三萜皂苷Saxifragifolin D抑制人肝癌耐药细胞HepG2/ADM生长并诱导细胞凋亡作用研究

目的研究Saxifragifolin D(SD)对人肝癌耐药细胞HepG2/ADM的生长抑制及诱导凋亡作用。方法采用MTT法观察SD对HepG2/ADM细胞的增殖抑制作用,应用流式细胞仪分析SD对细胞周期的影响,AnnexinⅤ-FITC/PI双染检测凋亡细胞比率,JC-1染色观察SD对细胞内线粒体膜电位的影响,Western blot检测凋亡相关蛋白caspase-9,caspase-3和PARP的激活及c-Raf,MEK和ERK蛋白的表达和磷酸化水平。结果 SD可以明显抑制人肝癌耐药细胞HepG2/ADM的增殖。细胞周期检测发现SD诱导细胞产生亚二倍体凋亡峰,同时细胞凋亡率也由对照组的5.3%增加到34.8%和47.8%。线粒体膜电位检测结果显示SD导致细胞内线粒体膜电位的明显降低。Western blot检测结果表明caspase-9,caspase-3被激活,PARP被剪切活化,cytochrome C由线粒体释放至胞质,c-Raf、MEK和ERK蛋白的磷酸化水平降低。结论 SD可以抑制人肝癌耐药细胞HepG2/ADM增殖并诱导其凋亡,作用机制可能与线粒体功能障碍及抑制c-Raf/MEK/ERK通路的活化有关。     

志苓胶囊通过激活caspase-3抑制K562细胞增殖和诱导细胞凋亡

目的研究志苓胶囊(ZLJN,抗癌复方Ⅱ号)对人慢性髓系白血病K562细胞株增殖及凋亡的影响。方法将志苓胶囊按其不同中西药成分比例配制成中药、西药和复方组,与K562细胞共培养后,采用MTT法、集落形成实验分别检测细胞存活率和集落形成率;Annexin V-FITC/PI标记法、DNA倍体分析及DNA片段化分析检测细胞凋亡;流式细胞仪检测caspase-3活性;Western blot法检测caspase-3酶原(pro-caspase-3)表达。结果不同药物组与K562细胞共培养后,细胞生长受抑制,集落形成率降低。Annexin V-FITC/PI法检测到早期凋亡细胞;DNA倍体分析可见亚二倍体峰(凋亡峰);琼脂糖电泳见典型的DNA梯状带。流式细胞检测caspase-3活性增强,Western blot检测pro-caspase-3表达减弱。结论志苓胶囊可有效抑制K562细胞增殖,诱导其凋亡,其作用机制可能与caspase-3活性增强有关。     

阿托伐他汀对谷氨酸引起大鼠神经元损伤保护作用机制的研究

目的探讨阿托伐他汀对谷氨酸所致培养大鼠皮层神经元损伤保护作用的机制。方法 MTT法测定细胞存活率;Hoechst33258核染色观察细胞凋亡的形态学改变;Western blot检测活性的半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶-3(caspase-3)和钙蛋白酶Ⅰ蛋白表达水平。结果谷氨酸(100μmol.L-1)可使神经元细胞存活率下降,细胞凋亡百分比明显增加,活性的caspase-3和钙蛋白酶Ⅰ蛋白表达增加。阿托伐他汀明显对抗谷氨酸诱导的神经元存活率下降及细胞凋亡百分比增加,同时明显抑制活性的caspase-3和钙蛋白酶Ⅰ蛋白表达增加。磷酯酰肌醇-3激酶(phos-phoinositide3-kinase,PI3K)/磷酸化蛋白激酶B(protein ki-nase B,Akt)通路特异性阻断剂LY294002(10μmol.L-1)能抑制阿托伐他汀对抗谷氨酸引起神经元细胞存活率下降,细胞凋亡百分比增加及活性caspase-3和钙蛋白酶Ⅰ蛋白表达增加的作用。结论阿托伐他汀能够明显对抗谷氨酸引起的皮层神经元损伤作用,这种作用可能与激活PI3K/Akt信号转导通路有关。     

青藤碱通过调控NF-kB信号通路抑制胰腺癌Capan-1细胞增殖并诱导细胞凋亡

目的 探讨青藤碱(Sinomenine, SIN)对胰腺癌Capan-1细胞增殖及凋亡的影响。方法 CCK8法检测细胞活力,光学显微镜下观察细胞凋亡形态,DAPI/TUNEL双染检测细胞凋亡,流式细胞术Annexin V-FITC/PI法检测细胞凋亡率,Western blot检测裂解型Caspase-3蛋白(cleaved caspase-3)、细胞核内NF-κB(Nuclear factor-kappa-binding)蛋白表达。结果 CCK8结果表明青藤碱抑制胰腺癌Capan-1细胞增殖,并具有时间浓度依赖性;光学显微镜观察结果表明,在青藤碱作用下,Capan-1细胞皱缩、变圆、脱落增多;DAPI/TUNEL染色结果表明,在青藤碱作用下,Capan-1细胞凋亡增多;流式细胞术Annexin V-FITC/PI结果表明,在青藤碱作用下,Capan-1细胞凋亡率增高;Western blot结果表明,在青藤碱作用下,Capan-1细胞cleaved caspase-3、核内NF-κB表达降低,NF-κB信号通路激活剂TNF-α逆转青藤碱对Capan-1细胞增殖的抑制作用、凋亡率的升高作用和cleaved caspase-3表达的下调作用。结论 青藤碱通过调控NF-κB信号通路抑制胰腺癌Capan-1细胞增殖并诱导细胞凋亡。     

Asiatic acid exerts anticancer potential in human ovarian cancer cells via suppression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling

Context Asiatic acid, a triterpenoid compound extracted from the tropical medicinal plant Centella asiatica (Family: Apiaceae), has exhibited various biological activities.

Objective This study was performed to investigate the cytotoxic effects of asiatic acid on human ovarian cancer cells.

Materials and methods SKOV3 and OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cells were exposed to different concentrations of asiatic acid (10–100?μg/mL) for 72 or 48?h. Cell viability, colony formation, cell cycle distribution, apoptotic response were examined. Involvement of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway was tested.

Results At the concentration of 40?μg/mL, asiatic acid caused about 50% reduction in the viability of ovarian cancer cells, but had little effect on the viability of normal human ovarian epithelial cells. Asiatic acid at 10?μg/mL reduced colony formation of ovarian cancer cells by 25–30%. Asiatic acid-treated cells showed a cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and 7- to 10-fold increase in apoptosis. The phosphorylation levels of PI3K, Akt and mTOR were remarkably lower in asiatic acid-treated cells. Overexpression of constitutively active Akt partially reversed the cytotoxic effects of asiatic acid, as evidenced by increased cell viability and colony formation. Furthermore, knockdown of Akt mimicked the growth-suppressive activity of asiatic acid.

Discussion and conclusion These results provide first the evidence for the anticancer potential of asiatic acid in ovarian cancer cells, partially via inactivation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Asiatic acid may represent a potential therapeutic agent for ovarian cancer.     

P53-mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through a caspase-3- independent, but caspase-9-dependent pathway in oridonin-treated MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

Aim： To study the caspase-3-independent mechanisms in oridonin-induced MCF-7 human breast cancer cell apoptosis in vitro. Methods： The viability of oridonin- treated MCF-7 cells was measured by MTT （thiazole blue） assay. Apoptotic cells with condensed nuclei were visualized by phase contrast microscopy. Nucleosomal DNA fragmentation was assayed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The apoptotic ratio was determined by lactate dehydrogenase assay. Cell cycle alternation and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured by flow cytometric analysis. Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, caspase-9, heat shock protein （Hsp）90, p53, p-p53, p21, Poly （ADP-ribose） polymerase （PARP）, and the inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase （ICAD） protein expressions were detected by Western blot analysis. Results： Oridonin inhibited cell growth in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Cell cycle was altered through the upregulation of p53 and p21 protein expressions. Pancaspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk and calpain inhibitor II both decreased cell death ratio. Nucleosomal DNA fragmentation and the downregulation of △ψmit were detected in oridonin-induced MCF-7 cell apoptosis, which was involved in a postmitochondrial caspase-9-dependent pathway. Decreased Bcl-2 and Hsp90 expression levels and increased Bax and p21 expression levels were positively correlated with elevated levels of phosphorylated p53 phosphorylation. Moreover, PARP was partially cleaved by calpain rather than by capase-3. Condusion： DNA damage provoked alternations in the mitochondrial and caspase-9 pathways as well as p53-mediated cell cycle arrest, but was not related to caspase-3 activity in oridonin-induced MCF-7 cells.     

