The Antitumor Effects of Britanin on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells and its Real-Time Evaluation by In Vivo Bioluminescence Imaging

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 1147-1156
Author(s):  
Hanrui Li ◽  
GeTao Du ◽  
Lu Yang ◽  
Liaojun Pang ◽  
Yonghua Zhan

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is cancer with many new cases and the highest mortality rate. Chemotherapy is the most commonly used method for the clinical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Natural products have become clinically important chemotherapeutic drugs due to their great potential for pharmacological development. Many sesquiterpene lactone compounds have been proven to have antitumor effects on hepatocellular carcinoma. Objective: Britanin is a sesquiterpene lactone compound that can be considered for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. The present study aimed to investigate the antitumor effect of britanin. Methods: BEL 7402 and HepG2 cells were used to study the cytotoxicity and antitumor effects of britanin. Preliminary studies on the nuclear factor kappa B pathway were conducted by western blot analysis. A BEL 7402-luc subcutaneous tumor model was established for the in vivo antitumor studies of britanin. In vivo bioluminescence imaging was conducted to monitor changes in tumor size. Results: The results of the cytotoxicity analysis showed that the IC50 values for britanin in BEL 7402 and HepG2 cells were 2.702μM and 6.006μM, respectively. The results of the colony formation demonstrated that the number of cells in a colony was reduced significantly after britanin treatment. And the results of transwell migration assays showed that the migration ability of tumor cells was significantly weakened after treatment with britanin. Tumor size measurements and staining results showed that tumor size was inhibited after britanin treatment. The western blot analysis results showed the inhibition of p65 protein expression and reduced the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax after treatment. Conclusion: A series of in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that britanin had good antitumor effects and provided an option for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gang Xu ◽  
Shanshan Bu ◽  
Xiushen Wang ◽  
Hong Ge

Abstract Background: Radiotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Cyclin G1 was a novel member of the cyclin family, and it is abnormally expressed in HCC. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of cyclin G1 in the radiotherapy of HCC cells. Methods: The expression of cyclin G1 was silenced by transfection of cyclin G1-siRNA into HepG2 cells, and the expression of cyclin G1 mRNA and protein was measured by qRT-PCR and western blot analysis. The proliferation was analysed by MTT assay, and the radiosensitivity of HCC cells was detected by using a colony formation assay and a xenograft tumour model. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2 and Bax) was detected by western blot analysis. Results: The expression of cyclin G1 mRNA and protein in HepG2-cyclin G1-siRNA cells is significantly decreased compared with that in HepG2 cells. Silencing the expression of cyclin G1 inhibits the proliferation of HCC cells and enhances the radiosensitivity of HepG2 cells in vitro and in vivo. HepG2-cyclin G1-siRNA significantly decreases Bcl-2 expression and increases Bax expression in cells.Conclusion: Silencing the expression of cyclin G1 enhances the radiosensitivity of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo, and the mechanism is probably related to the regulation of apoptosis-related proteins.


2010 ◽  
Vol 113 (Special_Supplement) ◽  
pp. 228-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiang Jia ◽  
Yanhe Li ◽  
Desheng Xu ◽  
Zhenjiang Li ◽  
Zhiyuan Zhang ◽  
...  

Object The authors sought to evaluate modification of the radiation response of C6 glioma cells in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting the expression of Ku70. To do so they investigated the effect of gene transfer involving a recombinant replication-defective adenovirus containing Ku70 short hairpin RNA (Ad-Ku70shRNA) combined with Gamma Knife treatment (GKT). Methods First, Ad-Ku70shRNA was transfected into C6 glioma cells and the expression of Ku70 was measured using Western blot analysis. In vitro, phenotypical changes in C6 cells, including proliferation, cell cycle modification, invasion ability, and apoptosis were evaluated using the MTT (3′(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, Western blot analysis, and cell flow cytometry. In vivo, parental C6 cells transfected with Ad-Ku70shRNA were implanted stereotactically into the right caudate nucleus in Sprague-Dawley rats. After GKS, apoptosis was analyzed using the TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling) method. The inhibitory effects on growth and invasion that were induced by expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and matrix metalloproteinase–9 were determined using immunohistochemical analyses. Results The expression of Ku70 was clearly inhibited in C6 cells after transfection with Ad-Ku70shRNA. In vitro following transfection, the C6 cells showed improved responses to GKT, including suppression of proliferation and invasion as well as an increased apoptosis index. In vivo following transfection of Ad-Ku70shRNA, the therapeutic efficacy of GKT in rats with C6 gliomas was greatly enhanced and survival times in these animals were prolonged. Conclusions Our data support the potential for downregulation of Ku70 expression in enhancing the radiosensitivity of gliomas. The findings of our study indicate that targeted gene therapy–mediated inactivation of Ku70 may represent a promising strategy in improving the radioresponsiveness of gliomas to GKT.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (16) ◽  
pp. 8847
Author(s):  
Fangfang Tie ◽  
Jin Ding ◽  
Na Hu ◽  
Qi Dong ◽  
Zhi Chen ◽  
...  

