BACKGROUNDIn multiple myeloma (MM), bone marrow angiogenesis parallels tumour progression and correlates with disease activity. Recent studies have proved resveratrol possesses antiangiogenic activity in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we examined the effects of resveratrol on myeloma cell dependent angiogenesis and the effects of resveratrol on some important angiogenic factors of RPMI 8226 cells.

METHODSRPMI 8226 cells were cocultured with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to evaluate the effects of myeloma cells on angiogenesis. The RPMI 8226 cells were treated with various concentrations of resveratrol (6.25 - 50.00 micromol/L) for different times (12 - 72 hours). Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to assay vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 mRNA. Gelatin zymography was used to analyze MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity. VEGF and bFGF proteins secreted by the cells in the medium were quantified by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSCell proliferation, migration and differentiation of HUVECs markedly increased by coculture with RPMI 8226 cells. Resveratrol inhibited proliferation, migration and tube formation of HUVECs cocultured with myeloma cells in a dose dependent manner. Treatment of RPMI 8226 cells with resveratrol caused a decrease in MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity. Resveratrol inhibited VEGF and bFGF protein expression in a dose and time dependent manner. Furthermore, decreased levels of VEGF, bFGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA from cells treated with various concentrations of resveratrol confirmed its antiangiogenic action at the level of gene expression.

CONCLUSIONSResveratrol inhibits multiple myeloma angiogenesis by regulating expression and secretion of VEGF, bFGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9. Resveratrol may be a potential candidate for the treatment of multiple myeloma.