Rottlerin induces autophagy and apoptotic cell death through a PKC-delta-independent pathway in HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells: the protective role of autophagy in apoptosis

Rottlerin is widely used as a protein kinase C-delta inhibitor. Recently, several reports have shown the possible apoptosis-inducing effect of rottlerin in some cancer cell lines. Here we report that rottlerin induces not only apoptosis but also autophagy via a PKC-delta-independent pathway in HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells. Rottlerin treatment induced a dose- and time-dependent inhibition of cell growth, and cytoplasmic vacuolations were markedly shown. These vacuoles were identified as acidic autolysosomes by electron microscopy, acidic vesicular organelle (AVO) staining and transfection of green fluorescent protein-LC3. The LC3-II protein level also increased after treatment with rottlerin. Prolonged exposure to rottlerin eventually caused apoptosis via loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and translocation of AIF from mitochondria to the nucleus. However, the activities of caspase-3, -8 and -9 were not changed, and PARP did not show signs of cleavage. Interestingly, the pretreatment of cells with a specific inhibitor of autophagy (3-methyladenine) accelerated rottlerin-induced apoptosis as revealed by an analysis of the subdiploid fraction and TUNEL assay. Nevertheless, the knockdown of PKC-delta by RNA interference neither affected cell growth nor acidic vacuole formation. Similarly, rottlerin-induced cell death was not prevented by PKC-delta overexpression. Taken together, these findings suggest that rottlerin induces early autophagy and late apoptosis in a PKC-delta-independent manner, and the rottlerin-induced early autophagy may act as a survival mechanism against late apoptosis in HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells.     

Combination treatment with arsenic trioxide and irradiation enhances autophagic effects in U118-MG cells through increased mitotic arrest and regulation of PI3K/Akt and ERK1/2 signaling pathways

Malignant gliomas are resistant to many kinds of treatments including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other adjuvant therapies. Autophagy is a novel response of cancer cells to ionizing radiation (IR) or chemotherapy, but its significance and underlying mechanism remains largely elusive. Induction of autophagy in glioma cells using irradiation and arsenic trioxide (ATO) have been reported separately. However, the combined effects of ATO and IR on the cell death processes of malignant glioma cells have not been thoroughly studied, especially in U118-MG cells. In the present study, we investigated the anticancer effect of IR combined with ATO and the underlying mechanisms on U118-MG human malignant glioma cells in vitro. We found that the enhanced cytotoxic effect of IR combined with ATO was through induction of more autophagy in U118-MG cells, which were characterized by the presence of acidic vascular organelle formation, determined by electron microscopic observation and immunoblotting of LC3. Combined treatment could induce more mitotic arrest compared to ATO or IR alone. In addition, we also found that the combined treatment-induced autophagy occurred through inhibition of PI3K/Akt and activation of ERK1/2 signaling pathways. These findings suggest a potential therapeutic strategy for malignant gliomas, which are resistant to various proapoptotic therapies.     

Arsenic trioxide enhances the radiation sensitivity of androgen-dependent and -independent human prostate cancer cells

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in men. In the present study, LNCaP (androgen-sensitive human prostate cancer cells) and PC-3 cells (androgen-independent human prostate cancer cells) were used to investigate the anti-cancer effects of ionizing radiation (IR) combined with arsenic trioxide (ATO) and to determine the underlying mechanisms in vitro and in vivo. We found that IR combined with ATO increases the therapeutic efficacy compared to individual treatments in LNCaP and PC-3 human prostate cancer cells. In addition, combined treatment showed enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation compared to treatment with ATO or IR alone in PC-3 cells. Combined treatment induced autophagy and apoptosis in LNCaP cells, and mainly induced autophagy in PC-3 cells. The cell death that was induced by the combined treatment was primarily the result of inhibition of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathways. Furthermore, we found that the combined treatment of cells pre-treated with 3-MA resulted in a significant change in AO-positive cells and cytotoxicity. In an in vivo study, the combination treatment had anti-tumor growth effects. These novel findings suggest that combined treatment is a potential therapeutic strategy not only for androgen-dependent prostate cancer but also for androgen-independent prostate cancer.     

