Tetrandrine and Caffeine Modulated Cell Cycle and Increased Glioma Cell Death via Caspase-Dependent and Caspase-Independent Apoptosis Pathways

Background: Pisosterol, a triterpene derived from Pisolithus tinctorius, exhibits potential antitumor activity in various malignancies. However, the molecular mechanisms that mediate the pisosterol-specific effects on glioma cells remain unknown. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the antitumoral effects of pisosterol on glioma cell lines. Methods: The 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and trypan blue exclusion assays were used to evaluate the effect of pisosterol on cell proliferation and viability in glioma cells. The effect of pisosterol on the distribution of the cells in the cell cycle was performed by flow cytometry. The expression and methylation pattern of the promoter region of MYC, ATM, BCL2, BMI1, CASP3, CDK1, CDKN1A, CDKN2A, CDKN2B, CHEK1, MDM2, p14ARF and TP53 was analyzed by RT-qPCR, western blotting and bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP-PCR). Results: Here, it has been reported that pisosterol markedly induced G2/M arrest and apoptosis and decreased the cell viability and proliferation potential of glioma cells in a dose-dependent manner by increasing the expression of ATM, CASP3, CDK1, CDKN1A, CDKN2A, CDKN2B, CHEK1, p14ARF and TP53 and decreasing the expression of MYC, BCL2, BMI1 and MDM2. Pisosterol also triggered both caspase-independent and caspase-dependent apoptotic pathways by regulating the expression of Bcl-2 and activating caspase-3 and p53. Conclusions: It has been, for the first time, confirmed that the ATM/ATR signaling pathway is a critical mechanism for G2/M arrest in pisosterol-induced glioma cell cycle arrest and suggests that this compound might be a promising anticancer candidate for further investigation.

Download Full-text

Synthesis, Spectral Characterization, Antibacterial and Anticancer Activity of some Titanium Complexes

Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1871520618666171219122431 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 739-746 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Raj Kaushal ◽

Nitesh Kumar ◽

Archana Thakur ◽

Kiran Nehra ◽

Pamita Awasthi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Cycle ◽

Cell Death ◽

Anticancer Activity ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Spectral Characterization ◽

Mechanistic Study ◽

Titanium Complexes ◽

G0 Phase ◽

Antibacterial And Anticancer Activity ◽

Dose Dependent

Abstract: Background: After the discovery of cisplatin, first non platinum anticancer drugs having excellent efficacy were budotitane and TiCl2(cp)2 but action mechanism is not clear. Therefore, we hereby reporting synthesis and biological activities novel titanium complexes to explore their mode of action. Objectives: Synthesis, spectral characterization, antibacterial and anticancer activity of some titanium complexes. Antibacterial studies on various bacterial strains and anticancer studies on HeLa, C6, CHO cancerous cell lines have been performed. Further, the cell death mechanistic study was done on CHO cell lines. Method: Titanium complexes with and without labile groups have been synthesized by reacting of TiCl4 with nitrogen containing ligands viz. 1,2-diaminocyclohexane, 1,10-Phenanthroline, adamantylamine, 2,2'-bipyridine, 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine in predetermined molar ratios. Antibacterial and anticancer studies were performed by agar well diffusion method and MTT assay respectively. Cell cycle analysis is done by using flow cytometry. Results: Complex 2 i.e TiCl2(Phen)2 showed better activity than other complexes as an antibacterial as well as anticancer agent. Phase contrast imaging indicates that observed morphological changes of cells was dose dependent. Cell death mechanistic study have shown the increase in sub G0 phase population as well as formation of blebbing and fragmentation of chromatin material which is an indicative measure of apoptosis. Conclusion: Complex 2 proved to be more effective bactericide and cytotoxic agent. Cell cycle analysis showed cell arrest in G0 phase. Apoptosis percentage was found to increase in a dose dependent manner. So, prepared titanium complexes can be put to use as an important chemotherapeutic agents.

