Artemisinin Inhibits the Migration and Invasion in Uveal Melanoma via Inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway

Uveal melanoma is the most common primary ocular neoplasm in adults, with many patients ending up developing liver metastasis and facing a significant reduction of their life expectancy due to the lack of efficient treatments. Artemisinin is an antimalarial drug that has been widely used in the clinic and whose anticancer properties have also been described. Its reported safety, affordability, and ability to reach the ocular tissues point that it has a potential therapeutic agent against uveal melanoma. In the present study, we found that a subantimalaria dosage of artemisinin significantly attenuated the migration and invasion potential of uveal melanoma cells, in a concentration-dependent manner. Assessment of the mechanisms underlying artemisinin anticancer action revealed that its use dramatically reduced the phosphorylation of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR in UM cells. Further inhibition of PI3K signaling, using LY294002, or of mTOR, by rapamycin, blocked the migration and invasion of UM cells similarly to artemisinin. In contrast, AKT or mTOR activator (Sc79 and MHY1485, respectively) attenuated the inhibitory effect of artemisinin on the migration and invasion abilities of UM cells, further validating that artemisinin’s anticancer effect is likely to be mediated via inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Artemisinin also induced mitochondrial membrane potential loss and apoptosis of UM cells, having no significant toxic effect on normal retinal neuronal cells RGC-5 and epithelial cells D407. These findings and the reported safety of artemisinin’s clinical dosage strongly suggest the therapeutic potential of artemisinin in the prevention and treatment of uveal melanomas.

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Transcriptome Analysis of the Inhibitory Effect of Sennoside A on the Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Frontiers in Pharmacology ◽

10.3389/fphar.2020.566099 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Jiamei Le ◽

Yi Fu ◽

Qiuqin Han ◽

Yujie Ma ◽

Houlin Ji ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽

Signaling Pathway ◽

Transcriptome Analysis ◽

Cancer Metastasis ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Rna Seq ◽

Hcc Cells

Sennoside A (SA) is a bioactive component of Rheum officinale Baill. with an activity of irritant laxative, which has been reported to possess therapeutic potential in various diseases or conditions including obesity, insulin resistance, liver steatosis, prostate cancer and pancreatic cancer progression. However, whether SA has therapeutic potential in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment remains elusive. In this study, we treated two HCC cell lines, HepG2 and SMMC-7721 with SA and found that SA selectively inhibited the growth of HCC cells by proliferation assay. SA has a good inhibitory effect on proliferation of HepG2 cells in a concentration dependent manner, but there was no effect on SMMC-7721 cells. Then we conducted transwell assays and transcriptome analysis in HCC cells and examined the effects of SA on HCC in vivo. The results showed that SA significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of HCC. Comparison of RNA-seq transcriptome profiles from control groups and SA-treated groups identified 171 and 264 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells respectively, in which includes 2 overlapping up-regulated DEGs and 12 overlapping down-regulated DEGs between HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells. The qPCR were applied to investigate the transcriptional level of 9 overlapping down-regulated DEGs related to cancer metastasis, and the results were consistent with RNA-seq data. The dominate pathways including Wnt signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway, and NF-κB signaling pathway were strongly inhibited by SA, which are involved in regulating cancer metastasis. Finally, we confirmed that the downregulation of KRT7 and KRT81 could inhibit HCC metastasis. This study has provided new insight into the understanding of the inhibitory effects and potential targets of SA on the metastasis of HCC.

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Brassinolide Enhances the Level of Brassinosteroids, Protein, Pigments, and Monosaccharides in Wolffia arrhiza Treated with Brassinazole

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10071311 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 1311

Author(s):

Magdalena Chmur ◽

Andrzej Bajguz

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Growth And Development ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Plant Growth And Development ◽

