过表达核糖核酸酶抑制因子通过调节ILK/PI3K/AKT信号途径抑制小鼠黑色素瘤B16-F10细胞体内外生长

核糖核酸酶抑制因子（ribonuclease inhibitor,RI）是胞浆内的一种酸性蛋白质.已有研究证明,RI与核糖核酸酶A（RNaseA）和血管生成素（angiogenin,ANG）结合可抑制其活性.本室前期实验证实,RI可有效抑制某些肿瘤的生长和转移. 然而,RI抑制肿瘤的分子机制尚不清楚. 本研究探讨RI对小鼠黑色素瘤B16-F10细胞生长和凋亡的影响及其机制. MTT法结合流式细胞术分析结果证明,RI基因稳定转染导致B16+F10黑色素瘤细胞S期阻滞,抑制B16-F10黑色素瘤细胞增殖. Annexin V/PI结合流式细胞术结果显示,RI过表达引起细胞凋亡.与此相一致,蛋白质印迹分析显示,过表达RI引起抗凋亡分子Bcl-2表达下调,而Bax上调,同时伴有Pro-casepase 3激活. C57BL/ 6小鼠移植成瘤实验显示,与对照相比,转染RI的B16-F10细胞形成的肿瘤重量显著减少,同时伴有肿瘤组织微血管密度降低.提示RI过表达能抑制微血管生成. 此外,体内外组织/细胞免疫化学和蛋白质印迹结果揭示,过表达RI可显著抑制整合素连接激酶(integrin-linked kinase,ILK)下游靶分子Akt和GSK-3β的磷酸化,并降低β-联蛋白的表达.研究结果证明,过表达RI可通过抑制ILK/ PI3K/AKT信号通路,促进细胞凋亡,引起S期阻滞,并抑制血管生成,从而显著抑制小鼠黑色素瘤B16-F10细胞在体内、外的生长.上述结果提示,RI可能是治疗黑色素瘤的有效分子靶点.     

Effects of matrine against the growth of human lung cancer and hepatoma cells as well as lung cancer cell migration

The purpose of this study is to investigate in vitro and ex vivo effects of matrine on the growth of human lung cancer and hepatoma cells and the cancer cell migration as well as the expressions of related proteins in the cancer cells. Matrine significantly inhibited the in vitro and ex vivo growth of human non-small cell lung cancer A549 and hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells. Matrine induced the apoptosis in A549 and SMMC-7721 cells. Western blot analysis indicated that matrine dose-dependently down-regulated the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and up-regulated the level of pro-apoptotic protein bax, eventually leading the reduction of ratios of Bcl-2/Bax proteins in A549 and SMMC-7721 cells. Furthermore, matrine significantly suppressed the A549 cell migration without reducing the cell viability. In addition, matrine dramatically reduced the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor A in A549 cells. More importantly, matrine markedly enhanced the anticancer activity of anticancer agent trichostatin A (the histone deacetylase inhibitor) by strongly reducing the viability and/or the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax protein in A549 cells. Our findings suggest that matrine may have the broad therapeutic and/or adjuvant therapeutic application in the treatment of human non-small cell lung cancer and hepatoma.     

Inhibitory effects of norcantharidin against human lung cancer cell growth and migration

The effects of norcantharidin (NCTD), an anticancer drug in China, on the growth and migration in human lung cancer cells were investigated by in vitro and ex vivo assays. NCTD significantly inhibited the in vitro and ex vivo growth of human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells in dose- and time-dependent manners. Western blot analysis indicated that NCTD dose-dependently down-regulated the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and up-regulated the level of pro-apoptotic protein Bax, eventually leading the reduction of ratio of Bcl-2/Bax proteins in A549 cells. Moreover, NCTD significantly suppressed the A549 cell migration in the case of without reducing the cell viability. More importantly, NCTD significantly enhanced the anticancer activity of anticancer agents such as trichostatin A (the histone deacetylase inhibitor), celecoxib (the inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2) and lovastatin (the inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase) by strongly reducing the viability and/or the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax protein in A549 cells. Our findings suggest that NCTD may have the wide therapeutic and/or adjuvant therapeutic application in the treatment of human lung cancer.     