Download Full-text

Reverse Screening Bioinformatics Approach to Identify Potential Anti Breast Cancer Targets Using Thymoquinone from Neutraceuticals Black Cumin Oil

Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1871520619666190124155359 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (5) ◽

pp. 599-609 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sumathi Sundaravadivelu ◽

Sonia K. Raj ◽

Banupriya S. Kumar ◽

Poornima Arumugamand ◽

Padma P. Ragunathan

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Gene Expression ◽

Cell Cycle ◽

Cell Death ◽

In Silico ◽

Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽

Normal Cells ◽

Black Cumin ◽

In Silico Docking ◽

Wide Range

Background: Functional foods, neutraceuticals and natural antioxidants have established their potential roles in the protection of human health and diseases. Thymoquinone (TQ), the main bioactive component of Nigella sativa seeds (black cumin seeds), a plant derived neutraceutical was used by ancient Egyptians because of their ability to cure a variety of health conditions and used as a dietary food supplement. Owing to its multi targeting nature, TQ interferes with a wide range of tumorigenic processes and counteracts carcinogenesis, malignant growth, invasion, migration, and angiogenesis. Additionally, TQ can specifically sensitize tumor cells towards conventional cancer treatments (e.g., radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy) and simultaneously minimize therapy-associated toxic effects in normal cells besides being cost effective and safe. TQ was found to play a protective role when given along with chemotherapeutic agents to normal cells. Methods: In the present study, reverse in silico docking approach was used to search for potential molecular targets for cancer therapy. Various metastatic and apoptotic targets were docked with the target ligand. TQ was also tested for its anticancer activities for its ability to cause cell death, arrest cell cycle and ability to inhibit PARP gene expression. Results: In silico docking studies showed that TQ effectively docked metastatic targets MMPs and other apoptotic and cell proliferation targets EGFR. They were able to bring about cell death mediated by apoptosis, cell cycle arrest in the late apoptotic stage and induce DNA damage too. TQ effectively down regulated PARP gene expression which can lead to enhanced cancer cell death. Conclusion: Thymoquinone a neutraceutical can be employed as a new therapeutic agent to target triple negative breast cancer which is otherwise difficult to treat as there are no receptors on them. Can be employed along with standard chemotherapeutic drugs to treat breast cancer as a combinatorial therapy.

Download Full-text

Antitumor Effect of Pomolic Acid in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells Involves Cell Death, Decreased Cell Growth and Topoisomerases Inhibition

Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1871520618666180412120128 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 (10) ◽

pp. 1457-1468

Author(s):

Michelle X.G. Pereira ◽

Amanda S.O. Hammes ◽

Flavia C. Vasconcelos ◽

Aline R. Pozzo ◽

Thaís H. Pereira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Cycle ◽

Cell Death ◽

Acute Myeloid Leukemia ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Myeloid Leukemia ◽

Natural Compound ◽

Dna Topoisomerases ◽

Human Dna ◽

Pomolic Acid ◽

Acute Myeloid

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) represents the largest number of annual deaths from hematologic malignancy. In the United States, it was estimated that 21.380 individuals would be diagnosed with AML and 49.5% of patients would die in 2017. Therefore, the search for novel compounds capable of increasing the overall survival rate to the treatment of AML cells is urgent. Objectives: To investigate the cytotoxicity effect of the natural compound pomolic acid (PA) and to explore the mechanism of action of PA in AML cell lines with different phenotypes. Methods: Three different AML cell lines, HL60, U937 and Kasumi-1 cells with different mechanisms of resistance were used to analyze the effect of PA on the cell cycle progression, on DNA intercalation and on human DNA topoisomerases (hTopo I and IIα) in vitro studies. Theoretical experiments of the inhibition of hTopo I and IIα were done to explore the binding modes of PA. Results: PA reduced cell viability, induced cell death, increased sub-G0/G1 accumulation and activated caspases pathway in all cell lines, altered the cell cycle distribution and inhibited the catalytic activity of both human DNA topoisomerases. Conclusion: Finally, this study showed that PA has powerful antitumor activity against AML cells, suggesting that this natural compound might be a potent antineoplastic agent to improve the treatment scheme of this neoplasm.

