Tamoxifen reverses the multi-drug-resistance of an established human cholangiocarcinoma cell line in combined chemotherapeutics

Our previous study established the human multi-drug-resistant cholangiocarcinoma cell line QBC939/ADM. In this study, we investigate further the ability of tamoxifen (TAM) to reverse drug-resistance to chemotherapeutics using QBC939/ADM cells. Cell growth inhibition was determined by the MTT assay, while cell cycle progression, apoptosis and the intra-cellular concentration of adriamycin (ADM) were all determined by flow cytometry. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) protein and mRNA expression was determined by Western blotting and real-time PCR. Growth inhibition and apoptosis induced by ADM, mitomycin (MMC), or vindesine (VDS) were enhanced after pre-treatment with 5 or 10 μM TAM, while only VDS increased cell numbers in the G₂/M phase. The intra-cellular concentration of ADM rose after pre-treatment with 10 μM TAM, but not 5 μM TAM. Furthermore, real-time PCR and western blot analysis revealed down-regulation of P-gp expression in QBC939/ADM cells after TAM pre-treatment. The enhanced effects of TAM on growth inhibition, apoptosis, and intra-cellular concentration and the down-regulation of P-gp expression were blocked by an anti-P-gp antibody. TAM (10 μM) may reverse the multi-drug-resistance (MDR) of QBC939/ADM and enhance the chemotherapeutic effects on cholangiocarcinoma, by competitively inhibiting over-expressed P-gp.     

The growth-inhibition effect of tamoxifen in the combination chemotherapeutics on the human cholangiocarcinoma cell line QBC939

In the individual application of adriamycin, mitomycin, vindesine and their combined application with tamoxifen for the pre-treatment of the human cholangiocarcinoma cell line QBC939, QBC939 was determined by MTT assay to investigate the inhibitive effect and its initial mechanism of TAM on cell growth. Growth cycle and apoptosis of each group were determined by flow cytometry. Concentration of ADM in QBC939 was detected by flow cytometry. The levels of their P-glycoprotein were detected by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA and protein levels of apoptotic-associated genes Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by western blot and real-time PCR. The inhibitive rates of adriamycin, mitomycin, vindesine to QBC939 and the apoptosis rates of QBC939 were enhanced after the pre-treatment of tamoxifen. Influence of tamoxifen in their growth cycle was not so obvious except vindesine group because of the increasing cell numbers of G ₂/M phase in which cells may be blocked. The contents of adriamycin in cells rose after the pre-treatment of tamoxifen. Expression level of the multi-drug resistant protein on cell surface was shown as (+). Furthermore, real-time PCR and Western blot analysis revealed an upregulation of Bcl-2 and a downregulation of Bax in QBC939 after the pre-treatment of tamoxifen. Therefore, tamoxifen may have the ability to enhance the relative sensitivity of QBC939 to chemotherapeutics.     

塞来西布及5- 氟尿嘧啶对人胆管癌QBC939 细胞生长抑制 及诱导凋亡的影响

目的:研究塞来西布(Celecoxib)和5-氟尿嘧啶(5-FU)对人胆管癌QBC939细胞生长抑制和凋亡的影响。方法:体外培养人胆管癌QBC939细胞,噻唑兰比色实验(MTT)观察Celecoxib和5-FU对胆管癌QBC939细胞生长抑制作用;流式细胞术检测细胞生长周期和凋亡率改变。结果:不同浓度的Celecoxib和5-FU可抑制胆管癌QBC939细胞的生长,细胞生长抑制率呈时间-浓度依赖性(P<0.01);实验组QBC939细胞凋亡率随药物浓度的升高逐渐增高(P<0.01),S期细胞逐渐减少(P<0.05),G1期细胞逐渐增加(P<0.05),G2期细胞无明显变化。结论:Celecoxib和5-FU可抑制人胆管癌QBC939细胞的增殖,诱导其凋亡;联合用药效果优于Celecoxib和5-FU单药效果。     

