非甾体消炎药诱导胃癌细胞凋亡及其机制的研究

目的：明确非甾体消炎药(NSAIDs)能否诱导胃癌细胞凋亡；明确不同的p53基因表型对NSAIDs诱导的细胞凋亡是否有影响；明确NSAIDs对细胞凋亡相关基因Bcl-2及Bax表达的调控。方法：通过MTT比色法检测NSAIDs对细胞生长活力的影响；应用丫啶橙(AO)染色、Annexin-V／PI双染色、共聚焦显微镜、流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡；应用RT-PCR、Western-blot方法检测bcl-2、bax基因及蛋白水平的改变。结果：NSAIDs药物吲哚美辛(Indo)和阿司匹林(Asp)对胃癌细胞株AGS(p53 ／ )、MKN28(p53-／-)均有显著的生长抑制作用，且呈时间／浓度依赖性增强；在相同作用条件下，AGS细胞的凋亡率明显高于MKN28细胞，处理组MKN28细胞凋亡数量虽有所增多，但与正常对照组相比不具有统计学意义；随着药物作用时间的延长，Bcl-2基因mRNA表达逐渐减弱，Bax基因及蛋白表达逐渐增强，在药物作用6～24小时改变最为明显。结论：一定浓度的NSAIDs作用一定时间后，可诱导胃癌细胞凋亡，这为NSAIDs的抗肿瘤应用增加了理论依据；NSAIDs不能诱导p53基因突变的MKN28胃癌细胞株发生显著的凋亡，p53基因突变可能阻断了NSAIDs的凋亡诱导效应；NSAIDs可能通过调控Bcl-2、Bax的基因及蛋白水平而诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡。     

p53基因诱导胱癌细胞HTB9凋亡及相关基因的表达

目的 研究野生型p53基因诱导膀胱癌细胞凋亡的作用,及其对凋亡相关基因bcl-2、bax和ICE表达的调控。方法 将野生型p53基因重组腺病毒载体转染人膀胱癌细胞HTB9,应用RT－PCR检测bax的mRNA表达水平,应用免疫组化法检测bcl-2、bax和ICE蛋白表达水平,以DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳、脱氧核苷酸转移酶介导的dUTP切口末端标记技术（TUNEL）和流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡。结果 野生型p53基因导入可诱导HTB9细胞凋亡,凋亡细胞百分率可达50．4％;bax mRNA和蛋白水平增高,ICE和Bcl-2蛋白水平分别增高和下降。结论 野生型p53基因很可能是通过调控凋亡相关基因ICE、Bax和Bcl-2的表达来诱导细胞凋亡。     

Molecular determinants of cell death induction following adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of wild-type p53 in prostate cancer cells

Adenoviral vectors expressing wild-type p53 (Ad-p53) induce apoptosis in different types of cancer cells. The therapeutic utility of Ad-p53 is now being evaluated in prostate-cancer patients. Bcl-2 is frequently expressed by prostate-cancer cells and has previously been shown to inhibit p53-mediated cell death following genotoxic stress. We studied the impact of bcl-2 on Ad-p53-induced cell death in human prostate-cancer cells. Human prostate-cancer cell lines LNCaP (p53 wt) and PC3 (p53 mut) were stably transfected with bcl-2. After p53 transduction, cell viability, apoptosis induction and modulation of specific apoptosis-regulatory proteins were assessed. LNCaP vector control and bcl-2-expressing cells underwent similar decreases in viability associated with apoptosis induction following Ad-p53 infection. Increased bcl-2 expression provided significant protection to PC3 cells transduced with Ad-p53. These findings are correlated with modulations in bax, bcl-2, bcl-x(L) and p21 protein levels. These data suggest that Ad-p53 may be useful in the treatment of some prostate cancers.     

Genistein抑制人卵巢癌细胞系SKOV3增殖和诱导凋亡发生的研究

背景与目的:许多研究表明 Genistein对多种肿瘤细胞有抑制作用,但有关 Genistein对卵巢癌细胞作用的报道很少.本研究旨在通过观测 Genistein对人卵巢癌细胞系 SKOV3的抑制增殖和诱导凋亡作用,探讨其抗癌作用的机理.方法:应用四甲基偶氮唑盐( MTT)法检测不同浓度 Genistein对 SKOV3的生长抑制作用;吖啶橙 /溴乙锭( AO/EB)荧光染色法及电镜观察凋亡细胞及凋亡小体;流式细胞仪分析细胞周期及凋亡率;琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测凋亡特征性 DNA梯形带;免疫细胞化学法及 RT- PCR法分别检测细胞增殖凋亡调控相关蛋白及其 mRNA的表达。结果： Genistein对 SKOV3细胞的增殖抑制作用呈时间及浓度依赖性, 20 μ mol/L和 40 μ mol/L Genistein作用 72 h后,细胞的生长抑制率达 72. 07％和 74. 93％。 20 μ mol/L Genistein作用 SKOV3细胞 48 h后出现细胞周期的 G2/M期阻滞。荧光显微镜和电镜均观察到用药后凋亡细胞典型的形态学特征。细胞凋亡率以 Genistein 20 μ mol/L组最高,达 23. 7％。凝胶电泳观察到特征性 DNA梯形带。 20 μ mol/L Genistein作用 SKOV3 48 h后, bcl- 2基因表达水平降低,而 p21WAF1/CIP1和 bax基因表达增加（ P< 0. 05）; PCNA、Bcl- 2及 cyclin B1蛋白表达水平降低, Bax、p21WAF1/CIP1蛋白表达增加（ P< 0. 01）。结论： Genistein可抑制卵巢癌细胞系 SKOV3的增殖并诱导其发生凋亡, Genistein可能通过上调 p21WAF1/CIP1基因及蛋白水平、下调 cyclin B1及 PCNA蛋白表达水平抑制增殖;通过下调 bcl- 2基因及蛋白表达、上调 bax基因及蛋白表达诱导卵巢癌细胞凋亡.     

Dysregulation of apoptosis by c-myc in transgenic hepatocytes and effects of growth factors and nongenotoxic carcinogens.

Regulation of apoptosis is an important component of multistage hepatocarcinogenesis. The proto-oncogene c-myc has been shown to be important in apoptosis regulation and to be amplified and overexpressed in human and rodent liver neoplasia. The objectives of the study reported here were to determine whether apoptosis regulation is altered in transgenic hepatocytes that overexpress c-myc and whether growth factors or nongenotoxic carcinogens alter apoptosis regulation in c-myc versus wild-type hepatocytes. Hepatocytes isolated from c-myc transgenic mice had four fold more c-myc RNA and protein (at 12-48 h) in addition to increased apoptosis levels compared with wild-type hepatocytes. The increased apoptosis in c-myc hepatocytes was accompanied by increased p53, bax, and bak and decreased bcl-2 protein levels. Hepatocytes overexpressing c-myc were more sensitive to apoptosis induced by bleomycin but less sensitive to apoptosis induced by transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta. Phenobarbital, a potent liver tumor promoter, inhibited apoptosis in c-myc hepatocytes but not in wild-type hepatocytes, decreased p53 and bax, and increased bcl-2 protein levels. Nafenopin inhibited apoptosis in both c-myc and wild-type hepatocytes, whereas 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-pdioxin did not inhibit apoptosis in either wild-type or c-myc hepatocytes. TGF-alpha inhibited apoptosis and increased bcl-X(L) and decreased bak protein levels in c-myc hepatocytes but not in wild-type hepatocytes. Insulin-like growth factor-II did not affect apoptosis in c-myc or wild-type hepatocytes. In this study, overexpression of c-myc altered the response to apoptotic stimuli in transgenic hepatocytes. Furthermore, phenobarbital and TGF-alpha inhibited c-myc-induced apoptosis, which may have resulted in a selective growth advantage for an initiated cell population and which may be a mechanism for tumor promotion.     

Expression profiles of p53, p21, bax and bcl-2 proteins in all-trans-retinoic acid treated primary and metastatic melanoma cells

We have previously shown that all-trans-retinoic acid (atRA) induces apoptosis in melanoma cells and primary melanoma cells are more sensitive to the exposure of atRA than the matched metastases. However, mechanisms behind the atRA-induced apoptosis have not been studied. In this study, we used a similar cell culture model system of matched primary and metastatic melanoma cells from the same patient to investigate whether p53 and bcl-2 family proteins were involved in atRA-induced apoptosis. The primary and metastatic melanoma cells were exposed to 0.1 and 10 micro M atRA in serum-free RPMI 1640 cell culture medium in the dark for up to 96 h. The protein expression of p53, p21, bax and bcl-2 were examined by Western blotting and immunocytochemistry. Expression of p53, p21 and bax was increased, and bcl-2 was decreased in melanoma cells after exposure to atRA at different concentrations for various periods of time. The changes of p53, p21, bax, and bcl-2 protein levels were dose- and time-dependent. The primary melanoma cells were more sensitive to the atRA treatments than cells from matched metastatic melanoma. These data indicate that p53, p21, bax and bcl-2 proteins were involved in atRA-induced apoptosis in melanoma cells. Modification of these protein levels in the tumour cells might be beneficial for early treatment of melanoma.     

Induction of apoptosis in human lung cancer cells by curcumin

Curcumin, a phenolic compound from the rhizome of the plant Curcuma longa has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-cancer activities. Although the precise mode of action of this compound is not yet elucidated, studies have shown that chemo-preventive action of curcumin might be due to its ability to induce apoptosis and to arrest cell cycle. This study investigated the cellular and molecular changes induced by curcumin leading to the induction of apoptosis in human lung cancer cell lines-A549 and H1299. A549 is p53 proficient and H1299 is p53 null mutant. The lung cancer cells were treated with curcumin (0-160 microM) for 12-72 h. Curcumin inhibited the growth of both the cell lines in a concentration dependent manner. Growth inhibition of H1299 cell lines was both time and concentration dependent. Curcumin induced apoptosis in both the lung cancer cell lines. A decrease in expression of p53, bcl-2, and bcl-X(L) was observed after 12 h exposure of 40 microM curcumin. Bak and Caspase genes remained unchanged up to 60 microM curcumin but showed decrease in expression levels at 80-160 microM. The data also suggest a p53 independent induction of apoptosis in lung cancer cells.     

Effect of interference of MTA1 by shRNA on the biological behaviors and expression of related proteins in breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells北大核心

Objective: To silence the expression of metastasis-associated gene 1 (MTA1) in breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 by using short hairpin small interfering RNA (shRNA) and observe its effects on expression of 15-lipoxygenase 2 (15-LOX-2), p53 and bcl-2 proteins. Methods: The shRNA-MTA1 plasmid was stably transfected into MDA-MB-231 cells and the cell proliferation was evaluated using MTT assay. The cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were analyzed using flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expression levels of MTA1, 15-LOX-2, p53 and bcl-2 were determined using RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Results: shRNA-MTA1 significantly suppressed the expression of MTA1 gene in MDA-MB-231 cells, inhibited the proliferation, induced apoptosis, and arrested the cells in G1 phase. The difference was significant compared with control group (P < 0.01). Expression levels of 15-LOX-2 and p53 were significantly up-regulated but MTA1 and bcl-2 were significantly down-regulated in MDA-MB-231 cells in shRNA-MTA1 group compared with the blank control group and negative control group (P <0.01). Conclusion: Silencing MTA1 gene inhibited the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells. This effect may be related with up-regulation of the expression of 15-LOX-2 and p53 and down-regulation of bcl-2.     

Expression of bcl-2, bax,and bcl-XL proteins in azoxymethane-induced rat colonic adenocarcinomas

Using western blotting and immunochemical analysis, we investigated alterations in the expression of the apoptosis-related proteins bcl-2, bax, and bcl-X in colonic adenocarcinomas induced by subcutaneous injection of azoxymethane (AOM) (15 mg/kg body weight weekly for 2 wk) into male Sprague-Dawley rats. Expression of the apoptosis-repressor bcl-2 in the colonic tumors was significantly weaker (0.6-fold) than that in adjacent non-neoplastic mucosa. The expression of bax protein, an apoptosis accelerator, was significantly stronger (7.33-fold) in all the tumors than in the non-tumoral mucosa. bcl-X_L protein, which functions as a repressor of apoptosis, was significantly upregulated (3.23-fold) in all the tumors when compared with the non-neoplastic mucosa. There was no significant difference between the expression of these proteins in the non-neoplastic mucosa of the AOM-treated rats and in the normal mucosa of saline-treated control rats. As determined by immunohistochemical analysis, the tumor cells had more bax and bcl-X protein. These findings indicate that the regulation of the apoptosis-related proteins bcl-2, bax, and bcl-X_L was altered in the AOM-induced colonic neoplastic tissue. In terms of resistance to apoptosis, elevated levels bcl-X_L protein may have considerable meaning in this experimental model as well as in human colorectal cancer. Mol. Carcinog. 19:25–30, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Resveratrol induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells by E2F1-mediated up-regulation of ASPP1

