Dataset Information

Increased apoptosis in cancer cells in vitro and in vivo by ceramides in transferrin-modified liposomes.

ABSTRACT: Lysosomes are a promising therapeutic target for induction apoptosis in cancer cells due to lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) leading to leakage of hydrolytic enzymes, especially the cathepsins, into the cytoplasm. We hypothesized that with the modification of the ceramide-loaded liposomes with transferrin (Tf), we would achieve both tumor targeting and increased delivery of lysosome-destabilizing agents, such as ceramides to lysosomes, to initiate LMP-induced apoptosis. We prepared Tf-modified (TL) and plain (PL) liposomes and loaded with short (C6)- or long (C16) N-acyl chain ceramides. Uptake, intracellular localization of liposomes, stability of the lysosomal membrane and release of cathepsin D were investigated on Hela cells by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Apoptosis was evaluated by binding of fluorescently-labeled Annexin V. Antitumor and pro-apoptotic effects of C6Cer-loaded Tf-liposomes were demonstrated in vivo in an A2780-ovarian carcinoma xenograft mouse model. TL were internalized specifically via the TfR-dependent endocytic pathway and localized within the endosome-lysosomal compartment. Ceramide-loaded Tf-liposomes significantly increased apoptosis compared with ceramide-free and ceramide-loaded non-modified liposomes. The treatment of cancer cells with TL led to increased LMP and cytoplasmic relocation of the intralysosomal cathepsin D. A strong antitumor and pro-apoptotic effect of C6Cer-loaded TL was also demonstrated in vivo in an A2780-ovarian carcinoma xenograft mouse model. The lysosomal accumulation of ceramides delivered by Tf-liposomes initiates the permeabilization of the lysosomal membranes required for the release of lysosomal cathepsins into the cytoplasm and initiation of the cancer cell apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo.

SUBMITTER: Koshkaryev A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3335981 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:Integrin alpha(5)beta(1) is expressed on several types of cancer cells, including colon cancer, and plays an important role in tumor growth and metastasis. The ability to target the integrin alpha(5)beta(1) using an appropriate drug delivery nano-vector can significantly help in inhibiting tumor growth, reducing tumor metastasis, and decreasing deleterious side effects associated with different cancer therapies. Liposomes are nano-sized phospholipid bilayer vesicles that have been extensively studied as drug delivery carriers. The goal of this study is to design stealth liposomes (liposomes covered with polyethylene glycol (PEG)) that will target colon cancer cells that express the integrin alpha(5)beta(1). The PEG provides a steric barrier allowing the liposomes to circulate in the blood and the functionalizing moiety, PR_b peptide, will specifically recognize and bind to alpha(5)beta(1) expressing cells. PR_b is a novel peptide sequence that mimics the cell adhesion domain of fibronectin, and includes four building blocks, RGDSP (the primary recognition site for alpha(5)beta(1)), PHSRN (the synergy site for alpha(5)beta(1)), a (SG)(5) linker, and a KSS spacer. In this study we have demonstrated that by varying the amount of PEG (PEG750 or PEG2000) and PR_b on the liposomal interface we can engineer nano-vectors that bind to CT26.WT, HCT116, and RKO colon cancer cells in a specific manner and are internalized through most likely alpha(5)beta(1)-mediated endocytosis. GRGDSP-targeted stealth liposomes bind to colon cancer cells and internalize, but they have much lesser efficiency than PR_b-targeted stealth liposomes, and more importantly they are not as specific since many integrins bind to RGD peptides. PR_b-targeted stealth liposomes are as cytotoxic as free 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and exert the highest cytotoxicity on CT26.WT cells compared to GRGDSP-targeted stealth liposomes and non-targeted stealth liposomes. Thus, the proposed targeted delivery system has the great potential to deliver a therapeutic load directly to colon cancer cells, in an efficient and specific manner.

Project description:BackgroundThe rate of microscopic incomplete resections of gastrointestinal cancers including pancreatic cancer has not changed considerably over the past years. Future intra-operative applications of tissue tolerable plasmas (TTP) could help to address this problem. Plasma is generated by feeding energy, like electrical discharges, to gases. The development of non-thermal atmospheric plasmas displaying spectra of temperature within or just above physiological ranges allows biological or medical applications of plasmas.MethodsWe have investigated the effects of tissue tolerable plasmas (TTP) on the human pancreatic cancer cell line Colo-357 and PaTu8988T and the murine cell line 6606PDA in vitro (Annexin-V-FITC/DAPI-Assay and propidium iodide DNA staining assay) as well as in the in vivo tumour chorio-allantoic membrane (TUM-CAM) assay using Colo-357.ResultsTTP of 20 seconds (s) induced a mild elevation of an experimental surface temperature of 23.7 degree Celsius up to 26.63+/-0.40 degree Celsius. In vitro TTP significantly (p=0.0003) decreased cell viability showing the strongest effects after 20s TTP. Also, TTP effects increased over time levelling off after 72 hours (30.1+/-4.4% of dead cells (untreated control) versus 78.0+/-9.6% (20s TTP)). However, analyzing these cells for apoptosis 10s TTP revealed the largest proportion of apoptotic cells (34.8+/-7.2%, p=0.0009 versus 12.3+/-6.6%, 20s TTP) suggesting non-apoptotic cell death in the majority of cells after 20s TTP. Using solid Colo-357 tumours in the TUM-CAM model TUNEL-staining showed TTP-induced apoptosis up to a depth of tissue penetration (DETiP) of 48.8+/-12.3μm (20s TTP, p<0.0001). This was mirrored by a significant (p<0.0001) reduction of Ki-67+ proliferating cells (80.9+/-13.2% versus 37.7+/-14.6%, p<0.0001) in the top cell layers as well as typical changes on HE specimens. The bottom cell layers were not affected by TTP.ConclusionsOur data suggest possible future intra-operative applications of TTP to reduce microscopic residual disease in pancreatic cancer resections. Further promising applications include other malignancies (central liver/lung tumours) as well as synergistic effects combining TTP with chemotherapies. Yet, adaptations of plasma sources as well as of the composition of effective components of TTP are required to optimize their synergistic apoptotic actions.

Dataset Information

Increased apoptosis in cancer cells in vitro and in vivo by ceramides in transferrin-modified liposomes.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets