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PubMed2005

Dipeptidyl peptidase inhibits malignant phenotype of prostate cancer cells by blocking basic fibroblast growth factor signaling pathway.

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) is a serine protease with tumor suppressor function. It regulates the activities of mitogenic peptides implied in cancer development. Progression of benign prostate cancer to malignant metastasis is linked to increased production of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), a powerful mitogen. In this study, using in vitro model system we show that DPPIV loss is associated with increased bFGF production in metastatic prostate cancer cells. DPPIV reexpression in prostate cancer cells blocks nuclear localization of bFGF, reduces bFGF levels, inhibits mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 activation, and decreases levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator, known downstream effectors of bFGF signaling pathway. These molecular changes were accompanied by induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, inhibition of in vitro cell migration, and invasion. Silencing of DPPIV by small interfering RNA resulted in increased bFGF levels and restoration of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 activation. These results indicate that DPPIV inhibits the malignant phenotype of prostate cancer cells by blocking bFGF signaling pathway.

Adenosine Deaminase↗
PubMed2006

Identification of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored plasma membrane protein interacting with the C-terminus of auxin-binding protein 1: a photoaffinity crosslinking study.

Synthetic peptides corresponding to the C-terminus of auxin-binding protein 1 (ABP1) have been shown to function as auxin agonists. To define a C-terminal receptor, photoaffinity crosslinking experiments were performed using an azido derivative of a C-terminal peptide and plasma membranes from maize (Zea mays L.). The crosslinking reaction was monitored by immunoblotting using anti-ABP1 antibodies. The crosslinked proteins were isolated by 2D gel electrophoresis and identified by mass spectrometric analysis. Further, the noncrosslinked forms of these proteins were also identified. Two proteins with apparent molecular masses of 73 kDa (termed C-terminal peptide-binding protein 1, CBP1) and 35 kDa (CBP2) were specifically linked with the C-terminal peptide. CBP2 is a cytoplasmic protein that consists of two conserved domains that are characteristic of a ricin-type lectin domain. CBP2 remained in the detergent-insoluble particles and was released from the particles by the addition of monosaccharides such as methyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside. CBP1 was released from the membranes by treatment with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, indicating that CBP1 is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored plasma membrane protein. CBP1 was found to be a copper-binding protein, and is highly homologous to Arabidopsis thaliana SKU5 that contributes to directional root growth processes. Further, it is similar to A. thaliana SKS6 that contributes to cotyledon vascular patterning and to Nicotiana tabacum NTP303 that contributes to pollen tube growth. The present results indicate that ABP1 may contribute to directional cell growth processes via the GPI-anchored plasma membrane protein SKU5 and its family members.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Early growth response 1 acts as a tumor suppressor in vivo and in vitro via regulation of p53.

The early growth response 1 (Egr1) gene is a transcription factor that acts as both a tumor suppressor and a tumor promoter. Egr1-null mouse embryo fibroblasts bypass replicative senescence and exhibit a loss of DNA damage response and an apparent immortal growth, suggesting loss of p53 functions. Stringent expression analysis revealed 266 transcripts with >2-fold differential expression in Egr1-null mouse embryo fibroblasts, including 143 known genes. Of the 143 genes, program-assisted searching revealed 66 informative genes linked to Egr1. All 66 genes could be placed on a single regulatory network consisting of three branch points of known Egr1 target genes: TGFbeta1, IL6, and IGFI. Moreover, 19 additional genes that are known targets of p53 were identified, indicating that p53 is a fourth branch point. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay as well as chromatin immunoprecipitation confirmed that p53 is a direct target of Egr1. Because deficient p53 expression causes tumors in mice, we tested the role of Egr1 in a two-step skin carcinogenesis study (144 mice) that revealed a uniformly accelerated development of skin tumors in Egr1-null mice (P < 0.005). These studies reveal a new role for Egr1 as an in vivo tumor suppressor.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗
PubMed2006

Porcine-derived xenogeneic bone/poly(glycolide-co-lactide-co-caprolactone) composite and its affinity with rat OCT-1 osteoblast-like cells.

