Induction of apoptosis by bexarotene in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma cells: relevance to mechanism of therapeutic action.

PURPOSE: Bexarotene is the first synthetic rexinoid approved for the treatment of all stages of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) however the mechanism of bexarotene action is unknown. We examined the effects of bexarotene on induction of apoptosis and expression of its cognate receptors in well-established CTCL cell lines (MJ, Hut78, and HH). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: CTCL cells were treated with 0.1, 1, and 10 microM bexarotene for 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. Apoptosis was determined by flow-cytometry analysis of sub-G(1) hypodiploid nuclei and annexin V binding populations. Apoptosis-associated proteins and retinoid receptors were detected by Western blots. RESULTS: Bexarotene treatment at 1 and 10 microM for 96 h increased the number of cells with sub-G1 populations and annexin V binding in a dose-dependent manner compared with vehicle controls (DMSO) in all three cell lines, respectively. Bexarotene treatment suppressed the expression of retinoid X receptor alpha and retinoic acid receptor alpha proteins in all three lines compared with untreated controls. Bexarotene treatment decreased the protein levels of survivin, activated caspase-3, and cleaved poly(ADP-Ribose) polymerase, but had no obvious effect on expression of Fas/Fas ligand and bcl-2 proteins in all three CTCL lines. CONCLUSIONS: Bexarotene treatment at clinically relevant concentrations causes apoptosis of CTCL cell lines in association with activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of poly(ADP-Ribose) polymerase, as well as down-regulation of retinoid X receptor alpha, retinoic acid receptor alpha, and survivin. These findings support apoptosis as a mechanism for bexarotene therapy in CTCL.     

拓扑替康诱导卵巢癌COC1/ DDP 细胞凋亡的分子机制初步探讨

  目的 探讨拓扑替康(TPT)对人卵巢癌顺铂耐药细胞株COC1／DDP的杀伤和诱导凋亡活性及其作用机制。方法 MTT比色法与软琼脂克隆形成测定TPT对人卵巢癌顺铂耐药细胞株COC1／DDP的杀伤效应；TUNEL法和流式细胞仪研究TPT对靶细胞的凋亡诱导作用；Western blot检测TPT对COC1／DDP细胞内bcl-2、bax和caspase-3基因表达的影响以及caspase-3活性的改变。结果 TPT对COC1／DDP细胞有明显细胞毒性作用，不仅有剂量依赖性，也存在明显的时间依赖性；COC1／DDP细胞在TPT作用后出现特征性凋亡形态特征，且凋亡率由8．54％上升为23．16％(P<0．05)。TPT不影响COC1／DDP细胞内bcl-2蛋白表达，却明显增加19ax蛋白和caspase-3蛋白表达，并提高caspase-3活性。结论 TPT对人卵巢癌顺铂耐药细胞株COC1／DDP有明显的杀伤和促凋亡作用，其机制可能依赖于细胞内bax蛋白表达增高和caspase-3的活化。     

Overadditive anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of a combination therapy on colorectal carcinoma cells

The prognosis of advanced colorectal carcinoma (CC) is poor. Established chemotherapy shows only limited efficacy but significant side effects. We investigated how far a combination of tamoxifen (TAM), 9-cis-retinoic acid (CRA) and the fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin (CIP) synergize to inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis of CC cells in vitro. The CC cell lines LOVO, CC-531 and SW-403 were incubated with TAM, CRA and CIP (10(minus;4)-10(minus;6) M) as single agents and in combination. Cell proliferation was assessed by bromodeoxyuridin incorporation. Apoptosis was quantified immunohistochemically and by FACS analysis after staining with propidium iodide. Changes in the expression of caspase 3, bax, bcl-2 and p21cip/waf were assessed by quantitative Western blotting. CRA and TAM monotherapy was moderately effective. Their combination enhanced apoptosis from 60% to more than 80% in all cell types. Apoptosis was paralleled by inhibition of proliferation and further potentiated by addition of CIP. The combination effectively up-regulated caspase 3 and bax and down-regulated bcl-2 and p21cip/waf. Combinations of biomodulaters act synergistically to inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis in CC cells. Due to their known safety profile, this justifies clinical trials for colorectal cancer using combinations of these biological response modifiers.     

