Hsa-miR-557 Inhibits Osteosarcoma Growth Through Targeting KRAS

Objective: Osteosarcoma is the most common malignancy in the skeletal system; studies showed an important role of miRNAs in tumorigenesis, indicating miRNAs as possible therapeutic molecules. This study found abnormal hsa-miR-557 expression levels in osteosarcoma and tried to explore the potential function and the mechanism.Methods: Differential expression genes of osteosarcoma were analyzed using GSE28423 from the GEO database. Survival analysis of miRNAs was conducted with data obtained from the TARGET-OS database. STRING and miRDIP were used to predict target genes of hsa-miR-557; KRAS was then verified using dual-luciferase reporter assay. Expression of genes was detected by qPCR, and levels of proteins were detected by Western blot. The proliferation ability of cells was detected by CCK-8 and cell cycle analysis. Tumor formation assay in nude mice was used to detect the influence of osteosarcoma by hsa-miR-557 in vivo.Results: Analysis from the GEO and TARGET databases found 12 miRNAs that are significantly related to the osteosarcoma prognosis, 7 downregulated (hsa-miR-140-3p, hsa-miR-564, hsa-miR-765, hsa-miR-1224-5p, hsa-miR-95, hsa-miR-940, and hsa-miR-557) and 5 upregulated (hsa-miR-362-3p, hsa-miR-149, hsa-miR-96, hsa-miR-744, and hsa-miR-769-5p). CCK-8 analysis and cell cycle analysis found that hsa-miR-557 could significantly inhibit the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells. The tumor formation assay in nude mice showed that tumor sizes and weights were inhibited by hsa-miR-557 transfection. Further studies also proved that hsa-miR-557 could target the 3′UTR of KRAS and modulate phosphorylation of downstream proteins.Conclusion: This study showed that hsa-miR-557 could inhibit osteosarcoma growth both in vivo and in vitro, by modulating KRAS expression.

Synthesis, Anticancer Evaluation, and Molecular Docking of Hexahydroquinoline Derivatives as Mcl-1 Inhibitors and Apoptosis Inducers

Background: Hexahydroquinoline as a small molecule was reported for good cytotoxicity and affinity towards Mcl-1. Hence, new compounds were explored as Mcl-1 inhibitors to be potent anticancer agents. Objective: Compounds were synthesized and screened for cytotoxicity. The active compound was evaluated for cell cycle analysis, Mcl-1 inhibition, caspase-3, and caspase-9 activation. Further compounds were docked with Mcl-1 to confirm the mechanism of cytotoxicity. Methods: Compounds were confirmed by spectral techniques and screened for cytotoxicity at National Cancer Institute (USA). The active derivatives were screened by SRB and MTT. In addition, the potent compound was studied for apoptosis and cell cycle analysis by PI staining, Mcl-1 inhibition by TR-FRET assay, and activation assay of caspase-3 and caspase-9 with the Elisa technique. Results: Compounds 6a and 6b exhibited the highest growth inhibition of 86.28% and 93.20% against SR and HOP-62, respectively. Compound 6a showed higher cytotoxicity (IC50 = 0.4 µM) against THP-1 and HL-60. It showed 15-fold higher apoptosis compared to control by arresting cells at the Sub-G1 in the cell cycle. It also showed a potent inhibition with IC50 of 1.5 µM against the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1, which may induce apoptosis. Furthermore, apoptosis was evidenced by an increase in cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9 to 4.20 and 3 folds, respectively higher than control. The docking score of compound 6a was in good agreement with the Mcl-1 inhibition assay. Conclusion: Compound 6a inhibited anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 and induced activation of pro-apoptotic proteins caspase-3 and caspase-9. These dual results suggested the mechanism of apoptosis and cytotoxicity.

A flow cytometric journey into cell cycle analysis

Cell cycle involves a series of changes that lead to cell growth and division. Cell cycle analysis is crucial to understand cellular responses to changing environmental conditions. Since its inception, flow cytometry has been particularly useful for cell cycle analysis at single cell level due to its speed and precision. Previously, flow cytometric cell cycle analysis relied solely on the measurement of cellular DNA content. Later, methods were developed for multiparametric analysis. This review explains the journey of flow cytometry to understand different molecular and cellular events underlying cell cycle using various protocols. Recent advances in the field that overcome the shortcomings of traditional flow cytometry and expand its scope for cell cycle studies are also discussed.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli loss controls cell cycle regulators and response to paclitaxel in MDA-MB-157 metaplastic breast cancer cells

