Casticin Induced Apoptosis in A375.S2 Human Melanoma Cells through the Inhibition of NF-κB and Mitochondria-Dependent Pathways In Vitro and Inhibited Human Melanoma Xenografts in a Mouse Model In Vivo

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (03) ◽  
pp. 637-661 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yin-Wen Shiue ◽  
Chi-Cheng Lu ◽  
Yu-Ping Hsiao ◽  
Ching-Lung Liao ◽  
Jing-Pin Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Melanoma ◽  
Oxygen Species ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Phase Arrest ◽  
Viable Cells ◽  
M Phase ◽  
Induced Apoptosis ◽  
Western Blotting Assay

Casticin, a polymethoxyflavone occurring in natural plants, has been shown to have anticancer activities. In the present study, we aims to investigate the anti-skin cancer activity of casticin on melanoma cells in vitro and the antitumor effect of casticin on human melanoma xenografts in nu/nu mice in vivo. A flow cytometric assay was performed to detect expression of viable cells, cell cycles, reactive oxygen species production, levels of [Formula: see text] and caspase activity. A Western blotting assay and confocal laser microscope examination were performed to detect expression of protein levels. In the in vitro studies, we found that casticin induced morphological cell changes and DNA condensation and damage, decreased the total viable cells, and induced G2/M phase arrest. Casticin promoted reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, decreased the level of [Formula: see text], and promoted caspase-3 activities in A375.S2 cells. The induced G2/M phase arrest indicated by the Western blotting assay showed that casticin promoted the expression of p53, p21 and CHK-1 proteins and inhibited the protein levels of Cdc25c, CDK-1, Cyclin A and B. The casticin-induced apoptosis indicated that casticin promoted pro-apoptotic proteins but inhibited anti-apoptotic proteins. These findings also were confirmed by the fact that casticin promoted the release of AIF and Endo G from mitochondria to cytosol. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) assay showed that casticin inhibited the NF-[Formula: see text]B binding DNA and that these effects were time-dependent. In the in vivo studies, results from immuno-deficient nu/nu mice bearing the A375.S2 tumor xenograft indicated that casticin significantly suppressed tumor growth based on tumor size and weight decreases. Early G2/M arrest and mitochondria-dependent signaling contributed to the apoptotic A375.S2 cell demise induced by casticin. In in vivo experiments, A375.S2 also efficaciously suppressed tumor volume in a xenotransplantation model. Therefore, casticin might be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of skin cancer in the future.

scholarly journals Resistomycin Induced Apoptosis and Cycle Arrest in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Activating p38 MAPK Pathway In Vitro and In Vivo

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 958
Author(s):  
Zhuo Han ◽  
Xing-ming Zhao ◽  
E Zhang ◽  
Jia-hui Ma ◽  
Hao Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
P38 Mapk ◽  
Hepg2 Cells ◽  
Mapk Pathway ◽  
Mapk Signaling ◽  
Cycle Arrest ◽  
Phase Arrest ◽  
M Phase ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

Resistomycin, a quinone-related natural antibiotic, has shown strong inhibitory activity against human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in vitro. Here, we investigated the role of p38 MAPK in the pro-apoptotic and G2/M phase arrest action of HCC HepG2 cells upon treatment with resistomycin in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed that resistomycin dose- and time-dependently reduced the viability of HepG2 cells and also showed lower cytotoxicity in normal human kidney cells (293T) and hepatocyte cells (HL-7702). Resistomycin treatment induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in HepG2 cells, accompanied by changes in the expression of related proteins, including Bax, Cyclin B1, etc. Surprisingly, resistomycin-mediated apoptotic cell death and cell cycle arrest were impeded by SB203580 (an inhibitor of p38 catalytic activity), suggesting that p38 MAPK signaling may play an important role that impedes eventual cell death. In this connection, data in vitro and in vivo demonstrated that resistomycin increased the phosphorylation of p38 and MAPKAPK-2 in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, we provided evidence that p38 signaling is involved in resistomycin-induced p38 MAPK pathway effects in HCC, using computer docking models. Our study indicated that resistomycin activates the p38 MAPK signaling pathway by which the growth of HepG2 cells is suppressed for apoptosis and G2/M phase arrest in vitro and in vivo, and it is a promising therapeutic leading compound for drug development in HCC treatment.

