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Biomedical subjects

S V Lutsenko

Publications and source records attributed to S V Lutsenko.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Molecular mechanisms of tumor angiogenesis.

The maintenance of growth of malignant tumors is closely related with the development of the vascular network supplying the tumor with blood. The vascularization of tumor tissue is similar to physiological angiogenesis, but in tumors it has some specific features. During the last 25 years a vast number of biomolecules have been found and described which are involved in the regulation of tumor angiogenesis. This review considers the action mechanisms and specific features of expression of the main angiogenic growth factors, such as the vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietins (Ang-1, Ang-2), and the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). The roles of cytokines, growth factors, proteolytic enzymes, and cell adhesion molecules in the regulation of the key steps of blood vessel generation in the tumor are considered. The significance of angiogenesis in the treatment of oncological diseases and possible approaches for inhibition of the regulatory signals of angiogenic factors are discussed.

Angiogenesis Inducing Agents↗

Tumor angiogenesis inhibitors.

Formation of the blood supply system is a critical step in malignant transformation of neoplasms which results in the penetration of tumor cells into neighboring tissues and metastatic growth. Significant progress in the elucidation of mechanisms underlying tumor angiogenesis and the discovery of a great diversity of biomolecules involved in its regulation have culminated in the development of a radically new approach to antitumor therapy based on the search for efficient inhibitors of tumor angiogenesis. This review is devoted to the analysis of action mechanisms and expression of the major endogenous inhibitors involved in regulation of tumor and physiological angiogenesis. The antiangiogenic effects of the majority of currently known synthetic inhibitors are considered in the context of their roles in the main steps of tumor angiogenesis. Possible applications of antiangiogenic therapy in the chemotherapy of cancer diseases are discussed.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

Cytotoxic and antitumor activities of doxorubicin conjugates with the epidermal growth factor and its receptor-binding fragment.

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor is expressed at high levels on many types of tumor cells, such as squamous carcinoma, breast cancer and endothelial cells. We studied targeted delivery of the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) using EGF and its receptor-binding fragment (EGFfr) to cells able to overexpress EGF receptors. EGF-DOX and EGFfr-DOX conjugates were synthesized via a glutaraldehyde bridge. The cytotoxic activities (CTA) of the conjugates were studied in vitro in different tumor cell lines (MCF-7Wt, MCF-7AdrR, B16) and endothelial cells using MTT-test. The antitumor effects of the conjugates were examined in vivo in mice with a subcutaneous B16 model. In the case of MCF-7Wt cells, CTA of EGF-DOX and EGFfr-DOX conjugates exceeded 7.7- and 68-fold that of free DOX. Besides, the conjugates effectively decreased the drug resistance of MCF-7AdrR cells. CTA of the conjugates against endothelial cell cultures markedly exceeded that of free DOX. It is of note that proliferating endothelial cells were much more sensitive to the effects of the conjugates than confluent endothelial cells. Administration of EGF-DOX and EGFfr-DOX conjugates significantly inhibited tumor growth and increased the mean life span of experimental animals by 46 and 48.5%, respectively.

3T3 Cells↗

Cytotoxic action of conjugates of alpha-fetoprotein and epidermal growth factor with photoheme, chlorines, and phthalocyanines.

Covalently bound conjugates of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) with photoheme (PH), 3-desvinyl-3-formylchlorine p6 (Chl p6), chlorine e6 (Chl e6), aluminum disulfochloride phthalocyanine (PC(Al)), and cobalt octa-4,5-carboxyphthalocyanine (teraphthal, TP(Co)) were synthesized. Their molar ratios were 1:4 for AFP-cytotoxin conjugates (cf. 1:10 for AFP-TP(Co)) and 1:2 for EGF conjugates (cf. 1:1 for EGF-PC(Al)). Dark toxicity of both protein conjugates with PH, chlorines, and PC(Al) was much lower than their phototoxicity. Studies on phototoxicity demonstrated that PC(Al) conjugates with AFP and EGF and also EGF-Chl p6 were the most effective. The cytotoxic activity (CTA) of AFP-PC(Al) and EGF-Chl p6 was 80% and of EGF-PC(Al) 64% higher than the CTA of the free drugs. Conjugates with TP(Co) were much more toxic on their activation with ascorbic acid (AA): in the presence of AA the CTA of AFP-TP(Co) and of EGF-TP(Co) was 19 and 61.1% higher, respectively, than the CTA of the free TP(Co).

