Short PlGF-derived peptides bind VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 in vitro and on the surface of endothelial cells

The placental growth factor (PlGF), a member of VEGF family, plays a crucial role in pathological angiogenesis, especially ischemia, inflammation, and cancer. This activity is mediated by its selective binding to VEGF receptor 1 (VEGFR-1), which occurs predominantly through receptor domains 2 and 3. The PlGF β-hairpin region spanning residues Q87 to V100 is one of the key binding elements on the protein side. We have undertaken a study on the design, preparation, and functional characterization of the peptide reproducing this region and of a set of analogues where glycine 94, occurring at the corner of the hairpin in the native protein, is replaced by charged as well as hydrophobic residues. Also, some peptides with arginine 96 replaced by other residues have been studied. We find that the parent peptide weakly binds VEGFR-1, but replacement of G94 with residues bearing H-bond donating residues significantly improves the affinity. Replacement of R96 instead blocks the interaction between the peptide and the domain. The strongest affinity is observed with the G94H (peptide PlGF-2) and G94W (peptide PlGF-10) mutants, while the peptide PlGF-8, bearing the R96G mutation, is totally inactive. The PlGF-1 and PlGF-2 peptides also bind the VEGFR-2 receptors, though with a reduced affinity, and are able to interfere with the VEGF-induced receptor signaling on endothelial cells. The peptides also bind VEGFR-2 on the surface of cells, while PlGF-8 is inactive. Data suggest that these peptides have potential applications as PlGF/VEGF mimic in various experimental settings.