Gastroprotective and ulcer-healing effect of new solidagenone derivatives in human cell cultures

The labdane diterpene solidagenone 1 and its semisynthetic and biotransformation derivatives 2-10 were assessed for gastroprotective and ulcer-healing effect using human epithelial gastric cells (AGS) and human lung fibroblasts (MRC-5). The ability of the compounds to protect the AGS cells against the damage induced by sodium taurocholate (NaT), to stimulate the cellular reduced glutathione (GSH), prostaglandin E(2) content, enhance AGS and MRC-5 cell proliferation and to scavenge superoxide anion in vitro was studied. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was assessed towards MRC-5 fibroblasts and AGS cells. A significant reduction of cell damage after NaT incubation was observed when the AGS cells were pretreated with compounds 2 and 6. Treatment with compounds 4-6, 8 and 9 significantly stimulated the GSH content in AGS cell cultures. None of the studied compounds was active as a superoxide anion scavenger. In AGS cells treated with compounds 1-10, only compound 5 was able to increase prostaglandin content. Concerning the proliferation assays, a significant stimulating effect was observed for compounds 2, 8, 9 on AGS cells and for 5, 7-9 on MRC-5 fibroblasts. Regarding cytotoxicity, solidagenone showed higher toxicity while compounds 4 and 7 were the less toxic. Our results showed that most of the studied compounds act in vitro as gastroprotectors increasing the cellular GSH content. Additionally, some derivatives exhibited in vitro ulcer-healing effect stimulating the cell proliferation.     

沉默胃泌素基因抑制胃癌细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭

胃癌细胞分泌的胃泌素与胃癌的发生、发展密切相关.为了探讨胃泌素对胃癌细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭的影响,本文构建靶向胃泌素基因的siRNA表达载体, 转染胃癌细胞AGS, 成功获得沉默胃泌素基因的稳转胃癌细胞株AGS/Gas-siRNA. 用MTT实验、软琼脂集落形成实验、细胞伤愈实验、Transwell实验及ELISA检测沉默胃泌素基因后细胞的增殖、迁移、侵袭及转移相关蛋白基质金属蛋白酶-2（MMP-2）和血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）的含量. 结果显示: 与空载体转染的对照细胞比较, 沉默胃泌素基因的细胞, 其增殖率和克隆形成率显著降低,迁移和侵袭到Transwell下室的细胞数分别降低了31.6 %和34 %. 培养上清液中MMP-2和VEGF含量也低于对照细胞. 结果提示,沉默胃泌素基因的胃癌细胞,通过降低MMP 2和VEGF分泌,抑制了细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭, 这可能是胃泌素促进胃癌侵袭转移的机制之一.     

TGF-β1对AGS细胞上皮-间充质转化及体外侵袭的影响

目的观察转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β1)对人胃癌细胞株AGS发生上皮-间充质转化(epithelial-mesenchymal transition,EMT)及体外侵袭的影响。方法将体外培养的AGS用TGF-β1干预后,倒置显微镜下观察细胞形态学的变化,MTT比色法检测TGF-β1对AGS增殖的影响,细胞划痕试验和Transwell侵袭试验检测细胞运动和侵袭力的改变;免疫荧光和Western blot检测snail、E-cadherin(上皮钙粘蛋白)、和N-cadherin(神经钙粘蛋白)表达的变化。结果TGF-β1诱导AGS向间充质细胞形态转化,低浓度促进细胞增殖,而高浓度时细胞增殖率逐步降低,且snail和间充质细胞表型N-cadherin表达上调,而上皮细胞表型E-cadherin表达下调,同时细胞运动和侵袭能力大大增强。结论TGF-β1可诱导AGS发生EMT,从而增加其侵袭、转移的能力。     

Receptor type for cholecystokinin on isolated intestinal muscle cells of the guinea pig

