The Ganglioside GM3 Is Associated with Cisplatin-Induced Apoptosis in Human Colon Cancer Cells

Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum, CDDP) is a well-known chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of several cancers. However, the precise mechanism underlying apoptosis of cancer cells induced by CDDP remains unclear. In this study, we show mechanistically that CDDP induces GM3-mediated apoptosis of HCT116 cells by inhibiting cell proliferation, and increasing DNA fragmentation and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis signals. CDDP induced apoptosis within cells through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), regulated the ROS-mediated expression of Bax, Bcl-2, and p53, and induced the degradation of the poly (ADP-ribosyl) polymerase (PARP). We also checked expression levels of different gangliosides in HCT116 cells in the presence or absence of CDDP. Interestingly, among the gangliosides, CDDP augmented the expression of only GM3 synthase and its product GM3. Reduction of the GM3 synthase level through ectopic expression of GM3 small interfering RNA (siRNA) rescued HCT116 cells from CDDP-induced apoptosis. This was evidenced by inhibition of apoptotic signals by reducing ROS production through the regulation of 12-lipoxigenase activity. Furthermore, the apoptotic sensitivity to CDDP was remarkably increased in GM3 synthase-transfected HCT116 cells compared to that in controls. In addition, GM3 synthase-transfected cells treated with CDDP exhibited an increased accumulation of intracellular ROS. These results suggest the CDDP-induced oxidative apoptosis of HCT116 cells is mediated by GM3.     

NDRG1对人肠癌细胞失巢凋亡的影响

目的:探讨NDRG1对体外培养的人肠癌细胞系失巣凋亡的影响。方法:采用慢病毒系统将NDRG1表达单元转入人肠癌细胞系SW620、HCT8中,建立相应的过表达稳定细胞系;通过siRNA的方法干扰HCT116和LOVO细胞系中NDRG1的表达,分别在非贴壁培养的情况下培养48小时,采用流式细胞术和TUNEL染色检测细胞的凋亡情况。结果:在贴壁培养条件下,NDRG1过表达并没有显著影响肠癌细胞的生长及增殖,而NDRG1特异性siRNA干扰HCT116细胞中NDRG1的表达后,其凋亡率无明显变化(P0.05)。在悬浮培养条件下,NDRG1过表达的肠癌细胞的失巢凋亡率显著低于正常对照组(P0.05),而用三种不同的siRNA干扰HCT116及LOVO细胞中NDRG1的表达后,其失巢凋亡率均显著高于正常对照组(P0.05)。结论:NDRG1在体外可抑制人肠癌细胞的失巢凋亡。     

Reduction of Orc6 Expression Sensitizes Human Colon Cancer Cells to 5-Fluorouracil and Cisplatin

Previous studies from our group have shown that the expression levels of Orc6 were highly elevated in colorectal cancer patient specimens and the induction of Orc6 was associated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment. The goal of this study was to investigate the molecular and cellular impact of Orc6 in colon cancer. In this study, we use HCT116 (wt-p53) and HCT116 (null-p53) colon cancer cell lines as a model system to investigate the impact of Orc6 on cell proliferation, chemosensitivity and pathways involved with Orc6. We demonstrated that the down regulation of Orc6 sensitizes colon cancer cells to both 5-FU and cisplatin (cis-pt) treatment. Decreased Orc6 expression in HCT-116 (wt-p53) cells by RNA interference triggered cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. Prolonged inhibition of Orc6 expression resulted in multinucleated cells in HCT-116 (wt-p53) cell line. Western immunoblot analysis showed that down regulation of Orc6 induced p21 expression in HCT-116 (wt-p53) cells. The induction of p21 was mediated by increased level of phosphorylated p53 at ser-15. By contrast, there is no elevated expression of p21 in HCT-116 (null-p53) cells. Orc6 down regulation also increased the expression of DNA damaging repair protein GADD45β and reduced the expression level of JNK1. Orc6 may be a potential novel target for future anti cancer therapeutic development in colon cancer.     

Apoptosis Induction by Wheat-flour Sphingoid Bases in DLD-1 Human Colon Cancer Cells

The apoptotic effects of plant sphingoid bases prepared from wheat-flour cerebroside on human colorectal cancer DLD-1 cells were examined. The viability of DLD-1 cells treated with such plant sphingoid bases was reduced in a dose-dependent manner and was similar to that of cells treated with sphingosine. Morphological changes such as condensed chromatin fragments were found, so those sphingoid bases reduced cell viability through causing apoptosis in these cells.     

