黄芪皂甙对大鼠肾小球系膜细胞增殖及周期的影响

目的:从细胞水平观察黄芪皂甙对大鼠肾小球系膜细胞增殖及细胞周期的影响,拟验证黄芪皂甙对系膜细胞增殖影响与其浓度的相关性.方法:实验于2006-12/2007-07在辽宁医学院生理实验室完成.取高糖培养的第4～7代大鼠肾小球系膜细胞,随机分为对照组,黄芪皂甙50,100,200mg/L组4组,分别给予等量的高糖培养液及50,100,200mg/L黄芪皂甙,在给药后培养48 h,用MTT比色法检测细胞增殖程度,流式细胞仪检测细胞周期.结果:①MTT法显示培养48 h后,黄芪皂甙50,100,200mg/L组的吸光度值A490nm低于对照组(P＜0.01),且随黄芪皂甙浓度增加而递减.②流式细胞仪检测显示培养48h后,黄芪皂甙50,100,200mg/L组的G0/G1值高于对照组(P＜0.01),且随黄芪皂甙浓度增加而递增.结论:在一定质量浓度范围(50～200 mg/L)内,黄芪皂甙可抑制肾小球系膜细胞增殖,阻止细胞周期进程.     

Sonoporation induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human promyelocytic leukemia cells

Despite being a transient biophysical phenomenon, sonoporation is known to disturb the homeostasis of living cells. This work presents new evidence on how sonoporation may lead to antiproliferation effects including cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis through disrupting various cell signaling pathways. Our findings were obtained from sonoporation experiments conducted on HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells (with 1% v/v microbubbles; 1 MHz ultrasound; 0.3 or 0.5MPa peak negative pressure; 10% duty cycle; 1 kHz pulse repetition frequency; 1 min exposure period). Membrane resealing in these sonoporated cells was first verified using scanning electron microscopy. Time-lapse flow cytometry analysis of cellular deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) contents was then performed at four post-sonoporation time points (4 h, 8 h, 12 h and 24 h). Results indicate that an increasing trend in the apoptotic cell population can be observed for at least 12 h after sonoporation, whilst viable sonoporated cells are found to temporarily accumulate in the G₂/M (gap-2/mitosis) phase of the cell cycle. Further analysis using western blotting reveals that sonoporation-induced apoptosis involves cleavage of poly adenosine diphosphate ribose polymerase (PARP) proteins: a pro-apoptotic hallmark related to loss of DNA repair functionality. Also, mitochondrial signaling seems to have taken part in triggering this cellular event as the expression of two complementary regulators for mitochondrial release of pro-apoptotic molecules, Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) and Bax (Bcl-2-associated X), are seen to be imbalanced in sonoporated cells. Furthermore, sonoporation is found to induce cell-cycle arrest through perturbing the expression of various cyclin and Cdk (cyclin-dependent kinase) checkpoint proteins that play an enabling role in cell-cycle progression. These bioeffects should be taken into account when using sonoporation for therapeutic purposes.     

Citral inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in MCF-7 cells

Many natural components of plants extract are studied for their beneficial effects on health and particularly on carcinogenesis chemoprevention. In this study, we investigated the effect of citral (3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienal), a key component of essential oils extracted from several herbal plants, on the proliferation rate, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis of the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. The effects of this compound were also tested on cyclo-oxygenase activity. Citral treatment caused inhibition of MCF-7 cell growth (IC₅₀-48 h: 18  ×  10⁻⁵  m ), with a cycle arrest in G₂/M phase and apoptosis induction. Moreover, we observed a decrease in prostaglandin E₂ synthesis 48 h after citral treatment. These findings suggest that citral has a potential chemopreventive effect.     

