ISSN: 1837-9664Journal of Cancer
Global reach, higher impact
J Cancer 2019; 10(1):92-104. doi:10.7150/jca.27462 This issue Cite
Research Paper
Molecular Mechanism of Anti-Cancer Activity of the Nano-Drug C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs in Cervical Cancer
Liangqian Jiang1*, Yujuan Wang1*, Feng Zhu1, Guoxiang Liu1, Huihui Liu1, Huanhuan Ji1, Shuhua Zheng2, Bing Li1 
1. Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic medical school, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China, 266071.
2. The Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
* Liangqian Jiang and Yujuan Wang contributed equally to this article.
Abstract
The novel tumor targeted nano-drug C-PC/CMC-CD59sp nanoparticles were constructed with carbocymethyl chitosan (CMC), C-phycocyanin (C-PC) and CD59 specific ligand peptide (CD59sp). The anti-tumor drug mechanism of the C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs was further explored in cervical cancer cells (HeLa and SiHa) in vitro and in vivo. We found that the C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs could inhibit the proliferation and induce G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in cervical cancer HeLa and SiHa cells, and the cell proliferation was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. We further found that the C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs regulated the cell cycle via up-regulating the expression of p21, and then down-regulating the expressions of Cyclin D1 and CDK4 in vivo. Compared with C-PC and C-PC/CMC NPs, the pro-apoptosis effects of the C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs were more significant for HeLa and SiHa cells in vitro. Moreover, the C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs up-regulated the expression of cleaved caspase-3 and down-regulated the expression of bcl-2. In addition, compared with C-PC and C-PC/CMC, the C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs significantly inhibited MMP-2 protein expression in vivo. Our data suggested that the anti-tumor effects of C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs were better than C-PC and C-PC/CMC NPs. Our laboratory constructed a new drug delivery system and proved the effective antitumor effects of C-PC/CMC-CD59sp, which would widen the application of C-PC as a potential anti cervical cancer drug.
Keywords: C-PC/CMC-CD59sp, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, Bcl-2/Cleaved caspase-3, cervical cancer
Introduction
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among females in less developed regions and countries, and it is the third major cause of cancer death among females in less developed countries [1]. In 2012, it was estimated that there were about 527,600 new cases of cervical cancer and 265,700 deaths of cervical cancer worldwide [1]. In the United States, cervical cancer is the second major cause of cancer death among females aged from 20 to 39, and just lower than breast cancer in 2014 [2]. The underdeveloped regions of the world, such as Latin America and the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa and Melanesia, have a higher incidence of cervical cancer [1]. It is serious that nearly 90% deaths of cervical cancer occur in the less developed regions of the world [1]. Especially in Eastern, Middle, and Southern Africa, cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among females [1].
Along with the improvement of living standards, people gradually pay more attentions to health problems. Spirulina platensis, known as "the 21st century's health products", has increasingly draw attention of more and more people [3]. With the rise of pharmacological research of natural products, marine extracts have increasingly become an important source of novel anti-tumor medicine. Many studies have confirmed that marine natural products have high-effective anti-cancer pharmacological effect, and have low-toxic or no toxic side effects [4]. C-phycocyanin (C-PC), a marine natural extract from Spirulina platensis, has been reported to have the pharmacological effects, such as anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation and immune enhancing effects [5]. C-phycocyanin is easy to extract and purify, non-toxic and safe, and its pharmacological effects are extensive; therefore, it has a great research and development potential as a functional food or medicine. Whether it can be used as functional food or medicine, C-phycocyanin has important development and utilization in recent years [4]. Although more researches have been focused on the various pharmacological effects and mechanisms of C-phycocyanin, but the reports associated with the application of C-phycocyanin is not extensive and in-depth enough, and its poor stability put some limitations to the application in medicine. Therefore, the design of a safe, stable and effective C-phycocyanin delivery system is a top priority to solve the current problems.
The novel nano-drug opened up a new hot spot for medicine research, and nano-drug may be a new strategy for cancer treatment. Nano-drugs have the potential to overcome the shortcomings of conventional drugs in vivo [6]. The combination of C-phycocyanin and nanotechnology makes it possible to transfer the easily degradable protein. Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC), formed by carboxylation modification of chitosan, has the characteristics of good water solubility, biodegradability, biocompatibility and non-toxic [7]. Thus CMC can serve as a nanomaterial to construct nano-drug. The combination of natural medicine or chemotherapy drugs and CMC has the advantages of high-efficacy, slow-release and low side effects [8]. We constructed the C-PC/CMC nanoparticles using the ionic crosslinking method, in which carboxymethyl chitosan acted as a carrier to package C-phycocyanin. The C-PC/CMC nanoparticles not only improved the C-phycocyanin stability, but also accomplished the slow release of C-phycocyanin, which would widen the application for the C-PC as an anti-cancer drug.
Tumor targeted drug delivery system has attracted more and more attention in the cancer treatment [9]. Tumor-targeted nano-drugs could specifically deliver nano-drugs to tumors and achieve the purpose of targeted administration. Thus, tumor-targeted nano-drugs could selective kill cancer cells. At present, tumor targeting nano-drugs have become a hot topic for cancer treatment. Some molecules which are specifically expressed and overexpressed in cancer cells, such as CD40, EGFR, HER2, CD44, ALDH, etc. [10-14], are considered to be a useful cancer molecular marker, which served as targeted molecules to construct tumor-targeted nano-drugs. Many reports have indicated that CD59 was highly expressed in many solid tumors, such as colon cancer [15], lung cancer [16], pancreatic cancer [17], and ovarian cancer [18], while CD59 was lowly expressed in normal cells [16]. CD59 is a kind of membrane complement regulatory protein, and play a role in suppressing the formation of complement attack complex (MAC), then further promote the immune escape of tumor cells [19]. Bing Li screened out CD59 specific ligand peptide (CD59sp) by phage peptide library, which could selectivity combine CD59 molecules [20]. Thus we constructed the C-PC/CMC-CD59sp nanoparticles in which CD59 acted as a targeted molecule.
A novel hepatocyte-targeted delivery system (CCS-NPs-GL) with glycyrrhizin (GL) surface modification based on N-caproyl chitosan (CCS) has been developed. The uptake of CCS-NPs-GL by rat hepatocytes was 2.1 times higher than that of non-GL-modified CCS-NPs in vivo. Furthermore, the content of adriamycin-loaded CCS-NPs-GL in the liver was 1.6 times higher than that of nonGL-modified CCS-NPs, which suggested that CCS-NPs-GL was a stable and effective drug delivery vehicle for hepatocyte targeting [21]. In addition, the use of collagen peptide (CP) for the preparation of chitosan (CN) NPs is especially interesting, because CP has the function of stabilizing NPs under physiological conditions. Mono-dispersed pH responsive CP-CN-NPs of about 100 nm were prepared via ionic gelation method by simple and mild co-precipitation of CP and CN. The CP-CN-NPs showed high encapsulation efficiency towards doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) as well as pH controlled release. Such NPs based on chitosan have high potential for use as smart drug delivery carriers in advanced cancer therapy [22].
Our laboratory took advantage of the technology of nanomedicine, and C-PC, CMC and CD59sp has successfully constructed the C-PC/CMC and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp nanoparticles. CMC as a carrier, C-PC as an anti-tumor drug, CD59sp as a targeted molecule, the targeted C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs were constructed and targetedly delivered. Our pre-experiments had proved that the anti-tumor effect of C-PC/CMC-CD59sp nanoparticles was better than C-PC and C-PC/CMC nanoparticles. This study further proved the effects of C-PC/CMC-CD59sp nanoparticles on cervical cancer in vitro and in vivo.
Materials and Methods
Materials
HeLa, SiHa, MDA-MB-231 and L929 cells were provided by the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University. C-phycocyanin was purchased from Taizhou Binmei Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Taozhou, China. Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) was purchased from Qingdao Honghai Bio-Tech Co. Ltd., Qingdao, China. CD59-specific ligand peptide was synthesized by Chinese Peptide Company, Hangzhou, China. CCK8 was purchased from Beijing Solarbio Science & Technology, Beijing, China. Immunofluorescence staining kit was purchased from Boster Biological Engineering Co., Ltd. Rabbit antihuman cyclinD1, Bcl-2, caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 monoclonal antibodies were purchased from Abcam Company. All other chemicals reached analytical grade.
Synthesis of C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs
The C-PC/CMC NPs were synthesized by the ionic cross-linking method and CaCl2 acted as crosslinking agent. Firstly, CaCl2 was added dropwise into the mixed solution of CMC and C-PC until the solution became turbid, in which the ratio of CMC to C-PC (w/w) was 3:1, the concentration of CMC was 2mg/mL, and the concentration of CaCl2 was 1mg/mL. Then, the mixed solution of CMC, C-PC and CaCl2 was constantly stirred at 4℃, in the dark, for 30 min. The synthesized C-PC/CMC NPs were separated by centrifugation at 12000×g for 20 min at 4℃. And the C-PC/CMC NPs were harvested by freeze-drying method at -60℃ [23].
The C-PC/CMC NPs were coupled with CD59sp by amine coupling, using EDC-activated carboxyl group conjugation. Firstly, 2mg EDC was added dropwise into1mg/mL C-PC/CMC NPs solution. The pH of the mixed solution was adjusted to 5.6, and then the mixed solution was constantly stirred at room temperature, in the dark for 1h. Then, 1mg/mL CD59sp was added dropwise into the mixed solution of C-PC/CMC NPs. CD59sp and EDC was stirred overnight at 4℃ in the dark. The C-PC/CMC-CD59spNPs were subsequently separated by centrifugation at 12000×g for 20 min at 4℃. And the C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs were harvested by freeze-drying method at -60℃[23].
The experimental groups
The experiment was divided into four groups: (1) control group, not treated with any drug; (2) C-PC treated group; (3) C-PC/CMCNPs treated group; and (4) C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs treated group. Experimental drug concentration was 1/2 of the IC50 value, and the ratio of drugs to cultures (v/v) was 1:1.
CCK8 assay
The effects of C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs on HeLa, SiHa, MDA-MB-231 and L929 cells were monitored using CCK8 assays. HeLa, SiHa, MDA-MB-231 and L929 cells (1×104 cells per well) were plated into 96-well cell culture plates overnight. Then the medium was replaced with fresh medium with various concentrations of drugs (10, 50, 100, 200 µg/ml) for 24h. After treatment, the absorbance was detected at 490 nm by using the CCK8 following the manufacturer's instructions for 2h. The absorbance was positively correlated with cell viability. The IC50 values of drugs were calculated.
Analysis of cell cycle by flow cytometry
The HeLa and SiHa cells treated with C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs were collected using 0.25% Trypsin, centrifuged at 800rpm, and washed twice with cold PBS. The cells were resuspended in precooling 70% ethanol at 4℃for 4h. The fixed cells were incubated with propidium iodide solution (20μg/mL PI, 0.1% Triton X-100 staining solution, 0.1 mg/mL RNase A) for 30min. The cell cycle distribution was detected by the BD Biosciences FACSCanto II Analyzer. The number of cells per sample was at least 2×104. All experiments were repeated three or more times.
Analysis of cell apoptosis by flow cytometry
The HeLa and SiHa cells treated with C-PC, C-PC/CMCNPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59spNPs were collected and resuspended with 1×binding buffer at a density of 1×106 cells/mL. Equal volumes of Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide (PI) were added and then incubated for 30 min at room temperature in the dark. The cell apoptosis was determined by the BD Biosciences FACS Canto II Analyzer.
Analysis of Cellular uptake by flow cytometry
The HeLa and SiHa cells treated with C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs were collected, washed with cold PBS, fixed with 4% formaldehyde and washed with cold PBS again, finally resuspended to a density of 1×106 cells/mL. The cellular uptake was determined by the BD Biosciences FACS Canto II Analyzer.
In vivo study: rat model bearing tumor
The study was approved by institutional animal care committee of Qingdao University. The study was carried out in accordance with approved guidelines. A total of 20 adult BALB/c nude mice (females, 19-23g) were used for the experiment. SiHa cells (5×106 cells mixed with Basement Membrane Matrix) were subcutaneously injection into the axillary fossa of the nude mice. Tumor growth was measured daily with calipers. Tumor volume was calculated as (L×W2)/2, where L is the length in millimeters, and W is the width in millimeters. When the tumors reached a mean volume of 80 to 110mm3, the mice were randomly divided into four groups: control group, the C-PC/CMC NPs treated group and the C-PC/CMC-CD59spNPs treated group. These drugs are injected into the tumor area and tumor size was measured once every other day in a twenty-day experiment. At the end of treatment, all mice were executed and tumors were picked out and weighed. Animals were housed under standard conditions with ad libitum food and water with a 12:12 light: dark cycle at the Qingdao University facilities.
Immunofluorescence analysis
The slices were conventionally dewaxed, immersed in 0.01M citrate solution, then heated to boiling status in a microwave oven, and then permeabilized with 0.5% Triton X-100 for 15min. After washing with PBS for three times, the slide was blocked with 10% goat serum for 1h. Incubation with primary antibodies (1:200) was done overnight at 4 °C. After washing, cells were exposed to the goat anti-rabbit secondary immunoglobulin for 1 h at room temperature. After being washed with PBS for three times, the cells were stained with SABC-Cy3 at a 1:100 dilution for 30min in dark. After washing, the nuclei were stained with DAPI for 7min before imaging. The slides were observed under a fluorescence microscope.
Western blot
The concentrations of protein in the samples were quantified using a BCA protein assay kit (Beyotime Biotechnology, Shanghai, China). First, 40μg protein was mixed with SDS loading buffer (6×) and then boiled for 10min. Then the obtained protein samples were separated by 10% SDS-PAGE, transferred to PVDF membrane (Millipore), and blocked with 5% defatted dry milk in TBS-Tween 20 (0.1%, v/v) for 1 hour at room temperature and then incubated with specific primary antibodies at 4°C for more than 16 h. After washing five times with Tris-buffered saline containing 1% (v/v) Tween-20 (TBST), the membrane was incubated with the appropriate horseradish peroxidase secondary antibody for 1 hour. Following several washes, the blots were detected by an enhanced chemiluminescence (Millipore).
Terminal dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay
For the detection of DNA integrity, HeLa and SiHa cells were stained with TUNEL detection kit. The collected cells were washed with PBS, and then fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde / PBS solution (pH7.4) at room temperature for 15 min. After fixation, the collected cells were immersed into 0.3% Triton X-100 PBS solution at room temperature for 15 min. The collected cells were incubated with 50μl labeling reaction mixture (5μl TdT Enzyme and 45μl TUNEL fluorescent labeling buffer) in a 37℃ humidified chamber for 60 min, and then washed twice with PBS. After labeling, HeLa and SiHa cells were counterstained with DAPI and visualized under a fluorescence microscopy.
Statistics analysis
The experiments were performed three or four times independently. Results were represented as mean ±standard deviation (SD). Statistical analyses were carried out by the Student's t test or the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using a statistical software package (SPSS, USA). P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Statistical significance was also taken as*P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01.
Results
Nanoparticles further inhibited the proliferation of cervical cancer cells
The cytotoxic effects of C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs on cervical cancer HeLa and SiHa cells, breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and mouse fibroblast cell line L929 were firstly evaluated by the CCK8 cell viability assay. The cell viabilities were reduced in a dose-dependent manner in HeLa, SiHa, MDA-MB-231 and L929 cell lines after the treatment of C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs for 24h. As shown in Figure 1A, the IC50 values of C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs, and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs for HeLa cells were 1104.0, 116.5, 50.64μg/ml, respectively. Similarly, as shown in Figure 1B, the IC50 values of C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs, C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs for SiHa cells were 375.8, 79.67, 20.37μg/ml. And as shown in Figure 1C, the IC50 values of C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs, and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs for MDA-MB-231 cells were 294.0, 115.8, 47.29μg/ml, respectively. Similarly, as shown in Figure 1D, the IC50 values of C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs, C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs for L929 cells were 596.0, 458.2, 259.60μg/ml. The inhibition effect of C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs was significantly higher than the C-PC and C-PC/CMC NPs. Compared with HeLa, MDA-MB-231 and L929 cells, the nanoparticles showed higher toxic to SiHa cells, especially C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs. In view of the above results, our data suggested that the anti-proliferation effects of C-PC packaged in nanoparticles were well reserved and further enhanced in targeted nanoparticles.
Nanoparticles further induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest of cervical cancer cells
Since C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs inhibited cervical cancer HeLa and SiHa cells proliferation, we further explored the effects of nanoparticles on cell cycle progress. The synchronized cells were treated with C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs for 24h, and then followed by flow cytometry analysis to examine the cell DNA contents. As shown in Figure 2A, the G1 peaks of HeLa cells increased from 41.81% (control), 48.98% (C-PC), 54.04% (C-PC/CMC NPs) to 63.29% (C-PC/ CMC-CD59spNPs) after the treatment, respectively. In addition, the accumulation of cells in the G1 phase was accompanied by a decrease in the population of HeLa cells in the S and G2phase. As shown in Figure 2B, the G1 peaks of SiHa cells increased from 42.63%, 48.26%, 55.69% to 65.59% after treated with PBS, C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs, respectively. Similarly, the accumulation of SiHa cells in the G1 phase was accompanied by a decrease in the population of cells in the S and G2 phase. Therefore, these results indicated that the C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs significantly induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest of cervical cancer HeLa and SiHa cells compared with C-PC and C-PC/CMC NPs. Moreover, compared with HeLa cells, the effects of G0/G1 cell cycle arrest induced by nanoparticles, especially C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs, were more significant for SiHa cells.
Growth inhibition effect of nanoparticles in HeLa, SiHa, MDA-MB-231 and L929 cells. (A) Cell viability of HeLa cells is detected by CCK8 assay after treatment with C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs for 24h. (B) Cell viability of SiHa cells is detected by CCK8 assay. (C) Cell viability of MDA-MB-231 cells is detected by CCK8 assay. (D) Cell viability of L929 cells is detected by CCK8 assay. Six samples were analyzed in each group, and the results are presented as the mean ± SD. (E) IC50 values of C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs in HeLa, SiHa, MDA-MB-231 and L929 cells after treatment for 24h.
Effects of nanoparticles on cell cycle distribution in HeLa and SiHa cells. (A) C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in HeLa cells. Quantitative representation of cell cycle distribution after treatment for 24h. (B) C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in SiHa cells. Quantitative representation of cell cycle distribution after treatment for 24h.
Nanoparticles further induced cellular apoptosis of cervical cancer cells
To evaluate whether C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs could induce apoptosis in cervical cancer, HeLa and SiHa cells were stained with Annexin V-FITC/PI, and then detected by flow cytometry. As shown in Figure 3A, the percentage of early apoptotic cells increased gradually from 6.3% (control) to 6.4% (C-PC), 12.9% (C-PC/CMC NPs) and 15.5% (C-PC/CMC-CD59spNPs) in HeLa cells after the treatment of nanoparticles for 24 hours. Consistent with this result, the percentage of early apoptotic cells increased gradually from 10.0% (control) to 10.4% (C-PC), 14.5% (C-PC/CMC NPs) and 18.1% (C-PC/CMC-CD59spNPs) in SiHa cells after the treatment of nanoparticles for 24 hours (Figure 3B). So the nanoparticles could induce early apoptosis (Annexin V+/PI-) in HeLa and SiHa cells.
In order to further study the pro-apoptotic effect of C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs on cervical cancer HeLa and SiHa cells, TUNEL assay was carried out. The TUNEL assay showed that the TUNEL-positive cells were significant increased when HeLa and SiHa cells were treated with C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs (Figure 3C and 3D). Compared with C-PC and C-PC/ CMC NPs, the pro-apoptosis effect of C-PC/CMC- CD59sp NPs was more significant for cervical cancer HeLa and SiHa cells. In view of the above results, our data suggested that the pro-apoptosis effects of C-PC packaged in nanoparticles were more significant, and further enhanced in targeted nanoparticles C-PC/ CMC-CD59sp NPs.
C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs specifically combined with cervical cancer HeLa and SiHa cells
The targeted nanoparticles C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs were constructed with C-PC, CMC and CD59sp, and under the guidance of CD59sp, C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs could specifically combine with CD59 on HeLa and SiHa cells surface. Afterwards, C-PC/ CMC-CD59sp NPs accumulated on the HeLa and SiHa cells surface, and then were engulfed into cells and exerted anti-cancer functions. The intakes of nanoparticles into HeLa and SiHa cells were observed after treated with C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs. C-PC emits red fluorescence itself, and with the increase of C-PC concentration, red fluorescence intensity was also increased. As shown in Figure 4A, the fluorescence intensity of HeLa cells treated with C-PC/CMC- CD59sp NPs was significantly more than control group, C-PC treated group and C-PC/CMC NPs treat group. Similarly, we also found that the fluorescence intensity of SiHa cells treated with C-PC/CMC- CD59sp NPs was significantly more than control group, C-PC treated group and C-PC/CMC NPs treat group (Figure 4B). Thus, those results suggested the CD59sp could promote C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs specifically to combine with CD59 on HeLa and SiHa cells.
Effect of nanoparticles on cell apoptosis in HeLa and SiHa cells. (A)Analysis of HeLa cells apoptosis by flow cytometry using Annexin V-FITC and PI after treatment with C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs for 24h. (B)Analysis of SiHa cells apoptosis by flow cytometry using Annexin V-FITC and PI. Quantitative representation of early apoptotic cells after treatment for 24h. (C) Analysis of HeLa cells apoptosis by TUNEL assay after treatment with C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs for 24h. (D) Analysis of HeLa cells apoptosis by TUNEL assay. Green fluorescence represents TUNEL-positive cells after treatment.
Targeting effect of nanoparticles in HeLa and SiHa cells. (A) The intakes of nanoparticles were detected by flow cytometry in HeLa cells after treated with C-PC, C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs. (B) The intakes of nanoparticles were detected by flow cytometry in SiHa cells.
Nanoparticles suppressed cervical cancer tumor growth in vivo. (A) Tumor volumes of xenograft tumors from mice treated with C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs. (B) Tumor weights of xenograft tumors from mice treated with C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs. Data were presented as the mean ± SD, n=5 for each group.
Nanoparticles suppressed cervical cancer tumor growth in vivo
Subsequently, we evaluated the antitumor effect of C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs in vivo on SiHa cells based tumor xenograft model. Nude mice bearing subcutaneous SiHa cells tumor xenograft were treated with PBS (control), CMC/C-PCNPs and CMC/C-PC-CD59sp NPs (n=5). Compared to the controls, none of the mice in the C-PC/CMC NPs and CMC/C-PC-CD59sp NPs treat group exhibited overt toxicity and any body weight loss. In Figure 5A, the growth of SiHa tumor xenografts was progressively suppressed in the CMC/C-PC NPs and CMC/C-PC-CD59sp NPs treatment groups. Moreover, the inhibitory effects of CMC/C-PC-CD59sp NPs were more significant than CMC/C-PC NPs. We found that the weights of SiHa tumor xenografts were significantly reduced in the CMC/C-PC NPs and CMC/C-PC-CD59sp NPs treatment groups. And the tumors weights in the CMC/C-PC-CD59sp NPs treatment groups were lighter than CMC/C-PC NPs (Figure 5B). These results suggested that the C-PC/CMC NPs and CMC/C-PC-CD59sp NPs could suppress cervical cancer tumor growth in vivo, and the inhibitory effects of C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs were more significant.
