Cell killing and radiosensitizing effects of atorvastatin in PC3 prostate cancer cells

Recent studies have indicated that autophagy may be one of the important pathways induced by ionizing radiation. Atorvastatin (statin), an inhibitor of 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, may exhibit anticancer effects as an autophagy inducer. In our study, the cell killing and radiosensitizing effects of statin were analyzed in PC3 cell line. Activation of the autophagy pathway was analyzed using the GFP-LC3 assay and western blot to determine LC3-II expression. The radiosensitivity of PC3 cells was determined using the clonal survival assay, TUNEL assay, and the Annexin V apoptosis assay. The expression profiles of autophagy related genes were analyzed using a pathway specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array. Autophagic response was induced in PC3 cells after exposure to statin and/or gamma rays. Inhibition of the autophagic process using small interfering RNAs (siRNA) targeting Atg7 and/or Atg12 significantly reduced radiosensitivity of PC3 cells. Statin also exhibited a significant apoptosis-inducing effect in PC3 cells, which can be partially suppressed by Atg7 siRNA. Cells treated with statin and gamma irradiation showed significantly reduced colony forming efficiency and increased number of Annexin V positive early apoptotic cells. Analysis of autophagy and its regulatory gene profile showed that the expressions of 22 genes out of 86 genes assessed were significantly altered in the cells exposed to combined treatment or statin alone. The data indicate that activation of the autophagy pathway may be responsible for apoptosis inducing effect of statin. Furthermore, combined treatment with radiation and autophagic inducer, such as statin, may be synergistic in inducing cell death of PC3 cells.     

Delayed expression of apoptosis in X-irradiated human leukemic MOLT-4 cells transfected with mutant p53

The effects of X-rays on cell survival, apoptosis, and long-term response in the development of cell death as measured by the dye exclusion test were studied in human leukemic MOLT-4 cells (p53 wild-type) stably transfected with a mutant p53 cDNA expression vector. Cell survival, as determined from colony-forming ability, was increased in an expression level dependent manner, but the increase was partial even with the highest-expressing clone (B3). This contrasts with the prior observation that cell death and apoptosis in B3 are completely inhibited at 24 h after irradiation with 1.8 Gy of X-rays. The examination of B3 cells incubated for longer than 24 h after X-irradiation showed a delay in the induction of cell death and apoptosis. Western blot analysis revealed that the time required to reach the highest level of wild-type p53 protein in B3 was longer than the time in MOLT-4 and that the p53 may be stabilized by the phosphorylation at Ser-15. These results suggest that the introduction of mutant p53 into MOLT-4 merely delays the development of apoptosis, during which the cells could repair the damage induced by X-rays, and results in the partial increase in cell survival.     

Expression profile of apoptosis related genes and radio-sensitivity of prostate cancer cells

Radio-resistant or recurrent prostate cancer represents a serious health risk for approximately 20%-30% of patients treated with primary radiation therapy for clinically localized prostate cancer. In the present study, we investigated the expression profiles of 84 genes involved in various apoptosis pathways in two prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP (P53+ and AR+) and PC3 (P53- and AR-). We also studied the effect of monensin, an apoptosis inducing reagent, in X-ray-induced cell killing. Comparison of gene expressions between unirradiated LNCaP and PC3 cells revealed distinguished gene expression patterns. The data showed a significantly higher expression level of genes involved in the caspase/card family and the TNF ligand/receptor family in PC3 cells, whereas, LNCaP cells exhibited higher expressions in the p53 related genes. At 2 and 4 hrs post a 10 Gy X-ray exposure, changes of gene expressions were detected in a significant fraction of the genes in LNCaP cells, but no significant changes were found in PC3 cells. There was no significant apoptosis-inducing effect of X-rays (up to 10 Gy) in both cell lines; however, monensin was shown to be effective in inducing apoptosis in LNCaP, but not in PC3 cells. In addition, the effect of combined treatment of monensin and X-rays in LNCaP cells appeared to be synergistic. Our results suggest that monensin may be effective for both cancer cell killing and radiosensitizing, and the different expression profiles in apoptosis related genes in cancer cells may be correlated with their sensitivity to apoptosis inducing reagents.     

