The apoptotic, inflammatory, and fibrinolytic actions of vasoinhibin are in a motif different from its antiangiogenic HGR motif

Abstract Vasoinhibin is a proteolytic fragment of the hormone prolactin that inhibits blood vessel growth (angiogenesis) and permeability, stimulates the apoptosis and inflammation of endothelial cells and promotes fibrinolysis. The antiangiogenic and antivasopermeability properties of vasoinhibin were recently traced to the HGR motif located in residues 46 to 48, allowing the development of potent, orally active, HGR-containing vasoinhibin analogs for therapeutic use against angiogenesis-dependent diseases. However, whether the HGR motif is also responsible for the apoptotic, inflammatory, and fibrinolytic properties of vasoinhibin has not been addressed. Here, we report that HGR-containing analogs are devoid of these properties. Instead, the incubation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells with oligopeptides containing the sequence HNLSSEM, corresponding to residues 30 to 36 of vasoinhibin, induced apoptosis, the nuclear translocation of NF-κB, the expression of genes encoding leukocyte adhesion molecules ( VCAM1 and ICAM1 ) and proinflammatory cytokines ( IL1B, IL6, TNF ), and the adhesion of peripheral blood leukocytes. Also, the intravenous or intra-articular injection of HNLSSEM-containing oligopeptides induced the expression of Vcam1, Icam1, Il1b, Il6, Tnf in the lung, liver, kidney, eye, and joints of mice and, like vasoinhibin, these oligopeptides promoted the lysis of plasma fibrin clots by binding to plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). Moreover, the inhibition of PAI-1, urokinase plasminogen activator receptor, or NF-κB prevented the apoptotic and inflammatory actions. In conclusion, the functional properties of vasoinhibin are segregated into two different structural determinants. Because apoptotic, inflammatory, and fibrinolytic actions may be undesirable for antiangiogenic therapy, HGR-containing vasoinhibin analogs stand as selective and safe agents for targeting pathological angiogenesis.