Caspase-9 inhibition decreases expression of Mmp9 during chondrogenesis

Background: Melittin, the major medicinal component of honeybee venom, exerts antiinflammatory, analgesic, and anti-arthritic effects in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). RA is an inflammatory autoimmune joint disease that leads to irreversible joint destruction and functional loss. Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes (FLS) are dominant, special mesenchymal cells characterized by the structure of the synovial intima, playing a crucial role in both the initiation and progression of RA. Objective: In this study, we evaluated the effects of melittin on the viability and apoptosis of FLS isolated from patients with RA. Methods: Cell viability was determined using CCK-8 assays; apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry, and the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins (caspase-3, caspase-9, BAX, and Bcl-2) were also determined. To explore whether melittin alters inflammatory processes in RA-FLS, IL-1β levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, we performed GFP-LC3 punctate fluorescence dot assays and western blotting (for LC3, ATG5, p62, and Beclin 1) to assess autophagy in RA-FLS. Results: Our results show that melittin can significantly impair viability, promote apoptosis and autophagy, and inhibit IL-1β secretion in RA-FLS. Conclusion: Melittin may be useful in preventing damage to the joints during accidental local stimulation.

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Amiloride Alleviates Neurological Deficits Following Transient Global Ischemia and Engagement of Central IL-6 and TNF-α Signal

Current Molecular Medicine ◽

10.2174/1566524019666190704100444 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (8) ◽

pp. 597-604

Author(s):

Li Pang ◽

Shouqin Ji ◽

Jihong Xing

Keyword(s):

Central Nervous System ◽

Nervous System ◽

Caspase 3 ◽

Global Ischemia ◽

Neurological Deficits ◽

Global Cerebral Ischemia ◽

Caspase 9 ◽

Tnf Α ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Transient Global Ischemia

Background: Central pro-inflammatory cytokine (PIC) signal is involved in neurological deficits after transient global ischemia induced by cardiac arrest (CA). The present study was to examine if blocking acid sensing ion channels (ASICs) using amiloride in the Central Nervous System can alleviate neurological deficits after the induction of CA and further examine the participation of PIC signal in the hippocampus for the effects of amiloride. Methods: CA was induced by asphyxia and then cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed in rats. Western blot analysis and ELISA were used to determine the protein expression of ASIC subunit ASIC1 in the hippocampus, and the levels of PICs. As noted, it is unlikely that this procedure is clinically used although amiloride and other pharmacological agents were given into the brain in this study. Results: CA increased ASIC1 in the hippocampus of rats in comparison with control animals. This was associated with the increase in IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α together with Caspase-3 and Caspase-9. The administration of amiloride into the lateral ventricle attenuated the upregulation of Caspase-3/Caspase-9 and this further alleviated neurological severity score and brain edema. Inhibition of central IL-6 and TNF-α also decreased ASIC1 in the hippocampus of CA rats. Conclusion: Transient global ischemia induced by CA amplifies ASIC1a in the hippocampus likely via PIC signal. Amiloride administered into the Central Nervous System plays a neuroprotective role in the process of global ischemia. Thus, targeting ASICs (i.e., ASIC1a) is suggested for the treatment and improvement of CA-evoked global cerebral ischemia.

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Synergistic Antitumor Effect of 5-Fluorouracil Combined with Constituents from Pleurospermum lindleyanum in Hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 Cells

Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1871520620666200824094624 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 ◽

Author(s):

