SET protein overexpression contributes to paclitaxel resistance in MCF-7/S cells through PI3K/Akt pathway

Patient SE translation (SET) is a carcinogen in facilitating cellular growth and proliferation, and promoting tumorigenesis and metastasis. The present study was to investigate the resistance mechanisms associated with SET in paclitaxel-induced human breast cancer cells. The different expressions of SET, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and PI3K/Akt pathway between paclitaxel sensitive MCF-7/S and paclitaxel resistant MCF-7/PTX cells were identified using western blotting. We adopted plasmid transfection to upregulate SET in MCF-7/S cells and a novel SET antagonist COG112 to decrease SET in MCF-7/PTX cells. Subsequently, cell viability to paclitaxel was assessed by MTT assay and cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. We found that levels of SET, ABC transporters and PI3K/Akt pathway were elevated in MCF-7/PTX. Upregulation of SET in MCF-7/S cells expressed resistant to paclitaxel and decreased cell apoptosis. Moreover, overexpression of SET promoted the mRNA and protein level of ABC transporters and PI3K/Akt signal pathway in MCF-7/S cells. Conversely, decreased level of SET by COG112 not only significantly sensitized MCF-7/PTX cells to paclitaxel, but also enhanced paclitaxel-induced cell apoptosis. Additionally, the levels of the ABC transporters and PI3K/Akt signal pathway were also reduced in the COG112-treated MCF-7/PTX cells. The above results demonstrated that SET was associated with paclitaxel resistance in MCF-7/PTX cells.     

布鲁顿酪氨酸激酶靶向药物的研究进展

目的 探究青藤碱（sinomenine, SIN）逆转人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞他莫昔芬（tamoxifen, TAM）耐药及其相关机制。方法 通过短时间高浓度TAM刺激MCF-7细胞诱导耐药株,采用MTT法检测细胞耐药性的改变;进一步通过MTT法检测SIN和TAM对耐药株MCF-7/TAM的毒性作用,并采用CompuSyn软件分析两药联用的联合指数,评价联合效应;采用流式细胞术检测两药对MCF-7/TAM细胞凋亡和周期的影响;采用Western blot法检测MCF-7/TAM细胞内PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路相关蛋白表达情况,以及SIN干预后,MCF-7/TAM细胞内PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路相关蛋白的表达情况。结果 MCF-7/TAM细胞株对TAM敏感性显著降低,耐药模型构建成功;SIN和TAM均能够剂量依赖性地抑制MCF-7/TAM细胞的增殖,SIN干预能够显著增加MCF-7/TAM细胞对TAM的敏感性,经CompuSyn软件分析显示两药呈协同作用;SIN和TAM联合应用能够更显著地诱导MCF-7/TAM细胞凋亡和阻滞细胞周期;MCF-7/TAM细胞中PI3K、Akt和mTOR的磷酸化水平显著高于MCF-7细胞,经过SIN干预后MCF-7/TAM细胞中PI3K、Akt和mTOR的磷酸化水平显著下降。结论 青藤碱能够有效逆转MCF-7细胞对他莫昔芬耐药,其机制可能是通过抑制PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路发挥作用。     

A microarray based expression profiling of paclitaxel and vincristine resistant MCF-7 cells

Resistance to the broad spectrum of chemotherapeutic agents in cancer cell lines and tumors has been called multiple drug resistance (MDR). In this study, the molecular mechanisms of resistance to two anticancer agents (paclitaxel and vincristine) in mammary carcinoma cell line MCF-7 were investigated. Drug resistant sublines to paclitaxel (MCF-7/Pac) and vincristine (MCF-7/Vinc) that were developed from sensitive MCF-7 cells (MCF-7/S) were used. cDNA microarray analysis was performed for the RNA samples of sensitive and resistant cells in duplicate experiments. GeneSpring GX 7.3.1 Software was used in data analysis. The results indicated that the upregulation of MDR1 gene is the dominating mechanism of the paclitaxel and vincristine drug resistance. Additionally the upregulation of the genes encoding the detoxifying enzymes (i.e. GSTP1) was observed. Significant downregulation of apoptotic genes (i.e. PDCD2/4/6/8) and upregulation of some cell cycle regulatory genes (CDKN2A, CCNA2 etc.) was seen which may be in close relation to MDR in breast cancer. Drug resistant cancer cells exhibit different gene expression patterns depending on drug treatment, and each drug resistance phenotype is probably genetically different. Further functional studies are needed to demonstrate the complete set of genes contributing to the drug resistance phenotype in breast 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。     