A fish antimicrobial peptide, tilapia hepcidin TH2-3, shows potent antitumor activity against human fibrosarcoma cells

As part of a continuing search for potential anticancer drug candidates from antimicrobial peptides of marine organisms, tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) hepcidin TH2-3 was evaluated in several tumor cell lines. The results indicated that TH2-3, a synthetic 20-mer antimicrobial peptide, specifically inhibited human fibrosarcoma cell (HT1080 cell line) proliferation and migration. The way in which TH2-3 inhibited HT1080 cell growth was then studied. TH2-3 inhibited HT1080 cell growth in a concentration-dependent manner according to an MTT analysis, which was confirmed by a soft-agar assay and AO/EtBr staining. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that TH2-3 caused lethal membrane disruption in HT1080 cancer cells, and a wound healing assay supported that TH2-3 decreased the migration of HT1080 cells. In addition, c-Jun mRNA expression was downregulated after treatment with TH2-3 for 48–96 h compared to the untreated group. These findings suggest a mechanism of cytotoxic action of TH2-3 and indicate that TH2-3 may be a promising chemotherapeutic agent against human fibrosarcoma cells.     

Synergistic effects of arsenic trioxide and radiation in osteosarcoma cells through the induction of both autophagy and apoptosis

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor, occurring mainly in children and adolescents, and survival largely depends on their response to chemotherapy. However, the risk of relapse and adverse outcomes is still high. We investigated the synergistic anti-cancer effects of ionizing radiation combined with arsenic trioxide (ATO) and the mechanisms underlying apoptosis or autophagy induced by combined radiation and ATO treatment in human osteosarcoma cells. We found that exposure to radiation increased the population of HOS cells in the G(2)/M phase within 12 h in a time-dependent manner. Radiation combined with ATO induced a significantly prolonged G(2)/M arrest, consequently enhancing cell death. Furthermore, combined treatment resulted in enhanced ROS generation compared to treatment with ATO or radiation alone. The enhanced cytotoxic effect of combined treatment occurred from the increased induction of autophagy and apoptosis through inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in HOS cells. The combined treatment of HOS cells pretreated with Z-VAD, 3-MA or PEG-catalase resulted in a significant reduction of cytotoxicity. In addition, G(2)/M arrest and ROS generation could be involved in the underlying mechanisms. The data suggest that a combination of radiation and ATO could be a new potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of osteosarcoma.     

A novel function of hepatocyte growth factor in the activation of checkpoint kinase 1 phosphorylation in colon cancer cells

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a simple biophysical lipid which interacts with at least six subtypes of G protein-coupled LPA receptors (LPA₁–LPA₆). In cancer cells, LPA signaling via LPA receptors is involved in the regulation of malignant properties, such as cell growth, motility, and invasion. The aim of this study was to assess whether LPA receptors regulate cellular functions of fibrosarcoma cells treated with anticancer drug. HT1080 cells were maintained by the stepwise treatment of cisplatin (CDDP) at a range of 0.01 to 1.0 µM for approximately 6 months. The cell motile and invasive activities of long-term CDDP-treated (HT-CDDP) cells were significantly stimulated by LPA treatment, while HT-CDDP cells in the static state showed the low cell motile and invasive activities in comparison with HT1080 cells. Since the expression level of LPAR2 gene was markedly elevated in HT-CDDP cells, LPA₂ knockdown cells were generated from HT-CDDP cells. The cell motile and invasive activities of HT-CDDP cells were reduced by LPA₂ knockdown. In colony assay, large-sized colonies formed by long-term CDDP treatment were suppressed by LPA₂ knockdown. In addition, LPA₂ knockdown cells reduced LPA production by autotaxin (ATX), correlating with ATX expression level. These results suggest that LPA signaling via LPA₂ may play an important role in the regulation of cellular functions in HT1080 cells treated with CDDP.     

Targeting Androgen Receptor/Src Complex Impairs the Aggressive Phenotype of Human Fibrosarcoma Cells

Background

Hormones and growth factors influence the proliferation and invasiveness of human mesenchymal tumors. The highly aggressive human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cell line harbors classical androgen receptor (AR) that responds to androgens triggering cell migration in the absence of significant mitogenesis. As occurs in many human cancer cells, HT1080 cells also express epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).

Experimental

Findings: We report that the pure anti-androgen Casodex inhibits the growth of HT1080 cell xenografts in immune-depressed mice, revealing a novel role of AR in fibrosarcoma progression. In HT1080 cultured cells EGF, but not androgens, robustly increases DNA synthesis. Casodex abolishes the EGF mitogenic effect, implying a crosstalk between EGFR and AR. The mechanism underlying this crosstalk has been analyzed using an AR-derived small peptide, S1, which prevents AR/Src tyrosine kinase association and androgen-dependent Src activation. Present findings show that in HT1080 cells EGF induces AR/Src Association, and the S1 peptide abolishes both the assembly of this complex and Src activation. The S1 peptide inhibits EGF-stimulated DNA synthesis, cell matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) secretion and invasiveness of HT1080 cells. Both Casodex and S1 peptide also prevent DNA synthesis and migration triggered by EGF in various human cancer-derived cells (prostate, breast, colon and pancreas) that express AR.

