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The growth inhibition of hepatoma by gene transfer of antisense vascular endothelial growth factor
Author(s) -
Ae Kang Mi,
Young Kim Kye,
Yeon Seol Ji,
Chan Kim Kyu,
Jin Nam Myeong
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
the journal of gene medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.689
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1521-2254
pISSN - 1099-498X
DOI - 10.1002/1521-2254(200007/08)2:4<289::aid-jgm116>3.0.co;2-1
Subject(s) - angiogenesis , transfection , vascular endothelial growth factor , genetic enhancement , biology , cell growth , microbiology and biotechnology , growth factor , endothelial stem cell , cell culture , cancer research , chemistry , in vitro , gene , receptor , vegf receptors , biochemistry , genetics
Background Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent mediator of angiogenesis and tumor growth in solid tumors. Therefore, to induce tumor regression, antiangiogenic agents to block VEGF need to be administered repeatedly. Method We constructed the recombinant mammalian expression vector bearing an antisense‐VEGF cDNA, pZeoVEGFa. We examined the effect of pZeoVEGFa on the growth of SK‐HEP1 hepatoma cells, bovine capillary endothelial (BCE) cells, and tubule formation of BCE cells in fibrin gel. To evaluate the function of pZeoVEGFa in vivo , we implanted SK‐HEP1 hepatoma cells subcutaneously into nude mice. Results In SK‐HEP1 hepatoma cells, we showed that the synthesis of VEGF protein was suppressed by the stable and transient transfection of pZeoVEGFa. pZeoVEGFa inhibited the proliferation of BCE cells and significantly suppressed tubule formation of BCE cells. pZeoVEGFa inhibited a morphological change from a round shape to an elongated spindle shape in fibrin gel. When pZeoVEGFa was injected peritumorally by liposomes, tumor growth was inhibited. Conclusion Endothelial cell proliferation, tubule formation and tumor growth may be diminished by down‐regulation of endogenous VEGF expression in tumor cells or tissue. These findings indicate that the efficient down‐regulation of the VEGF produced by tumor cells using antisense strategies has an antitumor effect. We suggest that VEGF‐targeted antiangiogenic gene therapy could be an effective strategy to treat VEGF‐producing tumors. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.