6th International AIDS Conference


San Francisco, California, USA — June 20-23, 1990

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Effects of trichosanthin (compound Q) and alpha-momorcharin on cultured tumor cell lines.

Int Conf AIDS 1990 Jun 20-23; 6:332 (abstract no. 1073)
Tsao SW, NG TB, Yeung HW; Department of Anatomy; The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong

OBJECTIVE: To test trichosanthin and alpha-momorcharin for cytotoxic activity in choriocarcinoma, melanoma and hepatoma cells in vitro.

METHODS: The human choriocarcinoma cell line (JAr) mouse melanoma cell line (B16) and rat hepatoma cell line (H35) monolayers in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medicine. Cells in their exponential growth phase were used for drug treatment. Cytotoxicity was quantitated by protein content of the adherent cells and by measuring the tritiated leucine and thymidine incorporation in treated versus untreated cultures.

RESULTS: The dose response inhibition curves of the three cell lines resulting from treatment with trichosanthin and alpha-momorcharin were obtained. The inhibitory activities of trichosanthin and alpha-momorcharin were similar. The inhibitory mechanisms of the two proteins were further investigated using tritiated leucine and thymidine incorporation. Preferential inhibition of incorporation of leucine was observed with both trichosanthin and alpha-momorcharin suggesting they may have selective inhibitory actions on protein synthesis.

CONCLUSION: Trichosanthin and alpha-momorcharin treatment caused a selectively, dose-dependent injury in cultured choriocarcinoma and melanoma cells, whereas hepatoma cells are more resistant under similar treatment conditions.

Keywords: AEGIS, Trichosanthin, Plant Proteins, Ribosomes, Tumor Cells, Cultured, Cell Line, Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular, Choriocarcinoma, Liver Neoplasms, Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic, Melanoma, Protein Synthesis Inhibitors, Leucine, Thymidine, momorcharin, Pregnancy, Female, Human, In Vitro, Animal, Mice, Rats, ICA6

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1073

Copyright © 1990 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.