scholarly journals Emodin promotes apoptosis of human endometrial cancer through regulating the MAPK and PI3K/ AKT pathways

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 489-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Jiang ◽  
Nanyang Zhou ◽  
Pian Ying ◽  
Ting Zhang ◽  
Ruojia Liang ◽  
...  

AbstractEmodin, a major component of rhubarb, has anti-tumor effects in a variety of cancers, influencing multiple steps of tumor development through modulating several signaling pathways. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of emodin on cell apoptosis and explore the underlying mechanisms in human endometrial cancer cells. Here we report that emodin can inhibit KLE cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Western blot assay found that emodin was involved in MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Specifically, emodin significantly suppressed the phosphorylation of AKT, and enhanced the phosphorylation of MAPK pathways. Furthermore, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was up-regulated in KLE cells upon treatment with emodin, while the anti-oxidant agent N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) can inhibit emodin-induced apoptosis and promote the activation of AKT and Bcl-2. Taken together, we revealed that emodin may induce apoptosis in KLE cells through regulating the PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways, indicating the importance of emodin as an anti-tumor agent.

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 307
Author(s):  
Hyun-Jung Park ◽  
Ran Lee ◽  
Hyunjin Yoo ◽  
Kwonho Hong ◽  
Hyuk Song

Nonylphenol (NP) is an endocrine-disruptor chemical that negatively affects reproductive health. Testes exposure to NP results in testicular structure disruption and a reduction in testicular size and testosterone levels. However, the effects of NP on spermatogonia in testes have not been fully elucidated. In this study, the molecular mechanisms of NP in GC-1 spermatogonia (spg) cells were investigated. We found that cell viability significantly decreased and apoptosis increased in a dose-dependent manner when GC-1 spg cells were exposed to NP. Furthermore, the expression levels of the pro-apoptotic proteins increased, whereas anti-apoptosis markers decreased in NP-exposed GC-1 spg cells. We also found that NP increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, suggesting that ROS-induced activation of the MAPK signaling pathway is the molecular mechanism of NP-induced apoptosis in GC-1 spg cells. Thus, NP could induce c-Jun phosphorylation; dose-dependent expression of JNK, MKK4, p53, and p38; and the subsequent inhibition of ERK1/2 and MEK1/2 phosphorylation. The genes involved in apoptosis and JNK signaling were also upregulated in GC-1 spg cells treated with NP compared to those in the controls. Our findings suggest that NP induces apoptosis through ROS/JNK signaling in GC-1 spg cells.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiao Peng ◽  
Ting-ting Zheng ◽  
Yue Liang ◽  
Li-fang Duan ◽  
Yao-dong Zhang ◽  
...  

To protect against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in lens epithelial cells is a potential strategy in preventing cataract formation. The present study aimed at studying the protective effect and underlying mechanisms of p-coumaric acid (p-CA) on hydrogen peroxide- (H2O2-) induced apoptosis in human lens epithelial (HLE) cells (SRA 01–04). Cells were pretreated with p-CA at a concentration of 3, 10, and 30 μM before the treatment of H2O2 (275 μM). Results showed that pretreatment with p-CA significantly protected against H2O2-induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner, as well as downregulating the expressions of both cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 in HLE cells. Moreover, p-CA also greatly suppressed H2O2-induced intracellular ROS production and mitochondrial membrane potential loss and elevated the activities of T-SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px of H2O2-treated cells. As well, in vitro study showed that p-CA also suppressed H2O2-induced phosphorylation of p-38, ERK, and JNK in HLE cells. These findings demonstrate that p-CA suppresses H2O2-induced HLE cell apoptosis through modulating MAPK signaling pathways and suggest that p-CA has a potential therapeutic role in the prevention of cataract.


