Blockage of VEGF-induced angiogenesis by preventing VEGF secretion

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/vascular permeability factor is one of the most frequently expressed angiogenic factors in several pathological tissues. Development of VEGF antagonists has become an important approach in the treatment of angiogenesis-dependent diseases. Here we describe a novel anti-VEGF strategy by preventing the secretion of VEGF. We utilize the fact that placenta growth factor (PlGF)-1, a member of the VEGF family lacking detectable angiogenic activity, preferentially forms intracellular heterodimers with VEGF in cells coexpressing both factors. We constructed a retroviral vector containing human PlGF-1 or VEGF with a C-terminal KDEL sequence, which is a mammalian retention signal for the endoplasmic reticulum. Transduction of murine Lewis lung carcinoma cells with the retro-hPlGF-1-KDEL construct almost completely abrogated tumor growth. Consistent with the dramatic antitumor effect, most mouse VEGF molecules remained as intracellular mVEGF/hPlGF-1 heterodimers, and only a negligible amount of mVEGF homodimers were secreted. As a result, in hPlGF-1-KDEL-expressing tumors, blood vessels remained at very low numbers and lacked branching and capillary networks. Gene transfer of a hVEGF-KDEL construct into tumor cells likewise produced a dramatic antitumor effect. Thus, our study provides a novel antiangiogenic approach by preventing the secretion of VEGF.