Porcine-derived xenogeneic bone (PDXB) was derived from cancellous bone of adult porcine. Its morphology and structure were characterized by SEM, FTIR and XRD. A series of composite films consisting of PDXB and poly(glycolide-co-lactide-co-caprolactone) (PGLC) polymer were prepared. Because of the introduction of PGLC polymer, the PDXB/PGLC composites especially PDXB/PGLC(30/70) and PDXB/PGLC(50/50) showed good processability and mechanical properties. In addition, the hydrophilicity of the composites was enhanced as well since the PDXB component was hydrophilic. Osteoblast-like cells (OCT-1) were used as an in-vitro model to assess the affinity of the PDXB/PGLC composites. It was found that compared with the pure PGLC film, PDXB/PGLC(30/70) and PDXB/PGLC(50/50) composite films promoted cell attachment, proliferation and ALP (alkaline phosphatase) activity obviously. In addition, the cells preferred growing on the areas of exposed PDXB. It was considered that the hydrophilicity, osteoconductivity and appropriate surface roughness (Sa=3.30, 4.00 microm) induced by PDXB facilitate cell growth. However, the introduction of too much PDXB, such as PDXB/PGLC(70/30) film, would obtain an adverse effect on the cell growth since the value of Sa was up to 7.33 microm. It indicated that only the composites with appropriate surface topography could favor cell growth. Surface topography probably has a more important effect on cell growth process than surface chemistry.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Activation of Akt and eIF4E survival pathways by rapamycin-mediated mammalian target of rapamycin inhibition.

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has emerged as an important cancer therapeutic target. Rapamycin and its derivatives that specifically inhibit mTOR are now being actively evaluated in clinical trials. Recently, the inhibition of mTOR has been shown to reverse Akt-dependent prostate intraepithelial neoplasia. However, many cancer cells are resistant to rapamycin and its derivatives. The mechanism of this resistance remains a subject of major therapeutic significance. Here we report that the inhibition of mTOR by rapamycin triggers the activation of two survival signaling pathways that may contribute to drug resistance. Treatment of human lung cancer cells with rapamycin suppressed the phosphorylation of p70S6 kinase and 4E-BP1, indicating an inhibition of mTOR signaling. Paradoxically, rapamycin also concurrently increased the phosphorylation of both Akt and eIF4E. The rapamycin-induced phosphorylation of Akt and eIF4E was suppressed by the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002, suggesting the requirement of PI3K in this process. The activated Akt and eIF4E seem to attenuate rapamycin's growth-inhibitory effects, serving as a negative feedback mechanism. In support of this model, rapamycin combined with LY294002 exhibited enhanced inhibitory effects on the growth and colony formation of cancer cells. Thus, our study provides a mechanistic basis for enhancing mTOR-targeted cancer therapy by combining an mTOR inhibitor with a PI3K or Akt inhibitor.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed2005

Bcl-X(L) is functionally non-equivalent for the regulation of growth and survival in human ovarian cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of Bcl-X(L) on the growth and survival of human ovarian carcinoma cells. METHODS: In this study, we enforced down-regulation of Bcl-X(L) by RNA interference in ovarian carcinoma cell lines CaOV3, SKOV3ip1 and OVCAR3 cell lines expressing various levels of Bcl-X(L). We also established stable transfectants of OVCAR3 cells overexpressing Bcl-X(L). We recently showed that Bcl-2 regulates cell cycle progression in ovarian cancer cells. Thus, the effect of Bcl-X(L) modulation on the rate of cell growth was determined by XTT assay. To evaluate the role of Bcl-X(L) in drug-induced apoptosis, cisplatin- and paclitaxel-induced apoptosis were determined in vitro for each of the three cell lines. Ovarian tumor cells must acquire the ability to survive in non-adherent conditions to grow in ascetic fluids. To mimic loss of anchorage and investigate the role of Bcl-X(L) in this process, cells were cultured on Hydrogel-coated plates and nuclear fragmentation, caspase-3 activation and nuclear propidium iodide staining were used to determine apoptosis. RESULTS: We show that enforced down-regulation of Bcl-X(L) protein significantly affected the growth rates of CaOV3 whereas it had only minimal effect on the other two cell lines. Down-regulation of Bcl-X(L) enhanced the sensitivity of CaOV3, OVCAR3 and SKOV3ip1 to cisplatin and paclitaxel. The susceptibility to apoptosis induced by loss of anchorage was also increased but in a cell line-dependent manner. Overexpression of Bcl-X(L) slowed the growth of OVCAR3 cells and conferred resistance to drug-induced apoptosis and apoptosis induced by loss of anchorage. CONCLUSION: Altogether, these findings demonstrate that modulation of Bcl-X(L) provokes changes in ovarian cancer cell growth and survival that are cell line-specific. Consequently, therapeutic strategy for treatment of ovarian cancer that target Bcl-X(L) will likely yield variable responses.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1984

