Celastrol exerts synergistic effects with PHA-665752 and inhibits tumor growth of c-Met-deficient hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo

PHA665752 (PHA), a selective small molecule c-Met Inhibitor, potently inhibited HGF-stimulated and constitutive c-Met phosphorylation, as well as HGF and c-Met-driven phenotypes of a variety of tumor cells including hepatocellular carcinoma cells. However, these effects were impaired in c-Met-deficient cancer cells. In the present study, we investigated the potential anti-human c-Met-deficient hepatocellular carcinoma effects of Celastrol, a novel triterpene, and its combination with PHA. Human hepatocellular carcinoma cells BEL-7402 (c-Met-positive) and Huh7 (c-Met-deficient) were treated with different dose of PHA with or without equal dose of Celastrol, and cell growth, cell cycle and apoptosis were evaluated, respectively, by MTT assay, flow cytometry and Caspase3/7 activity. Nude mice bearing Huh7 xenografts were used to assess the in vivo anti-tumor activity. Our results showed that Celastrol at high concentration (>1.0 μM) induced G2/M arrest and apoptosis with the activation of Caspase3/7 in Huh7 cells whereas at low concentration (<1.0 μM) had no obvious effects. Low concentration Celastrol presented significant combined effects with PHA on Huh7 cells and Huh7 xenografts in terms of growth inhibition, migration inhibition and apoptosis induction. These results suggest that Celastrol and its combination with PHA present the therapeutic potential on c-Met-deficient hepatocellular carcinoma, and deserve further preclinical and clinical studies.     

Retracted:Propofol exerts anticancer activity on hepatocellular carcinoma cells by raising lncRNA DGCR5

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most fatal cancers worldwide. Propofol is an intravenous anesthetic extensively used in clinical. Herein, we tested the anticancer activity of propofol on hepatocellular carcinoma, along with the internal molecular mechanism related to lncRNA DiGeorge syndrome critical region gene 5 (DGCR5). Followed by propofol stimulation, hepatocellular carcinoma Huh-7 and HepG2 cell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were tested, respectively. Then, DGCR5 expression levels in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and cells were measured. sh-DGCR5 was transfected to silence DGCR5 expression. Subsequently, the influence of DGCR5 silence on propofol caused Huh-7 and HepG2 cell viability loss, proliferation inhibition, migration and invasion suppression, apoptosis induction, as well as Raf1/ERK1/2 and Wnt/β-catenin pathways inactivation were assessed, respectively. We discovered that propofol declined Huh-7 and HepG2 cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion, but increased cell apoptosis. DGCR5 had a relatively lower expression level in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and cells. Propofol elevated DGCR5 expression in Huh-7 and HepG2 cells. Increased expression of DGCR5 was connected with the anticancer activity of propofol on Huh-7 and HepG2 cells. Besides, propofol repressed Raf1/ERK1/2 and Wnt/β-catenin pathways through elevating DGCR5 expression. In conclusion, the anticancer activity of propofol on hepatocellular carcinoma was verified in this study. Propofol repressed hepatocellular carcinoma Huh-7 and HepG2 cell growth and metastasis at least by elevating DGCR5 and hereafter inactivating Raf1/ERK1/2 and Wnt/β-catenin pathways.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Actinidia chinensis</Emphasis> Planch root extract (acRoots) inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma progression by inhibiting EP3 expression

