title: Antiproliferative effect and apoptotic response in vitro of human melanoma cells to liposomes containing the ribosome-inactivating protein luffin.
abstract: The present study describes the liposome-mediated delivery of the type 1 ribosome-inactivating protein luffin to human melanoma cells in vitro. Luffin from Luffa cylindrica seeds has been successfully incorporated into lecithin/cholesterol and lecithin/cholesterol/dicetylphosphate negatively charged liposomes. The exposure of melanoma cells to the two types of liposomes resulted in the inhibition of protein synthesis and cell growth; apoptotic cell death was verified by means of TUNEL reaction and quantitation of cytosolic oligonucleosome-bound DNA. The toxicity of encapsulated luffin varied with the lipid composition of the vesicles; the strongest effect was observed with lecithin/cholesterol liposomes. These results identify liposome-incorporated luffin as a possible alternative to immunotoxins for the treatment of human melanoma in situ.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic and Applied Biology, University of L'Aquila, Faculty of Sciences, Italy. cellular@univaq.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poma
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marcozzi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cesare
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carmignani
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spanò
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008081:Liposomes; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D008081:Liposomes; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins