��-Tocopheryl succinate potentiates the paclitaxel-induced apoptosis through enforced caspase 8 activation in human H460 lung cancer cells

Paclitaxel is one of the chemotheraputic drugs widely used for the treatment of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Here, we tested the ability of α-tocopheryl succinate (TOS), another promising anticancer agent, to enhance the paclitaxel response in NSCLC cells. We found that sub-apoptotic doses of TOS greatly enhanced paclitaxel-induced growth suppression and apoptosis in the human H460 NSCLC cell lines. Our data revealed that this was accounted for primarily by an augmented cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and enhanced activation of caspase-8. Pretreatment with z-VAD-FMK (a pan-caspase inhibitor) or z-IETD-FMK (a caspase-8 inhibitor) blocked TOS/paclitaxel cotreatment-induced PARP cleavage and apoptosis, suggesting that TOS potentiates the paclitaxel-induced apoptosis through enforced caspase 8 activation in H460 cells. Furthermore, the growth suppression effect of TOS/paclitaxel combination on human H460, A549 and H358 NSCLC cell lines were synergistic. Our observations indicate that combination of paclitaxel and TOS may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for improving paclitaxel drug efficacy in NSCLC patient therapy as well as for potentially lowering the toxic side effects of paclitaxel through reduced drug dosage.     

金蒲抑瘤片在鼻咽癌的临床应用研究

为探讨鼻咽癌患者放疗期间合并应用金蒲抑瘤片治疗对细胞免疫功能及血中微量元素硒、锌、铜的影响，经病理证实鼻咽癌患者58例，随机分为放疗服药组30例和单纯放疗组28例。两组放疗前后抽静脉血测定T细胞亚群（CD3＋，CD4＋，CD8＋，CD4＋／CD8＋），血中微量元素硒，锌，铜并与30例健康者（正常对照组）进行比较。结果表明，鼻咽癌患者血中微量元素硒，锌，铜及CD3＋，CD4＋，CD4＋／CD8＋显著低于健康人，放疗期间合并应用金蒲抑瘤片治疗后血中微量元素硒，锌，铜及CD3＋，CD4＋，CD4＋／CD8＋较服药前显著升高。提示鼻咽癌患者细胞免疫功能低下，血中微量元素硒，锌，铜显著低于健康人。金蒲抑瘤片能提高鼻咽癌患者因中微量元素硒，锌，铜含量，使低下的细胞免疫功能迅速恢复。     

A methoxylated quercetin glycoside harnesses HCC tumor progression in a TP53/miR-15/miR-16 dependent manner

Abstract

This study focused on studying the impact of flavonoids isolated from Cleome droserifolia on HCC cell lines and to further unveil their possible impact on TP53 and its downstream tumor suppressor miRNAs. Three flavonol glycosides were isolated from C. droserifolia namely, Isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D-glucoside (1), Quercetin-3`-methoxy-3-O-(4``-acetylrhamnoside)-7-O-α-rhamnoside (2), and Kaempferol-4`-methoxy-3,7-O-dirhamnoside (3). They showed a concentration and time dependent reduction in cellular viability and anchorage-independent growth of HCC cells. Moreover, they exhibited a decrease in the migrating capacity of HepG2 cells in a pattern similar to positive control cells. (2) Showed the most potent effects in halting HCC tumorigenic activity (IC₅₀=36?±?1.70?µM) and a repression of the cellular proliferation rate of HepG2 cells. Restoration of TP53 and its downstream tumor suppressor miRNAs; miR-15a, miR-16, miR-34a by (2) was observed. Moreover, attenuation of (2) mediated actions was shown upon using anti-miR-15a and anti-miR-16. To conclude, this study crystallizes a novel role of C. droserifolia in harnessing HCC progression in-vitro with a possible contribution of TP53/miR-15a/miR-16.     

The ethnobotanical,phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of Psidium guajava L.

