NBBA, a synthetic small molecule, inhibits TNF-α-induced angiogenesis by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway

Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is a crucial transcription factor that contributes to cancer development by regulating a number of genes involved in angiogenesis and tumorigenesis. Here, we describe (Z)-N-(3-(7-nitro-3-oxobenzo[d][1,2]selenazol-2(3H)-yl)benzylidene)propan-2-amine oxide (NBBA) as a new anti-angiogenic small molecule that targets NF-κB activity. NBBA showed stronger growth inhibition on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) than on the cancer cell lines we tested. Moreover, NBBA inhibited tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-induced tube formation and invasion of HUVECs. In addition, NBBA suppressed the neovascularization of chorioallantonic membrane from growing chick embryos in vivo. To address the mode of action of the compound, the effect of NBBA on TNF-α-induced NF-κB transcription activity was investigated. NBBA suppressed TNF-α-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase phosphorylation, which resulted in suppression of transcription of NF-κB and its target genes, including interleukin-8, interleukin-1α, and epidermal growth factor. Collectively, these results demonstrated that NBBA is a new anti-angiogenic small molecule that targets the NF-κB signaling pathway.