Lunasin Is Prevalent in Barley and Is Bioavailable and Bioactive in In Vivo and In Vitro Studies

Lunasin, a unique 43-amino acid peptide found in a number of seeds, has been shown to be chemopreventive in mammalian cells and in a skin cancer mouse model. To elucidate the role of cereals in cancer prevention, we report here the prevalence, bioavailability, and bioactivity of lunasin from barley. Lunasin is present in all cultivars of barley analyzed. The liver and kidney of rats fed with lunasin-enriched barley (LEB) show the presence of lunasin in Western blot. Lunasin extracted from the kidney and liver inhibits the activities of HATs (histone acetyl transferases), yGCN5 by 20% and 18% at 100 nM, and PCAF activity by 25% and 24% at 100 nM, confirming that the peptide is intact and bioactive. Purified barley lunasin localizes in the nuclei of NIH 3T3 cells. Barley lunasin added to NIH 3T3 cells in the presence of the chemical carcinogen MCA activates the expression of tumor suppressors p21 and p15 by 45% and 47%, decreases cyclin D1 by 98%, and inhibits Rb hyperphosphorylation by 45% compared with the MCA treatment alone. We conclude that lunasin is prevalent in barley, bioavailable, and bioactive and that consumption of barley could play an important role of cancer prevention in barley-consuming populations.     

The Cancer Preventive Seed Peptide Lunasin From Rye Is Bioavailable and Bioactive

Lunasin is a unique 43-amino acid peptide that has been shown to be chemopreventive in mammalian cells and in a skin cancer mouse model against oncogenes and chemical carcinogens. In search for new sources of lunasin and to better understand the role of cereals in cancer prevention, we report here the properties of lunasin from rye. The stability and bioavailability were measured by in vitro digestibility assay using pepsin and pancreatin and feeding rats with lunasin-enriched rye (LER). Inhibition of histone acetyl transferase (HAT) and nuclear localization in mammalian cells were used to measure lunasin bioactivity. Lunasin is present in 15 out of 21 cultivars of rye analyzed. Lunasin present in rye crude protein preparation is stable to pepsin and pancreatin in in vitro digestion. The liver, kidney, and blood of rats fed LER show the presence of lunasin in Western blot. Lunasin extracted from these tissues inhibits the activities of HATs, confirming that the peptide is intact and bioactive. Lunasin purified from rye internalizes in the nuclei of mouse fibroblast cells. We conclude that lunasin in rye is bioavailable and bioactive and that consumption of rye may play an important role of cancer prevention in rye-consuming populations.     

Lunasin: a cancer-preventive soy peptide

Lunasin is a novel, cancer-preventive peptide whose efficacy against chemical carcinogens and oncogenes has been demonstrated in mammalian cells and in a skin cancer mouse model. Isolated and characterized in soy, lunasin peptide is also documented in barley. Lunasin is found in all of the genotypes analyzed from the US soy germ plasm collection and in commercially available soy proteins. Pilot studies show that lunasin is bioavailable in mice and rats when orally ingested, opening the way for dietary administration in cancer prevention studies. Lunasin internalizes into mammalian cells within minutes of exogenous application, and localizes in the nucleus after 18 hours. It inhibits acetylation of core histones in mammalian cells. In spite of its cancer-preventive properties, lunasin does not affect the growth rate of normal and established cancer cell lines. An epigenetic mechanism of action is proposed whereby lunasin selectively kills cells being transformed or newly transformed by binding to deacetylated core histones exposed by the transformation event, disrupting the dynamics of histone acetylation-deacetylation and leading to cell death.     

