The fumagillin analogue TNP-470 inhibits DNA synthesis of vascular smooth muscle cells stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor and insulin-like growth factor-I. Possible involvement of cyclin-dependent kinase 2.

The effect of an angiogenesis inhibitor, TNP-470, on DNA synthesis and its underlying signaling cascades stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I were examined in bovine vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). PDGF-BB (10 ng/mL)- and IGF-I (100 ng/mL)-stimulated increase in DNA synthesis was completely abolished by simultaneous treatment with TNP-470 (1.0 ng/mL). TNP-470 had no effects on PDGF receptor autophosphorylation or early signal transduction, such as activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and immediate early gene expression. PDGF-BB induced an increase in mRNA levels of cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) 4, and cdk2, as well as the activity of cdk2, which preceded the G1/S boundary, as estimated by the kinetics of DNA synthesis. The PDGF-BB-induced activation of cdk2 was inhibited by TNP-470, which was correlated with decreased cdk2 mRNA levels. In contrast, TNP-470 had no or less marked effect on cyclin D1 and cdk4 mRNA levels induced by PDGF-BB. TNP-470 also inhibited a much smaller increase in cdk2 mRNA levels and activation stimulated by IGF-I. In conclusion, TNP-470 potently inhibits DNA synthesis of SMCs, and this inhibition is associated with decreased levels of cdk2 mRNA and activity.