Pigment epithelium-derived factor inhibits glioma cell growth in vitro and in vivo

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common malignant brain tumor in adults, and it is among the most lethal of all cancers. Recent studies have shown that pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) can induce differentiation and inhibit angiogenesis of several tumors. This study was designed to determine whether gliomas angiogenesis and tumor growth could be inhibited by PEDF. We found that PEDF down-regulated expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and up-regulated the expression of thrombospondin-2 and augmented apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in both A172 and U87 glioma cells lines after 48 h of treatment. Analysis of the cell cycle showed arrest in the G₁ phase and block in S phase of the cell cycle. Meanwhile PEDF induced apoptosis was associated with increases of p53 and Bax and inhibition of Bcl-2. Conditioned medium with PEDF showed a significantly reductive effect on migration in vitro accompanied with a significant reduction of matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression. PEDF suppressed glioma cell migration in vitro and tumor burden in athymic nude mice. These results demonstrate for the first time inhibitory effects of PEDF on the growth and migration of human gliomas via induction of apoptosis and blocking of migratory-related factors. PEDF activation can be a novel approach for future therapeutic purposes against gliomas.     

Suppression of human lung cancer cell growth and migration by berbamine

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of berbamine (BER), a naturally occurring small-molecule compound from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Berberis amurensis, on the growth and migration of human lung cancer A549 cell line. This cell line is the non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) which constitutes 80% of lung cancer cases and remains an aggressive lung cancer associated with a poor patient survival. Our present results have shown that BER significantly suppressed the in vitro and ex vivo growth of A549 cells in dose- and time-dependent manners. Furthermore, Western blot analysis confirmed that BER dose-dependently down-regulated the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and up-regulated the level of pro-apoptotic protein Bax, eventually leading the reduction of Bcl-2/Bax protein ratio in A549 cells. In addition, BER significantly inhibited the A549 cell migration at the low concentrations without restraining the cell growth. More importantly, BER significantly enhanced the anticancer activity of anticancer agents such as trichostatin A (the histone deacetylase inhibitor) and celecoxib (the inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2) by strongly reducing the viability and/or the Bcl-2/Bax protein ratio in A549 cells. Our findings suggest that BER may have the wide therapeutic and/or adjuvant therapeutic application in the treatment of human NSCLC.     

新加良附方对移植性小鼠肝癌抑制率及其凋亡影响研究

目的:观察新加良附方对移植性小鼠肝癌(H22)生长抑制作用及其对肿瘤组织中Bcl-2和Bax表达影响。方法:建立移植型H22动物模型,并将动物模型随机分模型对照、环磷酰胺(CTX)与新加良附方大、中、小剂量5组。新加良附大、中、小剂量组给药量分别为10g/kg、5g/kg和2.5g/kg;CTX组给药计量为17mg/kg;模型组给予等量无菌生理盐水。连续给药、给水12天处死模型小鼠分离肿瘤,检测肿瘤大小、称重计算肿瘤抑制率,并将肿瘤组织切片,免疫组化法检测Bcl-2和Bax基因。结果:新加良附大剂量组肿瘤抑制率为48.5%,与模型对照组比较,有统计学意义(P<0.01);新加良附大、中剂量可降低肿瘤组织中Bcl-2蛋白基因表达,升高Bax蛋白基因表达,与模型组比较,有显著性差异(P<0.01,P<0.05)。结论:新加良附方可抑制H22瘤体生长,且下调Bcl-2蛋白基因表达,上调Bax基因,提示新加良附方在抗肿瘤方面具有进一步深入研究价值。     

Suppression of growth of highly-metastatic human breast cancer cells by norcantharidin and its mechanisms of action

The effects of norcantharidin (NCTD) on the growth of highly-metastatic human breast cancer cells were investigated by in vitro and ex vivo assays. Our results indicated that norcantharidin inhibited the in vitro growth of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell line in dose- and time-dependent manners after the cancer cells were treated with norcantharidin at the concentrations of 6, 30 and 60 μmol/L for 24, 48 and 72 h. Moreover, the sera from the NCTD-treated rabbits after intravenous injection of NCTD at 15 and 30 min significantly suppressed the growth of the cancer cells ex vivo. The analyses by Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry showed that the typical apoptotic morphological changes appeared and cell cycles arrested at G2/M phase in MDA-MB-231 cells after the cells were treated for 48 h with NCTD. In addition, NCTD down-regulated the expressions of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and up-regulated the expressions of pro-apoptotic protein Bax, eventually leading to the reduction of Bcl-2/Bax ratio in MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, NCTD at concentrations of 6, 30 and 60 μmol/L dose-dependently reduced the phosphorylation of Akt and NF-κB expression in the breast cancer cell line. Induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest as well as reduction of Bcl-2/Bax ratio by NCTD may be the important mechanisms of action of NCTD suppressing the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells, which are associated with inhibition of the Akt and NF-κB signaling. Our findings suggest that norcantharidin may have a wide therapeutic and/or adjuvant therapeutic application in the treatment of human breast cancer.     