Psidium guajava L., commonly known as guava is an important tropical food plant with diverse medicinal values. In traditional medicine, it is used in the treatment of various diseases such as diarrhoea, diabetes, rheumatism, ulcers, malaria, cough, and bacterial infections. The aim of this review is to provide up-to-date information on the ethnomedicinal uses, bioactive compounds, and pharmacological activities of P. guajava with greater emphasis on its therapeutic potentials. The bioactive constituents extracted from P. guajava include phytochemicals (gallic acid, casuariin, catechin, chlorogenic acid, rutin, vanillic acid, quercetin, syringic acid, kaempferol, apigenin, cinnamic acid, luteolin, quercetin-3-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside, morin, ellagic acid, guaijaverin, pedunculoside, asiastic acid, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, methyl gallate and epicatechin) and essential oils (limonene, trans-caryophyllene, α-humulene, γ-muurolene, selinene, caryophyllene oxide, bisabolol, isocaryophyllene, δ-cadinene, α-copaene, α-cedrene, β-eudesmol, α-pinene, β-pinene, β-myrcene, linalool, α-terpineol and eucalyptol). In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that P. guajava possesses pharmacological activities such as antidiabetic, antidiarrhoeal, hepatoprotective, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiestrogenic, and antibacterial activities which support its traditional uses. The exhibited pharmacological activities reported may be attributed to the numerous bioactive compounds present in different parts of P. guajava. Based on the beneficial effects of P. guajava as well as its bioactive constituents, it can be exploited in the development of pharmaceutical products and functional foods. However, there is a need for comprehensive studies in clinical trials to establish the safe doses and efficacy of P. guajava for the treatment of several diseases.     

Attenuation of Tumor Development in Mammary Carcinoma Rats by Theacrine,an Antagonist of Adenosine 2A Receptor

Caffeine has been reported to induce anti-tumor immunity for attenuating breast cancer by blocking the adenosine 2A receptor. Molecular modeling showed that theacrine, a purine alkaloid structurally similar to caffeine, might be an antagonist of the adenosine 2A receptor equivalent to or more effective than caffeine. Theacrine was further demonstrated to be an effective antagonist of the adenosine 2A receptor as its concurrent supplementation significantly reduced the elevation of AMPK phosphorylation level in MCF-7 human breast cells induced by {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"CGS21680","term_id":"878113053","term_text":"CGS21680"}}CGS21680, an agonist of adenosine 2A receptors. In an animal model, the development of mammary carcinoma induced by 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene in Sprague–Dawley rats could be attenuated by daily supplement of theacrine of 50 or 100 mg/kg body weight. Both expression levels of cleaved-caspase-3/pro-caspase-3 and granzyme B in tumor tissues were significantly elevated when theacrine was supplemented, indicating the induction of programmed cell death in tumor cells might be involved in the attenuation of mammary carcinoma. Similar to the caffeine, significant elevation of interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α was observed in the serum and tumor tissues of rats after the theacrine supplement of 50 mg/kg body weight. Taken together, theacrine is an effective antagonist of adenosine 2A receptors and possesses great potential to be used to attenuate breast cancer.     

Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH): a biomedical review

In this review we present a broad survey of fundamental scientific and medically applied studies on keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Commencing with the biochemistry of KLH, information on the biosynthesis and biological role of this copper-containing respiratory protein in the marine gastropod Megathura crenulata is provided. The established methods for the purification of the two isoforms of KLH (KLH1 and KLH2) are then covered, followed by detailed accounts of the molecular mass determination, functional unit (FU) structure, carbohydrate content, immunological analysis and recent aspects of the molecular genetics of KLH. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) has contributed significantly to the understanding of KLH structure, primarily from negatively stained images. We give a brief account of TEM studies on the native KLH oligomers, the experimental manipulation of the oligomeric states, together with immunolabelling data and studies on subunit reassociation. The field of cellular immunology has provided much relevant biomedical information on KLH and has led to the expansion of use of KLH in experimental immunology and clinically as an immunotherapeutic agent; this area is presented in some detail. The major clinical use of KLH is specifically for the treatment of bladder carcinoma, with efficacy probably due to a cross-reacting carbohydrate epitope. KLH also has considerable possibilities for the treatment of other carcinomas, in particular the epithelially derived adenocarciomas, when used as a carrier for carcinoma ganglioside and mucin-like epitopes. The widespread use of KLH as a hapten carrier and generalised vaccine component represent other major on-going aspects of KLH research, together with its use for the diagnosis of Schistosomiasis, drug assay and the treatment of drug addiction. Immune competence testing, assessment of stress and the understanding of inflammatory conditions are other areas where KLH is also making a useful contribution to medical research.     

