Influence of cytotoxicity enhancers in combination with human serum on the activity of CD22-recombinant ricin A against B cell lines, chronic and acute lymphocytic leukemia cells

Evidence of nigericin as a potential therapeutic candidate for cancers: A review

Emerging studies have shown that nigericin, an H⁺, K⁺ and Pb²⁺ ionophore, has exhibited a promising anti-cancer activity in various cancers. However, its anti-cancer mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. In this review, the recent progresses on the use of nigericin in human cancers have been summarized. By exchanging H⁺ and K⁺ across cell membranes, nigericin shows promising anti-cancer activities in in vitro and in vivo as a single agent or in combination with other anti-cancer drugs through decreasing intracellular pH (pHi). The underlying mechanisms of nigericin also include the inactivation of Wnt/β-catenin signals, blockade of Androgen Receptor (AR) signaling, and activation of Stress-Activated Protein Kinase/c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (SAPK/JNK) signaling pathways. In many cancers, nigericin is proved to specifically target putative Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs), and its synergistic effects on photodynamic therapy are also reported. Other mechanisms of nigericin including influencing the mitochondrial membrane potentials, inducing an increase in drug accumulation and autophagy, controlling insulin accumulation in nuclei, and increasing the cytotoxic activity of liposome-entrapped drugs, are also discussed. Notably, the potential adverse effects such as teratogenic effects, insulin resistance and eryptosis shall not be ignored. Taken together, these reports suggest that treatment of cancer cells with nigericin may offer a novel therapeutic strategy and future potential of translation to clinics.

Effects of monensin liposomes on the cytotoxicity, apoptosis and expression of multidrug resistance genes in doxorubicin-resistant human breast tumour (MCF-7/dox) cell-line

We have evaluated the effects of monensin liposomes on drug resistance reversal, induction of apoptosis and expression of multidrug resistance (MDR) genes in a doxorubicin-resistant human breast tumour (MCF-7/dox) cell line. Monensin liposomes were prepared by the pH-gradient method. MCF-7/dox cells were treated with various anticancer drugs (doxorubicin, paclitaxel and etoposide) alone and in combination with monensin liposomes. The cytotoxicity was assessed using the crystal violet dye uptake method. The induction of apoptosis in MCF-7/dox cells was assessed by established techniques such as TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labelling) staining and caspase-3 assay. The effect of monensin liposomes on doxorubicin accumulation in MCF-7/dox cells was monitored by fluorescent microscopy. Finally, the expression of MDR genes (MDR1 and MRP1) in MCF-7/dox cells following the exposure to doxorubicin alone and in combination with monensin liposomes was evaluated by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Our results indicated that monensin liposomes overcame drug resistance in MCF-7/dox cells to doxorubicin, etoposide and paclitaxel by 16.5-, 5.6- and 2.8-times, respectively. The combination of doxorubicin (2.5 μg mL−1) with monensin liposomes (20 times 10−8M) induced apoptosis in approximately 40% cells, whereas doxorubicin (2.5 μg mL−1) or monensin liposomes (20 times 10−8M) alone produced minimal apoptosis (<10%) in MCF-7/dox cells. Fluorescent microscopy revealed that monensin liposomes increased the accumulation of doxorubicin in MCF-7/dox cells. RT-PCR studies demonstrated that the expression of MDR1 and MRP1 was increased by 33 and 57%, respectively, in MCF-7/dox cells following treatment with doxorubicin (2.5 μg mL−1) for 72 h as compared with control MCF-7/dox cells. Furthermore, the levels of MDR1 and MRP1 in MCF-7/dox cells exposed to both doxorubicin and monensin liposomes showed a modest decrease as compared with MCF-7/dox cells treated with doxorubicin alone. In conclusion, the delivery of monensin via liposomes provided an opportunity to overcome drug resistance.

Lectins as Bioactive Plant Proteins: A Potential in Cancer Treatment

Plant lectins, a unique group of proteins and glycoproteins with potent biological activity, occur in foods like wheat, corn, tomato, peanut, kidney bean, banana, pea, lentil, soybean, mushroom, rice, and potato. Thus, dietary intakes by humans can be significant. Many lectins resist digestion, survive gut passage, and bind to gastrointestinal cells and/or enter the circulation intact, maintaining full biological activity. Several lectins have been found to possess anticancer properties in vitro, in vivo, and in human case studies; they are used as therapeutic agents, preferentially binding to cancer cell membranes or their receptors, causing cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and inhibition of tumor growth. These compounds can become internalized into cells, causing cancer cell agglutination and/or aggregation. Ingestion of lectins also sequesters the available body pool of polyamines, thereby thwarting cancer cell growth. They also affect the immune system by altering the production of various interleukins, or by activating certain protein kinases. Lectins can bind to ribosomes and inhibit protein synthesis. They also modify the cell cycle by inducing non-apoptotic G1-phase accumulation mechanisms, G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and can activate the caspase cascade. Lectins can also downregulate telomerase activity and inhibit angiogenesis. Although lectins seem to have great potential as anticancer agents, further research is still needed and should include a genomic and proteomic approach.