Conclusion

This study shows that targeting the AR domain involved in AR/Src association impairs EGF signaling in human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells. The EGF-elicited processes inhibited by the peptide (DNA synthesis, MMP-9 secretion and invasiveness) cooperate in increasing the aggressive phenotype of HT1080 cells. Therefore, AR represents a new potential therapeutic target in human fibrosarcoma, as supported by Casodex inhibition of HT1080 cell xenografts. The extension of these findings in various human cancer-derived cell lines highlights the conservation of this process across divergent cancer cells and identifies new potential targets in the therapeutic approach to human cancers.     

Lysophosphatidic acid receptor-5 negatively regulates cell motile and invasive activities of human sarcoma cell lines

LPA signaling via LPA receptors [LPA receptor-1 (LPA₁)–LPA₆] mediates the several cellular responses in cancer cells, including cell motility and invasion. In the present study, to investigate a role of LPA₅ in the cell motile and invasive activities of sarcoma cells, LPAR5 knockdown (HOSL5 and HT1080L5) cells were generated from human osteosarcoma HOS and fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells, respectively. In cell motility assays with cell culture inserts, HOSL5 and HT1080L5 cells indicated the high cell motile activities, compared with control cells. The cell invasive activities of HOSL5 and HT1080L5 cells were significantly higher than those of control cells. Moreover, the activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 were measured by gelatin zymography. MMP-2 was significantly activated in HOSL5 cells, but not MMP-9. The elevated activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were found in HT1080L5 cells, in comparison with control cells. These results suggest that LPA signaling via LPA₅ negatively regulates the cell motile and invasive activities of human sarcoma cells.     

Pardaxin-induced apoptosis enhances antitumor activity in HeLa cells

Pardaxin, a pore-forming antimicrobial peptide that encodes 33 amino acids was isolated from the Red Sea Moses sole, Pardachirus mamoratus. In this study, we investigated its antitumor activity in human fibrosarcoma (HT-1080) cells and epithelial carcinoma (HeLa) cells. In vitro results showed that the synthetic pardaxin peptide had antitumor activity in these two types of cancer cells and that 15 μg/ml pardaxin did not lyse human red blood cells. Moreover, this synthetic pardaxin inhibited the proliferation of HT1080 cells in a dose-dependent manner and induced programmed cell death in HeLa cells. DNA fragmentation and increases in the subG1 phase and caspase 8 activities suggest that pardaxin caused HeLa cell death by inducing apoptosis, but had a different mechanism in HT1080 cells.     

Apoptosis of human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells by epigallocatechin-3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-gallate via induction of p53 and caspases as well as suppression of Bcl-2 and phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB

Animal tumor bioassays and in vitro cell culture systems have demonstrated that epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), the predominant catechin in green tea, possesses anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on various cancer cells and tumors. In this study, we investigated the effects of EGCG on cell growth, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis in human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells. The involvement of p53, Bcl-2, Bax, caspases, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) was examined as a mechanism for the anti-cancer activity of EGCG. Time-dependent intracellular trafficking of EGCG was also determined using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated EGCG (FITC-EGCG). Our data show that EGCG treatment caused dose-dependent cell growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest at the G₀/G₁ phase, and DNA fragmentation suggesting the induction of apoptosis in HT-1080 cells. Immunoblot analysis revealed that the expression of p53, caspase-7 and -9 as well as the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 protein increased significantly with higher EGCG concentrations and longer incubation times. Moreover, expression of phosphorylated NF-κB/p65 in HT-1080 cells was inhibited by EGCG treatment in a dose-dependent manner, while that of unphosphorylated NF-κB/p65 remained unaffected. Here we also reveal time-dependent internalization of FITC-EGCG into the cytosol of HT-1080 cells and its subsequent nuclear translocation. These results suggest that EGCG may interrupt exogenous signals directed towards genes involved in proliferation and cell cycle progression. Taken together, our data indicate that HT-1080 apoptosis may be mediated through the induction of p53 and caspases by the pro-oxidant activity of internalized EGCG, as well as suppression of Bcl-2 and phosphorylated NF-κB by the antioxidant activity of EGCG.     