Combined in vitro anti-tumoral action of tamoxifen and retinoic acid derivatives in hepatoma cells.

Chemotherapy does not have a prominent role in the treatment of hepatoma. However, an acyclic retinoid prevented tumor recurrence post-hepatectomy, and tamoxifen (TAM) induced apoptosis in tumor cells. Combination therapy of these agents on proliferation and apoptosis of hepatoma cells has not been explored. HepG2, Hep1B, Hepa1-6 and MH1C1 hepatoma cells were incubated with TAM, 9-cis- and all-trans retinoic acid (CRA, ATRA, respectively) alone or in combination. Proliferation rate was assessed and apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry, immunostaining, caspase activity assays and the expression of apoptosis- and/or cell cycle-related molecules. CRA and TAM, but not ATRA monotherapy were moderately effective. Apoptosis was accompanied by upregulation of caspase 3 and 8 activity, and increased p27, bax, caspase 3 expression, while the levels of p21cip/waf and bcl-2 were unchanged or decreased. Combination therapy enhanced apoptosis from a maximum of 60% after monotherapy to more than 90% after 96 h in all cell types. Pro-apoptotic effects were paralleled by inhibition of proliferation. Combination of TAM and CRA, but not ATRA, have an additive to synergistic anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effect on HCC cells. This justifies trials for HCC using combinations of these biological response modifiers.     

A quadruple therapy synergistically blocks proliferation and promotes apoptosis of hepatoma cells

Effective therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is lacking. Conventional chemotherapy was judged to be ineffective. We previously demonstrated that the histone deacetylase inhibitor Trichostatin A (TSA) blocks growth of HCC cells in vitro. The anti-tumoral effect of a combination of more than 2 classes of drugs remains unexplored. Four hepatoma cell lines were incubated with increasing concentrations of Tamoxifen (TAM), 9-cis retinoic acid (CRA), the methioninaminopeptidase inhibitor TNP-470 and TSA as single agents and in combination. Anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects were assessed using BrdU-incorporation, FACS analysis and immunocytochemistry. Central pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins were measured by semi-quantitative Western blotting and substrate assays. All single substances inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in HCC cells only at high concentrations. The combination of TAM/CRA/TNP/TSA multiplied the anti-tumoral effects, reaching up to 93% inhibition of proliferation and 63% induction of apoptosis after 24 h in Hep1B cells. Pro-apoptotic factors bax and caspase 3 were highly increased with quadruple therapy, while anti-apoptotic bcl-2 decreased to undetectable levels. Fibroblasts remained largely unaffected. While the single substances were not effective on hepatoma cells in tolerable doses, their combination significantly increases anti-tumoral efficacy. Combination therapy with biomodulators is a promising treatment option for HCC.     

腺病毒介导的IL-24对人大细胞肺癌NCI-H460细胞的体外抑制效应

目的研究腺病毒介导的IL-24基因表达对NCI-H460肺癌细胞抑癌增效作用及分子机制。方法将Ad-IL-24重组腺病毒感染NCI-H460细胞。以Western blot法鉴定IL-24基因在NCI-H460细胞中的表达;MTT法检测重组腺病毒对NCI-H460细胞的生长抑制作用;经Annexin-V-PE/7-AAD染色后流式细胞术（FCM）检测细胞凋亡率变化;RT-PCR检测NCI-H460细胞中bax、caspase-3、bcl-2、survivin等因子的表达。结果腺病毒介导的IL-24基因在NCI-H460细胞中能够有效表达;Ad-IL-24组对NCI-H460细胞的生长具有明显的抑制作用, Ad-IL-24能够上调bax、caspase-3等因子的表达,下调bcl-2、survivin等因子的表达,诱导细胞凋亡。结论腺病毒介导的IL-24 基因在体外可明显抑制人肺癌细胞NCI-H460的生长,诱导其凋亡,其分子机制可能与上调bax、caspase-3等促凋亡因子的表达,下调bcl-2、survivin等凋亡抑制因子的表达有关。     

