Retracted Article: Structural characterization of centipede oligopeptides and capability detection in human small cell lung carcinoma: inducing apoptosis

Lung cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer deaths in the world, and smoking is considered as one of the major causes. Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) represents a highly malignant and particularly aggressive form, with properties of widespread metastases and poor prognosis. Herein, twenty-five Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L. Koch Oligopeptides (SSMOs) were isolated and their structures were identified, and the anti-proliferative activity against lung cancer cell lines was evaluated. Results showed that SSMO-5 induced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) markedly in NCI-H446 cells. Furthermore, SSMO-5 decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and enhanced the mitochondria-related apoptosis. These results demonstrate that in NCI-H446 cells, the apoptotic and cytotoxic effects of SSMO-5 are mediated by the intrinsic mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway, which in turn causes the activation of caspases and increases Bax expression, while decreases Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expressions and regulates the interaction of p53/MDM2. In conclusion, a ROS-mediated mitochondrial pathway plays an important role in the process of SSMO-5-induced apoptosis against SCLC.

SSMO-5 mediated the lung cancer cells apoptosis by activating the caspases and regulating the interaction of p53/MDM2.     

Structural characterization and anticancer potency of centipede oligopeptides in human chondrosarcoma cancer: inducing apoptosis

Anticancer oligopeptides are rarely studied because they are often present in very low concentrations in a complex matrix. In the current study, twelve oligopeptides were isolated and the amino acid sequence identified from the centipede. MTT results indicated that Trp–Gly–His–Glu (CO-10) showed excellent anti-proliferative potency against chondrosarcoma cells in vitro. Further study showed that CO-10 induced SW1353 cells apoptosis and blocked cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase. Further, results demonstrate that the apoptotic and cytotoxic effects of CO-10 are mediated by the intrinsic mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway, which in turn causes the release of cytochrome c and the activation of caspases. This study will be important for the development of pharmaceutical anticancer peptides from natural products as anticancer agents against chondrosarcoma.

CO-10 induced cell apoptosis with mitochondria dysfunction and caspases, ASK1-MAPKs pathway activation.     

Retraction: Structural characterization of Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae) oligopeptides and the detection of their capability in non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells: induction of apoptosis

Retraction of ‘Structural characterization of Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae) oligopeptides and the detection of their capability in non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells: induction of apoptosis’ by Jiao Dong et al., RSC Adv., 2019, 9, 8300–8309, https://doi.org/10.1039/C9RA00090A.

The Royal Society of Chemistry hereby wholly retracts this RSC Advances article due to a significant amount of unattributed text overlap throughout the article, and particularly in the Results and Discussion sections, with a paper by Hongyu Li et al. in Frontiers in Pharmacology that was not cited in the article.¹Jiao Dong, Xianxin Zhang, Chunxiao Qu, Xuedong Rong and Jie Liu oppose the retraction. Yiqing Qu has been informed but has not responded to any correspondence regarding the retraction.Signed: Laura Fisher, Executive Editor, RSC AdvancesDate: 29^th March 2022     

Retraction: Structural characterization of ginseng oligopeptides and anti-aging potency evaluation in Caenorhabditis elegans

Retraction of ‘Structural characterization of ginseng oligopeptides and anti-aging potency evaluation in Caenorhabditis elegans’ by Qiang Luo et al., RSC Adv., 2020, 10, 39485–39494, https://doi.org/10.1039/D0RA06093C.

The Royal Society of Chemistry hereby wholly retracts this RSC Advances article due to a significant amount of unattributed text overlap with articles by different author groups that were not cited, including articles published in Phytochemistry by Shan Su et al.¹ and Journal of Functional Foods by Elena M. Vayndorf et al.²Zhigang Liu agrees to the retraction. The other authors have been informed but have not responded to any correspondence regarding the retraction.Signed: Laura Fisher, Executive Editor, RSC AdvancesDate: 25^th April 2022     

Retracted Article: Structural characterization of Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae) oligopeptides and the detection of their capability in non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells: induction of apoptosis

Oligopeptides are rarely reported from Chinese herbal medicine because they are often present in very low concentrations in a complex matrix. Twenty-eight oligopeptides were recently identified by high-performance liquid chromatography and quadrupole-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS) from Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae), and a septapeptide, FHGKGHE (Phe-His-Gly-Lys-Gly-His-Glu), named MCLO-12, showed the best anticancer activity against the non-small cell lung cancer A549 cell line in vitro, with an IC₅₀ value of 21.4 ± 2.21 mM. The anti-proliferative activity assay results showed that MCLO-12 induced apoptosis of A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment of the cells with MCLO-12 (10.7–42.8 mM mL⁻¹) caused strong intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) up-regulating activities and activated caspase expression. MCLO-12 also suppressed the Trx system and subsequently activated a number of Trx-dependent pathways, including the ASK1, MAPK-p38 and JNK pathways. Thus, our research provides a good reference point for anti-NSCLC research into oligopeptides.

MCLO-12 induced apoptosis by up-regulating the ROS, activating the caspases expressions, suppressing the Trx system and subsequently activating a number of Trx-dependent pathways.     

Retracted Article: Structural characterization of ginseng cyclopeptides and detection of capability to induce apoptosis in gastrointestinal cancer cells

Gastrointestinal tumors are the most frequently diagnosed malignancy and the second highest contributor to cancer mortality. Cyclopeptides are rarely isolated from ginseng because they are often present at low concentrations in a complex matrix. In the current study, seven novel ginseng cyclopeptides (GCPs) were isolated and their anti-tumor potency was explored. Anti-proliferative test results show that the (GCP-1)∼[cyclo-(_L-Trp-_L-Glu-_L-Phe-_L-Thr)] peptide display the best anti-proliferative activity in gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells in vitro, with an IC₅₀ value of 37.8 ± 3.13 μM. Flow cytometry analysis shows that GCP-1 (7.56–189 μM) clearly induce early apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, and block the cells at the G0/G1 phase. A further study revealed that GCP-1 induces apoptosis by activating the caspases, suppressing the thioredoxin (Trx) system and subsequently activating a number of Trx-dependent pathways, including those involving apoptotic signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). The cyclopeptides in ginseng are an important resource for the research and development of anti-neoplastic drugs.

Gastrointestinal tumors are the most frequently diagnosed malignancy and the second highest contributor to cancer mortality.     

Novel tetrahydroacridine derivatives inhibit human lung adenocarcinoma cell growth by inducing G1 phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

Lung cancer is not only the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide but it is still the leading cause of cancer-related death. Acridine derivatives are a class of anticancer agents with the ability to intercalate DNA and inhibit topoisomerases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sixteen new tetrahydroacridine derivatives on the viability and growth of human lung adenocarcinoma cells. We compared anticancer activity of a series of eight compounds with 4-fluorobenzoic acid and eight compounds with 6-hydrazinonicotnic acid differed from each other in length of the aliphatic chain containing from 2 to 9 carbon atoms. Interestingly, tetrahydroacridine with 4-fluorobenzoic acid (compounds 9–16) showed higher anticancer activity than derivatives with 6-hydrazinonicotnic acid (compounds 1–8) and their efficacy was correlated with increasing number of carbon atoms in the aliphatic chain. The results showed that inhibition of cancer cell growth by the most effective compounds 15 and 16 was associated with induction of G1 phase cell cycle arrest followed by caspase-3 dependent apoptosis. Our findings suggest that tetrahydroacridine with 4-fluorobenzoic acid containing 8 and 9 carbon atoms may be potential candidate for treatment of lung cancer.     

Immunological characterization of human membrane-bound arylamidases from small intestine, lung, kidney, liver, placenta and renal cell carcinoma

Anti-placental and anti-kidney membrane-bound arylamidase antibodies were prepared in rabbits. Both antibodies showed similar titration curves against both the original antigens, and the membrane-bound arylamidases partially purified from small intestine, lung, liver and renal cell carcinoma. Double immunidiffusion tests showed that six membrane-bound arylamidases were immunochemically indistinguishable.     

粉防己碱诱导人肺腺癌细胞SPC-A-1凋亡的机制

目的:观察粉防己碱(tetrandrine,Tet)对人肺腺癌细胞SPC-A-1凋亡的影响机制.方法:培养人肺腺癌细胞SPC-A-1,Hoechst 33258染色观察细胞凋亡形态改变,流式细胞仪观察Tet对凋亡率和细胞周期的影响;Western-blot测定p53、p21及Bax的表达.结果:Hoechst 33258染色、流式细胞仪及琼脂糖凝胶电泳均显示Tet明显诱导细胞凋亡,引起G0/G1期阻滞,Western-blot显示Tet明显提高p53、p21及Bax表达.结论:Tet可诱导人肺腺癌细胞SPC-A-1凋亡,其机制可能与上调p53、p21及Bax表达有关.     

膀胱小细胞神经内分泌癌的病理及临床特征

目的 探讨膀胱小细胞神经内分泌癌的临床病理特征，提高对该病的认识和诊治水平。方法 介绍本例的病理与临床特征，结合国内已报道的39例临床资料及文献，分析该肿瘤的组织来源、病理和免疫组化特征、诊治及预后。结果本例行经尿道膀胱肿瘤电切除，术后病理诊断为小细胞神经内分泌癌。免疫组化染色示肿瘤细胞均表达神经内分泌标记物NSE、CD56和Syn。行膀胱全切术及化疗后，随访1年未见复发。结论 膀胱小细胞神经内分泌癌是一种比较少见的高度恶性肿瘤，有独特的病理形态。临床表现以血尿为主要症状，早期即可发生转移，预后凶险。确诊依靠病理检查及免疫组化，手术切除联合放疗和化疗是主要的有效治疗手段。早期发现是改善预后的关键。     

Survivin反义寡核苷酸诱导胃癌细胞凋亡的研究

目的探讨生存素反义寡核苷酸(ASODN)对人胃癌细胞SGC7901凋亡的诱导作用。方法设计合成特异性靶向survivin ASODN。胃癌细胞株SGC7901分为4组:空白对照组(Sham)、单纯脂质体对照组(Lip)、正义链转染对照组(Lip-SODN)、ASODN转染组(Lip-ASODN)。作用12、24、48 h后收获各组细胞。Western blot法检测各组细胞survivin表达情况,倒置显微镜观察细胞生长形态变化,流式细胞仪检测各组细胞凋亡率,免疫组化SP法检测细胞中Ki67表达。结果脂质体介导survivin ASODN转染后的胃癌细胞出现survivin蛋白表达明显下降;形态学上表现为细胞膜起泡、染色质固缩、凋亡小体形成;细胞凋亡率明显高于各对照组(P<0.05);细胞中Ki67表达水平明显降低。结论survivin反义寡核苷酸转染胃癌细胞能下调survivin蛋白表达,诱导胃癌细胞凋亡,抑制细胞增殖,具有明显的抗癌作用。     

A small molecule IFB07188 inhibits proliferation of human cancer cells by inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

A small molecule, 15b-β-hydroxy-5-N-acetylardeemin (IFB07188), was previously isolated from the fungi Aspergillus terreus. However, the toxicological features of this natural product have never been investigated. In present study, we described the anticancer activities of IFB07188. We found that IFB07188 can decrease the viability and invasive potency of multiple cancer cell lines. Further mechanistic investigation demonstrates that cell cycles are arrested at G2/M phase and the arrest is induced by deregulated cell cycle proteins. A concomitant flow cytometric analysis also shows that IFB07188 can trigger massive apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. The proapoptotic effect of IFB07188-treated cancer cells is characterized by depolarization of mitochondria membrane potential (Δψ_m) and positive Hochest staining. Finally, results from invasion assay suggest that IFB07188 can suppress tumor cell invasion independent of apoptosis. Collectively, these data establish that IFB07188 can effectively inhibit cancer cell growth and invasiveness, prompting its potential use in cancer chemotherapy.     

