperation between growth factor receptors and integrins, which are in turn governed by the composition of the local extracellular matrix (ECM). Integrin-mediated signaling is altered or disrupted by the presence of soluble, rather than matrix-bound ligands, thus providing a means by which ECM remodeling can influence both integrin- and growth factor-mediated events. Ultimately, the collaboration of these factors determines whether ECs survive or die, thereby regulating neovascularization.

Animals↗

Inhibition of VEGF receptors significantly impairs mammary cancer growth in C3(1)/Tag transgenic mice through antiangiogenic and non-antiangiogenic mechanisms.

Cancer growth and progression is often critically influenced by the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a key mediator of angiogenesis. VEGF produced by tumor cells stimulates endothelial cell growth through the binding and activation of the KDR/Flk-1 receptor (VEGFR-2) on endothelial cells. Recently, some human breast cancer epithelial cells have been shown to express VEGF receptors, suggesting a potential autocrine-mediated growth stimulation of a subset of cancers by VEGF. We demonstrate that mammary tumors in the C3(1)/Tag transgenic model express VEGF and VEGF receptors and tumor growth is stimulated by this autocrine mechanism. GW654652, an indazolylpyrimidine, is a VEGFRs tyrosine kinase inhibitor that dramatically reduces both angiogenesis and tumor cell growth in this model, as demonstrated using both in vitro and in vivo assays. GW654652 significantly decreased cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and M6 mammary tumor cells derived from C3(1)/Tag (Tag: simian virus 40 T-antigen) transgenic mice. A 75% reduction in VEGF-induced angiogenesis was observed with GW654652 using the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay, whereas GW654652 produced an approximately 85% reduction in angiogenesis as assessed by the Matrigel plug assay. A profound inhibitory effect on tumor growth in the C3(1)/Tag transgenic model of human breast cancer was observed with oral administration of GW654652 as measured by delayed tumor onset, decreased multiplicity, reduced tumor volume, and extended animal survival. The antitumor effects of GW654652 were associated with reduced tumor vascularization and no apparent toxicity. Tumor growth, however, rapidly advanced following cessation of treatment. This is the first demonstration that a VEGF receptor inhibitor, GW654652, has a strong inhibitory effect on angiogenesis and tumor progression in a transgenic model of mammary cancer, suggesting that this is a useful approach for preclinical testing of such agents.

Allantois↗

Endogenous angiogenin in endothelial cells is a general requirement for cell proliferation and angiogenesis.

Angiogenin is an angiogenic protein that undergoes nuclear translocation in endothelial cells where it accumulates in the nucleolus and stimulates rRNA transcription, a rate-limiting step in ribosome biogenesis, protein translation, and cell growth. Here, we report that angiogenin is required for cell proliferation induced by various other angiogenic proteins including acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (aFGF and bFGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Downregulation of angiogenin in endothelial cells by small interfering RNA (siRNA) and antisense results in a decrease in rRNA transcription, ribosome biogenesis, and cell proliferation induced by these angiogenic factors. Inhibitors of the nuclear translocation of angiogenin abolish the angiogenic activities of these factors. Stable angiogenin antisense transfection in HeLa cells reduces tumor angiogenesis in athymic mice despite the elevated expression level of bFGF and VEGF. Thus, nuclear angiogenin assumes an essential role in endothelial cell proliferation and is necessary for angiogenesis induced by other angiogenic factors. Angiogenin-stimulated rRNA transcription in endothelial cells may thus serve as a crossroad in the process of angiogenesis induced by various angiogenic factors.

Angiogenesis Inducing Agents↗

Thymidine phosphorylase, 2-deoxy-D-ribose and angiogenesis.

Angiogenesis is the term used to describe the formation of new blood vessels from the existing vasculature. In order to attract new vessels, a tissue must release an endothelial-cell chemoattractant. 2-Deoxy-D-ribose is produced in vivo by the catalytic action of thymidine phosphorylase (TP) on thymidine and has recently been identified as an endothelial-cell chemoattractant and angiogenesis-inducing factor. TP, previously known only for its role in nucleotide salvage, is now known to be angiogenic. TP expression is elevated in many solid tumours and in chronically inflamed tissues, both known areas of active angiogenesis. There is evidence that TP is also involved in physiological angiogenesis such as endometrial angiogenesis during the menstrual cycle. The majority of known endothelial-cell chemoattractants are polypeptides that bind to endothelial-cell-surface receptors. In contrast, 2-deoxy-D-ribose appears to lack a cell-surface receptor. Glucose is another sugar that acts as an endothelial-cell chemoattractant. The migratory activity of glucose is blocked by ouabain. It is possible that 2-deoxy-D-ribose and glucose stimulate endothelial-cell migration via a similar mechanistic pathway.