Author(s):  
Hongfang Wang ◽  
Jinlian Fu ◽  
Aiguo Wang

Obesity has become a global health problem. Research suggests that leptin, a hormone that responds to fat deposition, may be involved in mammalian reproduction; however, its precise role in embryo implantation is poorly understood. Here, primary porcine endometrium epithelium cells (PEECs) were cultured in vitro and used to evaluate the regulatory role of different leptin levels on β3-integrin, MMP9, HB-EGF, and IL-1β, which are, respectively, involved in four critical steps of embryo implantation. Results showed that only 0.01 nM leptin significantly improved β3-integrin mRNA expression (p < 0.05). MMP9 and HB-EGF mRNA expressions were upregulated by 0.10–10.00 nM leptin (p < 0.05). The IL-1β expression level was only increased by 10.00 nM leptin (p < 0.05). β3-integrin, MMP9, HB-EGF, and IL-1β mRNA and protein have a similar fluctuant response to increased leptin. Leptin’s influence on β3-integrin, MMP9, HB-EGF, and IL-1β disappeared when the JAK2, PI(3)K, or MAPK signaling pathways were blocked, respectively. In conclusion, leptin affected porcine implantation by regulating the expression of β3-integrin, MMP9, HB-EGF, and IL-1β in a dose-dependent manner. The signaling pathways of JAK2, PI(3)K, and MAPK may participate in this regulatory process. These findings will contribute to further understanding the mechanisms of reproductive disorders in obesity.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Chen ◽  
Ying Teng ◽  
Xingguang Zhang ◽  
Xiaofeng Lv ◽  
Yanling Yin

Both diabetes and hyperinsulinemia are confirmed risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. Some researchers proposed that antidiabetic drugs may be used as disease-modifying therapies, such as metformin and thiazolidinediones, although more evidence was poorly supported. The aim of the current study is to investigate the role of metformin in Aβ-induced cytotoxicity and explore the underlying mechanisms. First, the experimental results show that metformin salvaged the neurons exposed to Aβin a concentration-dependent manner with MTT and LDH assay. Further, the phosphorylation levels of JNK, ERK1/2, and p38 MAPK were measured with western blot analysis. It was investigated that Aβincreased phospho-JNK significantly but had no effect on phospho-p38 MAPK and phospho-ERK1/2. Metformin decreased hyperphosphorylated JNK induced by Aβ; however, the protection of metformin against Aβwas blocked when anisomycin, the activator of JNK, was added to the medium, indicating that metformin performed its protection against Aβin a JNK-dependent way. In addition, it was observed that metformin protected the neurons via the suppression of apoptosis. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that metformin may have a positive effect on Aβ-induced cytotoxicity, which provides a preclinical strategy against AD for elders with diabetes.


Reproduction ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xingji You ◽  
Zixi Chen ◽  
Qianqian Sun ◽  
Ruojing Yao ◽  
Hang Gu ◽  
...  

Urocortins (UCNs), belonging to corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) family, exert their function via CRH receptor type 1(CRHR1) and 2 (CRHR2). Our previous studies have demonstrated that CRH acts on CRHR1 to potentiate prostaglandin (PG) output induced by inflammatory stimuli in myometrial cells. In the present study, we sought to investigate the effects of UCNs on prostaglandin (PG) output via CRHR2 in cultured human uterine smooth muscle cells (HUSMCs) from human term myometrium. We found that UCN and UCN3 treatment promoted PGE2 and PGF2α secretion in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, UCN2 dose-dependently inhibited PGE2 and PGF2α secretion. Their effects could be reversed by CRHR2 antagonist and CRHR2 siRNA. Mechanically, we showed that UCN and UCN3 suppressed cAMP production and led to Gi activation, while UCN2 promoted cAMP production and activated Gs signaling. Further, UCN and UCN3 could activate NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. These effects were dependent on Gi signaling. In contrast, UCN did not activate MAPK and NF-κB signaling. UCN and UCN3 stimulation of PG secretion was dependent on Gi/adenylyl cyclase (AC)/cAMP, NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, while UCN2 suppression of PG output was through Gs/AC/cAMP signaling pathways. Our data suggest that UCN, UCN2 and UCN3 can finely regulate the secretion of PGs via CRHR2, which facilities the functional status of uterus during pregnancy.