QSAR of apoptosis induction in various cancer cells

In continuing our QSAR study of apoptosis, we consider in this report the action of phenolic compounds on Ramos cells (non-Hodgkins B-cell lymphoma): the effect of O-8-thapsigargin analogues on human prostate cancer cells, Tsu-Pr-1 and the induction of apoptosis of a complex set of congeners on human fibrosarcoma cells HT 1080. The human prostate cancer cells activity is very similar to that of the Ramos cells. While the QSAR for the fibrosarcoma cells resembles that of our earlier study with L1210 leukemia cells. The two different types of QSAR suggest at least two quite different types of receptors for the induction of apoptosis.     

去乙酰化酶抑制剂TSA介导Ku70乙酰化对结肠癌HT29细胞凋亡和自噬的影响

目的:探讨不同浓度组蛋白去乙酰化酶抑制剂TSA对结肠癌HT29细胞的增殖、凋亡和自噬影响及其机制研究。方法:取对数生长期人结肠癌HT29细胞,采用MTT法检测不同浓度TSA处理对其细胞活力影响,并根据IC50值确定适宜给药浓度;采用流式细胞术检测不同浓度TSA处理后结肠癌HT29细胞的凋亡情况;Western blot验证空白对照组与TSA给药处理组中凋亡标志蛋白Ku70、acetrl-Ku70、Caspase3、Bax、Bcl-2和自噬标志蛋白LC3和Beclin1的表达。结果:MTT法实验结果表明TSA对结肠癌HT29细胞具有时间和浓度依赖性抑制作用,根据IC50=1.12μM,本研究中TSA的给药浓度为0.5μM和1μM;流式细胞凋亡检测结果表明TSA能够显著促进结肠癌HT29细胞凋亡,且其促凋亡作用存在浓度依赖性;此外,Western blot检测结果证实,与空白对照组相比,TSA给药处理可显著上调上述细胞中acetrl-Ku70以及促凋亡蛋白Caspase3、Bax和自噬标志蛋白LC3和Beclin1的表达,下调抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2的表达(P<0.05)。结论:组蛋白去乙酰化酶抑制剂(TSA)的体外抗结肠癌细胞的增殖、促进细胞凋亡和自噬作用与其上调Ku70蛋白乙酰化密切相关,有望成为临床潜在抗癌靶点。     

Cbl-b-dependent degradation of FLIPL is involved in ATO-induced autophagy in leukemic K562 and gastric cancer cells

Various molecular mechanisms are involved in the efficacy of arsenic trioxide (ATO) against malignant hematologic and some solid tumors. FLICE-like inhibitory protein (FLIP) is an inhibitor of apoptosis mediated by death receptors. In this study, we identified a new link between the down-regulation of cellular FLIP_L and ATO-induced autophagy. ATO induced the degradation of FLIP_L in K562 and MGC803 cells, which was mediated by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Moreover, the casitas B-lineage lymphoma-b (Cbl-b) was involved in this process, which interacted with FLIP_L and promoted proteasomal degradation of FLIP_L. Our findings lead to a better understanding of the mechanism of action of ATO, and suggest that a novel signaling pathway is required for ATO-induced autophagy in K562 and MGC803 cells.

Structured summary of protein interactions

FLIP-Lphysically interacts with CBL-B by anti bait coimmunoprecipitation (View interaction)     

Programmed cell death pathways in cancer: a review of apoptosis,autophagy and programmed necrosis

Programmed cell death (PCD), referring to apoptosis, autophagy and programmed necrosis, is proposed to be death of a cell in any pathological format, when mediated by an intracellular program. These three forms of PCD may jointly decide the fate of cells of malignant neoplasms; apoptosis and programmed necrosis invariably contribute to cell death, whereas autophagy can play either pro‐survival or pro‐death roles. Recent bulk of accumulating evidence has contributed to a wealth of knowledge facilitating better understanding of cancer initiation and progression with the three distinctive types of cell death. To be able to decipher PCD signalling pathways may aid development of new targeted anti‐cancer therapeutic strategies. Thus in this review, we present a brief outline of apoptosis, autophagy and programmed necrosis pathways and apoptosis‐related microRNA regulation, in cancer. Taken together, understanding PCD and the complex interplay between apoptosis, autophagy and programmed necrosis may ultimately allow scientists and clinicians to harness the three types of PCD for discovery of further novel drug targets, in the future cancer treatment.     

bFGF induces changes in hyaluronan synthase and hyaluronidase isoform expression and modulates the migration capacity of fibrosarcoma cells

Background

Hyaluronan (HA) a glycosaminoglycan, is capable of transmitting extracellular matrix derived signals to regulate cellular functions. In this study, we investigated whether the changes in HT1080 and B6FS fibrosarcoma cell lines HA metabolism induced by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are correlated to their migration.