The apoptotic effects of the flavonoid N101-2 in human cervical cancer cells

This study evaluated the anti-cancer effects of a naringenin derivative in human cervical cancer cells. In this study, a synthesized naringenin derivative, diethyl 5,7,4'-trihydroxy flavanone N-phenyl hydrazone (N101-2), inhibited cervical cancer cell growth, whereas naringenin itself exhibited no anti-cancer activity. N101-2 treatment inhibited cancer cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner through cell cycle arrest at sub-G1 phase, accompanied by an increase in apoptotic cell death. Expression of cyclins and ppRB was down-regulated, whereas that of CDK inhibitors and p53 increased upon N101-2 treatment. Meanwhile, we detected processing of caspases-8, -9, and -3, cleavage of PARP, as well as Bax up-regulation, which indicates activation of mitochondria-emanated intrinsic apoptosis signaling. Treatment with caspase-8 and -3 inhibitors also recovered cell cycling, and Fas/FasL expression increased in N101-2-treated cervical cancer cells, suggesting that Fas-mediated extrinsic apoptosis signaling was also activated. The tumor suppressor PTEN and its upstream regulator PPARγ were up-regulated with coincident inhibition of PI3K and phospho-Akt after N101-2 treatment. Taken together, we could conclude that N101-2 induces apoptosis by arresting the cell cycle at sub-G1 phase, activating mitochondria-emanated intrinsic and Fas-mediated extrinsic signaling pathways, and inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway in CaSki and SiHa human cervical cancer cells.     

野马追总黄酮的体内外抗乳腺癌活性及机制研究

目的 探究野马追总黄酮(TFE)的体内外抗乳腺癌活性及相关的作用机制。方法 MTT法检测TFE对乳腺癌细胞(MCF-7、T47D、MDA-MB-231、MDA-MB-468)和人正常乳腺上皮细胞MCF-10A增殖的影响;流式细胞术检测TFE对乳腺癌细胞周期和凋亡的影响;吖啶橙(AO)染色法检测TFE对细胞自噬的影响;Western blot检测细胞周期、凋亡、自噬相关蛋白的变化,以及PI3K/Akt信号通路相关蛋白的变化;建立MDA-MB-231细胞的裸鼠移植瘤模型,观察TFE的体内抗肿瘤活性。结果 TFE能明显抑制乳腺癌细胞增殖,并呈剂量依赖性,而对人正常乳腺上皮细胞无显著的抑制作用;TFE能增加G₂/M期细胞比例,上调p-cdc-2蛋白表达,下调cdc-2和Cyclin B1蛋白表达;TFE能显著增加乳腺癌细胞凋亡比例,上调促凋亡蛋白Bad和Bax表达,下调抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2表达;TFV能够诱导乳腺癌细胞产生自噬,自噬相关蛋白LC3-II表达上升,p62表达降低;TFE能够抑制显著抑制PI3K和Akt的磷酸化水平;TFE能够在体内抑制裸鼠肿瘤的体积。结论 TFE通过抑制PI3K/Akt信号通路,阻滞细胞周期、诱导凋亡和自噬,进而在体内外抑制乳腺癌细胞的生长。     

Icaritin enhances sorafenib-induced apoptosis through a mitochondria-dependent pathway

