Thrombin induces apoptosis in human tumor cells
1Laboratory of Immunovirology, Pediatric Research Center and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Montreal and Sainte-Justine Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ahmada@justine.umontreal.ca
International Journal of Cancer
|August 5, 2000
Summary
Thrombin, a key coagulation factor, can promote tumor cell proliferation at low doses but induce apoptosis at higher concentrations. This dual effect, mediated by thrombin
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Thrombin is a serine protease crucial for hemostasis, thrombosis, and wound healing.
- It activates platelets and influences the proliferation, invasiveness, and metastatic potential of human cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of thrombin on the proliferation of various human tumor cells.
- To elucidate the mechanism behind thrombin's impact on tumor cell growth.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of diverse human tumor cell lines to varying concentrations of thrombin.
- Assessment of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis.
- Evaluation of the role of specific thrombin inhibitor, hirudin.
- Analysis of p53, p21, and bcl-2 expression patterns.
Main Results:
- Low thrombin concentrations stimulated tumor cell proliferation.
- High thrombin concentrations inhibited proliferation, inducing apoptosis.
- Thrombin-mediated apoptosis was significantly reduced by hirudin.
- No consistent modulation of p53, p21, or bcl-2 was observed.
Conclusions:
- Thrombin exhibits a dose-dependent effect on human tumor cells, inducing proliferation at low concentrations and apoptosis at high concentrations.
- Thrombin-induced apoptosis is a specific effect, inhibited by hirudin.
- The findings suggest potential therapeutic implications for thrombin in cancer treatment and relevance to AIDS pathogenesis.
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