Lunasin suppresses E1A-mediated transformation of mammalian cells but does not inhibit growth of immortalized and established cancer cell lines

Lunasin, a novel and promising chemopreventive compound isolated from soybean cotyledon, is a 43-amino acid peptide that contains a -RGD-cell adhesion motif followed by 8 aspartic acid residues at the carboxyl end and a structurally conserved helix region. We showed previously that lunasin peptide applied exogenously reduces foci formation in mouse fibroblast cells treated with chemical carcinogens and inhibits skin tumorigenesis induced by chemical carcinogens in mice when applied topically. In this study, lunasin peptide applied to cell culture suppresses foci formation in E1A-transfected mouse fibroblast NIH 3T3 cells. Within 18 h of exogenous application, lunasin internalizes into the cell and localizes in the nucleus. In an initial study of genes affected by lunasin, the peptide increases p21 protein levels fivefold in cells transfected with E1A but not in untransfected cells. In contrast to its inhibitory effects on cell transformation, lunasin has no effect on growth of imicroMortalized (nontumorigenc) and established cancer cells. This is the first report that lunasin suppresses transformation of mamicroMalian cells induced by an oncogene (E1A) in addition to chemical carcinogens.     

Potential Health Benefits Associated with Lunasin Concentration in Dietary Supplements and Lunasin-Enriched Soy Extract

Lunasin has demonstrated antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and chemopreventive properties. The objectives were to evaluate the concentration of lunasin in different lunasin-based commercial dietary supplements, to produce a lunasin-enriched soy extract (LESE) using a two-step pilot-plant-based ultrafiltration process, and to evaluate their biological potential in vitro. LESE was produced using 30 and 1 kDa membranes in a custom-made ultrafiltration skid. Lunasin was quantified in eight products and LESE. Lunasin concentrations of the lunasin-based products ranged from 9.2 ± 0.6 to 25.7 ± 1.1 mg lunasin/g protein. The LESE extract contained 58.2 mg lunasin/g protein, up to 6.3-fold higher lunasin enrichment than lunasin-based dietary supplements. Antioxidant capacity ranged from 121.5 mmol Trolox equivalents (TE)/g in Now^® Kids to 354.4 mmol TE/g in LESE. Histone acetyltransferase (HAT) inhibition ranged from 5.3% on Soy Sentials^® to 38.3% on synthetic lunasin. ORAC and lunasin concentrations were positively correlated, and HAT and lunasin concentrations were negatively correlated (p < 0.05). Melanoma B16-F10 and A375 cells treated with lunasin showed dose-dependent inhibitory potential (IC₅₀ equivalent to 330 and 370 μM lunasin, respectively). Lunasin showed protein kinase B expression (57 ± 14%) compared to the control (100%) in B16-F10. Lunasin concentration found in commercial products and lunasin-enriched soy extract could exert benefits to consumers.     

Activation of dendritic cell function by soypeptide lunasin as a novel vaccine adjuvant

The addition of an appropriate adjuvant that activates the innate immunity is essential to subsequent development of the adaptive immunity specific to the vaccine antigens. Thus, any innovation capable of improving the immune responses may lead to a more efficacious vaccine. We recently identified a novel immune modulator using a naturally occurring seed peptide called lunasin. Lunasin was originally isolated from soybeans, and it is a small peptide containing 43 amino acids. Our studies revealed stimulatory effects of lunasin on innate immune cells by regulating expression of a number of genes that are important for immune responses. The objective was to define the effectiveness of lunasin as an adjuvant that enhances immune responses. The immune modulating functions of lunasin were characterized in dendritic cells (DCs) from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Lunasin-treated conventional DCs (cDCs) not only expressed elevated levels of co-stimulatory molecules (CD86, CD40) but also exhibited up-regulation of cytokines (IL1B, IL6) and chemokines (CCL3, CCL4). Lunasin-treated cDCs induced higher proliferation of allogeneic CD4+ T cells when comparing with medium control treatment in the mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR). Immunization of mice with ovalbumin (OVA) and lunasin inhibited the growth of OVA-expressing A20 B-lymphomas, which was correlated with OVA-specific CD8+ T cells. In addition, lunasin was an effective adjuvant for immunization with OVA, which together improved animal survival against lethal challenge with influenza virus expressing the MHC class I OVA peptide SIINFEKL (PR8-OTI). These results suggest that lunasin may function as a vaccine adjuvant by promoting DC maturation, which in turn enhances the development of protective immune responses to the vaccine antigens.     

