Posidonia oceanica Extract Inhibits VEGF-Induced Angiogenic and Oxidative Responses in Human Endothelial...

Area of Science:

• Marine biotechnology
• Endothelial cell biology
• Angiogenesis research

Background:

• Angiogenesis is vital for development but drives pathologies like cancer.
• Marine compounds offer multitargeted anti-angiogenic potential.
• Posidonia oceanica, a seagrass, possesses known pharmacological activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the anti-angiogenic effects of Posidonia oceanica leaf extract (POE).
• To evaluate POE's impact on human Endothelial Colony-Forming Cells (ECFCs) in vitro.
• To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying POE's anti-angiogenic action.

Main Methods:

• Treatment of ECFCs with POE (4-8 µg/mL).
• Assessment of cell viability, morphology, migration, invasion, and tube formation.
• Analysis of oxidative stress, gene expression, protein phosphorylation, and inflammatory markers.

Main Results:

• POE did not affect ECFC viability or morphology.
• POE dose-dependently inhibited ECFC migration, invasion, and in vitro angiogenesis.
• POE reduced ROS, modulated redox genes, and selectively disrupted VEGF signaling (KDR, mTOR, p-ERK).
• POE downregulated pro-inflammatory/pro-coagulant markers and partially reversed TNF-α-induced activation.

Conclusions:

• Posidonia oceanica leaf extract exhibits significant anti-angiogenic properties.
• POE acts via a multitargeted mechanism, affecting redox balance and VEGF signaling.
• POE demonstrates potential as a natural therapeutic agent for angiogenesis-driven diseases.