Simvastatin induces apoptosis in human breast cancer cells: p53 and estrogen receptor independent pathway requiring signalling through JNK

The effect of simvastatin, a widely used statin for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, was investigated in the estrogen receptor (ER)-positive MCF-7, and the ER-negative MDA-MB 231 human breast cancer cell lines. Simvastatin induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in both cells. These effects of simvastatin were not altered by 17-β-estradiol treatment.

MCF-7 cells express wild-type tumor suppressor protein p53, whereas MDA-MB 231 cells carry a p53 mutation. However, no alteration in the level or localisation of p53 was observed with simvastatin treatment in either cell line. On the other hand, simvastatin strongly stimulated phosphorylation of c-jun which was completely abolished by the c-jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor SP600125, which also significantly reduced the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of simvastatin in these cells.

In conclusion, we describe here that simvastatin induces apoptosis via involvement of JNK in breast cancer cells independent of their ER or p53 expression status. These findings indicate a great potential for statins for the treatment of cancers resistant to currently used drugs, and target the JNK signalling pathway for a novel approach of breast cancer treatment.     

Icariin,a natural flavonol glycoside,induces apoptosis in human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells via a ROS/JNK-dependent mitochondrial pathway

In this study, the anticancer effect of icariin, a natural flavonol glycoside, against human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells and the underlying mechanisms were investigated. Icariin triggered the mitochondrial/caspase apoptotic pathway indicated by enhanced Bax-to-Bcl-2 ratio, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release, and caspase cascade. Moreover, icariin induced a sustained activation of the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) but not p38 and ERK1/2, and SP600125 (an inhibitor of JNK) almost reversed icariin-induced apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells. In addition, icariin provoked the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in SMMC-7721 cells, while the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine almost completely blocked icariin-induced JNK activation and apoptosis. Taken together, these findings suggest that icariin induces apoptosis through a ROS/JNK-dependent mitochondrial pathway.     

维生素E琥珀酸酯诱导内质网应激激活JNK的表达对人胃癌SGC-7901细胞自噬的影响

目的:研究c-Jun氨基末端激酶(c-Jun N-terminal kinase,JNK)在维生素E琥珀酸酯(vitamin E succinate,VES)激活内质网应激诱导人胃癌SGC-7901细胞自噬过程中发挥的作用.方法:用不同剂量VES(5、10、15、20μg/ml)分别处理SGC-7901细胞24 h,采...     

Diosgenin induces death receptor-5 through activation of p38 pathway and promotes TRAIL-induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells

Previously, we demonstrated that diosgenin induced apoptosis in colorectal cancer cell lines HCT-116 and HT-29. HT-29 cells have been reported to be one of the most resistant colorectal cancer cell lines to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the effect of diosgenin on TRAIL-induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells. We showed that diosgenin sensitizes HT-29 cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Mechanisms underlying this sensitization mainly involved diosgenin-induced p38 MAPK pathway activation and subsequent DR5 overexpression. Furthermore, we showed that diosgenin alone, TRAIL alone or combination treatment increased COX-2 expression and that the use of a COX-2 inhibitor further increased apoptosis induction.     

Calyxin Y induces hydrogen peroxide-dependent autophagy and apoptosis via JNK activation in human non-small cell lung cancer NCI-H460 cells

Calyxin Y has been recently isolated from Alpinia katsumadai which has a folk use as an anti-tumor medicine. Calyxin Y induced caspase-dependent cell death in NCI-H460 cells, and concomitantly, provoked cytoprotective autophagy with the upregulation of critical Atg proteins. The cleavage of Atg proteins by caspases acted as a switch between autophagy and apoptosis induced by calyxin Y. Intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) production was triggered upon exposure to calyxin Y via the induction of autophagy and apoptosis. We provided evidence that activated JNK was upstream effectors controlling both autophagy and apoptosis in response to elevated H₂O₂. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that calyxin Y serves multiple roles as a promising chemotherapeutic agent that induces H₂O₂-dependent autophagy and apoptosis via JNK activation.     

Title aggregation patterns of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions induced by 5-fluorouracil in the nuclei of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

The effects of tamoxifen and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on the patterns of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in MCF7 human breast cancer cells were studied. Tamoxifen and 5-FU both inhibited the growth of MCF-7 cells by 18% by day 3 of culture, but each had different effects on the AgNORs. Whereas no significant changes were induced by tamoxifen, effects on the AgNORs of MCF-7 cells by 5-FU were dramatic: 5-FU treatment changed the pattern of AgNORs, reducing the number of satellites by aggregation, typically to a single aggregation around nucleoli in a sphenoidal fashion. We named these morphological changes: fluorouracil induced AgNOR aggregations (FAA). Following treatment with 500 ng/ml 5-FU, FAA developed rapidly, AgNORs forming two or three aggregates in 24% (6 h), 24% (12 h), 40% (24 h) and 34% (48 h) of cells, compared to a control rate of 14%. Single large aggregate was rarely found in untreated cultures but after 6, 12, 24 and 48 h treatment with 500 ng/ml 5-FU, AgNORs had formed a single aggregate in 6, 8, 16 and 22% of cells, respectively. FAA were observed at a concentration of 100 ng/ml 5-FU; 48 h treatment resulted in cells in which two or three aggregates were increased by 24% and a single aggregate by 16%. These large single aggregates were larger than nucleoli stained by Papanicolau staining.     

