TY - JOUR T1 - A Synthetic Peptide Derived from the Human Eosinophil-derived Neurotoxin Induces Apoptosis in Kaposi's Sarcoma Cells JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 1427 LP - 1432 VL - 24 IS - 3A AU - ANICA DRICU AU - SERGIU-BOGDAN CATRINA AU - KERSTIN BRISMAR AU - PETER BIBERFELD AU - LEIF C. ANDERSSON Y1 - 2004/05/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/24/3A/1427.abstract N2 - Several commercial preparations of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) have been tested as therapy for Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in clinical trials, but with discordant outcomes. We also have found dramatic differences in the cytotoxic effects of four different commercial hCG preparations on an established KS cell line, KSIMM. A co-purified moiety (ies) present in these preparations may explain these differences. The eosinophil-derived neurotoxin ribonuclease, extended with four extra residues ((-4)EDN), has been suggested to be the putative anti-KS compound in the hCG preparations, being specifically recognized by the cells through its N terminal extension. We therefore synthesized a 16-residue peptide (MSLHV-NT12 EDN), made to resemble the active recognition sequence of (-4)EDN. MSLHV-NT12 EDN displays a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on KSIMM (killing 50% of the cells at 9 μg/ml). The cytotoxic effect is specific for KS cells, MSLHV-NT12 EDN being harmless even at 100μg/ml for a melanoma cell line (SK-MEL-28) or for normal human fibroblasts. We also demonstrated that MSLHV-NT12 EDN induces apoptosis in KSIMM cells. In conclusion, MSLHVNT12 EDN is a specific proapoptotic substance for KS cells, which warrants further investigation into its in vivo effects. Copyright© 2004 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved ER -