Concentration Dependent Manner ◽

Spectrophotometric Methods ◽

Synthetic Inhibitor ◽

Wolffia Arrhiza ◽

First Time

Brassinolide (BL) represents brassinosteroids (BRs)—a group of phytohormones that are essential for plant growth and development. Brassinazole (Brz) is as a synthetic inhibitor of BRs’ biosynthesis. In the present study, the responses of Wolffia arrhiza to the treatment with BL, Brz, and the combination of BL with Brz were analyzed. The analysis of BRs and Brz was performed using LC-MS/MS. The photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls, carotenes, and xanthophylls) levels were determined using HPLC, but protein and monosaccharides level using spectrophotometric methods. The obtained results indicated that BL and Brz influence W. arrhiza cultures in a concentration-dependent manner. The most stimulatory effects on the growth, level of BRs (BL, 24-epibrassinolide, 28-homobrassinolide, 28-norbrassinolide, catasterone, castasterone, 24-epicastasterone, typhasterol, and 6-deoxytyphasterol), and the content of pigments, protein, and monosaccharides, were observed in plants treated with 0.1 µM BL. Whereas the application of 1 µM and 10 µM Brz caused a significant decrease in duckweed weight and level of targeted compounds. Application of BL caused the mitigation of the Brz inhibitory effect and enhanced the BR level in duckweed treated with Brz. The level of BRs was reported for the first time in duckweed treated with BL and/or Brz.

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Adenosine A1 receptor-mediated inhibition of vasopressin action in inner medullary collecting duct

AJP Renal Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajprenal.1994.266.5.f791 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 266 (5) ◽

pp. F791-F796 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

R. M. Edwards ◽

W. S. Spielman

Keyword(s):

Receptor Agonist ◽

Collecting Duct ◽

Basolateral Membrane ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Camp Accumulation ◽

Concentration Dependent Manner ◽

Cgs 21680 ◽

Camp Generation ◽

A1 Receptor

We examined the effects of adenosine and adenosine analogues on arginine vasopressin (AVP)-induced increases in osmotic water permeability (Pf; micron/s) and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation in rat inner medullary collecting ducts (IMCDs). When added to the bath, the A1 receptor agonist N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA) produced a rapid and reversible inhibition of AVP-stimulated (10 pM) Pf (1,781 +/- 195 to 314 +/- 85 microns/s at 0.3 microM CHA; n = 9). The inhibitory effect of CHA was concentration dependent, with a 50% inhibitory concentration of 10 nM. The effect of CHA was inhibited by prior exposure of IMCDs to the A1 receptor antagonist 1,3-dipropylxanthine-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DP-CPX; 1 microM) or by preincubation with pertussis toxin. CHA had no effect on cAMP-induced increases in Pf. In addition to CHA, adenosine and the nonselective agonist 5'-(N-ethylcarboxamido)-adenosine (NECA) inhibited AVP-dependent Pf by > or = 70%, whereas the A2 receptor agonist CGS-21680 had no effect. Luminal adenosine (0.1 mM) had no effect on basal or AVP-stimulated Pf. CHA, NECA, and adenosine but not CGS-21680 inhibited AVP-stimulated cAMP accumulation in a concentration-dependent manner (50% inhibitory concentrations 0.1–300 nM). The inhibitory effect of CHA on AVP-stimulated cAMP accumulation was attenuated by DPCPX. We conclude that adenosine, acting at the basolateral membrane, inhibits AVP action in the IMCD via interaction with A1 receptors. The inhibition occurs proximal to cAMP generation and likely involves an inhibitory G protein.

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Fibrinogen binding to the integrin αIIbβ3 modulates store-mediated calcium entry in human platelets

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v97.9.2648 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 97 (9) ◽

pp. 2648-2656 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Juan A. Rosado ◽

Else M. Y. Meijer ◽

Karly Hamulyak ◽

Irena Novakova ◽

Johan W. M. Heemskerk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Actin Cytoskeleton ◽

Actin Polymerization ◽

Adenosine Diphosphate ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Human Platelets ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Concentration Dependent Manner ◽