人颈椎间盘退变与细胞凋亡及基质金属蛋白酶11的表达

背景:前期研究发现基质金属蛋白酶11基因在人退变颈、腰椎间盘组织中明显上调.目的:观察人退变颈椎间盘髓核组织中基质金属蛋白酶11的表达与细胞凋亡的关系.方法:纳入30个经MRI确认的退变颈椎间盘髓核组织和20个因颈椎创伤治疗获得的正常颈椎间盘髓核组织.结果与结论:苏木精-伊红染色显示退变的颈椎间盘髓核组织中髓核细胞较正常髓核组织明显减少(P < 0.01),而凋亡细胞较正常髓核组织明显增多(P < 0.01).免疫组化染色显示退变的颈椎间盘髓核组织中基质金属蛋白酶11的表达明显高于正常髓核组织(P < 0.01),且基质金属蛋白酶11表达与TUNEL染色检测到的细胞凋亡正相关(r=0.44,P < 0.05).说明高表达的基质金属蛋白酶11不仅可直接破坏细胞外基质尚可诱导髓核细胞凋亡,在椎间盘退变的过程中发挥重要作用.     

人颈椎间盘退变与细胞凋亡及基质金属蛋白酶11的表达

背景：前期研究发现基质金属蛋白酶11基因在人退变颈、腰椎间盘组织中明显上调。目的：观察人退变颈椎间盘髓核组织中基质金属蛋白酶11的表达与细胞凋亡的关系。方法：纳入30个经MRI确认的退变颈椎间盘髓核组织和20个因颈椎创伤治疗获得的正常颈椎间盘髓核组织。结果与结论：苏木精-伊红染色显示退变的颈椎间盘髓核组织中髓核细胞较正常髓核组织明显减少（P〈0.01）,而凋亡细胞较正常髓核组织明显增多（P〈0.01）。免疫组化染色显示退变的颈椎间盘髓核组织中基质金属蛋白酶11的表达明显高于正常髓核组织（P〈0.01）,且基质金属蛋白酶11表达与TUNEL染色检测到的细胞凋亡正相关（r=0.44,P〈0.05）。说明高表达的基质金属蛋白酶11不仅可直接破坏细胞外基质尚可诱导髓核细胞凋亡,在椎间盘退变的过程中发挥重要作用。     

Tangeretin induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through upregulation of PTEN expression in glioma cells

Tangeretin (TANG), present in peel of citrus fruits, has been shown to various medicinal properties such as chemopreventive and neuroprotective. However, the chemopreventive effect of TANG on glioblastoma cells has not been examined. The present study was designed to explore the anticancer potential of TANG in glioblastoma cells and to investigate the related mechanism. Human glioblastoma U-87MG and LN-18 cells were treated with 45 μM concentration of TANG and cell growth was measured by MTT assay. The cell cycle distribution and cell death were measured by flow cytometry. The expression of cell cycle and apoptosis related genes were analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR and western blot. The cells treated with TANG were significantly increased cell growth suppression and cell death effects than vehicle treated cells. Further, TANG treatment increases G₂/M arrest and apoptosis by modulating PTEN and cell-cycle regulated genes such as cyclin-D and cdc-2 mRNA and protein expressions. Moreover, the ability of TANG to decrease cell growth and to induce cell death was compromised when PTEN was knockdown by siRNA. Taken together, the chemopreventive effect of TANG is associated with regulation of cell-cycle and apoptosis in glioblastoma, thereby attenuating glioblastoma cell growth. Hence, the present findings suggest that TANG may be a therapeutic agent for glioblastoma treatment.     

Plumbagin induces ROS-mediated apoptosis and cell cycle arrest and inhibits EMT in human cervical carcinoma cells