利用核磁共振技术检测植物细胞凋亡

在细胞凋亡的研究中,通常以检测细胞核和细胞器的形态改变或生物化学特性变化为指标进行分析.已有的实验表明:动物细胞在凋亡过程中,细胞膜的脂质双分子层发生了一系列生物物理和生物化学改变,如膜电位的改变、磷脂酰丝氨酸由细胞膜内侧向外翻转、细胞膜微粘度的改变等,这些变化会导致细胞中亚甲基信号强度的增加.我们利用质子核磁共振光谱分析(1H-NMR)方法,首次发现用物理和化学方法诱导的烟草(Nicotiana tabacumL. cv.BY-2)和胡萝卜(Daucus carota L.)细胞在凋亡过程中伴随有亚甲基信号强度的明显增加.在用烟酰胺处理的烟草细胞中,亚甲基信号强度的增加与DNA Ladder几乎同时出现,随诱导时间的延长,亚甲基信号强度也逐渐增大,在24 h亚甲基信号强度增加约2倍.而这种特征在坏死的细胞中并不存在.说明亚甲基信号强度的增加是动、植物细胞凋亡过程中所具有的共同特征,1H-NMR技术提供了一种精确可靠的分析植物细胞凋亡的手段,同时由于它所具有的非侵害性的特点,可能在揭示细胞凋亡机制的研究中具有一定的意义.     

表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯对人结肠癌HT-29细胞G1期的阻滞作用

目的:研究表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(Epigallaocatechin-3-gallate,EGCG)时人结肠癌HT-29细胞增殖的影响.方法:实验分为EGCG不同浓度处理组和阴性对照组.采用MTT比色法检测EGCG(30μg/mL、40μg/mL、50μg/mL、60μg/mL、70μg/mL)对HT-29细胞的生长影响;应用流式细胞术分析EGCG对HT-29细胞周期分布的影响;免疫印迹观测EGCG对HT-29细胞p38MAPK、cyclinD1蛋白表达的影响.结果:MTT比色结果显示.不同浓度EGCG(30μg/ml、40μg/ml、50μg/ml、60μg/ml)对HT-29细胞具有明显的生长抑制作用,并呈剂量-效应依赖关系(P<0.05);流式细胞术分析显示,EGCG诱导人结肠癌细胞G1期阻滞,且随着处理时间的延长,其诱导周期阻滞的效应越明显(P<0.05);蛋白免疫印迹显示.总的p38MAPK不随处理时间和浓度的改变而改变,但是磷酸化的p38MAPK蛋白的表达随处理时间和处理浓度的增加而明显增加,而CyclinD1蛋白的表达随处理浓度的增加而明显减少.结论:EGCG诱导HT-29细胞G1期阻滞,抑制细胞增殖,可能与活化p38MAPK,下调CyclinD1蛋白表达有关.     

利用核磁共振技术检测植物细胞凋亡

在细胞凋亡的研究中,通常以检测细胞核和细胞器的形态改变或生物化学特性变化为指标进行分析。已有的实验表明: 动物细胞在凋亡过程中, 细胞膜的脂质双分子层发生了一系列生物物理和生物化学改变,如膜电位的改变、磷脂酰丝氨酸由细胞膜内侧向外翻转、细胞膜微粘度的改变等,这些变化会导致细胞中亚甲基信号强度的增加。我们利用质子核磁共振光谱分析(1H-NMR)方法, 首次发现用物理和化学方法诱导的烟草(Nicotiana tabacumL. cv. BY-2)和胡萝卜(Daucus carota L.)细胞在凋亡过程中伴随有亚甲基信号强度的明显增加。在用烟酰胺处理的烟草细胞中, 亚甲基信号强度的增加与DNA Ladder 几乎同时出现,随诱导时间的延长, 亚甲基信号强度也逐渐增大,在24 h亚甲基信号强度增加约2倍。而这种特征在坏死的细胞中并不存在。说明亚甲基信号强度的增加是动、植物细胞凋亡过程中所具有的共同特征,1H-NMR技术提供了一种精确可靠的分析植物细胞凋亡的手段,同时由于它所具有的非侵害性的特点,可能在揭示细胞凋亡机制的研究中具有一定的意义。     

Inhibition of Human MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells and HT-29 Colon Cancer Cells by Rice-Produced Recombinant Human Insulin-Like Growth Binding Protein-3 (rhIGFBP-3)

