Original Article
Copyright ©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 21, 2013; 19(39): 6559-6567
Published online Oct 21, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i39.6559
Effects of integrin-targeted photodynamic therapy on pancreatic carcinoma cell
Min Zhou, Qian-Wen Ni, Shan-Ying Yang, Chun-Ying Qu, Peng-Cheng Zhao, Jian-Cheng Zhang, Lei-Ming Xu
Min Zhou, Qian-Wen Ni, Shan-Ying Yang, Chun-Ying Qu, Lei-Ming Xu, Digestive Endoscopic Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200092, China
Min Zhou, Qian-Wen Ni, Shan-Ying Yang, Chun-Ying Qu, Lei-Ming Xu, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai 200092, China
Peng-Cheng Zhao, Jian-Cheng Zhang, School of Materials Science and Engneering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200072, China
Author contributions: Zhou M, Ni QW and Xu LM performed the majority of experiments; Xu LM designed the experiments; Yang SY, Zhao PC and Zhang JC provide vital reagents and analytical tools; Zhou M and Qu CY analyzed data; and Zhou M, Ni QW and Xu LM wrote the paper.
Supported by Grants from Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau principal project No. 210009 to Xu LM; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, No. 11DZ2260500
Correspondence to: Dr. Lei-Ming Xu, Chief Physician, Digestive Endoscopic Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200092, China. leiming.xu@aliyun.com
Telephone: +86-21-25077120 Fax: +86-21-25077120
Received: July 9, 2013
Revised: August 4, 2013
Accepted: August 20, 2013
Published online: October 21, 2013
Processing time: 121 Days and 15.7 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effects of photodynamic therapy with quantum dots-arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) probe as photosensitizer on the proliferation and apoptosis of pancreatic carcinoma cells.

METHODS: Construction of quantum dots-RGD probe as photosensitizer for integrin-targeted photodynamic therapy was accomplished. After cells were treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT), the proliferation of SW1990 cells were measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. Morphologic changes, cell cycle retardance and apoptosis were observed under fluoroscope and flow cytometry. The expression of myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1), protein kinase B (Akt) and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) mRNA were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The amount of reactive oxygen species were also evaluated by fluorescence probe.

RESULTS: The photodynamic therapy with quantum dots-RGD probe as photosensitizer significantly inhibited cell proliferation (P < 0.01). Apoptotic cells and morphologic changes could be found under optical microscope. The FCM revealed PDT group had more significant cell apoptosis rate compared to control cells (F = 130.617, P < 0.01) and cell cycle G0/G1 and S retardance (P < 0.05) compared to control cells. The expression of Mcl-1 and Akt mRNA were down-regulated, while expression of TRAIL mRNA was up-regulated after cells treated with PDT. PDT group had more significant number of cells producing reactive oxygen species compared to control cells (F = 3262.559, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: The photodynamic therapy with quantum dots-RGD probe as photosensitizer significantly inhibits cell proliferation and increases apoptosis in SW1990 cells.

Keywords: Pancreatic carcinoma; Targeted probe; Photodynamic therapy; Apoptosis; Reactive oxygen species

Core tip: Arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD), sequence of small peptide, is an integrin antagonist. Quantum dots are characterized by conjugation with antibodies, peptides, or small molecules. Therefore, the construction of RGD-coupled quantum dots fluorescence probe allows for successful combination to integrin. Photodynamic therapy with a quantum dots-RGD probe, as a photosensitizer, significantly inhibits cell proliferation and increases apoptosis in SW1990 cells.