Inhibition of human lung carcinoma cell growth by apoptosis induction using Semliki Forest virus recombinant particles

We have utilised cell cultures and growth of tumours in nude mice to assess further the potential of the Semliki Forest virus (SFV) vector as a cancer therapy agent. This vector is a transient RNA-based expression vector, and we have previously shown that SFV and its derived vector can induce p53-independent apoptosis by expression of the nonstructural region of the virus genome. Apoptosis induction is therefore an inherent property of the vector and is not dependent on heterologous gene expression. SFV recombinant suicide particles (rSFV) were shown to induce apoptosis in H358a cells, which are human non-small cell lung carcinoma cells deleted in p53. EGFP-expressing rSFV also inhibited the growth of developing H358a spheroids. Direct injection of rSFV into H358a tumours subcutaneously implanted as xenografts in nu/nu mice inhibited tumour growth, and in some cases caused complete regression. It is concluded that tumour growth suppression induced by rSFV was due to apoptosis induction and that the vector has an inherent cell death-promoting and antitumour activity. These results, as well as previous work by other authors on targeting and immune stimulation using alphavirus vectors, indicate that SFV recombinant particles in particular have considerable potential for further exploitation as a cancer therapy agent.     

Novel taspine derivative 12k inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in lung cell carcinoma

Taspine is an active compound in anticancer agent development. 12k was synthesized with taspine as lead compound bearing biphenyl scaffold and showed potent anticancer activity. Here, we investigated the effect of taspine derivative 12k on A549 lung cells. We showed that 12k not only decreased significantly A549 cell viability, A549 cell colony formation but also impaired A549 cell migration. Moreover, 12k treatment blocked cell cycle progression by increasing cell number in S phase to 42.80% for 6 μmol/L vs. 28.86% for control while decreasing cell number in G1 phase. Accordingly, this was associated with an increase protein expression of cyclin E and a decrease protein expression of cyclin D1, cyclin B1 and its associated CDK1 (cdc2). Meanwhile, we found that 12k induced A549 cell apoptosis, which was closely associated with the effect of the Bcl-2 family. Increase of Bad, Bak and Bax expression levels, decrease of Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 expression levels were observed. SiRNA knockdown of c-myc in A549 cells significantly attenuated tumor inhibition effects of 12k. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that 12k has an inhibitory effect on growth of A549 cell by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.     

Abdominal CT in the staging of small cell carcinoma of the lung

Small cell carcinoma of the lung (SCCL) is a fulminant disease process with early extrathoracic dissemination. Surgery for cure has generally been abandoned and combined chemotherapy is the treatment of choice. The staging of SCCL is designed to identify areas of involvement for (1) comparison of therapeutic techniques, (2) prognostic determinations, (3) determination of sites of disease to use for assessment of response, and (4) for determination of areas that may require additional local therapy such as radiation or surgery. The staging evaluation, therefore, is designed to evaluate the extent of extrathoracic disease rather than just the presence of chest involvement. CT scanning has made a valuable contribution to the delineation of intrathoracic and metastatic disease and is now included in the staging workup of patients with SCCL since metastatic involvement of the liver, bone, bone marrow, CNS, and adrenal glands is common.     

Cytogenetic studies in 11 patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung

Small cell carcinoma of the lung has reportedly been associated with structural abnormalities of the short arm of chromosome 3, but most of the previous studies were done on long-term cultures that involved cell lines. In the current study, we investigated the chromosome abnormalities in specimens from primary lung tumors grown in short-term cultures. Cytogenetic studies were done in 11 patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung, and a chromosomally abnormal clone was observed in each tumor. An abnormality of chromosome 3 was observed in six of these tumors.