组蛋白去乙酰化酶抑制剂SAHA对胰腺癌细胞Patu8988 的放射增敏作用

目的:探讨组蛋白去乙酰化酶抑制剂SAHA对胰腺癌Patu8988细胞增殖的影响和放射增敏作用。方法:用含不同浓度(0、0.5、1、2、4、6、8μmo L/L)SAHA的培养基分别培养胰腺癌Patu8988细胞12、24、36和48 h,采用MTT比色法检测SAHA作用细胞的生长抑制作用,计算IC50。设空白对照组和SAHA处理组(20%IC50 SAHA作用24 h),予6MV-X射线(0、2、4、6、8Gy)照射,克隆形成实验法检测SAHA对Patu8988细胞的放射增敏作用,单靶多击模型拟合细胞存活曲线,计算放射相关参数D0、Dq值和放射增敏比。Western blot法检测不同浓度(0、4、8、12μmo L/L)SAHA对Patu8988细胞内组蛋白H4乙酰化水平、Ku70和Bax蛋白表达的影响。结果:SAHA可抑制Patu8988细胞增殖,呈浓度和时间依赖性,48 h的IC50为5.40μmol/L。SAHA联合放疗处理Patu8988细胞的克隆形成率明显低于单独放疗处理,D0分别为1.513、2.229,Dq分别为0.783、1.321,放射增敏比(SER)为1.47。SAHA可增加Patu8988细胞内组蛋白H4乙酰化水平,抑制DNA修复蛋白Ku70表达,促进凋亡相关基因Bax表达,呈剂量依赖性,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:SAHA可以浓度和时间依赖性方式抑制胰腺癌Patu8988细胞的增殖,并具有放射增敏作用,抑制断裂DNA双链修复及促进凋亡可能是其作用机制之一。     

高温逆转人胃癌细胞SGC7901多药耐药性的初步研究

目的:观察高温对人胃癌耐药细胞多药耐药性的逆转作用.方法:对人胃癌耐药细胞株SGC7901/ADM予高温43℃处理,用MTT试验检测高温对ADM、5-FU、DDP、TAX作用下细胞生存率和IC50,并以人胃癌敏感细胞株SG-C7901为对照.结果:实验发现人胃癌耐药株sGc7901/ADM细胞除了对诱导耐药的ADM耐受,对CDDP、5-FU、TAX也有交叉耐药.加温至43℃,耐药株SGC7901/ADM细胞的耐药指数明显下降,而且对ADM组、CDDP组、TAX组人胃癌耐药株SGC7901/ADM细胞耐药逆转倍数分别为3.77、2.24、6.25,但对5-FU组SGC7901/ADM细胞的耐药逆转指数较低,为1.11.结论:高温可以增加耐药株SGC7901/ADM细胞对化疗药物ADM、DDP、TAX的敏感性,一定程度逆转细胞的多药耐药性.     

RNAi沉默Snail增加结肠癌对5氟尿嘧啶敏感性研究

目的:研究Snail的抑制是否能增加耐药结肠癌细胞对5-FU的敏感性,评估其可能的信号转导通路。方法:使用5-氟尿嘧啶耐药HCT116细胞(HCT116/5-FU),评估细胞形态及分子的变化。通过靶向人Snail基因小干扰RNA(si RNA)抑制Snail的表达。Annexin V/PI染色用于评估5-FU诱导的细胞凋亡。Western blot检测caspase以及可能的丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)和线粒体途径。结果:HCT116细胞对5-Fu耐药性的获得诱导了与EMT一致的形态学变化。RNA干扰沉默Snail逆转HCT116/5-FU细胞EMT并增加了5-FU耐药HCT116细胞对5-FU的敏感性。可能的机制涉及JNK与线粒体途径的激活。结论:EMT样表型的改变与HCT116细胞对5-FU耐药相关;si RNA介导的Snail下调可能是一个潜在的克服5-FU化疗耐药的治疗方法。     