Nanoparticles regulated Bcl-2/Cleaved caspase-3 protein expression of cervical cancer tumor xenograft in vivo
The C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs could play anti-cancer roles in cervical cancer tumor xenograft in vivo, and cell apoptosis is one important mechanism of cell death, so we detected the protein expression of apoptosis-related proteins, such as Bcl-2 (an anti-apoptotic protein) and cleaved caspase-3 (an pro-apoptotic protein). As shown in Figure 6A, compared with the control group, the Bcl-2 protein expression levels of the CMC/C-PC NPs and CMC/C-PC-CD59sp NPs treatment groups were significantly reduced, and Bcl-2 protein level of the CMC/C-PC-CD59sp NPs treatment groups was lower than CMC/C-PC NPs. In contrast to Bcl-2 protein, the cleaved caspase-3 protein expression levels of the CMC/C-PC NPs and CMC/C-PC-CD59sp NPs treatment groups were significantly increased, especially in CMC/C-PC-CD59sp NPs treatment groups (Figure 6B). Consistent with immunofluorescence results, compared with control group, cleaved caspase-3 expression levels of the CMC/C-PC NPs and CMC/C-PC-CD59sp NPs treatment groups were significantly increased, while Bcl-2 protein expression levels were significantly reduced, and Bcl-2/cleaved caspase-3 in the C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs treatment group were more significant than CMC/C-PC NPs (Figure 6C).Taken together, these results suggested that the C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs could up-regulate cleaved caspase-3 protein expression and down-regulate Bcl-2 protein expression, and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs could further promote transduction of apoptotic signals.
Nanoparticles regulated p21/CDK4/Cyclin D1 protein expression of cervical cancer tumor xenograft in vivo
Since the C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs induced G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest in cervical cancer HeLa and SiHa cells, we further explored the protein levels of cell cycle regulatory proteins involved in G1 to S transition which included Cyclin D1, CDK4 and p21 in cervical cancer tumor xenograft in vivo. Furthermore, CDKIs (CDK inhibitor p21) were often associated with the suppression of CDKs activity by forming CDK-CDKI complexes [24]. We found the protein expression levels of Cyclin D1 and CDK4 in the C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs treatment group were significantly decreased, as shown in Figure 7, while the expression level of p21 in the C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/ CMC-CD59sp NPs treatment group were significantly increased. In addition, p21/CDK4/Cyclin D1 protein expression level changes in the C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs treatment group were more significant than CMC/C-PC NPs. All these results suggested C-PC/ CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs could up-regulate p21 proteins expression, further inhibit the expressions of Cyclin D1 and CDK4 in cervical cancer tumor xenograft in vivo.
Nanoparticles inhibited MMP-2 protein expression of cervical cancer tumor xenograft in vivo
The MMP-2 protein was reported as an angiogenic and metastatic inducers in many cancers [25]. Hence, MMPs are considered as a therapeutic target in many diseases [26]. Since it was reported that C-PC selectively inhibited MMPs (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in HepG2 cells, we further explored the protein level of MMP-2 in cervical cancer tumor xenograft in vivo. We found the MMP-2 protein expression in the C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/ CMC-CD59sp NPs treatment group were significantly decreased, as shown in Figure 8, and MMP-2protein expression level change in the C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs treatment group was more significant than CMC/C-PC NPs. These results suggested C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs could down-regulate MMP-2 protein expression in cervical cancer tumor xenograft in vivo, especially C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs.
Nanoparticles regulated Bcl-2/ Cleaved caspase-3 protein level in vivo. (A) Analysis of Bcl-2 protein level in vivo by immunofluorescent assay. Nanoparticles down-regulated Bcl-2 protein level in vivo. (B) Analysis of Cleaved caspase-3 protein level in vivo by immunofluorescent assay. Nanoparticles up-regulated Cleaved caspase-3 protein level in vivo. (C) Analysis of Bcl-2/Cleaved caspase-3 protein level in vivo by Western blotting. Quantitative representation of grayscale ratio of target protein/β-actin. *P<0.05 vs control group and ** P<0.01 vs control group.
Nanoparticles regulated the expressions of Cyclin D1, CDK4, and p21. (A) Analysis of Cyclin D1, CDK4, and p21 protein levels in vivo by Western blotting. Quantitative representation of grayscale ratio of target protein/β-actin. *P<0.05 vs control group and ** P<0.01 vs control group.
Nanoparticles regulated the expressions of MMP-2. (A) Analysis of MMP-2 protein level in vivo by Western blotting. Quantitative representation of grayscale ratio of target protein/β-actin. *P<0.05vs control group and ** P<0.01 vs control group.
