Targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 and protein kinase D1 related pathways by a multiple kinase inhibitor in angiogenesis and inflammation related processes in vitro

PLoS One. 2015 Apr 14;10(4):e0124234. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124234. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Emerging evidence suggests that the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and protein kinase D1 (PKD1) signaling axis plays a critical role in normal and pathological angiogenesis and inflammation related processes. Despite all efforts, the currently available therapeutic interventions are limited. Prior studies have also proved that a multiple target inhibitor can be more efficient compared to a single target one. Therefore, development of novel inflammatory pathway-specific inhibitors would be of great value. To test this possibility, we screened our molecular library using recombinant kinase assays and identified the previously described compound VCC251801 with strong inhibitory effect on both VEGFR2 and PKD1. We further analyzed the effect of VCC251801 in the endothelium-derived EA.hy926 cell line and in different inflammatory cell types. In EA.hy926 cells, VCC251801 potently inhibited the intracellular activation and signaling of VEGFR2 and PKD1 which inhibition eventually resulted in diminished cell proliferation. In this model, our compound was also an efficient inhibitor of in vitro angiogenesis by interfering with endothelial cell migration and tube formation processes. Our results from functional assays in inflammatory cellular models such as neutrophils and mast cells suggested an anti-inflammatory effect of VCC251801. The neutrophil study showed that VCC251801 specifically blocked the immobilized immune-complex and the adhesion dependent TNF-α -fibrinogen stimulated neutrophil activation. Furthermore, similar results were found in mast cell degranulation assay where VCC251801 caused significant reduction of mast cell response. In summary, we described a novel function of a multiple kinase inhibitor which strongly inhibits the VEGFR2-PKD1 signaling and might be a novel inhibitor of pathological inflammatory pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic
  • Neutrophils / drug effects
  • Neutrophils / immunology
  • Neutrophils / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase C / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Kinase C / genetics
  • Protein Kinase C / metabolism*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / toxicity*
  • Pyridones / chemistry
  • Pyridones / toxicity*
  • Pyrimidines / chemistry
  • Pyrimidines / toxicity*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Superoxides / metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / pharmacology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyridones
  • Pyrimidines
  • VCC251801
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Superoxides
  • protein kinase D
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2
  • Protein Kinase C

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Anyos Jedlik award number NKFP-A1-0069/2006 to AM, GK and TV by National Office for Research and Technology (Hungary), supporting experimental work, focusing on drug screening and neutrophil studies; KMR-12-1-2012-0074 to GK by National Development Agency (Hungary), supporting experimental work in cell culture; The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme [FP7-2007-2013] under grant agreement n° HEALTH-F4-2011-282095. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.