参麦注射液对肺腺癌耐药细胞株的逆转作用

本研究探讨了参麦注射液对人肺腺癌耐药细胞株A549/DTX(多西他赛)的耐药逆转作用,并初步分析其作用机制。以MTT法检测参麦注射液、多西他赛及联合应用对耐药细胞株的增殖抑制率,并计算耐药逆转倍数。用流式细胞术测定参麦注射液联合多西他赛对A549/DTX细胞株的促凋亡作用;用Western blotting分析参麦注射液对A549/DTX细胞株的凋亡相关蛋白Bax和Bcl-2表达水平的影响。研究表明,参麦注射液增加耐药细胞株对DTX的敏感性,耐药逆转倍数为3.92,并明显增强DTX对A549/DTX细胞株的促凋亡作用。同时抑制了Bcl-2和P-gp蛋白表达,与对照组相比差异显著(p0.05)。故参麦注射液能部分逆转A549/DTX细胞株耐药性,其作用通过诱导细胞凋亡及降低P-gp表达实现。     

染料木素抑制人胰腺癌细胞株PANC-1细胞增殖机制的研究

目的探讨不同浓度染料木素对胰腺癌细胞作用及其抑癌基因表达的研究。方法本实验共分实验组(80,120,160,200μmol/L)的染料木素、空白对照组(PBS)和标准对照(吉西他滨)。各组培养基处理细胞12,24,36,48,60 h后,细胞计数试剂盒(CCK-8)法检测人胰腺癌细胞株PANC-1在染料木素作用下的增殖活性;流式细胞术检测人胰腺癌细胞株PANC-1在染料木素木素作用下的凋亡细胞百分率;用逆转录-聚合酶连反应(RTPCR)方法测定P53及P21抑癌基因的表达;Western-blot法检测抑癌基因P53和P21的蛋白表达水平。细胞凋亡与细胞基因mRNA采用的是LSD法,细胞增殖数据采用的是配对t检验。结果流式细胞术显示,人胰腺癌细胞株PANC-1处理后60 h时在不同浓度(80,120,160,200μmol/L)的染料木素作用下细胞凋亡率分别为(3.72±1.58)﹪、(35.98±3.76)﹪、(51.36±4.32)﹪和(64.10±2.09)﹪。吉西他滨(gemcitabine,GEM)组为(43.45±5.28)﹪,不同浓度染料木素组与标准对照组间比较差异有统计学意义(均P<0.01);细胞增殖效果:160μmol/L与200μmol/L、120μmol/L与200μmol/L、200μmol/L与吉西他滨组之间比较,均有统计学意义(P<0.01),而160μmol/L与吉西他滨组比较无统计学意义(P>0.05);Western-blot检测蛋白水平显示160μmol/L和200μmol/L染料木素相对于空白对照能够明显的增强抑癌基因P21和P53的蛋白水平的表达,相对于标准组没有明显的差异。结论染料木素可以抑制人胰腺癌细胞株PANC-1增殖,并且初步探索了这种抑制作用表现出浓度及时间依赖性。     

N糖基取代的沙利度胺新衍生物对人鼻咽癌细胞耐药逆转作用研究

肿瘤细胞对化疗药物产生耐药性是化疗失败的主要原因,发展新型的耐药逆转剂是克服肿瘤细胞耐药的重要策略之一．首先采用浓度梯度递增法诱导建立对紫杉醇(Taxol,TAX)耐药的人鼻咽癌(KB)细胞耐药株(KB/TAX),再通过细胞毒性检测、流式细胞仪分析、Western blotting和RT-PCR等方法鉴定耐药细胞株的特征,研究沙利度胺新衍生物邻苯二甲酰亚氨基葡萄糖苷(STA-35)对该耐药细胞株的耐药逆转作用与可能的分子机制．实验结果表明,KB/TAX细胞对多种化疗药物产生抗性,对TAX的耐药指数达73.1．与亲本细胞相比,耐药细胞内P-糖蛋白(P-glucoprotein,P-gp)的功能与表达均增强、多药耐药基因mdr1表达量增加．N糖基取代的沙利度胺新衍生物STA-35可显著抑制KB/TAX细胞及其亲本KB生长,与TAX联合应用时可降低KB/TAX细胞对TAX的耐药指数．此外,STA-35(5～20 μmol/L)可浓度依赖地提高KB/TAX细胞中罗丹明123的蓄积量、抑制P-gp的表达,但对mdr1基因表达无明显作用．研究表明,N糖基取代的沙利度胺新衍生物STA-35能够逆转KB/TAX细胞对TAX的耐药性,可能的分子机制与其抑制P-gp功能和蛋白质表达相关．     