Xiao-Feng Zhu ◽

Xiao-Jin Li ◽

Zhong-Lian Cao ◽

Xiu-Jie Liu ◽

Ping Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽

Treatment Effectiveness ◽

Synergistic Effects ◽

Folk Medicine ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Caspase 9 ◽

Whole Plant ◽

Anti Cancer ◽

Induced Apoptosis

Background: A Chinese folk medicine plant Pleurospermum lindleyanum possesses pharmacological activities of heat-clearing, detoxifying and preventing from hepatopathy, coronary heart disease, hypertension, and high altitude sickness. We isolated and characterized its constituents to investigate its synergistic effects against human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the synergistic anti-cancer activities of isolates from P. lindleyanum with 5-FU on hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells in vitro and their primary mechanisms. Methods: Sequential chromatographic techniques were conducted for the isolation studies. The isolates structures were established by spectroscopic analysis as well as X-ray crystallographic diffraction. Growth inhibition was detected by MTT assay. The isobologram method was used to assess the effect of drug combinations. Flow cytometry and western blot were used to examine apoptosis and protein expression. Results: A new coumarin (16), along with sixteen known compounds, were isolated from the whole plant of P. lindleyanum and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Four coumarins (2, 3, 5, and 16), two flavonoids (8 and 9) and three phytosterols and triterpenes (12-14) were found to synergistically enhance the inhibitory effect of 5-FU against SMMC-7721 cells. Among them, compounds 3 and 16 exhibited the best synergistic effects with IC50 of 5-FU reduced by 16-fold and 22-fold possessing the minimum Combination Index (CI) 0.34 and 0.27. The mechanism of action of combinations might be through synergistic arresting for the cell cycle at G1 phases and the induction of apoptosis. Moreover, western blotting and molecular docking revealed that compounds 3 or 5 might promote 5-FU-induced apoptosis by regulating the expression of Caspase 9 and PARP. Conclusion: Constituents from P. lindleyanum may improve the treatment effectiveness of 5-FU against hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

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New Hybrid Scaffolds Based on Carbazole-Chalcones as Potent Anticancer Agents

Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1871520620666200721110732 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 ◽

Author(s):

Faisal Rashid ◽

Sumera Zaib ◽

Aliya Ibrar ◽

Syeda Abida Ejaz ◽

Aamer Saeed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lactate Dehydrogenase ◽

Hela Cells ◽

Cervical Adenocarcinoma ◽

G1 Arrest ◽

Human Breast ◽

Caspase 9 ◽

Flow Cytometric ◽

Pharmacodynamic Profile ◽

Microscopic Studies ◽

Mcf 7

Background and Objectives: Despite various technological advances for the treatment of cancer, the identification of new chemical entities with potent anticancer effects remain an indispensable requirement of the time due to multi-drug resistance exhibited by previously developed anticancer drugs. Particularly, the hybrid drugs incorporating two individual bioactive pharmacophores present medicinally important structural leads, thus improving the pharmacodynamic profile of the drug molecules. The antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activity of the carbazole-chalcone hybrids on human breast and cervical cancer cells will be examined. Materials and Methods: To overcome such complications, in the current study, we evaluated the cytotoxic effects of carbazole-chalcone hybrids on human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) cells and normal cells i.e., baby hamster kidney cells (BHK-21) using MTT (dimethyl-2-thiazolyl-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) assay. The mechanistic studies were performed on potent compound 4g by fluorescent microscopic studies, release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspase-9 and -3 and flow cytometric analysis. Results: As revealed by MTT assay, compound 4g was identified as the most potent derivative among the tested series with IC50 values of 5.64 and 29.15 μM against HeLa and MCF-7 cells, respectively. The results were compared with cisplatin. Fluorescent microscopic studies using 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and propidium iodide (PI) staining confirmed the occurrence of apoptosis in HeLa cells treated with the most active compound 4g. Moreover, compound 4g also triggered the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in treated HeLa and MCF-7 cells while a luminescence assay displayed a remarkable increase in the activity of caspase-9 and -3. Moreover, flow cytometric results revealed that compound 4g caused G0/G1 arrest in the treated HeLa cells. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that the compound 4g possesses chemotherapeutic properties against breast cancer and cervical adenocarcinoma cells, thus warranting further research to test the anticancer efficacy of this compound at clinical level.