Rottlerin induces autophagy and apoptosis in prostate cancer stem cells via PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

Autophagy plays an important role in cellular homeostasis through the disposal and recycling of cellular components. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play major roles in cancer initiation, progression, and drug resistance. Rottlerin (Rott) is an active molecule isolated from Mallotus philippinensis, a medicinal plant used in Ayurvedic Medicine for anti-allergic and anti-helminthic treatments, demonstrates anticancer activities. However, the molecular mechanisms by which it induces autophagy in prostate CSCs have not been examined. The main objective of the paper was to examine the molecular mechanisms by which Rott induces autophagy in prostate CSCs. Autophagy was measured by the lipid modification of light chain-3 (LC3) and the formation of autophagosomes. Apoptosis was measured by flow cytometer analysis. The Western blot analysis was used to examine the effects of Rott on the expression of PI3K, phosphorylation of Akt, phosphorylation of mTOR, and phosphorylation of AMPK in pros CSCs. RNAi technology was used to inhibit the expression of Beclin-1 and ATG-7. Rott induced the lipid modification of light chain-3 (LC3) and the formation of autophagosomes after 24 h of Rott treatment in prostate CSCs. Rott-treated prostate CSCs induced transition from LC3-I to LC3-II, a hall mark of autophagy. Rott also induced the expression of Atg5, Atg7, Atg12 and Beclin-1 proteins during autophagy. The knock-down of Atg7 and Beclin-1 blocked Rott-induced autophagy. Furthermore, Rott induced AMPK phosphorylation was blocked by 3-MA, Baf and CHX. In addition, inhibition of AMPK expression by shRNA blocked Rott induced autophagy. In conclusion, a better understanding of the biology of autophagy and the pharmacology of autophagy modulators has the potential for facilitating the development of autophagy-based therapeutic interventions for prostate cancer.     

Activation of SAPK/JNK mediated the inhibition and reciprocal interaction of DNA methyltransferase 1 and EZH2 by ursolic acid in human lung cancer cells

Background

Ursolic acid (UA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid, is known to have anti-tumor activity in various cancers including human non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the action of UA remain largely unknown.

Methods

Cell viability was measured by MTT assays. Apoptosis was analyzed with Annexin V-FITC/PI Apoptosis Detection Kit by Flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was performed to measure the phosphorylation and protein expression of stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK), DNMT1 [DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 1], enhancer of zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit (EZH2) and SP1. Exogenous expression of SP1 and DNMT1 was carried out by transient transfection assays.

Results

We showed that UA inhibited the growth and induced apoptosis of NSCLC cells in the dose- and time-dependent fashion. Furthermore, we found that UA induced phosphorylation of SAPK/JNK and suppressed the protein expression of DNMT1 and EZH2. The inhibitor of SAPK/JNK (SP600125) blocked the UA-reduced expression of DNMT1 and EZH2. In addition, UA suppressed the expression of SP1 protein. Conversely, overexpression of SP1 reversed the effect of UA on DNMT1 and EZH2 expression, and feedback attenuated UA-induced phosphorylation of SAPK/JNK. Moreover, exogenous expression of DNMT1 antagonized the effect of UA on SAPK/JNK signaling, EZH2 protein expression, and NSCLC cell growth.

Conclusion

Our results show that UA inhibits growth of NSCLC cells through SAPK/JNK-mediated inhibition of SP1; this in turn results in inhibition the expression of DNMT1 and EZH2. Overexpression of DNMT1 diminishes UA-reduced EZH2 protein expression. The negative feedback regulation of SAPK/JNK signaling by SP1 and DNMT1, and the reciprocal interaction of EZH2 and DNMT1 contribute to the overall effects of UA. This study leads to important new insights into the mechanisms by which UA controls growth of NSCLC cells.     

Co-administration of perifosine with paclitaxel synergistically induces apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells: more than just AKT inhibition

Here we report an oral alkylphospholipid perifosine dramatically sensitizes chemo-resistant ovarian cancer cells to paclitaxel induced cell death and apoptosis in vitro. We found that co-administration perifosine with paclitaxel in human ovarian cancer cells led to the inhibition of AKT/mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1), a marked increase in ceramide and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and a striking increase in the activation of pro-apoptosis pathways, including caspase 3, c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). These signaling events together caused a marked increase of cancer cell apoptosis. Combining paclitaxel with perifosine may represent a novel anti-ovarian cancer strategy.     