Prolonged activation of rat lung ornithine decarboxylase in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension.

Polyamines are believed to have an essential role in cellular growth and differentiation. Activation of ornithine decarboxylase, the initial rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis, is an early event characteristic of cell growth processes. Monocrotaline-induced pneumotoxicity is associated with cellular hypertrophy and proliferation, most notably pronounced medial thickening of pulmonary arterioles and hypertrophy of right ventricular myocardial cells. We reasoned that polyamines may be causally related to these events and, therefore, elevations in lung and right ventricular ornithine decarboxylase activities might precede development of pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy. To test this hypothesis adult male rats were given monocrotaline (105 mg/kg, s.c.); lung and right and left ventricular ornithine decarboxylase activities, pulmonary artery pressure, and right ventricular hypertrophy were assessed at 1, 4, 7, 10, 14, 16 and 21 days post treatment. Lung ornithine decarboxylase activity was increased approximately 8-fold on day 1 and remained elevated through day 7. Right ventricular ornithine decarboxylase activity was not elevated above control values at any time. Elevated pulmonary artery pressure and right ventricular hypertrophy were not apparent until day 16 and day 14 respectively. Thus, sustained activation of lung ornithine decarboxylase occurred at least 1 week prior to the development of pulmonary hypertension, suggesting that polyamines may play an important role in the pulmonary vascular remodeling that accompanies monocrotaline-induced pneumotoxicity.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway by inositol pentakisphosphate results in antiangiogenic and antitumor effects.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antiangiogenic and in vivo properties of the recently identified phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt inhibitor Inositol(1,3,4,5,6) pentakisphosphate [Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5]. Because activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway is a crucial step in some of the events leading to angiogenesis, the effect of Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 on basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2)-induced Akt phosphorylation, cell survival, motility, and tubulogenesis in vitro was tested in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The effect of Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 on FGF-2-induced angiogenesis in vivo was evaluated using s.c. implanted Matrigel in mice. In addition, the effect of Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 on growth of ovarian carcinoma SKOV-3 xenograft was tested. Here, we show that FGF-2 induces Akt phosphorylation in HUVEC resulting in antiapoptotic effect in serum-deprived cells and increase in cellular motility. Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 blocks FGF-2-mediated Akt phosphorylation and inhibits both survival and migration in HUVEC. Moreover, Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 inhibits the FGF-2-mediated capillary tube formation of HUVEC plated on Matrigel and the FGF-2-induced angiogenic reaction in BALB/c mice. Finally, Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 blocks the s.c. growth of SKOV-3 xenografted in nude mice to the same extent than cisplatin and it completely inhibits Akt phosphorylation in vivo. These data definitively identify the Akt inhibitor Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 as a specific antiangiogenic and antitumor factor. Inappropriate activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway has been linked to the development of several diseases, including cancer, making this pathway an attractive target for therapeutic strategies. In this respect, Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5, a water-soluble, natural compound with specific proapoptotic and antiangiogenic properties, might result in successful anticancer therapeutic strategies.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗
PubMed2006

Phosphorylation by DNA-dependent protein kinase is critical for apoptosis induction by insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3.

