Antiangiogenic and proapoptotic activity of a novel glycoprotein from U. indica is mediated by NF-kappaB and Caspase activated DNase in ascites tumor model.

We have identified a novel glycoprotein from Urginea indica bulbs with potent in vivo antitumor activity against growth of an ascites tumor, mouse mammary carcinoma. In this paper we report characterization of a 29 kDa glycoprotein from U. indica and demonstrate the mechanism of antiangiogenic and proapoptotic activity. N-terminal sequence of the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) pure glycoprotein showed sequence homology to an extent of 40-50% with known angiogenesis inhibitor and apoptosis-inducing protein from C. elegans and G. gallus respectively. Our results on antiangiogenic property of the glycoprotein include inhibition of in vivo angiogenesis assays, decreased micro vessel density count and CD31 antigen staining in 29 kDa glycoprotein treated mice peritoneum. In vitro inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor induced proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by the glycoprotein further supports its antiangiogenic activity. The mechanism of antiangiogenesis involved inhibition of translocation of nuclear factor kappa B to the nucleus resulting in decreased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor gene as is demonstrated by our results on quantification of vascular endothelial growth factor levels in the glycoprotein treated tumor bearing mice. Our results on activation of Caspase-3 with concomitant translocation of caspase activated DNase to the tumor cell nuclei resulting in DNA fragmentation induced by the glycoprotein in vivo clearly demonstrated a parallel proapoptotic activity of the glycoprotein.