Sorafenib remains the standard systemic treatment for advanced human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the low response rate, high recurrence, and high progression limit the therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, a combination therapy strategy was advanced to strengthen the antitumor effects of sorafenib. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate whether icaritin could enhance the inhibitory effects of sorafenib on HCC cells and clarify the underlying mechanism. The cell viability was evaluated via MTT assay, and the synergistic inhibitory effects of sorafenib and icaritin were verified by calculating the combination index (CI). Their combined effects on cell proliferation or apoptosis were investigated using colony formation assay and flow cytometry. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was detected by flow cytometric assay. The protein expressions associated with the apoptotic pathway were determined by Western blotting analysis. The data demonstrated that sorafenib and icaritin exerted synergistic inhibitory effects on cell viability (CI < 1). Icaritin enhanced the inhibitory effect of sorafenib on colony formation and sorafenib-induced apoptosis of HCC cells. We discovered a reduced level of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and an elevated level of proapoptotic protein Bax when the cells were exposed to the combination. The effect of cleaved and activated PARP was also enhanced. Cleaved caspase-9 and cleaved caspase-3 were increased markedly in the combination group. Furthermore, the combination of icaritin and sorafenib significantly increased the loss of MMP compared with the single treatment group and induced the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytosol. These findings indicated that icaritin could enhance sorafenib-induced cytotoxicity and trigger sorafenib-induced apoptosis through a mitochondria-dependent pathway.     

Lonicera japonica THUNB. protects 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neurotoxicity by inhibiting activation of MAPKs, PI3K/Akt, and NF-κB in SH-SY5Y cells

In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of Lonicera japonica THUNB. extract (LJ) on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. We found that LJ significantly increased cell viability decrease, lactate dehydrogenase release (LDH), morphological changes, nuclear condensation, fragmentation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by 6-OHDA in SH-SY5Y cells. The cytoprotection afforded by pretreatment with LJ was associated with increases of the glutathione (GSH) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and catalase (CAT) activity in 6-OHDA-induced SH-SY5Y cells. In addition, LJ strikingly inhibited 6-OHDA-induced mitochondrial dysfunctions including reduction of mitochondria membrane potential (MMP) and activation of cleaved poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, increased Bax, as well as decreased Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. Additionally, LJ dramatically attenuated 6-OHDA-induced phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2), and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt. Meanwhile, LJ counteracted nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation by blocking its translocation to the nucleus. These findings suggest that LJ has a potent anti-parkinsonism; this effect was mediated, at least in part, by inhibition of neurotoxicity, apoptotic cascade events, and oxidative stress via activation of MAPKs, PI3K/Akt, and NF-κB.     

SZ-685C,a marine anthraquinone,is a potent inducer of apoptosis with anticancer activity by suppression of the Akt/FOXO pathway

Background and purpose:

The aims of this study were to investigate the anti-cancer activity of SZ-685C, an anthracycline analogue isolated from marine-derived mangrove endophytic fungi, and to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying such activity.

Experimental approach:

The effect of SZ-685C on the viability of cancer cell lines was investigated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. SZ-685C-induced apoptosis was assessed by Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling assay and analysis of caspase activation. The effect of SZ-685C on the Akt/FOXO pathway was studied using Western blotting analysis, and the in vivo anti-tumour efficacy was examined in an MDA-MB-435 breast cancer xenograft model.

Key results:

SZ-685C suppressed the proliferation of six cancer cell lines derived from human breast cancer, prostate cancer, glioma and hepatoma (IC₅₀ values ranged from 3.0 to 9.6 µM) and the growth of breast cancer xenografts in mice. SZ-685C had a direct apoptosis-inducing effect through both the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways, as shown by activation of caspase-8 and 9 as well as effector caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Phosphorylation of Akt and its downstream effectors, forkhead box protein O1 and forkhead box protein O3a, was down-regulated in SZ-685C-treated cancer cells. Furthermore, the pro-apoptotic protein Bim was up-regulated by SZ-685C treatment consistent with FOXO dephosphorylation.

Conclusions and implications:

SZ-685C could induce apoptosis through the Akt/FOXO pathway, which consequently leads to the observed anti-tumour effect both in vitro and in vivo. Our data suggest that SZ-685C may be a potentially promising Akt inhibitor and anti-cancer drug candidate.     