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases which lacks ideal treatment options. Kaempferol and kaempferide, two natural flavonol compounds isolated from Hippophae rhamnoides L., were reported to exhibit a strong regulatory effect on lipid metabolism, for which the mechanism is largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the effects of kaempferol and kaempferide on oleic acid (OA)-treated HepG2 cells, a widely used in vitro model of NAFLD. The results indicated an increased accumulation of lipid droplets and triacylglycerol (TG) by OA, which was attenuated by kaempferol and kaempferide (5, 10 and 20 μM). Western blot analysis demonstrated that kaempferol and kaempferide reduced expression of lipogenesis-related proteins, including sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD-1). Expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT enhancer binding proteins β (C/EBPβ), two adipogenic transcription factors, was also decreased by kaempferol and kaempferide treatment. In addition, western blot analysis also demonstrated that kaempferol and kaempferide reduced expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and nuclear transcription factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Molecular docking was performed to identify the direct molecular targets of kaempferol and kaempferide, and their binding to SCD-1, a critical regulator in lipid metabolism, was revealed. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that kaempferol and kaempferide could attenuate OA-induced lipid accumulation and oxidative stress in HepG2 cells, which might benefit the treatment of NAFLD.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Yan ◽  
Xin Chen ◽  
Hua Zhan ◽  
Penglei Yao ◽  
Ning Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundThe tumor microenvironment plays an important role in tumor progression. Hyaluronic acid (HA), an important component of the extracellular matrix in the tumor microenvironment, abnormally accumulates in a variety of tumors. Whereas the role of abnormal HA metabolism in glioma remains unclear. MethodsThe expression level of hyaluronic acid (HA) was analyzed by ELISA assay and proteins such as HAS3, CD44, P62, LC3, CCND1 and CCNB1 were measured with Western blot analysis. The cell viability and proliferation were measured by MTT and KI67 immunofluorescence staining respectively. Autophagic vesicles and autophagosomes were quantified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and GFP-RFP-LC3 fluorescence analysis respectively. Cell cycle was analyzed by flowcytometry and Western blot analysis. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was used to detect expression levels of HA, Ki67, HAS3 and CD44 in human and mouse tumor tissues. Lentivirus constructed HAS3 and CD44 knockout stable glioma cells were transplanted to BALB/C nude mice for in vivo experiments. 4-Methylumbelliferone (4MU) was also used to treat glioma bearing mice for verifing its anti-tumor ability. The expression curve of HAS3, CD44 and the disease-free survival (DFS) curves for HAS3, CD44 in patients with LGG and GBM was performed based on TCGA database. ResultsAs shown in the present study, HA, hyaluronic acid synthase 3 (HAS3) and a receptor of HA named CD44 are expressed at high levels in human glioma tissues and negatively correlated with the prognosis of patients with glioma. Silencing HAS3 or blocking CD44 inhibited the proliferation of glioma cells in vitro and in vivo. The underlying mechanism was attributed to the inhibition of autophagy flux and further maintaining glioma cell cycle arrest in G1 phase. More importantly, 4-Methylumbelliferone (4-MU), a small competitive inhibitor of UDP with the ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), also inhibited the proliferation of glioma cells in vitro and in vivo. ConclusionApproaches that interfere with HA metabolism by altering the expression of HAS3 and CD44 and the administration of 4-MU potentially represent effective strategies for glioma treatment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Zhan ◽  
Liang-liang Shi ◽  
Yan Wang ◽  
Bai Wei ◽  
Sheng-li Yang

Aims.The aim of this study was to examine the effects of Xiaoaiping on the stemness of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cellsin vivoand to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism.Methods.A subcutaneous xenograft nude mouse model was established using Hep3B-derived HCC cells. The mice were randomly assigned to the 100 mg/kg Xiaoaiping or 100μL/20 g normal saline (control) groups (n =3/sex/group) for daily intragastric administration for 14 days. The tumor size was closely monitored during the dosing phase. After the treatment period, the tumor tissues were weighed and harvested for mRNA and protein isolation. qPCR and Western blotting were used to evaluate the expression of cancer stemness markers (epithelial cell adhesion molecule [EpCAM], cluster of differentiation [CD13], CD90, aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 [ALDH1], CD44, and CD45), totipotency factors (sex determining region Y-box 2 [Sox2], Nanog, and octamer-binding transcription factor 4 [Oct4]), and genes involved in the Notch, Wnt/β-catenin, Hedgehog, and Hippo signaling pathways.Key Findings.The tumor size and weight were significantly reduced in the nude mice treated with 100 mg/kg Xiaoaiping when compared with the controls. The Xiaoaiping effects on the stemness markers and totipotency factors included decreased expression of EpCAM, CD24, CD47, Sox2, Oct4, and sal-like protein 4 (SALL4), as well as increased expression of CD13 and ALDH1. In addition, Xiaoaiping inhibited the Hippo, Wnt, and Hedgehog signaling pathways.Conclusion.Xiaoaiping significantly inhibited the growth of HCC xenograft in nude mice. These antitumor effects may be mediated by modulating the expression of multiple stemness markers and totipotency factors and inhibition of the Hippo, Wnt, and Hedgehog signaling pathways.


Author(s):  
Storm N. S. Reid ◽  
Joung-Hyun Park ◽  
Yunsook Kim ◽  
Yi Sub Kwak ◽  
Byeong Hwan Jeon

Exogenous lactate administration has more recently been investigated for its various prophylactic effects. Lactate derived from potential functional foods, such as fermented oyster extract (FO), may emerge as a practical and effective method of consuming exogenous lactate. The current study endeavored to ascertain whether the lactate derived from FO may act on muscle cell biology, and to what extent this may translate into physical fitness improvements. We examined the effects of FO in vitro and in vivo, on mouse C2C12 cells and exercise performance indicators in mice, respectively. In vitro, biochemical analysis was carried out to determine the effects of FO on lactate content and muscle cell energy metabolism, including adenosine triphosphate (ATP) activity. Western blot analysis was also utilized to measure the protein expression of total adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), p-AMPK (Thr172), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDHA) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) in response to FO administration. Three experimental groups were formed: a positive control (PC) treated with 1% horse serum, FO10 treated with 10 μg/mL and FO50 treated with 50 μg/mL. In vivo, the effects of FO supplementation on exercise endurance were measured using the Rota-rod test, and Western blot analysis measured myosin heavy-chain 2 (MYH2) to assess skeletal muscle growth, alongside p-AMPK, total-AMPK, PGC-1α, cytochrome C and UCP3 protein expression. Biochemical analysis was also performed on muscle tissue to measure the changes in concentration of liver lactate, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glycogen and citrate. Five groups (n = 10/per group) consisted of a control group (CON), exercise group (Ex), positive control treated with Ex and 500 mg/kg Taurine (Ex-Tau), Ex and 100 mg/kg FO supplementation (Ex-FO100) and Ex and 200 mg/kg FO supplementation (Ex-FO200) orally administered over the 4-week experimental period.FO50 significantly increased PGC-1α expression (p < 0.001), whereas both FO10 and FO50 increased the expression of p-AMPK (p < 0.001), in C2C12 muscle cells, showing increased signaling important for mitochondrial metabolism and biogenesis. Muscle lactate levels were also significantly increased following FO10 (p < 0.05) and FO50 (p < 0.001). In vivo, muscle protein expression of p-AMPK (p < 0.05) and PGC-1α were increased, corroborating our in vitro results. Cytochrome C also significantly increased following FO200 intake. These results suggest that the effects of FO supplementation may manifest in a dose-response manner. FO administration, in vitro, and supplementation, in vivo, both demonstrate a potential for improvements in mitochondrial metabolism and biogenesis, and even for potentiating the adaptive effects of endurance exercise. Mechanistically, lactate may be an important molecule in explaining the aforementioned positive effects of FO.