Download Full-text

Transcriptional CDK inhibitors, CYC065 and THZ1 promote Bim-dependent apoptosis in primary and recurrent GBM through cell cycle arrest and Mcl-1 downregulation

Cell Death and Disease ◽

10.1038/s41419-021-04050-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

Author(s):

Viktorija Juric ◽

Lance Hudson ◽

Joanna Fay ◽

Cathy E. Richards ◽

Hanne Jahns ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Cycle ◽

Cell Death ◽

Cell Cycle Arrest ◽

Cortical Neurons ◽

Apoptotic Cell ◽

Cdk Inhibitors ◽

Induce Cell Death ◽

Viability Loss ◽

Cycle Arrest ◽

Recurrent Gbm

AbstractActivation of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) contributes to the uncontrolled proliferation of tumour cells. Genomic alterations that lead to the constitutive activation or overexpression of CDKs can support tumourigenesis including glioblastoma (GBM), the most common and aggressive primary brain tumour in adults. The incurability of GBM highlights the need to discover novel and more effective treatment options. Since CDKs 2, 7 and 9 were found to be overexpressed in GBM, we tested the therapeutic efficacy of two CDK inhibitors (CKIs) (CYC065 and THZ1) in a heterogeneous panel of GBM patient-derived cell lines (PDCLs) cultured as gliomaspheres, as preclinically relevant models. CYC065 and THZ1 treatments suppressed invasion and induced viability loss in the majority of gliomaspheres, irrespective of the mutational background of the GBM cases, but spared primary cortical neurons. Viability loss arose from G2/M cell cycle arrest following treatment and subsequent induction of apoptotic cell death. Treatment efficacies and treatment durations required to induce cell death were associated with proliferation velocities, and apoptosis induction correlated with complete abolishment of Mcl-1 expression, a cell cycle-regulated antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family member. GBM models generally appeared highly dependent on Mcl-1 expression for cell survival, as demonstrated by pharmacological Mcl-1 inhibition or depletion of Mcl-1 expression. Further analyses identified CKI-induced Mcl-1 loss as a prerequisite to establish conditions at which the BH3-only protein Bim can efficiently induce apoptosis, with cellular Bim amounts strongly correlating with treatment efficacy. CKIs reduced proliferation and promoted apoptosis also in chick embryo xenograft models of primary and recurrent GBM. Collectively, these studies highlight the potential of these novel CKIs to suppress growth and induce cell death of patient-derived GBM cultures in vitro and in vivo, warranting further clinical investigation.

Download Full-text

In Vitro Compression Model for Orthodontic Tooth Movement Modulates Human Periodontal Ligament Fibroblast Proliferation, Apoptosis and Cell Cycle

Biomolecules ◽

10.3390/biom11070932 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 932

Author(s):

Julia Brockhaus ◽

Rogerio B. Craveiro ◽

Irma Azraq ◽

Christian Niederau ◽

Sarah K. Schröder ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Cycle ◽

Cell Death ◽

Periodontal Ligament ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Tooth Movement ◽

Orthodontic Tooth Movement ◽

Compressive Force ◽

Periodontal Ligament Fibroblasts ◽

Human Periodontal Ligament Fibroblasts

Human Periodontal Ligament Fibroblasts (hPDLF), as part of the periodontal apparatus, modulate inflammation, regeneration and bone remodeling. Interferences are clinically manifested as attachment loss, tooth loosening and root resorption. During orthodontic tooth movement (OTM), remodeling and adaptation of the periodontium is required in order to enable tooth movement. hPDLF involvement in the early phase-OTM compression side was investigated for a 72-h period through a well-studied in vitro model. Changes in the morphology, cell proliferation and cell death were analyzed. Specific markers of the cell cycle were investigated by RT-qPCR and Western blot. The study showed that the morphology of hPDLF changes towards more unstructured, unsorted filaments under mechanical compression. The total cell numbers were significantly reduced with a higher cell death rate over the whole observation period. hPDLF started to recover to pretreatment conditions after 48 h. Furthermore, key molecules involved in the cell cycle were significantly reduced under compressive force at the gene expression and protein levels. These findings revealed important information for a better understanding of the preservation and remodeling processes within the periodontium through Periodontal Ligament Fibroblasts during orthodontic tooth movement. OTM initially decelerates the hPDLF cell cycle and proliferation. After adapting to environmental changes, human Periodontal Ligament Fibroblasts can regain homeostasis of the periodontium, affecting its reorganization.