Plumbagin, an important phytochemical from the roots of the medicinal plant Plumbago zeylanica L. has shown many biological activities. The roots of this plant have been in use in the Indian system of medicine for more than twenty five centuries for treatments of various ailments. It has shown anticancer activities, however, the anticancer and anti-metastatic effects of plumbagin are largely unknown against cervical cancer cells. Herein, we investigated the molecular alterations associated with plumbagin-mediated inhibition of growth, survival and epithelial to mesenchymal transition of human cervical cancer SiHa and HeLa cells. Plumbagin (1–4 μM) caused a significant decrease in the cell viability and increased the cell death in SiHa and Hela cells after 24 and 48 h. Plumbagin also caused strong G2/M and S-G2/M phase cell cycle arrest in SiHa and HeLa cells, respectively which was accompanied by a decrease in the expression of cyclin and CDK levels. The expression levels of both mRNAs and proteins of cyclin B1, A and E2 and CDK 1 and 2 decreased after 24 and 48 h. Plumbagin strongly induced apoptosis along with increased ratio of Bax : Bcl2 and cleavage of caspase 3, 9, and PARP. Plumbagin caused a significant increase in reactive oxygen species generation which mediated cell death as it was attenuated by pre-treatment with N-acetyl cysteine. Additionally, we also report for the first time that plumbagin possesses an anti-metastatic effect at non-cytotoxic doses that was accompanied by the modulation of MMP-2, 9, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, β-catenin and vimentin. Taken together, our findings suggest that plumbagin has strong anticancer and anti-metastatic effects against human cervical cancer cells.

Proposed mechanism of action of plumbagin in human cervical carcinoma SiHa and HeLa cells.     

Indirubin-3-monooxime induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in Hep-2 human laryngeal carcinoma cells

The commercially available analogue of indirubin, indirubin-3-oxime, is known for its antitumor activities. To further establish its role in anticancer activity, we tested its potential against human laryngeal carcinoma cell line (Hep-2). We investigated the molecular mechanisms of indirubin-induced apoptosis and growth arrest in human laryngeal carcinoma cells. Upon treatment with indirubin-3-monooxime, a time dependent inhibition of cell growth was observed and cells developed many hallmark features of apoptosis. The increase of chromatin condensation after treatment with indirubin-3-oxime identified by staining with chromatin stain Hoechst 333258 indicates apoptosis. The observed increase in DNA fragmentation after indirubin-3-oxime in DNA gel electrophoresis indicates the apoptotic feature exhibited by the drug. Flow cytometric analysis confirmed that indirubin increased populations of apoptotic phase G1. Indirubin-3-oxime-induced growth inhibition was associated with induction of Cdk inhibitor p21, inhibition of cyclin D1 and activation of caspase-3. We conclude that indirubin-3-oxime induces cell death and apoptosis in human laryngeal carcinoma cells.     

Initiation of apoptosis,cell cycle arrest and autophagy of esophageal cancer cells by dihydroartemisinin

Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) has recently been shown anti-tumor activity in various cancer cells. However, its effect on esophageal cancer remains unclear. In this study, for the first time, we demonstrated that DHA reduced viability of esophageal cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. The mechanism was at least partially due to DHA induced apoptosis by upregulating the expression of Bax, downregulating Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and Procaspase-3, and increasing caspase-9 activation, induced cell cycle arrest by downregulating cyclin E, CDK2 and CDK4. Furthermore, we firstly found that DHA induced autophagy in cancer cells. We concluded DHA might be a novel agent against esophageal cancer.     

Molecular targets for apigenin-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in prostate cancer cell xenograft

Apigenin (4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone) is a promising chemopreventive agent abundantly present in fruits and vegetables that has been shown to promote cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in various malignant cell lines. To determine whether pharmacologic intervention with apigenin has a direct growth inhibitory effect on human prostate tumors implanted in athymic nude mice, we examined cell cycle regulatory molecules as precise molecular targets of apigenin action. Apigenin feeding by gavage to these mice at doses of 20 and 50 microg/mouse/d in 0.2 mL of a vehicle containing 0.5% methyl cellulose and 0.025% Tween 20 resulted in significant decreases in tumor volume and mass of androgen-sensitive 22Rv1 and androgen-insensitive PC-3-implanted cells. Oral intake of apigenin resulted in dose-dependent (a) increase in the protein expression of WAF1/p21, KIP1/p27, INK4a/p16, and INK4c/p18; (b) down-modulation of the protein expression of cyclins D1, D2, and E; and cyclin-dependent kinases (cdk), cdk2, cdk4, and cdk6; (c) decrease in retinoblastoma phosphorylation at serine 780; (d) increase in the binding of cyclin D1 toward WAF1/p21 and KIP1/p27; and (e) decrease in the binding of cyclin E toward cdk2 in both types of tumors. In addition, apigenin feeding resulted in stabilization of p53 by phosphorylation at serine 15 in 22Rv1 tumors, which seems to exhibit p53-dependent growth inhibitory responses. Apigenin intake by these mice also resulted in induction of apoptosis, which positively correlated with serum and tumor apigenin levels. Taken together, this is the first systematic in vivo study showing the involvement of cell cycle regulatory proteins as potential molecular targets of apigenin.     

