AD-1, a novel ginsenoside derivative,shows anti-lung cancer activity via activation of p38 MAPK pathway and generation of reactive oxygen species

Background

Ginseng is a traditional Chinese herb that has been used for thousands of years. In the present study, effects and mechanisms of AD-1 were evaluated for its development as a novel anti-lung cancer drug.

Methods

The cytotoxic activity was evaluated by MTT assay. Flow cytometry was employed to detect cell cycle, apoptosis and ROS. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze signaling pathways. Lung cancer xenograft models were established by subcutaneous implantation of A549 or H292 cells into nude mice.

Results

AD-1 concentration-dependently reduces lung cancer cell viability without affecting normal human lung epithelial cell viability. In A549 and H292 lung cancer cells, AD-1 induces G₀/G₁ cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and ROS production. The apoptosis can be attenuated by a ROS scavenger — N-acetylcysteine (NAC). In addition, AD-1 up-regulates the expression of p38 and ERK phosphorylation. Addition of a p38 inhibitor SB203580, suppresses the AD-1-induced decrease in cell viability. Furthermore, genetic silencing of p38 attenuates the expression of p38 and decreases the AD-1-induced apoptosis. Treatment with NAC reduces AD-1-induced p38 phosphorylation, which indicates that ROS generation is involved in the AD-1-induced p38 activation. In mice, oral administration of AD-1 (10–40 mg/kg) dose-dependently inhibited the growth of xenograft tumors without affecting body weight and decreases the expression of VEGF, MMP-9 and CD34 in tumor tissue. TUNEL staining confirms that the tumors from AD-1 treated mice exhibit a markedly higher apoptotic index.

Conclusions and general significance

These data support development of AD-1 as a potential agent for lung cancer therapy.     

Ghrelin ligand-receptor mRNA expression in hypothalamus, proventriculus and liver of chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus): studies on ontogeny and feeding condition

We report here the ontogenic changes in mRNA expression of chicken ghrelin (cGhrelin) and its receptor (cGHS-R1a) and the effects of fasting and refeeding on cGhrelin and cGHS-R1a mRNAs expression in 30-day-old broiler chickens. The level of cGhrelin mRNA in the proventriculus was low from embryo--day 15 (E15) to E19, but dramatically increased at post-hatching-day 2 (P2), then remained constant until P30 and followed by a significant decrease at P44 when there was a diet transition at P31 and thereafter. The decreased level was reversed at P58. Hypothalamic cGhrelin mRNA and proventriculus and hepatic cGHS-R1a mRNA were significantly increased at P30. The cGhrelin mRNA level in the proventriculus significantly increased in response to either 12-h or 36-h fasting but did not decrease after subsequent 12-h refeeding. The level of cGHS-R1a mRNA in the proventriculus was significantly upregulated in response to a 12-h fast but not to a 36-h fast and returned to the control level upon 12-h refeeding. Interestingly, it was apparent that the mRNA levels of both cGhrelin and cGHS-R1a in the liver were upregulated in response to fasting in a time-dependent manner and returned to the control level with subsequent refeeding. These results suggest that the expression pattern of ghrelin and its receptor mRNAs distinctly change in tissues depending on ontogenic stages and feeding states in poultry.     

Generation of embryoid bodies from mouse embryonic stem cells cultured on STO feeder cells

Embryoid bodies, which are similar to post-implantation egg-cylinder stage embryos, provide a model for the study of embryo development and stem cell differentiation. We describe here a novel method for generating embryoid bodies from murine embryonic stem (ES) cells cultured on the STO feeder layer. The ES cells grew into compact aggregates in the first 3 days of coculture, then became simple embryoid bodies (EBs) possessing primitive endoderm on the outer layer. They finally turned into cystic embryoid bodies after being transferred to Petri dishes for 1-3 days. Evaluation of the EBs in terms of morphology and differentiating potential indicates that they were typical in structure and could generate cells derived from the three germ layers. The results show that embryoid bodies can form not only in suspension culture but also directly from ES cells cultured on the STO feeder layer.     

Structural insights into the substrate tunnel of Saccharomyces cerevisiae carbonic anhydrase Nce103

Background  

The carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are involved in inorganic carbon utilization. They have been classified into six evolutionary and structural families: α-, β-, γ-, δ-, ε-, ζ- CAs, with β-CAs present in higher plants, algae and prokaryotes. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a single copy of β-CA Nce103/YNL036W.     

MiR-130a 在猪皮下脂肪细胞分化中的调节作用

为研究miR-130a对猪皮下脂肪细胞分化的影响及可能机制,本试验分离猪皮下脂肪前体细胞,诱导分化为成熟脂肪细胞,检测脂肪细胞分化过程中脂滴变化及miR-130a及其可能靶基因TNF α和PPARγ的表达模式.同时合成miR-130a mimics及inhibitor 对细胞进行转染,并以乱序序列作为阴性对照（NC）.细胞转染24 h后进行诱导分化,连续诱导8 d,检测各处理细胞的聚脂情况及甘油三酯含量变化,荧光定量PCR检测脂肪细胞分化相关基因的表达变化.结果显示,猪皮下脂肪前体细胞分化过程中脂滴逐渐变大增多,miR-130a、TNF α和PPARγ的表达模式具有一定的相似性.转染结果显示,相对于对照组,miR 130a mimics转染组细胞脂滴减少变小,甘油三酯含量降低（P<0.05）,脂肪细胞分化相关基因LPL、PPARγ、adiponectin、FASN和葡萄糖转运相关基因GLUT1,GLUT4以及JNK通路上的PDE3B的表达均比对照组显著下调（P<0.01）;而miR-130a inhibitor转染组细胞则脂滴增多,甘油三酯含量提高（P<0.05）,但大部分分化相关基因的表达与对照组无显著差异,提示miR-130a可能不只通过单一的靶基因影响脂肪细胞分化.其结果为后续深入研究miR-130a调节猪脂肪细胞分化的通路及机制奠定基础.     

胚胎干细胞分化为肝细胞的研究进展

目前 ,细胞移植作为终末期肝病的辅助治疗方法 ,移植的细胞必须满足在受体肝脏中存活、增殖并可分化为成熟肝细胞两个重要条件 ,但目前应用的肝细胞来源有限 ,其功能随着培养时间的延长而逐渐下降等问题限制了这一治疗策略的广泛开展。作为具有发育全能性和无限增殖能力的细胞 ,胚胎干细胞向肝细胞的分化研究近年来引起了广泛的关注 ,并取得了较大的进展 ,寻找合适、高效的分化诱导方法是目前研究的热点之一。胚胎干细胞向肝细胞的分化研究既可以为临床细胞替代治疗提供合适的细胞来源 ,也可以在药物评估和肝脏发育分化基础研究方面起到重要的作用。通过概括肝脏和拟胚体分化发育的分子机制 ,对体外胚胎干细胞向肝细胞分化的几种诱导体系作了介绍 ,并对分化肝细胞的应用前景和存在的问题进行了讨论。