Combination of vasostatin and cyclophosphamide in the therapy of murine melanoma tumors

Growth of tumors is strongly dependent upon supply of nutrients and oxygen by de novo formed blood vessels. Inhibiting angiogenesis suppresses growth of primary tumors as well and affects development of metastases. We demonstrate that recombinant MBP/vasostatin fusion protein inhibits proliferation of endothelial cells in vitro. The therapeutic usefulness of such intratumorally delivered recombinant protein was then assessed by investigating its ability to inhibit growth of experimental murine melanomas. In the model of B16-F10 melanoma the MBP/vasostatin construct significantly delayed tumor growth and prolonged survival of treated mice. A combination therapy involving MBP/vasostatin construct and cyclophosphamide was even more effective and led to further inhibition of the tumor growth and extended survival. We show that such combination might be useful in the clinical setting, especially to treat tumors which have already formed microvessel networks.     

苦杏仁苷介导人肝癌细胞HuH-7凋亡的实验研究

摘要 目的：通过体内体外实验探讨苦杏仁苷在肝癌中的抗肿瘤作用。方法：MTT 法检测不同浓度的苦杏仁苷对肝癌 HuH-7细胞存活率的影响;DAPI染色法观察苦杏仁苷介导HuH-7细胞的凋亡形态学变化;流式细胞术检测苦杏仁苷干预后HuH-7细胞凋亡率变化;Western Blot法检测细胞凋亡相关蛋白Bax、Bcl-2的表达,计算Bax/Bcl-2的比值。建立裸鼠HuH-7细胞移植瘤模型,观察苦杏仁苷对荷瘤裸鼠移植瘤体积的影响。结果：体外实验结果证实苦杏仁苷能够诱导人肝癌HuH-7细胞凋亡的发生（P<0.05）。随着苦杏仁苷浓度的增加,HuH-7细胞的存活率降低,凋亡率升高,干预后Bax/Bcl-2比值明显升高（P<0.05）。体内实验结果表明,裸鼠HuH-7细胞移植瘤的体积增长速度减慢（P<0.05）。结论：苦杏仁苷能够诱导人肝癌HuH-7细胞和裸鼠HuH-7细胞移植瘤细胞发生凋亡,减缓肿瘤生长,从而发挥抗肿瘤作用。     

Anticancer properties and mechanisms of fucoidan on mouse breast cancer in vitro and in vivo

Background

Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide derived from brown algae that has been reported to perform multiple biological activities, including antitumor activity. In this study, we examined the influence of crude fucoidan on mouse breast cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Materials and Methods

In vitro, fluorescent staining, flow cytometry and Western blot were performed to analyze apoptosis and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression of mouse breast cancer 4T1 cells. In vivo, therapy experiments were conducted on Babl/c mice bearing breast cancer. The tumor volume and weight were measured. The number of apoptotic cells and microvascular density (MVD) in tumor tissues were assessed by TUNEL and CD34 immunostaining. Immunohistochemical assays and ELISA assay were used to detect the expression of VEGF in tissues.

Results

In vitro studies showed that crude fucoidan significantly decreased the viable number of 4T1 cells, induced apoptosis and down-regulated the expression of VEGF. The expression of Bcl-2 was decreased, and the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax was significantly decreased. The expression of Survivin and phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated protein kinases (ERKs) was decreased. Cytochrome C was released from mitochondria into cytosol, and the cleaved Caspase-3 protein rose after fucoidan treatment. Intraperitoneal injection of fucoidan in breast cancer models reduced the tumor volume and weight. The enhanced antitumor efficacy was associated with decreased angiogenesis and increased induction of apoptosis.

Conclusion

These findings indicated that crude fucoidan inhibited mouse breast cancer growth in vitro and in vivo. These data suggest that fucoidan may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for breast cancer.     