Smooth muscle cells isolated from the longitudinal muscle layer of guinea pig ileum were used to determine the presence and type of cholecystokinin/gastrin receptor mediating contraction. This was accomplished with a series of cholecystokinin and gastrin agonists (CCK-8, des(SO3)CCK-8, gastrin-17, des(SO3)gastrin-17 and pentagastrin) and antagonists (glutaramic acid derivatives CR 1392, CR 1409, CR 1505 and proglumide). The order of potency of agonists based on EC50 values derived from concentration-response curves was: CCK-8 greater than des(SO3)CCK-8 greater than gastrin-17 greater than des(SO3)gastrin-17. The inhibitory dissociation constant (Ki) for the antagonist CR 1505 derived from Schild plots was the same whether sulfated CCK-8 or desulfated gastrin-17 was used as agonist (4.47 +/- 0.76 versus 4.68 +/- 0.78 nM). Pentagastrin acted as a partial agonist and inhibited partially the response to CCK-8. The Ki values determined for all antagonists with pentagastrin as agonist were similar to those with CCK-8 as agonist. The order of potency of agonists and the independence of Ki values from the type of agonist used implied that CCK and gastrin interact with one receptor type; the receptor is more sensitive to CCK-8 but is minimally influenced by sulfation of the tyrosine residue. In this respect, the receptor appears to be distinct from the CCK receptor on gallbladder muscle cells and pancreatic acinar cells.     

Gastroprotective and ulcer-healing activity of oleanolic acid derivatives: in vitro-in vivo relationships

The triterpene oleanolic acid 1 and its semisynthetic derivatives 2-7 were assessed for gastroprotective and ulcer-healing effect using human epithelial gastric cells (AGS) and human lung fibroblasts (MRC-5). The ability of the compounds to protect the AGS cells against the damage induced by sodium taurocholate (NaT), to stimulate the cellular reduced glutathione (GSH) and prostaglandin E(2) content, to enhance AGS and MRC-5 cell proliferation and to scavenge superoxide anion in vitro was studied. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was assessed towards MRC-5 and AGS cells. In addition, the gastroprotective activity of the compounds was assessed in vivo using the HCl/EtOH-induced ulcer model in mice. All the assayed compounds displayed a significant reduction of AGS cells damage after incubation with NaT. None of the studied compounds was active as a superoxide anion scavenger nor stimulated the GSH content in AGS cell cultures. Compounds 1, 2, 4 and 6 were able to increase the prostaglandin content in AGS cell cultures. Concerning the proliferation assays, a significant stimulating effect was observed for compounds 3 and 7 on AGS cells and for 1 and 7 on MRC-5 fibroblasts. Regarding cytotoxicity, derivatives 2, 4, 6 and 7 were less toxic than the parent compound oleanolic acid. Our results strongly support the predictive capacity of the in vitro assessment of gastroprotective activity allowing the reduction of experimental animals.     

In vitro and in vivo studies on antitumor effects of gossypol on human stomach adenocarcinoma (AGS) cell line and MNNG induced experimental gastric cancer

The present study has evaluated the chemopreventive effects of gossypol on N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced gastric carcinogenesis and on human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cell line. Gossypol, C₃₀H₃₀O₈, is a polyphenolic compound that has anti proliferative effect and induces apoptosis in various cancer cells. The aim of this work was to delineate in vivo and in vitro anti-initiating mechanisms of orally administered gossypol in target (stomach) tissues and in human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cell line. In vitro results prove that gossypol has potent cytotoxic effect and inhibit the proliferation of adenocarcinoma (AGS) cell line. In vivo results prove gossypol to be successful in prolonging the survival of MNNG induced cancer bearing animals and in delaying the onset of tumor in animals administrated with gossypol and MNNG simultaneously. Examination of the target (stomach) tissues in sacrificed experimental animals shows that administration of gossypol significantly reduces the level of tumor marker enzyme (carcino embryonic antigen) and pepsin. The level of Nucleic acid contents (DNA and RNA) significantly reduces, and the membrane damage of glycoprotein subsides, in the target tissues of cancer bearing animals, with the administration of gossypol. These data suggest that gossypol may create a beneficial effect in patients with gastric cancer.     