2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (08) ◽  
pp. 1761-1772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Cheng Lo ◽  
Yung-Chi Lin ◽  
Yi-Fu Huang ◽  
Chen-Pu Hsieh ◽  
Chia-Chieh Wu ◽  
...  

Carnosol is an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory compound from rosemary. In this paper, we investigated antitumor activity of carnosol against human osteosarcoma cells. We found the viability of human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells was significantly decreased in the presence of carnosol (cell viabilities: 17.2% for 20[Formula: see text]μg/ml of CS vs. 100% for control, [Formula: see text]). Carnosol induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in a dose-dependent manner in MG-63 cells. Furthermore, carnosol exposure increased the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The pre-treatment of NAC, the ROS scavenger, blocked the inhibition of cell viability in the carnosol treatment, indicating that ROS is important in the antiproliferation effect. Moreover, we demonstrated that carnosol significantly induced autophagy and co-administration of autophagy inhibitor reduced the antiproliferating effect of carnosol. This result exhibited the cytotoxic effect of autophagy induced by carnosol in MG-63 cells. Interestingly, the treatment of NAC decreased carnosol-induced autophagy. Collectively, these data indicate that carnosol suppresses the viability of human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells by upregulation of apoptosis and autophagy, which are both mediated by ROS. Thus, carnosol might serve as a potential therapeutic agent against osteosarcoma.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Basem M. Abdallah ◽  
Enas M. Ali ◽  
Hany Elsawy ◽  
Gehan M. Badr ◽  
Ashraf M. Abdel-Moneim ◽  
...  

The phytochemical substances, coumarin derivatives, have demonstrated antiresorptive bone effects by suppressing osteoclast differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Recently, we have identified 5′-hydroxy auraptene (5′-HA), a coumarin derivative isolated from Lotus lalambensis Schweinf, as a novel stimulator for osteoblast differentiation. In this study, we investigated the effect of 5′-HA on osteoclast differentiation of mouse bone marrow (BM) cells. The effect of 5′-HA on BM cell proliferation and osteoclast differentiation was determined by measuring cell viability and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) enzyme activity, quantification of TRAP+ multinucleated cells (TRAP+MNCs), and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) of osteoclastic gene expression. Regulation of NF-κB, c-Fos/NFATc1, and MAPK signaling pathways by 5′-HA during osteoclastogenesis was measured by the NF-κB reporter assay and Western blot analysis. 5′-HA significantly suppresses the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) induced osteoclast differentiation of BM cells in a dose-dependent manner. Consistently, treatment of BM cells with 5′-HA significantly inhibited RANKL-induced activation of NF-κB and c-Fos/NFATc1 pathways in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, RANKL-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p-38, and JNK was significantly inhibited by 5′-HA in BM cells. In conclusion, we identified 5′-HA as a novel coumarin derivative that suppresses RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis via inhibiting c-Fos/NFATc1 and MAPK signaling pathways.


2013 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
He Jiang ◽  
Xiao-Ping Ye ◽  
Zhong-Yin Yang ◽  
Ming Zhan ◽  
Hai-Ning Wang ◽  
...  

There is a high incidence of metabolic syndrome among patients with primary aldosteronism (PA), which has recently been associated with an unfavorable cardiometabolic profile. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been clarified in detail. Characterizing aldosterone (Ald) target genes in adipocytes will help us to elucidate the deleterious effects associated with excess Ald. Apelin, a novel adipokine, exerts beneficial effects on obesity-associated disorders and cardiovascular homeostasis. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of high Ald levels on apelin expression and secretion and the underlying mechanisms involved in adipocytes. In vivo, a single-dose Ald injection acutely decreased apelin serum levels and adipose tissue apelin production, which demonstrates a clear inverse relationship between the levels of plasma Ald and plasma apelin. Experiments using 3T3-L1 adipocytes showed that Ald decreased apelin expression and secretion in a time- and dose-dependent manner. This effect was reversed by glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonists or GR (NR3C1) knockdown; furthermore, putative HREs were identified in the apelin promoter. Subsequently, we verified that both glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids regulated apelin expression through GR activation, although no synergistic effect was observed. Additionally, detailed potential mechanisms involved a p38 MAPK signaling pathway. In conclusion, our findings strengthen the fact that there is a direct interaction between Ald and apelin in adipocytes, which has important implications for hyperaldosteronism or PA-associated cardiometabolic syndrome and hoists apelin on the list of potent therapeutic targets for PA.


Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 2912-2912 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Hojjat-Farsangi ◽  
Ali Moshfegh ◽  
Amir Hossein Daneshmanesh ◽  
Jan Vågberg ◽  
Byström Styrbjörn ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ROR1 is detected during embryogenesis but downregulated in adult normal tissues. However, it is expressed in several solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Targeting ROR1 with specific siRNAs in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) induced apoptosis of the leukemic cells. Moreover, ROR1 specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) dephosphorylated ROR1 followed by apoptosis of the CLL cells. Furthermore, ROR1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ROR1-TKI) (small molecule inhibitors) have been shown to dephosphorylate ROR1, downregulate the activated PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and induce specific apoptosis of CLL cells. Aim: In the present report we analysed the effects of a ROR1-TKI drug candidate (KAN0439834) on other intracellular signaling pathways involved in cell survival, differentiation and migration in addition to the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in CLL cells. Methods: KAN0439834 ROR1-TKI was derived from a high-throughput screening (HTS) and a chemical synthesis program, including cellular assays for CLL specific cytotoxicity. The compound was also tested for ADME and in vivo pharmacokinetics characteristics. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were derived from patients with CLL and normal healthy donors. Intracellular signaling molecules were analysed by Western blot (WB) after 30 min incubation of the cells with the ROR1-TKI (50-1000 nM). Apoptosis/necrosis was determined by the MTT cytotoxicity assay and Annexin V/PI staining in flowcytometry after 24 h of incubation. Results: CLL cells expressed ROR1 as determined by WB and flowcytometry. ROR1 was shown to be phosphorylated using a polyclonal anti-phospho-ROR1 (pROR1) antibody (WB). After 30 min of incubation with 50-1000 nM of KAN0439834, ROR1 was dephosphorylated in a dose-dependent manner. KAN0439834 also dephosphorylated LRP6, GSK3β, JNK, MAPK/ERK/p42,44, PKC, Src, and c-Jun and decreased the β-catenin concentration as well as deactivated BCL-2 and Bax proteins. KAN0439834 had no effect on Bruton tyrosine kinase (Btk) phosphorylation involved in B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling. Incubation of CLL cells with KAN0439834 (50-1000 nM) showed a dose dependent induction of apoptosis/necrosis of leukemic cells with more than 80% specific killing of CLL cells after 24 h and an IC50 value of 250 nM. Conclusions: Our data show that KAN0439834 downregulated the activity of various signaling pathways in CLL cells suggested to be connected with ROR1 signaling, including the Wnt-canonical associated molecule as LRP6, GSK3β and β-catenin as well as several Wnt non-canonical associated proteins as Src, MAPK/ERK p42,44, JNK, and PKC and inactivation of c-Jun that was followed by apoptosis of the CLL cells in a dose dependent manner. Further studies are ongoing to study the effects of the ROR1 specific TKIs on ROR1 downstream signaling as well as in preclinical in vivo animal models using human fresh tumors and cell lines to evaluate the anti-tumor effects. Available data suggest a specific ROR1-mediated cytotoxic effect of KAN0439834 on CLL cells, which represents a first-in-class of a novel CLL drug candidate targeting ROR1. Disclosures Moshfegh: Kancera AB: Employment. Vågberg:Kancera AB: Employment. Styrbjörn:Kancera AB: Employment. Schultz:Kancera AB: Employment. Olsson:Kancera AB: Employment. Löfberg:Kancera AB: Employment. Norström:Kancera AB: Employment. Norin:Kancera AB: Employment. Olin:Kancera AB: Employment, Equity Ownership. Österborg:Janssen Cilag: Research Funding.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document