细胞周期蛋白激酶抑制剂诱导尤文肉瘤细胞凋亡作用的机制

目的探讨小分子细胞周期蛋白激酶抑制剂flavopiridol（FP）尤文肉瘤细胞株RD-ES凋亡诱导作用及其调控机制。方法FP作用RD-ES细胞后，光学显微镜观察其形态变化，MTT法测定FP对细胞增殖的抑制率；流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡；Western blot检测bcl-2，bax，mcl-l和caspase-8的蛋白表达变化。结果MTT实验显示FP对尤文肉瘤RD-ES细胞增殖有抑制作用，其抑制效应具有时间及浓度依赖的特点，流式细胞计数分析表明FP可诱导细胞凋亡，免疫印迹检测显示FP对bcl-2及bax的表达无影响，但细胞凋亡抑制基因mcl-1活性型caspase-8的表达被上调。结论FP可诱导尤文肉瘤细胞株凋亡，其作用不依赖于bcl-2基因的变化，mcl-1基因表达的抑制及caspase-8路径的激活可能为其机制之一。     

Combination of phenylbutyrate and 13-cis retinoic acid inhibits prostate tumor growth and angiogenesis

Differentiation-inducing agents, such as retinoids and short-chain fatty acids, have an inhibitory effect on tumor cell proliferation and tumor growth in preclinical studies. Clinical trials involving these compounds as single agents have been suboptimal in terms of clinical benefit. Our study evaluated the combination of phenylbutyrate (PB) and 13-cis retinoic acid (CRA) as a differentiation and antiangiogenesis strategy for prostate cancer. On the basis of previous evidence, common signal transduction pathways and possible modulation of retinoid receptors and retinoid response elements by PB could be responsible for such activities. We assessed the effect of the combination of PB and CRA on human and rodent prostate carcinoma cell lines. The combination of PB and CRA inhibited cell proliferation and increased apoptosis in vitro in an additive fashion as compared with single agents (P < 0.014). Prostate tumor cells treated with both PB and CRA revealed an increased expression of a subtype of retinoic acid receptor (retinoic acid receptor-beta), suggesting a molecular mechanism for the biological additive effect. The combination of PB and CRA also inhibited prostate tumor growth in vivo (up to 82-92%) as compared with single agents (P < 0.025). Histological examination of tumor xenografts revealed decreased in vivo tumor cell proliferation, an increased apoptosis rate, and a reduced microvessel density in the animals treated with combined drugs, suggesting an antiangiogenesis effect of this combination. Thus, endothelial cell treatment with both PB and CRA resulted in reduced in vitro cell proliferation. In vivo testing using the Matrigel angiogenesis assay showed an additive inhibitory effect in the animals treated with a combination of PB + CRA (P < 0.004 versus single agents). In summary, this study showed an additive inhibitory effect of combination of differentiation agents PB and CRA on prostate tumor growth through a direct effect on both tumor and endothelial cells.     

Imexon-induced apoptosis in multiple myeloma tumor cells is caspase-8 dependent.

PURPOSE: Imexon is a 2-cyanoaziridine agent that has been shown to inhibit growth of chemotherapy-sensitive myeloma cells through apoptosis with decreased cellular stores of glutathione and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS). We examined the mechanism of imexon cytotoxicity in a diverse panel of dexamethasone and chemotherapy-sensitive and -resistant myeloma cell lines. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We examined cellular cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and changes in redox state in dexamethasone-sensitive (C2E3), dexamethasone-resistant (1-310 and 1-414), chemotherapy-sensitive (RPMI-8226), and chemotherapy-resistant (DOX-1V and DOX-10V) myeloma cell lines. RESULTS: We found significant cytotoxicity after 48-h incubation with imexon (80-160 microM) in dexamethasone and chemotherapy-sensitive and -resistant myeloma cell lines in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The mechanism of imexon cytotoxicity in all cell lines was related to induction of apoptosis with the presence of cleaved caspase-3. Moreover, after imexon exposure in C2E3 and 1-414 cell lines, we demonstrated caspase-8-dependent apoptosis. Bcl-2:bax was proapoptotic with imexon in C2E3, whereas bcl-2:bax was independent of steroid resistance, chemotherapy sensitivity, and chemotherapy resistance. Depletion of intracellular glutathione was documented in RPMI-8226 at high imexon concentrations (>or=225 microM) but not in other cell lines. Furthermore, ROS were found in C2E3, RPMI-8226, and 1-310 only at high imexon concentrations, whereas a sensitive marker of oxidative DNA damage, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, was not increased in any cell line. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that imexon has significant broad antimyeloma activity that is mediated through apoptotic mechanisms that is not dependent on production of ROS. Moreover, we have identified a mechanism of cytotoxicity in dexamethasone-sensitive and -resistant myeloma cells induced by imexon that is caspase-8 dependent.     

