Anti-PF4 antibody inhibit proliferation of lung cancer cells without TP53 mutation by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest

Background

Elevated platelet count is correlated with poor survival of lung cancer. Platelet factor 4 (PF4), a platelet-specific protein, plays an important role in platelet function. Emerging evidence suggests that regulation of PF4 can modulate platelet function to impact the progression of lung cancer.

Methods

Anti-PF4 antibody was used to neutralise PF4 to regulate platelet function in the co-culture of platelets and lung cancer cells lines of H1299 and A549. The proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle were examined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) test and flow cytometry.

Results

Anti-PF4 antibody inhibited the proliferation of H1299 and A549 cells when stimulated with platelets, yet induced cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis only in A549, not H1299. The proliferation, cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were not affected by anti-PF4 antibody in A549^TP53‒ cells.

Conclusion

Anti-PF4 antibody exerted anti-proliferative effects by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in lung cancer cells without TP53 mutation via p53 signalling pathway when stimulated with platelets.