Introduction
Physiological angiogenesis is a strictly regulated fine-tuned process. The local balance between inducers and inhibitors of angiogenesis is critical in determining the generation or not of new vessels. Whenever this balance is perturbed pathological, uncontrolled, excessive angiogenesis occurs. Psoriasis, rheumatic arthritis and diabetic retinopathy constitute some of the diseases in which pathological angiogenesis contributes to their pathogenesis. However, tumor angiogenesis is the most striking manifestation of abnormal angiogenesis. Indeed, it has been demonstrated that formation of new blood vessels is required for tumor growth beyond a diameter of 1-2 mm.
Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), also referred to as VEGF, represents a critical inducer of tumor angiogenesis and is the first-choice target of anti-angiogenic therapies tested in clinical trials [
1]. VEGF belongs to a subfamily of secreted, dimeric glycoproteins of approximately 40 kDa, which in turn belongs to the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) superfamily. In mammals, VEGF family consists of VEGF-A, B, C, D and placental growth factor 1 and 2 (PlGF1 and 2). Specifically VEGF exists as multiple isoforms, resulting from alternative splicing. The most predominant isoform is VEGF165 (a 165-amino acid protein), which is over-expressed in a variety of human solid tumors [
2,
3]. All VEGF molecules/ligands transduce their signal through their binding to VEGF receptor −1, -2 and −3. However, VEGFR-2 is the key molecule for VEGF signaling in the tumor micro-environment including vascular permeability and endothelial cell proliferation[
2,
4]. Several cascades emanating from the VEGF/VEGFR2 complex regulate critical angiogenic responses of endothelial cells. Endothelial cell proliferation is regulated by activation of PLCγ, a SH2-domain-containing molecule that interacts directly with activated VEGFR-2 and mediates the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular – signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) cascade [
5]. VEGF enhances survival of endothelial cells using the PI3K/AKT pathway, whereas it stimulates endothelial cell migration through p38 MAPK phosphorylation [
6]. Signaling cascades of the VEGF/VEGFR2 complex result in the expression of dual specificity phosphatases (DUSP) 1 & 5, which dephosphorylate and inactivate MAPKs, functioning as an auto-regulatory circuit [
7].
Consumption of plant-derived diets exerts a preventive effect on cancer incidence in humans. Several dietary phytochemicals exhibit anti-mitotic and/or anti-angiogenic activity mediating the protective effect of vegetarian diets on cancer. In this context, we have demonstrated that the isoflavonoid genistein is a potent inhibitor of tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis [
8]. Subsequently, we have shown that several of the isomeric flavonoids exhibited similar anti-angiogenic activity as genistein [
9]. In particular, luteolin inhibited VEGF-induced angiogenesis by targeting VEGF/VEGFR2-induced PI3K activity. Detailed elucidation of the mechanism demonstrated that luteolin compromised VEGF-induced survival of HUVECs via blockage of PI3K/Akt-dependent pathways, whereas inhibition of the PI3K/p70 S6K pathway mediated the anti-mitotic effects of the compound on HUVECS [
10]. In the present study, we have screened additional isoflavonoids for anti-angiogenic activity and identified that 6-methoxyequol inhibits VEGF-induced MEK1/2 phosphorylation and endothelial cell proliferation leaving unaffected the migratory and survival functions of VEGF. Treatment of xenograft A-431 tumors in mice using oral administration of 6-ME failed to reduce the volumes of the tumors, because the compound failed to achieve sufficient plasma levels as documented using an HPLC-CEAD method. However, injecting directly 6-ME to the xenograft tumors, to bypass the low bioavailability, resulting in a statistically significant reduction of tumor volume compared to controls and suppressed vascularization.
Materials and methods
Antibodies and chemicals
Human VEGF165 was purchased from ImmunoTools (ImmunoTools GmbH, Friesoythe, Germany). Rabbit polyclonal anti-phospho-p38, anti-ERK1/2, anti-phospho-ERK1/2, anti-phospho-Akt and anti-Akt antibodies were obtained from Cell Signaling (Cell Signaling Technology, Inc, Beverley, MA). Anti-BrdU was from Sigma (Sigma, St. Louis, MO). All secondary antibodies were purchased from Jackson ImmunoResearch Europe Ltd, UK. CycleTEST PLUS DNA Reagent kit was from Becton Dickinson Biosciences.