A wide range of studies has demonstrated the potent anticancer activity of Chinese herbs. Here, we evaluated the anticancer activity and molecular mechanisms of Actinidia chinensis root extract (acRoots) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HepG2 HCC cells were treated with various concentrations of acRoots for 72 h and examined by mRNA expression profiling, revealing alterations in cellular immunity, inflammation, proliferation, cell cycle, and metabolic signaling responses. Further analysis of the altered genes in cellular immunity and inflammation gene clusters identified prostaglandin E receptor 3 (EP3) as a key regulator of gene expression in response to acRoots. Further analysis revealed inhibition of cell growth, migration, and invasion in HCC in response to acRoots, along with increased apoptosis due to downregulation of EP3 expression. Treatment with acRoots and EP3 antagonist L-798106 led to decreases in VEGF, EGFR, MMP2, and MMP9 expression in HCC cells, along with significant effects on growth, migration, invasion, and apoptosis; the effects were reversed/blocked by the EP3 agonist sulprostone. Taken together, these data clearly demonstrated that acRoots inhibit HCC cell invasion and metastasis via inhibition of EP3 expression, resulting in decreased activation of VEGF, EGFR, MMP2, and MMP9.     

长链非编码RNA对HepG2 肝癌细胞增殖及凋亡的影响

目的:探讨长链非编码RNA RP13-514E23.1在肝癌细胞系中的表达,并观察上调该基因后其下游基因MAPK10的变化及对肝癌细胞Hep G2增殖、凋亡的影响。方法:通过荧光定量PCR(q RT-PCR)检测RP13-514E23.1在正常肝细胞与肝癌细胞系中的表达差异,进一步构建质粒转染肝癌Hep G2细胞上调RP13-514E23.1的表达,以Mock组(只加转染试剂)和NC组(转染空载体pc DNA3.1-NC)作为对照评估转染效率及对MAPK10表达的影响。用CCK-8实验和流式细胞术检测转染前后Hep G2细胞的增殖、凋亡的变化。结果:Lnc RNA RP13-514E23.1在大部分肝癌细胞系(Hep G2,SMMC,Huh7,Hep3B)中的表达明显低于正常肝细胞(0.58±0.05 vs 1.00,P0.05);转染pc DNA-RP13-514E23.1后,q RT-PCR检测Hep G2细胞的RP13-514E23.1和MAPK10m RNA表达量显著升高(分别为29.90±1.40、2.42±0.25,P0.05),western blot检测MAPK10蛋白表达量较对照组也升高(2.10±0.16,P0.05);CCK-8结果显示Hep G2细胞在各个时间段增殖均受到抑制(P0.01),Mock组、NC组和实验组的凋亡率分别为(5.53±1.17)%、(6.40±2.84)%和(46.87±3.45)%(P0.01)。结论:Lnc RNA RP13-514E23.1在肝癌细胞系中表达异常降低,上调其表达后MAPK10的表达升高,且Hep G2细胞增殖受到抑制、凋亡增加。     

氧调节蛋白150在人肝细胞癌中的过度表达及其对凋亡的作用

在前期研究中发现,氧调节蛋白150(ORP150)是与肝细胞癌相关的糖蛋白．进一步研究了ORP150的表达水平与肝细胞癌的相关性．免疫印迹、细胞免疫化学和定量PCR分别在蛋白质水平和mRNA水平检测了ORP150的表达．运用RNA干扰技术检测了其对凋亡和肝细胞癌侵袭性的影响．发现：无论是蛋白质水平还是mRNA水平,与正常肝细胞相比,ORP150在肝细胞癌中表达明显上调;经RNA干扰后,肝细胞癌的凋亡明显增加,但肿瘤细胞的侵袭性无改变．肝细胞癌中,ORP150表达上调,它可能抑制肿瘤细胞的凋亡而促进其生长．ORP150有可能成为肝细胞癌的治疗靶点．     

