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The inhibition of autophagy potentiates anti-angiogenic effects of sulforaphane by inducing apoptosis

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Abstract

Background

Sulforaphane (SUL), a kind of isothiocyanate, has recently been focused due to its strong pro-apoptotic effect on cancer cells as well as tumor vascular endothelial cells (ECs). And recently, we demonstrated the induction of autophagy by colon cancer cells as a protective mechanism against SUL. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the possible role of autophagy induction by ECs as a defense mechanism against SUL.

Methods

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used as the in vitro model of angiogenic ECs. The induction of autophagy was evaluated by the detection of acidic vesicular organelles (AVOs) by flow-cytometry, after the staining with acridine orange, as well as the detection of light chain 3(LC3) by Western blot. Finally, the functional implication of autophagy inhibition and SUL treatment in ECs was investigated by their ability to form vascular-like structures on Matrigel.

Results

Treatment of HUVECs with relatively low concentrations of SUL for 16 h resulted in the evident formation of AVOs and the recruitment of LC3 to autophagosomes, the pathognomonic features of autophagy. Co-treatment of cells with the specific autophagy inhibitor (3-methyladenine) potentiated the proapoptotic effect of SUL. And inhibition of autophagy potentiated the inhibitory effect of SUL on the ability of ECs to form capillary-like structures.

Conclusion

Similar to cancer cells, ECs induced autophagy in response to the pro-apoptotic agent, SUL, and the inhibition of autophagy potentiated the pro-apoptotic effect. These findings open premises for the use of autophagy inhibitors in combination with anti–angiogenic agents.

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Abbreviations

3-MA:

3-Methyladenine

aFGF:

Acidic fibroblast growth factor

AO:

Acridine orange

AVOs:

Acidic vesicular organelles

BSA:

Bovine serum albumin

CM:

Complete medium

DMSO:

Dimethyl sulfoxide

ECs:

Endothelial cells

EPCs:

Endothelial progenitor cells

FCS:

Fetal calf serum

HUVECs:

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells

ITCs:

Isothiocyanates

LC3:

Light chain 3

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

PI:

Propidium iodide

SUL:

Sulforaphane

TS:

Tris-saline

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Correspondence to Takeshi Nishikawa.

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Nishikawa, T., Tsuno, N.H., Okaji, Y. et al. The inhibition of autophagy potentiates anti-angiogenic effects of sulforaphane by inducing apoptosis. Angiogenesis 13, 227–238 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10456-010-9180-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10456-010-9180-2

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