Ethnopharmacological relevance: 12-Deoxyphorbol 13-palmitate (G) is one toxic compound isolated from Euphorbia fischeriana, an Asian spice used for cancer treatment as a folk remedy. However, whether 12-deoxyphorbol 13-palmitate affects angiogenesis remains unclear.
Aim of the study: To explore the in vitro and in vivo antiangiogenic effects of 12-deoxyphorbol 13-palmitate and its underlying mechanisms.
Materials and methods: We explored antigenic functions in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) by 12-deoxyphorbol 13-palmitate, including proliferation, migration and metastasis through matrigel plug assay, chorioallantoic membrane assay, in vitro migration assay, tube formation assay, motility assay. Antibody chip was applied to screen differentially expressed proteins modulated by 12-deoxyphorbol 13-palmitate, and was further confirmed by RT-PCR and western blot analysis. Tumor xenograft mice were applied to investigate whether 12-deoxyphorbol 13-palmitate could inhibit microvessel density in vivo.
Results: 12-Deoxyphorbol 13-palmitate inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced angiogenic processes in vitro, such as proliferation, in vitro migration, and tube formation of HUVEC. In chorioallantoic membrane assay, 12-deoxyphorbol 13-palmitate significantly inhibited neovessel formation. Antibody chip technology demonstrated decreased expression of TIMP-1, TIMP-2, VEGF, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2, VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 proteins in HUVEC after 24h. In addition, 12-deoyphorbol 13-palmitate inhibited the in vivo growth of MCF-7 cells in grafted mouse model. Immunohistochemistry staining showed decreased microvessel density (CD31) and attenuated VEGFR-2 signaling pathways by 12-deoxyphorbol 13-palmitate.
Conclusion: 12-Deoxyphorbol 13-palmitate may be utilized to target active angiogenesis through VEGF/VEGFR2 signal pathway for cancer.
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