New Lectins from Mediterranean Flora. Activity against HT29 Colon Cancer Cells.

Isabel Oliveira,António Nunes,Cecília Rodrigues,Pedro Borralho,Ana Lima,Ana Ribeiro,Ricardo Ferreira

doi:10.3390/ijms20123059

Isabel Oliveira, António Nunes + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20123059

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Abstract

Experiments conducted in vitro and in vivo, as well as some preclinical trials for cancer therapeutics, support the antineoplastic properties of lectins. A screening of antitumoral activity on HT29 colon cancer cells, based on polypeptide characterization and specific lectin binding to HT29 cells membrane receptors, was performed in order to assess the bioactivities present in four Mediterranean plant species: Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. oxycedrus, Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. badia, Arbutus unedo and Corema album. Total leaf proteins from each species were evaluated with respect to cell viability and inhibitory activities on HT29 cells (cell migration, matrix metalloproteinase –MMP proteolytic activities). A discussion is presented on a possible mechanism justifying the specific binding of lectins to HT29 cell receptors. All species revealed the presence of proteins with affinity to HT29 cell glycosylated receptors, possibly explaining the differential antitumor activity exhibited by the two most promising species, Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. badia and Arbutus unedo.

Highlights

Lectins are proteins which are capable of binding to glycans, excluding proteins with catalytic activities, of immunological origin and those involved in transport across membranes
The Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. oxycedrus protein extract induced a large increase in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity after 48 h, which was reduced after 72 h, decreasing the MTS metabolism by about 20 to 25% in relation to the control
Results presented here provide evidence that the protein extracts of all species under study present a lectin-like inhibitory action on cancer cell invasion, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 activity in HT29 cancer cells, as well as the capacity to induce cell death and decrease cell viability, which can be potentially used as an anticancer-agent

Summary

Introduction

Lectins are proteins which are capable of binding to glycans, excluding proteins with catalytic activities, of immunological origin and those involved in transport across membranes. This characteristic makes them unique molecules in cell recognition, especially of anomalous cells carrying on their surface characteristic receptors [1]. Lectins have been described as being capable of inducing cell death in various types of cancer, using several processes such as apoptosis and autophagy. Several lectins have been found to possess anticancer properties in vitro, in vivo, and in human case studies. Lectins inhibit the growth of tumor cells by imposing cytotoxic effects (immunomodulatory and anti-metastatic) and mediating apoptosis [3]

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