Sclerotium rolfsii Lectin Induces Stronger Inhibition of Proliferation in Human Breast Cancer Cells than Normal Human Mammary Epithelial Cells by Induction of Cell Apoptosis

Scleratium rolfsii lectin (SRL) isolated from the phytopathogenic fungus Scierotiurn rolfsii has exquisite binding towards O-linked, Thomsen-Freidenreich (Gal beta 1-3GaINAc alpha l-Ser/Thr, TF) associated glycans. This study invest nfluence of SRL on proliferation of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and ZR-75), non-turriorigenic breast epithelial cells MCF-10A) and normal mammary epithelial cells (HMECs). SRL caused marked, dose-dependent, inhibition of proliferation of CF-7 and ZR-75 cells but only weak inhibition of proliferation of non-tumorigenic MCF-10A and HMEC cells. The inhibitory effect of SRL on cancer cell proliferation was shown to be a consequence of SRL. cell surface binding and subsequent induction of cellular apoptosis, an effect that was largely prevented by the presence of inhibitors against caspases -8, or histochemistry using biotin-labelled SRL showed little binding of SRL to normal human breast tissue but intense Lies. In conclusion, SRL inhibits he growth of human breast cancer cells via induction of cell apoptosis but has subs ally less effect on normal epithelial cells. As a lectin that binds specifically to a cancer-associated glycan, has potential to be developed as an anti-cancer agent