The anticarcinogenic potential of soybean lectin and lunasin

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, generally exceeded only by cardiovascular disease in the developed world. The number of people diagnosed with cancer within the next few decades is expected to double. There will therefore be increased demand for novel diagnostic and medical therapies that use new non-traditional sources. Soybeans contain a variety of anticarcinogenic phytochemicals. Recently, there has been increased interest in the potential health benefits of bioactive polypeptides and proteins from soybeans, including lunasin and lectins. Lunasin is a polypeptide that arrests cell division and induces apoptosis in malignant cells. Lectins are glycoproteins that selectively bind carbohydrates; lectins are used in medicine in a variety of new applications. Additional research, including clinical trials, should continue to examine and elucidate the therapeutic effects, nutritional benefits, and toxic consequences of commonly ingested soybean lectins and lunasin.     

Differential Expression of Thrombospondin (THBS1) in Tumorigenic and Nontumorigenic Prostate Epithelial Cells in Response to a Chromatin-Binding Soy Peptide

The chemopreventive properties of the chromatin-binding soy peptide, lunasin, are well documented, but its mechanism of action is unclear. To elucidate the mechanism by which lunasin reduces tumor foci formation in cultured mammalian cells, nontumorigenic (RWPE-1) and tumorigenic (RWPE-2) human prostate epithelial cells were treated with lunasin followed by gene expression profiling and characterization of the chromatin acetylation status for certain chemopreventive genes. The genes HIF1A, PRKAR1A, TOB1, and THBS1 were upregulated by lunasin in RWPE-1 but not in RWPE-2 cells. Using histone acetyltransferase (HAT) assays with acid-extracted histones as templates, we showed that lunasin specifically inhibited H4K8 acetylation while enhanced H4K16 acetylation catalyzed by HAT enzymes p300, PCAF, and HAT1A. These results suggest a novel mechanism for lunasin-dependent upregulation of gene expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) revealed hypoacetylation of H4K16 in RWPE-2 cells, specifically at the 5′ end of THBS1 containing a CpG island. Moreover, bisulfite PCR (BSP) and subsequent DNA sequencing indicated that this CpG island was hypomethylated in RWPE-1 but hypermethylated in RWPE-2 cells. Histone hypoacetylation and DNA hypermethylation in the 5′ region of THBS1 may explain the inability of lunasin to upregulate this gene in RWPE-2 cells.     

Differential expression of thrombospondin (THBS1) in tumorigenic and nontumorigenic prostate epithelial cells in response to a chromatin-binding soy peptide

The chemopreventive properties of the chromatin-binding soy peptide, lunasin, are well documented, but its mechanism of action is unclear. To elucidate the mechanism by which lunasin reduces tumor foci formation in cultured mammalian cells, nontumorigenic (RWPE-1) and tumorigenic (RWPE-2) human prostate epithelial cells were treated with lunasin followed by gene expression profiling and characterization of the chromatin acetylation status for certain chemopreventive genes. The genes HIF1A, PRKAR1A, TOB1, and THBS1 were upregulated by lunasin in RWPE-1 but not in RWPE-2 cells. Using histone acetyltransferase (HAT) assays with acid-extracted histones as templates, we showed that lunasin specifically inhibited H4K8 acetylation while enhanced H4K16 acetylation catalyzed by HAT enzymes p300, PCAF, and HAT1A. These results suggest a novel mechanism for lunasin-dependent upregulation of gene expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) revealed hypoacetylation of H4K16 in RWPE-2 cells, specifically at the 5' end of THBS1 containing a CpG island. Moreover, bisulfite PCR (BSP) and subsequent DNA sequencing indicated that this CpG island was hypomethylated in RWPE-1 but hypermethylated in RWPE-2 cells. Histone hypoacetylation and DNA hypermethylation in the 5' region of THBS1 may explain the inability of lunasin to upregulate this gene in RWPE-2 cells.     