IL-6 对胆管癌细胞凋亡的作用机制研究

目的：探讨不同浓度白细胞介素6（IL-6）对胆管癌细胞的凋亡作用及其机制。方法：采用胆管癌细胞株QBC939 进行试验, 用MTT 法检测不同浓度IL-6 对人胆管癌细胞系QBC939 增殖的影响,用Annexin V和PI染色检测不同浓度IL-6对人胆管癌细 胞系QBC939 凋亡的影响,RT-PCR 检测细胞内Bcl-2、Bax 的mRNA水平,并且将QBC939 细胞移植至裸鼠皮下观察移植瘤的 生长速度、重量以及体积的变化。结果：同时间段不同浓度IL-6 的QBC939 细胞增殖明显高于对照组（P<0.05）,且IL-6 的浓度越 高,其增殖的水平也越高,OD 值与IL-6 的浓度呈正相关关系;不同浓度IL-6 对胆管癌细胞的凋亡率较对照组明显下降 （P<0.05）,且随着IL-6 的浓度不断的增高,细胞的凋亡率逐渐下降,IL-6 的浓度与细胞的凋亡率呈负相关关系;对照组细胞培养 48 h 后的凋亡率显著高于培养24 h后（P<0.05）,而IL-6 实验组的细胞的24 h凋亡率与48 h凋亡率差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。 Bcl-2 的mRNA水平随着IL-6 浓度增加逐渐升高,而Bax 的mRNA水平随着IL-6 的浓度增加逐渐降低,且IL-6 浓度与Bcl-2 mRNA水平呈正相关关系,IL-6 的浓度与Bax mRNA水平呈负相关关系。IL-6 实验组的肿瘤体积和重量与对照组相比均明显增 大（P<0.05）,且IL-6 实验组移植瘤的生长速度明显高于对照组（P<0.05）。结论：IL-6 能够促进QBC939细胞增殖,抑制其凋亡,可 能与上调Bcl-2 的mRNA水平以及下调Bax的mRNA水平有关。     

PP2 对人胆管癌细胞株QBC939 侵袭能力的影响

目的：探讨Src 激酶特异性抑制剂PP2 对人胆管癌QBC939 细胞侵袭能力的影响和机制。方法：通过Western Blotting 技术 检测PP2 对人胆管癌QBC939细胞中Src 激酶活化的影响;用Transwell 小室法观察PP2 对QBC939细胞的影响;用RT-PCR 和 Western Blotting 技术检测PP2对QBC939 细胞侵袭能力相关分子的作用。结果：实验组p-Src 蛋白表达水平明显低于对照组,差 异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）;实验组QBC939 细胞体外侵袭能力较对照组显著降低,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）;与对照组相 比,实验组E-cadherin 表达显著增强,CD44表达明显减弱,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论：PP2 通过抑制Src 激酶活化,增 强E-cadherin 表达、减弱CD44 表达,抑制人胆管癌QBC939 细胞侵袭能力。     

Over-Expression of Nerve Growth Factor-β in Human Cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 Cells Promote Tumor Progression

Aims

It has been shown that nerve growth factor-β (NGF-β) promoted the initiation and progression of many tumors, and we have previously demonstrated that the expression of NGF-β was associated with tumor stage, nerve infiltration and lymph node metastasis in human hilar cholangiocarcinoma. However, whether NGF-β promotes tumor progression in human cholangiocarcinoma requires further investigation. Therefore, we aimed to determine the effects of NGF-β on the progression of human cholangiocarcinoma.

Methods

Human cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 stable cell lines with over-expressed or silenced NGF-β genes were generated with pEGFP-N1-NGF-β and pGPU6/GFP/Neo-NGF-β-shRNA recombinant plasmids. Cell proliferation assay, colony formation assay, cell cycle analysis, apoptosis assay and tumorigenicity assay were performed to evaluate the role of NGF-β in the progression of human cholangiocarcinoma. In addition, human lymphatic endothelial cells were co-cultured with QBC939 culture supernatants, and the cell proliferation and migration abilities of the lymphatic endothelial cells were evaluated.