乳痛方提取物通过蛋白激酶B通路影响人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞凋亡

目的：研究乳痛方（RTP）提取物对人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞生长和细胞凋亡的影响,并探讨其作用机制。方法：实验分为空白对照组、阳性对照组（表柔比星）和RTP给药组,噻唑蓝（MTT）法检测不同浓度方剂（0.5,1,2,4,8,16 mg·mL^-1）分别在24 h、48 h和72 h对MCF-7细胞增殖的抑制率;流式细胞术检测MCF-7细胞的凋亡率;免疫蛋白印记法（Western blot）检测Bcl-2、Bax、总蛋白激酶B（Akt）和p-Akt的表达。结果：与空白组相比,高浓度的RTP能明显抑制MCF-7细胞的生长,且具有时间和剂量的依赖性。RTP可诱导MCF-7细胞凋亡,细胞凋亡率随给药浓度的增加而增强。Western blot表明,RTP可明显上调Bax蛋白表达,而下调Bcl-2和p-Akt蛋白表达水平,具有明显统计学差异（P<0.05或P<0.01）,且具有浓度依赖性,但对总Akt表达却无明显影响。结论： RTP可抑制MCF-7细胞增殖并诱导其凋亡,其机制可能与上调Bax蛋白,下调Bcl-2蛋白表达,抑制Akt磷酸化从而阻断P13K/Akt信号通路,启动线粒体凋亡途径有关。     

叶酸受体及二氢叶酸还原酶与人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7/ADR多药耐药的关系

目的以人乳腺癌多药耐药细胞系MCF-7/ADR及其敏感亲本系MCF-7为对象,探讨叶酸受体(FOLRα)及其下游基因二氢叶酸还原酶(DHFR)的表达与乳腺癌细胞多药耐药的关系。方法 MTT法测定阿霉素的细胞毒性作用及DHFR抑制剂对MCF-7/ADR细胞多药耐药的逆转作用;RT-PCR检测细胞FOLRα和DHFR mRNA的表达水平;免疫细胞化学检测FOLRα、P-gp的表达水平。结果 MCF-7细胞增殖速度快于MCF-7/ADR细胞,MCF-7细胞FOLRα mRNA转录水平较MCF-7/ADR细胞高,而MCF-7/ADR细胞DHFR mRNA较MCF-7细胞转录水平高;免疫细胞化学显示MCF-7细胞FOLRα的表达高于MCF-7/ADR细胞,而MCF-7/ADR细胞P-gp的表达较MCF-7细胞高;MCF-7/ADR对甲氨蝶啶无耐药性,甲氨蝶啶对MCF-7/ADR细胞多药耐药有逆转作用。结论 MCF-7/ADR细胞FOLRα的表达水平下调可能与细胞增殖水平有关,其下游基因DHFR表达水平与MCF-7/ADR细胞的MDR可能存在相关性。     

miR-34a靶向调控Akt/Bcl-2对乳腺癌细胞多柔比星耐药性的影响

目的：探讨miR-34a通过下调AKT/BCL2信号通路对乳腺癌细胞多柔比星耐药性的影响及其分子机制?方法：通过实时定量PCR法检测miR-34a-3p在乳腺癌细胞（MCF-7）和乳腺耐药细胞株（MCF-7/ADR）中的表达,并成功构建miR-34a mimics/inhibitor调控其表达水平;通过CCK8法分别筛选多柔比星处理MCF-7及MCF-7/ADR细胞的IC50值并处理细胞;使用CCK8,流式细胞技术以及免疫印迹实验验证在miR-34a过表达及干扰组中,乳腺癌细胞存活率,凋亡细胞百分比以及AKT/BCL2信号通路的改变。结果：miR-34a在MCF-7/ADR中的表达显著低MCF-7细胞,同时成功构建miR-34a过表达及敲减模型;多柔比星处理MCF-7及MCF-7/ADR细胞的IC50分别为0.89 μg/mL、13.61 μg/mL。当MCF-7及MCF-7/ADR细胞中miR-34a表达水平降低时,经多柔比星处理后,细胞存活率显著升高（P<0.05）,凋亡细胞比例显著减少（P<0.01）,同时下游AKT/BCL2信号表达上调（P<0.01）。而当MCF-7/ADR细胞中miR-34a表达升高时相应的观察到相反的细胞表型。结论：miR-34a在乳腺癌细胞中的表达下调,可能通过减少对AKT/BCL2信号的负向调控,减少细胞凋亡,进而增强细胞对多柔比星的耐药性。     