Background

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) is a multifunctional molecule which is closely related to cell growth, apoptosis, angiogenesis, metabolism and senescence. It combines with insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) to form a complex (IGF-I/IGFBP-3) that can treat growth hormone insensitivity syndrome (GHIS) and reduce insulin requirement in patients with diabetes. IGFBP-3 alone has been shown to have anti-proliferation effect on numerous cancer cells.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We reported here an expression method to produce functional recombinant human IGFBP-3 (rhIGFBP-3) in transgenic rice grains. Protein sorting sequences, signal peptide and endoplasmic reticulum retention tetrapeptide (KDEL) were included in constructs for enhancing rhIGFBP-3 expression. Western blot analysis showed that only the constructs with signal peptide were successfully expressed in transgenic rice grains. Both rhIGFBP-3 proteins, with or without KDEL sorting sequence inhibited the growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells (65.76 ± 1.72% vs 45.00 ± 0.86%, p < 0.05; 50.84 ± 1.97% vs 45.00 ± 0.86%, p < 0.01 respectively) and HT-29 colon cancer cells (65.14 ±3.84% vs 18.01 ± 13.81%, p < 0.05 and 54.7 ± 9.44% vs 18.01 ± 13.81%, p < 0.05 respectively) when compared with wild type rice.

Conclusion/Significance

These findings demonstrated the feasibility of producing biological active rhIGFBP-3 in rice using a transgenic approach, which will definitely encourage more research on the therapeutic use of hIGFBP-3 in future.     

Human Omental-Derived Adipose Stem Cells Increase Ovarian Cancer Proliferation,Migration, and Chemoresistance

Objectives

Adipose tissue contains a population of multipotent adipose stem cells (ASCs) that form tumor stroma and can promote tumor progression. Given the high rate of ovarian cancer metastasis to the omental adipose, we hypothesized that omental-derived ASC may contribute to ovarian cancer growth and dissemination.

Materials and Methods

We isolated ASCs from the omentum of three patients with ovarian cancer, with (O-ASC4, O-ASC5) and without (O-ASC1) omental metastasis. BM-MSCs, SQ-ASCs, O-ASCs were characterized with gene expression arrays and metabolic analysis. Stromal cells effects on ovarian cancer cells proliferation, chemoresistance and radiation resistance was evaluated using co-culture assays with luciferase-labeled human ovarian cancer cell lines. Transwell migration assays were performed with conditioned media from O-ASCs and control cell lines. SKOV3 cells were intraperitionally injected with or without O-ASC1 to track in-vivo engraftment.

Results

O-ASCs significantly promoted in vitro proliferation, migration chemotherapy and radiation response of ovarian cancer cell lines. O-ASC4 had more marked effects on migration and chemotherapy response on OVCA 429 and OVCA 433 cells than O-ASC1. Analysis of microarray data revealed that O-ASC4 and O-ASC5 have similar gene expression profiles, in contrast to O-ASC1, which was more similar to BM-MSCs and subcutaneous ASCs in hierarchical clustering. Human O-ASCs were detected in the stroma of human ovarian cancer murine xenografts but not uninvolved ovaries.

Conclusions

ASCs derived from the human omentum can promote ovarian cancer proliferation, migration, chemoresistance and radiation resistance in-vitro. Furthermore, clinical O-ASCs isolates demonstrate heterogenous effects on ovarian cancer in-vitro.     

UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase 1A Compromises Intracellular Accumulation and Anti-Cancer Effect of Tanshinone IIA in Human Colon Cancer Cells

Background and Purpose

NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) mediated quinone reduction and subsequent UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) catalyzed glucuronidation is the dominant metabolic pathway of tanshinone IIA (TSA), a promising anti-cancer agent. UGTs are positively expressed in various tumor tissues and play an important role in the metabolic elimination of TSA. This study aims to explore the role of UGT1A in determining the intracellular accumulation and the resultant apoptotic effect of TSA.

Experimental Approach

We examined TSA intracellular accumulation and glucuronidation in HT29 (UGT1A positive) and HCT116 (UGT1A negative) human colon cancer cell lines. We also examined TSA-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, cytotoxicity and apoptotic effect in HT29 and HCT116 cells to investigate whether UGT1A levels are directly associated with TSA anti-cancer effect. UGT1A siRNA or propofol, a UGT1A9 competitive inhibitor, was used to inhibit UGT1A expression or UGT1A9 activity.

Key Results

Multiple UGT1A isoforms are positively expressed in HT29 but not in HCT116 cells. Cellular S9 fractions prepared from HT29 cells exhibit strong glucuronidation activity towards TSA, which can be inhibited by propofol or UGT1A siRNA interference. TSA intracellular accumulation in HT29 cells is much lower than that in HCT116 cells, which correlates with high expression levels of UGT1A in HT29 cells. Consistently, TSA induces less intracellular ROS, cytotoxicity, and apoptotic effect in HT29 cells than those in HCT116 cells. Pretreatment of HT29 cells with UGT1A siRNA or propofol can decrease TSA glucuronidation and simultaneously improve its intracellular accumulation, as well as enhance TSA anti-cancer effect.