Je-chun-jun induced apoptosis of human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells

AIM: To study the mechanism of Je-Chun-Jun (JCJ)-inducing the apoptosis of the human cervical carcinoma, HeLa cells. METHODS: The cell viability was assessed using MTT assay. The optical density was measured at 570 nm. The caspase activity was measured using 50 mmol/L of fluorogenic substrate, AC-DEVD-AMC (caspase-3), AC-VEID-AMC (caspase-8) or AC-LEHD-AFC (caspase-9). To confirm the expression of proteins, Western blotting was performed. To detect the characteristic of apoptosis chromatin condensation, HeLa cells were stained with Hoechst 33258 in the presence of JCJ. For the cell cycle analysis, HeLa cells were incubated with Propidium iodide (PI) solution. Fluorescence intensity of cell cycle was measured using flow cytometry system. RESULTS: The loss of viability occurred following the exposure of 10 g/L JCJ. Cells treated with 10 g/L JCJ for 3 d exhibited the apoptotic morphology (brightly blue-fluorescent condensed nuclei by Hoechst 33258-staining) and the reduction of cell volume. Cells incubated with JCJ for 48 h were arrested at the G1 phase of cell cycle and their G1 checkpoint related gene products such as cyclin D1 were transiently decreased. We showed that JCJ induced the p38 MAPK activation in HeLa cells. The p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB203580 protected Hela cells from the JCJ-induced death as well as intervened the JCJ-induced accumulation of cells at the G1 phase. In contrast, MEK1 (-ERK upstream) inhibitor, PD98059 had no effect on HeLa cells. CONCLUSION: JCJ induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of HeLa cells through p38 MAPK pathway.     

冬凌草甲素通过PI3K/Akt通路诱导MDA-MB-231细胞的凋亡

目的：研究冬凌草甲素对人乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞增殖产生的影响,初步探讨其作用机理。方法：体外培养人乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞,采用6、12、24μmol/L冬凌草甲素对其进行处理,采用倒置显微镜进行细胞形态学观察,MTT比色法检测细胞存活率,流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡率,Western blotting检测凋亡相关蛋白procaspase-3、PARP及Akt、p-Akt、p-GSK3β表达的变化。结果：冬凌草甲素作用MDA-MB-231细胞24h后,可观察到细胞凋亡的形态学改变,以24μmol/L组最为明显。实验组与对照组相比,细胞存活率显著降低、凋亡率显著升高（P〈0.01）,具有时间和剂量依赖性,凋亡相关蛋白procaspase-3下调,caspase-3底物PARP被逐步剪切,并伴随p-Akt、p-GSK3β蛋白水平下调（P〈0.05）。结论：冬凌草甲素可有效抑制人乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞的增殖,诱导其凋亡,机制与PI3K/Akt通路的抑制有关。     

Anti-cancer effect of Cordyceps militaris in human colorectal carcinoma RKO cells via cell cycle arrest and mitochondrial apoptosis

Background

Cordyceps militaris has been used as a traditional medicine in Asian countries for a long time. Different types of Cordyceps extract were reported to have various pharmacological activities including an anti-cancer effect. We investigated the inhibitory effect of Cordyceps militaris ethanol extract on a human colorectal cancer-derived cell line, RKO.

Methods

RKO cells were treated with various concentrations of nucleosides-enriched ethanol extract of Cordyceps militaris for 48 h and cytotoxicity was measured using a CCK-8 assay. Then, xenograft Balb/c nude mice were injected with RKO cells and subsequently orally administered with ethanol extract of Cordyceps militaris every day for 3 weeks to examine the inhibitory effect on tumor growth. Lastly, the effect of Cordyceps militaris on cell cycle as well as apoptosis was measured using flow cytometry. Also, the expression of p53, caspase 9, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP, Bim, Bax, Bak, and Bad were detected using western blot assay.