From COX-2 inhibitor nimesulide to potent anti-cancer agent: synthesis, in vitro, in vivo and pharmacokinetic evaluation

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor nimesulide inhibits the proliferation of various types of cancer cells mainly via COX-2 independent mechanisms, which makes it a good lead compound for anti-cancer drug development. In the presented study, a series of new nimesulide analogs were synthesized based on the structure-function analysis generated previously. Some of them displayed very potent anti-cancer activity with IC(50)s around 100?nM-200?nM to inhibit SKBR-3 breast cancer cell growth. CSUOH0901 (NSC751382) from the compound library also inhibits the growth of the 60 cancer cell lines used at National Cancer Institute Developmental therapeutics Program (NCIDTP) with IC(50)s around 100?nM-500?nM. Intraperitoneal injection with a dosage of 5 mg/kg/d of CSUOH0901 to nude mice suppresses HT29 colorectal xenograft growth. Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrate the good bioavailability of the compound.     

Novel interactions of vitamin E and estrogen in breast cancer

The prevention of breast cancer through dietary modification is an active area of clinical and epidemiological research. It has been proposed that dietary supplementation of vitamin E may reduce a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. However, the exact mechanism remains unknown. alpha-Tocopherol is the most biologically active form of vitamin E. We investigated the effect of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) on breast cancer cell growth. A dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation was found in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive cells showing a potent suppression of growth at 100 microM vitamin E in MCF-7 (53%) and T47D (75%) cells. Vitamin E reduced significantly the response of both cell lines to estrogen (10 nM), and cell proliferation was decreased in MCF-7 and T47D cells by 69% and 84%, respectively. No growth inhibition was observed when cells were grown in the absence of estrogen. Vitamin E altered and decreased the growth inhibition induced by tamoxifen (10 microM) in MCF-7 (33%) and T47D (54%) cells. In addition, the immunostaining of ER of MCF-7 cells was reduced by 30% in the presence of vitamin E, suggesting an effect of vitamin E on the expression of ER. This provides evidence that vitamin E may inhibit ER-positive cell growth by altering the cellular response to estrogen.     

Neuropeptides, including neuropeptide Y and melanocortins, mediate lipolysis in murine adipocytes

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether key appetite-regulating neuropeptides such as melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), which are known to mediate energy balance through centrally mediated pathways, also have direct acute effects on the lipolytic activity of murine adipocytes. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes serum starved overnight in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium containing 2% bovine serum albumin or freshly isolated mouse adipocytes were incubated for up to 2 hours in the absence and presence of 100 nM each of NPY, MCH, alpha-MSH, the melanocortin receptor agonist MTII, or isoproterenol as a control. Free fatty acids secreted into the incubation medium were measured using a commercially available nonesterified fatty acid C test kit. RESULTS: Treatment of 3T3-L1 cells with 100 nM NPY decreased basal free fatty acid secretion (basal, 0.006 +/- 0.001 vs. NPY, 0.001 +/- 0.0003 nM at 90 minutes; p < 0.05), whereas both alpha-MSH and MTII stimulated up to a 7-fold increase in free fatty acid release (MTII, 0.238 +/- 0.004 vs. basal, 0.024 +/- 0.002 nM at 2 hours; p < 0.05; and alpha-MSH, 0.22 +/- 0.005 vs. basal, 0.04 +/- 0.003 nM at 2 hours; p < 0.05). Treatment with 100 nM MCH had no effect on basal free fatty acid release or on alpha-MSH-induced lipolysis during concurrent treatment. Conversely, concurrent treatment with 100 nM NPY dramatically inhibited (by approximately 90%) alpha-MSH-induced lipolysis. Similar treatment of freshly isolated mouse adipocytes showed virtually identical results. DISCUSSION: In addition to their centrally mediated actions, appetite-regulating neuropeptides modulate adipose tissue mass through direct peripheral effects. Systemic administration of pharmacological agents altering the effects of these neuropeptides may form the basis of future obesity therapies. Thus, some of these agents will likely have direct effects on adipocytes that may serve to alter their therapeutic effectiveness.     