p53-independent apoptosis induced by genistein in lung cancer cells.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world, with increasing incidence in many developed countries. Epidemiological data suggest that consumption of soy products may be associated with a decreased risk of cancer. Despite the association of nutrition and cancer, the molecular mechanisms by which the active metabolite in the soy diet, genistein, exerts its biological response have not been studied. We previously showed that genistein can inhibit the growth of H460 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells in vitro. To explore the molecular mechanisms by which genistein inhibits the growth of NSCLC cells, we investigated cell growth inhibition, modulation in gene expression, and induction of apoptosis by genistein in H460 cells, which harbor wild-type p53, and H322 cells, which possess mutated p53. Genistein was found to inhibit H460 and H322 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Staining with 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, and flow cytometric apoptosis analysis were used to investigate apoptotic cell death, and the results show that 30 microM genistein causes cell death via a typical apoptotic pathway. Western blot analysis demonstrated upregulations of p21WAF1 and Bax by genistein in wild-type and mutant p53 cell lines. Furthermore, cells treated with genistein showed an increased expression of endogenous wild-type p53, while the level of the mutant p53 protein remained unchanged. From these results, we conclude that genistein induces apoptosis in NSCLC cells through a p53-independent pathway and, thus, may act as an anticancer agent.     

Enhanced radiosensitivity in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 deficient mice

To investigate whether impaired osteogenesis resulting from vitamin D deficiency can influence hematopoiesis recovery after radiation, the 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1α-hydroxylase (1α-hydroxylase) gene knockout (KO) mice and wild type (WT) mice were subjected to different doses of gamma ray. The survival rates, peripheral blood cell counts and bone marrow cellularity were studied after irradiation (IR). The survival rates of the KO mice were significantly lower than that of WT mice after 6 or 8 Gy dose of radiation. The recovery of white blood cells in KO mice was significantly delayed compared with that in WT mice after radiation. The red blood cell number in WT mice was observed to increase more than that in KO mice at days 14 and 28 after radiation. The nadir platelet count in KO mice was nearly half of that in WT mice. Dramatically higher bone marrow cell numbers were found in WT mice compared with KO mice. Our findings demonstrate the enhanced radiosensitivity in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)(2)D(3)) deficient mice.     

Rituximab enhances radiation-triggered apoptosis in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cells via caspase-dependent and - independent mechanisms

Rituximab (RTX), a chimeric human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, is currently employed in the treatment of malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) either alone or in combination with other cytotoxic approaches. The present study examines the effects of ionizing radiation in combination with RTX on proliferation and apoptosis development in B-lymphoma RL and Raji cells. RTX was used at a concentration of 10 microg/mL 24 hours prior to irradiation at a single dose of 9 Gy. CD20 expression, cell viability, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis-related proteins were evaluated in the treated B cells. The constitutive level of CD20 expression in RL and Raji lymphoma cells did not play an essential role in RTX-induced cell growth delay. Both lymphoma cells showed similar inhibition of cell proliferation without apoptosis development in response to RTX treatment. Exposure to ionizing radiation induced cell growth delay and apoptosis in RL cells, whereas Raji cells showed moderate radio-resistance and activation of cell growth at 24 hours after irradiation, which was accompanied by increased radiation-triggered CD20 expression. The simultaneous exposure of lymphoma cells to ionizing radiation and RTX abrogated radioresistance of Raji cells and significantly enhanced cell growth delay and apoptosis in RL cells. X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) and the inducible form of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) were positively modulated by RTX in combination with ionizing radiation in order to induce apoptosis. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation is not an essential component to induce apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) maturation and apoptosis. Our results show that RTX-triggered enhancement of radiation-induced apoptosis and cell growth delay is achieved by modulation of proteins involved in programmed cell death.     

Cell-permeable intrinsic cellular inhibitors of apoptosis protect and rescue intestinal epithelial cells from radiation-induced cell death

One of the important mechanisms for gastrointestinal (GI) injury following high-dose radiation exposure is apoptosis of epithelial cells. X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) and cellular IAP2 (cIAP2) are intrinsic cellular inhibitors of apoptosis. In order to study the effects of exogenously added IAPs on apoptosis in intestinal epithelial cells, we constructed bacterial expression plasmids containing genes of XIAP (full-length, BIR2 domain and BIR3-RING domain with and without mutations of auto-ubiquitylation sites) and cIAP2 proteins fused to a protein-transduction domain (PTD) derived from HIV-1 Tat protein (TAT) and purified these cell-permeable recombinant proteins. When the TAT-conjugated IAPs were added to rat intestinal epithelial cells IEC6, these proteins were effectively delivered into the cells and inhibited apoptosis, even when added after irradiation. Our results suggest that PTD-mediated delivery of IAPs may have clinical potential, not only for radioprotection but also for rescuing the GI system from radiation injuries.     

MicroRNA-148b enhances the radiosensitivity of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma cells by promoting radiation-induced apoptosis

Growing evidence has demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in regulating cellular radiosensitivity. This study aimed to explore the role of miRNAs in non-Hodgkin''s lymphoma (NHL) radiosensitivity. Microarray was employed to compare the miRNA expression profiles in B cell lymphoma cell line Raji before and after a 2-Gy dose of radiation. A total of 20 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified including 10 up-regulated and 10 down-regulated (defined as P < 0.05). Among the differentially expressed miRNAs, miR-148b was up-regulated 1.53-fold in response to radiation treatment. A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay confirmed the up-regulation of miR-148b after radiation. Transient transfection experiments showed that miR-148b was up-regulated by miR-148b mimic and down-regulated by miR-148b inhibitor in the Raji cells. A proliferation assay showed that miR-148b could inhibit the proliferation of Raji cells before and after radiation. A clonogenic assay demonstrated that miR-148b sensitized Raji cells to radiotherapy. MiR-148b did not affect the cell cycle profile of post-radiation Raji cells compared with controls. An apoptosis assay showed that miR-148b enhanced apoptosis of Raji cells after irradiation. Taken together, these results demonstrate that miR-148b increased the radiosensitivity of NHL cells probably by promoting radiation-induced apoptosis, which suggests that miR-148b plays an important role in the response of NHL to ionizing radiation.     

Inflammatory pathway genes belong to major targets of persistent organic pollutants in adipose cells

Background: Epidemiological studies emphasize the possible role of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in obesity and the metabolic syndrome. These pollutants are stored in adipose tissue (AT).Objectives: Our aim was to study the effects of POPs on human adipose cells and rodent AT.Methods: Using human multipotent adipose-derived stem cells, we carried out large-scale gene expression analysis to identify the major pathways modified by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congener 126 (PCB-126), and PCB-153 and to evaluate their toxic effects. The effects of TCDD on gene expression and AT histology were also assessed in mice.Results: The most significantly regulated genes in both precursor cells and adipocytes were those involved in the inflammatory/immune response, cancer, and metabolism pathways. Interestingly, the fold induction and the number of modulated genes were higher in precursors than in adipocytes, suggesting that the former could be more sensitive to the effect of pollutants. When cells were treated with combinations of pollutants, the effects of the AhR ligands TCDD and PCB-126 were dominant compared with those of the non-dioxin-like PCB-153. The effects of AhR ligands were reduced by the AhR antagonist α-naphthoflavone. The regulation of inflammatory pathway was observed in wild-type AT but not in AhR-knockout mice.Conclusions: Both in vitro and in vivo studies showed that adipose cells were targets of AhR ligands and suggest that inflammation is one of the main regulated pathways. These observations suggest a possible contribution of pollutants to low-grade AT inflammation that accompanies the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases.     

Deoxycholic acid can induce apoptosis in the human colon cancer cell line HCT116 in the absence of Bax

In the human colon cancer cells HCT116, deoxycholic acid (DCA) induces apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway by triggering the release of mitochondrial factors such as cytochrome c. To elucidate if Bax, a proapoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family known to trigger cytochrome c release in response to various types of apoptotic stimuli, is involved in DCA-induced apoptosis in HCT116 cells, we analyzed DCA-induced apoptosis in Bax-knockout (Bax(-/-)) HCT116 cells. Cytochrome c release and caspase-9 activation were detectable after 5 min in both Bax(-/-) and Bax(+/-) HCT116 cells. Caspase-3 and caspase-8 activation was observed after 15 and 30 min, respectively. Bax(-/-) cells were protected from apoptosis by treating them with ursodeoxycholic acid for 12 h prior to DCA treatment. These results are consistent with our previous observations that were obtained by using wild-type HCT116 cells and suggest that Bax is not indispensable for DCA-induced apoptosis in HCT116 cells.     

Gene silencing of Tead3 abrogates radiation-induced adaptive response in cultured mouse limb bud cells

There is a crucial need to better understand the effects of low-doses of ionizing radiation in fetal models. Radiation-induced adaptive response (AR) was described in mouse embryos pre-exposed in utero to low-doses of X-rays, which exhibited lower apoptotic levels in the limb bud. We previously described AR-specific gene modulations in the mouse embryo. In this study, we evaluated the role of three candidate genes in the apoptotic AR in a micromass culture of limb bud cells: Csf1, Cacna1a and Tead3. Gene silencing of these three genes abrogated AR. Knowing that TEAD3 protein levels are significantly higher in adapted cells and that YAP/TAZ/TEAD are involved in the control of cell proliferation and apoptosis, we suggest that modulation of Tead3 could play a role in the induction of AR in our model, seen as a reduction of radiation-induced apoptosis and a stimulation of proliferation and differentiation in limb bud cells.     

Enhancement of radiosensitivity by roscovitine pretreatment in human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells

Roscovitine has been reported to have anti-proliferative properties and is in process of undergoing clinical trials. In addition to its intrinsic anticancer properties, it has recently been suggested that roscovitine may also enhance the activity of traditional chemo- and radio- therapies in certain cancer cell lines. The purpose of this study was to define the activity of roscovitine in increasing radiosensitivity of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line A549 cells in vitro. A549 cells were exposed to ionizing radiation (IR) of gamma-ray with or without roscovitine pretreatment. Clonogenic assay was performed and cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. Expression of PARP, Ku70 and Ku80 proteins was detected by Western blot. The active form of caspase-3 positive cells were measured by flow cytometry. Our results showed that roscovitine caused dose-dependent apoptosis in A549 cells. Pretreatment with minimally toxic concentration of roscovitine significantly radiosensitized A549 cells by inhibiting colony formation. We then examined potential mechanisms that may contribute to the enhanced radiation response induced by roscovitine. Our results showed that the combination treatment significantly induced apoptosis in A549 cells compared to roscovitine or IR treatment alone. Meanwhile, in the co-treatment group, the percentage of cells with the active form of caspase-3 was markedly increased, while roscovitine or IR alone had little effect. Roscovitine decreased S phase cells when used alone or in sequential combination with IR. Furthermore, this combination treatment blocked DNA repair process after IR, indicated by down regulation of Ku70 and Ku80 proteins, while the singly used treatment did not. Taken together, these results suggest that roscovitine has the potential to act as a radio-sensitizer in A549 cells by promoting caspase-3 activity and increasing apoptosis, affecting cell cycle distribution and impairing DNA repair process.     

Wortmannin抑制PI3K途径对bcr/abl基因介导的白血病细胞增殖和凋亡抗性影响的研究

目的探讨磷酰肌醇-3激酶(PI3K)途径在K562、NB4和HL60细胞增殖和凋亡抗性中的不同作用。方法用磷酰肌醇-3激酶(PI3K)特异抑制剂Wortmannin(WT)抑制PI3K活性,经细胞生长曲线测定、半固体集落形成实验、流式细胞膜联蛋白V(Annexin-V-Flous)标记技术检测细胞凋亡百分比和凋亡指数。观察K562、NB4和HL60细胞增殖能力及凋亡抗性的变化。结果K562、NB4和HL60细胞在24、48、72h的增殖抑制率分别为41.33%、57.46%、65.85%和26.29%、5.51%、2.10%及32.14%、17.14%、13.14%。生长曲线显示WT抑制PI3K途径可显著抑制K562细胞的增殖,对NB4和HL60细胞增殖无明显影响。K562、NB4和HL60细胞加和不加WT,培养14d后的集落形成率分别为16.15%和7.60%,5.90%和6.10%,6.60%和6.40%。集落形成抑制率为52.94%、3.39%和3.03%。K562、NB4和HL60细胞加WT、AraC、WT+AraC作用24h后的凋亡细胞百分比分别为(17.27±1.94)%、(23.25±14.12)%、(17.60±1.27)%;(17.00±3.36)%、(20.55±8.57)%、(22.07±5.62)%;(27.60±4.36)%、(17.56±9.28)%、(20.50±7.97)%。凋亡指数分别为(6.88±2.66)、(7.79±2.75)、(3.03±0.56);(8.91±3.86)、(9.35±4.19)、(3.79±0.93);(13.39±4.49)、(7.61±6.35)、(5.27±2.69)。结论WT可以通过抑制PI3K通     

Antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of α, β-amyrin, a triterpenoid mixture from Protium heptaphyllum in mice

Objectives

Hepatic inflammation and degeneration induced by lipid depositions may be the major cause of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In this study, we tried to investigate the effects of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids on hepatoma cell apoptosis.

Methods

H4IIE liver cells were treated with palmitic acid, linoleic acid, or both with or without the calcium-specific chelator BAPTA-AM after which the expression of proteins associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, apoptosis, caspase-3 levels, and calcium flux were measured.

Results

Palmitic or linoleic acid (250 ??M) induced H4IIE cell apoptosis, which required calcium flux but not caspase-3. Apoptosis was not observed when cells were co-treated with linoleic acid (125 ??M) and palmitic acid (250 ??M). Importantly, the release of cytochrome C from mitochondria into cytoplasm during cell apoptosis was specifically detected only when linoleic acid (125 ??M), but not palmitic acid (250 ??M), was added to the cells. Depletion of intracellular calcium flux by the calcium-specific chelator, BAPTA-AM, abolished linoleic acid-induced apoptosis. Moreover, in the presence of BAPTA-AM, expression of the unfolded protein response (UPR)-associated genes, CHOP, GRP78, and GRP94, was induced by linoleic acid, but not palmitic acid.

Conclusions

The results suggest that linoleic acid promotes cell apoptosis through the release of cytochrome C, only if the intracellular calcium flux is unperturbed and intact. These results confirm that ER stress contributes to fatty acid-induced liver cell apoptosis.