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Antitumor activity of alpha-fetoprotein conjugate with doxorubicin in vitro and in vivo.

alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) was conjugated with doxorubicin (DR) using glutaraldehyde as a cross-linking agent. The protein/DR molar ratio in the conjugate is 1 : 2. Cytotoxic activities (CTA) of the AFP-DR conjugate and of the free DR were compared using human mammary gland carcinoma cells, both DR-sensitive (MCF-7Wt) and DR-resistant (MCF-7AdrR). The CTA of the AFP-DR conjugate was fivefold higher than the CTA of the free DR for sensitive cells of the MCF-7Wt line and sevenfold higher for resistant cells of the MCF-7AdrR line. The CTA of the AFP-DR conjugate was also studied in vitro using the proliferating endothelium taken for a model of endothelial cell lining of blood vessels that supply the tumor. The AFP-DR conjugate was shown to have a high CTA for the endothelial cells (IC50 = 2.5 nM); thus, the conjugate is suggested to manifest an anti-angiogenic effect in vivo. The antitumor activity of the AFP-DR conjugate was studied using mice with inoculated melanoma B16 tumors. The treatment of animals significantly inhibited the tumor growth (>97%) and increased by 60% the mean life span of the animals compared to the control. The high antitumor efficiency of the AFP-DR conjugate and the possibility to significantly decrease the tumor cell resistance to DR make this conjugate a promising chemotherapeutic agent.

Animals↗

Cytotoxic activity, accumulation, and intracellular distribution of anthracycline antibiotics and their conjugates with the epidermal growth factor in sensitive and resistant MCF-7 cells.

Cytotoxic activities, accumulation levels and dynamics, and intracellular distribution of the anthracycline antibiotics doxorubicin (DR) and carminomycin (CM) in the free forms or within conjugates with the epidermal growth factor (EGF) were for the first time compared in human breast carcinoma cell lines MCF-7Wt and MCF-7AdrR. The cytotoxic activities of DR and CM conjugates with EGF were higher than the cytotoxic activities of the free antibiotics in both cell lines. The accumulation levels of the free anthracyclines in both cell lines were lower than those of the conjugates and significantly depended on the cell sensitivities to the antibiotics. On receptor-mediated endocytosis of the anthracycline-EGF conjugates, the accumulation levels did not significantly depend on the cell sensitivities to the antibiotics. Both DR and CM, either free or conjugated with EGF, were mainly accumulated in nuclei. The free drugs were accumulated more rapidly, and the accumulation rates of both free and EGF-conjugated CM were higher than those of DR preparations. The intracellular distribution of the free antibiotics significantly depended on the cell sensitivities to the anthracyclines, whereas the cell sensitivities had no effect on the distribution of the conjugates between the nucleus and cytoplasm. The rate of intracellular degradation of DR and CM delivered to target cells within conjugates with EGF was twice lower than that of the free antibiotics. The difference in the accumulation levels and dynamics and in the intracellular distribution of the free and conjugated DR and CM is likely to underlie the higher cytotoxic activities of the anthracycline conjugates with EGF compared to the free drugs.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

[Expression of a synthetic gene for human interleukin-4 in E. coli cells. Preparation of a biologically active protein].

Expression E. coli plasmid were constructed in which the human interleukin-4 (hIL4) synthetic gene is controlled by tac promoter. The expression level of the gene depends on the distance between RBS and the initial codon ATG, with the maximal production in case of the nine base pair distance. The recombinant protein, accumulated in the inclusion bodies, was solubilized, renaturated, and purified to homogeneous, biologically active preparation, the yield being 2 mg/g wet cells.

Base Sequence↗

[Secretion of recombinant human epidermal growth factor into the periplasm in Escherichia coli cells].

Secretion vectors were constructed in which a synthetic gene of human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) joined with a gene coding for the leader peptide to one of the E. coli outer membrane major proteins (OmpF) is controlled by tac promoter. The increase of the hEGF yield was achieved by the multiplication of the gene copies. The hEGF in bacterial cells was secreted into periplasm. The recombinant protein was isolated by means of reverse phase chromatography as almost homogenous preparation (greater than 98%), the yield being 7 mg/l bacterial culture. The sequence of twenty-five N-terminal amino acid residues of the isolated hEGF coincided with that of the natural protein. The preparation proved to be biologically active.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

[Recombinant interleukin-3 expression system in E. coli].

Plasmid pTOTE2IL3 (III) has been constructed, expressing an artificial human interleukin-3 (hIL3) gene under conditions of the induced protein biosynthesis. Levels of the recombinant protein synthesis have been compared in several E. coli strains containing expression plasmids pTE2IL3 (I) (constitutive biosynthesis) and (III) (induced biosynthesis). Optimal combinations of the expression plasmids and the bacterial strains are of importance. A simple and effective method has been elaborated for isolation, purification and renaturation of the recombinant protein accumulated in inclusion bodies.

