ovalbumin and phthalocyanine

Photodynamic therapy, unlikely to elicit drug-resistance, deserves attention as a strategy to counter this outstanding problem common to the chemotherapy of all diseases. Previously, we have broadened the applicability of this modality to photodynamic vaccination by exploiting the unusual properties of the trypanosomatid protozoa, Leishmania, i.e., their innate ability of homing to the phagolysosomes of the antigen-presenting cells and their selective photolysis therein, using transgenic mutants endogenously inducible for porphyrin accumulation. Here, we extended the utility of this host-parasite model for in vitro photodynamic therapy and vaccination by exploring exogenously supplied photosensitizers. Seventeen novel phthalocyanines (Pcs) were screened in vitro for their photolytic activity against cultured Leishmania. Pcs rendered cationic and soluble (csPcs) for cellular uptake were phototoxic to both parasite and host cells, i.e., macrophages and dendritic cells. The csPcs that targeted to mitochondria were more photolytic than those restricted to the endocytic compartments. Treatment of infected cells with endocytic csPcs resulted in their accumulation in Leishmania-containing phagolysosomes, indicative of reaching their target for photodynamic therapy, although their parasite versus host specificity is limited to a narrow range of csPc concentrations. In contrast, Leishmania pre-loaded with csPc were selectively photolyzed intracellularly, leaving host cells viable. Pre-illumination of such csPc-loaded Leishmania did not hinder their infectivity, but ensured their intracellular lysis. Ovalbumin (OVA) so delivered by photo-inactivated OVA transfectants to mouse macrophages and dendritic cells were co-presented with MHC Class I molecules by these antigen presenting cells to activate OVA epitope-specific CD8+T cells. The in vitro evidence presented here demonstrates for the first time not only the potential of endocytic csPcs for effective photodynamic therapy against Leishmania but also their utility in photo-inactivation of Leishmania to produce a safe carrier to express and deliver a defined antigen with enhanced cell-mediated immunity.

Topics: Animals; Antigen Presentation; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cell Line; Dendritic Cells; Drug Discovery; Endocytosis; HLA Antigens; Host-Parasite Interactions; Indoles; Intracellular Space; Isoindoles; Leishmania; Light; Macrophages; Mice; Mitochondria; Ovalbumin; Phagosomes; Photochemotherapy; Photolysis; Solubility; Substrate Specificity

A novel method for the determination of proteins by using tetracarboxy manganese(II) phthalocyanine (MnC4Pc) as a resonance light scattering (RLS) probe has been developed. At pH 3.0 Britton-Robinson (B-R) buffer solution, the RLS intensity of MnC4Pc at 385 nm is greatly enhanced in the presence of proteins. The effects of pH, reaction time, concentration of MnC4Pc and interfering substances on the enhanced RLS intensity are investigated, respectively. Under optimal conditions, the linear ranges of the calibration curves are 0-2.00 microg mL(-1) for bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA), 0.0-1.75 microg mL(-1) for human-IgG and ovalbumin, with a detection limit of 16.37 ng mL(-1) BSA, 17.62 ng mL(-1) HSA, 19.41 ng mL(-1) human-IgG and 20.72 ng mL(-1) ovalbumin. The method has been applied to the determination of total proteins in human serum samples collected from a hospital and the results are in good agreement with those reported by the hospital.

Topics: Animals; Buffers; Calibration; Cattle; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Immunoglobulin G; Indoles; Isoindoles; Light; Manganese; Organometallic Compounds; Ovalbumin; Proteins; Scattering, Radiation; Serum Albumin, Bovine; Spectrometry, Fluorescence