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC) is lost in approximately 70% of sporadic breast cancers, with an inclination towards triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). TNBC is treated with traditional chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel (PTX); however, tumors often develop drug resistance. We previously created APC knockdown cells (APC shRNA1) using the human TNBC cells, MDA-MB-157, and showed that APC loss induces PTX resistance. To understand the mechanisms behind APC-mediated PTX response, we performed cell cycle analysis and analyzed cell cycle related proteins. Cell cycle analysis indicated increased G2/M population in both PTX-treated APC shRNA1 and parental cells, suggesting that APC expression does not alter PTX-induced G2/M arrest. We further studied the subcellular localization of the G2/M transition proteins, cyclin B1 and CDK1. The APC shRNA1 cells had increased CDK1, which was preferentially localized to the cytoplasm, and increased baseline CDK6. RNA-sequencing was performed to gain a global understanding of changes downstream of APC loss and identified a broad mis-regulation of cell cycle-related genes in APC shRNA1 cells. Our studies are the first to show an interaction between APC and taxane response in breast cancer. The implications include designing combination therapy to re-sensitize APC-mutant breast cancers to taxanes using the specific cell cycle alterations.

Half-lantern Cyclometalated Platinum(II) Complexes as Anticancer Agents: Molecular docking, Apoptosis, Cell Cycle Analysis and Cytotoxic Activity Evaluations

Background and Objective: In the design of modern metal-based anticancer drugs, platinum-based complexes have gained growing interest. In this study, the anticancer activity of half-lantern cyclometalated Pt(II)‒Pt(II) complexes were was evaluated using MTT, apoptosis, cell cycle analysis, and DNA binding studies. Materials and Methods: The cytotoxicity of Pt(II)‒Pt(II) complexes were evaluated against different cancer cell lines such as human lung (A549), breast (MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231), ovarian (SKOV-3), and colon (HT-29) as well as normal breast (MCF-10A), and human lung fibroblast MRC-5 cells using MTT assay. BioLegend's PE Annexin V Apoptosis Detection Kit with 7AAD was applied to assess the apoptotic effects of 1A, and 1B compound against MCF-7, and A549 cell lines. Cell cycle analysis was determined using the flowcytometry method. The interaction of compounds with four different DNA structures with PDB codes (1BNA, 1LU5, 3CO3, and 198D) has been investigated by molecular docking. To achieve binding to DNA experimentally, the electrophoresis mobility shift assay and comet assay was applied. Results: In the evaluation of cytotoxic effects, 1A showed the highest cytotoxicity among the studied compounds, and it showed higher potency with more selectivity against normal cell lines than cisplatin. This compound had IC50 of 7.24, 2.21, 1.18, 2.71, 10.65, 18.32 and 49.21 μM against A549, SKOV3, HT29, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, MRC-5, and MCF-10A, respectively, whereas cisplatin had IC50 of 9.75, 19.02, 107.23, 15.20, 18.09, 14.36, and 24.21 μm, respectively, on the same cell lines. In order to check the DNA binding activity of 1A, and 1B, electrophoretic mobility was also conducted, which indicated that the binding of these compounds led to a slight change in electrophoretic mobility to DNA. The migration of chromosomal DNA from the nucleus in the form of a tail or comet was executed in the comet assay of 1A on MCF-7. Examination of apoptosis of 1A, and 1B on the MCF-7 cancer cell line, showed that it could increase induction of apoptosis in this cancerous cell in a concentration-dependent manner. Investigating the effect of 1A using cell cycle analysis on MCF-7 cancer cell line showed that this complex affects the stage G1 and S of the cell cycle. Conclusion: 1A has the potential to play a significant role in future biopharmaceutical studies.

Cattleianal and Cattleianone: Two New Meroterpenoids from Psidium cattleianum Leaves and Their Selective Antiproliferative Action against Human Carcinoma Cells

The Myrteacae family is known as a rich source of phloroglucinols, a group of secondary metabolites with notable biological activities. Leaves of Psidium cattleianum were extracted with chloroform: methanol 8:2 to target the isolation of phloroglucinol derivatives. Isolated compounds were characterized using different spectroscopic methods: nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ultra-violet (UV) and mass spectrometry (MS). Two new phloroglucinols were evaluated for cytotoxicity against a panel of six human cancer cell lines, namely colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29 and HCT-116); hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG-2); laryngeal carcinoma (Hep-2); breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF7 and MDA-MB231), in addition to normal human melanocytes HFB-4. Additionally, cell cycle analysis and annexin-V/FITC-staining were used to gain insights into the mechanism of action of the isolated compounds. The new phloroglucinol meroterpenoids, designated cattleianal and cattleianone, showed selective antiproliferative action against HT-29 cells with IC50’s of 35.2 and 32.1 μM, respectively. Results obtained using cell cycle analysis and annexin-V/FITC-staining implicated both necrosis and apoptosis pathways in the selective cytotoxicity of cattleianal and cattleianone. Our findings suggest that both compounds are selective antiproliferative agents and support further mechanistic studies for phloroglucinol meroterpenoids as scaffolds for developing new selective chemotherapeutic agents.

Exploring cytotoxic and antioxidant properties of Heliotropium calcareum in polar and non-polar extracts

Background: Plants are a vital source of natural drugs as the traditional use of plants as therapeutic agents for a variety of ailments has been traced back to thousands of years. The utilization of Heliotropium calcareum has been evident since ancient times for treating various disease states like inflammation associated with gout and rheumatism, poisonous bites, and other skin disorders. The current research work was carried out to determine the phytochemistry and biological activities of the crude methanolic extract obtained through maceration from the aerial parts of Heliotropium calcareum. Methods: The plant was collected from district Bhakkar, Punjab, Pakistan. Maximum phenolic (74.5 µg GAE/mg) and flavonoid content (58.99 µg QE/mg) were observed in ethyl acetate fraction. Significant antioxidant potential was observed in ethyl acetate fraction with the highest free radical hunting activity of 92.6 ± 6.7 µM. Results: Cytotoxicity assay using MTT dye was performed where non-polar (n-hexane) and polar (ethyl acetate) fractions displayed excellent cytotoxicity against HeLa cells (IC50 = 79.95 ± 3.718 & 164 ± 4 µg/mL respectively). Furthermore, the above fractions showed momentous results in cell cycle analysis and promising proapoptotic effect against cervical (HeLa) cancer cell lines. An n-hexane and ethyl acetate fraction were selected for cell cycle analysis to determine the quantitative measurement of the degree of apoptosis. According to the results given below in the figure, the cervical (HeLa) cancer cells were treated with n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions at various concentrations. An increase in the cell population at G0/G1 phase and a decrease in the S-phase population concerning untreated cells suggested the G0/G1 phase arrest in n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions treated HeLa cells. Conclusion: Overall, , n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions were found to be the most promising and active elements of H. calcareum and may be utilized to explore their cytotoxic effects further in the animal model.

Exploring NCX4040, an Aspirin Derivative, as a Potential Treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Benign Prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a leading cause of lower urinary tract symptoms which affects men above 50 years of age. Chronic inflammation and abnormal proliferation of stromal and epithelial cells are implicated in BPH disease onset. The symptoms of BPH include back pain and difficulty in emptying bladder. Finasteride, sildenafil and tamsulosin are some of the drugs used to ease difficulty urinating and relax the muscles of the gland. Transurethral resection of the prostate or laser surgery can be performed to treat severe symptoms. However, these therapies have deleterious effects such as low blood pressure, ejaculatory dysfunction, and lump formation. Hence, there is an unmet need for potential drugs against BPH. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have proven to be effective in cancers but their applicability in BPH condition is yet to be fully explored. Aspirin, one of the NDSAIDs, has anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties at higher doses. NCX4040, a nitric oxide releasing derivative of aspirin, could prove to be effective against BPH, since it can inhibit abnormal cell proliferation and serve as a vasodilator. We hypothesize that NCX4040 would be an effective drug to treat BPH. BPH-1 epithelial and WPMY-1 stromal cells were used as in vitro models of BPH. MTT assay was performed to check the inhibitory effect of NCX4040 and blocking agents like catalase and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) were explored on cells after treatment. Clonogenic assay was done to explore the colony formation ability of cells. Spheroid assay was performed to analyze the anti-proliferative effect of NCX4040. Annexin V/PI and cell cycle analysis was performed to check for apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the cells. Western blot was done to assess the signaling molecules altered by NCX4040 in BPH-1 cells. Confocal immunofluorescence was employed to analyze the dynamics of actin filaments after treatment in cells. Our studies revealed that NCX4040 inhibited the cell viability of BPH-1 and WPMY-1 in a dose dependent manner with IC50 predicted at 5µM and 2.5µM respectively. Of note, catalase and NAC blocked the effect of NCX4040 on prostate cells. Colony formation assay result implied a gradual decrease in the number of colonies of cells treated with NCX4040 with 2.5µM and 5µM doses. Spheroid assay in BPH-1 cells showed inhibitory effects after treatment. Cell cycle analysis by flowcytometry inferred that cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and annexin V analysis indicated that activation of apoptosis in cells following treatment. Phalloidin staining showed decrease in the actin filament intensity in cells. At the molecular level, NCX4040 downregulated the expression of key markers such as RhoA, p65, COX-2, PCNA, Cyclin D3, and PDE-5 in BPH-1 cells. Taken together, NCX4040 could be used as a potential agent to manage BPH with minimal side effects, which needs further evaluation in animal models.