Cell culture
Human endothelial cells from umbilical vein (HUVEC) were plated on dishes pre-coated with rat collagen type I (Becton Dickinson Biosciences) and cultured in M199 medium supplemented with 20% fetal calf serum (FCS), 50 micrograms/ml endothelial cell growth supplement (ECGS, Sigma), heparin 10u/μl (Sigma) and 1% penicillin-streptomycin. All media and sera for cell culture were purchased from Invitrogen and were endotoxin-free. 6-methoxyequol was tested for endotoxin content using the QCL1000 kit from BioWhittaker, Inc. For all experiments 6-methoxyequol was resuspended in DMSO/ethanol, 1/1 by volume, and added directly to the culture medium. Cells not receiving 6-methoxyequol were incubated in the corresponding volume of DMSO/ethanol.
Primary cell growth assay
Primary bovine brain capillary endothelial (BBCE) cells were split into 12-well dishes at 5,000 cells per well and 24 h later cell stimulated with FGF2 (2.5 ng/ml) in the absence or presence of 6-methoxyequol at various concentrations. After 2 days, cells were again stimulated or not by FGF2 in the absence or presence of 6-methoxyequol and the next day cells were counted.
Cancer cell growth assay
Hela, LnCAP, T24 (Human bladder carcinoma) or MCF7 (Human breast adenocarcinoma) cancer cells were split into 12-well plates either at 5,000, in case of Hela, T24 and MCF7 or at 20,000 in case of LnCAP, cells per well and 24 h later cells were treated or not with various concentrations of 6-methoxyequol. After 2 days, cells were again treated or not with 6- methoxyequol and the next day cells were counted.
Apoptosis assay
For analysis by flow cytometry, HUVECs were serum starved for 6 h in medium containing 5% FCS and treated with VEGF (50 ng/ml) for 18 h in the presence or absence of 6-methoxyequol (10 μM) for the same period of time. At the end of the incubation time, floating and adherent cells were collected in ice-cold PBS, stained with propidium iodine using the CycleTEST PLUS DNA Reagent kit and processed for flow cytometric analysis using a Becton Dickinson Fluorescence Activated Cell Scanner (FACS). The percentage of cells with sub-G1 DNA content was considered as the cell population that had undergone apoptosis.
Proliferation assay (BrdU incorporation)
HUVECs were grown on collagen-coated coverslips and serum starved in medium containing 5% FCS, 1% pen/strep and heparin for 18 h. Cells were induced with VEGF (50 ng/ml) in the absence or presence of various concentrations of 6-methoxyequol for 24 h. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU; Sigma, St. Louis, MO) was added 6 h before the VEGF-induction was complete. Cells were fixed in 3.7% paraformaldehyde, quenched with 50 mM ammonium chloride for 15 min, permeabilized with 0.1% Triton X-100 for 4 min, and non-specific sites were blocked with fetal serum. The proliferating cells were detected with an anti-BrdU antibody. Coverslips were mounted in Mowiol and viewed using Leica DM IBRE microscope.
Cell migration assay
Confluent HUVE cell monolayers were wounded with a sterile plastic pipette tip, cultured in M199 medium supplemented with 5% FCS and induced with VEGF (10 ng/ml) in the presence or absence of 6-methoxyequol (10 μM). Cells were placed in a 37°C, 5% CO2 chamber and monitored using a Leica DM IBRE microscope equipped with a HRD060-NIK CCD-camera (Diagnostic Instruments, Sterling Heights, MI, USA) and metamorph software. Frames were taken every 10 min for 16 h. Results were expressed as number of cells per centimetre of wound.
Matrigel was thawed on ice overnight and spread evenly over each well (500 μl) of a 24-well plate. The plates were incubated for 30 min at 37°C to allow the matrigel to polymerize. HUVECs were seeded on coated plated at 4 x 104cells/well in M199 supplemented with 5% FCS in the presence or absence of 6-methoxyequol at various concentrations (1-50μM). Plates were incubated for 12 h at 37°C. Tube formation was observed using an inverted phase contrast microscope (Zeiss Axiovert S-100; Germany).