Discussion
Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecological cancers and one of the leading causes of gynecological cancer lethality in women worldwide [27, 28]. Radiotherapy and surgery can be used as the main treatment of cervical cancer. The standard therapy for patients with more advanced disease is external beam radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy, followed by brachy therapy [29]. Unfortunately, the standard therapy is not available in many undeveloped countries, so over 85% of cases and 90% of deaths occur in undeveloped countries [30]. Although patients with early cervical cancer can be treated with radiation and surgery, advanced cervical cancer is almost incurable, so new treatments for cervical cancer are needed. Currently, some anti-tumor medicines cannot be widely used in clinical therapy because of their short effective half-lives and serious side effects. In addition, conventional chemotherapeutic drugs often have many serious side effects during the treatment of cancer. Consequently, the search for new anti-cancer drugs with lower side effects and higher efficacy is urgently desirable. C-phycocyanin is an ideal anti-tumor agent we are looking for. C-phycocyanin, a water-soluble phycobiliprotein extracted from Spirulina platennis, is commonly used in cosmetic colorants, functional food and medicine. It has been proved that C-PC has important pharmacological functions, such as anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, photo-induced cytotoxicity, antitumor, and immunological enhancement [4, 5]. It has been reported that C-PC has effective anti-cancer functions on various cancer cell types (such as breast cancer, bone marrow cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, and Leukemia) [4]. These evidences confirmed the therapeutic potential of C-PC in cancer therapy. However, as a protein, C-PC has some shortcomings such as poor stability, easy degradation, sensitive to light and temperature shortcomings, which put some limitations to the further application of C-PC in medicine.
To solve the shortcomings of C-PC, our laboratory wanted to look for a safe, stable and effective C-PC delivery system, so we designed a nano-drug to packaged C-PC. Currently, the nano-drugs, the combination of biomedicine and nanotechnology, have become a new trend in drug development [6]. The nano-drugs may develop into a new strategy for cancer treatment that overcomes the shortcomings of traditional medicines. Thus, the combination of C-phycocyanin and nanotechnology makes it possible to take advantage of C-phycocyanin and overcome the disadvantages of C-phycocyanin. After long-term research, our laboratory took advantage of the technology of nanomedicine, and successfully constructed the C-PC/CMC and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp nanoparticles using the ionic crosslinking method for the first time, in which CMC acted as a carrier to package C-PC, C-PC acted as an anti-cancer drug, and CD59sp acted as a targeted molecule to specifically bind to CD59 [3, 23]. The C-PC/CMC and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp nanoparticles not only improved the stability and efficacy of C-PC, but also achieved the slow release of C-PC. Furthermore, in C-PC/CMC-CD59sp nanoparticles, CD59sp functioned as a targeted molecule to transport C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs to tumor to achieve the tumor-target. Peng Yang found the C-PC/CMC-CD59sp nanoparticles efficiently targeted the surface of HeLa cells and had a significant inhibitory effect on HeLa cell proliferation [23]. The C-PC/CMC-CD59sp nanoparticles induced HeLa cells apoptosis by up-regulation of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved poly ADP-ribose polymerase proteins, and down-regulation of Bcl-2 proteins in vitro [3]. Yujuan Wang found the C-PC/CMC and C-PC/ CMC-CD59sp nanoparticles were well distributed with a diameter distribution of 200±11.3 nm and zeta potential of -19.5±4.12mV. And the C-PC/CMC and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp nanoparticles could inhibit cervical cancer tumor growth in HeLa cells tumor xenograft in vivo [3]. The C-PC/CMC and C-PC/ CMC-CD59sp nanoparticles could induce cell apoptosis by up-regulation of cleaved caspase-3 proteins expression, and down-regulation of Bcl-2 and cyclinD1 proteins in cervical cancer tumor xenograft in vivo [3]. Our laboratory provided a new idea for the research and development of C-PC, and supplied a new application for the C-PC as an anti-cancer drug.
A novel hepatocyte-targeted delivery system (CCS-NPs-GL) with glycyrrhizin (GL) surface modification based on N-caproyl chitosan (CCS) has been developed. N-caproyl chitosan (CCS) was synthesized by acylation of amino group of chitosan, and glycyrrhizin (GL) was oxidized to be conjugated to the surface of N-caproyl chitosan nanoparticles. The prepared CCS-NPs-GL nanoparticles exhibited an associated adriamycin quite efficiently (association efficiency: 87.5%). The prepared CCS-NPs-GL nanoparticles also possessed dimensional and glycyrrhizin surface-binding stability and slow release property in plasma in vitro. The uptake of CCS-NPs-GL by rat hepatocytes was 2.1 times higher than that of non-GL-modified CCS-NPs in vivo. Furthermore, the content of adriamycin-loaded CCS-NPs-GL in the liver was 1.6 times higher than that of nonGL-modified CCS-NPs, which suggested that CCS-NPs-GL was a stable and effective drug delivery vehicle for hepatocyte targeting [21].
