Oxalomalate reduces expression and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor in the retinal pigment epithelium and inhibits angiogenesis: Implications for age-related macular degeneration.

Clinical and experimental observations indicate a critical role for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), secreted by the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), in pathological angiogenesis and the development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). RPE-mediated VEGF expression, leading to angiogenesis, is a major signaling mechanism underlying ocular neovascular disease. Inhibiting this signaling pathway with a therapeutic molecule is a promising anti-angiogenic strategy to treat this disease with potentially fewer side effects. Oxalomalate (OMA) is a competitive inhibitor of NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), which plays an important role in cellular signaling pathways regulated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, we have investigated the inhibitory effect of OMA on the expression of VEGF, and the associated underlying mechanism of action, using in vitro and in vivo RPE cell models of AMD. We found that OMA reduced the expression and secretion of VEGF in RPE cells, and consequently inhibited CNV formation. This function of OMA was linked to its capacity to activate the pVHL-mediated HIF-1α degradation in these cells, partly via a ROS-dependent ATM signaling axis, through inhibition of IDH enzymes. These findings reveal a novel role for OMA in inhibiting RPE-derived VEGF expression and angiogenesis, and suggest unique therapeutic strategies for treating pathological angiogenesis and AMD development.

Kim SH ，Kim H ，Ku HJ ，Park JH ，Cha H ，Lee S ，Lee JH ，Park JW ... -  《Redox Biology》

Inhibition of APE1/Ref-1 redox activity rescues human retinal pigment epithelial cells from oxidative stress and reduces choroidal neovascularization.

Li Y ，Liu X ，Zhou T ，Kelley MR ，Edwards P ，Gao H ，Qiao X ... -  《Redox Biology》

Oxalomalate reduces tumor progression in melanoma via ROS-dependent proapoptotic and antiangiogenic effects.

The potent cytotoxicity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can cause various diseases, however, it may also serve as a powerful chemotherapeutic strategy capable of killing cancer cells. Oxalomalate (OMA, α-hydroxy-β-oxalosuccinic acid), a tricarboxylic acid intermediate, is a well-known competitive inhibitor of two classes of NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) isoenzymes, which serve as the major antioxidants and redox regulators in the mitochondria and cytosol. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of OMA in melanoma and elucidated the associated underlying mechanisms of action using in vitro and in vivo models. OMA targeting IDH enzymes suppressed melanoma growth through activation of apoptosis and inhibition of angiogenesis. Mechanistically, our findings showed that OMA activated p53-mediated apoptosis through ROS-dependent ATM-Chk2 signaling and reduced the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor through ROS-dependent E2F1-mediated hypoxia inducible factor-1α degradation. In particular, OMA-induced suppression of IDH activity resulted in induction of ROS stress response, ultimately leading to apoptotic cell death and antiangiogenic effects in melanoma cells. Thus, OMA might be a potential candidate drug for melanoma skin cancer therapy.

Kim SH ，Kil IS ，Kwon OS ，Kang BS ，Lee DS ，Lee HS ，Lee JH ，Park JW ... -  《-》

Decorin inhibits angiogenic potential of choroid-retinal endothelial cells by downregulating hypoxia-induced Met, Rac1, HIF-1α and VEGF expression in cocultured retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is one of the most common causes of severe vision loss. Decorin, a multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been recently shown to play an important regulatory role in angiogenic response. This study aims to investigate whether the overexpression of decorin in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells under hypoxia alters the in vitro angiogenic ability of cocultured choroid-retinal endothelial cells and to explore the possible mechanisms involved. Human RPE cells (ARPE-19) were subjected to hypoxia with or without decorin pretreatment, and RNA interference technique was used to knock down the Met gene in ARPE-19 cells. Cell viability was determined using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Expression of Met, Rac1 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) was evaluated by western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and qRT-PCR. We then constructed a recombinant lentiviral vector carrying the decorin gene to transduce ARPE-19 cells. The overexpression of decorin in transduced RPE cells was confirmed by qRT-PCR and western blot. The transduced RPE cells were then cocultured with rhesus macaque choroid-retinal endothelial cells (RF/6A) in a transwell coculture system to observe the effects of decorin overexpression in ARPE-19 cells on the proliferation, migration and tube formation of RF/6A cells. In response to hypoxia, the VEGF concentrations in the culture supernatants increased greatly at 24 and 48 h, and this effect was inhibited significantly and nearly equally in the presence of 50-200 nM decorin. Decorin pretreatment before hypoxia exposure effectively reduced the hypoxia-induced expression of Met, Rac1, HIF-1α and VEGF in ARPE-19 cells. Transfection of small interfering RNA against Met to ARPE-19 cells also resulted in significant downregulation of Rac1, HIF-1α and VEGF under hypoxia, and this effect was similar to that noted with decorin pretreatment alone or with their combination. Results from the coculture system showed that the overexpression of decorin in ARPE-19 cells significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and tube formation of RF/6A cells. These results indicate that Met pathway activation plays an important role in the upregulation of VEGF in RPE cells under hypoxia. Decorin may interfere with angiogenesis by downregulating hypoxia-induced Met, Rac1, HIF-1α and VEGF expression in RPE cells, which suggests a potential strategy for the inhibition of CNV.

Du S ，Wang S ，Wu Q ，Hu J ，Li T ... -  《-》

Up-Regulation of ENO1 by HIF-1α in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells after Hypoxic Challenge Is Not Involved in the Regulation of VEGF Secretion.

Alpha-enolase (ENO1), a major glycolytic enzyme, is reported to be over-expressed in various cancer tissues. It has been demonstrated to be regulated by the Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α (HIF-1α), a crucial transcriptional factor implicated in tumor progression and cancer angiogenesis. Choroidal neovascularization (CNV), which is a leading cause of severe vision loss caused by newly formed blood vessels in the choroid, is also engendered by hypoxic stress. In this report, we investigated the expression of ENO1 and the effects of its down-regulation upon cobalt (II) chloride-induced hypoxia in retinal pigment epithelial cells, identified as the primary source of ocular angiogenic factors. HIF-1α-diminished retinal pigment epithelial cells were generated by small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology in ARPE-19 cells, a human retinal pigment epithelial cell line. Both normal and HIF-1α-diminished ARPE-19 cells were then subjected to hypoxic challenge using cobalt (II) chloride (CoCl2) or anaerobic chamber. The relation between ENO1 expression and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion by retinal pigment epithelial cells were examined. Protein levels of HIF-1α and ENO1 were analyzed using Western Blot, while VEGF secretion was essayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cytotoxicity after hypoxia was detected by Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Assay. Upon 24 hr of CoCl2-induced hypoxia, the expression levels of ENO1 and VEGF were increased along with HIF-1α in ARPE-19 cells, both of which can in turn be down-regulated by HIF-1α siRNA application. However, knockdown of ENO1 alone or together with HIF-1α did not help suppress VEGF secretion in hypoxic ARPE-19 cells. ENO1 was demonstrated to be up-regulated by HIF-1α in retinal pigment epithelial cells in response to hypoxia, without influencing VEGF secretion.

Zheng F ，Jang WC ，Fung FK ，Lo AC ，Wong IY ... -  《PLoS One》