2009 ◽  
Vol 296 (3) ◽  
pp. G499-G509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mallikarjuna R. Metukuri ◽  
Donna Beer-Stolz ◽  
Rajaie A. Namas ◽  
Rajeev Dhupar ◽  
Andres Torres ◽  
...  

We have previously demonstrated that the Bcl-2/adenovirus EIB 19-kDa interacting protein 3 (BNIP3), a cell death-related member of the Bcl-2 family, is upregulated in vitro and in vivo in both experimental and clinical settings of redox stress and that nitric oxide (NO) downregulates its expression. In this study we sought to examine the expression and localization of BNIP3 in murine hepatocytes and in a murine model of hemorrhagic shock (HS) and ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Freshly isolated mouse hepatocytes were exposed to 1% hypoxia for 6 h followed by reoxygenation for 18 h, and protein was isolated for Western blot analysis. Hepatocytes grown on coverslips were fixed for localization studies. Similarly, livers from surgically cannulated C57Bl/6 mice and from mice cannulated and subjected to 1–4 h of HS were processed for protein isolation and Western blot analysis. In hepatocytes, BNIP3 was expressed constitutively but was upregulated under hypoxic conditions, and this upregulation was countered by treatment with a NO donor. Surprisingly, BNIP3 was localized in the nucleus of normoxic hepatocytes, in the cytoplasm following hypoxia, and again in the nucleus following reoxygenation. Upregulation of BNIP3 partially required p38 MAPK activation. BNIP3 contributed to hypoxic injury in hepatocytes, since this injury was diminished by knockdown of BNIP3 mRNA. Hepatic BNIP3 was also upregulated in two different models of liver stress in vivo, suggesting that a multitude of inflammatory stresses can lead to the modulation of BNIP3. In turn, the upregulation of BNIP3 appears to be one mechanism of hepatocyte cell death and liver damage in these settings.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 126-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weirui Zhang ◽  
David Motto ◽  
David Ginsburg

Abstract Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a life threatening illness due to a deficiency of the VWF-cleaving protease, ADAMTS13. The ADAMTS13 protein is composed of a propeptide, followed by a typical zinc metalloprotease domain. The C-terminal 2/3 of the molecule contains disintegrin-like, cystine-rich, and spacer domains, as well as a total of eight TSP1 motifs and two CUB domains. The function of this C-terminal portion of the molecule and its composite motifs is unknown, though TSP1 and CUB domains of other proteins have been shown to mediate protein-protein interactions. To further explore the interaction between ADAMTS13 and VWF, we cloned full length human cDNAs for both ADAMTS13 and VWF into the mammalian expression vector pcDNA3.1. These constructs were transiently transfected into 293T cells and COS cells respectively, and conditioned media collected for analysis. Using an anti-myc antibody, myc-tagged VWF co-immunoprecipitated (co-IP) with ADAMTS13, as demonstrated by western blot analysis using antisera raised against a C-terminal peptide derived from the predicted ADAMTS13 sequence. This direct interaction required partial denaturation of VWF in 1M urea, with no co-IP observed in the absence of urea. To map the segment within ADAMTS13 responsible for VWF binding, we cloned a series of overlapping ADAMTS13 fragments into the bacterial expression vector, Pet44b. Fusion proteins were purified by binding of the included His-tag to Ni-NTA beads and incubated with recombinant myc-VWF in the presence of 1M urea. Association with VWF was analyzed by co-IP with anti-myc followed by western blot analysis using an antibody to the C-terminal HSV-tag present in each fusion protein. The CUB2 (Glu1298- Thr1427) fusion protein co-IP’d with full-length VWF and also demonstrated concentration-dependent competition with full-length ADAMTS13 for VWF binding. In summary, we have demonstrated a direct protein-protein interaction between VWF and ADAMTS13. Binding requires partial denaturation of VWF and appears to be mediated primarily through contacts with the ADAMTS13 CUB2 domain. This interaction may account for the previously observed co-purification of VWF and ADAMTS13 from human plasma. Furthermore, the requirement for 1M urea suggests that this interaction may only occur physiologically under conditions of high shear. Though others have shown that the C-terminal domains of ADAMTS13, including CUB2, are not required for VWF cleavage in vitro, our data, together with several C-terminal mutations previously reported in TTP patients, suggest that interactions between VWF and the ADAMTS13 CUB2 domain may be important in vivo.