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The Anti-Proliferative Activity of Anisosciadone: A New Guaiane Sesquiterpene from Anisosciadium lanatum

Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1871520619666190308112732 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (9) ◽

pp. 1114-1119 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ahmed A. Mahmoud ◽

Wael M. El-Sayed

Keyword(s):

Anticancer Agents ◽

Antiproliferative Activity ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Caspase 3 ◽

Chemical Constituents ◽

Spectroscopic Techniques ◽

Significant Activity ◽

Caspase 9 ◽

P53 Expression ◽

Expression And Activity

Background: The increase in cancer rate and the development of resistant tumors require a continuous search for new anticancer agents. Aims: This study aimed to analyze and identify the chemical constituents of Anisosciadium lanatum, and to investigate the antiproliferative activity of the identified constituents against various human cell lines (HepG2, MCF7, HT29, A549, and PC3) along with the possible molecular mechanisms involved. Methods: The structure of the isolated compounds was determined by spectroscopic techniques including HRFABMS, GC-MS, IR, and 400 MHz 1D and 2D NMR analyses (1H, 13C NMR, DEPT, 1H-1H COSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY). The antiproliferative activity and IC50 value of the isolated compounds were measured and compared to doxorubicin. Results: A new guaiane sesquiterpene containing a rare epoxide structural element, 10β,11β−epoxy−1α,4β,5β,7αΗ- guaiane-9-one, anisosciadone (1), and stigmasterol (2) have been isolated from the plant. Anisosciadone (1) showed a significant antiproliferative activity against liver, colon, and lung cells only, while stigmasterol (2) had a significant activity against liver, colon, and breast cells. Both 1 and 2 caused no cytotoxicity to normal fibroblasts. Anisosciadone elevated the expression and activity of Caspase 3 as well as p53 expression without affecting Caspase 9 in HepG2 cells. It also caused ~ 50% downregulation in cdk1 expression. Conclusion: Taken together, anisosciadone was specific in action against cancer cells and induced apoptosis in liver cells. It also has a unique feature by elevating the expression and activity of Caspase 3 without affecting the initiator Caspase 9. Therefore, anisosciadone deserves more investigation as a targeted therapy for cancer.

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Anticancer Activity of Platinum (II) Complex with 2-Benzoylpyridine by Induction of DNA Damage, S-Phase Arrest, and Apoptosis

Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1871520619666191112114340 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 504-517

Author(s):

Yu-Lan Li ◽

Xin-Li Gan ◽

Rong-Ping Zhu ◽

Xuehong Wang ◽

Duan-Fang Liao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dna Damage ◽

B Cell ◽

Anticancer Activity ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Hepg2 Cells ◽

Caspase 3 ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

B Cell Lymphoma ◽

S Phase ◽

Caspase 9

Objective: To overcome the disadvantages of cisplatin, numerous platinum (Pt) complexes have been prepared. However, the anticancer activity and mechanism of Pt(II) complexed with 2-benzoylpyridine [Pt(II)- Bpy]: [PtCl2(DMSO)L] (DMSO = dimethyl sulfoxide, L = 2-benzoylpyridine) in cancer cells remain unknown. Methods: Pt(II)-Bpy was synthesized and characterized by spectrum analysis. Its anticancer activity and underlying mechanisms were demonstrated at the cellular, molecular, and in vivo levels. Results: Pt(II)-Bpy inhibited tumor cell growth, especially HepG2 human liver cancer cells, with a halfmaximal inhibitory concentration of 9.8±0.5μM, but with low toxicity in HL-7702 normal liver cells. Pt(II)- Bpy induced DNA damage, which was demonstrated through a marked increase in the expression of cleavedpoly (ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP) and gamma-H2A histone family member X and a decrease in PARP expression. The interaction of Pt(II)-Bpy with DNA at the molecular level was most likely through an intercalation mechanism, which might be evidence of DNA damage. Pt(II)-Bpy initiated cell cycle arrest at the S phase in HepG2 cells. It also caused severe loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential; a decrease in the expression of caspase-9 and caspase-3; an increase in reactive oxygen species levels; the release of cytochrome c and apoptotic protease activation factor; and the activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 in HepG2 cells, which in turn resulted in apoptosis. Meanwhile, changes in p53 and related proteins were observed including the upregulation of p53, the phosphorylation of p53, p21, B-cell lymphoma-2-associated X protein, and NOXA; and the downregulation of B-cell lymphoma 2. Moreover, Pt(II)-Bpy displayed marked inhibitory effects on tumor growth in the HepG2 nude mouse model. Conclusion: Pt(II)-Bpy is a potential candidate for cancer chemotherapy.

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