Evaluation of the effect of 5-aminolevulinic acid hexyl ester (H-ALA) PDT on EBV LMP1 protein expression in human nasopharyngeal cells

R. W. K. Wu*, E. S. M. Chu, C. M. N. Yow

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is of high prevalence in Hong Kong and southern China. The pathogenesis of NPC is closely associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection via regulation of viral oncoprotein latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1). The conventional treatment for NPC is chemo-radiotherapy, but the prognosis remains poor for advanced stage, recurrent and metastatic NPC. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a therapeutic approach to combat tumors. PDT effectiveness depends on the interaction of photosensitizers, light and molecular oxygen. 5- aminolevulinic acid hexyl derivative (H-ALA) is one of the photosensitizers derived from 5-ALA. H-ALA with improved lipophilic properties by adding a long lipophilic chain (hexyl group) to 5-ALA, resulted in better penetration into cell cytoplasm. In this study, the effect of H-ALA-PDT on NPC cells (EBV positive C666-1 and EBV negative CNE2) was investigated. The H-ALA mediated cellular uptake and cytotoxicity was revealed via flow cytometry analysis and MTT assay respectively. H-ALA PDT mediated protein modulation was analysed by western blot analysis. Our finding reported that the cellular uptake of H-ALA in C666-1 and CNE2 cells was in a time dependent manner. HALA PDT was effective to C666-1 and CNE2 cells. EBV LMP1 proteins was expressed in C666-1 cells only and its expression was responsive to H-ALA PDT in a dose dependent manner. This work revealed the potential of H-ALA PDT as a treatment regiment for EBV positive NPC cells. Understanding the mechanism of H-ALA mediated PDT could develop improved strategies for the treatment of NPC.
Original languageEnglish
Article number101801
Number of pages7
JournalPhotodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy
Volume30
Early online date13 May 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • H-ALA
  • LMP1 protein
  • EBV
  • PDT

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