苯乙酸对肝癌细胞系SMMC-7721的增殖抑制作用及与RNA编辑酶ADAR1表达的相关性

为探讨苯乙酸(PA)对肝癌细胞系SMMC-7721的增殖抑制作用及其与RNA编辑酶ADAR1表达的相关性, 应用细胞计数及MTT法检测了不同浓度(0.5, 1.0, 2.0和4.0 mmol/L)PA对肝癌细胞系SMMC-7721的增殖抑制作用, 通过流式细胞术(FCM)分析了各细胞周期的细胞百分比, 应用半定量逆转录-聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)及免疫印迹杂交分析使用不同浓度(0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mmol/L)PA作用后肝癌细胞系SMMC-7721中RNA编辑酶ADAR1 mRNA及蛋白表达的变化. 结果表明, 肝癌细胞系SMMC-7721经不同浓度PA作用后, 增殖抑制率随作用时间延长及PA浓度增加而明显提高(P<0.05), 但2.0和4.0 mmol/L PA作用72 h后组间差异比较无统计学意义(P>0.05). 肝癌细胞系SMMC-7721中RNA编辑酶ADAR1 mRNA及蛋白表达随PA浓度增加而明显降低(P<0.05). 通过沉默SMMC-7721细胞中ADAR1的表达发现, ADAR1表达下调可有效抑制肝癌细胞增殖. 结果表明, PA可阻抑肝癌细胞系SMMC-7721细胞增殖, 且存在时间及剂量的依赖性, 作用机制与PA下调ADAR1表达相关.     

Raman spectroscopic analysis of apoptosis of single human gastric cancer cells

A drug (5-FU) was employed to treat the gastric carcinoma cells and induce apoptosis of the cancer cells. Raman spectra obtained from single gastric carcinoma cells and the induced apoptotic cells through scan-excitation mode were used to analyze the effectiveness of the treatment. The major difference of the apoptotic cells from the cancer cells are the reduction in intensities of vibration bands generated by cellular lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. In particular, large intensity reduction in nucleic vibrations at 782, 1092, 1320, 1340, and 1578 cm⁻¹ was observed upon apoptosis of the gastric carcinoma cells. Up to 45% reduction in the magnitude of the 782 cm⁻¹ peak in Raman spectra of the apoptotic cells was observed, which suggests the breakdown of phosphodiester bonds and DNA bases. We showed that the principal components analysis (PCA), a multivariate statistical tool, can be used to distinguish single apoptotic cells and gastric carcinoma cells based on their Raman spectra.     

光动力作用促人肝癌细胞HepG2凋亡及对bax，bcl-2蛋白表达的影响

应用流式细胞仪分析光动力作用后细胞凋亡及免疫组化染色检测凋亡相关蛋白bcl-2蛋白，bax蛋白表达水平．发现血卟啉光动力实验组人肝癌细胞HepG2凋亡率达24．23±1．86％，与对照组相比，差异非常显著（P〈0．01）；光动力作用后凋亡相关蛋白bcl-2表达显著高于对照组（P〈0．05）；实验结果显示血卟啉光动力作用具有诱导人肝癌细胞HepG2凋亡的生物学效应，而凋亡调控蛋白bcl-2表达水平的降低可能是血叶林光动力作用诱导人肝癌细胞HepG2凋亡的一个重要机制．