Methods

Real-time PCR, in vitro wound healing assay, siRNA transfection, enzyme digestions, western blotting and immunofluorescence were utilized.

Results

bFGF inhibited the degradation of HA by decreasing hyaluronidase-2 expression in HT1080 cells (p = 0.0028), increased HA-synthase-1 and -2 expression as we previously found and enhanced high molecular weight HA deposition in the pericellular matrix. Increased endogenous HA production (p = 0.0022) and treatment with exogenous high molecular weight HA (p = 0.0268) correlated with a significant decrease of HT1080 cell migration capacity. Transfection with siHAS2 and siHAS1 showed that mainly HAS1 synthesized high molecular weight HA regulates HT1080 cell motility. Induced degradation of the HA content by hyaluronidase treatment and addition of low molecular weight HA, resulted in a significant stimulation of HT1080 cells' motility (p < 0.01). In contrast, no effects on B6FS fibrosarcoma cell motility were observed.

Conclusions

bFGF regulates, in a cell-specific manner the migration capability of fibrosarcoma cells by modulating their HA metabolism.HA metabolism is suggested to be a potential therapeutic target in fibrosarcoma.     

Cytotoxicity of apigenin on leukemia cell lines: implications for prevention and therapy

Natural-food-based compounds show substantial promise for prevention and biotherapy of cancers including leukemia. In general, their mechanism of action remains unclear, hampering rational use of these compounds. Herein we show that the common dietary flavonoid apigenin has anticancer activity, but also may decrease chemotherapy sensitivity, depending on the cell type. We analyzed the molecular consequences of apigenin treatment in two types of leukemia, the myeloid and erythroid subtypes. Apigenin blocked proliferation in both lineages through cell-cycle arrest in G₂/M phase for myeloid HL60 and G₀/G₁ phase for erythroid TF1 cells. In both cell lines the JAK/STAT pathway was one of major targets of apigenin. Apigenin inhibited PI3K/PKB pathway in HL60 and induced caspase-dependent apoptosis. In contrast, no apoptosis was detected in TF1 cells, but initiation of autophagy was observed. The block in cell cycle and induction of autophagy observed in this erythroleukemia cell line resulted in a reduced susceptibility toward the commonly used therapeutic agent vincristine. Thus, this study shows that although apigenin is a potential chemopreventive agent due to the induction of leukemia cell-cycle arrest, caution in dietary intake of apigenin should be taken during disease as it potentially interferes with cancer treatment.     

A Novel Herbal Medicine,KIOM-C,Induces Autophagic and Apoptotic Cell Death Mediated by Activation of JNK and Reactive Oxygen Species in HT1080 Human Fibrosarcoma Cells

KIOM-C was recently demonstrated to have anti-metastatic activity in highly malignant cancer cells via suppression of NF-κB-mediated MMP-9 activity. In addition, it was reported to be effective for clearance of the influenza virus by increasing production of anti-viral cytokines, such as TNF-α and IFN-γ, and efficacious in the treatment of pigs suffering from porcine circovirus-associated disease (PCVAD). In this study, we investigated whether KIOM-C induces cancer cell death and elucidated the underlying anti-cancer mechanisms. In addition, we examined whether KIOM-C oral administration suppresses in vivo tumor growth of HT1080 cells in athymic nude mice. We initially found that KIOM-C at concentrations of 500 and 1000 µg/ml caused dose- and time-dependent cell death in cancer cells, but not normal hepatocytes, to approximately 50% of control levels. At the early stage of KIOM-C treatment (12 h), cells were arrested in G₁ phase, which was accompanied by up-regulation of p21 and p27, down-regulation of cyclin D1, and subsequent increases in apoptotic and autophagic cells. Following KIOM-C treatment, the extent of caspase-3 activation, PARP cleavage, Beclin-1 expression, and LC3-II conversion was remarkably up-regulated, but p62 expression was down-regulated. Phosphorylation of AMPK, ULK, JNK, c-jun, and p53 was increased significantly in response to KIOM-C treatment. The levels of intracellular ROS and CHOP expression were also increased. In particular, the JNK-specific inhibitor SP600125 blocked KIOM-C-induced ROS generation and CHOP expression almost completely, which consequently almost completely rescued cell death, indicating that JNK activation plays a critical role in KIOM-C-induced cell death. Furthermore, daily oral administration of 85 and 170 mg/kg KIOM-C efficiently suppressed the tumorigenic growth of HT1080 cells, without systemic toxicity. These results collectively suggest that KIOM-C efficiently induces cancer cell death by both autophagy and apoptosis via activation of JNK signaling pathways, and KIOM-C represents a safe and potent herbal therapy for treating malignancies.