Antitumor activity of recombinant antimicrobial peptide penaeidin-2 against kidney cancer cells.

Abstract

Penaeidin-2 (Pen-2) is an important antimicrobial peptide derived from the Pacific white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei, and possesses both antibacterial and antifungal activities. Recent studies suggest that recombinant penaeidins show similar activities to the native Pen-2 protein. Previous researches have shown that some antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) exhibit cytotoxic activity against cancer cells. To date, there have been no studies on the antitumor effects of Pen-2. This study evaluated the potential of recombinant pen-2 (rPen-2) in the selective killing of kidney cancer cell lines ACHN and A498, and its action mechanism. MTT assays found the maximal growth inhibition of HK-2, ACHN and A498 cells treated with 100 μg/mL rPen-2 at 48 h was 13.2%, 62.4%, and 70.4%, respectively. DNA-specific fluorescent dye staining showed a high percentage of apoptosis on cancer cells. Flow cytometry revealed that the apoptosis rate of HK-2, ACHN and A498 cells was 15.2%, 55.2%, and 61.5% at 48 h respectively, suggesting that rPen-2 induced higher apoptosis rate in cancer cells than in HK-2 cells. Laser confocal scanning microscopy demonstrated that the plasma membrane was the key site where rPen-2 interacted with and destroyed tumor cells. Scanning electron microscopy showed the morphologic changes of the cell membranes of kidney cancer cells treated with rPen-2. These results suggest that rPen-2 is a novel potential therapeutic agent that may be useful in treating kidney cancers.

• Authors: Ming-Xiang Meng, Jian-Fang Ning, Jing-You Yu, Dan-Dan Chen, Xiao-Lin Meng, Jin-Ping Xu, Jie Zhang
• Journal: Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Medical sciences = Hua zhong ke ji da xue xue bao. Yi xue Ying De wen ban = Huazhong keji daxue xuebao. Yixue Yingdewen ban (J Huazhong Univ Sci Technolog Med Sci) Vol. 34 Issue 4 Pg. 529-534 (Aug 2014) ISSN: 1672-0733 [Print] China
• PMID: 25135722 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
• Antineoplastic Agents
• Arthropod Proteins
• Recombinant Proteins

Topics

• Animals
• Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides (genetics, pharmacology)
• Antineoplastic Agents (pharmacology)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Arthropod Proteins (genetics, pharmacology)
• Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
• Humans
• Kidney Neoplasms (drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
• Penaeidae (genetics)
• Recombinant Proteins (genetics, pharmacology)