Gastrin-induced proliferation involves MEK partner 1 (MP1)

The peptide hormone gastrin is an important factor for the maintenance and homeostasis of the gastric mucosa. We show that gastrin stimulates proliferation in a dose-dependent manner in the human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line AGS-G_R. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the MAPK scaffold protein MEK partner 1 (MP1) is important for gastrin-induced phosphorylation of ERK1 and ERK2 and that MP1 promotes gastrin-induced proliferation of AGS-G_R cells. Our results suggest a role of MP1 in gastrin-induced cellular responses involved in proliferation and homeostasis of the gastric mucosa.     

Stimulation of gastric mucosal protein synthesis by different molecular forms of gastrin.

Protein synthesis in gastric mucosa was studied by measuring the incorporation of labeled amino acids into protein by isolated gastric mucosal ribosomes in a cell-free system. In 48-hour fasted rats, administration of the synthetic analogues pentagastrin, tetragastrin and gastrin-17 or naturally occurring molecular forms of human gastrin (G-14, G-34) markedly enhanced (23-123%) the capacity of the gastric mucosal ribosomes to synthesize endogenous mRNA-directed protein in a cell-free system. In the presence of exogenous mRNA (poly-U), the gastric mucosal ribosomes from the saline-treated controls showed a higher poly(U)-directed protein synthesis, compared to each fo the gastrin-treated groups. The protein/polyphenylalanine ratio which represents a ratio of polysomes to monosomes was found increased in ribosomes from the gastrin-treated groups.     

miR-372 regulates cell cycle and apoptosis of ags human gastric cancer cell line through direct regulation of LATS2

Previously, we have reported tissue- and stage-specific expression of miR-372 in human embryonic stem cells and so far, not many reports speculate the function of this microRNA (miRNA). In this study, we screened various human cancer cell lines including gastric cancer cell lines and found first time that miR-372 is expressed only in AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line. Inhibition of miR-372 using antisense miR-372 oligonucleotide (AS-miR-372) suppressed proliferation, arrested the cell cycle at G2/M phase, and increased apoptosis of AGS cells. Furthermore, AS-miR-372 treatment increased expression of LATS2, while over-expression of miR-372 decreased luciferase reporter activity driven by the 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR) of LATS2 mRNA. Over-expression of LATS2 induced changes in AGS cells similar to those in AGS cells treated with AS-miR-372. Taken together, these findings demonstrate an oncogenic role for miR-372 in controlling cell growth, cell cycle, and apoptosis through down-regulation of a tumor suppressor gene, LATS2.     

Cholecystokinins but not gastrin-17 release calcitonin from thyroid C-cells in the rat

Subcutaneous injections of gastrin-17, cholecystokinin-39, cholecystokinin-8 (sulfated and non-sulfated forms), cholecystokinin-4 or pentagastrin induced hypocalcemia in rats. The hypocalcemia was associated with calcitonin release for pentagastrin and the cholecystokinins but not for gastrin-17, even at very high doses. Permanent hypergastrinemia, induced by surgical removal of the acid-producing part of the stomach (fundectomy) or by treatment with high doses of omeprazole, a blocker of acid secretion, was not accompanied by elevated plasma calcitonin. Long-lasting hypergastrinemia is known to cause hyperplasia of gastrin-sensitive endocrine cells in the rat stomach while hypogastrinemia does the reverse. In antrectomized rats, having low serum gastrin, and in fundectomized rats, having high serum gastrin, the serum calcitonin concentration, the thyroid calcitonin content and the number of C-cells remained as in sham-operated controls two months after the operations. We conclude that neither exogenous nor endogenous gastrin stimulates calcitonin secretion in the rat and that long-standing hypo- or hypergastrinemia is without effect on the number of thyroid C-cells. Our results, however, do not exclude the possibility that the cholecystokinins might act as calcitonin secretagogues in the rat although such a role remains to be established.     