灵芝酸T提高多药耐药性肿瘤细胞对阿霉素敏感性的初步研究

本文分析并探讨了灵芝酸T提高多药耐药性肿瘤细胞(KB-A-1/Dox)对阿霉素敏感性的效果及可能的机理。结果表明:灵芝酸T在较高浓度下对阿霉素敏感型和耐药型肿瘤细胞均表现出细胞毒性并诱导细胞凋亡,IC50约为50μg/mL;经5μg/mL灵芝酸T处理后,阿霉素对多药耐药性肿瘤细胞作用的IC50值减少到0.103μg/mL,与阿霉素对照组的IC502.294μg/mL相比,细胞毒性增加了22.3倍,逆转了肿瘤细胞对阿霉素的多药耐药性。同时灵芝酸T处理可使多药耐药性肿瘤细胞内阿霉素和Rhodamin123含量分别增加40%、20%。以上结果提示灵芝酸T能提高多药耐药性肿瘤细胞对阿霉素的敏感性。     

结合肽P201与5-氟尿嘧啶联合用药对肝癌HepG2细胞的协同杀伤作用及抗耐药分子机制

目的:采用多种方法探究FoxM1/mdr1信号调控的结合肽P201与5-氟尿嘧啶(5FU)联合用药对肝癌细胞HepG2的协同杀伤作用及抗耐药分子机制。方法:CCK-8法测定联合用药对HepG2细胞的抑制杀伤作用;吖啶橙/溴化乙锭(AO-EB)荧光双染、AnnexinⅤ-FITC/PI流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡;细胞划痕和Transwell细胞迁移实验检测HepG2细胞迁移能力;最后通过qRT-PCR和Western印迹检测HepG2细胞中FoxM1、mdr1和ABCG2等耐药相关基因在mRNA水平和蛋白水平的表达量。结果:联合用药[P201(45.0μg/mL)+5FU(100.0μg/mL)]作用48h抑制率达83.8%,作用24h的抑制率为77.8%,显著高于单独用药(P<0.001);流式细胞术检测联合用药细胞凋亡率达43.4%,而单独用药分别为19.4%、25.1%;联合用药在mRNA水平可显著下调HepG2细胞中的FoxM1、mdr1耐药基因,与蛋白水平结果一致;联合用药可显著抑制HepG2细胞的迁移。结论:联合用药对HepG2细胞有强的抑制杀伤作用,在促进细胞凋亡的同时可显著抑制HepG2细胞迁移,且通过下调FoxM1、mdr1和ABCG2等耐药基因和蛋白的表达,增加HepG2细胞对5FU的敏感性。提示P201可提升肿瘤细胞对化疗药物的敏感性,减少抗癌药物的副作用。     

大黄素对顺铂耐药卵巢癌细胞的逆转作用及其相关基因表达研究

为了研究大黄素对人卵巢癌耐药细胞株SKOV3/DDP细胞耐药逆转作用及其机制,本研究以卵巢癌SK-OV3和多药耐药细胞株SKOV3/DDP为研究对象,通过噻唑蓝(MTT)法测定SKOV3/DDP细胞的耐药指数和大黄素在无细胞毒浓度下对卵巢癌细胞耐受顺铂(DDP)的逆转作用;采用Real-time PCR技术检测耐药相关基因HIF-1α、STAT1、CK2α、GSTP1 mRNA表达情况。结果发现无细胞毒作用浓度的7.8 mg/L和3.9 mg/L大黄素能逆转SKOV3/DDP细胞对DDP的耐药性,对DDP的逆转倍数分别为1.91倍和1.30倍,与SKOV3比较,SKOV3/DDP细胞的HIF-1α、STAT1、CK2α、GSTP1 mRNA表达明显升高(P<0.01)。3.9 mg/L和7.8 mg/L大黄素作用均可下调HIF-1α、CK2α、STAT1 mRNA表达,存在剂量-效应依赖关系。7.8 mg/L大黄素作用可下调GSTP1 mR-NA表达,但3.9 mg/L大黄素作用不明显。7.8 mg/L和3.9 mg/L大黄素联合IC50浓度的DDP时,四个耐药相关基因的表达与单独化疗药组作用相比明显下调(P<0.01)。提示无细胞毒浓度的大黄素对卵巢癌细胞耐药逆转的作用可能是通过下调HIF-1α、STAT1、GSTP1、CK2α的表达起作用。     

