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Protein delivery of caspase-3 induces
cell death in malignant C6 glioma, primary astrocytes and immortalized
and primary brain capillary endothelial cells
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 (FuGENE6TM) or using the novel protein
delivery reagent BioPORTERTM.
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 BioPORTERTM-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:
BioPORTERTM - brain tumor - caspase-3 - C6 - FuGENE6TM - 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
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