Effects of oligosaccharide derivatives on the metabolism of tumor cells

Ziel/Aim:

This study investigates the effect of oligosaccharide derivatives on proliferation, metabolic activity and apoptosis of cultivated tumor cells. The effect of a complex oligosaccharide derivative of marine origin with anti-tumor activity has been compared with a defined trimeric oligosaccharide based on chitosan.

Methodik/Methods:

The human bladder carcinoma cell line EJ-28 was used as tumor model and compared to the human fibroblast cell line NHDF 6369. For quantification of the glucose metabolism [F-18]FDG-uptake was measured. The starting activity was 60 MBq in 10 ml culture medium. The cells were incubated for one hour. The incorporated activity was measured with a gamma counter. Further we studied the programmed cell death with flow cytometry. Early phase of apoptosis was detected by annexin staining and late phase by propidium iodide staining. The protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine was used as control substance in all experiments.

Ergebnisse/Results:

EJ-28 cells treated for 24 hours with oligosaccharide derivatives and chitosan trimers showed a decreased [F-18]FDG-uptake of about 50% in comparison to the untreated reference. On the other hand NHDF 6369 incubated by these agents showed an increased [F-18]FDG-uptake up to 150%. The protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine decreased the [F-18]FDG-uptake to 10% in both cell lines. Furthermore incubation for 24 hours increased the rate of apoptosis. Oligosaccharide derivatives and chitosan trimer were able to raise the rate of apoptosis in EJ-28 from 7% (6 h incubation) to 60% (24 h incubation). In NHDF 6369 cells the substances induced an increase of apoptosis rates from 15% (6 h) to 40% (24 h). Staurosporine increased the apoptosis rates from 20% (6h) to 65% in EJ-28 and 35% in NHDF 6369 (24h) in both cell lines, respectively.

Schlussfolgerungen/Conclusions:

Our data showed a reduced metabolic activity and increased apoptosis rates of cultivated tumor cells treated with oligosaccharide derivatives and chitosan derived trimers. The effects of chitosan trimers were comparable to the effects of the oligosaccharide derivatives of the marine nature material.