Abstract
Peptides are emerging as pharmaceutical agents in cancer therapy. The peptide, TLSGAFELSRDK (TLS) is a targeting ligand that can specifically triggers cellular uptake by binding to SKOV3 cells. Cell surface proteins and the C-terminal basic residues of the TLS are required for effective cell penetration, and the uptake process is energy-dependent. It inhibited the proliferation of SKOV3 cells and induced early-stage apoptosis by down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression mediated through a caspase-dependent pathway. The synergistic anti-proliferative effects of the peptide TLS and doxorubicin on SKOV3 cells were further investigated. Taken together, TLS, acting as a combination of a targeted ligand and a therapeutic agent, was a promising candidate for the development of peptide-based therapies in ovarian cancer.
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Acknowledgments
This work has been supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project Nos. 51173120, 51273122 and 51202151). The supports of Sichuan Province through two Key Technologies Research and Development Programs of Sichuan Province (2010SZ0088 & 2008SZ0021) are also acknowledged with gratitude.
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Ma, C., Yin, G., You, F. et al. A specific cell-penetrating peptide induces apoptosis in SKOV3 cells by down-regulation of Bcl-2. Biotechnol Lett 35, 1791–1797 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-013-1263-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-013-1263-x