Download Full-text

Transcriptional network constituted of CBP, Ku70, NOX2, and BAX prevents the cell death of necrosis, paraptosis, and apoptosis in human melanoma

Cell Death Discovery ◽

10.1038/s41420-021-00417-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Liang Ding ◽

Yalei Wen ◽

Xin Zhang ◽

Fang Zhao ◽

Kenao Lv ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Cycle ◽

Cell Death ◽

Apoptotic Cell ◽

Human Melanoma ◽

Transcriptional Network ◽

Multiple Roles ◽

Creb Binding Protein ◽

Cycle Arrest ◽

Intracellular Ros ◽

High Level

AbstractCREB-binding protein (CBP) is an acetyltransferase known to play multiple roles in the transcriptions of genes involving oxidative metabolism, cell cycle, DNA damage checkpoints, and cell death. In this study, CBP was found to positively regulate the expression of Ku70, and both CBP and Ku70 were found to negatively regulate the expression of NOX2, therefore, mitigating the intracellular ROS in human melanoma. Knocking down CBP or Ku70 induced necrotic and paraptotic cell death as indicated by high-level intracellular ROS, cytoplasmic vacuolization, and cell cycle arrest in the S phase. In addition, chromosomal condensations were also observed in the cells proceeding necrotic and paraptotic cell death, which was found to be related to the BAX-associated intrinsic pathway of apoptotic cell death, when Ku70 was decreased either by CBP depletion or by Ku70 depletion directly. Our results, therefore, supported the idea that CBP, Ku70, BAX, and NOX2 have formed a transcriptional network in the prevention of cell death of necrosis, paraptosis, and apoptosis in human melanoma.

Download Full-text

ATF3 contributes to brucine-triggered glioma cell ferroptosis via promotion of hydrogen peroxide and iron

Acta Pharmacologica Sinica ◽

10.1038/s41401-021-00700-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Shan Lu ◽

Xuan-zhong Wang ◽

Chuan He ◽

Lei Wang ◽

Shi-peng Liang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lipid Peroxidation ◽

Cell Death ◽

Er Stress ◽

Glioma Cell ◽

Nuclear Translocation ◽

Indole Alkaloid ◽

Ammonium Citrate ◽

Ferric Ammonium Citrate ◽

Activating Transcription Factor 3 ◽

Intracellular Iron

AbstractFerroptotic cell death is characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation that is initiated by ferrous iron and H2O2 via Fenton reaction, in which the role of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) remains elusive. Brucine is a weak alkaline indole alkaloid extracted from the seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica, which has shown potent antitumor activity against various tumors, including glioma. In this study, we showed that brucine inhibited glioma cell growth in vitro and in vivo, which was paralleled by nuclear translocation of ATF3, lipid peroxidation, and increases of iron and H2O2. Furthermore, brucine-induced lipid peroxidation was inhibited or exacerbated when intracellular iron was chelated by deferoxamine (500 μM) or improved by ferric ammonium citrate (500 μM). Suppression of lipid peroxidation with lipophilic antioxidants ferrostatin-1 (50 μM) or liproxstatin-1 (30 μM) rescued brucine-induced glioma cell death. Moreover, knockdown of ATF3 prevented brucine-induced accumulation of iron and H2O2 and glioma cell death. We revealed that brucine induced ATF3 upregulation and translocation into nuclei via activation of ER stress. ATF3 promoted brucine-induced H2O2 accumulation via upregulating NOX4 and SOD1 to generate H2O2 on one hand, and downregulating catalase and xCT to prevent H2O2 degradation on the other hand. H2O2 then contributed to brucine-triggered iron increase and transferrin receptor upregulation, as well as lipid peroxidation. This was further verified by treating glioma cells with exogenous H2O2 alone. Moreover, H2O2 reversely exacerbated brucine-induced ER stress. Taken together, ATF3 contributes to brucine-induced glioma cell ferroptosis via increasing H2O2 and iron.

Download Full-text