title: Induction of tumor cytotoxic immune cells using a protein from the bitter melon (Momordica charantia).
abstract: The fruit and seeds of the bitter melon (Momordica charantia) have been reported to have anti-leukemic and antiviral activities. This anti-leukemic and antiviral action was associated with an activation of murine lymphocytes. A partially purified protein factor from the bitter melon caused an infiltration and activation of peritoneal exudate cells in C57B1/6J, C3H/HeJ, and C3H/HeN mice. When the extract was injected twice a week at 8 micrograms of protein per ip injection for 0-4 weeks, the peritoneal exudate cells from the treated mice were cytotoxic in a long-term (18-hr) 51Cr-release assay against a range of labeled targets: L1210, P388, and MOLT-4 tumor cells. Cytotoxicity was also observed against YAC-1 targets in a short-term (4-hr) assay. Fractionation of the cytotoxic immune cells implicated a nonadherent cell population which was capable of killing an NK-sensitive cell line in a 4-hr 51Cr-release assay. Unit gravity sedimentation studies indicated that the cytotoxicity was due to either a neutrophil or a large lymphocyte. Antibody depletion experiments using antibody to asialo GM1, an NK cell-specific antibody, depleted cytotoxicity observed in nonadherent, Ficoll/Hypaque-separated PEC. This suggests that at least part of the anti-leukemic activity of the bitter melon extract is due to the activation of NK cells in the host mouse.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cunnick
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chapes
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Fortner
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Takemoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000276:immunology*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013864:Thioglycolates / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010940:Plant Proteins; D013864:Thioglycolates