Inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis by Korean mistletoe lectin is associated with apoptosis and antiangiogenesis.
The mistletoe lectins are major active components in the extract of European mistletoes that have been widely used in adjuvant chemotherapy of cancer. This study was performed to investigate the mechanism of anticancer and antimetastatic activity of the purified Korean mistletoe lectin (Viscum album L. coloratum agglutinin, VCA). C57BL6 mice inoculated with B16-BL6 melanoma cells and treated with VCA were assessed for survival and metastasis. The induction of apoptosis of B16-BL6 cells by VCA was investigated by morphological changes, DNA fragmentation characteristics, and cell cycle analysis. The antiangiogenic activity of VCA was also measured by the CAM (choriallantoic membrane) assay. Length of survival of mice was increased and lung metastasis was inhibited by VCA. Treatment of cells with VCA resulted in growth suppression, nuclear morphological changes, DNA fragmentation, and an increased fraction of cells in sub-G1 consistent with apoptosis. Antiangiogenesis of VCA was assessed by CAM assay, where vessel growth induced by fat emulsion was decreased. These results suggest that VCA inhibits tumor growth and metastasis by increasing apoptosis and inhibiting angiogenesis.
Park
W B
WB
College of Natural Science, Seoul Women's University, Seoul 139-774, Korea. wbpark@swu.ac.kr
Lyu
S Y
SY
Kim
J H
JH
Choi
S H
SH
Chung
H K
HK
Ahn
S H
SH
Hong
S Y
SY
Yoon
T J
TJ
Choi
M J
MJ
D000482:Allantois / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002823:Chorion / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005260:Female; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D028321:Plant Preparations; D010940:Plant Proteins; D054790:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 2; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D028321:Plant Preparations; D010940:Plant Proteins; D054790:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 2; D014118:Toxins, Biological; C009674:ribosome inactivating protein, Viscum