Browsing by Author "Jiang, Aihua"

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    Inhibition of APE1/Ref-1 Redox Activity with APX3330 Blocks Retinal Angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo
    (2011-01) Jiang, Aihua; Gao, Hua; Kelley, Mark R.; Qiao, Xiaoxi
    This study examines the role of APE1/Ref-1 in the retina and its potential as a therapeutic target for inhibiting retinal angiogenesis. APE1/Ref-1 expression was quantified by Western blot. The role of APE1/Ref-1 redox function in endothelial cell in vitro angiogenesis was examined by treating retinal vascular endothelial cells (RVECs) with APX3330, a small molecule inhibitor of APE1/Ref-1 redox activity. In vitro methods included a proliferation assay, a transwell migration assay, a Matrigel tube formation assay, and a Real-Time Cell Analysis (RTCA) using the xCELLigence System. In vivo functional studies of APE1/Ref-1 were carried out by treating very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) receptor knockout mice (Vldlr−/−) with intravitreal injection of APX3330, and subsequent measurement of retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP)-like neovascularization for one week. APE1/Ref-1 was highly expressed in the retina and in RVECs and pericytes in mice. APX3330 (1–10 μM) inhibited proliferation, migration and tube formation of RVECs in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. Vldlr−/− RVECs were more sensitive to APX3330 than wild-type RVECs. In Vldlr−/− mice, a single intravitreal injection of APX3330 at the onset of RAP-like neovascularization significantly reduced RAP-like neovascularization development. APE1/Ref-1 is expressed in retinal vascular cells. APX3330 inhibits RVEC angiogenesis in vitro and significantly reduces RAP-like neovascularization in Vldlr−/− mice. These data support the conclusion that APE1/Ref-1 redox function is required for retinal angiogenesis. Thus, APE1/Ref-1 may have potential as a therapeutic target for treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration and other neovascular diseases.
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    Role of the Multifunctional DNA Repair and Redox Signaling Protein Ape1/Ref-1 in Cancer and Endothelial Cells: Small-Molecule Inhibition of the Redox Function of Ape1
    (2008-09) Luo, Meihua; Delaplane, Sarah; Jiang, Aihua; Reed, April; He, Ying; Fishel, Melissa L.; Nyland II, Rodney L.; Borch, Richard F.; Qiao, Xiaoxi; Georgiadis, Millie M.; Kelley, Mark R.
    The DNA base excision-repair pathway is responsible for the repair of DNA damage caused by oxidation/alkylation and protects cells against the effects of endogenous and exogenous agents. Removal of the damaged base creates a baseless (AP) site. AP endonuclease1 (Ape1) acts on this site to continue the BER-pathway repair. Failure to repair baseless sites leads to DNA strand breaks and cytotoxicity. In addition to the repair role of Ape1, it also functions as a major redox-signaling factor to reduce and activate transcription factors such as AP1, p53, HIF-1α, and others that control the expression of genes important for cell survival and cancer promotion and progression. Thus, the Ape1 protein interacts with proteins involved in DNA repair, growth-signaling pathways, and pathways involved in tumor promotion and progression. Although knockdown studies with siRNA have been informative in studying the role of Ape1 in both normal and cancer cells, knocking down Ape1 does not reveal the individual role of the redox or repair functions of Ape1. The identification of small-molecule inhibitors of specific Ape1 functions is critical for mechanistic studies and translational applications. Here we discuss small-molecule inhibition of Ape1 redox and its effect on both cancer and endothelial cells.