miR-155-TP53INP1调节轴在结直肠癌化疗药物敏感性中的作用机制

摘要 目的：初步揭示miR-155通过靶向调节TP53INP1表达水平影响结直肠癌细胞对5-FU化疗敏感性。方法：将人结肠直肠癌细胞系HCT116进行培养,提取细胞总RNA后,采用miR-155逆转录特异性引物构建反转录体系进行PCR扩增,通过qRT-PCR检测miR-155在5-FU耐药细胞HCT116/FU及敏感细胞株HCT116中的表达情况;取对数生长期细胞,分别转染miR-155mimics、miR-155抑制剂、miR-155阴性对照后,采用CCK-8法检测miR-155对细胞5-FU药物敏感性的影响,双荧光素酶报告基因系统验证miR-155与TP53INP1的靶基因关系,Western blot检测miR-155对 TP53INP1表达的影响。结果：miR-155在HCT116 /Fu细胞中的表达量是HCT116细胞的7.25倍;在相同5-FU浓度时,HCT116+阴性对照的细胞生长抑制率均高于HCT116+mimics、半数抑制浓度显著低于HCT116+mimics,差异均具有统计学意义(P＜0.05);TP53INP1是miR-155的靶基因,能显著降低野生型TP53INP1 3''-UTR的荧光素酶活性;转染miR-155 mimics后,TP53INP1的相对表达量显著下降,转染miR-155抑制剂后,TP53INP1的相对表达量显著升高,差异均具有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。结论：miR-155水平升高使HCT116细胞对5-FU的敏感性降低,miR-155可能通过靶向调节TP53INP1的表达水平,从而影响结直肠癌细胞对5-FU的敏感性。     

Tetrandrine enhances radiosensitivity through the CDC25C/CDK1/cyclin B1 pathway in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

The increasing resistance of nasopharyngeal carcinoma to irradiation makes the exploration of effective radiosensitizers necessary. Tetrandrine is known to be an antitumor drug, but little is known regarding its radiosensitization effect on nasopharyngeal carcinoma. We investigated the effect of combined treatment of irradiation and maximum non-cytotoxic doses of tetrandrine on the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines CNE1 and CNE2. The maximum non-cytotoxic doses of tetrandrine in CNE1 and CNE2 cells were assessed using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. The radiosensitization of cells receiving the maximum non-cytotoxic doses of tetrandrine was assessed by evaluating cell proliferation and DNA damage repair using MTT, clonogenic, comet assays and detection of caspase-3 and phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX). The cell cycle was assessed by flow cytometry, and protein expression was detected by western blot analysis. The maximum non-cytotoxic doses of tetrandrine in CNE1 and CNE2 cells were 1.5 μmol/L and 1.8 μmol/L, respectively. When cells were exposed to irradiation and the maximum non-cytotoxic doses of tetrandrine, the survival fraction was decreased. DNA damage and γ-H2AX levels markedly increased. Moreover, tetrandrine abrogated the G2/M phase arrest caused by irradiation. Combined treatment with the maximum non-cytotoxic dose of tetrandrine and irradiation caused suppression of the phosphorylation of CDK1 and CDC25C and increase in the expression of cyclin B1. The study in vivo also showed that the maximum non-cytotoxic dose of tetrandrine could reduce tumor growth in xenograft tumor model. Our results suggest that the maximum non-cytotoxic dose of tetrandrine can enhance the radiosensitivity of CNE1 and CNE2 cells and that the underlying mechanism could be associated with abrogation of radiation-induced G2/M arrest via activation of the CDC25C/CDK1/Cyclin B1 pathway.     

