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Updated: Apr 20, 2026

Murine Model for Non-invasive Imaging to Detect and Monitor Ovarian Cancer Recurrence
Published on: November 2, 2014
Texosome-anchored superantigen triggers apoptosis in original ovarian cancer cells
Hamideh Mahmoodzadeh Hosseini1, Jafar Soleimanirad, Elnaz Mehdizadeh Aghdam
1Applied Microbiology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract:
Texosomes, nano-endosomal vesicles, are candidates for cancer immunotherapy due to their immunostimulating properties. We designed a new structure based on texosome and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and assessed its cytotoxic impact on an ovarian cell line. Texosomes were isolated from tumor cells, and SEB was anchored onto by protein transfer method. MTT assay and Hoechst staining were used to identify the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of this compound on treated cells with different concentrations of texosome-SEB (TEX-SEB). Moreover, the expression rate of bcl-2, bax, bak, bcl-xl and the activity of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were investigated. Treatments of the cells with 0.5, 2.5 and 10 μg/100 μl TEX-SEB were significantly cytotoxic within 24 h (p < 0.001). Hoechst staining revealed that all tested concentrations caused apoptosis after 24 h compared with the control cells (p < 0.001). Furthermore, it was found that treatment with all examined concentrations of TEX-SEB enhanced caspase-9 activity after 24 and 48 h, while caspase-3 activity was increased upon treatment with only 0.5 and 2.5 μg/100 μl of TEX-SEB after 24 h (p < 0.001). None of the concentrations of TEX-SEB affected the expression of the cancer-promoting genes. Our construct, the TEX-SEB, is a new model being able to create cytostatic properties on cancer cells.
Insights
Texosomes combined with staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) demonstrate significant cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on ovarian cancer cells. This novel TEX-SEB construct offers a promising new strategy for cancer immunotherapy.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Nanomedicine
Background:
- Texosomes, nano-endosomal vesicles, possess immunostimulating properties, making them promising for cancer immunotherapy.
- Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is a potent T-cell superantigen with potential anti-cancer applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and evaluate a novel texosome-SEB (TEX-SEB) construct for its cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on ovarian cancer cells.
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer activity of TEX-SEB, including caspase activation and apoptosis-related gene expression.
Main Methods:
- Texosomes were isolated from tumor cells and functionalized with SEB via protein transfer.
- Cytotoxicity was assessed using MTT assays, and apoptosis was detected by Hoechst staining.
- Caspase-3, caspase-9 activity, and the expression of bcl-2, bax, bak, and bcl-xl genes were analyzed.
Main Results:
- TEX-SEB exhibited significant dose-dependent cytotoxicity and induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells within 24 hours.
- TEX-SEB treatment enhanced caspase-9 activity at all tested concentrations and caspase-3 activity at lower concentrations.
- No significant impact of TEX-SEB on the expression of cancer-promoting genes was observed.
Conclusions:
- The novel TEX-SEB construct demonstrates potent cytostatic and apoptotic properties against ovarian cancer cells.
- TEX-SEB represents a promising new therapeutic strategy for ovarian cancer immunotherapy.
- Further research is warranted to explore the full therapeutic potential of TEX-SEB in preclinical and clinical settings.
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