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Original Articles

Multi-Carotenoids at Physiological Levels Inhibit VEGF-Induced Tube Formation of Endothelial Cells and the Possible Mechanisms of Action Both In Vitro and Ex Vivo

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Pages 116-124 | Received 13 Mar 2017, Accepted 12 Sep 2017, Published online: 07 Nov 2017
 

ABSTRACT

Carotenoids have been shown to exhibit antiangiogenic activities. Several studies have indicated that carotenoids used in combination were more effective on antioxidation and anticancer actions than carotenoids used singly. However, it is unclear whether multi-carotenoids have antiangiogenic effects. We investigated the effects of multi-carotenoids at physiological plasma levels of Taiwanese (abbreviated as MCT, with a total of 1.4 μM) and Americans (abbreviated as MCA, with a total of 1.8 μM), and of post-supplemental plasma levels (abbreviated as HMC with a total of 3.55 μM) on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and rat aortic rings. MCT, MCA, and HMC inhibited VEGF-induced migration, invasion, and tube formation of HUVECs as well as new vessels formation in rat aortic rings. MCT, MCA, and HMC inhibited activities o\f matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, urokinase plasminogen activator, and phosphorylation of VEGF receptor 2 induced by VEGF. Moreover, MCT, MCA, and HMC significantly upregulated protein expression of tissue inhibitors of MMP-2 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. These results demonstrate the antiangiogenic effect of multi-carotenoids both in vitro and ex vivo with possible mechanistic actions involving attenuation of VEGF receptor 2 phosphorylation and extracellular matrix degradation.

Declaration of Interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Funding

This study was supported by a grant (NSC-101-2320-B-003-005-MY3) from the National Science Foundation, Executive Yuan, Taiwan, ROC, and in part by the Ministry of Education, Taiwan, ROC, under the ATU plan.

Author Contributions

C.-H. H. performed the experiments; C.-H. C. and M.-L. H. designed the study and prepared the manuscript and C.-H. C., M.-L. H. and C.-S. H. analyzed the data. All authors have read and approved the final version of this manuscript.

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