Etiology and Pathogenesis > Caspases

Abstract

Birgit Zassler, Ingolf E. Blasig and Christian Humpel

Laboratory of Psychiatry, University Clinic of Psychiatry, Innsbruck, Austria [B.Z., C.H.]. Institute of Molecular Pharmacology, Berlin, Germany [I.E.B]. Department of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Psychiatry, University Clinic of Psychiatry, Anichstr.35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria [C.H.]. Correspondence to: Christian Humpel, Email: christian.humpel@uibk.ac.at, Phone: 43-512-504-23712, Fax: 43-512-504-23713, URL: http://info.uibk.ac.at/c/c5/c518/psychlab/psychlab.html

Most brain tumors consist of transformed glia cells and are highly vascularized by capillary endothelial cells. 
The aim of the present study therefore was to deliver pro-apoptotic caspase-3 into malignant C6 glioma and immortalized rBCEC4 brain endothelial cells to induce cell death. 
Both cell lines were transfected with a reporter protein (β-galactosidase) using lipid-mediated gene transfer (FuGENE6^TM) or using the novel protein delivery reagent BioPORTER^TM. 
β-Galactosidase protein was successfully delivered into both cells, the protein expression peaked around day 2 and was transient. 
Delivery of caspase-3 induced TUNEL-positive cell death of both cell types. 
As a control, caspase-3 was also delivered to non-neoplastic primary astrocytes and endothelial cells and induced cell death. 
In conclusion BioPORTER^TM-protein delivery of pro-apoptotic molecules may provide a potent tool to cause death of the cells in brain tumors, however, this method is limited due to its toxicity to non-malignant cells.

Keywords: BioPORTER^TM - brain tumor - caspase-3 - C6 - FuGENE6^TM - rBCEC4

© Springer 2005

Source: http://springerlink.metapress.com/openurl.asp?genre=article&eissn=1573-7373&volume=71&issue=2&spage=127
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11060-004-1364-4