Mortalin maintains breast cancer stem cells stemness via activation of Wnt/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathway

Previous research indicated that mortalin overexpressed in breast cancer and contributed to carcinogenesis. Mortalin was also demonstrated to promote Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and was considered as a factor for maintaining the stemness of the cancer stem cells. However, the underlying mechanisms about mortalin maintaining the stemness of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) remain unclear. Here, we identified that increased expression of mortalin in breast cancer was associated with poorer overall survival rate. Mortalin was elevated in breast cancer cell lines and BCSC-enriched populations. Additionally, knockdown of mortalin significantly inhibited the cell proliferation, migration and EMT, as well as sphere forming capacity and stemness genes expression. Further study revealed that mortalin promoted EMT and maintained BCSCs stemness via activating the Wnt/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro. Taken together, these findings unveiled the mechanism of mortalin in maintaining and regulating the stemness of BCSCs, and may offer novel therapeutic strategies for breast cancer treatment.     

p70/p85 核糖体蛋白S6激酶1重组真核表达载体的构建及其在人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞内功能的初步鉴定

目的：构建p70 核糖体蛋白S6激酶1（p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1,p70 S6K1）及p85 S6K1基因的真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(-)-flag-p70 S6K1和pcDNA3.1(-)-flag-p85 S6K1,并鉴定其在人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞内的表达及功能。 方法： 以pRK7-HA-S6K1为模板,采用PCR扩增出目的基因片段p70 S6K1、p85 S6K1,克隆入真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(-)-flag构建重组表达载体pcDNA3.1(-)-flag-p70 S6K1和pcDNA3.1(-)-flag-p85 S6K1,采用PCR、双酶切和DNA测序鉴定。将重组载体转染MCF-7细胞,24 h后采用Western blotting方法检测细胞内p70 S6K1、p85 S6K1蛋白的表达;同时向转染细胞内加入1 mmol/L H2O2处理36 h,观察p70 S6K1、p85 S6K1蛋白对H2O2诱导的细胞死亡的影响。 结果： 成功扩增得到p70 S6K1、p85 S6K1基因片段并构建重组真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(-)-flag-p70 S6K1和pcDNA3.1(-)-flag-p85 S6K1,重组载体经PCR、双酶切鉴定均出现p70 S6K1和p85 S6K1预期条带,DNA测序结果显示其全长基因阅读框完整、正确。重组载体在MCF-7细胞中高效表达flag-p70 S6K1和flag-p85 S6K1,且p85 S6K1能增强H2O2诱导的细胞死亡。 结论：成功构建重组真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(-)-flag-p70 S6K1和pcDNA3.1(-)-flag-p85 S6K1,均能在MCF-7细胞中高效表达,且p85 S6K1能够增强H2O2诱导的细胞死亡。     

Wnt signaling pathway: Implications for therapy in lung cancer and bone metastasis

Lung cancer remains a major worldwide health problem and patients have high rate of metastasis including bone. Although pathologic characteristics of this disease are clear and well established, much remains to be understood about this tumor, particularly at the molecular signaling level. Secreted signaling molecules of the Wnt family have been widely investigated and found to play a prominent role to induce human malignant diseases, such as breast and prostate cancer. A variety of studies have also demonstrated that the Wnt signaling pathway is closely associated with bone malignancies including osteosarcoma, multiple myeloma, and breast or prostate cancer induced bone metastasis. The aim of this review is to provide a summary regarding the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in lung cancer and bone metastasis, highlighting the aberrant activation of Wnt in this malignancy. We also discuss the potential therapeutic applications for the treatment of lung cancer and cancer induced bone metastasis targeting the Wnt pathway.     

Targeting ER stress induced apoptosis and inflammation in cancer

Disturbance in the folding capacity of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), caused by a variety of endogenous and exogenous insults, prompts a cellular stress condition known as ER stress. ER stress is initially shaped to re-establish ER homeostasis through the activation of an integrated intracellular signal transduction pathway termed as unfolded protein response (UPR). However, when ER stress is too severe or prolonged, the pro-survival function of the UPR turns into a toxic signal, which is predominantly executed by mitochondrial apoptosis. Moreover, accumulating evidence implicates ER stress pathways in the activation of various ‘classical’ inflammatory processes in and around the tumour microenvironment. In fact, ER stress pathways evoked by certain conventional or experimental anticancer modalities have been found to promote anti-tumour immunity by enhancing immunogenicity of dying cancer cells. Thus, the ER functions as an essential sensing organelle capable of coordinating stress pathways crucially involved in maintaining the cross-talk between the cancer cell’s intracellular and extracellular environment. In this review we discuss the emerging link between ER stress, cell fate decisions and immunomodulation and the potential therapeutic benefit of targeting this multifaceted signaling pathway in anticancer therapy.