Involvement of Akt/NF‐κB pathway in N6‐isopentenyladenosine‐induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells

N⁶‐isopentenyladenosine (i6A) inhibits the tumor cell growth by inducing cell apoptosis in various cancer cell lines. However, little is known regarding the mechanisms by which the drug induces cell apoptosis. In this study, we further explored the molecular mechanisms of i6A as an anticancer agent on a human breast cancer cell line MDA MB 231. Treatment with i6A decreased the cell proliferation of MDA MB 231 cells in a dose‐dependent manner by arresting the cells at G₀/G₁ phase. This effect was strongly associated with concomitant decrease in the level of cyclin D1, cyclin E, cdk2, and increase of p21waf1 and p27kip. In addition i6A also induced apoptotic cell death by increasing the expression of Bax, and decreasing the levels of Bcl‐2 and Bcl‐xL, and subsequently triggered mitochondria apoptotic pathway (release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase‐3). We observed that i6A suppressed the nuclear factor kappaB (NF‐κB) pathway and inhibited the Akt activation. The results of this study indicate that i6A decreases cell proliferation and induces apoptotic cell death in human breast cancer cells, possibly by decreasing signal transduction through the Akt/NF‐κB cell survival pathway. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

白藜芦醇对人结肠癌SW480瘤株作用的研究

目的研究白藜芦醇对人结肠癌细胞株SW480生长和细胞周期的影响,并探讨其作用机制。方法采用光镜及电子显微镜观察用药前后细胞形态结构的改变;采用四唑盐(MTT)比色法检测细胞增殖,采用流式细胞术测定细胞周期。结果白藜芦醇呈时间和剂量依赖性抑制人结肠癌细胞株SW480的生长并诱导凋亡,IC50为80μmol/L;白藜芦醇使SW480处于S期细胞增多。结论白藜芦醇能有效的抑制人结肠癌细胞株SW480的生长并诱导其凋亡;白藜芦醇对结肠癌可能是一种有效的化学治疗和化学预防药物。     

Adipokine regulation of colon cancer: Adiponectin attenuates interleukin‐6‐induced colon carcinoma cell proliferation via STAT‐3

Obesity results in increased circulating levels of specific adipokines, which are associated with colon cancer risk. The disease state is associated with increased leptin, insulin, IGF‐1, and IL‐6. Conversely, adiponectin levels are decreased in obese individuals. Previously, we demonstrated adipokine‐enhanced cell proliferation in preneoplastic, but not normal, colon epithelial cells, demonstrating a differential effect of adipokines on colon cancer progression in vitro. Using a model of late stage carcinoma cancer cell, namely murine MC‐38 colon carcinoma cells, we compared the effect of obesity‐associated adipokines (leptin, insulin, IGF‐1, and IL‐6) on MC‐38 cell proliferation and determined whether adiponectin (full length or globular) could modulate adipokine‐induced cell proliferation. We show that insulin and IL‐6, but not leptin and IGF‐1, induce proliferation in MC‐38 cells. Adiponectin treatment of MC‐38 cells did not inhibit insulin‐induced cell proliferation but did inhibit IL‐6‐induced cell proliferation by decreasing STAT‐3 phosphorylation and activation. Nitric oxide (NO) production was increased in MC‐38 cells treated with IL‐6; co‐treatment with adiponectin blocked IL‐6‐induced iNOS and subsequent NO production. These data are compared to previously reported findings from our laboratory using the YAMC (model normal colon epithelial cells) and IMCE (model preneoplastic) cells. The cell lines are utilized to construct a model summarizing the hormonal consequences of obesity and the impact on the differential regulation of colon epithelial cells along the continuum to carcinoma. These data, taken together, highlight mechanisms involved in obesity‐associated cancers and may lead to potential‐targeted therapies. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

