OBJECTIVE: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), a condition often associated with HIV infection, is more common in men than in women; pregnancy and sex hormones could be involved. Urinary human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) has been reported to inhibit the growth of KS cell lines, with great variability among preparations. Urinary hCG often contains free forms of the hCG subunits and a fragment of the free beta-subunit, the beta-core, which may have biological activity. We compared the effect of the beta-core fragment, the beta-subunit, recombinant and urinary hCG on KS immortal and spindle cells. DESIGN AND METHODS: A new immortal KS cell line was phenotypically and karyotypically characterized. The effects on growth of this cell line and of primary KS spindle cells by hCG and its purified derivatives were tested. Induction of apoptosis was demonstrated using acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining. RESULTS: The beta-core fragment harboured the most potent growth inhibitory activity on a molar basis. After 72 h of treatment with the beta-core, 60-70% of KS cells show apoptotic nuclei. No effects were observed on endothelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: The beta-core fragment of hCG proved to be the most effective part of the hCG molecule, inducing growth inhibition and apoptosis of KS cells. Thus, the beta-core could be the most appropriate hCG derivative for the therapy of KS.
OBJECTIVE:Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), a condition often associated with HIV infection, is more common in men than in women; pregnancy and sex hormones could be involved. Urinary humanchorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) has been reported to inhibit the growth of KS cell lines, with great variability among preparations. Urinary hCG often contains free forms of the hCG subunits and a fragment of the free beta-subunit, the beta-core, which may have biological activity. We compared the effect of the beta-core fragment, the beta-subunit, recombinant and urinary hCG on KS immortal and spindle cells. DESIGN AND METHODS: A new immortal KS cell line was phenotypically and karyotypically characterized. The effects on growth of this cell line and of primary KS spindle cells by hCG and its purified derivatives were tested. Induction of apoptosis was demonstrated using acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining. RESULTS: The beta-core fragment harboured the most potent growth inhibitory activity on a molar basis. After 72 h of treatment with the beta-core, 60-70% of KS cells show apoptotic nuclei. No effects were observed on endothelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: The beta-core fragment of hCG proved to be the most effective part of the hCG molecule, inducing growth inhibition and apoptosis of KS cells. Thus, the beta-core could be the most appropriate hCG derivative for the therapy of KS.
Authors: Alexander S Hahn; Johanna K Kaufmann; Effi Wies; Elisabeth Naschberger; Julia Panteleev-Ivlev; Katharina Schmidt; Angela Holzer; Martin Schmidt; Jin Chen; Simone König; Armin Ensser; Jinjong Myoung; Norbert H Brockmeyer; Michael Stürzl; Bernhard Fleckenstein; Frank Neipel Journal: Nat Med Date: 2012-06 Impact factor: 53.440
Authors: L Biancone; V Cantaluppi; M Boccellino; B Bussolati; L Del Sorbo; P G Conaldi; A Albini; A Toniolo; G Camussi Journal: Am J Pathol Date: 1999-11 Impact factor: 4.307
Authors: Stefano Indraccolo; Laura Stievano; Sonia Minuzzo; Valeria Tosello; Giovanni Esposito; Erich Piovan; Rita Zamarchi; Luigi Chieco-Bianchi; Alberto Amadori Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2006-03-06 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: A Bagnato; L Rosanò; V Di Castro; A Albini; D Salani; M Varmi; M R Nicotra; P G Natali Journal: Am J Pathol Date: 2001-03 Impact factor: 4.307
Authors: Debasmita Roy; Sang-Hoon Sin; Amy Lucas; Raman Venkataramanan; Ling Wang; Anthony Eason; Veenadhari Chavakula; Isaac B Hilton; Kristen M Tamburro; Blossom Damania; Dirk P Dittmer Journal: Cancer Res Date: 2013-02-04 Impact factor: 12.701