大黄素干预高糖培养大鼠肾小球系膜细胞的凋亡

背景:前期工作已经证实中药复方消可宁(制大黄、制附子、生黄芪)能有效防治早期糖尿病肾病并获得国家专利(专利号:200410064899X)。目的:观察大黄主要活性成分大黄素对高糖培养的SD大鼠肾小球系膜细胞凋亡的影响。方法:用20,40,80μmol/L大黄素刺激高糖培养的SD大鼠肾小球系膜细胞,苏木精-伊红染色观察凋亡细胞形态,4’,6-二脒基-2-苯基吲哚荧光染色观察细胞核凋亡情况,流式细胞仪观察细胞凋亡率。结果与结论:苏木精-伊红染色及4’,6-二脒基-2-苯基吲哚染色结果显示大黄素对高糖培养的肾小球系膜细胞的凋亡有影响,且与浓度与时间成正相关,细胞凋亡率组间差异有显著性意义(P<0.05)。提示大黄素可诱导肾小球系膜细胞凋亡,且与药物浓度及时间成正相关。     

Rhein effects on apoptosis of glomerular mesangial cells cultured with high glucose in Sprague Dawley rats

BACKGROUND:Our previous study has already manifested that Chinese medicine Xiaokening containing Rhein can effectively control the development of early diabetic nephropathy. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of Rhein on apoptosis of glomerular mesangial cel s (GMCs) of Sprague Dawley rats cultured with high glucose. METHODS:The GMCs cultured with high glucose were stimulated by different concentrations of Rhein (20,40,80μmol/L). Morphology of GMCs was discriminated by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Karyon apoptosis was examined by fluorescence staining of 4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). Cel apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The outcome of hematoxylin-eosin staining and 4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining indicated that Rhein could obviously induce apoptosis of GMCs in a dose-and time-dependent manner. The apoptosis rate had significant difference among different groups (P<0.05). This result shows that Rhein can obviously induce apoptosis of GMCs cultured with high glucose and in a dose-and time-dependent manner.     

大黄酸可影响高糖培养SD大鼠肾小球系膜细胞的凋亡

背景：含有大黄的复方中药消可宁能有效防治早期糖尿病肾病。目的：观察大黄酸对髙糖培养的SD大鼠肾小球系膜细胞凋亡的影响。方法：以20,40,80μmol/L浓度的大黄酸刺激髙糖培养的肾小球系膜细胞,苏木精-伊红染色观察凋亡细胞形态,DAPI荧光染色观察细胞核凋亡情况,流式细胞仪观察细胞凋亡率。结果与结论：苏木精-伊红染色及DAPI染色结果显示大黄酸可促进髙糖培养的肾小球系膜细胞的凋亡,且与浓度与时间成正相关。各组肾小球系膜细胞的细胞凋亡率差异有显著性意义（P〈0.05）,表明大黄酸对髙糖培养的肾小球系膜细胞凋亡产生影响且与浓度及时间成正相关。     

Allyl‐isatin suppresses cell viability,induces cell cycle arrest,and promotes cell apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells

The anticancer effect of the newly synthesized isatin derivative, N‐allyl‐isatin (Allyl‐I), was evaluated in vitro with human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. Cell viability was detected by cell counting kit‐8 (CCK8) assay. Acridine orange (AO)/ethidium bromide (EB) double staining was used to observe the cell morphology. Flow cytometry was used to assess the effects of Allyl‐I on the cell cycle, apoptosis rate, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Western blot analysis was performed to detect the influence of Ally1‐I on the expression of cytochrome c (cyt c), Bax, Bcl‐2, and cleaved caspase‐3. Allyl‐I significantly inhibited HepG2 cell viability in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. Allyl‐I can induce cell cycle arrest in HepG2 cells at the G2/M phase. Apoptotic nuclear morphological changes were observed after AO/EB double staining. Fluorescein isothiocyanate‐conjugated Annexin V (Annexin V‐FITC) and propidium iodide (PI) double staining showed that the apoptotic rates significantly increased in the presence of Allyl‐I. Rhodamine 123 staining indicated that Allyl‐I can decrease the MMP. Allyl‐I also altered the expression of mitochondrial apoptosis‐related proteins. Protein levels of cyt c and cleaved caspase‐3 were upregulated following Allyl‐I treatment. By contrast, the Bcl‐2/Bax ratio decreased. Results suggest that Allyl‐I suppresses cell viability, induces cell cycle arrest, and promotes cell apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, the induction of apoptosis might be correlated with the mitochondrial pathway.     

Synthetic phosphoethanolamine induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells through the mitochondrial pathway

Phosphoethanolamine (Pho-s) is a compound involved in phospholipid turnover, acting as a substrate for many phospholipids of the cell membranes. In a recent study, we showed that Pho-s has antitumor effect in the several tumor cells. In this study we evaluated the antitumor activity of synthetic Pho-s on MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Here we demonstrate that Pho-s is cytotoxic to MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner, while it is cytotoxic to MCF10 only at higher concentrations. In addition, Pho-s induces a disruption in mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm). Furthermore, Pho-s induces mitochondria aggregates in the cytoplasm and DNA fragmentation of MCF-7 cells visualized by confocal microscopy. In agreement with the reduction on Δψm, we showed that Pho-s induces apoptosis followed by an increase in cytochrome c expression and capase-3-like activity in MCF-7 cells. Our results demonstrate that Pho-s induces a cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase through an inhibition of cyclin D1 and stimulates p53. An additional highlight of this study is the finding that Pho-s inhibits Bcl-2, inducing apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. Taken together, these results show that Pho-s is a promising compound in the fight against cancer.     

Novel indole retinoid derivative induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest and modulates AKT and ERK signaling in HL-60 cells

Chemotherapy with targeted drugs is the first line therapy option for acute and chronic myeloid leukemia. However, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may be used in high-risk patients or patients with failed responses to chemo drugs. Discovery and development of more effective new agents with lower side effects is the main aim of leukemia treatment. In this study, a novel retinoid compound with tetrahydronaphthalene ring was synthesized and evaluated for anticancer activity in human chronic and acute myeloid leukemia cell lines K562 and HL-60. Novel N-(1H-indol-1-yl)-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-carboxamide was synthesized based on molecular hybridization of the two different bioactive structures retinoid head and indole. The effects of the synthesized carboxamide compound, which was referred to as compound 5 , were determined in K562 chronic myeloid leukemia and HL-60 acute myeloid leukemia cell lines and L929 fibroblast cell line, which served as a control. Colorimetric MTT and caspase3 activity tests, flow cytometry, western blot, and microscopic examinations were used to evaluate biological activity. Compound 5 more effectively induced cell death in HL60 cells in comparison to K562 cells and L929 fibroblast cells. Therefore, further mechanism of cell death was investigated in HL60 cell line. It was found that compound 5 induced remarkable cytotoxicity, caspase3 activation, and PARP fragmentation in HL60 cells. Flow cytometric staining showed that the percentage of cells arrested in G0/G1 was also increased with compound 5 treatment. Important modulator proteins of cell proliferation p-ERK, p-AKT, and p-m-TOR were also found to be inhibited with compound 5 treatment. Collectively, our results reveal compound 5 , which is a novel indole retinoid compound as a potential active agent for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia.     

