Growth inhibition in vitro of murine mammary adenocarcinoma cells by heparin and chemically modified heparins

Heparin, a highly sulfated polysaccharide used as an antithrombotic and anticoagulant, inhibits proliferation of several cell types. We have investigated the effect of heparin and chemically modified heparins on the growth of a cell culture of a murine mammary adenocarcinoma (M3). We found that hepa...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:
Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Bertolesi, G.E., De Cidre, L.L., Eiján, A.M.
Formato: JOUR
Materias:
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_10104283_v15_n5_p275_Bertolesi
Aporte de:
Descripción
Sumario:Heparin, a highly sulfated polysaccharide used as an antithrombotic and anticoagulant, inhibits proliferation of several cell types. We have investigated the effect of heparin and chemically modified heparins on the growth of a cell culture of a murine mammary adenocarcinoma (M3). We found that heparin inhibited the proliferation of M3 cells growing either with or without 2% fetal calf serum (FCS) in a dose-dependent and reversible fashion. Several heparins with different anticoagulant properties showed a similar antiproliferative effect. Histological assays showed that heparin was internalized and appeared in cytoplasmic vesicules. O-desulfated. O/N-desul- fated N-acetylated and N-desulfated heparins lost their antiproliferative activity, while N-desulfated N-acetylated heparin significantly inhibited cell proliferation with or without FCS. The finding of an antiproliferative action of N-desulfated N-acetylated heparin which does not show anticoagulant activity suggests a possible therapeutic role for this compound as an antineoplastic drug. © 1994 S. Karger AG, Basel.