title: Expression of genes involved in heme biosynthesis in the human retinoblastoma cell lines WERI-Rb-1 and Y79: implications for photodynamic therapy.
abstract: Photodynamic therapy (PDT), using protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) as a natural photosensitizer, may be a viable alternative therapy of retinoblastoma. In order to evaluate the potential value of PpIX, the expression profiles of genes involved in heme biosynthesis in human retinoblastoma WERI-Rb-1 and Y79 cells were analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Expression levels were highest in protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPOX), uroporphyrinogen synthase and aminolevulinic acid synthase. Ferrochelatase expression showed a reduction compared to PPOX. PpIX levels were 15- and 18-fold higher in WERI-Rb-1 and Y79 cells, respectively, following induction by delta-aminolevulinic acid. PDT may thus be a promising treatment in vitro, at least in these two retinoblastoma cell lines.
authors.affiliation: Lab. de Citopatología Ambiental, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, DF, México.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Galindo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arenas-Huertero
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ramón-Gallegos
mesh_terms: D000624:5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005294:Ferrochelatase / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D052138:Genes, Neoplasm; D006418:Heme / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D011163:Hydroxymethylbilane Synthase / Q000235:genetics; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050768:Protoporphyrinogen Oxidase / Q000235:genetics; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019572:Retinal Neoplasms; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011524:Protoporphyrins; D006418:Heme; C028025:protoporphyrin IX; D050768:Protoporphyrinogen Oxidase; D000624:5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase; D011163:Hydroxymethylbilane Synthase; D005294:Ferrochelatase