# Preparation and characterization of renal cell peptides from fetal rats for their antitumor activity

**Authors:** Zhe Zhang, Yuan Cao, Jing Du, Ying Zhang, Junxia Wang, Ying Yuan, Lianqing Sun

PMC · DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.70075 · FEBS Open Bio · 2025-06-26

## TL;DR

Researchers isolated and tested peptides from fetal rat kidneys, finding some that effectively kill various cancer cells in a lab setting.

## Contribution

The study introduces novel renal cell peptides from fetal rats with demonstrated antitumor activity against multiple cancer cell lines.

## Key findings

- RCP1, RCP5, and RCP6 showed strong cytotoxic effects against several human cancer cell lines.
- The peptides reduced cancer cell viability in a dose-dependent manner.
- Protease-digested products under 3 kDa significantly inhibited MCF-7 cell growth.

## Abstract

Bioactive peptides with potent antitumor activity are attractive therapeutic agents. The present study aimed to prepare renal cell peptides (RCPs) from fetal rats to test their antitumor activities in vitro. Candidate peptides were characterized by capillary HPLC and MS and their bioactivity was predicted using PeptideRanker. The predicted top 10 bioactive peptides were synthesized and tested for their cytotoxicity against different types of tumor cells by cell counting kit‐8 assays and their half maximal inhibitory concentration values were calculated. Protease‐digested < 3 kDa protein products reduced the viability of Michigan Cancer Foundation (MCF)‐7 cells in a dose‐dependent manner. Functionally, many candidate peptides were predicted to have antitumor activity and the top ten peptides (RCPs 1–10) were synthesized. Interestingly, RCP1, 5 and 6 displayed preferable cytotoxicity against human cancer MCF‐7, A549, HCT‐116, Hela, HepG2 and SGC‐7901 cells and their cytotoxicity was dose‐dependent. RCPs prepared from fetal rats displayed potent cytotoxicity preferably against different types of cancer cells in vitro in a dose‐dependent manner which may be valuable for the treatment of malignant tumors.

This study aimed to prepare renal cells (RCs) from fetal rats which were digested by enzymes. Candidate peptides RCPs were characterized by capillary HPLC and MS and their bioactivity was predicted using peptideranker. The predicted top 10 bioactive peptides were synthesized. Interestingly, RCP1, 5 and 6 displayed preferable cytotoxicity against different types of cancer cells in vitro in a dose‐dependent manner.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** cancer (MONDO:0004992)
- **Species:** Rattus norvegicus (taxon 10116)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** cytotoxicity (MESH:D064420), Cancer (MESH:D009369)
- **Chemicals:** RCP1 (-)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Rattus norvegicus (brown rat, species) [taxon 10116]
- **Cell lines:** HepG2 — Homo sapiens (Human), Hepatoblastoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0027), MCF-7 — Homo sapiens (Human), Invasive breast carcinoma of no special type, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0031), SGC-7901 — Homo sapiens (Human), Human papillomavirus-related endocervical adenocarcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0520), A549 — Homo sapiens (Human), Lung adenocarcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0023), HCT-116 — Homo sapiens (Human), Colon carcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0291), Hela — Homo sapiens (Human), Human papillomavirus-related endocervical adenocarcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0030)

## Full text

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## Figures

4 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12582985/full.md

## References

43 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12582985/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12582985