Resveratrol is a natural polyphenolic compound with cancer chemopreventive activity. However, our understanding of the molecular mechanism responsible for resveratrol-induced apoptosis is still very limited. Here, we used MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells as a model to demonstrate that resveratrol induced the expression of ASPP1, a new member of the ASPP (apoptosis stimulation protein of p53) family, which plays an important role in the regulation of apoptosis. Moreover, resveratrol enhanced apoptosis of MCF-7/ASPP1 cells, accompanied by higher expression of bax and p21. In contrast, siRNA-mediated knockdown of ASPP1 inhibited apoptosis in MB231 cells. Furthermore, we found that higher levels of ASPP1 were associated with adenovirus-mediated overexpression of E2F1 while siRNA-mediated E2F1 knockdown led to down-regulation of ASPP1. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that overexpression of ASPP1 rendered MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells more sensitive to resveratrol-mediated apoptosis via the E2F pathway, thus suggesting that ASPP1 may represent a novel therapeutic target for resveratrol in human breast cancer.     

Susceptibility for NSAIDs-induced apoptosis correlates to p53 gene status in gastric cancer cells

The anti-tumor effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) remains unclear. Here, we found that the susceptibility for NSAIDs-induced apoptosis might correlate with the status of the p53 gene in gastric cancer cells. Apoptosis in gastric cancer cells expressing wild-type p53 is induced through up-regulation of bax and down-regulation of bcl-2 and that regulation of the bax-bcl-2 heterodimer may be a major target of NSAIDs. As to gastric cancer cells expressing mutant-type p53, other key factors may exist in the NSAIDs' growth inhibition action.     

Altered expression of DNA-topoisomerase IIalpha is associated with increased rate of spontaneous polyploidization in etoposide resistant K562 cells

Molecular mechanisms of drug resistance and alterations in chromosome number were studied in two independently etoposide selected clonal cell lines, K562-VP16-1 and K562-W16-2, and in bulk cell line K562-VPI6. In all cell lines was observed down-regulation of topo IIalpha gene expression, while topo IIbeta mRNA content was unchanged compared to parental cell line. Antiapoptotic bcl-2 mRNA content was decreased in all drug resistant cell variants, the level of bcl-X(L) mRNA was greatly diminished only in one of cell lines, K562-VP16-1. Proapoptotic bax mRNA was down regulated to an undetectable level in all resistant cell lines analysed. These data indicate that abrogation of bax-mediated apoptosis can be implicated in development of etoposide resisance. Cytogenetic analysis revealed increased rate of spontaneous polyploidization in K562-VPI6 bulk and K562-VP-16-2 cells, while in K562-VP-16-1 cells was observed only moderate accumulation of polyploid cells. The degree of changes in topo IIa but not bcl-2 family members expression correlated positively with dynamics of accumulation of polyploid cells. Our findings suggest that down regulation of topo IIalpha in association with p53 deficiency can confer chromosomal instability in etoposide-resistant K562 cells.     

Topoisomerase-I inhibitors for human malignant glioma: Differential modulation of p53, p21, bax and bcl-2 expression and of CD95-mediated apoptosis by camptothecin and β-lapachone

β-lapachone and camptothecin are structurally unrelated agents thought to inhibit topoisomerase-I activity through distinct mechanisms. We find that β-lapachone is much more potent than camptothecin in inducing acute cytotoxic effects on human malignant glioma cells. Acute cytotoxicity induced by both drugs is apoptotic by electron microscopy, but not blocked by inhibitors of RNA or protein synthesis and not associated with changes in the expression of bcl-2, bax, p53, p21 or GADD45 proteins. In contrast, prolonged exposure of glioma cells to both drugs for 72 hr results in growth inhibition and apoptosis, with EC₅₀ values around 1 μM. None of 7 glioma cell lines tested were resistant to either drug. LN-229 cells which have partial p53-wild-type activity show enhanced expression of p53, p21 and bax protein, whereas bcl-2 levels decrease, after exposure to camptothecin. In contrast, β-lapachone increases bax protein expression in the absence of p53 activation. T98G cells are mutant for p53. In these cells, p53 levels do not change and p21 is not induced. bax accumulation in T98G cells is induced by both drugs, with bcl-2 levels unaltered. Surprisingly, ectopic expression of murine bcl-2 fails to abrogate the toxicity of either drug. Camptothecin, but not β-lapachone, sensitizes human malignant glioma cells to apoptosis induced by the cytotoxic cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α and CD95 ligand. Thus, both drugs have potent anti-glioma activity that may be mediated by enhanced bax expression but is not inhibited by ectopic bcl-2 expression. Camptothecin-like agents are particularly promising for immunochemotherapy of malignant glioma using cytotoxic drugs and CD95 ligand. Int. J. Cancer 73:707–714, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Anti-Her-2/neu antibody induces apoptosis in Her-2/neu overexpressing breast cancer cells independently from p53 status.

Anti-Her-2/neu antibody is known to induce apoptosis in HER-2/neu overexpressing breast cancer cells. However, exact regulatory mechanisms mediating and controlling this phenomenon are still unknown. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of anti-Her-2/neu antibody on apoptosis of HER-2/neu overexpressing human breast cancer cell lines SK-BR-3, HTB-24, HTB-25, HTB-27, HTB-128, HTB-130 and HTB-131 in relation to p53 genotype and bcl-2 status. SK-BR-3, HTB-24, HTB-128 and HTB-130 cells exhibited mutant p53, whereas wild type p53 was found in HTB-25, HTB-27 and HTB-131 cells. All seven cell lines weakly expressed bcl-2 protein (10-20%). Anti-Her-2/neu antibody, irrespective of p53 and bcl-2 status, induced apoptosis in all 7 cell lines dose- and time-dependently and correlated with Her-2/neu overexpression. In addition, incubation of cell lines with anti-Her-2/neu antibody did not alter p53 or bcl-2 expression. Anti-HER-2/neu antibody did not induce apoptosis in HER-2/neu negative HBL-100 and HTB-132 cell lines. Our results indicate that within the panel of tested breast cancer cell lines, anti-Her-2/neu antibody-induced apoptosis was independent from the presence of intact p53.     

Gold nanoparticles induce apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

Background: Gold nanoparticles have recently been investigated with respect to biocompatibility accordingto their interactions with cells. The purpose of this study was to examine cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction bywell-characterized gold nanoparticles in human breast epithelial MCF-7 cells. Methods: Apoptosis was assessedby TUNEL, cytotoxicity by MTT assay and caspase 3, 9, p53, Bax and Bcl expression by real-time PCR assays.Results: Gold nanoparticles at up to 200 μg/mL for 24 hours exerted concentration-dependent cytotoxicity andsignificant upregulation of mRNA expression of p53, bax, caspase-3 & caspase-9, whereas expression of antiapoptoticbcl-2 was down-regulated. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge this is the first report showingthat gold nanoparticles induce apoptosis in MCF-7cells via p53, bax/bcl-2 and caspase pathways.     

Involvement of bcl-2 and bax gene expression in apoptosis and differentiation of the non-tumorigenic murine hematopoietic cell line, 32DC13(G)

32DCl3(G) is an interleukin-3 (IL-3) dependent, non-tumorigenic murine hematopoietic cell line which undergoes terminal differentiation into granulocytes when exposed to granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). This line therefore offers a convenient system to study the expression of genes involved in apoptosis and differentiation. In our experiments we have acquired evidence that during the differentiation pathway, likewise in apoptosis induced by IL-3 deprivation, detectable levels of bax mRNA appear, while bcl-2 expression decreases. These events are under the control of the p53 tumor-suppressor gene. In these cells, an overexpression of exogenous wild-type p53 leads to a decrease in bcl-2 mRNA and to the appearance of box mRNA, which instead is absent in the parental cells growing in IL-3 conditioned medium. Furthermore, results from experiments on p53 transfected cells demonstrate that excess wild-type p53 activity, on its own, fails to elicit apoptosis as long as IL-3 is present and does not induce differentiation if G-CSF is not added to the culture medium. We conclude that in apoptosis and differentiation of 32DCl3(G) the alterate ratio of bcl-2 and box gene expression, modulated by p53, is an early event dependent on IL-3 withdrawal and that the appearance of bax and the decrease of bcl-2 expression are necessary, but not sufficient for the acquisition of a completely mature granulocytic phenotype.