RNA干扰RhoBTB1表达促进结肠癌HT29细胞增殖、抑制其凋亡的相关研究

目的:探究RNA干扰RhoBTB1基因表达对结肠癌HT29细胞增殖、凋亡的影响。方法:采用Lipofectamine 2000将siRNA RhoBTB1或siRNA NC转入HT29细胞中，实验分为Control组、转染对照组和siRNA Rho组，噻唑蓝（MTT）和流式细胞术分别检测细胞的的活力和凋亡率，蛋白质印迹法（Western Blot）检测细胞中RhoBTB1、活化的含半胱氨酸的天冬氨酸蛋白水解酶3（Cleaved Caspase-3）、B细胞淋巴瘤/白血病-2（Bcl-2）、Bcl-2相关X蛋白(Bax)的表达量。结果:与对照组相比，HT29细胞转染siRNA RhoBTB1后，细胞中RhoBTB1蛋白的表达量显著低于对照组（P<0.05），细胞活力显著升高（P<0.05），凋亡率显著降低（P<0.05），Cleaved Caspase-3、Bax蛋白水平明显降低(P<0.05)，Bcl-2蛋白水平显著增加（P<0.05）。结论:RNA干扰RhoBTB1表达促进结肠癌HT29细胞增殖，抑制其凋亡，可能通过调节线粒体凋亡通路相关蛋白的表达量发挥作用。     

Simvastatin induces apoptosis in human colon cancer cells and in tumor xenografts, and attenuates colitis-associated colon cancer in mice

Statins, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors could be associated with the risk reduction of colorectal cancer. We previously demonstrated that simvastatin inhibits NF-kappaB signaling in human intestinal epithelial cells and ameliorates acute murine colitis. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of simvastatin on the apoptotic pathways related to NF-kappaB signaling in colon cancer cells, and on anticancer effects in 2 different animal models. We treated cell lines (COLO 205 and HCT 116) with simvastatin or vehicle and determined apoptosis by cell cycle analysis, Annexin V-FITC staining, caspase-3 activity assay and confocal microscopy. We assessed the expression of antiapoptotic factors by RT-PCR and Western blotting. In the colitis-associated colon cancer (CAC) model, we induced colonic tumors in C57/BL6 mice by azoxymethane and dextran sulfate sodium administration, and evaluated simvastatin's effect on tumor growth. In the xenograft model, we evaluated its effect on the inoculated tumor growth. In both cell lines, simvastatin caused dose- and time-dependent cell death. Annexin V staining significantly increased after simvastatin treatment. It augmented caspase-3 activity and downregulated the expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, cIAP1 and cFLIP. In the CAC model, simvastatin significantly reduced tumor development. In the xenograft model, tumors from animals treated with simvastatin had smaller volumes, larger necrotic areas, lower expression of VEGF and higher apoptotic scores. In conclusion, simvastatin inhibited colon cancer development by induction of apoptosis and suppression of angiogenesis. These results suggest that simvastatin could be a potential chemopreventive and therapeutic agent of CAC as well as de novo colon cancer.     

The synthetic retinoid adapalene inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells in vitro

Chemotherapy of advanced stages of colorectal carcinoma is unsatisfactory. Retinoids inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis in a variety of human malignancies. We compared the effect of the synthetic retinoid adapalene (ADA) and 9-cis-retinoic acid (CRA) on carcinoma cell lines in vitro. Colon carcinoma cell lines CC-531, HT-29 and LOVO as well as human foreskin fibroblasts were exposed to different concentrations of ADA and CRA for 3-72 hr. Proliferation was assessed by BrdU incorporation and apoptosis by FACS analysis. Breakdown of DeltaPsi(m) was determined by JC-1 staining and activity of caspases 3 and 8, by a colorimetric assay. Quantitative Western blots were performed to detect changes in bax, bcl-2 and caspase-3. Both retinoic derivatives suppressed DNA synthesis and induced apoptosis in all tested cell lines time- and dose-dependently. While the natural retinoid CRA showed moderate antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects only at the highest concentration (10(-4) M), the synthetic retinoic ADA was significantly more effective, showing remarkable effects even at 10(-5) M. ADA and CRA disrupt DeltaPsi(m) and induce caspase-3 activity in responsive tumor cells. Quantitative Western blots showed a shift of the bax:bcl-2 ratio toward proapoptotic bax in ADA-treated cells. Our results clearly indicate the superiority of ADA compared to CRA. Therefore, we suggest that ADA may be far more suitable as an adjunctive therapeutic agent for treatment of colon cancer in vivo.     