Conclusions and Implications

UGT1A can compromise TSA cytotoxicity via reducing its intracellular exposure and switching the NQO1-triggered redox cycle to metabolic elimination. Our study may shed a light in understanding the cellular pharmacokinetic and molecular mechanism by which UGTs determine the chemotherapy effects of drugs that are UGTs’ substrates.     

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Buckwheat Sprouts in Lipopolysaccharide-Activated Human Colon Cancer Cells and Mice

In conducting an in vitro screening of ethanol extracts from various natural foods using a human colon cancer cell line (CoLoTC cells), an extract of buckwheat sprouts (ExtBS) was found to express significant anti-inflammatory activity. The anti-inflammatory activity of ExtBS was confirmed by oral administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mice. Inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha) were markedly up-regulated in the spleen and liver from LPS-administrated mice, and combinatory treatment with LPS and ExtBS decreased up-regulation of them in both cytokines. Both serum cytokine levels corresponded to their gene expressions in tissues, but no anti-inflammatry effect in mice was observed when ExtBS was treated intraperitoneally. ExtBS oral administration also showed protective activity as to hepatic injury induced by galactosamine/LPS treatment. Based on these data, we suggest that ExtBS contains anti-inflammatory compounds.     

TRAF4调控人结直肠癌细胞增殖的机制研究

目的:研究TRAF4影响结直肠癌细胞增殖的分子机制。方法:MTS和软琼脂集落形成实验检测基因沉默TRAF4后对结直肠癌细胞生长及相关信号通路的影响,检测TRAF4表达下调后结直肠癌细胞的糖酵解变化及己糖激酶II的表达和结直肠细胞对5-Fu的敏感性。结果:基因沉默TRAF4抑制结直肠癌细胞的停泊依赖和停泊非依赖增殖,抑制EGF诱导的Akt活化,下调结直肠癌细胞糖酵解,抑制己糖激酶II的表达,增加结直肠癌细胞对5-Fu的敏感性。结论:TRAF4通过调控糖代谢影响结直肠癌细胞增殖。     

CCHCR1 Is Up-Regulated in Skin Cancer and Associated with EGFR Expression

Despite chronic inflammation, psoriatic lesions hardly ever progress to skin cancer. Aberrant function of the CCHCR1 gene (Coiled-Coil α-Helical Rod protein 1, HCR) within the PSORS1 locus may contribute to the onset of psoriasis. As CCHCR1 is expressed in certain cancers and regulates keratinocyte (KC) proliferation in a transgenic mouse model, we studied its relation to proliferation in cutaneous squamous cell cancer (SCC) cell lines by expression arrays and quantitative RT-PCR and in skin tumors by immunohistochemistry. CCHCR1 protein was detected in the pushing border of SCC and lining basal cell carcinoma islands. Different from psoriasis, Ki67 had a similar expression pattern as CCHCR1. The most intense CCHCR1 staining occurred in areas positive for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Expression of CCHCR1 mRNA was upregulated 30–80% in SCC lines when compared to normal KCs and correlated positively with Ki67 expression. The most aggressive and invasive tumor cell lines (RT3, FaDu) expressed CCHCR1 mRNA less than non-tumorigenic HaCaT cells. Moreover, the tumor promoters okadaic acid and menadione downregulated CCHCR1 mRNA. We conclude that both in psoriasis and the early stages of KC transformation, CCHCR1 may function as a negative regulator of proliferation, but beyond a certain point in oncogenesis cannot control this phenomenon any longer.     

CLPTM1L Is Overexpressed in Lung Cancer and Associated with Apoptosis

CLPTM1L is believed to be associated with lung cancer. However, there is little information regarding its expression and function. Here using immunohistochemistry, we found that CLPTM1L expression was markedly increased in lung cancer tissues relative to normal tissues, especially in lung adenocarcinoma. CLPTM1L expression was not found to be associated with stages, smoking status, lymph node metastasis, or T lymphocyte infiltration but with differentiation stage. We found CLPTM1L to be enriched in the mitochondrial compared with plasma membrane protein extracts. CLPTM1L-EGFP transfection showed that the molecule product was expressed in cytoplasm and indicated the mitochondrial localization stained with mitochondrial marker MitoTracker. CLPTM1L transferred lung cancer cell line 95-D showed no growth inhibition or cell apoptosis, but it did show inhibited sensitivity to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin, CDDP). Knockdown of CLPTM1L by RNAi did not interfere with cell proliferation but it did increase cell sensitivity to CDDP and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3/7. These data indicate CLPTM1L is a mitochondria protein and that it may be associated with anti-apoptotic mechanism which affects drug-resistance in turn.