DNA聚合酶β基因表达对NIH3T3细胞增殖影响

目的 观察不同类型DNA聚合酶B(DNA Polymerase β,DNA pol β)在小鼠成纤维细胞(NIH3T3细胞)的表达及细胞增殖特性的变化.方法 用脂质体转染的方法,将野生型(wild type,wt)和食管癌缺失突变型(delete mutional type,dmt)的pol β重组荧光载体pEGFP-C3-pol β转染NIH3T3细胞,建立稳定表达pol β的细胞系,通过荧光倒置显微镜观察其定位,四甲基偶氮噻唑蓝(MTT)比色法绘制生长曲线,流式细胞仪测定其细胞周期.结果 转染2种类型pol β的NIH3T3细胞株中,均有外源基因mRNA水平和蛋白水平的表达;荧光倒置显微镜结果显示,野生型的以细胞胞核为主,缺失突变型的pol β表达以细胞胞浆为主,从第3 d开始,缺失突变型的细胞生长速度较野生型和对照组明显增快(P<0.05);转染缺失突变型NIH3T3细胞的S期细胞比例为68.29%,明显高于野生型的57.18%、对照组的58.12%和未转染NIH3T3细胞的57.35%(P<0.05).结论 外源野生型pol β基因表达后对NIH3T3细胞的增殖速度无明显影响,而缺失突变型则使其增殖速度加快.     

Young Barley Indicates Antitumor Effects in Experimental Breast Cancer In Vivo and In Vitro

The effect of dietary administered young barley containing a mixture of phytochemicals to female rats for the prevention of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced mammary carcinogenesis was evaluated. After carcinogen administration (14 wk), mammary tumors were removed and prepared for histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis. Moreover, in vitro evaluation of possible mechanisms in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line was performed. Barley (0.3%) demonstrated mild antitumor effect in mammary carcinogenesis, yet 3% barley did not further improve this effect. Immunohistochemical analysis of rat tumor cells in treated groups showed significant increase in caspase-3 expression and significant reduction in Ki67 expression. In addition, 3% barley significantly decreased dityrosine levels versus control. Barley in higher dose significantly decreased serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol in rats. In vitro studies showed that barley significantly decreased survival of MCF-7 cells in 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and significantly decreased 5-bromo-20-deoxyuridine incorporation versus control. Barley prevented cell cycle progression and extended incubation with barley showed significant increase in the percentage of annexin V/propidium iodide-positive MCF-7 cells. Our results propose an antitumor effect for the mixture of phytochemicals present in young barley in a breast cancer model.     

Silk protein hydrolysate increases glucose uptake through up-regulation of GLUT 4 and reduces the expression of leptin in 3T3-L1 fibroblast

The purpose of our research was to test the hypothesis that silk protein hydrolysate increases glucose uptake in cultured murine embryonic fibroblasts. Insulin sensitizing activity was observed in a cell-based glucose uptake assay using 3T3-L1 embryonic fibroblasts. The treatment of 1 mg/mL of silk peptide E5K6 plus 0.2 nM insulin was associated with a significant increase in glucose uptake (124.0% ± 2.5%) compared to treatment with 0.2 nM insulin alone. When the 3T3-L1 cells were induced to differentiate into fibroblasts, fat droplets formed inside the cells. Silk peptide E5K6 reduced the formation of fat droplets at the 1-mg/mL dosage (86.1% ± 2.5%) when compared to the control (100.0% ± 5.8%). A 1 mg/mL dose of silk peptide E5K6 significantly increased GLUT 4 expression (131.5% ± 4.0%). The treatment of 1 mg/mL of silk peptide E5K6 did not present any changes for adipogenic expressed genes, but leptin expression was significantly increased by silk peptide E5K6 supplementation (175.9% ± 11.1%). From these results, silk peptide E5K6 increased glucose uptake via up-regulation of GLUT 4 and decreased fat accumulation via the up-regulation of leptin.     

Synthesis of the cancer preventive peptide lunasin by lactic acid bacteria during sourdough fermentation

This study aimed to exploit the potential of sourdough lactic acid bacteria to release lunasin during fermentation of cereal and nonconventional flours. The peptidase activities of a large number of sourdough lactic acid bacteria were screened using synthetic substrates. Selected lactic acid bacteria were used as sourdough starters to ferment wholemeal wheat, soybean, barley, amaranth, and rye flours. Proteinase activity during fermentation was characterized by SDS-PAGE analysis of the water-soluble extracts. Albumins having molecular masses of 18 to 22 kDa, which included the size of lunasin precursors, were markedly affected by proteolysis of lactic acid bacteria. After fermentation, lunasin from the water-soluble extracts was quantified, purified, and identified through RP-HPLC and nano-LC-ESI-MS analyses. Compared to control doughs, the concentration of lunasin increased up to 2-4 times during fermentation. Lactobacillus curvatus SAL33 and Lactobacillus brevis AM7 synthesized the highest concentrations of lunasin in all the flours. Besides the presence of the entire lunasin sequence, fragments containing the immunoreactive epitope RGDDDDDDDDD were also found. This study shows that fermentation by lactic acid bacteria increased the concentration of lunasin to levels that would suggest new possibilities for the biological synthesis and for the formulation of functional foods.     

镍冶炼烟尘致NIH3T3细胞形态转化作用的实验研究

目的　研究镍冶炼工人接触烟尘的生物学效应。方法　以来自我国两家镍冶炼厂的镍冶炼烟尘为受试物 ,处理小鼠NIH3T3细胞 ,观察细胞吞噬活性、毒性和转化活性 ,预测镍冶炼烟尘的致癌危险性。结果　 (1)两种镍冶炼烟尘均可被NIH3T3细胞吞噬 ,两样品在 10 0 .0 0 0 μg/ml剂量的吞噬率分别为6 9 .0 %、39.0 % ,2 0 0 .0 0 0 μg/ml剂量的吞噬率分别为 78.0 %、4 7.0 % ,差异均有显著性 (P <0 .0 1)。剂量为12 .5 0 0～ 10 0 .0 0 0 μg/ml时 ,两样品的相对克隆形成率分别为 71.1%～ 3.9%和 84 .4 %～9.1%。两种镍冶炼烟尘以克隆形成率表示的细胞毒性与Ni2 O3 接近 ,高于TiO2 ,而低于阳性对照物N 甲基 N’ 硝基 N 亚硝基胍 (MNNG)。 (2 )MNNG、Ni2 O3 和两份镍冶炼烟尘均可诱发NIH3T3细胞发生形态转化 ,两种镍冶炼烟尘在 12 .5 0 0～ 5 0 .0 0 0 μg/ml范围内的转化率分别为 1.9%～ 3.6 %和 0 .9%～ 2 .5 %。 (3)MNNG和镍冶炼烟尘处理的NIH3T3细胞均可与刀豆素A(ConA)发生凝集反应 ,并能在软琼脂培养基中形成集落 ,验证了转化克隆的可靠性。结论　镍冶炼烟尘具有细胞转化活性 ,为镍冶炼烟尘的致癌危险性以及镍冶炼工肺癌的病因学研究提供了新的实验室证据。     

