Abstract: | ATM: To explore the molecular mechanism that curcumin inhibits hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) induced angiogenesis. METHODS: The effects of curcumin, c-Met inhibitor SU11274, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 and mTOR inhibitor rapamycin on HGF-induced endothelial cell migration, tubule formation ability, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, related signaling pathways and the density of blood vessels in tumors were observed by the methods of capillary forming experiments, wound healing assay, Western blot and animal study. RESULTS: SU11274, LY294002, rapamycin and curcumin significantly inhibited HGF induced endothelial cell migration, tubule formation and VEGF expression, suppressed the phosphorylation of c-Met/AKT/mTOR/S6 pathway related molecules, reduced VEGF expression and microvascular density in the tumors. CONCLUSION: Curcumin inhibits HGF induced angiogenesis by inhibiting c-Met/AKT/mTOR/S6 pathway activation. |