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs induce apoptosis in gastric cancer cells through up-regulation of bax and bak

Aspirin- and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced apoptosis is one of the important mechanisms for their anti-tumour effect in gastric cancer. We aimed at determining the role of bcl-2 family proteins and caspases in the apoptotic process. Gastric cancer cell lines AGS (wild-type p53) and MKN-28 (mutant p53) were used. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay. Apoptosis was determined by acridine orange staining. Protein expressions were determined by western blotting. Aspirin and indomethacin inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in both cells. AGS cells were more sensitive compared with MKN-28 cells. The pro-apoptotic proteins bax and bak were overexpressed after treatment, while the protein level of bcl-2 remained unchanged. Apoptosis was accompanied by an increase in caspase-3 activity and cleavage of caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Inhibition of caspase-3 rescued aspirin-induced apoptosis. Our results suggest that one of the major pathways which mediates the anti-tumour response of aspirin and indomethacin in gastric cancer cells is through up-regulation of bax and bak and activation of caspase-3. Bax and bak are important in the chemoprevention of gastric cancer.     

Overexpression of retinoic acid receptor beta induces growth arrest and apoptosis in oral cancer cell lines.

Expression of retinoic acid receptor beta (RARbeta) is reported to be absent or down-regulated in oral squamous cell carcinomas. Recently, we found that the growth-inhibitory effect of 9-cis-retinoic acid (9CRA) on oral squamous cell carcinoma may depend on the expression levels of endogenous RARbeta. In order to clarify the role of RARbeta in growth and differentiation, we transfected RARbeta expression vector into oral squamous carcinoma cell lines, HSC-4 and Ho-1-N-1. Both RARbeta-transfected cell lines displayed growth inhibition. Moreover, RARbeta-transfected clones underwent morphological changes, and RARbeta-transfected HSC-4 clones underwent apoptosis even in the absence of 9CRA treatment. In contrast, RARbeta-transfected Ho-1-N-1 clones exhibited cell cycle arrest without undergoing apoptosis initially; however, apoptosis was induced in these cells after 6 days of 9CRA treatment. RARalpha and RARgamma expression was reduced at both the protein and mRNA levels in RARbeta transfectants, whereas the expression of retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRalpha) was not altered. RARb transfectants exhibited alterations in the levels of cell cycle-associated proteins, histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and apoptosis-associated proteins. After 6 days of 9CRA treatment, RARbeta transfectants overexpressed Waf1 / Cip1 / Sdi1 / p21, Kip1 / p27, chk1, p300 / CBP, BAX, Bak, Apaf 1, caspase 3 and caspase 9. Conversely, E2F1, cdc25B and HDAC1 were down-regulated in these transfectants. In addition, histone H4 acetylation was induced in RARb transfectants. These findings suggest that histone acetylation mediated by histone acetyltransferase and p300 / CBP may play a role in the growth arrest and apoptosis induced by RARbeta transfection in oral squamous cell carcinoma.     

Involvement of mitochondria and caspase-3 in ET-18-OCH(3)-induced apoptosis of human leukemic cells

The induction of cell death in leukemic HL-60 cells by the ether lipid 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine (ET-18-OCH(3); edelfosine) followed the typical apoptotic changes in ultrastructural morphology, including blebbing, chromatin condensation, nuclear membrane breakdown and extensive vacuolation. Using a cytofluorimetric approach, we found that ET-18-OCH(3) induced disruption of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)) followed by production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA fragmentation in leukemic cells. ET-18-OCH(3) also induced caspase-3 activation in human leukemic cells, as assessed by cleavage of caspase-3 into the p17 active form and cleavage of the caspase-3 substrate poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). ET-18-OCH(3) analogues unable to induce apoptosis failed to disrupt DeltaPsi(m) and to activate caspase-3. ET-18-OCH(3)-resistant Jurkat cells generated from sensitive Jurkat cells showed no caspase-3 activation and did not undergo DeltaPsi(m) disruption upon ET-18-OCH(3) incubation. Cyclosporin A partially inhibited DeltaPsi(m) dissipation, caspase activation and apoptosis in ET-18-OCH(3)-treated leukemic cells. Overexpression of bcl-2 by gene transfer prevented DeltaPsi(m) collapse, ROS generation, caspase activation and apoptosis in ET-18-OCH(3)-treated leukemic T cells. Pretreatment with the caspase inhibitor Z-Asp-2, 6-dichlorobenzoyloxymethylketone prevented ET-18-OCH(3)-induced PARP proteolysis and DNA fragmentation, but not DeltaPsi(m) dissipation. ET-18-OCH(3) did not affect the expression of caspases and bcl-2-related genes. ET-18-OCH(3)-induced apoptosis did not require protein synthesis. Our data indicate that DeltaPsi(m) dissipation and caspase-3 activation are critical events of the apoptotic cascade triggered by the antitumor ether lipid ET-18-OCH(3), and that the sequence of events in the apoptotic action of ET-18-OCH(3) on human leukemic cells is: DeltaPsi(m) disruption, caspase-3 activation and internucleosomal DNA degradation.     

紫杉醇脂质体对乳腺癌MCF-7细胞生长抑制作用的机制

目的 分析紫杉醇脂质体对乳腺癌MCF-7细胞的生长抑制作用,观察药物作用的时间浓度关系并探究其作用机制.方法 应用不同剂量紫杉醇脂质体对MCF-7细胞进行处理,通过MTT法检测细胞存活率,倒置显微镜观察细胞形态,流式细胞分析技术检测细胞凋亡情况及其对细胞周期的影响,Western blot法检测bcl-2蛋白表达情况.结果 紫杉醇脂质体对MCF-7细胞有明显的剂量时间依赖效应.紫杉醇与紫杉醇脂质体均可将MCF-7细胞阻滞在G2/M期,且随药物浓度增加,凋亡细胞所占比例逐渐增加.通过Western blot法检测发现,紫杉醇脂质体作用后MCF-7细胞bcl-2蛋白表达明显下降,bax蛋白表达明显上调,bax/bcl-2比例明显上调.结论 与紫杉醇相比,紫杉醇以脂质体对人乳腺癌MCF 7细胞具有同样的抑制作用,其促凋亡机制之一为调控bcl-2及bax蛋白表达.     

Neoplastic cell apoptosis in nude mice transplants with nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines

We know that tumor growth speed is criticallyinfluenced by the ratio of neoplastic cell proliferation andcell death, and there are two patterns of cell death, namely,necrosis and apoptosis. What is the proportion of necrosisand apoptosis seen in nude mice transplants ofnasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell lines, CNE-1 andCNE-2? Does the apoptosis play an important role inneoplastic cell death? If so, what is the pathway ofapoptosis developed in those transplants?MATERIALS AND METHODS…     

N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide induces growth arrest and apoptosis in HTLV-I-transformed cells.