The Kinase Inhibitor Sorafenib Can Disrupt the Survival Support Provided by the Microenvironment and Induce Apoptosis of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 47-47
Author(s):  
Jessie-F Fecteau ◽  
Ila Bharati ◽  
Morgan O'Hayre ◽  
Tracy Handel ◽  
Thomas J. Kipps ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Dose ◽  
Cell Viability ◽  
Cell Survival ◽  
Kinase Inhibitor ◽  
Vehicle Control ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Viable Cells ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

Abstract Abstract 47 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is characterized by an accumulation of mature monoclonal B cells in the blood, secondary lymphoid tissue, and marrow. Despite their accumulation in vivo, CLL cells undergo spontaneous apoptosis in vitro unless rescued by extrinsic factors derived from the leukemia-cell microenvironment. Monocyte-derived Nurse-Like Cells (NLCs) and Marrow Stromal Cells (MSCs), representing the leukemic microenvironment, have been show to sustain CLL cell survival and more importantly to protect CLL cells from drug-induced apoptosis in vitro and possibly in vivo. Such protective niches are thought to prevent current therapies from achieving complete remission in patients. Investigating the mechanism(s) by which cells from the microenvironment promote CLL cell survival, particularly the signaling pathways triggered, will allow for the identification of new therapeutic targets aiming to disrupt these protective interactions. NLCs and MSCs have been shown to produce the chemokine SDF-1 (CXCL12), which can enhance CLL cell survival. We recently found that ZAP-70+ aggressive CLL cells responded by an increased survival to this chemokine, compared to ZAP-70- indolent CLL cells, and that this response was accompanied by the activation of the ERK pathway. Attempting to abrogate this survival pathway, we found that sorafenib (BAY 43–9006, Nexavar) a multi-kinase inhibitor targeting among others Raf kinases and thereby the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway, strongly reduced CLL cell viability in a time and dose dependent manner. A regimen of one single dose of 10uM of sorafenib significantly reduced CLL cell viability to 18+/−10% cells after 48hrs compared to vehicle control (DMSO; 100%; n=5). The daily addition of 1uM sorafenib also significantly decreased CLL cell viability, leading to 31+/−21% and 11+/−5% viable cells after 6 and 7 days respectively, compared to DMSO (n=5). More importantly, our results show that sorafenib induces CLL cell death in the presence of NLCs and MSCs. A single dose of sorafenib (10uM) rapidly decreased the fraction of viable CLL cells overtime, passing from 40+/−16% after 1 day to 10+/−3% after 4 days (n=4) in the context of NLCs and to 25+/−3% after 2 days and 14+/−3% after 4 days in the presence of MSCs, when compared to vehicle control (>80%; n=4). In the presence of NLCs, the 1uM daily regimen also uncovered an increased sensitivity of ZAP-70+ CLL cells to this drug, reducing in 6 days their viability to 13+/−2% (n=4), which approximately half the fraction of viable cells remaining in the ZAP-70- group (40+/−16%; n=7). We next studied sorafenib-mediated cytotoxicity by investigating its impact on the expression of pro-survival molecules. We found that Mcl-1, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL protein expression was reduced in CLL cells compared to vehicle control, when stimulated with CXCL12 (n=3). In the presence of NLCs and MSCs, only Mcl-1 expression was downregulated, which was also associated with a reduction of the active form of the transcription factor CREB, involved in Mcl-1 expression. Because Mcl-1 expression can be regulated by ERK and AKT pathways, we next investigated if they were abrogated by sorafenib. We indeed found that MEK, ERK, and AKT activation were reduced by this inhibitor compared to vehicle control (n=3). We therefore propose that the cytotoxic effect of sorafenib on CLL cells is due to its interference with at least these two major survival pathways. Since sorafenib caused apoptosis of CLL cells in context of the microenvironment, we reasoned that it might also cause apoptosis of chemotherapy resistant CLL cells. To test this hypothesis, we studied cells from fludarabine-refractory patients. In the presence of NLCs, a single dose of 10uM sorafenib induced a significant reduction in CLL cell viability after 2 days: only 4+/−2% viable cells remained compared to 78+/−12% for the vehicle control (n=4). A comparable observation was made in the presence of MSCs: sorafenib potently induced apoptosis, leaving 12+/−3% live cells after 2 days, compared to vehicle control (71+/−16%; n=4). These results are very promising as they suggest that sorafenib could be an effective novel therapeutic for CLL, affecting the viability of the leukemic cells even in protective niches. Since sorafenib has been approved by the FDA in 2007 for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, a pilot study is currently being planned at UCSD to evaluate the potential of this drug in CLL in vivo. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Water-Soluble Total Flavonoids Isolated from Isodon Lophanthoides Var.Gerardianus (Benth.) H.Hara Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Sensitivity to 5-Fluorouracil

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
chuan-ping Feng ◽  
Ding hai Xia ◽  
ying-xin Liu ◽  
Qing-feng Di ◽  
Yan Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synergistic Effect ◽  
Combination Treatment ◽  
Colony Formation ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Total Flavonoids ◽  
Oxygen Species ◽  
Phase Arrest ◽  
G1 Phase Arrest