Results

Forced expression of NGF-β in QBC939 cell lines promoted proliferation, colony formation and tumorigenicity in these cells and inhibited the apoptosis. However, down-regulation of NGF-β inhibited proliferation, colony formation and tumorigenicity, and increased the apoptotic rate of QBC939 cells. In addition, the NGF-β gain-of-function induced a high expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C and enhanced the proliferation and migration of lymphatic endothelial cells, while NGF-β loss-of-function showed opposite effects.

Conclusions

We concluded that NGF-β promoted tumor progression in human cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cells. Our results provided a new concept to understand the role of NGF-β in cholangiocarcinoma progression, and might provide important information for the development of new targeted therapies in human cholangiocarcinoma.     

Celecoxib 联合X 线对胆管癌细胞株QBC939 凋亡的影响

目的:研究塞来昔布联合X线在体外环境下对人胆管癌细胞株QBC939凋亡的影响并对其机制进行初步探讨。方法:CCK-8检测出不同浓度的塞来昔布及不同剂量的X线对QBC939细胞株的增值抑制率,确定塞来昔布组的IC50及X线组的IC50。将QBC939细胞株分为5组:对照组(control)、X线组(R)、塞来昔布组(C)、塞来昔布再加X线组(C+R),X线再加塞来昔布组(R+C)。用流式细胞仪检测各组的凋亡率,western blot检测凋亡相关基因survivin蛋白的表达。结果:联合使用塞来昔布和放疗组的凋亡率有明显的增加,从8.268%,11.233%到15.733%,22.133%(P<0.05)。western结果显示联合组survivin蛋白的表达也明显低于对照组(P<0.05)。先用塞来昔布再加放疗的效果要优于先用放疗后用塞来昔布的效果。结论:塞来昔布联合X线对QBC939细胞株有凋亡增敏作用,作用可能机制之一是通过降低或下调凋亡相关基因survivin蛋白的表达。     

Antiproliferation and apoptosis induced by tamoxifen in human bile duct carcinoma QBC939 cells via upregulated p53 expression

Tamoxifen (TAM) is a nonsteroidal antiestrogen that has been used in the treatment of breast cancer for over 30 years. Recently, it was shown that TAM also has efficacy on gastrointestinal neoplasms such as hepatocarcinoma and pancreatic carcinoma, and that the chemopreventive activities of TAM might be due to its abilities to inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis. In the present study, we investigated the effects of tamoxifen on growth and apoptosis in the human bile duct carcinoma (BDC) cell line QBC939 using MTT assay, inverted microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, classic DNA fragmentation agarose gel electrophoresis assay, PI single- and FITC/PI double-staining flow cytometry, and Western blotting. Our data revealed that TAM could significantly inhibit growth and induce apoptosis in QBC939 cells. Increased expression of p53 was observed in TAM-treated cells, indicating that p53 might play an important role in TAM-induced apoptosis in QBC939 cells. These results provide significant insight into the anticarcinogenic action of TAM on BDC.     

川芎嗪逆转人乳腺癌MCF-7/ADM细胞对阿霉素的耐药性

目的 探讨川芎嗪（tetramethylpyrazine,TMP）逆转人乳腺癌MCF-7/ADM细胞对阿霉素（ADM）的耐药性.方法 MTT法测定细胞的药敏性,荧光分光光度法检测细胞内阿霉素浓度的变化,流式细胞术检测耐药细胞凋亡百分率的变化.结果 非细胞毒性剂量（320 mg/L）及低毒剂量（1250 mg/L）川芎嗪均能显著降低MCF-7/ADM的IC50（P＜0.01）,逆转倍数分别为2.13倍和2.82倍;均能显著增加耐药细胞内ADM的浓度（P＜0.01）.320 mg/L川芎嗪能显著增加耐药细胞的凋亡百分率（P＜0.01）.结论 川芎嗪具有部分逆转人乳腺癌MCF-7/ADM细胞对阿霉素的耐药性,其逆转机制与增加细胞内ADM浓度有关.     