Integrin Αiibβ3 ◽

Fibrinogen Binding

Abstract Effects of the occupation of integrin αIIbβ3 by fibrinogen on Ca++signaling in fura-2–loaded human platelets were investigated. Adding fibrinogen to washed platelet suspensions inhibited increases in cytosolic [Ca++] concentrations ([Ca++]i) evoked by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and thrombin in a concentration-dependent manner in the presence of external Ca++ but not in the absence of external Ca++ or in the presence of the nonselective cation channel blocker SKF96365, indicating selective inhibition of Ca++entry. Fibrinogen also inhibited store-mediated Ca++ entry (SMCE) activated after Ca++ store depletion using thapsigargin. The inhibitory effect of fibrinogen was reversed if fibrinogen binding to αIIbβ3 was blocked using RDGS or abciximab and was absent in platelets from patients homozygous for Glanzmann thrombasthenia. Fibrinogen was without effect on SMCE once activated. Activation of SMCE in platelets occurs through conformational coupling between the intracellular stores and the plasma membrane and requires remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. Fibrinogen inhibited actin polymerization evoked by ADP or thapsigargin in control cells and in cells loaded with the Ca++ chelator dimethyl BAPTA. It also inhibited the translocation of the tyrosine kinase p60src to the cytoskeleton. These results indicate that the binding of fibrinogen to integrin αIIbβ3 inhibits the activation of SMCE in platelets by a mechanism that may involve modulation of the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and the cytoskeletal association of p60src. This action may be important in intrinsic negative feedback to prevent the further activation of platelets subjected to low-level stimuli in vivo.

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Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) affects fibrinolysis in a plasminogen activator concentration-dependent manner

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1160/th03-06-0377 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 91 (03) ◽

pp. 473-479 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Ana Guimarães ◽

Dingeman Rijken

Keyword(s):

Plasminogen Activator ◽

In Vitro Study ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Retardation Factor ◽

Clot Lysis ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Plasma Clot ◽

Concentration Dependent Manner ◽

Plasmin Inhibitor

SummaryTAFIa was shown to attenuate fibrinolysis. In our in vitro study, we investigated how the inhibitory effect of TAFIa depended on the type and concentration of the plasminogen activator (PA). We measured PA-mediated lysis times of plasma clots under conditions of maximal TAFI activation by thrombin-thrombomodulin in the absence and presence of potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor. Seven different PAs were compared comprising both tPA-related (tPA, TNK-tPA, DSPA), bacterial PA-related (staphylokinase and APSAC) and urokinase-related (tcu-PA and k2tu-PA) PAs. The lysis times and the retardation factor were plotted against the PA concentration. The retardation factor plots were bell-shaped. At low PA concentrations, the retardation factor was low, probably due to the limited stability of TAFIa. At intermediate PA concentrations the retardation factor was maximal (3-6 depending on the PA), with TNK-tPA, APSAC and DSPA exhibiting the strongest effect. At high PA concentrations, the retardation factor was again low, possibly due to inactivation of TAFIa by plasmin or to a complete conversion of glu-plasminogen into lys-plasminogen. Using individual plasmas with a reduced plasmin inhibitor activity (plasmin inhibitor Enschede) the bell-shaped curve of the retardation factor shifted towards lower tPA and DSPA concentrations, but the height did not decrease. In conclusion, TAFIa delays the lysis of plasma clots mediated by all the plasminogen activators tested. This delay is dependent on the type and concentration of the plasminogen activator, but not on the fibrin specificity of the plasminogen activator. Furthermore, plasmin inhibitor does not play a significant role in the inhibition of plasma clot lysis by TAFI.

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Inhibition of Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) Isoforms by Isoniazid: Potent Inhibition of CYP2C19 and CYP3A

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.45.2.382-392.2001 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 45 (2) ◽

pp. 382-392 ◽

Cited By ~ 112

Author(s):

Zeruesenay Desta ◽

Nadia V. Soukhova ◽

David A. Flockhart

Keyword(s):

Cytochrome P450 ◽

Liver Microsomes ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Competitive Inhibitor ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Significant Inhibition ◽

Specific Substrate ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Concentration Dependent Manner ◽