Fem1b,a proapoptotic protein,mediates proteasome inhibitor‐induced apoptosis of human colon cancer cells

In the treatment of colon cancer, the development of resistance to apoptosis is a major factor in resistance to therapy. New molecular approaches to overcome apoptosis resistance, such as selectively upregulating proapoptotic proteins, are needed in colon cancer therapy. In a mouse model with inactivation of the adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc) tumor suppressor gene, reflecting the pathogenesis of most human colon cancers, the gene encoding feminization‐1 homolog b (Fem1b) is upregulated in intestinal epithelium following Apc inactivation. Fem1b is a proapoptotic protein that interacts with apoptosis‐inducing proteins Fas, tumor necrosis factor receptor‐1 (TNFR1), and apoptotic protease activating factor‐1 (Apaf‐1). Increasing Fem1b expression induces apoptosis of cancer cells, but effects on colon cancer cells have not been reported. Fem1b is a homolog of feminization‐1 (FEM‐1), a protein in Caenorhabditis elegans that is regulated by proteasomal degradation, but whether Fem1b is likewise regulated by proteasomal degradation is unknown. Herein, we found that Fem1b protein is expressed in primary human colon cancer specimens, and in malignant SW620, HCT‐116, and DLD‐1 colon cancer cells. Increasing Fem1b expression, by transfection of a Fem1b expression construct, induced apoptosis of these cells. We found that proteasome inhibitor treatment of SW620, HCT‐116, and DLD‐1 cells caused upregulation of Fem1b protein levels, associated with induction of apoptosis. Blockade of Fem1b upregulation with morpholino antisense oligonucleotide suppressed the proteasome inhibitor‐induced apoptosis of these cells. In conclusion, the proapoptotic protein Fem1b is downregulated by the proteasome in malignant colon cancer cells and mediates proteasome inhibitor‐induced apoptosis of these cells. Therefore, Fem1b could represent a novel molecular target to overcome apoptosis resistance in therapy of colon cancer. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

表皮生长因子受体3在结肠癌中的表达及其与结肠癌细胞增殖凋亡的关系研究

目的：研究表皮生长因子受体3（Her3）基因在人结肠癌中的表达,分析其与结肠癌细胞增殖凋亡的关系。方法利用实时定量PCR及免疫组织化学检测人结肠癌组织中Her3基因的表达,利用siRNA技术下调结肠癌细胞系中Her3的表达,利用体外细胞模型分析相关机制。结果 Her3基因及蛋白在人结肠癌组织中的水平较正常组织显著增高;Her3的表达与AKT信号的激活呈正相关。体外研究表明,随着Her3基因的表达下调,结肠癌细胞株SW480及Lovo的增殖显著下降,凋亡显著增加;且Her3表达下调后,AKT及MAPK的激活显著下降。结论 Her3基因在人结肠癌中高表达,且与结肠癌细胞增殖、凋亡相关,其机制可能是Her3增强了表皮生长因子的信号传导。     

Antitumor effects of novel compound,guttiferone K,on colon cancer by p21Waf1/Cip1‐mediated G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

Low selectivity is one of the major problems of currently used anticancer drugs, therefore, there is a high demand for novel, selective antitumor agents. In this study, the anticancer effects and mechanisms of guttiferone K (GUTK), a novel polyprenylated acylphloroglucinol derivative isolated from Garcinia cowa Roxb., were examined for its development as a novel drug targeting colon cancer. GUTK concentration‐ and time‐dependently reduced the viability of human colon cancer HT‐29 cells (IC₅₀ value 5.39 ± 0.22 μM) without affecting the viability of normal human colon epithelial CCD 841 CoN cells and induced G₀/G₁ cell cycle arrest in HT‐29 cells by down‐regulating cyclins D1, D3 and cyclin‐dependent kinases 4 and 6, while selectively restoring p21Waf1/Cip1 and p27Kip1 to levels comparable to those observed in normal colon cells, without affecting their levels in normal cells. GUTK (10.0 μM) induced cleavage of PARP, caspases‐3, ‐8 and ‐9 and chromatin condensation to stimulate caspase‐3‐mediated apoptosis. The addition of a JNK inhibitor, SP600125, partially reversed GUTK‐induced caspase‐3 activity, indicating the possible involvement of JNK in GUTK‐induced apoptosis. Furthermore, GUTK (10 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly decreased the tumor volume in a syngeneic colon tumor model when used alone or in combination with 5‐fluorouracil without toxicity to the mice. Immunohistochemical staining of the tumor sections revealed a mechanism involving an increase in cleaved caspase‐3 and a decrease in cell proliferation marker Ki‐67. Our results support GUTK as a promising novel, potent and selective antitumor drug candidate for colon cancer.     

