The β2-adrenergic receptor antagonist ICI-118,551 blocks the constitutively activated HIF signalling in hemangioblastomas from von Hippel-Lindau disease

One of the major consequences of the lack of a functional VHL protein in von Hippel-Lindau disease, a rare cancer, is the constitutive activation of the HIF pathway. This activation ends up in the generation of Central Nervous System (CNS) Hemangioblastomas among other tumours along the lifespan of the patient. Nowadays, only surgery has been proven efficient as therapy since the systemic attempts have failed. Propranolol, a non-specific beta 1-and beta 2-adrenergic receptor antagonist, was recently designated as the first therapeutic (orphan) drug for VHL disease. Nevertheless, its beta 1 affinity provokes the decrease in blood pressure, being not recommended for low or regular blood pressure VHL patients. In order to overcome the beta 1-drawback, the properties of a high specific beta 2-adrenergic receptor blocker named ICI-118,551 have been studied. ICI-118,551 was able to decrease Hemangioblastomas cell viability in a specific manner, by triggering apoptosis. Moreover, ICI-118,551 also impaired the nuclear internalization of HIF-1 alpha in Hemangioblastomas and hypoxic primary endothelial cells, reducing significantly the activation of HIF-target genes and halting the tumour-related angiogenic processes. In this work, we demonstrate the therapeutical properties of ICI-118,551 in VHL-derived CNS-Hemangioblastoma primary cultures, becoming a promising drug for VHL disease and other HIF-related diseases.