六氯苯对PC-12细胞凋亡的影响

目的：探讨环境内分泌干扰物六氯苯对PC-12细胞凋亡的影响及其可能机制。方法：采用体外细胞培养方法,5%CO2 37℃恒温条件下,将PC-12细胞培养于含10%灭活胎牛血清的高糖DMEM培养基中。0、1、10、20、100、200μmol.L-1六氯苯处理组,每组设3组复孔,培养24 h后应用Cell Counting Kit-8试剂盒进行六氯苯对PC-12细胞增殖和毒性分析;流式细胞术FITC-An-nexinV/PI双染检测细胞凋亡率;Hoechst33258染色及倒置荧光显微镜拍摄细胞平片,观察细胞形态学改变;免疫印记法（Western blot）检测相关蛋白PLCγ及ERK蛋白磷酸化表达变化。结果：随着六氯苯浓度增加,细胞凋亡率升高,呈剂量依赖关系;Hoechst33258染色可见细胞核膨大、染色质边集浓染等凋亡特征;与对照组相比p-PLCγ及p-ERK1/2表达均降低,呈剂量依赖效用。结论：六氯苯能够诱导PC-12细胞凋亡,p-PLCγ及p-ERK1/2信号通路可能在此过程中发挥作用。     

Carcinoembryonic antigen expression level as a predictive factor for response to 5-fluorouracil in colorectal cancer

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) expression has been shown to protect cancer cell lines from apoptosis and anoikis. The aim of this study was to further elucidate the role of CEA expression on resistance to anticancer drugs in human colorectal cancer (CRC). We transfected CEA negative CRC cell line SW742 as well as CHO cells to overexpress CEA and their chemoresistance were assessed by MTT assay. In comparison to the parental cell lines, transfected cells had significantly increased resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The results also showed a direct correlation between the amount of cellular CEA protein and 5-FU resistance in CEA expressing cells. We found no significant difference in sensitivity to cisplatin and methotrexate between CEA-transfected cells and their counter parental cells. We also compared the association between CEA expression and chemoresistance of 4 CRC cell lines which differed in the levels of CEA production. The CEA expression levels in monolayer cultures of these cell lines did not correlate with the 5-FU resistance. However, 5-FU treatment resulted in the selection of sub-populations of resistant cells that displayed increased CEA expression levels by increasing drug concentration. We analyzed the effect of 5-FU in a 3D multicellular culture generated from the two CRC cell lines, LS180 and HT29/219. Compared with monolayer culture, CEA production and 5-FU resistance in both cell lines were stimulated by 3D growth. In comparison to the 3D spheroids of parental CHO, we observed a significantly elevated 5-FU resistance in 3D culture of the CEA-expressing CHO transfectants. Our findings suggest that the CEA level may be a suitable biomarker for predicting tumor response to 5-FU-based chemotherapy in CRC.     

Chemical Constituents of Primulina eburnea (Gesneriaceae) and Their Cytotoxic Activities

Two new ursane-type triterpenes, eburnealactones A and B ( 1 and 2 ), one new flavonoid, eburneatin A ( 6 ), and one new phenylethanoid glycoside, chiritoside D ( 7 ), along with 9 known compounds ( 3–5 , 8–13 ) were isolated from the whole plant of Primulina eburnea. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis (IR, UV, NMR, and HR-ESI-MS). All the compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities. Compound 1 showed significant cytotoxic activities against MKN-45 cell lines and 5637 cell lines with the IC₅₀ values of 9.57 μM and 8.30 μM, respectively. Compound 1 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities against A549 and PATU8988T cell lines with the IC₅₀ values of 30.70 μM and 38.22 μM, respectively. Compound 6 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities against MKN-45, HCT116, PATU8988T, 5637 and A-673 cell lines with the IC₅₀ values of 19.69 μM, 16.44 μM, 18.07 μM, 11.51 μM and 18.15 μM, respectively. Compound 5 showed moderate cytotoxic activities against A549 cell lines with the IC₅₀ values of 24.06 μM.     

