The Potent Humanin Analogue (HNG) Protects Germ Cells and Leucocytes While Enhancing Chemotherapy-Induced Suppression of Cancer Metastases in Male Mice

Endocrinology. 2015 Dec;156(12):4511-21. doi: 10.1210/en.2015-1542. Epub 2015 Sep 18.

Abstract

Humanin is a peptide that is cytoprotective against stresses in many cell types. We investigated whether a potent humanin analogue S14G-humanin (HNG) would protect against chemotherapy-induced damage to normal cells without interfering with the chemotherapy-induced suppression of cancer cells. Young adult male mice were inoculated iv with murine melanoma cells. After 1 week, cancer-bearing mice were randomized to receive either: no treatment, daily ip injection of HNG, a single ip injection of cyclophosphamide (CP), or CP+HNG and killed at the end of 3 weeks. HNG rescued the CP-induced suppression of leucocytes and protected germ cell from CP-induced apoptosis. Lung metastases were suppressed by HNG or CP alone, and further suppressed by CP+HNG treatment. Plasma IGF-1 levels were suppressed by HNG with or without CP treatment. To investigate whether HNG maintains its protective effects on spermatogonial stem cells, sperm output, and peripheral leucocytes after repeated doses of CP, normal adult male mice received: no treatment, daily sc injection of HNG, 6 ip injections of CP at 5-day intervals, and the same regimens of CP+HNG and killed at the end of 4 weeks of treatment. Cauda epididymal sperm counts were elevated by HNG and suppressed by CP. HNG rescued the CP-induced suppression of spermatogonial stem cells, sperm count and peripheral leucocytes. We conclude that HNG 1) protects CP-induced loss of male germ cells and leucocytes, 2) enhances CP-induced suppression of cancer metastases, and 3) acts as a caloric-restriction mimetic by suppressing IGF-1 levels. Our findings suggest that humanin analogues may be promising adjuvants to chemotherapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Cyclophosphamide / pharmacology*
  • Germ Cells / drug effects
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 / blood
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 / drug effects
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / drug effects
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / metabolism
  • Leukocytes / drug effects*
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Male
  • Melanoma / drug therapy*
  • Melanoma / secondary
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Protective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Random Allocation
  • Sperm Count
  • Spermatozoa / drug effects*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • Gly(14)-Humanin
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1
  • Peptides
  • Protective Agents
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • Cyclophosphamide