Combination of Quercetin and 2-Methoxyestradiol Enhances Inhibition of Human Prostate Cancer LNCaP and PC-3 Cells Xenograft Tumor Growth

Quercetin and 2-Methoxyestradiol (2-ME) are promising anti-cancer substances. Our previous in vitro study showed that quercetin synergized with 2-Methoxyestradiol exhibiting increased antiproliferative and proapoptotic activity in both androgen-dependent LNCaP and androgen-independent PC-3 human prostate cancer cell lines. In the present study, we determined whether their combination could inhibit LNCaP and PC-3 xenograft tumor growth in vivo and explored the underlying mechanism. Human prostate cancer LNCaP and PC-3 cells were inoculated subcutaneously in male BALB/c nude mice. When xenograft tumors reached about 100 mm³, mice were randomly allocated to vehicle control, quercetin or 2-Methoxyestradiol singly treated and combination treatment groups. After therapeutic intervention for 4 weeks, combination treatment of quercetin and 2-ME i) significantly inhibited prostate cancer xenograft tumor growth by 46.8% for LNCaP and 51.3% for PC-3 as compared to vehicle control group, more effective than quercetin (28.4% for LNCaP, 24.8% for PC3) or 2-ME (32.1% for LNCaP, 28.9% for PC3) alone; ii) was well tolerated by BALB/c mice and no obvious toxic reactions were observed; iii) led to higher Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, cleaved caspase-3 protein expression and apoptosis rate; and iv) resulted in lower phosphorylated AKT (pAKT) protein level, vascular endothelial growth factor protein and mRNA expression, microvascular density and proliferation rate than single drug treatment. These effects were more remarkable compared to vehicle group. Therefore, combination of quercetin and 2-ME can serve as a novel clinical treatment regimen owning the potential of enhancing antitumor effect on prostate cancer in vivo and lessening the dose and side effects of either quercetin or 2-ME alone. These in vivo results will lay a further solid basis for subsequent researches on this novel therapeutic regimen in human prostate cancer.     

双歧杆菌脂磷壁酸与5-氟尿嘧啶体内联用对肿瘤细胞凋亡的影响

目的研究双歧杆菌脂磷壁酸与5-氟尿嘧啶联用诱导H22荷瘤小鼠肿瘤细胞凋亡的作用机制。方法双歧杆菌脂磷壁酸联合5-FU处理H22荷瘤Balb/c小鼠,计算抑瘤率,观察小鼠生存期;采用Real time-PCR和Western blot方法分别检测荷瘤小鼠肿瘤组织Bcl-2、Bax和Caspase-3 mRNA及蛋白的表达变化。结果双歧杆菌脂磷壁酸联合5-FU应用,与单独5-FU处理组比较,不仅抑瘤率明显提高（P〈0.01）,且荷瘤小鼠存活时间明显延长（P〈0.01）,肿瘤组织Bcl-2表达下降,Bax和Caspase-3表达升高（P〈0.05）。结论双歧杆菌脂磷壁酸联合5-FU可通过上调Bax和Caspase-3,下调Bcl-2,促进肿瘤细胞凋亡,从而发挥协同抗肿瘤作用。     

G6PD缺陷抑制人黑色素瘤细胞裸鼠移植瘤的生长

敲减葡糖6-磷酸脱氢酶(G6PD)表达的人黑色素瘤A375细胞(A375-G6PDΔ) 呈现生长增殖抑制和凋亡率升高. 为明确G6PD缺陷对裸鼠体内成瘤的影响及其可能机制,用A375-WT与A375-G6PDΔ细胞制作裸鼠荷瘤模型,观察体内瘤体生长,real-time PCR、免疫组织化学染色与紫外分光光度法分别检测瘤体组织G6PD mRNA、G6PD蛋白及酶活性,Western 印迹分析凋亡相关蛋白,分光光度法测定NADPH和GSH/GSSG水平. 结果显示,A375-G6PDΔ细胞注射组的裸鼠成瘤时间延长,瘤体生长明显减慢,瘤体的体积与质量显著低于A375 WT细胞注射组（P <0.01）;与A375-WT细胞注射组相比,A375 G6PDΔ细胞注射组的裸鼠瘤体组织中G6PD mRNA表达、G6PD阳性细胞数与G6PD活性分别降低了87.10%、77.20%与75.77%（P<0.01）,G6PD、p53和Bcl-2的表达分别降低了67.92%、65.54%和62.32%（P<0.01）,Fas升高了86.38%（P<0.01）,NADPH和GSH/GSSG分别降低了74.37%和86.02%（P<0.01）. 结果提示,G6PD缺陷可能通过减少核酸等合成的原料、改变细胞内氧化还原状态及凋亡相关蛋白表达抑制裸鼠瘤体生长与增殖,这为黑色素瘤发生和治疗研究提供了新的线索.     