Isostrychnopentamine,an indolomonoterpenic alkaloid from Strychnos usambarensis,induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human colon cancer cells

Isostrychnopentamine (ISP) is an indolomonoterpenic alkaloid that is present in the leaves of Strychnos usambarensis, a well known African shrub or little tree. The roots contain quaternary alkaloids, which are used to make a curare-like arrow poison. However, tertiary alkaloids isolated from the same plant possess cytotoxic activities against mammalian cells and protozoa. The effect of ISP has been investigated on the growth and viability of HCT-116 colon cancer cells during their exponentially growing phase. ISP induced apoptotic cell death as shown by the translocation of phosphatidylserine from the inner layer to the outer layer of the plasma membrane, chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, and caspase-3 and -9 activation. ISP provoked also cell cycle arrest in the G(2)-M phase. We also showed that the expression of p53 was not modified in ISP-treated cells, but that p21 was induced in a p53-independent manner. Finally, we demonstrated that ISP did not affect the catalytic activity of human topoisomerases I and II. In conclusion, ISP, which promotes cell death by a p53-independent apoptotic pathway, could be an interesting lead for cancer chemotherapy.     

Carbamylated proteins activate glomerular mesangial cells and stimulate collagen deposition

Carbamylated proteins formed in renal insufficiency from the spontaneous decomposition of urea exert a variety of metabolic effects. Here we examined the effects of carbamylated proteins on glomerular mesangial cells to determine whether urea retention in early renal insufficiency may itself promote glomerular sclerosis and hasten the progression to kidney failure. To this effect we carbamylated fetal bovine serum proteins in vitro and tested their effect on mesangial cell proliferation (by tritiated thymidine uptake), de novo protein synthesis (by tritiated leucine uptake), collagen I and collagen IV accumulation (by avidin-biotin enzyme immunoassay), and gelatinase levels in the medium (by zymography and quantitative fluorescence assay). Carbamylated fetal bovine serum at concentrations present in uremia increased tritiated thymidine incorporation by 50% without altering tritiated leucine incorporation, and it increased collagens I and IV in the monolayer by 150% to 300%. Gelatinase activity was unchanged. We conclude that carbamylated proteins can activate mesangial cells to a profibrogenic phenotype. From a clinical perspective, the carbamylation of proteins by elevated urea levels may accelerate the progression to kidney failure and thus set up a vicious cycle in which the nitrogen retention itself would cause further progression of fibrosis and deterioration of kidney function.     

Mesangial cell apoptosis: the major mechanism for resolution of glomerular hypercellularity in experimental mesangial proliferative nephritis.

Increases in mesangial cell number may herald glomerular scarring, but they are not irreversible. This study sought mechanisms by which surplus glomerular mesangial cells can be cleared. A small proportion of cultured mesangial cells exhibited typical morphological features of apoptosis (programmed cell death), which was increased by growth factor deprivation or exposure to cycloheximide, stimuli known to increase apoptosis in other cell types. Apoptosis was confirmed by typical internucleosomal chromatin cleavage. In vivo, clear morphological evidence of mesangial apoptosis leading to phagocytosis by neighboring mesangial cells was obtained in self-limited mesangial proliferation induced in rats by Thy1.1 antibody, apoptosis occurring approximately 10-fold more frequently than in the healthy rat glomerulus. Indeed, changes in glomerular cell number in Thy1.1 nephritis strongly suggested that apoptosis is the major cell clearance mechanism counterbalancing cell division, thereby mediating resolution of glomerular hypercellularity in experimental mesangial proliferation.     

RNAi targeting CXCR4 inhibits tumor growth through inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is involved in many human malignant tumors and plays an important role in tumor growth and metastasis. To explore the effects of CXCR4 expression on the malignant cells of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), Tca8113 and SCC-9 cell lines, as well as their xenograft models, of nude mice were used to detect cancer cell proliferation alteration. This study also examined the corresponding molecular mechanism after CXCR4 knockdown using a recombinant lentiviral vector expressing small interference RNA (siRNA) for CXCR4. RNA interference-mediated knockdown of CXCR4 in highly aggressive (Tca8113 and SCC-9) tumor cells significantly inhibited the proliferation of the two cell lines in vitro and in vivo. The expression levels of >1,500 genes involved in cell cycle, apoptosis, and multiple signaling pathways were also altered. These results provide new evidence of CXCR4 as a promising tumor gene therapeutic target.