In addition, the use of collagen peptide (CP) for the preparation of chitosan (CN) NPs is especially interesting, because CP has the function of stabilizing chitosan (CN) NPs under physiological conditions. Mono-dispersed pH responsive CP-CN-NPs of about 100 nm were prepared via ionic gelation method by simple and mild co-precipitation of CP and CN. Hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions are believed to be major driving forces for NP formation and drug encapsulation, respectively. The CP-CN-NPs showed high encapsulation efficiency towards doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) as well as pH controlled release. The study found that DOX loaded CP-CN-NPs showed excellent anti-proliferative characteristics against HeLa cells with favorable biocompatibility against normal cells. Such NPs based on chitosan have high potential for use as smart drug delivery carriers in advanced cancer therapy [22].
In our study, we found that compared with C-PC, the C-PC/CMC and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs could significantly inhibit the proliferation, promote cell apoptosis and induce G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in cervical cancer HeLa and SiHa cells in vitro. The inhibition effect of C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs was significantly higher than the C-PC/CMC NPs. And the C-PC/CMC and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs could induce G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in cervical cancer HeLa and SiHa cells, especially C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs. The pro-apoptosis effects of the C-PC/CMC and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs were more significant for cervical cancer HeLa and SiHa cells in vitro, especially C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs. We found that the effect of C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs better than C-PC/CMC NPs is due to the advantages of CD59sp. Under the guidance of CD59sp, the targeted C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs could specifically bind to HeLa and SiHa cells surface. Then the C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs accumulated on the HeLa and SiHa cells surface, and absorbed into cells to exert anti-cancer functions. Experimental data in vitro suggested that the anti-proliferation and pro-apoptosis effects of C-PC/CMC nanoparticles were more significant than C-PC, and further enhanced in targeted nanoparticles C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs.
Similarly, the C-PC/CMC and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs played anti-tumor roles in SiHa cells based tumor xenograft model in vivo. The growth of SiHa tumor xenografts was apparently suppressed in the CMC/C-PC NPs and CMC/C-PC-CD59sp NPs treatment groups. The inhibitory effects of CMC/ C-PC-CD59sp NPs were more significant than CMC/C-PC NPs. The weights and sizes of SiHa tumor xenografts were significantly reduced in the CMC/C-PC NPs and CMC/C-PC-CD59sp NPs treatment groups. In addition, the tumors weights in the CMC/C-PC-CD59sp NPs treatment groups were lighter than CMC/C-PC NPs. The protein expression of apoptosis-related proteins, such as Bcl-2 and Cleaved caspase-3 had changed. The protein expression levels of Bcl-2 in the C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs treatment group were significantly decreased, while the expression level of Cleaved caspase-3 in the C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs treatment group were significantly increased. The C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs exerted pro-apoptotic effect by down regulating Bcl-2/Cleaved caspase-3 protein expression. The decrease of Bcl-2/Cleaved caspase-3 ratio in the C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs treatment group was more significant than CMC/C-PC NPs.
Simultaneously, the protein expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins involved in G1 to S transition, such as Cyclin D1, CDK4 and p21 changed in cervical cancer tumor xenograft in vivo. The protein expression levels of Cyclin D1 and CDK4 in the C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs treatment group were significantly decreased, while the expression level of p21 in the C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs treatment group were significantly increased. And p21/CDK4/Cyclin D1 protein expression level changes in the C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs treatment group were more significant than CMC/C-PC NPs. The C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs could up-regulate p21 proteins expression; further inhibit the expressions of Cyclin D1 and CDK4 in cervical cancer tumor xenograft in vivo.
It was reported that the MMP-2 protein acted as an angiogenic and metastatic inducers in many cancers [25]. Hence, MMPs are considered as a therapeutic target in many diseases [26]. And it was reported that C-PC selectively inhibited MMPs (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in HepG2 cells [31]. We found the MMP-2 protein expression in the C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs treatment group were significantly decreased, and MMP-2 protein expression level change in the C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs treatment group was more significant than CMC/C-PC NPs.
In short, we successfully constructed the C-PC/CMC NPs and C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs, and proved their anti-tumor effect in vivo and in vitro experiments in cervical cancer HeLa and SiHa cells (Figure 9). We proved that the anti-tumor effects of C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs were better than C-PC and C-PC/CMC nanoparticles on cervical cancer due to the targeting effect of CD59sp in vitro and in vivo.
Abbreviations
C-PC: C-phycocyanin; CMC: Carboxymethyl chitosan; NPs: nanoparticle; CD59sp: CD59- specific ligand peptide.
Schematic model of the proposed anti-cancer mechanisms for C-PC/CMC-CD59sp NPs in cervical cancer.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81471546, 81001346, 81273206).
Competing Interests
The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.
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Author contact
Corresponding author: Professor Bing Li, Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic medical college, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China, 266071. Email: libing_516619com
Received 2018-5-25
Accepted 2018-10-21
Published 2019-1-1
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