Lectin from vatairea macrocarpa (benth.) Ducke exhibits selective cytotoxicity and angiogenesis inhibition in lung cancer cells

Abstract

Angiogenesis plays a vital role in tumor development, and its inhibition, along with selective cytotoxicity, represents a promising strategy for cancer treatment. Lectins, carbohydrate-binding proteins, have demonstrated dual potential in blocking angiogenesis and selectively targeting tumor cells. This study investigates the antiangiogenic and cytotoxic properties of Vatairea macrocarpa lectin (VML) through the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay and tests on normal VERO cells and tumor cell lines A549, SH-SY5Y, S180, and B16-F10. VML exhibited selective cytotoxicity exclusively against A549 lung carcinoma cells, with an IC50 of 97.21 μg/mL, showing no significant toxicity to other lines. In the CAM assay, VML significantly inhibited neovascularization triggered by A549 cells, reaching 70.38% inhibition at 100 μg/mL. Immunohistochemical analyses confirmed the suppression of angiogenesis by showing decreased expression of VEGF and TGF-β. Histological assessments also revealed reductions in new vessel formation, inflammatory cell infiltration, fibroblast presence, and membrane thickening. These results highlight VML’s dual role in inhibiting angiogenesis and exerting selective cytotoxicity, likely due to its specific interaction with tumor-associated carbohydrates. Consequently, VML emerges as a potential candidate for targeted cancer therapy or as a complementary therapeutic agent. Further research is necessary to fully understand the molecular mechanisms underlying its antitumor activity.