Base Sequence↗

[Chemical-enzymatic synthesis of the amplifier of the T7 phage gene 10 and function of its structural elements].

The translational enhancer (TREN) sequence of the phage T7 gene 10 (in full and also its proximal or distal parts) have been obtained by chemical-enzymatic synthesis and cloned into the plasmids immediately before the human interleukin 3 (hIL3) artificial gene. Expression levels of the hIL3 gene in E. coli in these constructions show that the region controlling the specific activity is placed in distal part of TREN more than 40 nucleotides upstream from the initiation codon.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Isolation of recombinant interleukin-3 produced by E. coli].

A synthetic gene coding for human interleukin-3 (hIL3) was cloned in the plasmid pTE2IL3, the gene expression being controlled by the phage fd PVIII promotor and the phage T7 gene 10 translational enhancer. Under constitutive biosynthesis conditions in E. coli, the accumulation of recombinant hIL3 (in the inclusion bodies) was up to 30-40% of the total cell protein. An effective procedure of the hIL3 isolation is suggested. The hIL3 was solubilized in 5 M guanidinium chloride, renaturated and purified to homogeneity by a single chromatographic step. The protein's yield was 34 mg/g wet cells. The isolated hIL3 showed a specific biological activity.

Chromatography, Gel↗

Dialdehyde ATP derivative as an affinity modifier of the Na+,K(+)-ATPase active site.

Interaction of Na+,K(+)-ATPase from pig kidney in various conformational states with the dialdehyde analogue of ATP, alpha,alpha-(9-adenyl)-alpha'-D-(hydroxymethyl)diglycolaldehyde triphosphate ester (oATP), has been studied. This interaction leads to an enzyme modification which was shown to be of the affinity type according to the following criteria. 1. oATP can be hydrolyzed by Na+,K(+)-ATPase and prevent inhibition of ATPase activity by gamma-[4-(N-2-chloroethyl-N-methylamino)]benzylamide ATP, indicating that it interacts with Na+,K(+)-ATPase in the enzyme active site. 2. oATP irreversibly inhibits ATP-hydrolyzing activity of Na+,K(+)-ATPase; the extent of inactivation is decreased in the presence of 20 mM ATP and depends on the ion composition of the modification medium. The inhibition and ATP protection are maximal in Na+,Mg2(+)-containing buffer. 3. The value of [14C]oATP incorporation into the alpha subunit is proportional to the degree of enzyme inactivation at low (less than 0.1 mM) concentration of oATP and, on extrapolation to complete inhibition, corresponds to incorporation of 1.05 mol reagent/mol alpha subunit. 4. Tryptic hydrolysis of the isolated oATP-modified alpha subunit and subsequent separation of the peptides revealed only one labelled fragment with a molecular mass of about 10 kDa. Localization of the modified fragment in the alpha-subunit polypeptide chain is discussed. A morpholine-like structure was shown to be formed as a result of the modification.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Affinity modification of E1-form of Na+, K+-ATPase revealed Asp-710 in the catalytic site.

An alkylating ATP analogue, gamma-[4-(N-2-chlorethyl-N-methylamino)]benzylamide ATP (C1RATP), covalently binds to the catalytic alpha-subunit of Na+, K+-ATPase yielding a product resistant to hydrolysis by the enzyme and inhibiting the ATP-hydrolysing activity. The Na+-form of the membrane-bound Na+, K+-ATPase modified with C1RATP was hydrolysed by pepsin under conditions providing maximum stability of the modification product (4 degrees C, pH 1.5). The modified peptide was isolated by HPLC and its amino acid sequence was found to involve residues 706-713 of the alpha-subunit polypeptide chain. This fragment located near the gamma-phosphate of ATP is a component of the active site. It is highly homologous with corresponding regions of the catalytic subunits of all the known E1-E2 ATPases. In the Na+-(or E1-)enzyme form Asp-710 is the target of modification. Evidently E1- and E2-enzymes have different targets in C1RATP modification, i.e. the polypeptide chain regions near the ATP gamma-phosphate in the enzyme active site differ somewhat in their conformations.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

[Complex diagnosis of breast cancer].

A comparison of the results of clinical, roentgenological, cytological and thermographic examination of breast cancer patients showed the X-ray procedure to be the most effective in making a reliable diagnosis. However, in advanced cases, and, particularly, with concomitant diffused hyperplasia of glandular or connective tissues of the breast, clinical and cytological examination should be preferred. Thermography should not be employed for early detection of breast cancer, since it gives a high percentage of false-negative and false-positive results. However, the best results assuring reliable diagnosis in 94.9% of cases are produced by a joint application of clinical, X-ray and cytological procedures.

Adult↗