Frontiers in Microbiology (Sep 2016)

ENCAPSULATION INTO STEALTH LIPOSOMES ENHANCED THE ANTITUMOR ACTION OF RECOMBINANT Cratylia mollis LECTIN EXPRESSED IN Escherichia coli

  • Cássia Regina Albuquerque da Cunha,
  • Luis Cláudio Nascimento Da Silva,
  • Luis Cláudio Nascimento Da Silva,
  • Fábio José Fidélis Almeida,
  • Milena Sales Ferraz,
  • Nathalia Varejão,
  • Marina Falcão de Souza Cartaxo,
  • Rita De Cássia Mendonça De Miranda,
  • Francisco Carlos Amanajás de Aguiar Júnior,
  • Noemia Pereira da Silva Santos,
  • Luana Cassandra Breitenbach Barroso Coelho,
  • Nereide Stela Santos-Magalhães,
  • Maria Tereza dos Santos Correia

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01355
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7

Abstract

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This study evaluated the in vivo antitumor potential of new recombinant lectin from seeds of Cratylia mollis (rCramoll) expressed in Escherichia coli, free or encapsulated in stealth liposomes, using mice transplanted with sarcoma 180. rCramoll-loaded stealth liposomes (rCramoll-lipo) were formulated by hydration of the lipid film followed by cycles of freezing and thawing, and about 60% of rCramoll was encapsulated. This novel preparation showed particle size, polydispersity index, and pH suitable for the evaluation of antitumor activity in vivo. Tumor growth inhibition rates were 68% for rCramoll and 80% for rCramoll-lipo. Histopathological analysis of the experimental groups showed that both free and encapsulated lectin caused no changes in the kidneys of animals. Hematological analysis revealed that treatment with rCramoll-lipo significantly increased leukocyte concentration when compared with the untreated and pCramoll group. In conclusion, the encapsulation of rCramoll in stealth liposomes improves its antitumor activity without substantial toxicity; this approach was more successful than the previous results reported for pCramoll loaded into conventional liposomes. At this point, a crucial difference between the antitumor action of free and encapsulated rCramoll was found along with their effects on immune cells. Further investigations are required to elucidate the mechanism(s) of the antitumor effect induced by rCramoll.

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