To evaluate the anti-angiogenic efficacy of
CB-12181 [an azasugar derivative that has inhibitory actions against
matrix metalloproteinases (
MMPs) and
tumor necrosis factor-alpha (
TNF-alpha) converting enzyme (TACE)], we investigated the suppressing ability on in vitro (tube formation by endothelial cells) and in vivo (
retinal neovascularization on murine
ischemia-induced proliferative retinopathy) models of angiogenesis. For in vitro analysis, a capillary-like tube formation model using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and fibroblasts co-culture assay was employed. Tube formation of HUVECs was stimulated by
vascular endothelial growth factor (
VEGF) and incubated with different concentrations of
CB-12181 (0.1-100 microM) for 11 days. For in vivo analysis, mice were exposed to 75%
oxygen between postnatal days 7 and 12 (P7 to P12). Then, the mice were removed from the
oxygen treatment and treated with
CB-12181 (1, 15, or 50 mg/kg) by daily
subcutaneous injection from the time of reintroduction to room air at P12 until P16. At P17, pathological and physiological angiogenesis was quantified using
retinal flat-mounts visualized by fluorescent angiography. In the in vitro angiogenesis model,
CB-12181 significantly suppressed
VEGF-induced HUVEC tube formation. Furthermore, in the in vivo angiogenesis model, administration of
CB-12181 significantly suppressed
retinal neovascularization without any apparent side effects on physiological revascularization to the
oxygen-induced obliteration area. These results suggest that
CB-12181 might be useful in the treatment of various diseases that depend on
pathologic angiogenesis, and especially valuable for the treatment of
diabetic retinopathy and
retinopathy of prematurity.