Evaluating pro-apoptotic activity of new PANDER / FAM3B cytokine in prostate and breast tumor cell lines

• Grant number: 07/04678-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2008
• End date: September 30, 2008
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Humberto Miguel Garay Malpartida
• Grantee: Ícaro de Assis Santos
• Host Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The PANDER/FAM3B (pancreatic-derived factor) was recently identified as a novel cytokine expressed capable to induce apoptosis in insulin secreting beta-cells. However, PANDER gene is also expressed in prostate and breast tumors. Our goal is to evaluate the pro-apoptotic properties of PANDER in prostate carcinoma (DU145) and breast adenocarcinoma (MDA-MB-231) stably over-expressing PANDER by lentiviral-mediated infection. The ability of PANDER to induce apoptosis will be evaluated by DNA fragmentation analysis, changes in cell membrane, caspase activity and apoptosis-related gene expression. Our results can be contributing to better understand the functional role of this novel cytokine in the control of tumoral progression.