The Experimental Research of R-Phycoerythrin Subunits on Cancer Treatment: A New Photosensitizer in PDT

• Published in: Cancer biotherapy & radiopharmaceuticals Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 35 - 42
• Main Authors: Bei, Huang, Guang-Ce, Wang, Chen-Kui, Zeng, Zhen-gang, Li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Larchmont, NY Liebert 01.02.2002; Mary Ann Liebert, Inc
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Marrow Cells - drug effects; Bone Marrow Cells - pathology; Cell Cycle - drug effects; Cell Division - drug effects; Dihematoporphyrin Ether - therapeutic use; Lasers; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental - drug therapy; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental - pathology; Medical sciences; Mice; Photochemotherapy; Photoradiation therapy and photosensitizing agent; Photosensitizing Agents - therapeutic use; Phycoerythrin - therapeutic use; Tetrazolium Salts; Thiazoles; Treatment with physical agents; Treatment. General aspects; Tumor Cells, Cultured - drug effects; Tumor Cells, Cultured - pathology; Tumors; Antineoplastic agent; Cell proliferation; Carcinoma; Liver; Hepatic disease; Subunit; Established cell line; Tumor cell; Human; Photodynamic therapy; Treatment efficiency; Rodentia; Malignant tumor; In vitro; Biological activity; In vivo; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Treatment; Mouse; Cell death; Animal; Phycoerythrin; Digestive diseases; Photosensitizer; Apoptosis
• ISSN: 1084-9785; 1557-8852
• DOI: 10.1089/10849780252824055

The mouse tumor cell S180 and human liver carcinoma cell SMC 7721 cells were first treated with R-PE and its subunits (alpha, beta, gamma subunits), then irradiated with Argon laser (496 nm, 28.8 J/cm2). Survival rate was measured by MTT method. In order to compare the phototoxicity in normal cells, the mouse marrow cells were treated with photofrin II and beta-subunit, irradiated with 45 J/cm2 of light; survival rate was also measured by MTT method. The result showed that R-PE subunits had better PDT effect on s180 cells than R-PE and lower phototoxicity in marrow cells than photofrin II. Flow cytometric analysis showed that PDT results in a growth inhibition and a G0-G1 cell cycle arrest in SMC 7721 cells. The tumor cells inhibited by PDT in vivo were morphologically observed by TEM, the tumor cell death was due to the occlusion of tumor blood vessels and inducement of cell programmed death in nuclei. Therefore, with the advantage in special fluorescence activity, low molecular weight, good light absorbent character and weak phototoxicity, R-PE subunit is an attractive option for improving the selectivity of PDT.