Characterization of cationic liposomes having IL-2 expressed on their external surface, and their affinity to cervical cancer cells expressing the IL-2 receptor

Abstract

Anionic, cationic, and neutral liposomes were constructed to contain IL-2 in order to evaluate their affinity to a cervical cancer cell line (INBL) and to determine whether they can present IL-2 on their external surface. When these liposomes were co-cultured with INBL, the anionic liposomes were the only ones found to be cytotoxic. When neutral and cationic liposomes were constructed in the presence of IL-2, IL-2 was detected only on the surface of cationic liposomes by using a fluorescent anti-IL-2 antibody. By co-culturing INBL with IL-2-containing cationic liposomes, and by using fluorescent anti-IL-2 antibody, we found a strong IL-2 presence on the cell membranes thus suggesting a high affinity of the liposomes to the INBL cells.

Keywords::

• IL-2 liposomes
• cervical cancer
• cationic liposomes
• IL-2 receptor

Acknowledgments

Authors acknowledge support from DGAPA, UNAM IN216502, and IN220108 grants. The authors thank Margarita Cruz Millán for assistance in image processing and José Chavarría for excellent technical assistance.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.