Animals↗

The role of heparan sulphate proteoglycans in angiogenesis.

The presence of HS (heparan sulphate) proteoglycans on the cell surface and in the extracellular environment is critical to many physiological processes including the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature (angiogenesis). A plethora of growth factors and their receptors, extracellular matrix molecules and enzymes bind to specific sites on the HS sugar chain. For example, HS proteoglycans have profound effects on the bioactivity of the key angiogenic factor VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) (VEGF(165)), affecting its diffusion, half-life and interaction with its tyrosine kinase receptors. A number of HS structural features that mediate the specific binding of VEGF(165), including sulphation requirements, have been determined. In parallel, zebrafish embryos were used as a vertebrate model system to study the role in vascular development of the biosynthetic enzymes that create these specific binding sites on HS. It was discovered that knockdown of one of the HS 6-O-sulphotransferases in zebrafish with morpholino antisense oligonucleotides reduced vascular branching and corresponded to changes in the HS structure. The roles of the extracellular 6-O-sulphatase enzymes, the sulfs, in vascular development are now being investigated. Both oligosaccharides and small molecule biosynthetic enzyme inhibitors could be valuable HS-based strategies for controlling aberrant angiogenesis in diseases as diverse as cancer and heart disease.

Animals↗

Differential gene and protein expression in abluminal sprouting and intraluminal splitting forms of angiogenesis.

In adult skeletal muscle, abluminal sprouting or longitudinal splitting of capillaries can be initiated separately by muscle overload and elevated microcirculation shear stress respectively. In the present study, gene and protein expression patterns associated with the different forms of angiogenesis were examined using a targeted gene array (Superarray), validated by quantitative RT (reverse transcription)-PCR and immunoblots. Sprouting angiogenesis induced large changes in expression levels in genes associated with extracellular matrix remodelling, such as MMP-2 (matrix metalloproteinase-2), TIMP (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases), SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine) and thrombospondin. Changes in neuropilin, midkine and restin levels, which may underpin changes in endothelial morphology, were seen during splitting angiogenesis. Up-regulation of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), Flk-1, angiopoietin-2 and PECAM-1 (platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1) was seen in both forms of angiogenesis, representing a common angiogenic response of endothelial cells. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that general angiogenic signals from growth factors can be influenced by the local microenvironment resulting in differing forms of capillary growth to produce a co-ordinated expansion of the vascular bed.

Angiogenic Proteins↗

The angiogenesis inhibitor vasostatin does not impair wound healing at tumor-inhibiting doses.

Inhibition of tumor angiogenesis represents a promising new approach for the treatment of human cancers. It has remained unclear, however, whether inhibition of tumor angiogenesis may also result in impaired wound healing, a process thought to be angiogenesis dependent. To determine the effects of the angiogenesis inhibitor vasostatin, a 180 amino acid calreticulin fragment, on wound healing at tumor inhibiting doses, full-thickness wounds were generated on the back of nude mice that were also injected intradermally with CA46 Burkitt lymphoma cells. Mice were treated with daily injections of vasostatin or vehicle control at a site between the wounds and the transplanted tumor cells over 14 d. Vasostatin potently inhibited tumor growth and significantly reduced tumor angiogenesis, as measured by computer-assisted image analysis of CD31-stained tumor sections. Moreover, vasostatin treatment resulted in an increased fraction of mature tumor-associated blood vessels. In contrast, no impairment of wound healing was observed in vasostatin-treated mice, despite a significantly reduced vascularity of the wound granulation tissue. Our results reveal a different sensitivity of malignant tumor growth and physiologic wound healing to inhibition of angiogenesis, and they suggest that therapeutic inhibition of tumor angiogenesis may be achieved without impairment of tissue repair.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

New strategies in anti-vascular cancer therapy.

Angiogenesis is a critical step in the progression of tumours from dormancy to a clinical relevant cancer. Inhibition of this process is one of the most promising new anti-cancer strategies. To develop new drugs that interfere with the cascade of events required for the formation of new blood vessels, insight into this process is essential. Here, we discuss the molecular basis of angiogenesis and the concepts of vascular targeting. Furthermore new strategies will be discussed to discover surface markers on endothelial cells that confer sufficient specificity for targeted intervention in the tumour vasculature.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Pharmacological reactivity of neoplastic and non-neoplastic associated neovasculature to vasoconstrictors.

Angiogenesis and the pharmacological responses of the tumour and non-tumour associated neovasculature have been investigated. Cannulated sponge discs in mice were used to host the angiogenic stimulators, while 133Xe washout was employed to assess local blood flow. Enhancement of blood flow was detected in implants bearing B16 cells, 3T3 cells and angiotensin II (AII)-treated at day 7. The responses of non-neoplastic associated neovasculature at day 14 post sponge implantation to the vasoconstrictors used endothelin-1 (Et-1), AII, platelet activating factor (PAF) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were dose-dependent. By contrast, the newly formed blood vessels induced by tumour cells were markedly insensitive to the vasoconstrictors agonists Et-1 and AII, while fully responsive to PAF and 5-HT. The vessels resulting from neoplastic stimulus exhibited altered pharmacological reactivity, suggesting that the characteristics of the neovasculature are dependent on the nature of the angiogenic stimuli.

Animals↗

The vascular endothelial growth factor family; proteins which guide the development of the vasculature.

The development of the vascular tree during embryogenesis involves vasculogenesis, angiogenesis and tissue-specific differentiation of endothelium which gives rise to many different vessel types. These processes are physiologically complex and are therefore difficult to study in vitro. However, the discovery of endothelial cell-specific receptors and cognate ligands has led to the generation of transgenic and knockout mouse models which have shed light on the molecular mechanisms that regulate the development of blood and lymphatic vessels during embryogenesis. Such mouse models have demonstrated that members of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family of proteins and the VEGF receptors are critical regulators of vasculogenesis, angiogenesis and endothelial cell differentiation. The availability of purified VEGF family members and of inhibitors of these growth factors may provide a means to modulate blood vessel growth for the treatment of cancer, retinopathies and diseases of ischemia.

Adult↗

Delta4, an endothelial specific notch ligand expressed at sites of physiological and tumor angiogenesis.

Delta-Notch signalling regulates cell-fate choices in a variety of tissues during development. We report the expression of Delta4 (D14) in arterial endothelium during mouse embryogenesis and in the endothelium of tumor blood vessels. The expression of D14 in the mouse begins at 8 dpc in the dorsal aortae, umbilical artery and the heart. Subsequent expression is restricted to smaller vessels and capillaries and is reduced in most adult tissues. However, it is high in the vasculature of xenograft human tumors in the mouse, in endogenous human tumors and is regulated by hypoxia. These data implicate D14 and the Notch signalling pathway in angiogenesis and suggest possible new targets for antiangiogenic tumor therapy.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Stem cell-derived angiogenic/vasculogenic cells: possible therapies for tissue repair and tissue engineering.

1. The recent ability to isolate stem cells and study their specific capacity of self-renewal with the formation of different cell types has opened up exciting vistas to help the repair of damaged tissue and even the formation of new tissue. In the present review, we deal with the characteristics and sources that stem cells can be derived and cultured from. 2. We focus on the role that stem cell-derived vascular cells or endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) may play in (re)vascularization of ischaemic and engineered tissues. This so-called vasculogenesis resembles the embryological process in which 'haemangioblasts' differentiate in blood cells, as well as in primitive vessels. Although also derived from the blood-forming bone marrow, in adult life vasculogenic stem cells contribute only little to the regular vascular repair mechanisms: namely (i) angiogenesis (outgrowth of vessels from existing vessels); and (ii) arteriogenesis (monocyte-aided increase in the calibre of existing arteriolar collaterals). 3. Most attempts to increase vascular repair by stem cells involve the use of growth factors, which mobilize stem cells from bone marrow into the blood, sometimes combined with isolation and reinfusion of these cells after ex vivo expansion and differentiation into EPC. 4. Clear improved perfusion of ischaemic sites and new vasculature has been observed in vivo mostly in animal models. Specific homing or administration of these cells and regulated and quantitative expansion and (final) differentiation at these vascular (repair) sites are less studied, but are paramount for efficacy and safety. 5. In conclusion, the use of embryonic stem cells will still encounter ethical objections. Moreover, special attention and measures are needed to cope with the allogeneic barriers that these cells usually encounter. In general, the long and complicated ex vivo cultures to obtain sufficient offspring from the very small numbers of stem cells that can be obtained as starting material will be costly and cumbersome. Both basic research on conceptual matters and cost-effective development of the product itself will have to go a long way before the clinical use of some volume can be expected.

Animals↗