BioProject

We have used human umbilical vein endothelial cell line (HUVEC) as a model to investigate the effect of ultrasound (US) activated micro-bubbles on sensitizing the tumour response to radiation and to check the implication of this approach on gene expression. More...

We have used human umbilical vein endothelial cell line (HUVEC) as a model to investigate the effect of ultrasound (US) activated micro-bubbles on sensitizing the tumour response to radiation and to check the implication of this approach on gene expression. The use of micro-bubbles in cancer therapy is a novel approach that is being recently investigated, and patterns of gene expressions were not yet characterized. Gene analysis has identified about 19,264 genes; where, 239 – 517 genes have shown more than two folds up-regulation in response to the different treatments. This included a number of genes that are known to be involved in apoptosis and ceramide-induced apoptosis pathways, such as Sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 2, neutral sphingomyelinase (SMPD2), sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1, acid lysosomal (ASM; SMPD1), UDP-galactose ceramide galactosyltransferase (UGT8), cytochrome c oxidase (COX6B1), Caspase-9 and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MAP2K1). To verify these results, we have performed Real time RT-PCR, which indicated an up-regulation that ranged from 2 to 200 folds, specifically in the combined treatment of US, 3.3% micro-bubbles and 8 Gy. The observed higher levels of expression of UGT8, SMPD2 and Caspase 9-alpha when compared to the control or to radiation only indicated the involvement of ceramide, which possibly induces apoptosis . These results support the hypothesis that micro-bubbles play a role in increasing sensitization to radiation, and can prove to be an effective cancer therapeutic approach. Overall design: Gene analysis has identified about 19,264 genes; where, 239 – 517 genes have shown more than two folds up-regulation in response to the different treatments. This included a number of genes that are known to be involved in apoptosis and ceramide-induced apoptosis pathways, such as Sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 2, neutral sphingomyelinase (SMPD2), sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1, acid lysosomal (ASM; SMPD1), UDP-galactose ceramide galactosyltransferase (UGT8), cytochrome c oxidase (COX6B1), Caspase-9 and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MAP2K1). To verify these results, we have performed Real time RT-PCR, which indicated an up-regulation that ranged from 2 to 200 folds, specifically in the combined treatment of US, 3.3% micro-bubbles and 8 Gy. The observed higher levels of expression of UGT8, SMPD2 and Caspase 9-alpha when compared to the control or to radiation only indicated the involvement of ceramide, which possibly induces apoptosis . These results support the hypothesis that micro-bubbles play a role in increasing sensitization to radiation, and can prove to be an effective cancer therapeutic approach. Less...