五肽胃泌素及其类似物对大鼠胃粘膜细胞DNA合成的作用

 利用细胞培养的方法,测定五肽胃泌素(Boc-β-Ala-Trp-Met-Asp-phe·NH_2)、葡萄糖-1-脱氧果糖四肽(GIe-1-Deoxyflu-Trp-Met-Asp-phe·NH_2)及Boc-三肽(Boc-Met-Asp-Phe·NH_2)等胃泌素类似物对~3H-胸腺嘧啶核苷(~3H-TdR)参入胃粘膜细胞DNA合成的影响。实验结果表明五肽胃泌素对胃粘膜细胞DNA合成有明显促进作用,而泌酸活性比五肽胃泌素还强的葡萄糖-1-脱氧果糖四肽却没有这种作用。进一步证明胃泌素的营养作用是独立于泌酸活性而存在的,二者有着不同的作用机理。     

Transgelin基因真核表达载体的构建及其对胃腺癌AGS细胞增殖的影响

目的 构建人肌动蛋白凝胶蛋白（Transgelin）基因编码区序列（cDNA）的真核表达载体,并观察其对胃腺癌细胞增殖的影响.方法 从健康人肠组织中提取总RNA,应用RT-PCR方法扩增TransgelincDNA的全长序列后克隆入pcDNA3.1/myc-His（-）A质粒中,构建成Transgelin基因的真核表达载体,然后转染入AGS细胞中,新霉素筛选稳定转染细胞克隆,通过MTT实验,研究转染Transgelin基因后细胞增殖的变化.结果 重组载体经酶切鉴定和测序证实目的 基因正确尤误,Western印迹检测结果显示Transgelin融合蛋白在AGS细胞中具有良好的表达,而转染空载体及未转染细胞对照则未见有此融合蛋白质条带;RT-PCR结果显示Transgelin基因在其稳定转染的AGS细胞克隆中表达上调,与空载体稳定转染及未转染细胞比较,差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）.Transgelin表达上调的稳定克隆组,AGS细胞的增殖活性明显降低,MTT结果显示其增殖活性显著低于空载体稳定转染组及未转染亲代细胞组,差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）,而后两者之间差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.结论 Transselin表达上调可导致胃腺癌细胞增殖降低.     

Involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinases in glycine-extended gastrin-induced dissociation and migration of gastric epithelial cells

The various molecular forms of gastrin can act as promoters of proliferation and differentiation in different regions of the gastrointestinal tract. We report a novel stimulatory effect of glycine-extended gastrin(17) only on cell/cell dissociation and cell migration in a non-tumorigenic mouse gastric epithelial cell line (IMGE-5). In contrast, both amidated and glycine-extended gastrin(17) stimulated proliferation of IMGE-5 cells via distinct receptors. Glycine-extended gastrin(17)-induced dissociation preceded migration and was blocked by selective inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) but did not require mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation. Furthermore, glycine-extended gastrin(17) induced a PI3-kinase-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of the adherens junction protein beta-catenin, partial dissociation of the complex between beta-catenin and the transmembrane protein E-cadherin, and delocalization of beta-catenin into the cytoplasm. Long lasting activation of MAP kinases by glycine-extended gastrin(17) was specifically required for the migratory response, in contrast to the involvement of a rapid and transient MAP kinase activation in the proliferative response to both amidated and glycine-extended gastrin(17). Therefore, the time course of MAP kinase activation appears to be a critical determinant of the biological effects mediated by this pathway. Together with the involvement of PI3-kinase in the dissociation of adherens junctions, long term activation of MAP kinases seems responsible for the selectivity of this novel effect of G(17)-Gly on the adhesion and migration of gastric epithelial cells.     

Isolation and characterization of rabbit gastrin

The heptadecapeptide form the rabbit gastrin was extracted from 16 rabbit antra and purified by a combination of DEAE Sephadex, C-18 SEP PAK cartridges, fast performance liquid chromatography (FPLC) and reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) steps. After the HPLC purification, a sharp, single peak of gastrin-like immunoreactivity was detected that had the same absorption to immunoreactivity ratio as human gastrin. An amino terminal pyrrolidone carboxylic acid blocking group was removed by incubation with pyrrolidone carboxylic peptidase. The amino acid analysis, microsequence analysis and mass spectrometry all confirmed the structure of rabbit gastrin being pQGPWLQEEEEAYGWMDFamide. This sequence is identical to human gastrin-17 except for glutamine in position 6 which replaces glutamate in human gastrin. Both sulfated and unsulfated rabbit gastrin-17 were characterized by mass spectrometry.     