Phosphorylation of MAP kinases
HUVECs were cultured in M199 supplemented with 20%FCS, ECGS, heparin & pen/strep until 80% confluence. Cells were serum starved for 2 h in medium containing 0% FCS and then treated with VEGF (50 ng/ml) in the presence or absence of either 6-methoxyequol (1,5,or 10μM) or DMSO for 15 min. Cells were washed with ice-cold PBS and lysed in lysis buffer (1% SDS supplemented with protease and phosphatase inhibitors). The lysates were resuspended in Laemmli buffer, subjected to SDS-PAGE and blotted onto a nitrocellulose membrane. Phosphorylated ERK1/2 and p38 were detected using specific rabbit polyclonal antibodies and an anti-rabbit peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibody, followed by detection using a chemiluminescence-based system. The membranes were then stripped and reprobed with antibodies against ERK1/2 and p38 to normalize the phosphorylation data against expression of the kinases.
qRT-PCR experiment
Quantitative Reverse Transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) experiments were performed using The LightCycler® 2.0 Instrument (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany) and QuantiTect SYBR Green RT-PCR Kit (Qiagen, GmbH, Germany). Total RNA was isolated after 15 and 30 min treatment with VEGF (50 ng/ml) in the absence or presence of 6- methoxyequol (10μM).
Synthesis of 6-methoxyequol
To test 6-ME in animal models considerably larger quantities were required. Since, this compound is not commercially available we undertook its synthesis as described in detail in the Additional file
1. In brief, starting from 6-methoxyresorcinol and 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid the desired deoxybenzoin was first obtained in 48% yield. Treatment of the deoxybenzoin with
N,
N-dimethylformamid (DMF) in the presence of methanesulfonyl chloride at 70°C generated glycitein, which was hydrogenated using 10% Pd/C to 6-methoxyequol in high yield and purity. A detailed analysis of 1-(2,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)-2-(4’-hydroxyphenyl) ethanone, 7,4’-Dihydroxy-6-methoxyisoflavone (Glycitein) and 7,4’-Dihydroxy-6-methoxyisoflavane synthesis is described in.
In vivo experiments
To assess the in vivo anti-angiogenic/anti-tumor activity of 6-methoxyequol, female immunodeficient mice (5–8 week-old BALB/c nude mice, Charles River, Milan, Italy), kept with ad libitum water and Protein Rodent Maintenance Diet (Harlan n. 2014), were inoculated subcutaneously in the right flank with 107 A-431 cells in a volume of 50 μl (Morbidelli et al., Clinic Cancer Res, 2003; Bagli et. al., Cancer Res, 2004). After 9 days, when tumors reached a volume of 170 mm3, animals were randomly assigned to 2 different experimental groups (9–10 mice per group). Peri-tumor treatment with 6-methoxyequol (5 μg/day/mice) or vehicle then began. The local peri-tumor treatment was performed at the dose of 5 μg/50 μl/mouse/day. The vehicle containing the same concentrations of solvents (1% ethanol + 1% DMSO) was used as control. Daily treatment was performed for 10 consecutive days. Serial caliper measurements of perpendicular diameters were used to calculate tumor volume using the following formula: (shortest diameter x longest diameter x thickness of the tumor in mm). Data are reported as tumor volume in mm3. Experiments have been performed in accordance with the guidelines of the European Economic Community for animal care and welfare (EEC Law No. 86/609) and National Ethical Committee. Animals were observed daily for signs of cytotoxicity and were sacrificed by CO2 asphyxiation. At day 10 animals were sacrificed and each tumor was immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. 7 μm-thick cryostat sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and adjacent sections were used for immunohistochemical staining with the anti-ED-B monoclonal antibody after fixation in absolute cold acetone.
In the set of mice treated orally with 6-ME, the compound was firstly dissolved in 50% ethanol and 50% DMSO and then diluted with extra pure olive oil (final 0,25% ethanol and 0,25% DMSO). We have used as vehicle olive oil with the same amount of solvents. The daily dose of 6-ME was 100 mg/kg administered by lavage (200 μl/mouse). Treatment started when tumors were palpable and continued until day 11, the day of sacrifice. To accesses 6-ME bioavailability in mice, we determined 6-ME in urine and plasma as described in Additional file
1.
