Molecular Recognition of Human Liver Cancer Cells Using DNA Aptamers Generated via Cell-SELEX.
Most clinical cases of liver cancer cannot be diagnosed until they have evolved to an advanced stage, thus resulting in high mortality. It is well recognized that the implementation of early detection methods and the development of targeted therapies for liver cancer are essential to reducing the high mortality rates associated with this disease. To achieve these goals, molecular probes capable of recognizing liver cancer cell-specific targets are needed. Here we describe a panel of aptamers able to distinguish hepatocarcinoma from normal liver cells. The aptamers, which were selected by cell-based SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment), have Kd values in the range of 64-349 nM toward the target human hepatoma cell HepG2, and also recognize ovarian cancer cells and lung adenocarcinoma. The proteinase treatment experiment indicated that all aptamers could recognize target HepG2 cells through surface proteins. This outcome suggested that these aptamers could be used as potential probes for further research in cancer studies, such as developing early detection assays, targeted therapies, and imaging agents, as well as for the investigation of common membrane proteins in these distinguishable cancers.
Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Department of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at the Bio/Nano Interface, Health Cancer Center, UF Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America.
Jiehua
J
Xu
Department of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at the Bio/Nano Interface, Health Cancer Center, UF Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America.
I-Ting
IT
Teng
Department of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at the Bio/Nano Interface, Health Cancer Center, UF Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America.
Liqin
L
Zhang
Department of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at the Bio/Nano Interface, Health Cancer Center, UF Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America.
Stefanie
S
Delgado
Department of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at the Bio/Nano Interface, Health Cancer Center, UF Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America.
Carole
C
Champanhac
Department of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at the Bio/Nano Interface, Health Cancer Center, UF Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America.
Sena
S
Cansiz
Department of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at the Bio/Nano Interface, Health Cancer Center, UF Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America.
Cuichen
C
Wu
Interventional Radiology Institute, Department of Radiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Hong
H
Shan
Department of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at the Bio/Nano Interface, Health Cancer Center, UF Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America.
Weihong
W
Tan
D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015723:Gene Library; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D052156:SELEX Aptamer Technique
D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide