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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Sci / Bevacizumab Efficiently Inhibits VEGF-Associated Cellular Pr...
Veterinary sciences2023; 10(11); 632; doi: 10.3390/vetsci10110632

Bevacizumab Efficiently Inhibits VEGF-Associated Cellular Processes in Equine Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells: An In Vitro Characterization.

Abstract: Anti-VEGF agents were found to have clinical implications for the successful treatment of vascular-driven diseases in humans. In this study, a detailed biological characterization of bevacizumab in a variety of in vitro assays was carried out to determine the effect of bevacizumab on equine umbilical vein endothelial cells (EqUVEC). EqUVECs were harvested from umbilical cords of clinically healthy horses and exposed to different concentrations (1, 2, 4, 6, 8 mg/mL) of bevacizumab (Avastin). Assays concerning the drug's safety (cell viability and proliferation assay) and efficacy (cell tube formation assay, cell migration assay, and Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression) were carried out reflecting multiple cellular processes. Bevacizumab significantly decreased VEGF expression at all concentrations over a 72 h period. No cytotoxic effect of bevacizumab on EqUVECs was observed at concentrations of 4 mg/mL bevacizumab or lower. Incubated endothelial cells showed delayed tube formation and bevacizumab efficiently inhibited cell migration in a dose-dependent manner. Bevacizumab potently inhibits VEGF-induced cellular processes and could be a promising therapeutic approach in vascular-driven diseases in horses.
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Publication Date: 2023-10-26 PubMed ID: 37999456PubMed Central: PMC10675369DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10110632Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Overview

  • This study investigates how the drug bevacizumab affects the behavior of endothelial cells from horse umbilical veins in laboratory tests.
  • The research examines the safety and effectiveness of bevacizumab in blocking processes driven by Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), which is important in blood vessel formation.

Background and Purpose

  • VEGF is a key molecule that promotes blood vessel formation and is involved in various vascular diseases.
  • Anti-VEGF agents, such as bevacizumab, are used clinically in humans to treat diseases driven by abnormal blood vessel growth.
  • The purpose of this study was to characterize the effects of bevacizumab on equine umbilical vein endothelial cells (EqUVECs) because vascular-driven diseases also occur in horses but have not been extensively studied with this drug.

Methods

  • EqUVECs were collected from the umbilical cords of healthy horses to serve as the cell model.
  • The cells were treated with various bevacizumab concentrations: 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 mg/mL.
  • Multiple assays were conducted to assess:
    • Safety: Cell viability and proliferation tests determined if bevacizumab was toxic or inhibited growth at different doses.
    • Efficacy: The drug’s ability to interfere with VEGF-driven processes was measured with:
      • Tube formation assay (simulate blood vessel formation in vitro)
      • Cell migration assay (ability of endothelial cells to move, important for vessel formation)
      • Measurement of VEGF expression levels over 72 hours to see if bevacizumab reduces VEGF activity.

Key Findings

  • Bevacizumab significantly reduced VEGF expression at all tested concentrations after 72 hours.
  • Cell viability and proliferation were not negatively affected at bevacizumab doses up to 4 mg/mL, indicating no cytotoxicity at these concentrations.
  • Endothelial cells treated with bevacizumab showed a delay in tube formation, meaning the drug inhibited a critical step in new blood vessel development.
  • Cell migration was inhibited by bevacizumab in a dose-dependent manner; higher doses led to stronger inhibition.

Conclusions and Implications

  • Bevacizumab can effectively block VEGF-related activities in equine endothelial cells, reducing factors essential for blood vessel growth and migration.
  • The drug appears safe at concentrations up to 4 mg/mL, supporting its potential for therapeutic use.
  • These findings suggest bevacizumab could be a promising treatment approach for vascular-driven diseases in horses, similar to its application in human medicine.
  • Further investigation in clinical settings is warranted to explore bevacizumab’s efficacy and safety in live horses affected by such diseases.

Cite This Article

APA
Lessiak U, Pratscher B, Tichy A, Nell B. (2023). Bevacizumab Efficiently Inhibits VEGF-Associated Cellular Processes in Equine Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells: An In Vitro Characterization. Vet Sci, 10(11), 632. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10110632

Publication

Veterinary sciences
ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 11
PII: 632

Researcher Affiliations

Lessiak, Ulrike
  • Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Pratscher, Barbara
  • Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Tichy, Alexander
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Nell, Barbara
  • Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Lugo T, Myers S, Nguyen TA. Isolation and Characterization of Equine Lymph Node Endothelial Cells.. Vet Sci 2025 Sep 18;12(9).
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  2. Lessiak U, Melchert M, Walter I, Kummer S, Nell B, Tschulenk W, Pratscher B. Isolation-protocol, characterization, and in-vitro performance of equine umbilical vein endothelial cells.. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1421946.
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  3. Finding EJT, Faulkner A, Nash L, Wheeler-Jones CPD. Equine Endothelial Cells Show Pro-Angiogenic Behaviours in Response to Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 but Not Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A.. Int J Mol Sci 2024 May 30;25(11).
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  4. Blohm KO, Nell B. Adjunctive bevacizumab therapy in an equine corneal stromal invasive squamous cell carcinoma with a 53-months follow-up.. Tierarztl Prax Ausg G Grosstiere Nutztiere 2024 Apr;52(2):108-114.
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