Discussion
In previous studies, we have demonstrated that the isoflavonoid genistein is an angiogenesis inhibitor [
8]. In the present study, we have screened a number of hitherto untested isoflavonoids using inhibition of EC proliferation as an indicator of possible anti-angiogenic activity. Only, 6-ME inhibited EC proliferation with an IC50 comparable to that of genistein or the flavonoid Luteolin (around 5 μM). Interestingly, 6-ME inhibited both VEGF- and FGF2-induced proliferation of endothelial cells, whereas it had no effect on the serum-induced proliferation of four cancer cell lines. Apparently, 6-ME exhibits certain selectivity towards inhibition of EC proliferation. 6-ME is an isoflavan metabolite that has been identified in human urine following soy or red clover supplementation [
20,
21,
24,
25]. However, only trace amounts of 6-ME are excreted in human urine. 6-ME originates from glycitein; the amount of the original substance is low in soy compared to daidzein and genistein, that may explain the low amounts of the metabolite [
24].
Though 6-ME inhibited both VEGF- and FGF2-induced proliferation of ECs, we decided to study the effects of 6-ME only on VEGF-dependent EC responses, because VEGF is the most important mediator of tumor angiogenesis. Indeed, cancer cells over-express VEGF either following hypoxia or as a consequence of the genetic changes of cancer such as mutations of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes [
26]. In fact, endothelial cells adjacent to the tumor vessels over-express VEGFR-1 and −2 [
27] establishing an angiogenic loop.
To discriminate whether the decreased number of cells in the proliferation assay derived from a truly cytostatic effect (cell cycle inhibition) of 6-ME or was the result of cytotoxicity/apoptosis, we further investigated the effect of the compound on the VEGF-induced survival of endothelial cells. 6-ME, administered alone to endothelial cell cultures did not increase the percentage of apoptotic cells compared to solvent-treated cultures. Moreover, 6-ME administered together with VEGF did not have any influence on the VEGF-induced rescue of apoptosis. This result, in other words, indicated that 6-ME did not inhibit the EC survival signaling cascades emanating from the active VEGF/VEGFR2 complex. In confirmation, 6-ME did not inhibit VEGF-induced phosphorylation of AKT, an important component of the PI3K signaling pathway, the main anti-apoptotic cascade in most cells.
Having established that 6-ME inhibits endothelial cell proliferation, we investigated whether 6-ME could inhibit other angiogenic responses of endothelial cells. Indeed, angiogenesis is a complex process that involves many partial steps such as production of proteolytic enzymes that degrade the basement membrane, migration, proliferation, tube formation, generation of basement membrane and recruitment of mural cells [
26]. Several of these processes including tube formation can be reconstituted
in vitro using 3D cultures on Matrigel, a basement membrane matrix from Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm mouse tumors [
28]. Indeed, human umbilical vein endothelial cells form capillary-like structures on Matrigel substrates. 6-ME, even at high doses, did not exhibit any effect on the Matrigel assay. Migration is a critical angiogenic response of ECs allowing them to reach the membrane breach for invasion to the extracellular space. VEGF is a prime regulator of EC migration. VEGF-induced phosphorylation of Tyr1214 of VEGFR2 activates SAPK2/p38 [
12] leading to VEGF-induced actin reorganization and migration of ECs via phosphorylation of heat-shock protein-27 (HSP27) [
29] and LIM-kinase 1 (LIMK1) [
6]. 6-ME did not exhibit any inhibitory effect on VEGF-induced migration of ECs and did not inhibit phosphorylation of p38 by the VEGF/VEGFR2 complex.
It appeared, therefore, that the main target of 6-ME was EC proliferation. Interestingly, 6-ME inhibited both VEGF- and FGF2-induced EC proliferation. In humans, upon VEGF-A binding, phosphorylation of VEGFR2 on Tyr1175 leads to recruitment of PLCγ, which in turn, via activation of PKC, phosphorylates MEK1/2 and eventually mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2) leading to proliferation of ECs [
5]. Such activation of MAPKs by VEGF is different from classic Ras-Raf-MEK-MAPK pathway, which is used by most receptor tyrosine kinases including FGF2 [
13,
14]. Nevertheless, it has been shown that PKC-dependent activation of MEK1/2 requires a Ras-Raf complex formation [
30]. This PKC/Ras-Raf functional interaction is not so well understood and might include other hitherto unidentified components. PKC and Ras-Raf are the points where the VEGF and FGF2 cascades arrive just before the first downstream common effector, MEK1/2, as far as activation of MAPK is concerned. The finding that 6-ME inhibits both the VEGF and FGF2-induced EC proliferation as well as MEK1/2 phosphorylation suggests that the PKC/Ras-Raf interaction is the only point where 6-ME could target both pathways with one activity. Otherwise, 6-ME would need two activities targeting two different components upstream to MEK1/2, one for each pathway. This is a point that requires future attention.
