open access

Vol 64, No 5 (2013)
Original paper
Submitted: 2013-11-04
Accepted: 2013-11-04
Published online: 2013-11-01
Get Citation

Interferon alpha and rapamycin inhibit the growth of pheochromocytoma PC12 line in vitro

Ewelina Motylewska, Hanna Lawnicka, Magdalena Kowalewicz-Kulbat, Paulina Sicinska, Agata Niedziela, Gabriela Melen-Mucha, Henryk Stepien
DOI: 10.5603/EP.2013.0020
·
Endokrynol Pol 2013;64(5):368-374.

open access

Vol 64, No 5 (2013)
Original Paper
Submitted: 2013-11-04
Accepted: 2013-11-04
Published online: 2013-11-01

Abstract

Introduction: Pheochromocytomas are benign or malignant neuroendocrine tumours. The unsatisfactory efficacy of the traditional
therapeutic methods for patients with metastatic disease results in a continuing search for more effective and targeted agents. Due to the
increased vascularisation of these tumours, inhibitors of angiogenesis could be potentially a new group of drugs in pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma therapy.

Material and methods: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of angiomodulators: VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor)
and five endogenous and exogenous antiangiogenic compounds (endostatin; IFN-alpha [interferon alpha]; rapamycin — mTOR [mammalian
target of rapamycin] inhibitor; JV1-36 and SU5416 (semaxinib]) on the growth of rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cell line.

Results: IFN-alpha (105 U/mL) strongly inhibited PC12 growth in a 72 h culture, increasing apoptosis and arresting the cell cycle. Rapamycin
in a wide range of concentrations (10-5 to 10-8 M) induced a slight inhibitory effect on PC12 viability and decreased cell proliferation at the
concentration of 10-5 M. VEGF, endostatin and JV1-36 did not influence the growth of PC12.

onclusions: The study has shown for the first time that IFN-a inhibited the growth of pheochromocytoma PC12 line and confirmed the
inhibitory action of rapamycin on these cells. The results suggest that IFN-alpha and mTOR inhibitors could be potentially effective in the
therapy of malignant pheochromocytoma, and encourage further study in this field.

(Endokrynol Pol 2013; 64 (5): 368–374)

Abstract

Introduction: Pheochromocytomas are benign or malignant neuroendocrine tumours. The unsatisfactory efficacy of the traditional
therapeutic methods for patients with metastatic disease results in a continuing search for more effective and targeted agents. Due to the
increased vascularisation of these tumours, inhibitors of angiogenesis could be potentially a new group of drugs in pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma therapy.

Material and methods: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of angiomodulators: VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor)
and five endogenous and exogenous antiangiogenic compounds (endostatin; IFN-alpha [interferon alpha]; rapamycin — mTOR [mammalian
target of rapamycin] inhibitor; JV1-36 and SU5416 (semaxinib]) on the growth of rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cell line.

Results: IFN-alpha (105 U/mL) strongly inhibited PC12 growth in a 72 h culture, increasing apoptosis and arresting the cell cycle. Rapamycin
in a wide range of concentrations (10-5 to 10-8 M) induced a slight inhibitory effect on PC12 viability and decreased cell proliferation at the
concentration of 10-5 M. VEGF, endostatin and JV1-36 did not influence the growth of PC12.

onclusions: The study has shown for the first time that IFN-a inhibited the growth of pheochromocytoma PC12 line and confirmed the
inhibitory action of rapamycin on these cells. The results suggest that IFN-alpha and mTOR inhibitors could be potentially effective in the
therapy of malignant pheochromocytoma, and encourage further study in this field.

(Endokrynol Pol 2013; 64 (5): 368–374)

Get Citation

Keywords

pheochromocytoma; interferon alpha; rapamycin; antiangiogenic factors; PC12 line

About this article
Title

Interferon alpha and rapamycin inhibit the growth of pheochromocytoma PC12 line in vitro

Journal

Endokrynologia Polska

Issue

Vol 64, No 5 (2013)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

368-374

Published online

2013-11-01

Page views

2656

Article views/downloads

2854

DOI

10.5603/EP.2013.0020

Bibliographic record

Endokrynol Pol 2013;64(5):368-374.

Keywords

pheochromocytoma
interferon alpha
rapamycin
antiangiogenic factors
PC12 line

Authors

Ewelina Motylewska
Hanna Lawnicka
Magdalena Kowalewicz-Kulbat
Paulina Sicinska
Agata Niedziela
Gabriela Melen-Mucha
Henryk Stepien

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