2004 ◽  
Vol 381 (1) ◽  
pp. 257-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongbing LI ◽  
Juan SÁNCHEZ-TORRES ◽  
Alan del CARPIO ◽  
Valentina SALAS ◽  
Antonio VILLALOBO

We have demonstrated previously that the EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) is a calmodulin (CaM)-binding protein. To establish whether or not the related receptor ErbB2/Neu/HER2 also binds CaM, we used human breast adenocarcinoma SK-BR-3 cells, because these cells overexpress this receptor thus facilitating the detection of this interaction. In the present paper, we show that ErbB2 could be pulled-down using CaM–agarose beads in a Ca2+-dependent manner, as detected by Western blot analysis using an anti-ErbB2 antibody. ErbB2 was also isolated by Ca2+-dependent CaM-affinity chromatography. We also demonstrate using an overlay technique with biotinylated CaM that CaM binds directly to the immunoprecipitated ErbB2. The binding of biotinylated CaM to ErbB2 depends strictly on the presence of Ca2+, since it was prevented by the presence of EGTA. Moreover, the addition of an excess of free CaM prevents the binding of its biotinylated form, demonstrating that this was a specific process. We excluded any interference with the EGFR, as SK-BR-3 cells express considerably lower levels of this receptor, and no detectable EGFR signal was observed by Western blot analysis in the immunoprecipitated ErbB2 preparations used to perform the overlay assays with biotinylated CaM. We also demonstrate that treating living cells with W7 [N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulphonamide], a cell-permeant CaM antagonist, down-regulates ErbB2 phosphorylation, and show that W7 does not interfere non-specifically with the activity of ErbB tyrosine kinases. We also show that W7 inhibits the phosphorylation (activation) of both ERK1/2 (extracellular-signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2) and Akt/PKB (protein kinase B), in accordance with the inhibition observed in ErbB2 phosphorylation. In contrast, W7 treatment increased the phosphorylation (activation) of CREB (cAMP-response-element-binding protein) and ATF1 (activating transcription factor-1), two Ca2+-sensitive transcription factors that operate downstream of these ErbB2 signalling pathways, most likely because of the absence of calcineurin activity. We conclude that ErbB2 is a new CaM-binding protein, and that CaM plays a role in the regulation of this receptor and its downstream signalling pathways in vivo.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 190-190
Author(s):  
James M. Lindberg ◽  
Sara J Adair ◽  
Timothy E. Newhook ◽  
Alison Kim ◽  
J Thomas Parsons ◽  
...  

190 Background: Aberrant MAPK and EGFR family signaling are key drivers of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC). We hypothesized that combination trametinib(MEK1/2 inhibitor), panitumumab(EGFR inhibitor) and trastuzumab(Her2 inhibitor) would more effectively suppress tumor growth than any of these monotherapies. Methods: Patient-derived PDAC cell line MAD09-366 was exposed to trametinib, panitumumab, trastuzumab, and combination therapies in vitro. Western blot analysis was performed on treated cell lysates. Athymic, nude mice were orthotopically implanted with patient-derived PDAC xenografts(MAD09-366, 08-608, and 08-738). Established murine tumors were treated with control, trametinib (0.3mg/kg, qDay), panitumumab (500ug, BIW), trastuzumab (200ug, BIW) or in combination. MRI was used to assess tumor response. Results: Two of 3 PDACs were Kras mutant, 2 of 3 demonstrated increased Her2 activity, and all 3 showed increased EGFR activity. In vitro studies showed increased growth inhibition of triple-therapy-treated cells relative to control or each inhibitor alone. Western blot analysis revealed that EGF stimulation increased Ras pathway signaling in this Kras-mutant cell line. With EGF stimulation, the greatest Ras pathway signaling inhibition was seen in triple-therapy-treated cells. In vivo studies in all PDAC xenografts revealed that triple therapy significantly decreased tumor growth rate relative to control, trametinib alone, panitumumab alone, or panitumumab plus trastuzumab. In 2 of 3 PDACs assessed, triple therapy was superior to trametinib plus panitumumab. Average tumor size in MAD08-738 triple-therapy-treated mice decreased by 9.3%. Conclusions: Triple therapy with trametinib, panitumumab, and trastuzumab demonstrated the greatest in vitro Ras signaling blockade. In vivo, this combination produced significant tumor growth inhibition or regression in all PDAC tumors studied. This regimen should be considered for a future clinical trial in pancreatic cancer patients.


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