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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2003; 111(3): 146-153
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-39787
Article

J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Targeted Destruction of Normal and Cancer Cells Through Lutropin/Choriogonadotropin Receptors Using Hecate-βCG Conjugate

M. Zaleska 1 , G. Bodek 1 , B. Jana 1 , W. Hansel 2 , A. J. Ziecik 1
  • 1Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
  • 2Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA
Further Information

Publication History

Received: March 18, 2002 First decision: May 16, 2002

Accepted: July 18, 2002

Publication Date:
04 June 2003 (online)

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Abstract

A recent approach to cancer treatment is destruction of malignant and non-malignant tumors by hormonally targeted lytic peptides. The presence of lutropin/choriogonadotropin (LH/CG) receptors has been confirmed in several cancer cells (e.g. breast, ovarian, and prostate). In a series of experiments conducted in vitro, we have used a conjugate of the 23-amino acid lytic peptide Hecate and a 15-amino acid segment of β-chain of CG. To test the hypothesis that Hecate-βCG selectively destroys porcine granulosa and luteal cells, and Leydig cancer cell line (BLT-1) possessing LH/CG receptors, the conjugate was added to culture media at different concentrations of 0.5 to 10 µM. Spleen cells and late passage of granulosa cancer cell line (KK-1) not-possessing LH/CG receptors were used as controls. The toxicity of Hecate-βCG conjugate was concentration-dependent in all cell types but different among various cells. The toxicity of the conjugate to treated cells was closely correlated with the number of LH/CG receptors per cell. At low concentration (1 µM), Hecate-βCG was more cytotoxic to cells bearing LH/CG receptors than to controls (p < 0.01). In contrast to cells possessing LH/CG receptors, cancer cell line KK-1 and spleen cells were sensitive only at concentration of 5 µM (p < 0.001). We conclude that Hecate-βCG selectively kills cells expressing LH/CG receptors; its toxicity is dependent on the number of binding sites for LH/CG.

Key words

Cancer - lytic peptide conjugate - LH/CG receptor

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Adam J. Ziecik

Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences

Tuwima 10

10 - 747 Olsztyn

Poland

Phone: +48895357422

Fax: +48895357421

Email: ziecik@pan.olsztyn.pl

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