In vivo and in vitro anti-angiogenesis effect of venom-derived peptides (ICD-85)

Agiogenesis is the development of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculatures. Although essential in the physiological process, it becomes pathological in various diseases including cancer. Preventing the formation of new blood vessels causes reductions in tumor size and metastasis. This study has been undertaken to elucidate the anti-angiogenesis effects of ICD-85 (derived peptides from venom). We evaluated the ICD-85 anti-angiogenesis activity by the in vivo CAM assay and in vitro tube formation assay of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The anti-proliferative activity of ICD-85 was also determined through MTT assay on HUVECs. Results of this study revealed the anti-proliferative activity of ICD-85 on the HUVEC cell line with an IC50 of 12 μg/mL. The in vivo CAM assay also clearly showed the prevention of new vascular formation when the chick embryos were exposed to 0.15 µg/disc of ICD-85. In vitro tube formation assay of HUVECs also showed the complete prevention of capillary tube formation on 18 µg/mL. Based on the results obtained in this study, ICD-85 has anti-angiogenesis activity as shown by the prevention of capillary tube formation and the CAM assay.