Hypoxia-mediated down-regulation of Bid and Bax in tumors occurs via hypoxia-inducible factor 1-dependent and -independent mechanisms and contributes to drug resistance

Solid tumors with disorganized, insufficient blood supply contain hypoxic cells that are resistant to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Drug resistance, an obstacle to curative treatment of solid tumors, can occur via suppression of apoptosis, a process controlled by pro- and antiapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 protein family. Oxygen deprivation of human colon cancer cells in vitro provoked decreased mRNA and protein levels of proapoptotic Bid and Bad. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) was dispensable for the down-regulation of Bad but required for that of Bid, consistent with the binding of HIF-1alpha to a hypoxia-responsive element (positions -8484 to -8475) in the bid promoter. Oxygen deprivation resulted in proteosome-independent decreased expression of Bax in vitro, consistent with a reduction in global translation efficiency. The physiological relevance of Bid and Bax down-regulation was confirmed in tumors in vivo. Oxygen deprivation resulted in decreased drug-induced apoptosis and clonogenic resistance to agents with different mechanisms of action. The contribution of Bid and/or Bax down-regulation to drug responsiveness was demonstrated by the relative resistance of normoxic cells that had no or reduced expression of Bid and/or Bax and by the finding that forced expression of Bid in hypoxic cells resulted in increased sensitivity to the topoisomerase II inhibitor etoposide.     

TIMP-1-GPI in combination with hyperthermic treatment of melanoma increases sensitivity to FAS-mediated apoptosis

Resistance to apoptosis is a prominent feature of malignant melanoma. Hyperthermic therapy can be an effective adjuvant treatment for some tumors including melanoma. We developed a fusion protein based on the tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 linked to a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor (TIMP-1-GPI). The TIMP-1-GPI-fusion protein shows unique properties. Exogenous administration of TIMP-1-GPI can result in transient morphological changes to treated cells including modulation of proliferation and decreased resistance to apoptosis. The effect of TIMP-1-GPI on the biology of melanoma in the context of a defined hyperthermic dose was evaluated in vitro. Clonogenic assays were used to measure cell survival. Gelatinase zymography determined secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Monoclonal antibody against FAS/CD95 was applied to induce apoptosis. The expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins and the secretion of immunoregulatory cytokines were then evaluated using Western blot and ELISA. TIMP-1-GPI combined with a sub-lethal hyperthermic treatment (41.8°C for 2 h) suppressed tumor cell growth capacity as measured by clonogenic assay. The co-treatment also significantly suppressed tumor cell proliferation, enhanced FAS receptor surface expression increased tumor cell susceptibility to FAS-mediated killing. The increased sensitivity to FAS-induced apoptosis was linked to alterations in the apoptotic mediators Bcl-2, Bax, Bcl-XL and Apaf-1. The agent works in concert with sub-lethal hyperthermic treatment to render melanoma cells sensitive to FAS killing. The targeted delivery of TIMP-1-GPI to tumor environments in the context of regional hyperthermic therapy could be optimized through the use of thermosensitive liposomes. Elfriede Noessner, Peter J. Nelson are equal contributors.     

Swainsonine activates mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway in human lung cancer A549 cells and retards the growth of lung cancer xenografts

Swainsonine (1, 2, 8-trihyroxyindolizidine, SW), a natural alkaloid, has been reported to exhibit anti-cancer activity on several mouse models of human cancer and human cancers in vivo. However, the mechanisms of SW-mediated tumor regression are not clear. In this study, we investigated the effects of SW on several human lung cancer cell lines in vitro. The results showed that SW significantly inhibited these cells growth through induction of apoptosis in different extent in vitro. Further studies showed that SW treatment up-regulated Bax, down-regulated Bcl-2 expression, promoted Bax translocation to mitochondria, activated mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway, which in turn caused the release of cytochrome c, the activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), resulting in A549 cell apoptosis. However, the expression of Fas, Fas ligand (FasL) or caspase-8 activity did not appear significant changes in the process of SW-induced apoptosis. Moreover, SW treatment inhibited Bcl-2 expression, promoted Bax translocation, cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activity in xenograft tumor cells, resulting in a significant decrease of tumor volume and tumor weight in the SW-treated xenograft mice groups in comparison to the control group. Taken together, this study demonstrated for the first time that SW inhibited A549 cancer cells growth through a mitochondria-mediated, caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway in vitro and in vivo.     

