Effect of CPU-XT-008, a combretastatin A-4 analogue, on the proliferation, apoptosis and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

The present study investigated the effect of the combretastatin A-4 analogue CPU-XT-008 on the proliferation, apoptosis and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The proliferation capacity of HUVECs was analyzed with a cell viability assay, while their apoptosis and migration abilities were evaluated via flow cytometry and monolayer denudation assay, respectively. The mRNA and protein expression levels of VEGF and FGF-2 in these cells were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and cell-based ELISA, western blotting and immunocytochemistry, respectively. The results demonstrated that CPU-XT-008 inhibited proliferation and migration, and induced apoptosis in HUVECs in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, CPU-XT-008 downregulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of VEGF and FGF-2 in these cells. These findings suggest that CPU-XT-008 exerts anti-angiogenic effects in HUVECs, which may explain the inhibition of cell proliferation and migration, induction of apoptosis, and reduction in the mRNA and protein expression levels of VEGF and FGF-2 observed in the present study.