Induction of cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in human cholangiocarcinoma cells by pristimerin

Pristimerin, a triterpenoid isolated from Celastraceae and Hippocrateaceae, is known to induce cytotoxicity in several cancer cell lines. However, whether pristimerin can induce apoptosis in cholangiocarcinoma cells and the underlying mechanism remain unexplored. We assessed the function of human cholangiocarcinoma QBC and RBE cell lines using various experimental methods such as the cell viability assay to elucidate the viability of cells, flow cytometry to detect the death rate of cells, and Western blot analysis to evaluate the expression of cell cycle-related proteins and autophagy-related proteins. Human cholangiocarcinoma QBC cells were transplanted to nude mice to establish an animal model, and the effect of pristimerin on tumor growth in this model was observed. QBC and RBE cell lines treated with pristimerin (0, 5, 10, and 20 μmol/L) demonstrated the induction of apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. The cell viability assay revealed a reduction in the cell viability with an increase in the pristimerin concentration. Similarly, flow cytometry revealed a gradual increase in the cell death rate with an increase in the pristimerin concentration. In addition, pristimerin significantly lowered the expression of apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and procaspase-3), but increased the Bax expression. Furthermore, pristimerin resulted in the G0/G1 cell-cycle arrest, reducing the expression of cell cycle-related proteins (cyclin E, CDK2, and CDK4), and increased the expression of autophagy-related proteins (LC3) in QBC cell line. Treatment with pristimerin could inhibit tumor growth in the nude mouse model. Overall, this study suggests the potential effect of pristimerin on the cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in human cholangiocarcinoma cells.     

Effect of sodium arsenite on the biosynthesis of mitomycins byStreptomyces caespitosus and mode of action of mitomycin C onBacillus subtilis NRRL B-543

Addition of different concentrations of sodium arsenite to the fermentation medium vised for the production of mitomycin antibiotics byStreptomyces caespitosus hindered the biosynthesis of mitomycins and led to the accumulation of 2-oxoglutarate, pyruvate and acetone. Mitomycin C isolated and purified using thin-layer chromatography in low concentration of about 0.1 μg/ml did not affect the RNA, DNA and protein biosynthesis of the growingBacillus subtilis, while at 10 μg/ml mitomycin C markedly affected RUA, DNA and protein biosynthesis.     

Purification of the 170- to 180-kilodalton membrane glycoprotein associated with multidrug resistance. 170- to 180-kilodalton membrane glycoprotein is an ATPase

170-180-kDa membrane glycoprotein (P-glycoprotein) associated with multidrug resistance is involved in drug transport mechanisms across the plasma membrane of resistant cells. From sequence analysis of cDNAs of the P-glycoprotein gene, it is postulated that the active drug-efflux pump function may be attributable to the protein. However, purification of the P-glycoprotein while preserving its enzymatic activity has not been reported. In this study, we have purified the P-glycoprotein from the human myelogenous leukemia K562 cell line resistant to adriamycin (K562/ADM) by means of one-step immunoaffinity chromatography using a monoclonal antibody against P-glycoprotein. The procedure was simple and efficiently yielded an electrophoretically homogeneous P-glycoprotein sample. By solubilization with 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate, the purified P-glycoprotein was found to have ATPase activity. This ATP hydrolysis may be coupled with the active efflux of anticancer drugs across the plasma membrane of multidrug-resistant cells.     

A morphometric tool applied to angiogenesis research based on vessel segmentation

To investigate the relationship between P-glycoprotein (Pgp), glutathione S-transferase π (GST-π) and topoisomerase II (Topo II) expression and human gastric cancer chemoresistance in vitro. Primary single-cell suspensions were prepared from fresh specimens of primary gastric cancer and exposed to hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT), cisplatin (CDDP), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), adriamycin (ADM) and mitomycin (MMC) for 48 h. Cell metabolic activity and rate of inhibition were evaluated using tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Pgp, GST-π and Topo II expression was determined in gastric carcinoma tissue samples using immunohistochemistry. Chemosensitivity of the gastric cancer cells varied; the rates of inhibition of cells exposed to HCPT, CDDP and 5-FU were significantly higher than that of cells exposed to ADM and MMC (p?相似文献   

Primary and long term epithelial cell cultures from human fetal normal colonic mucosa

Summary Primary and passaged cultures of normal colon epithelial cells, derived from human fetuses (13 to 17 wk of conceptual age) have been established. These cultures have been passaged 16 times thus far. The cultures have been initiated and maintained in medium consisting of 50% Dulbecco's minimum essential medium and 50% Ham's F12 medium and supplemented with antibiotics (penicillin, 100 U/ml; streptomycin, 100 μg/ml); ascorbic acid, 40 μg/ml;l-isoleucine, 50 μg/ml; epidermal growth factor, 20 ng/ml; insulin, 5 μg/ml; cholera toxin, 5 ng/ml; transferrin, 1 μg/ml; fetal bovine serum (10%); and HEPES, 25 mM final concentration, and incubated at 37°C in humidified gas containing 5% CO₂: 95% air. The cellular and subcellular characteristics of primary and passaged cultures were defined using light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The cells exhibited microvilli on cell surfaces and showed junctional complexes and interdigitations between cells. Indented nuclei with dense chromatin and marginated heterochromatin, numerous mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum, polysomes, and extensive Golgi zones were conspicuous. Also, periodic acid Schiff's reagent-positive staining of the cells suggests the active synthesis of complex mucopolysaccharides in the cytoplasm. This study was supported by USPHS Grant CA-30185 from the National Large Bowel Cancer Project, National Cancer Institute.     

Reversal in multidrug resistance by magnetic nanoparticle of Fe3O4 loaded with adriamycin and tetrandrine in K562/A02 leukemic cells

Drug resistance is a primary hindrance for efficiency of chemotherapy. To investigate whether Fe3O4-magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4-MNPs) loaded with adriamycin (ADM) and tetrandrine (Tet) would play a synergetic reverse role in multidrug resistant cell, we prepared the drug-loaded nanoparticles by mechanical absorption polymerization to act with K562 and one of its resistant cell line K562/A02. The survival of cells which were cultured with these conjugates for 48 h was observed by MTT assay. Using cells under the same condition described before, we took use of fluorescence microscope to measure fluorescence intensity of intracellular ADM at an excitation wavelength of488 nm. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) was analyzed with flow cytometer. The expression ofmdrl mRNA was measured by RT-PCR. The results showed that the growth inhibition efficacy of both the two cells increased with augmenting concentrations of Fe3O4-MNPs which were loaded with drugs. No linear correlation was found between fluorescence intensity of intracellular adriamycin and augmenting concentration of Fe3O4-MNPs. Tet could downregulate the level of mdr-1 gene and decrease the expression of P-gp. Furthermore, Tet polymerized with Fe3O4-MNPs reinforced this downregulation, causing a 100-fold more decrease in mdrl mRNA level, but did not reduce total P-gp content. Our results suggest that Fe3O4-MNPs loaded with ADM or Tet can enhance the effective accumulation of the drugs in K562/A02. We propose that Fe3O4-MNPs loaded with ADM and Tet probably have synergetic effect on reversal in multidrug resistance.     

Changes in the Expression of miR-381 and miR-495 Are Inversely Associated with the Expression of the MDR1 Gene and Development of Multi-Drug Resistance

Multidrug resistance (MDR) frequently develops in cancer patients exposed to chemotherapeutic agents and is usually brought about by over-expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) which acts as a drug efflux pump to reduce the intracellular concentration of the drug(s). Thus, inhibiting P-gp expression might assist in overcoming MDR in cancer chemotherapy. MiRNAome profiling using next-generation sequencing identified differentially expressed microRNAs (miRs) between parental K562 cells and MDR K562 cells (K562/ADM) induced by adriamycin treatment. Two miRs, miR-381 and miR-495, that were strongly down-regulated in K562/ADM cells, are validated to target the 3’-UTR of the MDR1 gene. These miRs are located within a miR cluster located at chromosome region 14q32.31, and all miRs in this cluster appear to be down-regulated in K562/ADM cells. Functional analysis indicated that restoring expression of miR-381 or miR-495 in K562/ADM cells was correlated with reduced expression of the MDR1 gene and its protein product, P-gp, and increased drug uptake by the cells. Thus, we have demonstrated that changing the levels of certain miR species modulates the MDR phenotype in leukemia cells, and propose further exploration of the use of miR-based therapies to overcome MDR.     