N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (HPR) is a synthetic retinoid that inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in many human cell lines. We explored the effects of HPR on human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-positive and HTLV-I-negative malignant T-cell lines, most of which are resistant to all-trans retinoic acid. Clinically achievable concentrations of HPR caused a dramatic inhibition of cell proliferation, G(0)/G(1) arrest, and massive apoptosis in all tested malignant T cells, while no effect was observed on resting or activated normal lymphocytes. Interestingly, HTLV-I-negative cell lines were significantly more sensitive to HPR compared to HTLV-I-positive and Tax-transfected cells. In HTLV-I-negative cells only, HPR-induced apoptosis was associated with ceramide accumulation, sharp decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, and activation of caspases 8, 9 and 3, and could be partially reverted by the caspase inhibitor z-VAD suggesting that Tax protects infected cells from ceramide accumulation and caspase-mediated apoptosis. In HTLV-I-positive cells, HPR treatment rapidly induced proteasomal-mediated degradation of p21, downregulated cyclin D(1), and upregulated bax protein levels. These findings support a potential therapeutic role for HPR in both HTLV-I-associated adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and HTLV-I-negative peripheral T-cell lymphomas.     

Bcl-2, bax and bcl-xL expression in human sensitive and resistant leukemia cell lines.

With the growing understanding of cytostatic drug-induced programmed cell death new drug-resistance mechanisms based on the altered ability of cells to die by apoptosis have been defined. At first, the sensitive and P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-related resistant cell lines were tested to induce apoptosis by a non-P-gp transported drug, such as cytosine arabinoside (ara-C). It was demonstrated that ara-C induces apoptosis in sensitive as well as in P-gp-related resistant cell lines, as expected. Furthermore, the role of bcl-2 and bcl-xL apoptosis inhibitors as well as bax expression (apoptosis inducer) in human sensitive leukemic cell lines (CCRF-CEM and HL-60) as compared to their resistant variants such as CCRF-CEM/ACT400, CCRF-CEM/VCR1000, HL-60/IDA40, HL-60/DNR250 was evaluated. In addition to the P-gp-related resistance, a possible multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) and the lung resistance protein (LRP)-related resistance were assessed by flow cytometry using the monoclonal antibodies 4E3.16, MRPr1 and LRP56. Furthermore, the function of P-gp was determined with the rhodamine-123 (R-123) accumulation test. Bcl-2 and bax were analyzed by both flow cytometry and ECL Western blot, bcl-xL by ECL-Western blot alone. Comparison of the two sensitive cell lines demonstrated different bcl-2, bax and bcl-xL patterns. The common characteristic was the increased expression of one of the apoptosis inhibitor proteins, such as bcl-2 or bcl-xL. The sensitive CCRF-CEM showed a high bax level, where a decrease of about 75% in resistant variants was measured. Compared to their sensitive counterpart HL-60, a low bax expression was analyzed, which increased in the resistant variant. The common characteristic of all resistant cell lines was the decreased expression of bax compared to bcl-2 or bcl-xL. In the P-gp-related resistant HL-60/DNR250 only an increase in bcl-xL was seen, whereas in the LRP-expressing as well as P-gp and MRP negative resistant HL-60/IDA40 both apoptotic inhibitor proteins bcl-2 and bcL-xL showed maximum increase, compared to the other resistant cell lines. The P-gp-related resistant cell lines CCRF-CEM/ACT400 and CCRF-CEM/VCR1000 also showed an increased expression of both bcl-2 and bcl-xL. Summarizing these results, it was shown that the examined sensitive human leukemic cell lines and their resistant variants demonstrated a different pattern of markers for preventing and promoting apoptosis. An association between P-gp and possible LRP-expressing leukemic cells as well as apoptosis-preventing markers (bcl-2, bcl-xL) seems to exist. The clinical relevance of the coexpression of various resistance mechanisms remains to be confirmed in large leukemia patient groups.     