三氧化二砷对人脐静脉内皮细胞凋亡及VCAM-1/ICAM-1 表达的影响

目的:观察三氧化二砷(As2O3)对血管内皮细胞增殖、凋亡及VCAM-1/ICAM-1表达的影响,探讨As2O3对血管内皮细胞增殖生长以及炎症反应的影响。方法:人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVEC)体外培养,以不同As2O3浓度及时间对其进行干预。采用CCK-8测定细胞增殖活性,流式细胞仪AnnexinⅤ/PI双染法检测细胞的凋亡率,实时荧光定量PCR检测VCAM-1mRNA表达,酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测细胞间黏附分子(VCAM-1)及血管细胞黏附分子(ICAM-1)的表达情况。结果:当As2O3浓度在3μmol.L-1时HUVEC培养24 h的的凋亡率为(0.134±0.03)%,48 h为(3.305±0.53)%,72 h为(3.748±0.84)%(P<0.05),凋亡率均在一较低水平。当As2O3浓度>3μmol.L-1时HUVEC凋亡率明显增加(P<0.01)。不同浓度As2O3作用HUVEC48 h后检测上清液中ICAM-1与VCAM-1浓度时发现1μmol.L-1时VCAM-1表达即开始增加(123.32±3.78 mmol.L-1,P<0.01),而HUVEC表达ICAM-1含量与对照组相比差异并不明显(38.94±2.59 mmol.L-1,P>0.05),随着As2O3浓度的增加,HUVEC表达ICAM-1/VCAM-1的量均增加但敏感性不同。对照组及(1.0、2.0、3.0、4.0、5.0)μmol.L-1As2O3作用于HUVEC 48 h实时荧光定量PCR法检测VCAM-1mRNA表达量明显增加,与对照组相比实验组的表达量分别为(1.657±0.287,1.858±0.241,2.321±0.280,3.012±0.235,3.508±0.342)(P<0.01)。结论:As2O3可直接降低细胞活性,诱导细胞凋亡,并且呈一定的时间-浓度依赖性。在较低浓度时VCAM-1/ICAM-1的表达在一个相对较低的水平,随着As2O3浓度的逐渐升高,内皮细胞凋亡率增高,VCAM-1/ICAM-1表达增加,并且VCAM-1/ICAM-1对As2O3的敏感性呈现一定的差异性。     

Cytostatic/Cytotoxic Effects of 5‐Fluorouridine Nucleolipids on Colon,Hepatocellular, and Renal Carcinoma Cells: in vitro Identification of a Potential Cytotoxic Multi‐Anticancer Drug

The insufficient penetration through the cell membranes is one of the major drawbacks of chemotherapeutics such as 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU; 1 ). To improve the penetration, a useful strategy is the attachment of lipophilic moieties. Thus, we have synthesized a series of nucleolipid derivatives of 5‐fluorouridine (5‐FUrd; 2a ), carrying lipophilic moieties at N(3) and/or at the 2′,3′‐O position, i.e., 3a, 3b, 4 – 7 , and tested their cytostatic/cytotoxic activities towards three carcinoma cell lines (colon (HT‐29), hepatocellular (HepG2), and renal (RENCA)) in comparison with 5‐FU ( 1 ) and 5‐FUrd ( 2a ). After 48 h of incubation, four derivatives, 3a, 3b, 5 , and 7 , showed inhibitory effects on the survival of HT‐29, HepG2, and RENCA cells. Additionally, to differentiate between anticancer and side‐effects, we tested the cytotoxicity of the derivatives in human macrophages. Interestingly, the derivatives 4, 5 , and 6 did not exhibit any effects on survival of THP‐1 macrophages. Furthermore, we investigated the apoptosis induction of compound 1 and 2a , and the above‐mentioned derivatives in HT‐29 cells. Derivative 5 showed the highest significant (p<0.05; p<0.01) increase of the apoptosis at 80 μM after 2‐h or 4‐h treatment, as well as after 6‐h incubation at 40 μM (p<0.05). Real‐time PCR revealed that 40‐μM derivative 5 showed a 1.8‐fold increase of the pro‐apoptotic caspase‐3 gene and a twofold significant increase (p<0.01 and p<0.05 vs. control and 1 , resp.) of the tumor suppressor TP53 gene, whereas the other compounds did not show any effect. We demonstrated that some 5‐FUrd derivatives such as compound 5 are more effective than 5‐FU or 5‐FUrd concerning a cytotoxic (vs. cytostatic (5‐FU, 5‐FUrd)) effect on different cancer cell lines, but without cytotoxic side‐effects on differentiated macrophages. Thus, compound 5 is suggested as a novel potent cytotoxic multi‐anti‐cancer drug.     

