Mechanism of photofrin-enhanced ultrasound-induced human glioma cell death.
BACKGROUND
Low-intensity ultrasound showed tumor cell killing by a non-thermal effect in human leukemia cells. The aim of our study was to investigate the efficacy of low-intensity ultrasound on malignant astrocytic tumor cells with the photosensitizer, Photofrin, which is taken up by the cell surface receptor, low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein/alpha2-macroglobulin receptor (LRP/alpha2MR).


METHODS
Cells were sonicated with continuous wave ultrasound with or without the presence of Photofrin (75 mg/ml) at an intensity of 0.3 W/cm(2) for a duration of 5, 15, or 30 s.


RESULTS
Ultrasound alone induced instant cell killing immediately after sonication in both U251MG and U105MG malignant gliomas cells. In U251MG cells, which expressed LRP/alpha2MR, significant enhancement of cell killing was observed following Photofrin pretreatment, 52.7+/-17.5%, 13.0+/-4.6% and 3.9+/-0.9% for 5, 15, and 30 s respectively (p<0.05). This enhancement of cell killing was abolished by preincubation with receptor-associated protein (RAP) which binds specifically to LRP/alpha2MR. This enhancement by Photofrin was not achieved in U105MG which did not express LRP/alpha2MR. U251MG cells accumulated 2.43+/-0.25 Photofrin mg/mg protein, which significantly decreased with RAP pretreatment (1.38+/-0.22 Photofrin mg/mg protein) (p<0.05). U105MG cells accumulated 1.31+/-0.16 Photofrin mg/mg protein, which was significantly less than in U251MG cells. Photofrin uptake was not altered by RAP pretreatment in U105MG cells. U251MG cells exposed to ultrasound in the presence of Photofrin showed multiple surface pores and dimple-like craters.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report to demonstrate the usefulness of low-intensity ultrasound for the cell killing of malignant glioma cells. Antitumor activity might be enhanced by combination with photosensitizer, which is transported by cell surface LRP/alpha2-MR to some degree.
Hayashi
Shuji
S
Department of Neurosurgery, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan. s-h@hakujyujikai.or.jp
Yamamoto
Masaki
M
Tachibana
Katsuhiro
K
Ueno
Yushi
Y
Bu
Guojun
G
Fukushima
Takeo
T
D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017323:Dihematoporphyrin Ether / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D026503:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D026503:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-1; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D017323:Dihematoporphyrin Ether