DON 对胃癌细胞HGC-27 细胞周期和凋亡的影响

 目的 探讨脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇（DON）对体外培养胃癌细胞HGC-27细胞周期和凋亡的影响。方法 体外培养的胃癌细胞HGC-27经50、100、1000、2000μg／L DON处理12h、24h、48h，应用流式细胞术（FCM）进行细胞周期分析，检测凋亡情况及其量效关系，Western blot检测凋亡相关蛋白Bax、Bcl-2和Caspase-3的表达情况。结果 FCM检测结果表明，较高浓度（1000和2000μg／L）DON处理对细胞周期分布的影响随处理时间不同有明显差异。DON处理12h，可明显降低G0／G1细胞百分率、增加S期细胞百分率。处理时间延长至24h和48h，则表现为G0／G1细胞百分率增加，S期细胞百分率降低（P〈0．05）。DON处理24h和48h，各DON实验组HGC-27细胞凋亡率均高于对照组，在50～2000ug／L浓度范围内，凋亡率随着DON处理浓度的升高而升高。Western blot检测凋亡相关蛋白结果显示，DoN处理12、24和48h，Bax和Caspase-3蛋白表达均明显升高，而Bcl-2蛋白表达降低。结论 DON处理可影响体外培养的胃癌细胞象HGC-27细胞的细胞周期分布，其作用依DON浓度和作用时间的不同而有差异。同时DON可诱导HGC-27细胞凋亡，上调Bax和Caspase-3蛋白表达和下调Bcl-2蛋白表达可能是其诱导细胞凋亡的机制之一。     

Induction of apoptosis by the synthetic retinoid MX3350-1 through extrinsic and intrinsic pathways in head and neck squamous carcinoma cells

Retinoids have shown promise in cancer prevention and therapy. As some retinoids exhibit undesirable side effects, new retinoid analogs have been synthesized. In this study, we examined the effects of the retinoid MX3350-1 on human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines. MX3350-1 suppressed the growth of 7/8 HNSCC cell lines by >65%. This inhibition appeared to be due to induction of apoptosis as revealed by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assay. Studies with cell line UMSCC17B indicated that apoptosis was induced within 1-2 days and involved activation of caspase-8, -9, and -3. Inhibitors of these caspases suppressed MX3350-1-induced apoptosis. MX3350-1 decreased the levels of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL, increased proapoptotic Bax, induced mitochondrial membrane permeabilization (MMP), and cytochrome c release from mitochondria to cytosol. The antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisol and the MMP inhibitor cyclosporin A (Cs A) blocked apoptosis induced by MX3350-1. In contrast, retinoid receptor antagonists failed to inhibit apoptosis. MX3350-1 increased the levels of Fas-ligand, Fas, and Fas-associated death domain, and enhanced activation of procaspase-8 and cleavage of its substrate Bid. Soluble Fas rescued the cells from MX3350-1-induced apoptosis. These results demonstrate that MX3350-1 induces apoptosis by activating both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways and suggest that further studies on the potential of this retinoid for prevention and therapy of HNSCCs are warranted.     

Mechanisms of apoptosis induced by the synthetic retinoid CD437 in human non-small cell lung carcinoma cells.

The novel synthetic retinoid 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-2-naphthalene carboxylic acid (CD437) has been shown to induce apoptosis in various tumor cell lines including human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cells, which are resistant to the natural all-trans retinoic acid and to many synthetic receptor-selective retinoids. Although the mechanism of this effect was not elucidated, it was found to be independent of nuclear retinoid receptors. In the present study, we analysed the mechanisms by which CD437 induces apoptosis in two human NSCLC cell lines: H460 with wild-type p53 and H1792 with mutant p53. Both cell lines underwent apoptosis after exposure to CD437, although the cell line with wild-type p53 (H460) was more sensitive to the induction of apoptosis. CD437 increased the activity of caspase in both cell lines, however, the effect was much more pronounced in the H460 cells. The caspase inhibitors (Z-DEVD-FMK and Z-VAD-FMK) suppressed CD437-induced CPP32-like caspase activation and apoptosis in both cell lines. CD437 induced the expression of the p53 gene and its target genes, p21, Bax, and Killer/DR5, only in the H460 cells. These results suggest that CD437-induced apoptosis is more extensive in NSCLC cells that express wild-type p53, possibly due to the involvement of the p53 regulated genes Killer/DR5, and Bax although CD437 can also induce apoptosis by means of a p53-independent mechanism. Both pathways of CD437-induced apoptosis appear to involve activation of CPP32-like caspase.