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) promotes apoptosis of cancer cells by both IGF-dependent and IGF-independent mechanisms. In vitro phosphorylation of IGFBP-3 by DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) has been reported but with unknown functional relevance. Using a chemical inhibitor for DNA-PK in prostate cancer cells and a paired system of glioblastoma cell lines that either lack or express DNA-PK, we show that the apoptosis-promoting and growth-inhibitory actions of IGFBP-3 are completely abrogated in the absence of catalytically active DNA-PK. In the absence of DNA-PK activity, IGFBP-3 has reduced nuclear accumulation and is unable to bind its nuclear binding partner retinoid X receptor (RXR) alpha. We assessed the importance of the three potential DNA-PK phosphorylation sites in IGFBP-3 using PCR-based site-directed mutagenesis. When transfected into 22RV1 cells, IGFBP-3-S165A and IGFBP-3-T170A functioned in an identical manner to wild-type IGFBP-3 to induce apoptosis. In contrast, IGFBP-3-S156A was unable to promote apoptosis and exhibited reduced nuclear accumulation, suggesting a key role for DNA-PK-dependent phosphorylation in the regulation of IGFBP-3 action. These studies reveal a novel regulatory mechanism for the actions of IGFBP-3 in prostate cancer and show phosphorylation of Ser(156) to be functionally critical in its apoptosis-inducing actions.

Apoptosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunohistochemical expression of cathepsin D in laryngeal epithelial lesions: correlation with CD44 expression, p53 and Rb status and proliferation associated indices.

Clinical studies in several tumour types have shown a strong correlation between cathepsin D expression and tumour progression. Immunohistochemical staining for cathepsin D (clone D13A) was performed in paraffin embedded-tissues from 39 invasive squamous cell carcinomas, 13 in situ carcinomas, 35 cases of dysplasia, 10 papillomas and 17 cases of keratosis. The association between cathepsin D expression and CD44, p53, Rb proteins and proliferation indices (Ki-67, PCNA) was assessed by univariate analysis. Cathepsin D was highly positive in the groups of carcinomas compared to other lesions (p < 0.0001). A statistically significant correlation of cathepsin D expression with CD44 expression was observed in invasive cancers (p = 0.037). The relationship of cathepsin D immunoreactivity with p53, Rb and proliferation indices was insignificant. The results show that cathepsin D is expressed in a higher proportion of cancerous lesions of the larynx than in non cancerous or premalignant lesions, a fact which suggests that cathepsin D may be involved in laryngeal tumour cell growth process.

Carcinoma in Situ↗
PubMed1994

Computer simulation of cell growth governed by stochastic processes: application to clonal growth cancer models.

Cancer is a multistage process in which cell proliferation determines the growth of cells within stages and is associated with the transition of cells from one stage to the next. The usual model for cancer risk assessment, the linearized multistage model, does not explicitly include cell proliferation. More realistic cancer models are needed to reduce uncertainty in cancer risk assessment and to provide basic insights into the quantitative roles of cell proliferation and mutation. This report describes a simulation model for the transition of cells from one stage to the next and for clonal growth within stages. The model is intended to facilitate the use of experimental data on cell replication and preneoplastic lesions in risk assessment. When a population of cells is small its growth may be governed by stochastic processes. Such a population may disappear by chance even when the probability of cell division on a given time interval exceeds the probability of cell death. Procedures for estimating cell proliferation and mutation parameters from data for use in risk assessment should account for this random aspect of growth. The present model describes cell growth governed by stochastic processes, is consistent with earlier analytical expressions for such growth (Dewanjii et al., Risk Anal. 9, 179, 1989), and is flexible with respect to time-dependent data. A data set for spontaneous basophilic clones in male F344 rats (Popp et al., Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 5, 314, 1985) is analyzed and predictions are made for (a) the probability of mutation to the basophilic genotype per division of a normal hepatocyte (3.5 x 10(-8)), (b) number of basophilic clones too small to be detected, and (c) number of basophilic clones that disappear by chance. This work illustrates the potential of computer simulation for quantitative analysis of the roles of cell division, cell death, and mutation in cancer.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Production of antitumoral retamycin during fed-batch fermentations of Streptomyces olindensis.

Fed-batch runs were performed in order to correlate the production of retamycin, an anthracycline antibiotic produced by Streptomyces olindensis in submerged cultures, with the specific growth rate. Maximum retamycin production was achieved with an exponential feed rate, controlling the specific growth rate at a low value (0.03 h-1, about 10% of the maximum specific growth rate). Control of the specific growth rate at higher values (0.10 and 0.17 h-1) caused a decrease in antibiotic production. Morphology, assessed by image analysis, was shown to be highly relevant in this process. Cell growth mainly in the form of clumps (90% clumps and 10% free filaments) led to better results than growth as clumps (75%) and free filaments (25%).

Anthracyclines↗
PubMed2004

Response of cassava leaf area expansion to water deficit: cell proliferation, cell expansion and delayed development.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is an important food crop in the tropics that has a high growth rate in optimal conditions, but also performs well in drought-prone climates. The objectives of this work were to determine the effects of water deficit and rewatering on the rate of expansion of leaves at different developmental stages and to evaluate the extent to which decreases in cell proliferation, expansion, and delay in development are responsible for reduced growth. METHODS: Glasshouse-grown cassava plants were subjected to 8 d of water deficit followed by rewatering. Leaves at 15 developmental stages from nearly full size to meristematic were sampled, and epidermal cell size and number were measured on leaves at four developmental stages. KEY RESULTS: Leaf expansion and development were nearly halted during stress but resumed vigorously after rewatering. In advanced-stage leaves (Group 1) in which development was solely by cell expansion, expansion resumed after rewatering, but not sufficiently for cell size to equal that of controls at maturity. In Group 2 (cell proliferation), relative expansion rate and cell proliferation were delayed until rewatering, but then recovered partially, so that loss of leaf area was due to decreased cell numbers per leaf. In Group 3 (early meristematic development) final leaf area was not affected by stress, but development was delayed by 4-6 d. On a plant basis, the proportion of loss of leaf area over 26 d attributed to leaves at each developmental stage was 29, 50 and 21 % in Group 1, 2 and 3, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although cell growth processes were sensitive to mild water deficit, they recovered to a large extent, and much of the reduction in leaf area was caused by developmental delay and a reduction in cell division in the youngest, meristematic leaves.

Cell Proliferation↗
PubMed2005

Fetal stromal-dependent paracrine and intracrine vascular endothelial growth factor-a/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 signaling promotes proliferation and motility of human primary myeloma cells.

Induction of neoangiogenesis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma. However, the mechanism by which expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and its receptors modulate the interaction of multiple myeloma cells with stromal cells is not known. Here, we describe a novel in vitro coculture system using fetal bone stromal cells as a feeder layer, which facilitates the survival and growth of human primary multiple myeloma cells. We show that stromal-dependent paracrine VEGF-A signaling promotes proliferation of human primary multiple myeloma cells. Primary multiple myeloma cells only expressed functional VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-1, but not VEGFR-2 or VEGFR-3. VEGFR-1 expression was detected in the cytoplasm and the nuclei of proliferating multiple myeloma cells. Inhibition of VEGFR-1 abrogated multiple myeloma cell proliferation and motility, suggesting that the functional interaction of VEGF-A with its cognate receptor is essential for the growth of primary multiple myeloma cells. Collectively, our results suggest that stromal-dependent paracrine and intracrine VEGF-A/VEGFR-1 signaling contributes to human primary multiple myeloma cell growth and therefore, VEGFR-1 blockade is a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Bone and Bones↗
PubMed2005

The scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor: c-met pathway in human embryonal central nervous system tumor malignancy.

