title: Mistletoe lectin synergizes with paclitaxel in human SK-hep1 hepatocarcinoma cells.
abstract: The effect of mistletoe lectin I (ML-I), an inhibitor of ribosomal protein synthesis, on the in vitro cytotoxicity of a clinically important anticancer drug, paclitaxel, was studied on cultured human hepatocarcinoma SK-Hep1 cells using the microculture tetrazolium test. The interaction between these two agents was analyzed for true synergism using the ED50 isobologram. Synergism was observed in the simultaneous treatment of the cells with ML-I in combination with paclitaxel. In addition, 24-h exposure of the cells to a non-toxic dose of ML-I and lower toxic doses of paclitaxel in combination resulted in apoptotic cell death, as observed by agarose-gel electrophoresis of low-molecular-weight DNA and DNA flow cytometry. Thus, the results presented here indicate the potential clinical usefulness of ML-I combination therapy with paclitaxel.
authors.affiliation: Medicinal Resources Research Center of Wonkwang University, Iksan, Chonbuk, Korea.
authors.forename: H O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Pae
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D014784:Mistletoe / Q000737:chemistry; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D028321:Plant Preparations; D010940:Plant Proteins; D054790:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 2; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D028321:Plant Preparations; D010940:Plant Proteins; D054790:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 2; D014118:Toxins, Biological; C488862:mistletoe lectin I; C009674:ribosome inactivating protein, Viscum; D017239:Paclitaxel