APS8 Delays Tumor Growth in Mice by Inducing Apoptosis of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells Expressing High Number of α7 Nicotinic Receptors
The alkylpyridinium polymer APS8, a potent antagonist of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), selectively induces apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer cells but not in normal lung fibroblasts. To explore the potential therapeutic value of APS8 for at least certain types of lun...
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MDPI AG
2018-10-01
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| Series: | Marine Drugs |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/16/10/367 |
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| author | Sabina Berne Maja Čemažar Robert Frangež Polona Juntes Simona Kranjc Marjana Grandič Monika Savarin Tom Turk |
| author_facet | Sabina Berne Maja Čemažar Robert Frangež Polona Juntes Simona Kranjc Marjana Grandič Monika Savarin Tom Turk |
| author_sort | Sabina Berne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The alkylpyridinium polymer APS8, a potent antagonist of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), selectively induces apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer cells but not in normal lung fibroblasts. To explore the potential therapeutic value of APS8 for at least certain types of lung cancer, we determined its systemic and organ-specific toxicity in mice, evaluated its antitumor activity against adenocarcinoma xenograft models, and examined the in-vitro mechanisms of APS8 in terms of apoptosis, cytotoxicity, and viability. We also measured Ca2+ influx into cells, and evaluated the effects of APS8 on Ca2+ uptake while siRNA silencing of the gene for α7 nAChRs, CHRNA7. APS8 was not toxic to mice up to 5 mg/kg i.v., and no significant histological changes were observed in mice that survived APS8 treatment. Repetitive intratumoral injections of APS8 (4 mg/kg) significantly delayed growth of A549 cell tumors, and generally prevented regrowth of tumors, but were less effective in reducing growth of HT29 cell tumors. APS8 impaired the viability of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner and induced apoptosis at micro molar concentrations. Nano molar APS8 caused minor cytotoxic effects, while cell lysis occurred at APS8 >3 µM. Furthermore, Ca2+ uptake was significantly reduced in APS8-treated A549 cells. Observed differences in response to APS8 can be attributed to the number of α7 nAChRs expressed in these cells, with those with more AChRs (i.e., A549 cells) being more sensitive to nAChR antagonists like APS8. We conclude that α7 nAChR antagonists like APS8 have potential to be used as therapeutics for tumors expressing large numbers of α7 nAChRs. |
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| issn | 1660-3397 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:42:08Z |
| publishDate | 2018-10-01 |
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| series | Marine Drugs |
| spelling | doaj.art-749e07beda914e5fb2f9f3a274d06f6f2022-12-22T03:10:07ZengMDPI AGMarine Drugs1660-33972018-10-01161036710.3390/md16100367md16100367APS8 Delays Tumor Growth in Mice by Inducing Apoptosis of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells Expressing High Number of α7 Nicotinic ReceptorsSabina Berne0Maja Čemažar1Robert Frangež2Polona Juntes3Simona Kranjc4Marjana Grandič5Monika Savarin6Tom Turk7Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloška 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaInstitute of of Preclinical Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, SI-1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaInstitute of Pathology, Wild Animals, Fish and Bees, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, SI-1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloška 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaInstitute of Food Safety, Feed and Environment, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, SI-1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloška 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaThe alkylpyridinium polymer APS8, a potent antagonist of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), selectively induces apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer cells but not in normal lung fibroblasts. To explore the potential therapeutic value of APS8 for at least certain types of lung cancer, we determined its systemic and organ-specific toxicity in mice, evaluated its antitumor activity against adenocarcinoma xenograft models, and examined the in-vitro mechanisms of APS8 in terms of apoptosis, cytotoxicity, and viability. We also measured Ca2+ influx into cells, and evaluated the effects of APS8 on Ca2+ uptake while siRNA silencing of the gene for α7 nAChRs, CHRNA7. APS8 was not toxic to mice up to 5 mg/kg i.v., and no significant histological changes were observed in mice that survived APS8 treatment. Repetitive intratumoral injections of APS8 (4 mg/kg) significantly delayed growth of A549 cell tumors, and generally prevented regrowth of tumors, but were less effective in reducing growth of HT29 cell tumors. APS8 impaired the viability of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner and induced apoptosis at micro molar concentrations. Nano molar APS8 caused minor cytotoxic effects, while cell lysis occurred at APS8 >3 µM. Furthermore, Ca2+ uptake was significantly reduced in APS8-treated A549 cells. Observed differences in response to APS8 can be attributed to the number of α7 nAChRs expressed in these cells, with those with more AChRs (i.e., A549 cells) being more sensitive to nAChR antagonists like APS8. We conclude that α7 nAChR antagonists like APS8 have potential to be used as therapeutics for tumors expressing large numbers of α7 nAChRs.http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/16/10/367lung cancerantitumor activityA549HT29CHRNA7alkylpiridiniumSCID micetoxicityapoptosis |
| spellingShingle | Sabina Berne Maja Čemažar Robert Frangež Polona Juntes Simona Kranjc Marjana Grandič Monika Savarin Tom Turk APS8 Delays Tumor Growth in Mice by Inducing Apoptosis of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells Expressing High Number of α7 Nicotinic Receptors Marine Drugs lung cancer antitumor activity A549 HT29 CHRNA7 alkylpiridinium SCID mice toxicity apoptosis |
| title | APS8 Delays Tumor Growth in Mice by Inducing Apoptosis of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells Expressing High Number of α7 Nicotinic Receptors |
| title_full | APS8 Delays Tumor Growth in Mice by Inducing Apoptosis of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells Expressing High Number of α7 Nicotinic Receptors |
| title_fullStr | APS8 Delays Tumor Growth in Mice by Inducing Apoptosis of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells Expressing High Number of α7 Nicotinic Receptors |
| title_full_unstemmed | APS8 Delays Tumor Growth in Mice by Inducing Apoptosis of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells Expressing High Number of α7 Nicotinic Receptors |
| title_short | APS8 Delays Tumor Growth in Mice by Inducing Apoptosis of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells Expressing High Number of α7 Nicotinic Receptors |
| title_sort | aps8 delays tumor growth in mice by inducing apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma cells expressing high number of α7 nicotinic receptors |
| topic | lung cancer antitumor activity A549 HT29 CHRNA7 alkylpiridinium SCID mice toxicity apoptosis |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/16/10/367 |
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