Knockdown of lncRNA HULC inhibits proliferation,migration, invasion,and promotes apoptosis by sponging miR‐122 in osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is a rare malignant bone tumor with high degree of malignancy. HULC (highly upregulated in liver cancer), a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) was involved in hepatocellular carcinoma development and progression, but its underlying mechanism in osteosarcoma is unknown. The aim of this study was to explore the functional role of HULC in osteosarcoma. The study was conducted in human osteosarcoma cell lines and the expression of HULC in the cell lines was detected by qRT‐PCR. Furthermore, the effects of HULC on tumorigenicity of osteosarcoma cells were evaluated by in vitro assays. Results revealed that HULC was highly expressed in osteosarcoma MG63 and OS‐732 cells compared to osteoblast hFOB1.19 cells. Suppression of HULC in osteosarcoma cells inhibited cell viability, migration, invasion, and promoted apoptosis. HULC functioned as an endogenous sponge for miR‐122, and its silence functioned through upregulating miR‐122. HNF4G was a target of miR‐122, and the effect of HNF4G on OS‐732 cells was the same as HULC. Furthermore, overexpression of miR‐122 inactivated PI3K/AKT, JAK/STAT, and Notch pathways by downregulation of HNF4G. These findings suggest that knockdown of HULC inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion by sponging miR‐122 in osteosarcoma cells. HULC may act as a novel therapeutic target for management of osteosarcoma.     

Fluvastatin, a lipophilic statin, induces apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells through mitochondria-operated pathway

Fluvastatin, a lipophilic statin, was known to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in many cancer cells. Its potential anticancer was evaluated in three hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines (HepG2, SMMC-7721 and MHCC-97H). Cells were treated with fluvastatin in vitro and its effect on cell proliferation, cell cycle, invasion and apoptosis was determined. Mechanism of apoptosis induced by fluvastatin on HCC cell lines was also investigated through western blotting and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) analysis. It was observed that fluvastatin inhibited proliferation of HCC cells by inducing apoptosis and G2/M phase arrest in a dose-dependent manner. The results of cell invasion assay revealed that fluvastatin significantly decreased the invasion potency of HCC cells. A mitochondria-operated mechanism for fluvastatin induced apoptosis might be involved and was supported by Western blotting and MMP analysis. After fluvastatin treatment, expression of Bcl-2 and procaspase-9 were downregulated, cytochrome c (cytosolic extract), Bax and cleaved-caspase-3 protein expression were increased. Furthermore, a breakdown of MMP in HCC cells was observed. To conclude, these results have provided a rationale for clinical investigations of fluvastatin in future as a potential anticancer reagent for growth control of HCC.     

DLC-1与肝癌关系研究

DLC-1基因是一种肿瘤抑制基因,位于人类染色体8p21．3-22。它是RhoA特异性GTP酶的激动蛋白,与调控细胞增殖和粘附的信号传导通路关系密切,在人类多种肿瘤中呈低表达或表达缺失。研究发现DLC-1基因在原发性肝癌(HCC)及肝癌细胞系中表达缺失,提示该基因在原发性肝癌中抑制了肝癌细胞的增殖。DLC-1表达的恢复引起了caspase-3介导的细胞凋亡,抑制肝癌细胞的生长和癌细胞的浸润,从而在肝细胞癌的转移、侵袭及肿瘤细胞的生物特性方面发挥作用。因其与肝癌发生,转移乃至复发关系密切,使其在肝癌早期发现,早期预测肝癌的转移复发及肝癌的预后方面发挥重要角色。     

SKP1-CULLIN1-F-box (SCF)-mediated DRG2 degradation facilitated chemotherapeutic drugs induced apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein 2 (DRG2), an evolutionarily conserved member of the DRG subfamily in the GTP-binding protein, is thought to play an essential role in the control of cell growth and differentiation. However, the role of DRG2 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells is largely unknown. Here, we show that DRG2 is down-regulated during chemotherapeutic drug induced apoptosis in four hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. We further provided evidence that DRG2 was a substrate of a SKP1-CULLIN1-F-box E3 ligase complex and inhibition the function of Cullin1 prevented the degradation of DRG2 during apoptosis. Moreover, over-expression of DRG2 inhibited doxorubicin induced apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate that regulated degradation of DRG2 has a role in chemotherapeutic drug induced hepatocellular carcinoma cells apoptosis.     