Abstract Background: Isodon lophanthoides var. gerardianus (Benth.) H. Hara is an autochthonous plant produced chiefly in South China, and as one of mainstream varieties of Xihuangcao, which has been applied for prevention and treatment of common diseases of liver and gall for several hundred years. The water-soluble total flavonoids (WSTF) from the folk herbal medicine has many pharmacological effects. This study investigate whether WSTF has a synergistic effect of combination treatment with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on HCC.Methods: Cells were treated with WSTF alone or combination treatment with 5-FU and we implied cell viability, colony formation assay and cell cycle, reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptosis analysis and western blot, immunohistochemistry and xenograft tumorigenicity assay for investigating the roles of WSTF on HCC in vitro and in vivo.Results: WSTF caused G0/G1-phase arrest, and increased ROS levels. The generation of ROS levels could cause cell apoptosis and inhibite colony formation. WSTF decreased the expression of bcl-2, but promoted the expression of bax. These showed that WSTF-mediated apoptosis is associated with mitochondria-dependent. WSTF combined with 5-Fu has a synergistic effect to significantly suppress tumorigenicity both in vitro and in vivo. Reduction of ROS changed the synergistic effect of WSTF and 5-FUConclusions: WSTF inhibits the growth of HCC and enhances chemosensitivity to 5-FU in HCC. WSTF combined with 5-FU in HCC can play synergistic effect when applied in the clinical setting.

scholarly journals ROS-mediated inactivation of the PI3K/AKT pathway is involved in the antigastric cancer effects of thioredoxin reductase-1 inhibitor chaetocin

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuangyu Wen ◽  
Huihui Wang ◽  
Xiaobin Wu ◽  
Lu He ◽  
Qian Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Role ◽  
Thioredoxin Reductase ◽  
Akt Pathway ◽  
Ros Generation ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
M Phase ◽  
Tumorigenesis And Progression ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

Abstract Novel drugs are urgently needed for gastric cancer (GC) treatment. The thioredoxin-thioredoxin reductase (TRX-TRXR) system has been found to play a critical role in GC tumorigenesis and progression. Thus, agents that target the TRX-TRXR system may be highly efficacious as GC treatments. In this study, we showed that chaetocin, a natural product isolated from the Chaetomium species of fungi, inhibited proliferation, induced G2/M phase arrest and caspase-dependent apoptosis in both in vitro and in vivo models (cell xenografts and patient-derived xenografts) of GC. Chaetocin inactivated TRXR-1, resulting in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in GC cells; overexpression of TRX-1 as well as cotreatment of GC cells with the ROS scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine attenuated chaetocin-induced apoptosis; chaetocin-induced apoptosis was significantly increased when GC cells were cotreated with auranofin. Moreover, chaetocin was shown to inactivate the PI3K/AKT pathway by inducing ROS generation; AKT-1 overexpression also attenuated chaetocin-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these results reveal that chaetocin induces the excessive accumulation of ROS via inhibition of TRXR-1. This is followed by PI3K/AKT pathway inactivation, which ultimately inhibits proliferation and induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in GC cells. Chaetocin therefore may be a potential agent for GC treatment.

scholarly journals Romidepsin Induces G2/M Phase Arrest and Apoptosis in Cholangiocarcinoma Cells

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 153303382096075
Author(s):  
Pihong Li ◽  
Luguang Liu ◽  
Xiangguo Dang ◽  
Xingsong Tian
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Cell Cycle Arrest ◽  
Antitumor Effect ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
M Cell ◽  
Cycle Arrest ◽  
Phase Arrest ◽  
M Phase

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an extremely intractable malignancy since most patients are already in an advanced stage when firstly discovered. CCA needs more effective treatment, especially for advanced cases. Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of romidepsin on CCA cells in vitro and in vivo and explore the underlying mechanisms. Methods: The antitumor effect was determined by cell viability, cell cycle and apoptosis assays. A CCK-8 assay was performed to measure the cytotoxicity of romidepsin on CCA cells, and flow cytometry was used to evaluate the effects of romidepsin on the cell cycle and apoptosis. Moreover, the in vivo effects of romidepsin were measured in a CCA xenograft model. Results: Romidepsin could reduce the viability of CCA cells and induce G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, indicating that romidepsin has a significant antitumor effect on CCA cells in vitro. Mechanistically, the antitumor effect of romidepsin on the CCA cell lines was mediated by the induction of G2/M cell cycle arrest and promotion of cell apoptosis. The G2/M phase arrest of the CCA cells was associated with the downregulation of cyclinB and upregulation of the p-cdc2 protein, resulting in cell cycle arrest. The apoptosis of the CCA cells induced by romidepsin was attributed to the activation of caspase-3. Furthermore, romidepsin significantly inhibited the growth of the tumor volume of the CCLP-1 xenograft, indicating that romidepsin significantly inhibited the proliferation of CCA cells in vivo. Conclusions: Romidepsin suppressed the proliferation of CCA cells by inducing cell cycle arrest through cdc2/cyclinB and cell apoptosis by targeting caspase-3/PARP both in vitro and in vivo, indicating that romidepsin is a potential therapeutic agent for CCA.

