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Effect of microbial siderophores on mammalian non-malignant and malignant cell lines
Karuna Gokarn1,2, Vishwas Sarangdhar3, Ramprasad B Pal4
1Department of Microbiology, Sir Hurkisondas Nurrotumdas Medical Research Society, Mumbai, 400 002, India. karuna.gokarn@xaviers.edu.
Background:
Iron is a vital nutrient for all cells, and malignant cells have a higher requirement for the metal due to their rapid multiplication. Bacterial siderophores can be used to reduce free ferric ion concentration from the cellular environment.
Methods:
In the present study, we have evaluated effect of three siderophores - exochelin-MS, mycobactin S and deferoxamine B on the proliferation of mammalian cell lines using MTT assay.
Results:
These siderophores caused a significant decrease in the viability of malignant cells, without significantly affecting non-malignant cells.
Conclusions:
Based on these results, we suggest that iron-chelation therapy could be explored as an adjunctive therapeutic option against cancer along with other therapies.
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