scholarly journals EZH2 presents a therapeutic target for neuroendocrine tumors of the small intestine

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elham Barazeghi ◽  
Per Hellman ◽  
Olov Norlén ◽  
Gunnar Westin ◽  
Peter Stålberg

AbstractSmall intestinal neuroendocrine tumors (SI-NETs) are slow-growing tumors that seem genetically quite stable without highly recurrent mutations, but are epigenetically dysregulated. In contrast to the undetectable expression of the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) histone methyltransferase in the enterochromaffin cells of the small intestine, we found high and differential expression of EZH2 in primary SI-NETs and corresponding metastases. Silencing EZH2 in the SI-NET cell line CNDT2.5 reduced cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, EZH2 knockout inhibited tumor progression in a CNDT2.5 SI-NET xenograft mouse model, and treatment of SI-NET cell lines CNDT2.5 and GOT1 with the EZH2-specific inhibitor CPI-1205 decreased cell viability and promoted apoptosis. Moreover, CPI-1205 treatment reduced migration capacity of CNDT2.5 cells. The EZH2 inhibitor GSK126 also repressed proliferation of CNDT2.5 cells. Recently, metformin has received wide attention as a therapeutic option in diverse cancers. In CNDT2.5 and GOT1 cells, metformin suppressed EZH2 expression, and inhibited cell proliferation. Exposure of GOT1 three-dimensional cell spheroids to CPI-1205 or metformin arrested cell proliferation and decreased spheroid size. These novel findings support a possible role of EZH2 as a candidate oncogene in SI-NETs, and suggest that CPI-1205 and metformin should be further evaluated as therapeutic options for patients with SI-NETs.

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Li ◽  
Dapeng Wu ◽  
Pei Wang ◽  
Xiaohui Li ◽  
Gongning Shi

miR-195 is related to tumorigenesis and frequently inhibits cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis in various cancers, including esophageal carcinoma (EC). The mTOR/p70s6k signaling pathway, which is the major target pathway for HMGA2, regulates the survival and cell proliferation of many tumors and is commonly active in EC. The relationships of miR-195, HMGA2, and the mTOR/p70s6k signaling pathway in EC, however, remain unknown. In the present study, we found that the miR-195 level was significantly downregulated in EC tissues, while the mRNA expressions of HMGA2 were significantly upregulated. Dual-luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that HMGA2 is a target of miR-195. MTT assay and flow cytometry revealed that miR-195 overexpression inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis by targeting HMGA2. We also found that HMGA2 restored the inhibitory effect of miR-195 on phosphorylation of mTOR and p70S6K. Furthermore, rapamycin, a specific inhibitor of the mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway, decreased the levels of Ki-67 and Bcl-2/Bax ratio, inhibited cell proliferation, and promoted apoptosis in EC cells. In conclusion, upregulation of miR-195 significantly suppressed cell growth and induced apoptosis of EC cells via suppressing the mTOR/p70s6k signaling pathway by targeting HMGA2.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Liu ◽  
Shuaiyu Long ◽  
Huanan Wang ◽  
Nannan Liu ◽  
Chuchu Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved process through which cells degrade and recycle cytoplasm. The relation among autophagy, apoptosis and tumor is highly controversial until now and the molecular mechanism is poorly understood. Methods Cell viability and apoptosis were detected by CCK8, crystal violet staining, Hoechst333342 staining and flow cytometry. The expression of AMPK and ULK1 was analyzed by western blotting. Colon cancer growth suppression by NVP-BEZ235 or CQ in vivo was studied in a tumor xenograft mouse model. Results Our previous study revealed that NVP-BEZ235 suppressed colorectal cancer growth via inducing apoptosis, however later, we found it also initiated autophagy simultaneously. In this present study, our results show that NVP-BEZ235 induced autophagy through AMPK/ULK1 pathway in colon cancer cells. Blocking autophagy by knocking down AMPK or ULK1 inhibited cell proliferation and further promoted NVP-BEZ235 induced apoptosis. Meantime, the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) shows obvious effect on inhibiting cell proliferation but not on inducing apoptosis, while it significantly increased NVP-BEZ235 induced apoptosis. Furthermore, the combinational therapy of NVP-BEZ235 and CQ shows synergistic antitumor effects in colon cancer in vivo. Conclusion NVP-BEZ235 induced AMPK/ULK1-dependent autophagy. Targeting this autophagy suppressed colon cancer growth through further promoting apoptosis, which is a potential therapeutic option for clinical patients.


