Specific Inhibition of Hypoxia-inducible Factor (HIF)-1α Activation and of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Production by Flavonoids

Yuki Hasebe; Kiyoshi Egawa; Yoko Yamazaki; Setsuko Kunimoto; Yasuaki Hirai; Yoshiteru Ida; Kiyoshi Nose

doi:10.1248/bpb.26.1379

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Specific Inhibition of Hypoxia-inducible Factor (HIF)-1α Activation and of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Production by Flavonoids

Yuki Hasebe, Kiyoshi Egawa, Yoko Yamazaki, Setsuko Kunimoto, Yasuaki Hirai, Yoshiteru Ida, Kiyoshi Nose

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Keywords: hypoxia response element, flavonoid, reporter assay, angiogenesis, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), p53

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2003 Volume 26 Issue 10 Pages 1379-1383

DOI https://doi.org/10.1248/bpb.26.1379

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Abstract

Screening using a reporter under the control of the hypoxia-response element (HRE) identified several flavonoids and homoisoflavonoids that inhibit the activation of HRE under hypoxic conditions. Among various compounds, isorhamnetin, luteolin, quercetin, and methyl ophiopogonanone B (MOB) were effective at 3 to 9 μg/ml in inhibiting the reporter activity. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA during hypoxia was also inhibited by MOB in HepG2 cells, but the effective doses were 10 to 20 μg/ml. MOB caused destabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, as revealed by Western blotting, that was dependent on proteasome activity and the tumor suppressor, p53. The tubular formation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells was also inhibited by MOB. MOB is expected to act as an inhibitor of angiogenesis.

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