Selective cytotoxicity and cell death induced by human amniotic membrane in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a worldwide high incidence and mortality. For this reason, it is essential to invest in new therapies for this type of cancer. Our team already proved that human amniotic membrane (hAM) is able to inhibit the metabolic activity of several human cancer cell lines, including HCC cell lines. Taking into account the previously performed work, this experimental study aimed to investigate the pathways by which hAM protein extracts (hAMPEs) act on HCC. Our results showed that hAMPE reduce the metabolic activity, protein content and DNA content in a dose- and time-dependent manner in all HCC cell lines. This therapy presents selective cytotoxicity, since it was not able to inhibit a non-tumorigenic human cell line. In addition, hAMPE induced cell morphology alterations in all HCC cell lines, but death type is cell line dependent, as proved by in vitro and in vivo studies. In conclusion, hAMPE have a promising role in HCC therapy, since it is capable of inducing HCC cytotoxicity and cell death.
Biophysics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba - Celas, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal. ana_mamede@hotmail.com.|CICS-UBI, Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal. ana_mamede@hotmail.com.|CIMAGO, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. ana_mamede@hotmail.com.|CNC.IBILI, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. ana_mamede@hotmail.com.
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Mamede
Biophysics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba - Celas, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal. guerra.sara.91@gmail.com.
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Guerra
Biophysics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba - Celas, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.|CIMAGO, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|CNC.IBILI, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Laranjo
Biophysics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba - Celas, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.|CIMAGO, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|CNC.IBILI, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|Obstetrics Service, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Carvalho
Biophysics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba - Celas, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.|Anatomic Pathology Service, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Oliveira
CIMAGO, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|CNC.IBILI, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|Applied Molecular Biology and Hematology Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Gonçalves
CNC.IBILI, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|Applied Molecular Biology and Hematology Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Alves
Anatomic Pathology Service, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Prado Castro
CIMAGO, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|CNC.IBILI, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|Applied Molecular Biology and Hematology Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Sarmento-Ribeiro
Obstetrics Service, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Moura
Biophysics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba - Celas, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.|CIMAGO, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|CNC.IBILI, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Abrantes
CICS-UBI, Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal.
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Maia
Biophysics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba - Celas, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.|CIMAGO, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|CNC.IBILI, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Botelho
D000650:Amnion / Q000737:chemistry*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D002457:Cell Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms
D002457:Cell Extracts
Cytotoxicity; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Human amniotic membrane; Protein extracts; hAMPE