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Modulation of telomerase and signal transduction proteins by Hexyl-ALA-Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) in human doxorubicin resistant cancer cell models

  • Ellie S.M. Chu
    • ,
  • Christine M.N. Yow, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author at: Medical Laboratory Science Section, Department of Health Technology & Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 9/F, Block Y, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Tel.: +852 3400 8575; fax: +852 2362 4365.

Medical Laboratory Science Section, Department of Health Technology & Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

published online 30 January 2012.
Corrected Proof

Summary 

Aims

This study employed a doxorubicin resistant (MES-SA-Dx5) human uterine sarcoma cell line and its counterpart (MES-SA), to elucidate the efficacy of aminolevulinic acid-hexylester (hexyl-ALA) mediated PDT at molecular and transcriptional levels.

Methods

Hexyl-ALA generated protoporphyrin IX in both cells were determined by molecular probes using Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy. The hexyl-ALA-PDT induced signal transduction proteins and mode of cell death were quantitated by CASE™ ELISA assays and DAPI staining. The modulation of hTERT mRNA expression and telomerase activity were investigated by TaqMan real-time PCR and ELISA respectively. Hexyl-ALA-PDT mediated cell migratory effect was determined by wound-healing assay.

Results

The results demonstrated that mitochondria were the major target of hexyl-ALA. At LD30, hexyl-ALA-PDT significantly provoked an up-regulation of phosphorylated p38MAPK and JNK proteins in both cells. Hexyl-ALA-PDT down-regulated hTERT (a catalytic subunit of telomerase) mRNA expression and showed a strong correlation with diminished telomerase activity in both cells (MES-SA: r2=0.9932; MES-SA-Dx5: r2=0.9775). The suppression of cell migratory effect in both cells was obtained after hexyl-ALA-PDT. Further, 50% and 30% of apoptotic cells were attained at LD50, for wild-type and drug resistant cells respectively. Unlike the wild-type, a higher PDT dose was crucial to induce apoptosis in the drug resistant cells.

Conclusions

Our study provides the first evidence that p38MAPK and JNK kinases played a vital role in triggering hexyl-ALA-PDT-induced apoptosis, down-regulated hTERT mRNA expression and telomerase activity in both proposed cells. In vivo studies are worth examining for the benefit of clinical applications in drug resistant cancers and PDT development.

Keywords: Photodynamic therapy, Hexyl-ALA, Drug resistance, MAPK, Telomerase, Uterine sarcoma

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PII: S1572-1000(11)00458-3

doi:10.1016/j.pdpdt.2011.12.005

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