Cellular Uptake and Localization of Hematoporphyrin Derivatives in Lung Adenocarcinoma A549, Squamous Carcinoma H520 and Small Cell Carcinoma H446 Cell Lines
Author(s): Yijiang Ma, Xiaoqian Ding, Aihua Sui, Xiaohui Yang, Shichao Cui, Yiwei Cao and Cunzhi Lin*
To select bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cell line as control, cellular uptake and localization of Hematoporphyrin derivatives (HPD) were compared between normal bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B), various lung cancer cell lines, as well as between lung cancer cell lines. Cellular uptake of HPD was quantified by fluorescence intensity with a multifunctional microplate reader and flow cytometry. Laser scanning confocal microscopy was used to observe and compare the cellular distribution of HPD. In a certain concentration range, HPD concentration was positively correlated with fluorescence intensity. Cellular uptake of HPD increased over time in four cell lines. The average fluorescence intensity in the four cells was significantly different (P<0.0001). The four cell lines showed red fluorescent signals of varying intensities, and all were distributed in the cytoplasm. In vitro experiments show that there are differences in HPD uptake between four cell lines: the ability to take HPD in A549 cells is the strongest, followed by BEAS-2B cells and H446 cells, and the uptake ability of HPD in H520 cells is the weakest. The photosensitizer HPD is located in the cytoplasm of both cell lines, showing a punctate distribution.