Lycorine Modulates the Expression of p21 Via a p53-Independent Pathway in HL-60 Cells

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 4297-4297
Author(s):  
Jing Liu ◽  
Shu-Ling Wang ◽  
Lin Fang ◽  
Mao Ye ◽  
Zhi-Wei Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Kinase Inhibitor ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Alternative Pathways ◽  
Cyclin Dependent Kinase Inhibitor ◽  
M Phase ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

Abstract Abstract 4297 Leukemia is one of the most life-threatening cancers today, and acute promyelogenous leukemia is a common type of leukemia. We have previously shown that lycorine, a natural alkaloid extract from Amaryllidaceae, exhibited anti-leukemia effects in vitro and in vivo. Lycorine treatment of HL-60 cell arrested cell cycle at G2/M phase and induced apoptosis. In the present study, we sought to explore the molecular mechanisms for the anti-leukemia action of lycorine. Gene chip analysis revealed that lycorine treatment of HL-60 cells induced more than 9 fold increase of p21, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, whose expression is mainly regulated by p53. Since HL-60 cells are p53 null, the above findings suggest that lycorine activates p21 expression through p53-independent pathway. To further explore the alternative pathways for the activation of p21 induced by lycorine, we examined the effect of lycorine on the expression of Rb, pRb, E2F, c-Myc and HDACs which have shown to regulate p21 expression. We show that expression of pRb (ser780) and c-Myc was down-regulated, Rb and E2F were up-regulated, while the expression of HDAC1 and HDAC3 was not changed. Together these findings suggest that lycorine exerts its anti-leukemia effect by activating p21 expression via pRb/E2F and c-Myc pathways. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals The Cak1p Protein Kinase Is Required at G1/S and G2/M in the Budding Yeast Cell Cycle

Genetics ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 147 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Sutton ◽  
Richard Freiman
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Budding Yeast ◽  
Protein Kinase Activity ◽  
Synthetic Lethal ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
M Phase

Abstract The CAK1 gene encodes the major CDK-activating kinase (CAK) in budding yeast and is required for activation of Cdc28p for cell cycle progression from G2 to M phase. Here we describe the isolation of a mutant allele of CAK1 in a synthetic lethal screen with the Sit4 protein phosphatase. Analysis of several different cak1 mutants shows that although the G2 to M transition appears most sensitive to loss of Cak1p function, Cak1p is also required for activation of Cdc28p for progression from G1 into S phase. Further characterization of these mutants suggests that, unlike the CAK identified from higher eukaryotes, Cak1p of budding yeast may not play a role in general transcription. Finally, although Cak1 protein levels and in vitro protein kinase activity do not fluctuate during the cell cycle, at least a fraction of Cak1p associates with higher molecular weight proteins, which may be important for its in vivo function.

scholarly journals Timosaponin AIII Induces G2/M Arrest and Apoptosis in Breast Cancer by Activating the ATM/Chk2 and p38 MAPK Signaling Pathways

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minjie Zhang ◽  
Jiaxi Qu ◽  
Zhiwei Gao ◽  
Qi Qi ◽  
Hong Yin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
P38 Mapk ◽  
Mapk Signaling ◽  
Mapk Pathways ◽  
Phase Arrest ◽  
M Phase ◽  
Timosaponin Aiii

Timosaponin AIII (TAIII), a steroidal saponin, exerts potent anti-tumor activity in various cancers, especially breast cancer. However, the concrete molecular mechanisms of TAIII against breast cancer are still unclear. Here, we find that TAIII triggers DNA damage, leads to G2/M arrest, and ultimately induces apoptosis in breast cancer both in vitro and in vivo. TAIII induced G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 cells accompanied with down-regulation of CyclinB1, Cdc2 and Cdc25C. Further data showed that the ATM/Chk2 and p38 pathways were activated representing by up-regulated levels of p-H2A.X and p-p38, which indicated an induction of DNA damage by TAIII, leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The effects of TAIII were further confirmed by employing inhibitors of ATM and p38 pathways. In vivo, TAIII suppressed the growth of subcutaneous xenograft tumor without obvious toxicity, which indicated by Ki67 and TUNEL analysis. Data also showed that TAIII stimulated the ATM/Chk2 and p38 MAPK pathways in vivo, which in consistent with the effects in vitro. Hence, our data demonstrate that TAIII triggers DNA damage and activates ATM/Chk2 and p38 MAPK pathways, and then induces G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis in breast cancer, which provide theoretical evidence for TAIII utilized as drug against breast cancer.

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