Results

RKO cells were highly susceptible to the ethanol extract of Cordyceps militaris (CME) and the growth of RKO cells-derived tumor was significantly delayed by the treatment of Cordyceps militaris. Cordyceps militaris induced cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase (untreated; 20.5 %, CME 100 μg/ml; 61.67 %, CME 300 μg/ml; 66.33 %) and increased early apoptosis (untreated; 1.01 %, CME 100 μg/ml; 8.48 %, CME 300 μg/ml; 18.07 %). The expression of p53, cleaved caspase 9, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP, Bim, Bak, and Bad were upregulated by the treatment of Cordyceps militaris.

Conclusion

Ethanol extract of Cordyceps militaris was highly cytotoxic to human colorectal carcinoma RKO cells and inhibited the growth of tumor in xenograft model. The anti-tumor effect of Cordyceps militaris was associated with an induction of cell cycle arrest and mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis.     

Par-4 downregulation confers cisplatin resistance in pancreatic cancer cells via PI3K/Akt pathway-dependent EMT

Cisplatin (CDDP) efficiency in pancreatic cancer therapy is limited due to development of drug resistance. However, the comprehensive mechanisms remain largely unclear. In this study, we first established a CDDP-resistant pancreatic cancer cell line-BXPC-3/CDDP from its parental cell line-BXPC-3. The results showed that CDDP resistance in BXPC-3/CDDP cells correlates with changes in cellular EMT phenotypes. Prostate apoptosis response-4 (Par-4) expression at both mRNA and protein levels were reduced in CDDP-resistant BXPC-3/CDDP cells compared with that in BXPC-3 cells. Ectopic expression of Par-4 reversed EMT and CDDP resistance in BXPC-3/CDDP cells. In BXPC-3 cells, knockdown of Par-4 expression induces EMT and CDDP insensitivity, however, these effects were blocked by inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway using LY294002. Furthermore, Par-4 knockdown could significantly stimulate PI3K/Akt signaling in BXPC-3 cells. In vivo studies, xenograft BXPC-3 tumors were sensitive to CDDP treatment. Treatment with CDDP alone had little effect on the growth of Par-4 siRNA-transfected BXPC-3 tumors in nude mice and the survival rate compared with control. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway using LY294002 reversed CDDP resistance in Par-4 siRNA-transfected BXPC-3 tumors. In conclusion, these results indicate that Par-4 downregulation confers CDDP resistance via PI3K/Akt pathway-dependent EMT in BXPC-3 cells. Therefore, Par-4 may be a potential target for overcoming CDDP resistance in pancreatic cancer.     

常绿钩吻碱抑制人神经胶质瘤U251细胞增殖的体内外作用特征

常绿钩吻碱(sempervirine,SPV)是从钩吻中分离得到的一种育亨宾型生物碱,本研究探讨了常绿钩吻碱抑制人神经胶质瘤细胞体内外增殖的作用特征。以0~16μmol·L^-1不同浓度常绿钩吻碱处理人神经胶质瘤U251细胞24、48和72 h,分别用MTT法和集落形成实验检测细胞增殖,Hoechst细胞核染色和Annexin V-FITC/PI染色法检测细胞凋亡,Western blot法检测PI3K、AKT、p-AKT、Bax、Bcl-2、caspase-3和cleaved caspase-3蛋白。采用体内裸鼠移植神经胶质瘤模型,观察常绿钩吻碱抗神经胶质瘤的体内作用,所有动物实验操作均严格遵守福建医科大学生物医学伦理委员会相关规定。结果显示,常绿钩吻碱在1~8μmol·L^-1能显著抑制U251细胞的增殖和集落形成,引起细胞核固缩,促进细胞凋亡,蛋白检测表明,其促进caspase-3的切割活化,下调Bcl-2/Bax值和PI3K蛋白的表达,抑制AKT的磷酸化;裸鼠移植瘤实验结果表明,剂量4和8 mg·kg^-1·day^-1常绿钩吻碱干预能抑制体内神经胶质瘤的生长,肿瘤重量分别减少了44.76%和61.26%。本研究在体内外水平表明,常绿钩吻碱能明显抑制神经胶质瘤的增殖,为其抗神经胶质瘤的研究开发奠定基础。     