Imatinib targets PDGF signaling in melanoma and host smooth muscle neighboring cells

In previous in vitro studies, we showed that imatinib abrogated platelet‐derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα) signaling, disrupting both breast cancer and smooth muscle cells (SMC). PDGF is also a powerful mitogen for neural crest origin cells like melanocytes. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of imatinib on melanoma growth and in angiogenesis, with emphasis to the involvement in PDGF signaling. B16 melanoma cells incubation with 5 µM (IC50) imatinib resulted in a significant reduction in cell proliferation and migration. Apoptosis, however, was not significantly affected. Phosphorylated‐PDGFRα expression was decreased in B16 lysates. In a mouse model of B16 melanoma, intraperitoneal administration of imatinib at early day light significantly decreased tumor growth. These findings were corroborated by a highly significant reduction in cell proliferation and increase in apoptosis in melanoma tumors. This was accompanied by a decrease in microvessel density and in the number of SMC‐presenting vessels. Imatinib further inhibited PDGFRα expression and activity, as confirmed by the down‐regulation of downstream Erk signaling pathway. Altogether, this study demonstrates that besides targeting tumor cells, imatinib also prevents vascular integrity. The current study provides evidence that the paracrine crosstalk between tumor cells and host neighboring cells is crucial for the elucidation of imatinib effects. In addition, the fact that this molecule targets vascular support cells further enlarges its therapeutic purpose to a wide range of vasculoproliferative pathologies. J. Cell. Biochem. 111: 433–441, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Human amniotic membrane derived-mesenchymal stem cells induce C6 glioma apoptosis in vivo through the Bcl-2/caspase pathways

High-grade gliomas are difficult to treat. We examined the therapeutic effect of intratumoral administration of human amniotic membrane derived-mesenchymal stem cells (hAMCs) on the growth of gliomas. Tumor volume of the control group was 1632 ± 316 mm³ on day 30, and the group treated with a single intratumoral dose of hAMCs had a tumor volume of 1128 ± 269 mm³ (P < 0.05). Thus, administration of hAMCs significantly reduced tumor size. In rat glioma tissues treated with single and multiple dosages of hAMCs, there was a reduction in tumor volume of approximately 30.9 and 49.5%, respectively. We further evaluated the glioma tissue using Western blotting analysis and observed that the expression of Bax, caspase-8 and caspase-3 were greatly increased and the expression of Bcl-2 was greatly decreased in tumors treated with hAMCs. Sections of nude mice treated with hAMCs clearly showed the presence of an increase in apoptotic cells. The data collected herein confirms for the first time that hAMCs can inhibit C6 glioma growth and induce apoptosis of C6 gliomas in vivo. This demonstrates that hAMCs are a potential new therapeutic agent for the treatment of gliomas.     

Identification and expression profiles of genes and protens in SMMC-7721 cells

In the study presented here, we first evaluated effect of CDDP on liver cancer cells SMMC-7721 apoptosis and motility capacity. Then, we evaluate inhibitory effect of CDDP on tumour growth and its possible molecular mechanism in liver cancer mice model. Results showed that the apoptosis rate of cells decreased with increasing CDDP. Analysis of the effect of the CDDP on cell cycle was performed by flow cytometry and results show a dose-dependent increase in the percentage of cells in the S-phase of the cell cycle, with a decrease in the percentage of cells in the G1 and G2/M phases. CDDP did not close the wound even after 48 h, as opposed to untreated cells (0 mg/l). Similarly, the migratory and invasion capacity of SMMC-7721 cells was also reduced after treatment with CDDP, as evaluated by a transwell assay. Animal experiment indicated that CDDP administration could increase blood WBC, total protein, albumin and A/G, decrease blood alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels in hepatocellular carcinomas mice. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that positive expression of Fas and Bax proteins in the medicine-treated (II, III) group was significantly higher, whereas the expression of NF-κB, P53, Bcl-2 proteins was significantly lower than those of the control group. Gene expression analysis using Real time PCR methods revealed a significant up-regulation in the expression levels of Bax mRNA in the medicne-treated (II, III) group when compared to untreated control. In contrast, CDDP-treated group showed a significant down regulation in the expression levels of Bcl-2 mRNA as compared to untreated control group. These results are in agreement with immunohistochemistry data. Our observations indicate that CDDP has damaged effects on liver tumour cells SMMC-7721 including apoptosis, motility and cell cycle under in vitro. CDDP can enhance pro-apoptosis gene Fas, Bax expression, decrease anti-apoptosis genes Bcl-2 expression, and mutant genes P53, NF-κB proteins expression.