Inhibition of chronic and acute skin inflammation by treatment with a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor

Am J Pathol. 2008 Jul;173(1):265-77. doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2008.071074. Epub 2008 Jun 5.

Abstract

Although vascular remodeling is a hallmark of many chronic inflammatory disorders, antivascular strategies to treat these conditions have received little attention to date. We investigated the effects of a newly identified vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor tyrosine-kinase inhibitor, NVP-BAW2881, on endothelial cell function in vitro and its anti-inflammatory activity in different animal models. NVP-BAW2881 inhibited proliferation, migration, and tube formation by human umbilical vein endothelial cells and lymphatic endothelial cells in vitro. In a transgenic mouse model of psoriasis, NVP-BAW2881 reduced the number of blood and lymphatic vessels and infiltrating leukocytes in the skin, and normalized the epidermal architecture. NVP-BAW2881 also displayed strong anti-inflammatory effects in models of acute inflammation; pretreatment with topical NVP-BAW2881 significantly inhibited VEGF-A-induced vascular permeability in the skin of pigs and mice. Furthermore, topical application of NVP-BAW2881 reduced the inflammatory response elicited in pig skin by UV-B irradiation or by contact hypersensitivity reactions. These results demonstrate for the first time that VEGF receptor tyrosine-kinase inhibitors might be used to treat patients with inflammatory skin disorders such as psoriasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / drug therapy*
  • Lymphangiogenesis / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / drug effects
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / drug effects
  • Skin / blood supply
  • Skin / drug effects*
  • Skin / radiation effects
  • Skin Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Sus scrofa

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor