Effect of several PEO-PPO amphiphiles on Bax, Bcl-2 and hTERT mRNAs: an insight into cell immortalization and apoptosis produced by these polymeric excipients

CASTRONUOVO C; CUESTAS MARÍA LUJÁN; JR OUBIÑA,; MATHET, V

BIOTECHNOLOGY AND APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY

PORTLAND PRESS LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2016 vol. 63 p. 273 - 280

0885-4513

Recent data have shown that synthetic polymers and nanomaterials display phenotypic effects in cells and signal transduction mechanisms involved in inflammation, differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Aim: This article aims to investigate the effect of poly(ethylene oxide)?poly(propylene oxide) (PEO?PPO) block copolymers with a wide range of biomedical and pharmaceutical applications on apoptosis and/or cell immortalization, by flow cytometry and multiplex RT-PCR for bax, bcl-2, and humantelomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). Results: PEO?PPO amphiphiles upregulated bax and hTERT and induced apoptosis of two human hepatoma cell lines. Conclusions: PEO?PPO block copolymers?considered safe for human use?can drastically alter gene expression profiles of genes related to apoptosis/cell proliferation.