Effect of monensin liposomes on the cytotoxicity of anti-My9-bR immunotoxin

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the utility of monensin liposomes in the enhancement of in-vitro cytotoxicity, apoptosis and in-vivo antitumour activity of anti-My9-bR immunotoxin. Monensin liposomes were prepared and studied for the enhancement of in-vitro cytotoxicity and apoptotic response of anti-My9-bR immunotoxin against both sensitive and resistant human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells by MTS/PES method and acridine orange staining, respectively. Further, the in-vivo cytotoxicity enhancement of anti-My9-bR immunotoxin by monensin liposomes was studied in a survival model of severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice bearing intraperitoneal HL-60 tumours. The in-vitro cytotoxicity of anti-My9-bR immunotoxin was enhanced 580 fold and 4.7 fold against sensitive and resistant HL-60 cells, respectively, by monensin liposomes (5 x 10(-8) M). The combination of anti-My9-bR immunotoxin (50ng mL(-1)) with monensin liposomes (5 x 10(-8) M) produced apoptosis in 40% of cells, whereas the apoptotic response was minimal (< 10%) in anti-My9-bR immunotoxin- or monensin liposome (alone)-treated HL-60 (resistant) cells. In SCID mice bearing HL-60 tumours, anti-My9-bR immunotoxin (75 microg kg(-1) administered intravenously every other day for a total of five courses) showed a median survival time of 20 days, which was no different than that of vehicle control- or monensin liposome-treated mice. However, anti-My9-bR immunotoxin (75 microg kg(-1)) in combination with monensin liposomes (4 microg kg(-1) monensin), administered every other day for a total of five courses, was found to prolong the survival of 20% of mice for more than 46 days. Our results indicate that, despite anti-My9-bR immunotoxin being ineffective in the HL-60 tumour model, its combination with monensin liposomes could improve the antitumour response.

Cytoagglutination and cytotoxicity of Wheat Germ Agglutinin isolectins against normal lymphocytes and cultured leukemic cell lines--relationship between structure and biological activity

The relationships between degree of lectin-cell binding, cytotoxicity and cytoagglutinating activity of three Wheat Germ Agglutinin isolectins (WGA-1, WGA-2, WGA-3) against normal lymphocytes and cultured leukemic cell lines (Jurkat, MOLT-4, Raji, Daudi, K-562) were studied. All WGA-isolectins interacted in a similar degree with normal lymphocytes, while in the case of leukemic cells, the degree of isolectin-cell binding increased in the order: WGA-1< or =WGA-3<WGA-2 at isolectin concentrations 0.5 microM and higher, and WGA-3<WGA-2< or =WGA-1 at 0.25 microM isolectin concentration. The WGA interacted in higher degree with Jurkat, Raji, Daudi and K-562, followed by MOLT-4 and normal lymphocytes. The velocity of cytoagglutination in the presence of 0.25 microM WGA-isolectins increased in the order: WGA-3<WGA-2< or =WGA-1, and was better expressed in Jurkat, Raji, Daudi and K-562, followed by MOLT-4 and normal lymphocytes. The cytotoxicity of isolectins was very well expressed against Jurkat, MOLT-4, Raji and Daudi, and less expressed against K-562 and normal lymphocytes. In the case of leukemic cells, the cytotoxic effect of WGA-isolectins increased in the order: WGA-3<WGA-2=WGA-1. A very good positive correlation was determined between velocity of cytoagglutination and degree of lectin-cell binding (r=0.77, P<0.001). A good inverse correlation was found between cytotoxicity and degree of lectin-cell binding (r=-0.34, P<0.001), and poor correlation was observed between cytotoxicity and cytoagglutinating activity of WGA-isolectins (r=0.16, P<0.01). The results suggest that the WGA-isolectins, structurally distinguishable in only several amino acid sequences, interacted in different degrees with leukemic cells and manifested different cytoagglutinating and cytotoxic activity.

Antibody targeted therapeutics for lymphoma: new focus on the CD22 antigen and RNA

The approval of antibodies for cancer treatment has provoked increased interest in the development of new and improved antibody-mediated therapies. This emerging approach centres on targeting CD22 on human B-cells with a monoclonal antibody (mAb). Anti-CD22 antibodies conjugated to a cytotoxic RNAse elicits potent and specific killing of the lymphoma cells in vitro and in human lymphoma models in severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) mice. RNA damage caused by RNAses could be an important alternative to standard DNA damaging chemotherapeutics. Moreover, targeted RNAses may overcome problems of toxicity and immunogenicity associated with plant- or bacterial toxin-containing immunotoxins.

