Inhibition of angiogenesis by cleaved high molecular weight kininogen (HKa) and HKa domain 5.

High molecular weight kininogen (HK) is an abundant, multi-domain plasma protein that circulates in plasma primarily in its single chain form. Proteolytic cleavage of HK by plasma kallikrein releases the vasoactive nanopeptide bradykinin (BK), and converts HK into two-chain HK (HKa). BK appears to have pro-angiogenic activity, most likely mediated through binding to B1 and B2 receptors on endothelial cells. Conversely, HKa and its domain 5, but not (single chain) HK, have potent anti-angiogenic activity comparable to other endogenous angiogenesis inhibitors. The mechanism by which HKa exerts its anti-angiogenic activity remains controversial, but appears to involve binding to cell surface tropomyosin and induction of apoptosis of proliferating endothelial cells. A role for tropomyosin in mediating the anti-angiogenic signals of other anti-angiogenic proteins such as endostatin and histidine-proline-rich glycoprotein (HPRG) has also been reported. Here we review the physiological importance of high molecular weight kininogen in angiogenesis, with emphasis on the mechanism(s) by which this activity is mediated.