Nanoliposomal C6-ceramide liposome treatment induces complete remission in LGL leukemic rats. (A). The Kaplan-Meier survival curves for normal rats (n = 14) or leukemic rats without treatment (n = 14) or with treatment of 40 mg/kg ghost (n = 14) or C6 nanoliposome (n = 14), were plotted. Dashed arrow indicates the start of the treatment. (B) Maintenance of normal white blood counts, hemoglobin values, and platelet counts in responding leukemic rats treated with nanoliposomal C6-ceramide. Blood (200μL) from untreated leukemic rats (n = 14), leukemic rats treated with ghost nanoliposome (n = 14), C6-ceramide nanoliposome (n = 14), and normal rats (n = 14) was collected every week from tail veins of the animals and placed in EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) K2–coated tubes, then complete blood count analysis was performed. Arrow indicates the cessation of the treatment. (C) In vivo therapy with nanoliposomal C6-ceramide leads to resolution of organomegaly in responding LGL leukemic rats. The weight of spleen, liver, and thymus were measured in untreated leukemic rats (n = 14), leukemic rats treated with ghost nanoliposome (n = 14), C6-ceramide nanoliposome-responsive rats (n = 5), and normal rats (n = 14). *P < .05, ***P < .0005 indicates significance between ghost and C6-ceramide nanoliposome–treated samples (unpaired t test). D). Flow cytometry was used to identify rat LGL leukemic cells, which are CD3−CD8a+. Comparison of CD3−CD8a+ NK cells isolated from multiple tissues among normal rats (n = 14), leukemic rats treated with ghost (n = 14), or from rats responsive to C6 nanoliposome treatment (n = 5). Note: elimination of leukemic cells after nanoliposomal C6-ceramide therapy in PBMCs, marrow, and lung. Values shown are the mean, with SD in parentheses. ***P < .0005 indicates significance between ghost and C6-ceramide nanoliposome–treated samples (unpaired t test).
