The Effect of Murine Herpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) Related Growth Factor 68 (MHGF-68) on the Tumor Progression in Athymic Nude Mice

In this study the effect of MHV-68 related growth factor 68 (MHGF-68) on initiation and progression of tumor growth using fractions in various stages of purification and treated with various chemical methods was demonstrated. The biological sample in the form of culture medium of BHK-21 cells infected with Murine herpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) was fractionated using conventional chemical procedures (dilution by deionized water and physiological solution pH 7.2, centrifugation and extraction with n-butanol and chloroform) and different chromatographic techniques. All obtained fractions were tested for biological activity. In the experiments were used 4 weeks old athymic nude mice, subcutaneously infected with the suspension of tumor Hepa 1c1c7 cells. Within 8 days post administration tumor proliferation was observed. Subsequently intravenously administered MHGF-68 fractions 1B1 and 1D2 with the antiproliferative effect were tested in vivo to see their inhibitory activity on the initiation or progression of tumor growth in mice. Tumors in experimental mice treated with MHGF-68 fractions exhibited decreased growth of tumors in comparison to control mice. These data show that tumor xenografts were suppressed after treatment with 1B1 and 1D2 fractions of MHGF-68. Taken together, the promising potential of MHGF-68 in modulating tumor growth could be used as a foundation for development of novel cancer treatment measures with antiproliferative effects.