Magnetospirillum magneticum as a living iron chelator induces TfR1 upregulation and decreases cell viability in cancer cells
OPEN ACCESS
Loading...
Author / Producer
Date
2021-01-02
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
Citations
Altmetric
OPEN ACCESS
Data
Rights / License
Abstract
Interest has grown in harnessing biological agents for cancer treatment as dynamic vectors with enhanced tumor targeting. While bacterial traits such as proliferation in tumors, modulation of an immune response, and local secretion of toxins have been well studied, less is known about bacteria as competitors for nutrients. Here, we investigated the use of a bacterial strain as a living iron chelator, competing for this nutrient vital to tumor growth and progression. We established an in vitro co-culture system consisting of the magnetotactic strain Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 incubated under hypoxic conditions with human melanoma cells. Siderophore production by 108 AMB-1/mL in human transferrin (Tf)-supplemented media was quantified and found to be equivalent to a concentration of 3.78 µM ± 0.117 µM deferoxamine (DFO), a potent drug used in iron chelation therapy. Our experiments revealed an increased expression of transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) and a significant decrease of cancer cell viability, indicating the bacteria’s ability to alter iron homeostasis in human melanoma cells. Our results show the potential of a bacterial strain acting as a self-replicating iron-chelating agent, which could serve as an additional mechanism reinforcing current bacterial cancer therapies
Permanent link
Publication status
published
External links
Editor
Book title
Journal / series
Volume
22 (2)
Pages / Article No.
498
Publisher
MDPI
Event
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
Magnetotactic bacteria; Iron chelator; cancer therapy; transferrin receptor 1; siderophores
Organisational unit
09619 - Schürle-Finke, Simone / Schürle-Finke, Simone