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Apoptin as a Potential Viral Gene Oncotherapeutic Agent

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Abstract

The use of viruses for treatment of cancer overcomes the bottlenecks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Several viruses and their proteins have been evaluated for oncolytic effect. The VP3 protein (apoptin) of chicken anemia virus is one such protein with an inherent ability to lyse cancer and transformed cells while leaving normal cells unharmed. In the present study, the apoptosis inducing potential of VP3 protein of CAV was evaluated in human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). It was found that in VP3-induced apoptosis, caspase-dependent intrinsic pathway plays an important role with the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and there was no evidence of involvement of death receptor-mediated extrinsic pathway. The results of this study provide intuitive information and strengthen the candidacy of apoptin as a viral oncotherapeutic agent.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP) (project code: NAIP/COMP-4/C4/C-3001/2008-09) for providing funds to conduct the study. We also thank the Director, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, for providing necessary facilities to carry out this work.

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This manuscript completely complies with the ethical rules applicable for this journal.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, 243122, India

    Prafull Kumar Singh,  Ashok K. Tiwari, R. S. Rajmani, G. Ravi Kumar, Uttara Chaturvedi, Lovleen Saxena, Shikha Saxena, Juwar Doley, Aditya Prasad Sahoo, Lakshman Santra & Sudesh Kumar

  2. Division of Biochemistry and Food Science section, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, 243122, India

    Meeta Saxena & Bhaskar Sharma

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  1. Prafull Kumar Singh
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  2. Ashok K. Tiwari
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  5. Uttara Chaturvedi
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Correspondence to Ashok K. Tiwari.

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Singh, P.K., Tiwari, A.K., Rajmani, R.S. et al. Apoptin as a Potential Viral Gene Oncotherapeutic Agent. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 176, 196–212 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-015-1567-5

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