Thus, inhibition of MEK1/2 and consequently ERK1/2 phophorylation was the sole cardinal effect of 6-ME on the signaling cascade of VEGF in HUVECs; activation of AKT and P38 were unaffected. This mechanism is strikingly different compared to the effects of the flavonoid luteolin on VEGF signaling in HUVECs [
10]. Luteolin, inhibited the PI3K/AKT pathway abolishing downstream survival signals, but also enhanced the pro-apoptotic MKK3/MKK6/p38 pathway of VEGF eliciting a strong apoptotic effect in ECs. Regarding the anti-mitotic activity, luteolin inhibited VEGF-induced phosphorylation of p70 S6K, a downstream effector of PI3K responsible for G1 progression. Surprisingly, luteolin did not affect VEGF-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 MAP kinases. Thus, two representatives (luteolin and 6-ME) of closely related isomeric compound classes (flavonoids and Isoflavonoids) exhibited entirely different molecular targets concerning the VEGF-dependent signaling cascades in HUVECs. Perhaps, the fact that these compounds are competitive inhibitors of ATP binding [
31] allows them to target a variety of tyrosine and serine kinases [
31,
32].
6-ME was eventually tested in animal models. For this purpose, we used a murine tumor xenograft model utilizing A-431 cells, a human epidermoid carcinoma cell line that produces VEGF [
19]. 6-ME administered orally in this model was devoid of any effect. The experimental and control tumors did not show any difference in their average volumes). We postulated that low bioavailability is the reason for the lack of effect. Indeed, estimation of the free, conjugated and total amounts of 6-ME in the plasma of the mice revealed that the maximum concentration achieved was 1.23 μM, a value below the
in vitro IC50 of the compound (around 5-10μM). Several factors contribute to the bioavailability including absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination. There are no extensive studies on these issues concerning isoflavonoids. However, the studies so far [
20,
21] anticipate that isoflavones are rather poorly bioavailable. In a study in human adults, consumption of 50 mg of isoflavones per day yielded plasma concentrations ranging from 0.2-3.2 μmol/L. Indeed, following consumption of food rich in soy or red clover only traces of 6-ME were detected in soy human urine [
24]. The low biovailability excludes any significant contribution of 6-ME to the protective function of plant-based diets on cancer incidence.
However, biovailable analogs of 6-ME could be used therapeutically to target tumor angiogenesis. Alternatively, 6-ME could be loaded in nanoparticles targeted to ECs, where they could be endocytosed and eventually release their cargo. Indeed, when injected directly to the xenograft tumors, to bypass its low biovailability, 6-ME suppressed tumor vascularization resulting to a statistically significant decrease in the volumes of murine A-431 xenograft tumors. Thus, 6-ME acquires the potential to be developed into a therapeutic anti-cancer agent. In this capacity, 6-ME or 6-ME analogs have two very important and unique properties. 6-ME inhibits only VEGF-induced MEK1/2 activation inhibiting exclusively EC proliferation without influencing VEGF-induced survival. Thus, one can anticipate that it targets only dividing ECs in the vicinity of tumors, without affecting the survival of the quiescent normal endothelium. Moreover, it inhibits also FGF2, which an alternative angiogenic factor expressed when ECs develop resistance (Angiogenic Redundancy) [
33] against current anti-VEGF treatments [
34]. This is a very important issue in the anti-VEGF treatments.
In conclusion, 6-ME, a natural isoflavone found also in humans, inhibits VEGF- and FGF2-induced proliferation of ECs. The molecular target of 6-ME is upstream of MEK1/2 inhibiting phosphorylation of MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 kinases that are important components of the mitogenic MAPK pathway. 6-ME does not affect the PI3K/AKt pathway, thereby not affecting VEGF-dependent survival of ECs. Oral administration in mice fails to achieve sufficient plasma concentrations to inhibit neovascularization and growth of xenograft tumors in mice. However, direct injections of 6-ME to the xenograft tumors, to bypass its low biovailability, suppress tumor vascularization resulting to a statistically significant decrease in the volumes of murine A-431 xenograft tumors. Concomitant inhibition of VEGF- and FGF2-induced EC proliferation and targeting only dividing ECs without affecting the survival of ECs are two properties rendering 6-ME as an attractive molecule for the development of a novel anti-angiogenic intervention in cancer treatment.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.