2010 ◽  
Vol 299 (5) ◽  
pp. F944-F951 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamio Yamaguchi ◽  
Gail A. Reif ◽  
James P. Calvet ◽  
Darren P. Wallace

In autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), aberrant proliferation of the renal epithelial cells is responsible for the formation of numerable fluid-filled cysts, massively enlarged kidneys, and progressive loss of renal function. cAMP agonists, including arginine vasopressin, accelerate cyst epithelial cell proliferation through protein kinase A activation of the B-Raf/MEK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway. The mitogenic effect of cAMP is equally potent and additive to growth factor stimulation. Here, we determined whether Sorafenib (BAY 43–9006), a small molecule Raf inhibitor, inhibits proliferation of cells derived from the cysts of human ADPKD kidneys. We found that nanomolar concentrations of Sorafenib reduced the basal activity of ERK, inhibited cAMP-dependent activation of B-Raf and MEK/ERK signaling, and caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation induced by cAMP, epidermal growth factor, or the combination of the two agonists. Sorafenib completely blocked in vitro cyst growth of human ADPKD cystic cells cultured within a three-dimensional collagen gel. These data demonstrate that cAMP-dependent proliferation of human ADPKD cyst epithelial cells is blocked by Sorafenib and suggest that small molecule B-Raf inhibitors may be a therapeutic option to reduce the mitogenic effects of cAMP on cyst expansion.


2001 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. A660-A660
Author(s):  
D MCMICHAEL ◽  
A DAVIES ◽  
E MARSHMAN ◽  
P OTTEWELL ◽  
J JENKINS ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Li-Chao Yao ◽  
Lun Wu ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Lu-Lu Zhai ◽  
Lin Ye ◽  
...  

Background:: Panax Notoginseng Saponins (PNS) is used as traditional Chinese medicine for ischemic stroke and cardiovascular disease, it has been proven to possess anticancer activity recently. Objective:: In this study, we aimed to explore the anticancer curative effect and potential mechanisms of PNS in pancreatic cancer cells. Methods:: Pancreatic cancer Miapaca2 and PANC-1 cells were treated with PNS and Gemcitabine (Gem), respectively. Then the cell viability was assessed by CCK-8 assay, cell proliferation was tested by colony formation assay and EdU cell proliferation assay, cell migration and invasiveness were tested by wound healing assay and transwell assay respectively, and cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Finally, we detected the expression levels of proteins related to migration, apoptosis and autophagy through Western blotting. Results:: PNS not only inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion and autophagy of Miapaca2 and PANC-1 cells, but also induced apoptosis and promoted chemosensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to Gem. Conclusion:: PNS may exhibit cytotoxicity and increase chemosensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to Gem by inhibiting autophagy and inducing apoptosis, providing a new strategy and potential treatment option for pancreatic cancer.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1604
Author(s):  
Yiqun Dai ◽  
Xiaolong Sun ◽  
Bohan Li ◽  
Hui Ma ◽  
Pingping Wu ◽  
...  

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common malignant head and neck tumor. Drug resistance and distant metastasis are the predominant cause of treatment failure in NPC patients. Hispidulin is a flavonoid extracted from the bioassay-guided separation of the EtOH extract of Salvia plebeia with strong anti-proliferative activity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells (CNE-2Z). In this study, the effects of hispidulin on proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis were investigated in CNE-2Z cells. The [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] (MTT) assay and the colony formation assay revealed that hispidulin could inhibit CNE-2Z cell proliferation. Hispidulin (25, 50, 100 μM) also induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in CNE-2Z cells. The expression of Akt was reduced, and the expression of the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 was increased. In addition, scratch wound and transwell assays proved that hispidulin (6.25, 12.5, 25 μM) could inhibited the migration and invasion in CNE-2Z cells. The expressions of HIF-1α, MMP-9, and MMP-2 were decreased, while the MMPs inhibitor TIMP1 was enhanced by hispidulin. Moreover, hispidulin exhibited potent suppression tumor growth and low toxicity in CNE-2Z cancer-bearing mice at a dosage of 20 mg/kg/day. Thus, hispidulin appears to be a potentially effective agent for NPC treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryo Yokomizo ◽  
Yukiko Fujiki ◽  
Harue Kishigami ◽  
Hiroshi Kishi ◽  
Tohru Kiyono ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Thin endometrium adversely affects reproductive success rates with fertility treatment. Autologous transplantation of exogenously prepared endometrium can be a promising therapeutic option for thin endometrium; however, endometrial epithelial cells have limited expansion potential, which needs to be overcome in order to make regenerative medicine a therapeutic strategy for refractory thin endometrium. Here, we aimed to perform long-term culture of endometrial epithelial cells in vitro. Methods We prepared primary human endometrial epithelial cells and endometrial stromal cells and investigated whether endometrial stromal cells and human embryonic stem cell-derived feeder cells could support proliferation of endometrial epithelial cells. We also investigated whether three-dimensional culture can be achieved using thawed endometrial epithelial cells and endometrial stromal cells. Results Co-cultivation with the feeder cells dramatically increased the proliferation rate of the endometrial epithelial cells. We serially passaged the endometrial epithelial cells on mouse embryonic fibroblasts up to passage 6 for 4 months. Among the human-derived feeder cells, endometrial stromal cells exhibited the best feeder activity for proliferation of the endometrial epithelial cells. We continued to propagate the endometrial epithelial cells on endometrial stromal cells up to passage 5 for 81 days. Furthermore, endometrial epithelium and stroma, after the freeze-thaw procedure and sequential culture, were able to establish an endometrial three-dimensional model. Conclusions We herein established a model of in vitro cultured endometrium as a potential therapeutic option for refractory thin endometrium. The three-dimensional culture model with endometrial epithelial and stromal cell orchestration via cytokines, membrane-bound molecules, extracellular matrices, and gap junction will provide a new framework for exploring the mechanisms underlying the phenomenon of implantation. Additionally, modified embryo culture, so-called “in vitro implantation”, will be possible therapeutic approaches in fertility treatment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 274-283
Author(s):  
Bo Zheng ◽  
Tao Chen

