Mechanisms involved in Korean mistletoe lectin-induced apoptosis of cancer cells

AIM: To investigate the anti-cancer mechanisms of Korean mistletoe lectin (Viscum album coloratum agglutinin,VCA) using a human colon cancer cell line (COLO). METHODS: Cytotoxic effects of VCA on COLO cells were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in vitro and tumor-killing effects in vivo. To study the mechanisms involved,the expression of various pro-caspases,anti-apoptotic proteins,and death receptors was determined by western blot. To determine which death receptor is involved in VCA-induced apoptosis of COLO cells,cytotoxicity was examined by MTT assay after treatment with agonists or antagonists of death receptors. RESULTS: VCA killed COLO cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner and induced complete regression of tumors in nude mice transplanted with COLO cells. Treatment of COLO cells with VCA activated caspase-2,-3,-8,and -9 and decreased expression of anti-apoptotic molecules including receptor interacting protein,nuclear factor-κB,X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein,and Akt/protein kinase B. We then examined the involvement of death receptors in VCA-induced apoptosis. Only tumor necrosis factor receptor 1,among the death receptors examined,was involved in apoptosis of COLO cells,evidenced by inhibition of VCA-induced apoptosis and decreased activation of caspases,particularly caspase-8,by tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 antagonizing antibody.CONCLUSION: VCA-induced apoptotic COLO cell death is due to the activation of caspases and inhibition of anti-apoptotic proteins,in part through the tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 signaling pathway.

Glucose-responsive artificial promoter-mediated insulin gene transfer improves glucose control in diabetic mice

AIM:To investigate the effect of insulin gene therapy using a glucose-responsive synthetic promoter in type 2 diabetic obese mice.METHODS:We employed a recently developed novel insulin gene therapy strategy using a synthetic promoter that regulates insulin gene expression in the liver in response to blood glucose level changes.We intravenously administered a recombinant adenovirus expressing furin-cleavable rat insulin under the control of the synthetic promoter(rAd-SP-rINSfur) into diabetic Lepr db/db mice.A recombinant adenovirus expressing β-galactosidase under the cytomegalovirus promoter was used as a control(rAd-CMV-βgal).Blood glucose levels and body weights were monitored for 50 d.Glucose and insulin tolerance tests were performed.Immunohistochemical staining was performed to investigate islet morphology and insulin content.RESULTS:Administration of rAd-SP-rINSfur lowered blood glucose levels and normoglycemia was maintained for 50 d,whereas the rAd-CMV-βgal control virus-injected mice remained hyperglycemic.Glucose tolerance tests showed that rAd-SP-rINSfur-treated mice cleared exogenous glucose from the blood more efficiently than control virus-injected mice at 4 wk [area under the curve(AUC):21 508.80 ± 2248.18 vs 62 640.00 ± 5014.28,P < 0.01] and at 6 wk(AUC:29 956.60 ± 1757.33 vs 60 016.60 ± 3794.47,P < 0.01).In addition,insulin sensitivity was also significantly improved in mice treated with rAd-SP-rINSfur compared with rAd-CMV-βgal-treated mice(AUC:9150.17 ± 1007.78 vs 11 994.20 ± 474.40,P < 0.05).The islets from rAd-SP-rINSfur-injected mice appeared to be smaller and to contain a higher concentration of insulin than those from rAd-CMV-βgal-injected mice.CONCLUSION:Based on these results,we suggest that insulin gene therapy might be one therapeutic option for remission of type 2 diabetes.

Development of a 3D subcutaneous construct containing insulin-producing beta cells using bioprinting

Type 1 diabetes is caused by insulin deficiency due to the loss of beta cells in the islets of Langerhans.In severe cases,islet transplantation into the portal vein is performed.However,due to the loss of transplanted islets and the failure of islet function,the 5-year insulin independence rate of these patients is<50%.In this study,we developed a long-term,insulin-secreting,3 Dbioprinted construct implanted subcutaneously with the aim of preventing islet loss.The bioprinted construct was fabricated by the multi-layer bioprinting of beta-cell(mouse insulinoma-6:MIN-6)-encapsulated alginate bioink and poly(caprolactone)biodegradable polymer.A glucose response assay revealed that the bioprinted constructs proliferated and released insulin normally during the 4-week in vitro period.Bioprinted MIN-6 generated clusters with a diameter of 100-200μm,similar to the original pancreatic islets in the construct.In an in vivo study using type 1 diabetes mice,animals implanted with bioprinted constructs showed three times higher insulin secretion and controlled glucose levels at 8 weeks after implantation.Because the implanted,bioprinted constructs had a positive effect on insulin secretion in the experimental animals,the survival rate of the implanted group(75%)was three times higher than that of the non-implanted group(25%).The results suggest that the proposed,3 D-bioprinted,subcutaneous construct can be a better alternative to portal vein islet transplantation.