TIF3镉应答基因的致癌性

[目的 ]前期研究发现 ,镉相关新基因TIF3 (基因文库添码 :AF2 710 72 )转染NIH3T3细胞可致其编码蛋白质表达升高而引起细胞转化。本研究的目的是对TIF3基因转化NIH3T3细胞的致癌能力和致瘤性进行鉴定。 [方法 ]软琼脂集落形成试验和裸鼠成瘤试验。 [结果 ]所有 4株不同的TIF3转染的NIH3T3细胞在软琼脂培养中均显示锚非依赖性生长能力 ,形成明显的细胞集落。而非转化对照细胞在软琼脂上则无生长能力。转化细胞和对照细胞分别给裸鼠皮下注射 (每组 4只 ) ,4周后所有接种转化细胞的裸鼠全部长出大小不等的肿瘤 ,但非转化的对照细胞于第 5周后仍无 1只裸鼠出现肿瘤。提示TIF3转基因转化细胞属恶性转化细胞 ,具有一定的致癌能力和致瘤作用。 [结论 ]根据本研究结果及前期发现 ,可以认为新发现的TIF3是一个镉应答原癌基因     

Ellagic Acid Enhances Apoptotic Sensitivity of Breast Cancer Cells to γ-Radiation

Herbal polyphenols have gained increased significance because of the promises they hold in the prevention and treatment of cancer. There exists an enormous opportunity for the screening and valuation of natural dietary compounds in the development of an effective chemopreventive drug and radiosensitizer that may be of practical use for patients undergoing cancer therapy. This study describes the effect of the flavonoid ellagic acid (EA) on gamma-irradiated human breast cancer MCF-7 cells in vitro when administered alone or in combination with radiation. It was interesting to find the radioprotective effect of EA on NIH3T3, which is a normal cell line. Irradiation of breast tumor cells in the presence of EA (10 μM) to doses of 2 and 4-Gy gamma radiation produced a marked synergistic tumor cytotoxicity while it was found to aid recovery from the radiation damage to NIH3T3 cells. When cells were given a combined treatment of EA and radiation, the cell death increased to 21.7% and 20.7% in the 2 and 4-Gy-treated cells respectively, significantly (P < 0.05) reducing the capacity of MCF-7 cells to form colonies. Even at 24 h, 38 foci/cell were observed in samples that were given the combined treatment, suggesting the cells' inability in repairing the damage. Also, increased apoptosis in EA+ 2Gy (50%) and EA+ 4 Gy (62%)-treated cells was observed in the the sub-G1 phase of the cell cycle. A 6.2-fold decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential was observed in the combined treatment of EA and IR that facilitated the upregulation of pro-apopttotic Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2, pushing the MCF-7 cells to undergo an apoptotic cell death. It is suggested that EA may be a potential drug adjuvant for improving cancer radiotherapy by increasing tumor toxicity and reducing the normal cell damage caused by irradiation.     

镍冶炼烟尘诱导哺乳动物细胞遗传物质损伤作用的研究

目的 研究2种镍冶炼烟尘致细胞毒性和DNA损伤的作用及其差异.方法 以某镍冶炼厂的镍冶炼炉前沉降尘和镍精炼车间沉降尘为受试物,用噻唑蓝(MTT)染色的方法 检测(受试物浓度分别为100.00、50.00、25.00、12.50、6.25、0.00μg/ml)作用6、12、18、24、36、48 h的细胞相对存活率;单细胞凝胶电泳技术检测(受试物浓度分别为100.0、50.0、25.0、12.5、0.0μg/ml))作用2、4、8 h其致细胞的DNA损伤.结果 随着染毒时间的延长和染毒剂量的增加,细胞存活率下降;2种冶炼烟尘引起的细胞拖尾率、尾矩和细胞尾部DNA含量增加.在浓度为100.00μg/ml的2种烟尘作用细胞48 h后,细胞的存活率仅为24.5%和26.5%;镍冶炼炉前沉降尘的各浓度组在不同时间诱导的细胞拖尾率和尾部DNA含量均高于阴性对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),镍精炼车间沉降尘除12.5μg/ml各作用时间组和50.0μg/ml作用2 h组外的各实验组在不同时间诱导的细胞拖尾率和尾部DNA含量均高于阴性对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 镍冶炼烟尘可以降低细胞的相对存活率,并不同程度地致NIH/3T3细胞的DNA损伤.