title: Sclerotium rolfsii lectin induces stronger inhibition of proliferation in human breast cancer cells than normal human mammary epithelial cells by induction of cell apoptosis.
abstract: Sclerotium rolfsii lectin (SRL) isolated from the phytopathogenic fungus Sclerotium rolfsii has exquisite binding specificity towards O-linked, Thomsen-Freidenreich (Galβ1-3GalNAcα1-Ser/Thr, TF) associated glycans. This study investigated the influence of SRL on proliferation of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and ZR-75), non-tumorigenic breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A) and normal mammary epithelial cells (HMECs). SRL caused marked, dose-dependent, inhibition of proliferation of MCF-7 and ZR-75 cells but only weak inhibition of proliferation of non-tumorigenic MCF-10A and HMEC cells. The inhibitory effect of SRL on cancer cell proliferation was shown to be a consequence of SRL cell surface binding and subsequent induction of cellular apoptosis, an effect that was largely prevented by the presence of inhibitors against caspases -3, -8, or -9. Lectin histochemistry using biotin-labelled SRL showed little binding of SRL to normal human breast tissue but intense binding to cancerous tissues. In conclusion, SRL inhibits the growth of human breast cancer cells via induction of cell apoptosis but has substantially less effect on normal epithelial cells. As a lectin that binds specifically to a cancer-associated glycan, has potential to be developed as an anti-cancer agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Studies in Biochemistry, Karnatak University, Dharwad, India; Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mohammed Azharuddin
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Savanur
authors.affiliation: Department of Studies in Biochemistry, Karnatak University, Dharwad, India; Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sachin M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Eligar
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS complex, Ganeshkhind, Pune, India.
authors.forename: Radha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pujari
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: S. L. Raheja Hospital, Mahim, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Pravin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.affiliation: S. L. Raheja Hospital, Mahim, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS complex, Ganeshkhind, Pune, India.
authors.forename: Padma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shastry
authors.affiliation: Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Kharghar, Navi Mumabi, India.
authors.forename: Arvind
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ingle
authors.affiliation: Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Kharghar, Navi Mumabi, India.
authors.forename: Rajiv D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kalraiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Studies in Biochemistry, Karnatak University, Dharwad, India; Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Bale M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Swamy
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lu-Gang
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Studies in Biochemistry, Karnatak University, Dharwad, India; Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Shashikala R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Inamdar
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000737:chemistry*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins