垂体肿瘤转化基因1对结肠癌SW480细胞增殖的影响及其机制研究

目的 研究垂体肿瘤转化基因 1(Pituitary Tumor Tansforming Gene1,PTTG1)过表达对人结肠癌细胞SW480增殖和周期的影响及其可能机制。方法 采用脂质体转染法将pcDNA3.1(+)-PTTG1及空载pcDNA3.1(+)质粒转染人结肠癌SW480细胞,G418法筛选阳性克隆。Western blot法检测PTTG1和cyclin D、cyclin E、p21的表达。MTT法检测细胞增殖,流式细胞术检测细胞周期。结果 （1）成功获得PTTG1高表达的SW480细胞pcDNA3.1(+)-PTTG1及对照pcDNA3.1(+)细胞,Western blot结果显示pcDNA3.1(+)-PTTG1细胞PTTG1表达量分别为pcDNA3.1(+)细胞和SW480细胞的3.58倍和3.42倍;（2）过表达PTTG1基因后,SW480细胞周期改变,G0/G1期细胞减少而S期和G2/M期细胞增加;细胞周期调控蛋白cyclin D和cyclin E表达升高,p21表达降低;SW480细胞增殖显著性加快。（3） 过表达PTTG1基因后,SW480细胞中PI3K/AKT信号活化增强,使用PI3K/AKT信号抑制剂LY29400干预后,细胞增殖减弱,周期蛋白cyclin D和cyclin E表达降低,p21表达升高。结论 PTTG1基因过表达可能通过活化PI3K/AKT信号加速SW480细胞从G1期向S期的转化促进细胞增殖,提示PTTG1蛋白可能成为结肠癌治疗的一个潜在靶点。     

Methyl selenium-induced vascular endothelial apoptosis is executed by caspases and principally mediated by p38 MAPK pathway

The induction of vascular endothelial cell apoptosis and inhibition of tumor-associated angiogenesis by selenium may contribute to its cancer chemopreventive effects. Here we examined the stress-activated/mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38 MAPK, ERK1/2) and protein kinase B/AKT as potential signaling mediators for apoptosis induction by a methylselenol precursor methylseleninic acid (MSeA) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Time course experiments showed that p38 MAPK hyperphosphorylation and ERK1/2 dephosphorylation occurred before the cleavage of procaspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), whereas AKT dephosphorylation occurred after caspase activation. The p38 MAPK inhibitor SB202190 attenuated the MSeA-induced morphological changes and decreased DNA fragmentation and the cleavage of procaspase-3 and PARP in concordant proportions. The general caspase inhibitor zVADfmk completely blocked the MSeA-induced PARP cleavage and DNA fragmentation, whereas zDEVDfmk, an inhibitor for caspase-3-like activities, was nearly as effective for inhibiting apoptosis. In comparison, apoptosis induced by selenite in HUVECs was observed in the complete absence of an activation of the major caspases. Taken together, the data support p38 MAPK as a key upstream mediator for the methylselenol-specific induction of vascular endothelial caspase-dependent apoptosis, which is principally executed by caspase-3-like activities.     

Effects of heavy metals on mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways

The signaling pathways leading to cellular protection or cell death following exposure to heavy metals have not been fully clarified. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), i.e., extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK transmit extracellular signals into the nucleus, and have been shown to participate in a diverse array of cellular functions such as cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis. Treatment with cadmium, inorganic mercury or tributyltin can activate ERK, JNK and p38 MAPK, and induces the expression of c-fos and c-jun genes prior to the development of apoptosis. However, the members of the MAPK family appear to be differentially activated depending on the heavy metal and the cell type exposed. Consequently, various cellular responses may be caused by the distinct pattern of MAPKs activation. MAPKs may be one of the important cellular signal transduction pathways affected by various environmental pollutants, including heavy metals.     

Induction of apoptosis through the activation of SAPK/JNK followed by the expression of death receptor Fas in X-irradiated cells

A post-irradiation treatment of the human leukemia cell line MOLT-4 with the antioxidant Trolox attenuated caspase-3 dependent apoptosis. The increase in the p53 expression and SAPK/JNK activation after X irradiation was also inhibited by a Trolox treatment, but the expression of BCL-2 and BAX, which would occur downstream from p53, was not changed. Studies on the effects of the intracellular calcium chelator BAPTA-AM on the induction of apoptosis and the activation of SAPK/JNK and caspase-3 proved that the chelation of calcium merely delayed the onset of radiation-induced apoptosis and the activation of SAPK/JNK and caspase-3. When the effects of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximde on the apoptotic signaling pathways, including the activation of caspase family proteins and SAPK/JNK, were investigated, the expression of death receptor Fas through SAPK/JNK activation was found to be required for radiation-induced apoptosis. Finally, the relationship between the amounts of DNA dsb and induction of apoptosis was examined by irradiating BrdU-incorporated cells. An increase in DNA dsb caused by BrdU was found, but the induction of apoptosis was not enhanced. From these data, we could get no positive evidence for DNA as a target of X-rays and p53 as an indispensable factor to induced apoptosis in X-irradiated MOLT-4 cells.     

Low dose beta-carotene supplementation of ferrets attenuates smoke-induced lung phosphorylation of JNK, p38 MAPK, and p53 proteins

We demonstrated previously that smoke exposure and/or high-dose beta-carotene supplementation decreases levels of retinoic acid and retinoic acid receptor beta (RARbeta) protein, but increase levels of c-Jun and proliferating cellular nuclear antigen protein in the lungs of ferrets. In contrast, low-dose beta-carotene can prevent the decreased lung retinoic acid and the smoke-induced lung lesions. In the present study, we investigated whether smoke exposure and/or beta-carotene supplementation could affect Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and p53 in the lungs of ferrets. Ferrets were subjected to cigarette smoke exposure and either a high or low dose of beta-carotene (2 x 3 factorial design) for 6 mo. There were greater protein levels of phosphorylated JNK, p38, and c-Jun, but lower levels of MAPK phophatase-1 (MKP-1) in groups exposed to smoke and/or high dose beta-carotene. Both phosphorylated-p53 and total p53 were substantially increased in the lungs of these groups. In contrast, low-dose beta-carotene greatly attenuated the smoke-induced phosphorylation of JNK, p38, c-Jun, p53, and total p53, accompanied by upregulated MKP-1. Smoke exposure increased MAPK kinase-4 (MKK4) phosphorylation regardless of beta-carotene supplementation. These data indicate that restoration of retinoic acid and MKP-1 by low-dose beta-carotene in the lungs of ferrets may prevent the smoke-induced activation of the JNK-dependent signaling pathway, p38 MAPK, and the associated phosphorylation of p53, thereby lowering the risk of the smoke-related lung lesions. These data provide supportive evidence that the beneficial vs. detrimental effects of beta-carotene supplementation are related to the dosage of beta-carotene administered.     

Role of wild-type p53 in apoptotic and non-apoptotic cell death induced by X-irradiation and heat treatment in p53-mutated mouse M10 cells

The sensitizing effects of wild-type p53 on X-ray-induced cell death and on heat-induced apoptosis in M10, a radiosensitive and Trp53 (mouse p53 gene)-mutated lymphoma cell line which dies through necrosis by X-irradiation, were investigated using three M10 derived transfectants with wild-type TP53 (human p53 gene). Cell death was determined by colony formation and/or dye exclusion test, and apoptosis was detected as the changes in nuclear morphology by Giemsa staining. Expression of wild-type p53 protein increased radiosensitivity of cell death as determined by both clonogenic and dye exclusion assays. This increase in radiosensitivity was attributable largely to apoptosis induction in addition to a small enhancement of necrosis. Interestingly neither pathway to cell death was accompanied by caspase-3 activation. On the other hand, heat-induced caspase-3 dependent apoptotic cell death without transfection was further increased by the transfection of wild-type p53. In conclusion, the introduction of wild-type p53 enhanced apoptotic cell death by X-rays or heat via different mechanisms that do or do not activate caspase-3, respectively. In addition, p53 also enhanced the X-ray-induced necrosis in M10 cells.     