λ-卡拉胶寡糖对人脐静脉内皮细胞的增殖抑制作用及凋亡相关基因表达

为了探讨λ-卡拉胶寡糖(λ-carrageenan oligosaccharides， λ-CO)在体外抑制人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVEC)增殖作用及其分子机制， 采用MTT法检测λ-CO对HUVEC存活率的影响， 通过流式细胞技术检测λ-CO对HUVEC增殖周期的影响， 测定细胞凋亡率， 检测用药前后活性半胱氨酸蛋白酶-3(caspase-3)的变化。同时采用半定量RT-PCR方法检测凋亡相关基因mRNA的表达情况。MTT检测结果显示，λ-CO在高浓度(1 mg·mL^-1)能明显抑制细胞增殖。流式细胞仪检测到λ-CO作用HUVEC后， 出现早期凋亡细胞， 且凋亡呈浓度和时间依赖性； 对细胞增殖周期的检测结果显示， 与对照组相比，λ-CO作用后G₁期细胞比例减少， S期比例增加， 并出现凋亡峰； 活化的caspase-3比例亦随用药浓度的加大而增加。RT-PCR检测发现0.3 mg·mL^-1λ-CO作用人脐静脉内皮细胞12、 24和36 h后，细胞TNFα、 p53、 caspase-8、 caspase-3的mRNA表达上调。表明λ-CO能剂量依赖性地诱导HUVEC细胞凋亡， 并引起HUVEC的S期阻滞， 其机制可能与促进TNFα、 p53、 caspase-8、 caspase-3等基因的转录， 使细胞内活化的caspase-3水平增加有关。     

Effects of Triclosan on Neural Stem Cell Viability and Survival

Triclosan is an antimicrobial or sanitizing agent used in personal care and household products such as toothpaste, soaps, mouthwashes and kitchen utensils. There are increasing evidence of the potentially harmful effects of triclosan in many systemic and cellular processes of the body. In this study, we investigated the effects of triclosan in the survivability of cultured rat neural stem cells (NSCs). Cortical cells from embryonic day 14 rat embryos were isolated and cultured in vitro. After stabilizing the culture, triclosan was introduced to the cells with concentrations ranging from 1 μM to 50 μM and in varied time periods. Thereafter, cell viability parameters were measured using MTT assay and PI staining. TCS decreased the cell viability of treated NSC in a concentration-dependent manner along with increased expressions of apoptotic markers, cleaved caspase-3 and Bax, while reduced expression of Bcl2. To explore the mechanisms underlying the effects of TCS in NSC, we measured the activation of MAPKs and intracellular ROS. TCS at 50 μM induced the activations of both p38 and JNK, which may adversely affect cell survival. In contrast, the activities of ERK, Akt and PI3K, which are positively correlated with cell survival, were inhibited. Moreover, TCS at this concentration augmented the ROS generation in treated NSC and depleted the glutathione activity. Taken together, these results suggest that TCS can induce neurodegenerative effects in developing rat brains through mechanisms involving ROS activation and apoptosis initiation.     

Methylene chloride fraction of Spatholobi Caulis induces apoptosis via caspase dependent pathway in U937 cells

Spatholobi Caulis has been used in Oriental medicine to treat cancer and blood stasis. In this study, the methylene chloride fraction of Spatholobi Caulis (MCSC) was examined to determine if it possesses anti-cancer activity via its apoptosis-inducing activity. MCSC exhibited a strong cytotoxic effect against human monocyte leukemia U937 cells (IC(50)=15.1 microg/ml). A TUNEL assay showed that the MCSC caused a characteristic ladder pattern of discontinuous DNA fragments and apoptotic bodies. Flow cytometric analysis confirmed that MCSC significantly increases the number of apoptotic cells stained by annexin V(+)/PI(-) cells. Western blotting revealed that MCSC activated caspase-3 expression and cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in a concentration-dependent manner. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) demonstrated that MCSC significantly activated the caspase-3 activity compared with the untreated control by. Taken together, these results suggest that MCSC can induce apoptosis in U937cells via the caspase dependent pathway.