Publication details
-Escin Effectively Modulates HUVECs Proliferation and Tube Formation
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2018 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Molecules |
| Citation | |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules23010197 |
| Keywords | -escin; HUVECs; angiogenesis; bFGF; CAM |
| Description | In the present study we evaluated the anti-angiogenic activities of -escin (the major active compound of Aesculus hippocastanum L. seeds). Human umbilical-vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used as an in vitro model for studying the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-angiogenic effect of -escin. We investigated the in vitro effects on proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HUVECs and in vivo anti-angiogenic activity was evaluated in a chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) angiogenesis assay. Moreover, the effect on gene expressions was determined by the RT2 ProfilerTM human angiogenesis PCR Array. It was found that -escin exerts inhibitory effect on the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced proliferation, migration and tube formation, as well as CAM angiogenesis in vivo. The inhibition of critical steps of angiogenic process observed with -escin could be partially explained by suppression of Akt activation in response to bFGF. Moreover, the anti-angiogenic effects of -escin could also be mediated via inhibition of EFNB2 and FGF-1 gene expressions in endothelial cells. In conclusion, -escin affects endothelial cells as a negative mediator of angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo and may therefore be considered as a promising candidate for further research elucidating its underlying mechanism of action. |