Characterization of [3H]pentagastrin binding in guinea pig gastric glands--an alternative convenient ligand for receptor binding assay

The binding of [3H]pentagastrin to guinea pig gastric glands was specific, saturable and of high affinity (Kd = 5 nM). The relative order of potencies for gastrin and CCK analogs in displacing [3H]pentagastrin binding correlated well with those obtained using [125I]gastrin and their reported biological potencies for stimulating acid secretion. Nonselective CCK/gastrin antagonists including carbobenzoxy-CCK (26-32), proglumide and benzotript, but not the selective peripheral CCK antagonist, asperlicin, inhibited specific [3H]pentagastrin binding. The results indicate that [3H]pentagastrin labels physiologically relevant gastrin receptors in guinea pig gastric glands.     

Reduced intracellular survival of Helicobacter pylori vacA mutants in comparison with their wild-types indicates the role of VacA in pathogenesis

The vacuolating cytotoxin VacA of Helicobacter pylori plays an important but yet unknown role in pathogenesis. We studied the impact of the vacuolating cytotoxin on H. pylori invasion of and survival within AGS cells (human gastric cell line derived from an antral adenocarcinoma). Isogenic vacA and cagA mutants were constructed in a wild-type clinical isolate H. pylori, AF4. An H. pylori VacA-deficient mutant, AF4(vacA::kan), was cultured in significantly lower numbers from AGS cells after 24 h incubation with gentamicin added to the culture medium than were the type I wild-type strain AF4 (P<0.03) and an isogenic cagA mutant (P<0.01). Complementation of the AF4 vacA mutant with broth culture supernatant from wild-type AF4 improved the intracellular survival of the vacA mutant. We conclude that H. pylori's vacuolating cytotoxin improves the intracellular survival of H. pylori within AGS cells, suggesting the role of the vacuolating cytotoxin in H. pylori pathogenesis.     

Gastroprotective and ulcer healing effect of ferruginol in mice and rats: assessment of its mechanism of action using in vitro models

The gastroprotective activity of the diterpene ferruginol isolated from Prumnopitys andina wood and bark was determined on HCl/EtOH-induced gastric lesions in mice. The effect of the compound on the healing of subacute gastric lesions in rats was also studied. The mode of action of the diterpene was assessed using human gastric epithelial cells (AGS) and MRC-5 fibroblasts. The effect of ferruginol on the prostaglandin E2 content, protection against sodium taurocholate induced-damage and reduced glutathione content was evaluated on AGS cells as well as on the growth of AGS and fibroblast cultures. The free radical scavenging effect of ferruginol was assessed by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil radical and superoxide anion assays. The effect of ferruginol on human erythrocyte membrane lipoperoxidation was determined. The cytotoxicity of the compound was assessed by means of the neutral red uptake. At 25 mg/kg, ferruginol inhibited the appearance of gastric lesions by 60% showing similar effects than lansoprazole at 20 mg/kg. Additionally, the compound displayed a significant ulcer healing activity in rats at 25 and 50 mg/kg with curative ratios of 36.0% and 92.5%, respectively, while the reference compound ranitidine at 50 mg/kg showed a curative ratio of 79.6%. At 6 and 12 microM, ferruginol increased significantly the prostaglandin E2 content. A strong inhibition of lipoperoxidation was found (IC50: 1.4 microM), but no effect was observed on the sodium taurocholate induced-damage or reduced glutathione content. Ferruginol stimulated cell proliferation at 1-2 microM in AGS cells and at 4-8 microM in fibroblasts, with cytotoxicities (IC50) of 24 and 26 microM, respectively. Our results support that ferruginol acts as gastroprotective increasing the PGs content, protecting the cells against lipid peroxidation and improving the gastric ulcer healing by a stimulating effect on the cell proliferation. These findings encourage further pharmacological studies of ferruginol as a potential new anti-ulcerogenic drug.