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Apoptin®-induced apoptosis: a review

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Abstract

Apoptin, a protein encoded by an avian virus, induces apoptosis in various cultured human tumorigenic and/ or transformed cell lines, e.g. derived from breast and lung tumor, leukemia, lymphoma, osteosarcoma melanoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and hepatoma. In such cells, Apoptin induces p53-independent apoptosis, and the proto-oncogene Bcl-2 can accelerate this effect. The latter is surprising for, in general, Bcl-2 is known to inhibit e.g., p53-induced apoptosis. On the other hand, in normal non-transformed human cells, Apoptin is unable to induce apoptosis, even when Bcl-2 is over-expressed. In animal models Apoptin-induced apoptosis appears to be a safe and efficient anti-tumor agent. These data, in continuation with the observations that Apoptin is specifically stimulated by Bcl-2 in tumor cells, does not need p53, and is not inhibited by Bcr-Abl in these cells, imply that Apoptin is a potential anti-tumor therapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leadd BV and Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Wassenaarseweg 72, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands

    M. H. M. Noteborn

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Noteborn, M.H.M. Apoptin®-induced apoptosis: a review. Apoptosis 4, 317–319 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009687019221

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009687019221

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