Principles of cancer cell culture

Therapeutic potential of LINS01 histamine H3 receptor antagonists as antineoplastic agents for triple negative breast cancer

The aims of this work were to evaluate the expression of histamine H3 receptor (H3R) in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) samples and to investigate the antitumoral efficacy and safety of the LINS01 series of H3R antagonists, through in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches. Antitumor activity of LINS01009, LINS01010, LINS01022, LINS01023 was assayed in vitro in 4T1 and MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells (0.01-100 μM), and in vivo in 4T1 tumors orthotopically established in BALB/c mice (1 or 20 mg/kg). Additionally, H3R expression was assessed in 50 human TNBC samples. We have described a higher H3R mRNA expression in basal-like/TNBC tumors vs. matched normal tissue using TCGA Pan-Cancer Atlas data, and a higher H3R expression in human tumor samples vs. peritumoral tissue evidenced by immunohistochemistry associated with poorer survival. Furthermore, while all the essayed compounds showed antitumoral properties, LINS01022 and LINS01023 exhibited the most potent antiproliferative effects by: i) inducing cell apoptosis and suppressing cell migration in 4T1 and MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells, and ii) inhibiting cell growth in paclitaxel-resistant 4T1 cells (potentiating the paclitaxel antiproliferative effect). Moreover, 20 mg/kg LINS01022 reduced tumor size in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice, exhibiting a safe toxicological profile and potential for druggability estimated by ADME calculations. We conclude that the H3R is involved in the regulation of TNBC progression, offering promising therapeutic potential for the novel LINS01 series of H3R antagonists.

Influence of standard culture conditions and effect of oleoresin from the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis on splenic cells from healthy Balb/c mice - a pilot study

In this work, we used splenocytes from healthy mice to study the effects of the two most commonly used cell culture media (A, B) with different compositions of redox reagents. The incubation of cells for 24 h resulted in a significant decrease in viability and metabolic activity of splenocytes, and the negative effects of incubation in medium B were more pronounced. In standard conditions, oxidative stress in cells was manifested by reduced mitochondrial potential, and this effect correlated with the transition of 58.3% of cells to the early stage of apoptosis under reducing conditions of medium A and up to 66.1% of cells under super-reducing conditions in medium B, suggesting altered cell physiology. High levels of ROS/RNS activated transcription factor Nrf2, superoxide dismutase 1, and catalase. The higher mRNA levels of these genes were under the conditions of medium B, whose super-reducing environment in combination with the environment of conventional incubators proved to be less suitable for the cells compared to medium A. Treatment of the cells with a lower concentration (10 µg/ml) of oleoresin obtained from the microalga H. pluvialis partially eliminated the negative effects of cultivation. Higher concentration of oleoresin (40 µg/ml) was slightly cytotoxic, due to the significant antioxidant effect of astaxanthin, the main bioactive component of the extract, which eliminated most of the ROS/RNS acting as signalling molecules. This study shows that the standard culture conditions do not reflect the physiological in vivo cell conditions; therefore, they are not generally suitable for incubation of all cell types.

Contribution of in vitro comparison of colorectal carcinoma cells from primary and metastatic lesions to elucidation of mechanisms of tumor progression and response to anticancer therapy

Colorectal cancer has been a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. For the research and individualization of therapy, primary cell lines of the colorectal cancer appear to be still an invaluable tool. We evaluated the differences in metastatic potential between four isolated primary colon cancer cells and cells derived from their lymph node metastasis. These results were compared with correspond immortalized cells-SW480 and SW620, respectively. The ability to migrate was tested using real-time measurement in xCELLigence system. Expressions of molecules involved in adhesion and invasion processes were examined using RT-PCR and western blot analysis. Furthermore, impact of cytotoxic effect of selected chemotherapeutics (irinotecan, oxaliplatin) and biological therapy (bevacizumab, cetuximab, panitumumab) was assessed by the WST assay. As expected, cell lines derived from lymph node migrated more aggressively and higher expression of adhesion molecules ICAM-1, EpCAM, and N-cadherin was detected. The expression of MMP-2 and -9 was elevated, on the other hand, in cell lines derived from primary tumor cancer cells as well as the expression of miR-21, miR-29a, and miR-200a. The most pronounced cytotoxic effect has been recorded with oxaliplatin and irinotecan (IC50 = 48.23 resp. 0.11 μg/ml), especially in cells originating from lymph node metastases. In total, comparison of isolated cell lines and immortalized cell lines has shown many similarities, as well as several differences. Adhesion/invasion molecules and several miRNAs, which play an important role in tumor development and the invasive and migratory behavior, could be a useful therapeutic target in malignant colorectal cancer.

Characterisation of Walker 256 breast carcinoma cells from two tumour cell banks as assessed using two models of secondary brain tumours

BACKGROUND

Metastatic brain tumours are a common end stage of breast cancer progression, with significant associated morbidity and high mortality. Walker 256 is a rat breast carcinoma cell line syngeneic to Wistar rats and commonly used to induce secondary brain tumours. Previously there has been the assumption that the same cancer cell line from different cell banks behave in a similar manner, although recent studies have suggested that cell lines may change their characteristics over time in vitro.

METHODS

In this study internal carotid artery injection and direct cerebral inoculation models of secondary brain tumours were used to determine the tumorigenicity of Walker 256 cells obtained from two cell banks, the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), and the Cell Resource Centre for Medical Research at Tohoku University (CRCTU).

RESULTS

Tumour incidence and volume, plus immunoreactivity to albumin, IBA1 and GFAP, were used as indicators of tumorigenicity and tumour interaction with the host brain microenvironment. CRCTU Walker 256 cells showed greater incidence, larger tumour volume, pronounced blood-brain barrier disruption and prominent glial response when compared to ATCC cell line.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that immortalised cancer cell lines obtained from different cell banks may have diverse characteristics and behaviour in vivo.