The Mean

ABSTRACT Isoniazid (INH) remains the most safe and cost-effective drug for the treatment and prophylaxis of tuberculosis. The use of INH has increased over the past years, largely as a result of the coepidemic of human immunodeficiency virus infection. It is frequently given chronically to critically ill patients who are coprescribed multiple medications. The ability of INH to elevate the concentrations in plasma and/or toxicity of coadministered drugs, including those of narrow therapeutic range (e.g., phenytoin), has been documented in humans, but the mechanisms involved are not well understood. Using human liver microsomes (HLMs), we tested the inhibitory effect of INH on the activity of common drug-metabolizing human cytochrome P450 (CYP450) isoforms using isoform-specific substrate probe reactions. Incubation experiments were performed at a single concentration of each substrate probe at its Km value with a range of INH concentrations. CYP2C19 and CYP3A were inhibited potently by INH in a concentration-dependent manner. At 50 μM INH (∼6.86 μg/ml), the activities of these isoforms decreased by ∼40%. INH did not show significant inhibition (<10% at 50 μM) of other isoforms (CYP2C9, CYP1A2, and CYP2D6). To accurately estimate the inhibition constants (Ki values) for each isoform, four concentrations of INH were incubated across a range of five concentrations of specific substrate probes. The meanKi values (± standard deviation) for the inhibition of CYP2C19 by INH in HLMs and recombinant human CYP2C19 were 25.4 ± 6.2 and 13 ± 2.4 μM, respectively. INH showed potent noncompetitive inhibition of CYP3A (Ki = 51.8 ± 2.5 to 75.9 ± 7.8 μM, depending on the substrate used). INH was a weak noncompetitive inhibitor of CYP2E1 (Ki = 110 ± 33 μM) and a competitive inhibitor of CYP2D6 (Ki = 126 ± 23 μM), but the mean Ki values for the inhibition of CYP2C9 and CYP1A2 were above 500 μM. Inhibition of one or both CYP2C19 and CYP3A isoforms is the likely mechanism by which INH slows the elimination of coadministered drugs, including phenytoin, carbamazepine, diazepam, triazolam, and primidone. Slow acetylators of INH may be at greater risk for adverse drug interactions, as the degree of inhibition was concentration dependent. These data provide a rational basis for understanding drug interaction with INH and predict that other drugs metabolized by these two enzymes may also interact.

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Autumn Royal and Ribier Grape Juice Extracts Reduced Viability and Metastatic Potential of Colon Cancer Cells

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2018/2517080 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Manuel Valenzuela ◽

Lorena Bastias ◽

Iván Montenegro ◽

Enrique Werner ◽

Alejandro Madrid ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Colon Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Grape Juice ◽

Metastatic Potential ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Colon Cancer Cells ◽

Gene Expressions ◽

Anticancer Properties

Antioxidants are known to be beneficial to health. This paper evaluates the potential chemopreventive and anticancer properties of phenolic compounds present in grape juice extracts (GJE) from Autumn Royal and Ribier varieties. The effects of these GJE on viability (SRB day assay) and metastatic potential (migration and invasion parameters) of colon cancer cell lines HT-29 and SW-480 were evaluated. The effects of GJE on two matrix metalloproteinase gene expressions (MMP2 and MMP9) were also evaluated via qRT-PCR. In the former, GJE reduced cell viability in both cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. GJE treatment also reduced cell migration and invasion. Moreover, MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene expression diminished depending on extract and on cell type.Conclusions. These results provide novel information concerning anticancer properties of selected GJE by revealing selective cytotoxicity and the ability to reduce invasiveness of colon cancer cells.

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Betulinic acid induces apoptosis of gallbladder cancer cells via repressing SCD1

Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica ◽

10.1093/abbs/gmz148 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 52 (2) ◽

pp. 200-206 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Hongfei Wang ◽

Fangxiao Dong ◽

Ye Wang ◽

Xu’an Wang ◽

Defei Hong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gallbladder Cancer ◽

Betulinic Acid ◽

Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Antitumor Effects ◽

Concentration Dependent Manner ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Induced Apoptosis ◽

Scd1 Expression

Abstract Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most common and aggressive malignancy of the biliary tract. Betulinic acid (BetA) has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects; however, the effect of BetA on GBC is still unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of BetA on five GBC cell lines and found that BetA significantly inhibited the proliferation of NOZ cells but had little inhibitory effect on other GBC cells. BetA disturbed mitochondrial membrane potential and induced apoptosis in NOZ cells. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase 1 (SCD1) was highly expressed in NOZ cells but low expressed in other GBC cells. BetA inhibited SCD1 expression in a concentration-dependent manner in NOZ cells. Downregulation of SCD1 expression by RNA interference inhibited the proliferation of NOZ cells and induced cell apoptosis. Moreover, BetA inhibited the growth of xenografted tumors and suppressed SCD1 expression in nude mice. Thus, our results showed that BetA induced apoptosis through repressing SCD1 expression in GBC, suggesting that BetA might be an effective agent for the treatment of patients with GBC that highly expresses SCD1.