Tolfenamic acid induces apoptosis and growth inhibition in head and neck cancer: involvement of NAG-1 expression

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene-1 (NAG-1) is induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and possesses proapoptotic and antitumorigenic activities. Although tolfenamic acid (TA) induces apoptosis in head and neck cancer cells, the relationship between NAG-1 and TA has not been determined. This study investigated the induction of apoptosis in head and neck cancer cells treated by TA and the role of NAG-1 expression in this induction. TA reduced head and neck cancer cell viability in a dose-dependent manner and induced apoptosis. The induced apoptosis was coincident with the expression of NAG-1. Overexpression of NAG-1 enhanced the apoptotic effect of TA, whereas suppression of NAG-1 expression by small interfering RNA attenuated TA-induced apoptosis. TA significantly inhibited tumor formation as assessed by xenograft models, and this result accompanied the induction of apoptotic cells and NAG-1 expression in tumor tissue samples. Taken together, these results demonstrate that TA induces apoptosis via NAG-1 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, providing an additional mechanistic explanation for the apoptotic activity of TA.     

Targeting head and neck squamous cell carcinoma using a novel fusion toxin-diphtheria toxin/HN-1

The current treatment strategies, chemotherapy and radiation therapy being used for the management of cancer are deficient in targeted approach leading to treatment related toxicities and relapse. Contrarily, fusion toxins exhibit remarkable tumor specificity thus emerging as an alternative therapy for the treatment of cancer. Diphtheria toxin-HN-1 peptide (DT/HN-1) is a fusion toxin designed to target the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The aim of this study was to construct, characterize, and evaluate the cytotoxicity and specificity of DT/HN-1 fusion toxin against the HNSCC cells. The purified DT/HN-1 fusion toxin was characterized by SDS-PAGE and western blotting. Refolding of purified fusion toxins was monitored by fluorescence spectra and circular dichroism spectra. The activity of DT/HN-1 fusion toxin was demonstrated on various HNSCC cell lines by cell viability assay, cell proliferation assay, protein synthesis inhibition assay, apoptosis and cell cycle analysis. The fusion toxin DT/HN-1 demonstrated remarkably high degree of cytotoxicity specific to the HNSCC cells. The IC₅₀ of DT/HN-1 fusion toxin was ~1 to 5 nM in all the three HNSCC cell lines. The percentage apoptotic cells in DT/HN-1 treated UMB-SCC-745 cells are 16% compared to 4% in untreated. To further demonstrate the specific toxicity of DT/HN-1 fusion toxin towards the HNSCC cells we constructed, characterized and evaluated the efficacy of DT protein. The DT protein coding for only a fragment of diphtheria toxin without its native receptor binding domain failed to exhibit any cytotoxicity on all the cell lines used in this study thus establishing the importance of a ligand in achieving targeted toxicity. To evaluate the translocation ability of HN-1 peptide, an additional construct DTΔT/HN-1 was constructed, characterized and evaluated for its cytotoxic activity. The fusion toxin DTΔT/HN-1 deficient of the translocation domain of diphtheria toxin showed no cytotoxicity on all the cell lines clearly indicating the inability of HN-1 peptide to translocate catalytic domain of the toxin into the cytosol.     

靶向干扰TAGLN表达对HBV阳性肝癌细胞生物学行为的影响及机制初探

目的:探究TAGLN对HBV阳性肝癌细胞HepG2. 2. 15生物学行为的影响及可能的作用机制。方法:免疫组化法和Western blot检测TAGLN在HBV阳性和HBV阴性肝癌组织及细胞中的表达差异;用TAGLN干扰慢病毒感染HepG2. 2. 15细胞,通过嘌呤霉素筛选干扰TAGLN表达的稳定表达细胞系,Western blot验证干扰效率; CCK-8法和克隆形成实验检测干扰TAGLN表达对HepG2. 2. 15细胞增殖能力的影响; Transwell实验检测干扰TAGLN表达对HepG2. 2. 15细胞迁移和侵袭的影响; Western blot检测PI3K、p-PI3K、AKT以及p-AKT的表达。结果:TAGLN在HBV阳性肝癌组织及细胞中的表达高于HBV阴性肝癌组织和细胞(P 0. 01);干扰TAGLN表达能抑制HepG2. 2. 15细胞增殖、克隆形成能力、迁移和侵袭(P 0. 01);降低HepG2. 2. 15细胞中PI3K和AKT(P 0. 01)及p-PI3K和p-AKT(P 0. 05)的表达。结论:在肝癌组织中,HBV感染能增加TAGLN的表达;干扰TAGLN表达后HepG2. 2. 15细胞的增殖能力、克隆形成能力、迁移和侵袭的能力减弱,其机制可能与PI3K及AKT的表达减少有关。     

