EFFECTS OF B. Subtilis IMV В-7724 LECTIN ON MALIGNANT AND NORMAL CELLS in vitro

Cancer cells upregulate surface expression of N-glycolyl-neuraminic acid (Neu5Gc). At Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and Radiobiology (IEPOR) of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine, B. subtilis IMV В-7724 lectin specific for Neu5Gc was obtained. Aim. The scope of the research was to study in vitro B. subtilis IMV В-7724 lectin activity towards malignant and normal cells. Materials and methods. Cytotoxic and mitogenic activities was studied by, respectively, MTT-assay and in vitro lymphocytes proliferation assay. Results. The lectin possesses cytotoxic activity towards human (А549, HL60) and murine (Ehrlich carcinoma, L1210) cancer cell lines. The most sensitive were L1210 and Ehrlich carcinoma cell lines. IC50 was 0.16 mg/ml in both cases. The lectin was less cytotoxic to murine peritoneal macrophages, lymphocytes and thymocytes: IC50 was 0.47, 2.02 and 3.49 mg/ml respectively. In a dose of 25 µg/ml the lectin induced lymphocytes proliferation. Conclusion. Depending on the target cells type and applied dose, B. subtilis IMV B-7724 lectin shows cytotoxic or mitogenic activities. Both of lectin's activities can be applied in cancer treatment and thus deserve further investigation