Unconjugated bilirubin induces apoptosis in colon cancer cells by triggering mitochondrial depolarization

Bilirubin is the principal end product of heme degradation. Prompted by epidemiologic analyses demonstrating an inverse correlation between serum bilirubin levels and cancer mortality, we examined the effect(s) of bilirubin on the growth and survival of colon adenocarcinoma cells. Adenocarcinoma cell monolayers were treated with bilirubin over a range of bilirubin:BSA molar ratios (0-0.6), and viability was assessed colorimetrically. Apoptosis was characterized by TUNEL assay, annexin V staining and caspase-3 activation. The mechanism(s) by which bilirubin induces apoptosis was investigated by Western blotting for cytochrome c release, assaying for caspase-8 and caspase-9 activation and for mitochondrial depolarization by JC-1 staining. The direct effect of bilirubin on the membrane potential of isolated mitochondria was evaluated using light-scattering and fluorescence techniques. Bilirubin decreased the viability of all colon cancer cell lines tested in a dose-dependent manner. Cells exhibited substantial apoptosis when exposed to bilirubin concentrations ranging 0-50 microM, as demonstrated by an 8- to 10-fold increase in TUNEL and annexin V staining and in caspase-3 activity. Bilirubin treatment evokes specific activation of caspase-9, enhances cytochrome c release into the cytoplasm and triggers the mitochondrial permeability transition in colon cancer monolayers. Additionally, bilirubin directly induces the depolarization of isolated rat liver mitochondria, an effect that is not inhibited by cyclosporin A. Bilirubin stimulates apoptosis of colon adenocarcinoma cells in vitro through activation of the mitochondrial pathway, apparently by directly dissipating mitochondrial membrane potential. As this effect is triggered at concentrations normally present in the intestinal lumen, we postulate a physiologic role for bilirubin in modulating colon tumorigenesis.     

Augmented O‐GlcNAcylation of AMP‐activated kinase promotes the proliferation of LoVo cells,a colon cancer cell line

Increasing incidence of various cancers has been reported in diabetic patients. O‐linked N‐acetylglucosamine (O‐GlcNAc) modification of proteins at serine/threonine residues (O‐GlcNAcylation) is an essential post‐translational modification that is upregulated in diabetic patients and has been implicated in tumor growth. However, the mechanisms by which O‐GlcNAcylation promotes tumor growth remain unclear. Given that AMP‐activated kinase (AMPK) has been thought to play important roles in suppressing tumor growth, we evaluated the involvement of AMPK O‐GlcNAcylation on the growth of LoVo cells, a human colon cancer cell line. Results revealed that treatment with Thiamet G (TMG), an inhibitor of O‐GlcNAc hydrolase, increased both anchorage‐dependent and ‐independent growth of the cells. O‐GlcNAc transferase overexpression also increased the growth. These treatments increased AMPK O‐GlcNAcylation in a dose‐dependent manner, which led to reduced AMPK phosphorylation and mTOR activation. Chemical inhibition or activation of AMPK led to increased or decreased growth, respectively, which was consistent with the data with genetic inhibition of AMPK. In addition, TMG‐mediated acceleration of tumor growth was abolished by both chemical and genetic inhibition of AMPK. To examine the effects of AMPK O‐GlcNAcylation in vivo, the LoVo cells were s.c. transplanted onto the backs of BALB/c‐nu/nu mice. Injection of TMG promoted the growth and enhanced O‐GlcNAcylation of the tumors of the mice. Consistent with in vitro data, AMPK O‐GlcNAcylation was increased, which reduced AMPK phosphorylation and resulted in activation of mTOR. Collectively, the higher colon cancer risk of diabetic patients could be due to O‐GlcNAcylation‐mediated AMPK inactivation and subsequent activation of mTOR.     

