The antimicrobial peptide, lactoferricin B, is cytotoxic to neuroblastoma cells in vitro and inhibits xenograft growth in vivo

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  2. Dr Frida Ponthan
Author(s)Eliassen LT, Berge G, Leknessund A, Wikman M, Lindin I, Løkke C, Ponthan FM, Johnsen JI, Sveinbjørnsson B, Kogner P, Flægstad T, Rekdal O
Publication type Article
JournalInternational Journal of Cancer
Year2006
Volume119
Issue3
Pages493-500
ISSN (print)0020-7136
ISSN (electronic)1097-0215
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Antimicrobial peptides have been shown to exert cytotoxic activity towards cancer cells through their ability to interact with negatively charged cell membranes. In this study the cytotoxic effect of the antimicrobial peptide, LfcinB was tested in a panel of human neuroblastoma cell lines. LfcinB displayed a selective cytotoxic activity against both MYCN-amplified and non-MYCN-amplified cell lines. Non-transformed fibroblasts were not substantially affected by LfcinB. Treatment of neuroblastoma cells with LfcinB induced rapid destabilization of the cytoplasmic membrane and formation of membrane blebs. Depolarization of the mitochondria membranes and irreversible changes in the mitochondria morphology was also evident. Immuno- and fluorescence-labeled LfcinB revealed that the peptide co-localized with mitochondria. Furthermore, treatment of neuroblastoma cells with LfcinB induced cleavage of caspase-6, -7 and -9 followed by cell death. However, neither addition of the pan-caspase inhibitor, zVAD-fmk, or specific caspase inhibitors could reverse the cytotoxic effect induced by LfcinB. Treatment of established SH-SY-5Y neuroblastoma xenografts with repeated injections of LfcinB resulted in significant tumor growth inhibition. These results revealed a selective destabilizing effect of LfcinB on two important targets in the neuroblastoma cells, the cytoplasmic- and the mitochondria membrane.
URLhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ijc.21886
DOI10.1002/ijc.21886
NotesJournal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't United States
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