Identification of phosphorylated serine-15 and -82 residues of HSPB1 in 5-fluorouracil-resistant colorectal cancer cells by proteomics

To identify the proteins involved in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) resistance, a comparison of the total and phosphorylated proteins between the human colorectal cancer (CRC) cell line DLD-1 and its 5-FU-resistant subclone DLD-1/5-FU was performed. Using 2-DE and MALDI-TOF/TOF-based proteomics, 17 up-regulated and 19 down-regulated protein spots were identified in the 5-FU-resistant DLD-1/5-FU cells compared with the parent cell lines. In DLD-1/5-FU cells, 7 anti-apoptotic proteins (HSPB1, proteasome subunit α-5, transitional endoplasmic reticulum ATPase, 14-3-3 β, 14-3-3 γ, 14-3-3 σ, and phosphoglycerate kinase 1) were up-regulated and 4 proapoptotic proteins (cofilin-1, pyruvate kinase M2, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and nucleophosmin) were down-regulated. The results show that the acquired drug resistance of DLD-1/5-FU cells is caused by the prevention of drug-induced apoptosis, in particular through the enhanced constitutive expression of HSPB1 and its phosphorylated form. Short interfering RNA knockdown of endogenous HSPB1 in DLD-1/5-FU cells restored the sensitivity to 5-FU. Furthermore, MALDI-TOF/TOF and 2-DE Western blot analysis identified the phosphorylated residues of HSPB1 as Ser-15 and Ser-82 in the main (diphosphorylated) form and Ser-15, Ser-78, and Ser-82 in the minor (triphosphorylated) form. The current findings indicate that phosphorylated HSPB1 may play an important role in 5-FU resistance.     

Knockdown of DNA‐binding protein A enhances the chemotherapy sensitivity of colorectal cancer via suppressing the Wnt/β‐catenin/Chk1 pathway

DNA‐binding protein A (dbpA) is reported to be upregulated in many cancers and associated with tumor progress. The present study aimed to investigate the role of dbpA in 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU)‐resistant and oxaliplatin (L‐OHP)‐resistant colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. We found that 5‐FU and L‐OPH treatment promoted the expression of dbpA. Enhanced dbpA promoted the drug resistance of SW620 cells to 5‐FU and L‐OHP. DbpA knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell apoptosis, and cell cycle arrested in SW620/5‐FU and SW620/L‐OHP cells. Besides, dbpA short hairpin RNA (shRNA) enhanced the cytotoxicity of 5‐FU and L‐OHP to SW620/5‐FU and SW620/L‐OHP cells. Meanwhile, dbpA shRNA inhibited the activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway that induced by 5‐FU stimulation in SW620/5‐FU cells. Activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway or overexpression of checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) abrogated the promoting effect of dbpA downregulation on 5‐FU sensitivity of CRC cells. Importantly, downregulation of dbpA suppressed tumor growth and promoted CRC cells sensitivity to 5‐FU in vivo. Our study indicated that the knockdown of dbpA enhanced the sensitivity of CRC cells to 5‐FU via Wnt/β‐catenin/Chk1 pathway, and DbpA may be a potential therapeutic target to sensitize drug resistance CRC to 5‐FU and L‐OHP.     

The chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil promotes PKR-mediated apoptosis in a p53-independent manner in colon and breast cancer cells

The chemotherapeutic drug 5-FU is widely used in the treatment of a range of cancers, but resistance to the drug remains a major clinical problem. Since defects in the mediators of apoptosis may account for chemo-resistance, the identification of new targets involved in 5-FU-induced apoptosis is of main clinical interest. We have identified the ds-RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) as a key molecular target of 5-FU involved in apoptosis induction in human colon and breast cancer cell lines. PKR distribution and activation, apoptosis induction and cytotoxic effects were analyzed during 5-FU and 5-FU/IFNα treatment in several colon and breast cancer cell lines with different p53 status. PKR protein was activated by 5-FU treatment in a p53-independent manner, inducing phosphorylation of the protein synthesis translation initiation factor eIF-2α and cell death by apoptosis. Furthermore, PKR interference promoted a decreased response to 5-FU treatment and those cells were not affected by the synergistic antitumor activity of 5-FU/IFNα combination. These results, taken together, provide evidence that PKR is a key molecular target of 5-FU with potential relevance in the clinical use of this drug.