AbstractAmong astrocyte tumors, glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant glioma, highly aggressive and invasive, with extremely poor prognosis. Previous research has reported that microRNAs (miRNAs) participate in the progression of many cancers. Thus, this study aimed to explore the role and the underlying mechanisms of microRNA (miR)-489-3p in GBM progression. The expression of miR-489-3p and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Western blot analysis was used to detect BDNF protein and the PI3K/AKT pathway-related protein. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were analyzed using CKK-8 assay, flow cytometry, and transwell assay, respectively. The interaction between BDNF and miR-489-3p was explored by luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. MiR-489-3p was down-regulated and BDNF was up-regulated in GBM tissues and cells. MiR-489-3p re-expression or BDNF knockdown inhibited GBM cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and promoted apoptosis. BDNF was a target of miR-489-3p, and BDNF up-regulation reversed the effects of miR-489-3p on GBM cells. The protein levels of p-AKT and p-PI3K were notably reduced in GBM cells by overexpression of miR-489-3p, but were rescued following BDNF up-regulation. Therefore, miR-489-3p inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion, and induced apoptosis, by targeting the BDNF-mediated PI3K/AKT pathway in GBM, providing new strategies for clinical treatment of GBM.


2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (9) ◽  
pp. 967-974
Author(s):  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Ningning Ji ◽  
Xinyan Gong ◽  
Shimao Ni ◽  
Yu Wang

Abstract Studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) play critical roles in coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CAD). However, the function of lncRNA nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) in CAD is unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the functions of lncRNA NEAT1 in CAD. RT-PCR and western blot analysis were carried out to examine the expressions of related RNAs. Colony formation assay, cell proliferation assay, apoptosis assay, and dual-luciferase reporter assay were conducted to investigate the abilities of colony migration, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and targeting. The results showed that NEAT1 was up-regulated in CAD blood samples and in human coronary endothelial cells (HCAECs). Transfection of pcNEAT1 significantly inhibited the survival rate of HCAECs and induced apoptosis of HCAECs. MiR-140-3p was down-regulated in HCAECs. NEAT1 directly targeted miR-140-3p, and the expression of miR-140-3p was inversely correlated with the expression of NEAT1 in CAD patients. In addition, co-transfection of NEAT1 with miR-140-3p mimic reversed the effect of pcNEAT1 on cell viability and apoptosis. mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) was proved to be a target gene of miR-140-3p, and the miR-140-3p mimic was shown to reduce the expression of MAPK1 in HCAECs. pcNEAT1 significantly increased the expression level of MAPK1, while shNEAT1 significantly reduced the expression level of MAPK1. Our results revealed that lncRNA NEAT1 increased cell viability and inhibited CAD cell apoptosis possibly by activating the miR-140-3p/MAPK1 pathway, and lncRNA NEAT1 might serve as a potential therapeutic target for CAD.


1989 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 595-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Goodlad ◽  
H. Gregory ◽  
N. A. Wright

1. Intestinal epithelial cell proliferation was measured in rats maintained on total parenteral nutriton (TPN), in TPN rats given 300 μg of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (urogastrone-epidermal growth factor, URO-EGF) day−1 kg−1, and in further groups given URO-EGF and difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an inhibitor of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). 2. URO-EGF significantly increased intestinal cell proliferation throughout the gastrointestinal tract. The proliferative response of the colon was particularly pronounced. 3. DFMO reduced the proliferative effect of urogastrone in the stomach and small intestine. DFMO also reduced URO-EGF-stimulated intestinal cell proliferation in the colon, but to a lesser extent. 4. It is concluded that ODC is essential for effecting the proliferative response of the stomach and small intestine to URO-EGF, but this role may be less important in the colon.


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