Diallyl trisulfide inhibits angiogenic features of human umbilical vein endothelial cells by causing Akt inactivation and down-regulation of VEGF and VEGF-R2

We have shown recently that diallyl trisulfide (DATS), a cancer-chemopreventive constituent of garlic, inactivates Akt to trigger mitochondrial translocation of proapoptotic protein BAD in human prostate cancer cells. Because Akt activation is implicated in the promotion of endothelial cell survival and angiogenesis, we hypothesized that DATS may inhibit angiogenesis. In the present study, we tested this hypothesis using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) as a model. Survival of HUVECs was reduced significantly in the presence of DATS in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC50 of approximately 4 microM. The DATS-mediated suppression of HUVEC survival was associated with apoptosis induction characterized by accumulation of subdiploid cells, cytoplasmic histone-associated DNA fragmentation, and cleavage of caspase-3 and poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase. The DATS-induced DNA fragmentation was significantly attenuated in the presence of pan-caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk and specific inhibitors of caspase-9 (zLEHD-fmk) and caspase-8 (zIETD-fmk). DATS treatment inhibited the formation of capillary-like tube structure and migration by HUVECs in association with suppression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion and VEGF receptor-2 protein level and inactivation of Akt kinase. DATS treatment also caused activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) but not c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK).DATS-mediatedapoptosis induction and inhibition of HUVEC tube formation was partially but statistically significantly attenuated by pharmacologic inhibition of ERK1/2 but not JNK or p38MAPK. The present study demonstrates, for the first time, that DATS has the ability to inhibit angiogenic features of human endothelial cells.     

(-)Epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin enhance survival signaling in response to oxidant-induced human endothelial apoptosis

We reported recently that (-)epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin inhibited H2O2-induced apoptosis through modulation of the expression of apoptosis-related Bcl-2 and Bax in endothelial cells. This study attempted to identify possible regulatory sites and mechanisms of antiapoptotic flavonoids, focusing on ROS-mediated signaling in HUVEC. The effects of apigenin on the signaling pathway downstream were compared. Submillimolar H2O2 caused >30% cell killing with intracellular oxidant generation. H2O2-induced oxidant generation markedly decreased total intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels. Micromolar (-)epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin partially eliminated the dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCF) and phospho-p53 staining, suggesting that these flavonoids inhibited the accumulation of intracellular oxidants and nuclear transactivation of p53 in H2O2-exposed cells. In contrast, cells treated with apigenin remained DCF and phospho-p53 staining positive in response to H2O2. (-)Epigallocatechin gallate significantly raised the total GSH level that had been depleted by H2O2. Caspase-3 activity was enhanced by H2O2, and this increase was inhibited by (-)epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin. Additionally, the upregulation of caspase-3 activation was reversed by these flavonoids at > or =10 micromol/L; these inhibitory effects were dose dependent. Western blot data revealed that H2O2 upregulated phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), which was rapidly reversed by quercetin within 30 min; H2O2 activation of c-Jun was downregulated. (-)Epigallocatechin gallate inhibited H2O2-induced phosphorylation of JNK and p38 MAPK after 60 min. These results reveal that quercetin blocks JNK- and p38 MAPK-related signaling triggered by the oxidant and may regulate expression of apoptotic downstream genes, preventing apoptosis and promoting cell survival. (-)Epigallocatechin gallate may function as an antiapoptotic agent through other antiapoptotic pathways.     

Expression of apoptosis-associated microRNAs in ethanol-induced acute gastric mucosal injury via JNK pathway

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to be closely associated with cellular apoptosis, but their involvement in response to ethanol-induced gastric mucosal epithelial cell apoptosis remains largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression profile of apoptosis-associated miRNAs in ethanol-induced acute gastric mucosal injury and the mechanisms underlying injury. Gastric mucosal injury was induced in rats by oral administration of ethanol, and gastric tissues were collected for analysis of gastric ulcer index, apoptosis ratio, caspase-3 activity, and miRNAs expression. Cell cultures of human gastric mucosal epithelial cells (GES-1) were incubated with ethanol to induce apoptosis. Mimics or inhibitors of miRNAs or c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor were added to the cell culture medium. GES-1 cells were collected for analysis of apoptosis ratio, caspase-3 activity, miRNAs expression, and protein phosphorylation levels of JNK, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), or extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). In the animal experiments, gastric ulcer index, cellular apoptosis, and caspase-3 activity were significantly increased, accompanied by up-regulation of miR-145 and down-regulation of the microRNAs miR-17, miR-19a, miR-21, miR-181a, and miR-200c. In the human cell culture experiments, the anti-apoptotic effects of miR-19a and miR-21 or pro-apoptotic effect of miR-145 were confirmed by their corresponding mimics or inhibitor; the ethanol-induced GES-1 apoptosis as well as the changes in miRNAs expression were significantly attenuated in the presence of JNK inhibitor. These results demonstrated that miR-145, miR-19a, and miR-21 were the apoptosis-associated miRNAs in gastric mucosal epithelial cells. The regulation of expression of these 3 miRNAs in ethanol-induced GES-1 apoptosis involved the JNK pathway.     

Fas-independent apoptosis induced by UVC in p53-mutated human epithelial tumor A431 cells through activation of caspase-8 and JNK/SAPK

A431 cells/UVC-induced apoptosis/Caspase 8/Fas/JNK/PAPK. We previously observed that p53-mutated human epithelial tumor A431 cells underwent apoptosis after ultraviolet C (UVC) irradiation through the caspases-8 and -3 pathway. Fas/FasL is known to initiate apoptosis in several cell lines via caspase-8 activation. Then, to determine if Fas/FasL mediates apoptosis in A431. we investigated Fas expression and modulation in UVC-irradiated A431 cells. A431 constitutively expressed Fas, which gradually decreased after UVC-irradiation. Pretreatment with a neutralizing anti-Fas antibody, ZB4, did not abrogate the UVC-induced apoptosis. An agonistic anti-Fas antibody, CH11, very slowly induced apoptosis in A431. suggesting that the constitutively expressed Fas had a low functional potential. Hence, UVC-induced apoptosis in A431 seems to occur independent of the Fas signal. Interestingly, however, a pretreatment with CH11 remarkably potentiated UVC-induced apoptosis. An inhibitor of caspase-8, Ac-IETD-CHO, partially inhibited UVC-induced apoptosis. JNK was phosphorylated immediately after exposure to UVC. prior to apoptotic chromatin condensation. Our data suggest that the activation of caspase-8 occurs independent of Fas upregulation, and that JNK/ SAPK contributes to UVC-induced apoptosis in human epithelial A431 cells.     

丝裂原活化蛋白激酶通路正性调节苯并(a)芘所致细胞周期改变

目的 研究苯并（a）芘（BaP）对人胚肺成纤维细胞（HELF）的细胞周期分布及丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（MAPK）信号分子（ERK1／2、JNK1／2和p38）磷酸化水平的影响,并探讨MAPK磷酸化水平改变与细胞周期效应之间的关系。方法 用0．1、0．5、2．5和12．5μmol／L的BaP处理HELF细胞24h,用蛋白印迹方法检测ERK1／2、JNK1／2和p38蛋白激酶的磷酸化水平和蛋白总量的改变,利用流式细胞技术检测2．5μmol／LBaP处理24h后对HELF细胞周期的影响。结果 不同剂量BaP可明显提高ERK1／2、JNK1／2和p38蛋白激酶磷酸化水平;2．5μmol／LBaP处理24h,细胞周期分布与二甲基亚砜对照组相比,G0与G1期细胞数下降了11．9％（F=41．38,P〈0．01）,S期细胞数增加了17．2％（F=68．13,P〈0．01）;三种MAPK化学抑制剂（AG126、SP600125及SB203580）可明显抑制BaP处理引起的细胞周期的改变。结论 ERK1／2、JNK1／2和p38均参与了BaP所致细胞周期改变过程．并发挥币性调节作用。     

Ellagic acid potentiates the effect of quercetin on p21waf1/cip1, p53, and MAP-kinases without affecting intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species in vitro

Anticarcinogenic effects attributed to polyphenols in fruits may be based on synergistic, additive, or antagonistic interactions of many compounds. In a previous study, it was demonstrated that quercetin and ellagic acid interacted synergistically in the induction of apoptosis in the human leukemia cell line, MOLT-4. To investigate possible cellular mechanisms, this study evaluated whether synergistic effects might be detectable within proapoptotic or antiproliferative signal transduction pathways. We found that quercetin and combinations of quercetin and ellagic acid nonsynergistically increased p53 protein levels. In contrast, ellagic acid potentiated the effects of quercetin for p21(cip1/waf1) protein levels and p53 phosphorylation at serine 15, possibly explaining the synergistic effect observed in apoptosis induction. Phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, c-jun N-terminal (JNK)1,2 and p38, was also increased by the combination of ellagic acid and quercetin, whereas quercetin alone induced only p38. We further evaluated whether the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/or quercetin stability were influenced by interactions of ellagic acid with quercetin. Quercetin increased the generation of ROS, which was neither potentiated nor inhibited by ellagic acid. The stability of intracellular and extracellular quercetin was not influenced by the presence of ellagic acid. In summary, quercetin and ellagic acid combined increase the activation of p53 and p21(cip1/waf1) and the MAP kinases, JNK1,2 and p38, in a more than additive manner, suggesting a mechanism by which quercetin and ellagic acid synergistically induce apoptosis in cancer cells.     

Role of Protein Kinase C in TBT-Induced Inhibition of Lytic Function and MAPK Activation in Human Natural Killer Cells

Human natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes that destroy tumor and virally infected cells. Previous studies have shown that exposure of NK cells to tributyltin (TBT) greatly diminishes their ability to destroy tumor cells (lytic function) while activating mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) (p44/42, p38, and JNK) in NK cells. The signaling pathway that regulates NK lytic function appears to include activation of protein kinase C (PKC) as well as MAPK activity. TBT-induced activation of MAPKs would trigger a portion of the NK lytic signaling pathway, which would then leave the NK cell unable to trigger this pathway in response to a subsequent encounter with a target cell. In the present study we evaluated the involvement of PKC in inhibition of NK lysis of tumor cells and activation of MAPKs caused by TBT exposure. TBT caused a 2–3-fold activation of PKC at concentrations ranging from 50 to 300 nM (16–98 ng/ml), indicating that activation of PKC occurs in response to TBT exposure. This would then leave the NK cell unable to respond to targets. Treatment with the PKC inhibitor, bisindolylmaleimide I, caused an 85% decrease in the ability of NK cells to lyse tumor cells, validating the involvement of PKC in the lytic signaling pathway. The role of PKC in the activation of MAPKs by TBT was also investigated using bisindolylmaleimide I. The results indicated that, in NK cells where PKC activation was blocked, there was no activation of the MAPK, p44/42 in response to TBT. However, TBT-induced activation of the MAPKs, p38 and JNK did not require PKC activation. These results indicate the pivotal role of PKC in the TBT-induced loss of NK lytic function including activation of p44/42 by TBT in NK cells.     

腺病毒介导的人突变p27基因转染对人大肠癌细胞系的作用

目的　用人重组p2 7mt腺病毒感染大肠癌细胞株SW 480 ,研究p2 7mt对大肠癌细胞的抑制作用。方法　用重组腺病毒Ad -p2 7mt转染SW 480后 ,用Westernblot检测目的基因的表达 ;用流式细胞仪对转染细胞进行倍体分析 ,绘制生长曲线观察对细胞的生长抑制作用。结果　Ad -p2 7mt转染SW 480后 ,通过Westernblot分析发现p2 7在细胞中出现了高表达 ;PI染色流式细胞仪检测 ,77 9%的细胞阻滞于G0 /G1 期 ,而Ad -LacZ组及空白对照组分别为 2 5 5 7%和 2 5 2 9%(P <0 0 0 1) ;由生长曲线可以看出Ad -p2 7mt于 2 4h内对细胞就有明显的抑制作用 ( P<0 0 5 ) ,且持续时间长。结论　重组腺病毒能够有效转染p2 7mt基因进入SW480细胞内并获得了高表达 ;p2 7mt对细胞周期有明显的阻滞作用且对细胞的生长有明显的抑制作用。突变p2 7是一种细胞周期高效阻滞因子和高效生长抑制因子 ,为p2 7基因治疗大肠癌开辟了一条新途径     

Latex of Euphorbia Antiquorum Induces Apoptosis in Human Cervical Cancer Cells via c-Jun N-terminal Kinase Activation and Reactive Oxygen Species Production

Latex of Euphorbia antiquorum (EA) has inhibitory effects on several different cancer cell lines. However, the molecular mechanism of EA inhibitory effects on human cervical cancer HeLa cell growth has not been explored. EA induced apoptosis, which was characterized by morphological change, DNA fragmentation, increased sub-G1 population, and alterations in levels of apoptosis-associated proteins. Treatment with EA increased cell death and expression levels of caspase-8, -9, and -3. EA suppressed expression of Bcl-2, increased Bax, and reduced cleavage of Bid and the translocation of tBid to the mitochondria and the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. EA caused a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and an increase in cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). EA-induced ROS formation was suppressed by cyclosporine A (an inhibitor of the ΔΨm) or allopurinol (an effective scavenger of ROS). EA also increased expression of Fas, FasL, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and decreased expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2-p. Co-treatment with the JNK inhibitor SP600125 inhibited EA-induced apoptosis and the activation of caspase-8, -9, and -3. Results of this study provide support for the hypothesis that EA causes cell death via apoptotic pathways in human cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa cells.     

ERK和JNK/活化蛋白-1通路在苯并(a)芘诱导人胚肺成纤维细胞周期改变中的作用

目的探讨丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)/转录因子活化蛋白-1(AP-1)信号通路在调控苯并(a)芘[B(a)P]致人胚肺成纤维细胞(HELF)周期改变中的作用。方法用AP-1荧光素酶报告基因技术检测AP-1荧光素酶活力,流式细胞术测定细胞周期时相分布,免疫印迹法检测MAPK[包括细胞外调节蛋白激酶(ERK)、c-Jun氨基末端激酶(JNK)和p38激酶]总量及磷酸化水平,用MAPK显性失活突变体(DN)(DN-ERK2、DN-JNK1和DN-p38)证明通路的上下游关系。结果2μmol/L B(a)P分别处理细胞0、6、122、4 h,AP-1活力在12 h达峰值,是对照组的2.22倍,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);ERK1/2、JNK1/2和p38蛋白激酶的磷酸化水平明显提高,分别是对照组的2.5、14.0和2.1倍;B(a)P处理组S期细胞比例(50.2%±4.6%)与对照组(16.7%±8.1%)相比明显增加,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);ERK2和JNK1显性失活突变体的过表达均可明显降低B(a)P诱导的AP-1活力增强,并且明显降低B(a)P处理组S期细胞比例(分别为33.3%±1.7%,30.8%±3.9%),差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);p38显性失活突变体的过表达对B(a)P引起的AP-1活力增强及S期细胞比例增加无影响。AP-1化学抑制剂姜黄素(20μmol/L)可明显降低B(a)P引起的S期细胞比例增加(13.6%±2.9%),差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论ERK和JNK通过活化AP-1介导B(a)P诱导的细胞周期改变;而B(a)P诱导的AP-1活力增强及细胞周期改变与p38无关。     

Curcumin-Induced Apoptosis in PC3 Prostate Carcinoma Cells Is Caspase-Independent and Involves Cellular Ceramide Accumulation and Damage to Mitochondria

Curcumin, the principal curcuminoid of tumeric, has potent anticancer activity. To determine the mechanism of curcumin-induced cytotoxicity in prostate cancer cells, we exposed PC3 prostate carcinoma cells to 25 to 100 μ M curcumin for 24 to 72 h. Curcumin treatment of PC3 cells caused time- and dose-dependent induction of apoptosis and depletion of cellular reduced glutathione (GSH). Exogenous GSH and its precursor N-acetyl-cysteine, but not ascorbic acid (AA) or ebselen, decreased curcumin accumulation in PC3 cells and also prevented curcumin-induced DNA fragmentation. The failure of AA and ebselen to protect PC3 cells from curcumin-induced apoptosis argued against the involvement of reactive oxygen species; rather, GSH-mediated inhibition of curcumin-induced cytotoxicity was due to reduced curcumin accumulation in PC3 cells. Curcumin-treated PC3 cells showed apoptosis-inducing cellular ceramide accumulation and activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 were activated, and cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) were released from mitochondria following curcumin treatment. Interestingly, curcumin-induced apoptosis was not prevented by p38 MAPK, JNK, or caspase inhibition. We conclude that curcumin-induced cytotoxicity was due to cellular ceramide accumulation and damage to mitochondria that resulted in apoptosis mediated by AIF and other caspase-independent processes.