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Clinical Concentrations of Antiretroviral Drugs and VEGF165b Expression in Normal and Cancer Cervical Epithelial Cell lines
Author(s) -
ADEFOLAJU Gbenga Anthony,
SCHOLTZ Kathrine Elizabeth,
HOSIE Margot Jill
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.2019.33.1_supplement.610.19
Subject(s) - angiogenesis , cervical cancer , medicine , cancer research , cancer , cell growth , regimen , cancer cell , reverse transcriptase inhibitor , cell culture , immunology , pharmacology , biology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , viral load , genetics , antiretroviral therapy
Background The multidrug combination regimen, typically consisting of Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors, non‐Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors and Protease Inhibitors has altered the morbidity pattern of HIV‐infected individuals. But its effects on cervical cancer is still hotly debated. Speculations abound; does this regimen induce or promote the progression of cervical cancer? Objectives Since the formation of new blood vessels from pre‐existing vasculature (angiogenesis) is required for cancer growth and development, this study investigated the effects of the antiretroviral drugs on the expression levels of a key angiogenic regulatory gene; vascular endothelial growth factor 165b ( VEGF165b ) in two human cervical cell lines; human squamous cell carcinoma cells (HCS‐2) and transformed normal human cervical cells (NCE16IIA). We hypothesised that the antiretroviral compounds – individually or in combination might down‐regulate anti‐angiogenic VEGF165b gene and/or protein expression thereby favouring angiogenesis. Materials and Methods The cells were treated with different concentrations and combinations of the drugs and for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours and VEGF165b mRNA and protein expression were determined by Real Time qPCR and immuno‐fluorescence. Results Some of the antiretroviral drugs and combinations tested produced patterns of slight up or down‐regulation of VEGF165b mRNA that suggests pro‐angiogenesis but the changes did not achieve statistical significance. They also did not alter VEGF165b protein localisation in both cell lines. Conclusions The findings reported here suggest that antiretroviral drugs probably do not influence VEGF165b of the angiogenic pathway in the development of cervical cancer in patients under the combined antiretroviral regimen. Support or Funding Information Medical Research Council of South Africa This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .