Sensitization of multidrug-resistant human cancer cells to Hsp90 inhibitors by down-regulation of SIRT1

The effectiveness of Hsp90 inhibitors as anticancer agents was limited in multidrug-resistant (MDR) human cancer cells due to induction of heat shock proteins (Hsps) such as Hsp70/Hsp27 and P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated efflux. In the present study, we showed that resistance to Hsp90 inhibitors of MDR human cancer cells could be overcome with SIRT1 inhibition. SIRT1 knock-down or SIRT1 inhibitors (amurensin G and EX527) effectively suppressed the resistance to Hsp90 inhibitors (17-AAG and AUY922) in several MDR variants of human lymphoblastic leukemia and human breast cancer cell lines. SIRT1 inhibition down-regulated the expression of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) and subsequently Hsps and facilitated Hsp90 multichaperone complex disruption via hyperacetylation of Hsp90/Hsp70. These findings were followed by acceleration of ubiquitin ligase CHIP-mediated mutant p53 (mut p53) degradation and subsequent down-regulation of P-gp in 17-AAG-treated MDR cancer cells expressing P-gp and mut p53 after inhibition of SIRT1. Therefore, combined treatment with Hsp90 inhibitor and SIRT1 inhibitor could be a more effective therapeutic approach for Hsp90 inhibitor-resistant MDR cells via down-regulation of HSF1/Hsps, mut p53 and P-gp.     

Induction of apoptosis by cisplatin and its effect on cell cycle-related proteins and cell cycle changes in hepatoma cells.

We investigated cisplatin-induced apoptosis and the effects on cell cycle-related proteins and cell cycle changes. Two human hepatoma cell lines, HepG2 (with wild-type p53) and Hep3B (with deleted p53), were treated with different concentrations of cisplatin. Cisplatin induced apoptosis in both cell lines as assessed by cell morphology, DNA fragmentation analysis,TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay and flow cytometry. HepG2 cells were more sensitive to cisplatin than Hep3B. Low-dose cisplatin induced a transient G(1) arrest, S phase block and upregulation of p53 and p21(WAF1/CIP1) expression in HepG2, but not in Hep3B cells. With cisplatin at a high dose, both cell lines underwent apoptosis that was accompanied by downregulation of p27(KIP1) and Bcl-x(L). In HepG2, upregulation of p53 and p21(WAF1/CIP1) was observed before apoptosis occurred, suggesting that cisplatin-induced apoptosis in HepG2 might be p53-dependent. Expression of Fas was also increased following cisplatin treatment in HepG2. However, there was no induction of p53, p21(WAF1/CIP1) and Fas observed in Hep3B cells. In conclusion, cisplatin induced apoptosis in hepatoma cells via both p53-dependent and -independent pathways.     

Growth arrest induced by C75, A fatty acid synthase inhibitor, was partially modulated by p38 MAPK but not by p53 in human hepatocellular carcinoma

C75, a well-known fatty acid synthase (FAS) inhibitor, has been shown to possess potent anti-cancer activity in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we reveal that C75 is a cell cycle arrest inducer and explore the potential mechanisms for this effect in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines with abundant FAS expression: HepG2 and SMMC7721 cells with wt-p53, and Hep3B cells with null p53. The results showed FAS protein expression and basal activity levels were higher in HepG2 cells than in the other two HCC cell lines. Treatment with C75 inhibited FAS activity within 30 min of administration and induced G(2) phase arrest accompanied by p53 overexpression in HepG2 and SMMC7721 cells. By contrast, C75 triggered G(1) phase arrest in Hep3B cells, and RNA interference targeting p53 did not attenuate C75-induced G(2) arrest in HepG2 cells. Similarly, p53 overexpression via p53 plasmid transfection did not affect C75-induced G(1) phase arrest in Hep3B cells. However, we observed a clear correlation between p38 MAPK activation triggered by C75 and the induction of cell cycle arrest in all three HCC cells. Furthermore, treatment with the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 reduced p38 MAPK activity and cell cycle arrest, and also partially restored cyclin A, cyclin B1, cyclin D1 and p21 protein levels. Collectively, it was p38 MAPK but not p53 involved in C75-mediated tumor cell growth arrest in HCC cells.     

Ursodeoxycholic acid switches oxaliplatin‐induced necrosis to apoptosis by inhibiting reactive oxygen species production and activating p53‐caspase 8 pathway in HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is resistant to chemotherapy. Recently, however, several oxaliplatin‐based combinatorial treatments have shown a promising anti‐tumor activity in patients with HCC. Presently, we demonstrate that oxaliplatin triggers necrosis more than apoptosis in HepG2, SK‐Hep1, SNU‐423 and Hep3B HCC cells, while mainly inducing apoptosis in HCT116 and HT29 colon cancer cells. Interestingly, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a less hydrophobic bile acid that can suppress carcinogenesis, shifted oxaliplatin‐induced necrosis to apoptosis in HepG2 cells. The same effect was produced by hydrophilic bile acids (tauroursodeoxycholic acid and taurohyodeoxycholic acid), but not by highly hydrophobic bile acids (deoxycholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid). UDCA also triggered the necrosis‐to‐apoptosis switch when cotreated with other platinum‐based chemotherapeutic drugs including cisplatin and carboplatin, suggesting that the cell death mode switching effect of UDCA is a general phenomenon when combined with platinum drugs. Oxaliplatin produced high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in HepG2 cells and UDCA significantly reduced oxaliplatin‐induced ROS generation. In addition, N‐acetyl‐L ‐cysteine and the superoxide scavengers butylated hydroxyanisole and dihydroxybenzene‐3,5‐disulfonic acid attenuated necrosis, indicating a critical role(s) of ROS in occurrence of necrotic death. Apoptosis induced by combined treatment appeared to be mediated by p53‐caspase 8‐caspase 3 pathway. In conclusion, UDCA switches oxaliplatin‐induced necrosis to apoptosis via inhibition of ROS production and activation of the p53‐caspase 8 pathway in HepG2 cells. As necrosis and subsequent inflammation are implicated in tumor progression and malignancy, our results imply a potential improved efficacy of UDCA‐combined chemotherapy in HCC by reducing inflammatory responses that may be triggered by oxaliplatin.     

Tumor infiltrating macrophages reduce development of peritoneal colorectal carcinoma metastases

We previously reported that HS-1200, a synthetic chenodeoxycholic acid derivative, has apoptosis-inducing activity in various human cancer cells. The present study was undertaken to examine whether HS-1200 had an anticancer effect on HepG2 (wild-type p53) and Hep3B (p53 deleted) human hepatoma cells. Treatment of both cells with HS-1200 resulted in growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis as measured by MTT assay, nuclear staining, DNA fragmentation and flow cytometry analysis. The increase in apoptosis was associated with the alteration in the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax protein expression. In addition, flow cytometry analysis indicated that HS-1200 induced G1 phase arrest in both cells. When analyzing the expression of cell cycle-related proteins, we found that HS-1200 reduced the expression levels of cyclin D1, cyclin A, and Cdk2. HS-1200 treatment also caused an increase in the expression levels of p21(WAF1/CIP1) in HepG2 cells in a p53-dependent manner and in Hep3B cells in a p53-independent manner. Moreover, the expression level of p27(KIP1) was increased in both cell lines. We also observed that HS-1200 decreased the levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 mRNA and protein expression. Furthermore, HS-1200 treatment markedly induced the Egr-1 expression at an early time point, and the increased expression levels of p53, p21(WAF1/CIP1), p27(KIP1), and COX-2 after treatment with HS-1200 were completely inhibited in HepG2 cells and partially inhibited in Hep3B cells by silencing of Egr-1, respectively. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anticancer activity of the synthetic bile acid derivative, HS-1200, through Egr-1 regulation.     

Hyperthermia-induced apoptosis in two rat yolk sac tumor cell lines with different radiothermosensitivity in vitro

We investigated cell susceptibility to hyperthermia-induced apoptosis in two rat yolk sac tumor cell lines (RYSTs) and attempted to correlate this with the known potentially relevant molecular determinants of apoptosis, p53 protein status, Bcl-2 family of proteins and heat shock proteins (Hsp). Parent cell line, NMT-1 (carrying wild-type p53 gene) was radiosensitive but thermoresistant compared to the variant cell line, NMT-1R (mutated type p53), which was isolated from NMT-1 by repeated radiation exposure. Induction of apoptosis by hyperthermia at 43 degrees C was morphologically detected in both RYSTs using hematoxylin and eosin, and TUNEL staining and additionally confirmed by DNA ladder formation (the cleavage of DNA into oligonucleosomal fragments). Western blot analysis showed an increase in expression of p53, p21WAF1/CIP1, Hsp70 proteins in both cell lines after heat-shock at 43 degrees C for 30 min. Hsp90 expression increased in NMT-1 but was not affected by heating in NMT-1R cells, whereas hyperthermia exerted no effect on the endogenous expression of Bax. Bcl-2 protein could not be detected in either RYST. These results suggest that hyperthermia induced apoptosis in both NMT-1 and NMT-1R and apoptosis in RYSTs may be independent of p53-dependent signaling pathway.     

TGF-β1对人肝癌细胞系凋亡的调控作用研究

目的肝细胞对TGF-β1敏感性的丧失据认为是肝癌重要的致病因素之一。本研究旨在明确人肝肿瘤细胞系中TGF-β1的作用及其与凋亡的关系。方法选用三种含不同p53基因状态的人肝肿瘤细胞系,应用脱氧核糖核苷酸末瑞转移酶介导的dUTP缺口末端标记技术(TUNEL)对TGF-β1诱导的肝肿瘤细胞的凋亡进行定量检测。结果在应用TUNEL检测三个细胞系中,TGF-β1仅能诱导Hep3B细胞(缺失p53)则凋亡较少。这提示凋亡p53基因的表达具有明确的联系。结论HepG2细胞系比Huh-7和Hep3B系细胞更易发生TGF-β1诱导的凋亡,TGF-β1通过p53依赖性途径诱导肝癌细胞系发生凋亡。     

槲皮素提高肝癌HepG2细胞热化疗疗效的实验研究

  目的 研究热休克对人肝癌HepG2细胞耐药性的影响，合用槲皮素（Qu）能否提高肝癌细胞热化疗的疗效。方法 42 ℃恒温水浴法热休克传代人肝癌细胞系HepG2细胞90 min。MTT检测半数抑制浓度（IC50），求得耐药倍数、增敏倍数。荧光染色检测凋亡率。流式细胞术检测HSP70和P-gp表达率。结果 Qu能诱导HepG2细胞凋亡。HepG2细胞热休克诱导后4 h对ADM耐药性升高2.78倍（P＜ 0.05），HSP70阳性细胞数升高，4 h达到11.47 ％，升高近1倍（P ＜0.01），P-gp阳性细胞数12 h达到96.31 ％，升高近2倍（P ＜0.01）。热休克前应用Qu能有效抑制热休克诱导HSP70和P-gp的过量表达，抑制细胞对ADM耐药性的产生，起增敏作用（P ＜0.05），呈浓度依赖性。结论 槲皮素可阻断热休克诱导HepG2细胞HSP70和P-gp的过表达，抑制耐药性的产生，起到热化疗的增敏作用，可成为肿瘤耐药逆转剂。     

Radiation-induced intercellular signaling mediated by cytochrome-c via a p53-dependent pathway in hepatoma cells

The tumor suppressor p53 has a crucial role in cellular response to DNA damage caused by ionizing radiation, but it is still unclear whether p53 can modulate radiation-induced bystander effects (RIBE). In the present work, three different hepatoma cell lines, namely HepG2 (wild p53), PLC/PRF/5 (mutation p53) and Hep3B (p53 null), were irradiated with γ-rays and then co-cultured with normal Chang liver cell (wild p53) in order to elucidate the mechanisms of RIBE. Results showed that the radiosensitivity of HepG2 cells was higher than that of PLC/PRF/5 and Hep3B cells. Only irradiated HepG2 cells, rather than irradiated PLC/PRF/5 or Hep3B cells, could induce bystander effect of micronuclei (MN) formation in the neighboring Chang liver cells. When HepG2 cells were treated with 20?μM pifithrin-α, an inhibitor of p53 function, or 5?μM cyclosporin A (CsA), an inhibitor of cytochrome-c release from mitochondria, the MN induction in bystander Chang liver cells was diminished. In fact, it was found that after irradiation, cytochrome-c was released from mitochondria into the cytoplasm only in HepG2 cells in a p53-dependent manner, but not in PLC/PRF/5 and Hep3B cells. Interestingly, when 50?μg/ml exogenous cytochrome-c was added into cell co-culture medium, RIBE was significantly triggered by irradiated PLC/PRF/5 and Hep3B cells, which previously failed to provoke a bystander effect. In addition, this exogenous cytochrome-c also partly recovered the RIBE induced by irradiated HepG2 cells even with CsA treatment. Our results provide new evidence that the RIBE can be modulated by the p53 status of irradiated hepatoma cells and that a p53-dependent release of cytochrome-c may be involved in the RIBE.     

Hsp27 modulates p53 signaling and suppresses cellular senescence

The small heat shock protein Hsp27 is expressed at high levels in many tumors and provides protection against anticancer drugs. Here, we show that expression of recombinant Hsp27 at elevated levels leads to protection of MCF10A human mammary epithelial cells from doxorubicin. The protection was associated with suppression of the doxorubicin-induced senescence, where Hsp27 inhibited p53-mediated induction of p21, the major regulator of the senescence program. Similarly, Hsp27 inhibited accumulation of p21 and suppressed senescence in response to the p53 activator nutlin-3, indicating that Hsp27 has a general effect on the p53 pathway. In line with these findings, down-regulation of Hsp27 in HCT116 human colon carcinoma cells that express this heat shock protein at high levels caused senescence in a population of cells and sensitized the rest of the cells to doxorubicin-induced senescence (at low doses) or apoptosis (at high doses of doxorubicin). Induction of senescence by Hsp27 down-regulation associated with activation of the p53 pathway and induction of p21. Interestingly, depletion of Hsp27 caused neither significant proteotoxic nor genotoxic stress, and therefore this heat shock protein seems to have a specific effect on the p53 signaling. Indeed, Hsp27 down-regulation was associated with destabilization of HDM2 and stabilization of p53. These data suggest that Hsp27 may play a general role in regulation of cellular senescence by modulating the p53 pathway.     

Effects of heat stress on the level of heat shock protein 70 on the surface of hepatocellular carcinoma Hep G2 cells: implications for the treatment of tumors

The ability to distinguish tumor cells from normal cells is vital to allow the immune system to selectively destroy tumor cells. In order to find an effective marker, we used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunocytochemistry, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry to investigate the effects of heat stress on the amount of heat shock protein 70 on the surface of tumor cells (Hep G2 cells). Heat shock protein 70 is the major stress-induced heat shock protein found on the surface of tumor cells. Our results indicate that the percentage of Hep G2 cells with a detectable level of heat shock protein 70 on their cell surface increased significantly (P?<?0.05) following heat stress at 42 °C for 2 h (up to 1.92 times the level before heat treatment). The detectable level of heat shock protein 70 on the surface of Hep G2 cells reached its peak 12 h after treatment. However, the fluorescent intensity of stressed and unstressed Hep G2 cells was not significantly different (P?>?0.05). The increase in the level of heat shock protein 70 on the surface of tumor cells following heat stress could provide a basis for finding novel immunotoxins as targets for drug action and may have application to be used in conjunction with hyperthermia in the treatment of tumors.     

Measurement and mathematical modeling of thermally induced injury and heat shock protein expression kinetics in normal and cancerous prostate cells

Purpose: Hyperthermia can induce heat shock protein (HSP) expression in tumours, which will cause enhanced tumour viability and increased resistance to additional thermal, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments. The study objective was to determine the relationship of hyperthermia protocols with HSP expression kinetics and cell death and develop corresponding computational predictive models of normal and cancerous prostate cell response.

Methods: HSP expression kinetics and cell viability were measured in PC3 prostate cancer and RWPE-1 normal prostate cells subjected to hyperthermia protocols of 44° to 60°C for 1 to 30 min. Hsp27, Hsp60, and Hsp70 expression kinetics were determined by western blotting and visualised with immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. Based on measured HSP expression data, a mathematical model was developed for predicting thermally induced HSP expression. Cell viability was measured with propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry to quantify the injury parameters necessary for predicting cell death following hyperthermia.

Results: Significant Hsp27 and Hsp70 levels were induced in both cell types with maximum HSP expression occurring at 16 h post-heating, and diminishing substantially after 72 h. PC3 cells were slightly more sensitive to thermal stress than RWPE-1 cells. Arrhenius analysis of injury data suggested a transition between injury mechanisms at 54°C. HSP expression and injury models were effective at predicting cellular response to hyperthermia.

Conclusion: Measurement of thermally induced HSP expression kinetics and cell viability associated with hyperthermia enabled development of thermal dosimetry guidelines and predictive models for HSP expression and cell injury as a function of thermal stress to investigate and design more effective hyperthermia therapies.     

Oncolytic potential of E1B 55 kDa-deleted YKL-1 recombinant adenovirus: correlation with p53 functional status

YKL-1, E1B 55 kDa-deleted recombinant adenovirus vector, capable of harboring a transgene casette of up to 4.9 kb, was newly constructed by reintroducing E1A and E1B 19 kDa into E1/E3-deleted adenoviral vector with a homologous recombination in E. coli. Virus replication and cytotoxicity were dramatically attenuated in all 3 different types of normal human cells. In contrast, YKL-1 efficiently replicated and induced cytotoxicity in most cancer cells, especially Hep3B and C33A cells with an inactivating p53 mutation. However, both H460 and HepG2 exhibited intermediate sensitivity to YKL-1, which was between that of Hep3B or C33A and normal human cells. The YKL-1 and DNA damaging agent, camptothecin effectively induced p53 in H460 and HepG2 as well as in normal cells. Furthermore, YKL-1 effectively prohibited both Hep3B and C33A tumor growth in nu/nu mice in a dose-dependent manner. H/E staining and TUNEL assay indicated a largely distributed necrotic area and apoptosis on its periphery. This study, therefore, indicates that YKL-1, possesses promising potential as an oncolytic adenoviral vector, which acts partially in a p53-dependent manner.     

Effective infection, apoptotic cell killing and gene transfer of human hepatoma cells but not primary hepatocytes by parvovirus H1 and derived vectors

Autonomous parvoviruses preferentially replicate in and kill in vitro-transformed cells and reduce the incidence of spontaneous and implanted tumors in animals. Because of these natural oncotropic and oncolytic properties, parvoviruses deserve to be considered as potential antitumor vectors. Here, we assessed whether parvovirus H1 is able to kill human hepatoma cells by induction of apoptosis but spares primary human liver cells, and whether the former cells can efficiently be transduced by H1 virus-based vectors. Cell death, infectivity, and transgene transduction were investigated in Hep3B, HepG2, and Huh7 cells and in primary human hepatocytes with natural and recombinant H1 virus. All hepatoma cells were susceptible to H1 virus-induced cytolyis. Cell death correlated with H1 virus DNA replication, nonstructural protein expression, and with morphological features of apoptosis. H1 virus-induced apoptosis was more pronounced in p53-deleted Hep3B and p53-mutated Huh7 cells than in HepG2 cells which express wild-type p53. In Hep3B cells, apoptosis was partially inhibited by DEVD-CHO, a caspase-3 inhibitor. In contrast, H1 virus-infected primary hepatocytes were neither positive for nonstructural protein expression nor susceptible to H1 virus-induced killing. Infection with a recombinant parvovirus vector carrying the luciferase gene under control of parvovirus promoter P38 led to higher transgene activities in hepatoma cells than in the hepatocytes. Taken together, H1 virus kills human hepatoma cells at low virus multiplicity but not primary hepatocytes. Thus, recombinant H1 viruses carrying antitumor transgenes may be considered as potential therapeutic options for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinomas.     

5-脱氧杂氮胞苷对肝癌细胞分泌exosomes及其免疫相关分子的影响

目的 探讨5-脱氧杂氮胞苷(5-Aza-Cda)对肝癌细胞分泌exosomes及其负载的肿瘤相关抗原和免疫相关分子含量的影响.方法 采用离心超滤联合蔗糖密度梯度离心方法,分离和纯化经5-Aza-CdR处理和未处理的HepG2和Hep3B肝癌细胞释放的exosomes,并对exosomes进行计数和蛋白定量测定.采用免疫电镜和Western blot技术,观察exosomes表达HSP70、HLA-Ⅰ和NY-ESO-1蛋白的变化;以逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测5-Aza-CdR处理前后HepG2和Hep3B细胞野生型p53基因mRNA的表达.结果 经5-Aza-CdR处理后,HepG2和Hep3B细胞p53基因mRNA表达较未处理组均明显增加,exosomes数量和蛋白含量均较未处理组显著增加(P<0.05).经免疫电镜和Western blot鉴定,exosomes上均附载有HSP70、HLA-Ⅰ和NY-ESO-1蛋白,且两种细胞来源的exosomes经5-Aza-CdR处理后,HSP70、HLA-Ⅰ和NY-ESO-1蛋白含量均明显增加.结论 DNA甲基转移酶抑制剂5-Aza-CdR可使肝癌细胞分泌更多数量的exosomes,增加exosomes中的免疫相关分子含量,其机制可能与p53基因上调和DNA去甲基化有关.