Isolectins of phytohemagglutinin are able to induce apoptosis in HEp-2 carcinoma cells in vitro

• Published in: Experimental Oncology
• Date: 2015
• Main Authors: Kochubei, T.O., Maksymchuk, O.V., Piven, O.O., Lukash, L.L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Інститут експериментальної патології, онкології і радіобіології ім. Р.Є. Кавецького НАН України 2015
• Subjects: Original contributions
• Online Access: https://nasplib.isofts.kiev.ua/handle/123456789/145466
• Journal Title: Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
• Cite this: Isolectins of phytohemagglutinin are able to induce apoptosis in HEp-2 carcinoma cells in vitro / T.O. Kochubei, O.V. Maksymchuk, O.O. Piven, L.L. Lukash // Experimental Oncology. — 2015. — Т. 37, № 2. — С. 116-119. — Бібліогр.: 15 назв. — англ.

Aim: To study the effects of total phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and its isolectins on cell death and apoptosis in human HEp-2 carcinoma cells and to analyze the possible molecular mechanisms of lectin induced apoptosis. Materials and Methods: The commercial preparation of the kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) lectins and HEp-2 cells were used. Apoptosis index was determined using acridine orange and ethidium bromide staining. The expression levels of apoptosis mediator cleaved caspase-3 and proapoptotic Bax protein were studied by Western blot analysis. The gene expression levels were analyzed by qPCR. Results: PHA and its isolectins induced apoptosis in HEp-2 cells accompanied by the increased expression of caspase-3 cleaved form, with PHA-E being the most effective. The treatment of HEp-2 cells with PHA or its isolectins resulted in a marked increase of Bax on both mRNA and protein levels. Conclusions: PHA and its isolectins were shown to induce the apoptosis in human HEp-2 carcinoma cells via increasing proapoptotic protein Bax and activating caspases-3. Key Words: phytohemagglutinin, isolectins, apoptosis, caspase-3, Bax.