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Quercetin Is a Flavonoid Breast Cancer Resistance Protein Inhibitor with an Impact on the Oral Pharmacokinetics of Sulfasalazine in Rats

Pharmaceutics ◽

10.3390/pharmaceutics12050397 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 397

Author(s):

Yoo-Kyung Song ◽

Jin-Ha Yoon ◽

Jong Kyu Woo ◽

Ju-Hee Kang ◽

Kyeong-Ryoon Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Breast Cancer Resistance Protein ◽

Fold Increase ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Cancer Resistance ◽

Concentration Dependent Manner ◽

Resistance Protein

The potential inhibitory effect of quercetin, a major plant flavonol, on breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) activity was investigated in this study. The presence of quercetin significantly increased the cellular accumulation and associated cytotoxicity of the BCRP substrate mitoxantrone in human cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells) in a concentration-dependent manner. The transcellular efflux of prazosin, a stereotypical BCRP substrate, was also significantly reduced in the presence of quercetin in a bidirectional transport assay using human BCRP-overexpressing cells; further kinetic analysis revealed IC50 and Ki values of 4.22 and 3.91 μM, respectively. Moreover, pretreatment with 10 mg/kg quercetin in rats led to a 1.8-fold and 1.5-fold increase in the AUC8h (i.e., 44.5 ± 11.8 min∙μg/mL vs. 25.7 ± 9.98 min∙μg/mL, p < 0.05) and Cmax (i.e., 179 ± 23.0 ng/mL vs. 122 ± 23.2 ng/mL, p < 0.05) of orally administered sulfasalazine, respectively. Collectively, these results provide evidence that quercetin acts as an in vivo as well as in vitro inhibitor of BCRP. Considering the high dietary intake of quercetin as well as its consumption as a dietary supplement, issuing a caution regarding its food–drug interactions should be considered.

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The Inhibitory Effect of (−)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate on Breast Cancer Progression via Reducing SCUBE2 Methylation and DNMT Activity

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules24162899 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (16) ◽

pp. 2899 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Jie Sheng ◽

Weilin Shi ◽

Hui Guo ◽

Wenlin Long ◽

Yuxin Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Breast Cancer Progression ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Complement Protein ◽

Epidermal Growth Factor Domain ◽

Potential Implication ◽

Egcg Treatment

Epigenetic modifications are important mechanisms responsible for cancer progression. Accumulating data suggest that (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most abundant catechin of green tea, may hamper carcinogenesis by targeting epigenetic alterations. We found that signal peptide-CUB (complement protein C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1)-EGF (epidermal growth factor) domain-containing protein 2 (SCUBE2), a tumor suppressor gene, was hypermethylated in breast tumors. However, it is unknown whether EGCG regulates SCUBE2 methylation, and the mechanisms remain undefined. This study was designed to investigate the effect of EGCG on SCUBE2 methylation in breast cancer cells. We reveal that EGCG possesses a significantly inhibitory effect on cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner and presents more effects than other catechins. EGCG treatment resulted in enhancement of the SCUBE2 gene, along with elevated E-cadherin and decreased vimentin expression, leading to significant suppression of cell migration and invasion. The inhibitory effect of EGCG on SCUBE2 knock-down cells was remarkably alleviated. Further study demonstrated that EGCG significantly decreased the SCUBE2 methylation status by reducing DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) expression and activity. In summary, this study reported for the first time that SCUBE2 methylation can be reversed by EGCG treatment, finally resulting in the inhibition of breast cancer progression. These results suggest the epigenetic role of EGCG and its potential implication in breast cancer therapy.

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