Conjugation of anti-My9 antibody to stealth monensin liposomes and the effect of conjugated liposomes on the cytotoxicity of immunotoxin

The carboxylic ionophore, monensin, was successfully entrapped in stealth liposomes by employing the pH-gradient method (interior pH of liposomes 9.5; exterior pH 5.0-5.9). A maximum of 14% of monensin could be entrapped in stealth liposomes by this method. The stealth liposomes could be successfully freeze-dried having mean particle size varying between 197 and 223 nm. The stealth liposomes were conjugated to anti-My9 monoclonal antibody (targeted against CD 33 antigen) by a disulfide linkage with almost full retention of immunoreactivity. The method of conjugation of liposomes with the antibody did not alter the particle size of liposomes and resulted in only 10% leakage of monensin. In-vitro cytotoxicity studies showed that antibody-conjugated monensin liposomes (3.5x10(-8) M monensin) potentiated the cytotoxicity of anti-My9 immunotoxin by a factor of 2070, in comparison to 360-fold potentiation observed with unconjugated monensin liposomes against human HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells. These results indicate that it is possible to enhance the in-vitro cytotoxicity of immunotoxin by several folds using antibody-conjugated monensin liposomes.

Potent and specific antitumor effects of an anti-CD22-targeted cytotoxic ribonuclease: potential for the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

LL2, an anti-CD22 monoclonal antibody against B-cell lymphoma, was covalently linked to the amphibian ribonuclease, onconase, a member of the pancreatic RNase A superfamily. LL2 increased in vitro potency (10 000-fold) and specificity against human Daudi Burkitt lymphoma cells while decreasing systemic toxicity of onconase. Monensin further increased potency of LL2-onconase on Daudi cells (IC(50), 20 and 1.5 pM, absence and presence of monensin, respectively). A 1-hour exposure to LL2-onconase was sufficient to kill Daudi cells in culture. These favorable in vitro properties translated to significant antitumor activity against disseminated Daudi lymphoma in mice with severe combined immunodeficiency disease. In mice inoculated with tumor cells intraperitoneally (ip), LL2-onconase (100 microg 5 times ip every day) increased the life span of animals with minimal disease 200%. The life span of mice with advanced disseminated Daudi lymphoma (tumor cells inoculated intravenously) was increased 135%. Mice injected with LL2-onconase tolerated a dose as high as 300 mg/kg. Because both onconase and LL2 are in clinical trials as cancer therapeutics, the covalently linked agents should be considered for treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Entry of ricin and Shiga toxin into cells: molecular mechanisms and medical perspectives

A large number of plant and bacterial toxins with enzymatic activity on intracellular targets are now known. These toxins enter cells by first binding to cell surface receptors, then they are endocytosed and finally they become translocated into the cytosol from an intracellular compartment. In the case of the plant toxin ricin and the bacterial toxin Shiga toxin, this happens after retrograde transport through the Golgi apparatus and to the endoplasmic reticulum. The toxins are powerful tools to reveal new pathways in intracellular transport. Furthermore, knowledge about their action on cells can be used to combat infectious diseases where such toxins are involved, and a whole new field of research takes advantage of their ability to enter the cytosol for therapeutic purposes in connection with a variety of diseases. This review deals with the mechanisms of entry of ricin and Shiga toxin, and the attempts to use such toxins in medicine are discussed.

Relationship of the CD22 immunotoxin dose and the tumour establishment in a SCID mice model

Immunotoxins (ITs) may be very potent to erradicate tumour growth in vivo. We investigated the influence of the IT-dose, in relation to the establishment of the tumour, on the anti-tumour activity of CD22-recombinant (rec) ricin A for a disseminated tumour (Ramos) in SCID mice. Furthermore, the enhancement of the IT cytotoxicity in vivo by chloroquine was assessed. CD22-rec ricin A appeared to be highly effective. Paralysis of the hind legs was significantly delayed by a very low IT-dose of 2 microg administered intravenously (i.v.) 7 days after i.v. inoculation of the tumour cells. Even a dose of 30 microg administered 21 days after inoculation of the target cells significantly delayed the onset of paralysis up to 8 days compared with the median paralysis time (MPT) of the control group. The efficacy of treatment was obviously influenced by the establishment of the tumour, the tumour load and localisation. The anti-tumour activity of 10 and 30 microg IT diminished when the IT was administered after increasing the time lag following inoculation of tumour cells. Delaying IT administration resulted in growth of solid tumours. This implies that cells migrate to sanctuaries protected from the IT indicating that the anti-tumour activity was influenced by the accessibility of the IT to the target cells. The in vivo anti-tumour activity of CD22-rec ricin A could not be enhanced by simultaneously administered chloroquine, despite the continuous infusion with an intraperitoneally (i.p.) implanted mini-osmotic pump. Ex vivo experiments revealed that the maximally tolerated serum concentration (3.9 microM) was too low to be effective. In conclusion, CD22-rec ricin A is highly effective for in vivo treatment of B-cell malignancies, in particular if treatment is started when the tumour load is low and before migration takes place to poorly accessible sanctuaries.