Antitumor effects of curcumin and structurally beta-diketone modified analogs on multidrug resistant cancer cells

Using concepts of bioisostery a series of curcumin analogs were synthesized: the diketonic system of the compound was elaborated into enaminones, oximes, and the isoxazole heterocycle. The cell growth inhibitory and apoptosis inducing effects of the new analogs were evaluated by in vitro assays in the hepatocellular carcinoma HA22T/VGH cells, as well as in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line and in its multidrug resistant (MDR) variant MCF-7R. Increased antitumor activity on all cell lines was found with the isoxazole analog and especially with the benzyl oxime derivative; in the HA22T/VGH cell model, the latter compound inhibited constitutive NF-kappaB activation.     

Synthesis of some acrylophenones with N-methylpiperazine and evaluation of their cytotoxicities

In this study, the compounds having acrylophenone structure, 1-aryl-2-(N-methylpiperazinomethyl)-2-propen-1-one dihydrochlorides, were synthesized and their chemical structures were identified with ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and HRMS spectra. The cytotoxicities of the compounds were tested towards Ca9-22 (human gingival carcinoma), HSC-2 (human oral squamous carcinoma), HSC-3 (human oral squamous carcinoma) and HSC-4 (human oral squamous carcinoma) cell lines as tumor cell lines and HGF (gingival fibroblasts), HPLF (periodontal ligament fibroblasts) and HPC (pulp cells) cell lines as non-tumor cell lines. PSE of the compound TA2, which has a methyl substituent on phenyl ring, pointed out the compound TA2 as a leader compound to be considered.     

Tubocapsenolide A, a novel withanolide, inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells by thiol oxidation of heat shock proteins

Tubocapsenolide A (TA), a novel withanolide-type steroid, exhibits potent cytotoxicity against several human cancer cell lines. In the present study, we observed that treatment of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells with TA led to cell cycle arrest at G(1) phase and apoptosis. The actions of TA were correlated with proteasome-dependent degradation of Cdk4, cyclin D1, Raf-1, Akt, and mutant p53, which are heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) client proteins. TA treatment induced a transient increase in reactive oxygen species and a decrease in the intracellular glutathione contents. Nonreducing SDS-PAGE revealed that TA rapidly and selectively induced thiol oxidation and aggregation of Hsp90 and Hsp70, both in intact cells and in cell-free systems using purified recombinant proteins. Furthermore, TA inhibited the chaperone activity of Hsp90-Hsp70 complex in the luciferase refolding assay. N-Acetylcysteine, a thiol antioxidant, prevented all of the TA-induced effects, including oxidation of heat shock proteins, degradation of Hsp90 client proteins, and apoptosis. In contrast, non-thiol antioxidants (trolox and vitamin C) were ineffective to prevent Hsp90 inhibition and cell death. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the TA inhibits the activity of Hsp90-Hsp70 chaperone complex, at least in part, by a direct thiol oxidation, which in turn leads to the destabilization and depletion of Hsp90 client proteins and thus causes cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells. Therefore, TA can be considered as a new type of inhibitor of Hsp90-Hsp70 chaperone complex, which has the potential to be developed as a novel strategy for cancer treatment.     