The modulation of growth of normal rat liver epithelial cells in calcium-poor medium by epidermal growth factor,phenobarbital, phorbol ester,and retinoic acid

Summary The ability of a normal rat liver epithelial cell line with phenotypic characteristics of “oval” cells to grow in calcium-poor medium has been investigated. The growth of these cells could be arrested in medium containing 0.03 mM Ca²⁺, a concentration below which cell necrosis began to occur 24 h postexposure. With increasing calcium concentration, progressive cell proliferation was observed. Epithelial growth factor (EGF) (10 ng/ml) increased the survival and proliferation of cells in calcium-poor medium and the response was inversely correlated with the extracellular calcium concentration. In contrast, phenobarbital (0.2 to 2 mM), 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (0.01 to 1 μg/ml), or retinoic acid (0.001 to 0.1 μg/ml) depressed growth of cells in calcium-poor medium. The results confirm the ability of EGF to lower the calcium requirement for proliferation of normal cells, but such an effect does not seem to be a universal property of tumor promoters. This research was supported by National Institutes of Health Grant CA 29323.     

Down-regulation of c-Myc expression inhibits the invasion of bile duct carcinoma cells

Cholangiocarcinoma is the second most common primary hepatic tumour originating from biliary tract epithelial cells with poor prognosis. Enhanced c-Myc protein expression contributes to many aspects of tumour cell biology. Although the ability of c-Myc to drive unrestricted cell proliferation and to inhibit cell differentiation had been well recognized, whether down-regulated c-Myc expression can inhibit tumour cell invasion still remains to be explored. The c-Myc ASODN (antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotide) and NSODN (nonsense oligodeoxyribonucleotide) were designed, synthesized and transfected into human QBC939 bile duct carcinoma cells using the Lipofectamine 2000 reagent. The protein expression of c-Myc was detected by Western blot. A transwell experiment was applied to evaluate the invasive capacity of the QBC939 cells. c-Myc ASODN could significantly suppress the c-Myc protein expression (P<0.05) and the invasion (P<0.01) of QBC939 cells transfected with c-Myc ASODN compared with that in the control and c-Myc NSODN-transfected group. Thus in the present study we show that down-regulation of c-Myc expression can inhibit the invasion of QBC939 cells in vitro.     

α7烟碱型胆碱能受体调节胆管癌细胞化疗敏感性的相关探讨

目的：观察尼古丁对胆管癌细胞QBC939化疗敏感性影响,并初步探讨其作用靶点。方法：应用MTT法检测α7烟碱型胆碱能受体激动剂尼古丁及其阻断剂仪银环蛇毒素（α-BTX）干预后的人胆管癌细胞QBC939经5-FU处理后存活增殖能力变化,应用单克隆平板试验观察尼古丁及α银环蛇毒素对5-FU处理后细胞克隆形成率变化。结果：经5-fu处理后,尼古丁刺激组（终浓度分别为10-3g／L、10-4g／L、10-5g／L）细胞存活率分别为128％、124％、118％,细胞存活率较阴性对照组明显升高,并呈一定的浓度依赖性,而α银环蛇毒素刺激组（2ug／mL）、尼古丁α银环蛇毒素联合组细胞存活率分别为92％、94％、93％、92％。尼古丁刺激组（6．2±0．40）的克隆形成能力明显高于α银环蛇毒素刺激组（3．2±0．20）、联合组（3．2±0．20）及对照组（3．4±0．33）;结论：尼古丁可明显降低胆管癌细胞对化疗药物的敏感性,其可能是通过α7烟碱型胆碱能受体发挥化疗抵抗效应。