Abstract
Angiogenesis is central to many physiological and pathological processes. Here we show two potent bioinformatically-identified peptides, one derived from collagen IV and translationally optimized, and one from a somatotropin domain-containing protein, synergize in angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis assays including cell adhesion, migration and in vivo Matrigel plugs. Peptide-peptide combination therapies have recently been applied to diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but remain uncommon thus far in cancer, age-related macular degeneration and other angiogenesis-dependent diseases. Previous work from our group has shown that the collagen IV-derived peptide primarily binds β1 integrins, while the receptor for the somatotropin-derived peptide remains unknown. We investigate these peptides’ mechanisms of action and find both peptides affect the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway as well as focal adhesion kinase (FAK) by changes in phosphorylation level and total protein content. Blocking of FAK both through binding of β1 integrins and through inhibition of VEGFR2 accounts for the synergy we observe. Since resistance through activation of multiple signaling pathways is a central problem of anti-angiogenic therapies in diseases such as cancer, we suggest that peptide combinations such as these are an approach that should be considered as a means to sustain anti-angiogenic and anti-lymphangiogenic therapy and improve efficacy of treatment.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by NIH CA R01 138264, R21 CA131931, R21 CA 152473, The Safeway Foundation for Breast Cancer, The Thome Memorial Foundation and TEDCO Maryland Technology Development Corporation.
Ethical Standards
All experiments described herein complied with US legal and ethical standards.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest. ASP serves as the CSO of AsclepiX Therapeutics, LLC; the terms of this arrangement are being managed by the Johns Hopkins University in accordance with its conflict of interest policies.
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Jacob E. Koskimaki and Esak Lee contributed equally to this work.
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Koskimaki, J.E., Lee, E., Chen, W. et al. Synergy between a collagen IV mimetic peptide and a somatotropin-domain derived peptide as angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis inhibitors. Angiogenesis 16, 159–170 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10456-012-9308-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10456-012-9308-7