Combined Interferon- γ and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Treatment Differentially Affects Adhesion and Migration of Keratinocyte-derived Cells to Laminin-1

Interactions with the extracellular matrix constitute basic steps in cervix carcinoma cell invasion. In this study, we examined the adhesion and migration profiles of two human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA-transfected keratinocyte-derived cell lines, EIL8 and 18-11 S3, and of the cervix adenocarcinoma SiHa cell line, towards laminin-1, and the selective effect of a 24-72 h treatment of 1000 U/ml interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), a treatment that significantly decreases cervix carcinoma cell proliferation and progression in nude mice, on these parameters. Compared to normal cervix keratinocytes (CK) and two HPV DNA-transfected keratinocyte cell lines, in basal conditions, the SiHa cell line was characterized by increased attachment (SiHa, 48.74 ± 4.02 vs. normal keratinocytes, 4.32 ± 0.40, EIL8,17.80 ± 3.03 and 18-11S3,17.82 ± 1.48% of attached cells after 30min) and marked directed chemotactic migration towards laminin-1. Interestingly, treatment of the cells with the cytokines (1000U/ml IFN-γ and TNF-α) did not modulate the adhesion properties of the cells, but chemotactic migration of SiHa cells to laminin-1 was significantly decreased, while migration towards type I collagen was increased. Similar results were obtained with the Ca Ski cervix carcinoma cell line. Our results emphasize the altered pattern of interactions of cervix carcinoma cells with extracellular matrix components such as laminin-1, compared to normal and preneoplastic cells, and contributes to the understanding of the effects of cytokine treatment on cervix carcinoma cells.     

RMP在肝癌细胞基因组稳定性和凋亡中的作用

目的:研究RPB5调节蛋白(RMP)在正常肝细胞及肝癌细胞基因组稳定性中的作用,并探讨其与细胞凋亡的相关性。方法:采用逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)从mRNA 水平检测正常细胞系及多种肿瘤细胞系中RMP的表达。不同剂量⁶⁰Coγ射线照射肝癌细胞SMMC-7721细胞和正常肝细胞HL-7702细胞,RT-PCR法检测RMP的表达,流式细胞技术检测照射肝癌细胞周期变化及细胞凋亡。应用RNA干扰技术研究RMP在肝癌细胞基因组稳定性中的作用。结果:正常细胞系及多种肿瘤细胞系中RMP基因均有不同程度的表达。经⁶⁰Coγ射线诱导的肝癌细胞及正常肝细胞RMP表达水平明显升高,且有一定剂量依赖性。随着照射剂量增加细胞凋亡明显增多,细胞周期G₁期增高,而S期明显降低。RMP被干扰后, 电子显微镜观察细胞形态发生明显改变,p21基因表达减弱。结论:RMP具有维持细胞基因组稳定性的潜在作用。RMP的表达与p53、p21等具有一定相关性,可能与后者协同调节细胞凋亡过程。     

Galactosyltransferase activities in cultured urinary bladder tumor cells

After demonstrating that three bladder cancer cell lines (human bladder transitional cell carcinoma, MGH-U1; rat bladder transitional cell carcinoma, RBTCC; Nara rat bladder epidermal carcinoma, NBT-II) had galactosyltransferase (GT) activity in their cell surfaces, we investigated the effect of increasing cell density on the activity of this enzyme. All three cell lines responded to increased cell density by increased activity of cell-surface GT towards endogenous acceptor. By the use of exogenous acceptor, we showed that in the two transitional cell carcinoma lines (human and rat), the increased activity was probably caused by increased levels of endogenous acceptor rather than enzyme. In the rat bladder epidermal carcinoma line, on the other hand, increased GT activity seemed to be the result of increased levels of the enzyme. These conclusions were supported by the increased shedding of GT into the medium with increasing cell density in case of the epidermal carcinoma cells, but not the two transitional cell carcinoma lines. Total cell-associated GT activity would indicate that, in contrast to the two transitional cell carcinoma lines, the bladder epidermal carcinoma cells may have an increased rate of synthesis of GT as confluence is approached.