Impact of the diameter of SonoVue microbubbles on binding characteristics of a new contrast agent targeted to choriocarcinoma cells in vitro

Objective:To evaluate the impact of the diameter of SonoVue microbubbles on binding characteristics, including the adhesion rate and stability, of a new contrast agent targeted to choriocarcinoma cells(JARs) in vitro, in order to establish a foundation to explore targeted ultrasound imaging for localization of tumor cell antigens and increase the early diagnostic rate for tumors.Methods:The objects were divided into three groups:the large microbubble group(n = 15), the middling microbubble group(n = 15) and the tiny microbubble group(n = 15).The rosette formation rate was counted.JARs were calculated by flow cytometry(FCM).The targeted contrast agent was prepared by mixing SonoVue microbubbles of different diam-eter with rabbit anti-human chorionic gonadotrophin(HCG) antibody.The binding rates of the targeted contrast agent to JARs before and after PBS rinse were analyzed.Results:The binding rate was significantly lower in the large microbubble group(61.7 ± 1.8)% than in the middling microbubble group(82.6 ± 4.5)% and the tiny microbubble group(91.3 ± 5.8)%(P < 0.05).The binding rates of different diameter microbubbles to JARs before and after PBS rinse were different.The middling microbubbles were the most stable ones, with the binding rate of(82.3 ± 4.5)% and(80.4 ± 3.9)% before and after PBS rinse(P > 0.05).The binding rates of the targeted microbubbles labeled with fluorescence to JARs were 68.6%, 81.3% and 89.3% in the large microbubble group, the middling microbubble group and the tiny microbubble group, respectively(P < 0.05).Conclu-sion:The binding capacity of the targeted SonoVue microbubbles to JARs is related to the diameter of the microbubble, which is determined by the shaking method before preparation.Modulating the diameter of SonoVue microbubbles may increase the binding rate and stability of targeted microbubbles to JARs, thus to improve the image of JARs.

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 and-9 secretion by the human JAR choriocarcinoma cell line is stimulated by TNF-α

The JAR choriocarcinoma cell line share many of the characteristics of early placental trophoblast cells including the invasion properties. Matrix metallo-proteinases (MMPs), the main actors of matrix proteolysis, are involved in normal invasion as well as in the invasive character of tumor cells and the metastase formation. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is present in the placental environment and TNF-α levels are elevated in some placental pathologies. In the present work, we addressed whether TNF-α is a modulator of JAR cell MMP secretion. Following TNF-α stimulation, zymographic analysis showed the increased secretion of the active form of MMP-2 and to a lesser extent proMMP-2 and MMP-9. In addition, MMP-2 gene expression only increased slightly whereas MMP-9 and TIMP-1 transcripts were undetectable. This suggests that TNF-α may modulate the secretion of MMPs independently of MMP gene expression control.