Knockdown of COUP‐TFII inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis through upregulating BRCA1 in renal cell carcinoma cells

COUP‐TFII belongs to the nuclear receptor family, which is highly expressed in many kinds of tumors. Previous studies have shown that COUP‐TFII can promote tumor progression through regulating tumor angiogenesis and cell proliferation and migration of certain cancer cells. However, the function of COUP‐TFII in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is not clear. Here, we showed that clinical RCC tumor tissues showed much higher COUP‐TFII expression level than adjacent normal tissues. When COUP‐TFII was knocked down in RCC 769‐P and 786‐O cells by siRNA or shRNA‐expressing lentivirus, the cell proliferation was markedly inhibited, and apoptosis increased. Moreover, the tumor growth of COUP‐TFII knockdown 769‐P and 786‐O xenografts in nude mice was also obviously inhibited. Using qRT‐PCR and Western blot, we showed that the expression of the tumor suppressor gene BRCA1 was upregulated in COUP‐TFII knockdown cells. Simultaneously knockdown of BRCA1 and COUP‐TFII partially rescued the inhibited cell proliferation and increased apoptosis in COUP‐TFII single knockdown cells. These results indicate that COUP‐TFII may play an oncogenic role in RCC, and COUP‐TFII may promote tumor progression through inhibiting BRCA1.     

siRNA沉默livin的表达对人结肠癌HT-29细胞增殖、凋亡及侵袭的影响

目的:探讨小干扰RNA(small interference RNA,siRNA)沉默人结肠癌HT-29细胞livin表达对HT-29细胞增殖、凋亡和侵袭的影响。方法:合成靶向livin的双链siRNA(livin-siRNA),转染HT-29细胞,RT-PCR及Western blotting检测HT-29细胞中livin mRNA及蛋白的表达,MTT实验检测HT-29细胞的增殖,流式细胞术检测HT-29细胞周期分布及凋亡,细胞侵袭实验检测HT-29细胞侵袭性的变化,caspase-3活性检测试剂盒检测caspase-3活性的变化。结果:Livin-siRNA转染后48 h,与空白组、阴性对照组及脂质体组相比,livin-siRNA转染组HT-29细胞中livin mRNA水平明显下降(0.073±0.007 vs 0.395±0.082、0.423±0.025、0.418±0.032,P<0.05),其蛋白表达也明显下调(0.106±0.003 vs 0.456±0.065、0.473±0.078、0.491±0.045,P<0.05)。转染96 h后,livin-siRNA组HT-29细胞增殖能力明显低于对照组及脂质体组(0.564±0.102 vs0.833±0.127、0.860±0.153,P<0.05),且细胞凋亡率升高[(16.5±2.8)%vs(2.4±0.5)%、(3.7±1.0)%,P<0.05]。侵袭实验显示,livin-siRNA转染后,穿过Matrigel膜的HT-29细胞数量明显少于对照组及脂质体组[(31.3±4.5)vs(101.3±8.6)、(97.4±7.8)个,P<0.05)]。livin-siRNA组HT-29细胞的caspase-3活性低于对照组(0.160±0.023 vs 0.347±0.058,P<0.05)。结论:siRNA沉默livin的表达可抑制HT-29细胞的增殖,诱导细胞凋亡,抑制细胞的侵袭。     

Interleukin‐8 is associated with proliferation,migration, angiogenesis and chemosensitivity in vitro and in vivo in colon cancer cell line models

Interleukin‐8 (IL‐8), a chemokine with a defining CXC amino acid motif, is known to possess tumorigenic and proangiogenic properties. Overexpression of IL‐8 has been detected in many human tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC), and is associated with poor prognosis. The goal of our study was to determine the role of IL‐8 overexpression in CRC cells in vitro and in vivo. We stably transfected the IL‐8 cDNA into two human colon cancer cell lines, HCT116 and Caco2, and selected IL‐8‐secreting transfectants. Real‐time RT‐PCR confirmed that IL‐8 mRNA was overexpressed in IL‐8 transfectants with 45‐ to 85‐fold higher than parental cells. The IL‐8‐transfected clones secreted 19‐ to 28‐fold more IL‐8 protein than control and parental cells as detected by ELISA. The IL‐8 transfectants demonstrated increased cellular proliferation, cell migration and invasion based on functional assays. Growth inhibition studies showed that IL‐8 overexpression lead to a significant resistance to oxaliplatin (p < 0.0001). Inhibition of IL‐8 overexpression with small interfering RNA reversed the observed increases in tumorigenic functions and oxaliplatin resistance, suggesting that IL‐8 not only provides a proliferative advantage but also promotes the metastatic potential of colon cancer cells. Using a tumor xenograft model, IL‐8‐expressing cells formed significantly larger tumors than the control cells with increased microvessel density. Together, these findings indicate that overexpression of IL‐8 promotes tumor growth, metastasis, chemoresistance and angiogenesis, implying IL‐8 to be an important therapeutic target in CRC.