Antiangiogenic and tumour inhibitory effects of downregulating tumour endothelial FABP4

Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) is a fatty acid chaperone, which is induced during adipocyte differentiation. Previously we have shown that endothelial FABP4 is induced by the NOTCH1 signalling pathway, which is involved in mechanisms of resistance to anti-angiogenic tumour therapy1. Here, we investigated the role of FABP4 in endothelial fatty acid metabolism and tumour angiogenesis. We analysed the effect of transient FABP4 knockdown in human umbilical vein endothelial cells on fatty acid metabolism, viability, and angiogenesis. Through therapeutic delivery of siRNA targeting murine FABP4, we investigated the effect of stromal FABP4 knockdown on tumour growth and blood vessel formation. In vitro, siRNA-mediated FABP4 knockdown in endothelial cells led to a marked increase of endothelial fatty acid oxidation, an increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and decreased angiogenesis. In vivo, we found that increased NOTCH1 signalling in tumour xenografts led to increased expression of endothelial FABP4 that decreased when NOTCH1 and VEGFA inhibitors were used in combination. Angiogenesis, growth, and metastasis in ovarian tumour xenografts were markedly inhibited by therapeutic siRNA delivery targeting mouse FABP4. Therapeutic targeting of endothelial FABP4 by siRNA in vivo has anti-angiogenic and anti-tumour effects with minimal toxicity and should be investigated further.