Embryonal central nervous system (CNS) tumors, which comprise medulloblastoma, are the most common malignant brain tumors in children. The role of the growth factor scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor (SF/HGF) and its tyrosine kinase receptor c-Met in these tumors has been until now completely unknown. In the present study, we show that human embryonal CNS tumor cell lines and surgical tumor specimens express SF/HGF and c-Met. Furthermore, c-Met mRNA expression levels statistically significantly correlate with poor clinical outcome. Treatment of medulloblastoma cells with SF/HGF activates c-Met and downstream signal transduction as evidenced by c-Met, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and Akt phosphorylation. SF/HGF induces tumor cell proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, and cell cycle progression beyond the G1-S checkpoint. Using dominant-negative Cdk2 and a degradation stable p27 mutant, we show that cell cycle progression induced by SF/HGF requires Cdk2 function and p27 inhibition. SF/HGF also protects medulloblastoma cells against apoptosis induced by chemotherapy. This cytoprotective effect is associated with reduction of proapoptotic cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and cleaved caspase-3 proteins and requires phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity. SF/HGF gene transfer to medulloblastoma cells strongly enhances the in vivo growth of s.c. and intracranial tumor xenografts. SF/HGF-overexpressing medulloblastoma xenografts exhibit increased invasion and morphologic changes that resemble human large cell anaplastic medulloblastoma. This first characterization establishes SF/HGF:c-Met as a new pathway of malignancy with multifunctional effects in human embryonal CNS tumors.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Validation of met as a therapeutic target in alveolar and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a highly malignant soft-tissue tumor of childhood deriving from skeletal muscle cells. RMS can be classified in two major histologic subtypes: embryonal (ERMS) and alveolar (ARMS), the latter being characterized by the PAX3/7-FKHR translocation. Here we first investigated whether the Met receptor, a transcriptional target of PAX3 and PAX7, has a role in PAX3-FKHR-mediated transformation. Following PAX3-FKHR transduction, Met was up-regulated in mouse embryonal fibroblasts (MEF), NIH 3T3 and C2C12 cells, and they all acquired anchorage independence. This property was lost in low serum but addition of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) rescued soft-agar growth. Genetic proof that Met is necessary for this PAX3-FKHR-mediated effect was obtained by transducing with PAX3-FKHR MEFs derived from Met mutant (Met(D/D)) and wild-type (Met(+/+)) embryos. Only Met(+/+) MEFs acquired anchorage-independent growth whereas PAX3-FKHR-transduced Met(D/D) cells were unable to form colonies in soft agar. To verify if Met had a role in RMS maintenance, we silenced the receptor by transducing ERMS and ARMS cell lines with an inducible lentivirus expressing an anti-Met short hairpin RNA (shRNA). Met down-regulation significantly affected RMS cells proliferation, survival, invasiveness, and anchorage-independent growth. Finally, induction of the Met-directed shRNA promoted a dramatic reduction of tumor mass in a xenograft model of RMS. Our data show that both ARMS- and ERMS-derived cell lines, in spite of the genetic drift which may have occurred in years of culture, seem to have retained an "addiction" to the Met oncogene and suggest that Met may represent a target of choice to develop novel therapeutic strategies for ARMS.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A novel human monoclonal antibody derived from tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in lung cancer inhibits cancer cell growth with morphological changes.

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) were isolated from surgically resected human samples using hybridoma techniques, and human monoclonal antibodies (HuMoAbs) were produced. Stable antibody-producing hybridoma cell lines were established and, on the basis of reactivity to human cancer cell lines, a clone of HuMoAb, named HoAKs-1, was selected. By confocal microscopy, we confirmed that HoAKs-1 showed specific and intense reactivity to the cell membrane of HLC-1 and PANC-1, wheareas the antibody did not show reactivity to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Using xenografts formed from epithelial cancer cell lines in nude mice, we also demonstrated a broad spectrum of reactivity of the antibody in 6 out of 14 xenografts. In addition, using surgically resected clinical specimens from two patients with lung cancer, we showed that HoAKs-1 had specific reactivity to cancerous lesions but not to normal sites. In an in vitro experiment, HoAKs-1 induced morphological changes with neurite-like cytoplasmic processes in MKN-45, HLC-1 and PANC-1, whereas no morphological alterations were observed in HUVECs. Growth inhibition rates by HoAKs-1 were 63% in HLC-1 and 47% in MKN-45, while no growth inhibition occurred in normal HUVECs. We confirmed that HoAKs-1 recognized a 55 kDa protein by determining the molecular weight of the HoAKs-1 reacting protein. In conclusion, we successfully produced a novel HuMoAb, HoAKs-1, which reacted specifically to cancer cells and inhibited cell growth with morphological changes. HoAKs-1 may have the potential to be utilized as an anticancer agent, without causing any immunological reaction in humans.

Animals↗