Novel cationic antimicrobial peptide GW-H1 induced caspase-dependent apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines.
Due to its malignancy, the development of effective therapeutic strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is of urgent needs. Natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), also known as host defense peptides (HDPs), not only act as direct antimicrobial agents, but also represent important regulators of the innate immune system. It has been reported that cationic AMPs may exhibit cancer-selective toxicity. We have designed a series of novel AMPs with potent antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of bacterial pathogens. In the current study, we evaluate the antitumor potency of these AMPs toward HCC cell lines J5, Huh7, and Hep3B. Selected AMPs inhibit the viability of HCC cells in a dose-dependent fashion, while the normal 3T3 cells were significantly less susceptible to these AMPs. GW-H1 treatment (20μM) of J5 cells for 24-72h resulted in the induction of apoptosis, as revealed by flow cytometry (increased sub-G1 populations), and western blot analysis for the appearance of activated caspase-3, -7 and -9 cleavages. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was applied to further analyze the AMP-responsive protein profiles of HCC, down-regulation of Hsp27, phophoglycerate kinase 1 and triosephosphate isomerase indicated that GW-H1 may induce apoptosis, and further inhibit progression and metastasis of J5 HCC cells. FITC-labeled GW-H1 was found to attach to cell membrane initially, then translocated into the cytoplasm, and eventually membranous organelles or nucleus. GW-H1 induced a marked growth suppression of J5 xenografts in nude mice in a dose dependent manner. These findings provided support for future application of GW-H1 as potential therapeutic agent for HCC.
Institute of Biotechnology, National Ilan University, Ilan, Taiwan.
Yi-Lin Sophia
YL
Chen
Jun-Hong
JH
Li
Chao-Yuan
CY
Yu
Ching-Ju
CJ
Lin
Pai-Hsuan
PH
Chiu
Po-Wen
PW
Chen
Chai-Ching
CC
Lin
Wei-Jung
WJ
Chen
D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D020169:Caspases