低频超声联合微泡对比剂通过PI3K/AKT通路对乳腺癌耐药株MCF-7/ADR多药耐药的逆转机制研究

目的 探索低频超声联合微泡（LFUSMB）通过磷脂酰肌醇3激酶（PI3K）/蛋白激酶B（AKT）通路对乳腺癌 耐药株MCF-7/阿霉素（ADR）多药耐药的逆转效果及机制。方法 CCK-8法筛选LFUSMB作用时间并测定ADR对 MCF-7/ADR 细胞的半抑制浓度（IC50）。将 MCF-7/ADR 细胞分组为：对照（C）组,采用 MCF 细胞培养基正常培养; ADR组,采用加入ADR（终质量浓度20 mg/L）的MCF细胞培养基培养;LFUSMB+ADR组,采用加入ADR（终质量浓度 20 mg/L）的MCF细胞培养基培养并经LFUSMB处理30 s;LFUSMB+ADR+740 YP（PI3K/AKT通路活化剂）组,采用加 入 ADR（终质量浓度 20 mg/L）和 740 YP（终质量浓度 50 mg/L）的 MCF 细胞培养基培养并经 LFUSMB 处理 30 s。 Annexin V-FIFC/PI 法检测 MCF-7/ADR 细胞凋亡率,Western blot 检测 P 糖蛋白（P-gp）、抗多药耐药蛋白（MRP）1、 MRP2、乳腺癌抗性蛋白（BCRP/ABCG2）、PI3K、AKT、p-PI3K、p-AKT蛋白表达。结果 采用LFUSMB干预30 s进行 后续研究。LFUSMB 30 s组ADR对MCF/ADR细胞的IC50低于未超声处理组,相对耐药逆转倍数约为8.20倍。ADR 组细胞凋亡率较C组增高（P＜0.05）,MRP1、MRP2、P-gp、BCRP/ABCG2、p-PI3K/PI3K和p-AKT/AKT 蛋白水平无明 显变化;LFUSMB+ADR组细胞凋亡率较ADR组增高,MRP1、MRP2、P-gp、BCRP/ABCG2、p-PI3K/PI3K和p-AKT/AKT 蛋白水平显著下调（P＜0.05）。与 LFUSMB+ADR 组比较,LFUSMB+ADR+740 YP 组细胞凋亡率显著降低,MRP1、 MRP2、P-gp、BCRP/ABCG2 蛋白水平显著增高（P＜0.05）。结论 LFUSMB 可通过抑制 PI3K/AKT 通路活化,下调 MRP1等腺苷三磷酸结合盒（ABC）家族蛋白表达,逆转乳腺癌MCF-7/ADR细胞耐药性。     

Inhibition of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway disrupts ABCG2-rich extracellular vesicles and overcomes multidrug resistance in breast cancer cells

We have recently shown that ABCG2-rich extracellular vesicles (EVs) form between neighbor breast cancer cells and actively concentrate various chemotherapeutics, resulting in multidrug resistance (MDR). Here we studied the signaling pathway regulating ABCG2 targeting to EVs as its inhibition would overcome MDR. The PI3K-Akt signaling pathway was possibly implicated in subcellular localization of ABCG2; we accordingly show here that pharmacological inhibition of Akt signaling results in gradual re-localization of ABCG2 from the EVs membrane to the cytoplasm. Cytoskeletal markers including β-actin and the tight junction protein ZO-1, along with the EVs markers ABCG2 and Ezrin-Radixin-Moesin revealed that this intracellular ABCG2 retention leads to gradual decrease in the size and number of EVs, resulting in EVs elimination and complete reversal of MDR. Inhibition of Akt signaling restored drug sensitivity to mitoxantrone and topotecan, bona fide ABCG2 transport substrates, hence being equivalent to MDR reversal achieved with the ABCG2 transport inhibitor Ko143. Remarkably, apart from loss of ABCG2 transport activity, treatment of MCF-7/MR cells with Ko143 resulted in cytoplasmic re-localization of ABCG2, similarly to the phenotype observed after Akt inhibition. We conclude that the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway is a key regulator of subcellular localization of ABCG2, EVs biogenesis and functional MDR. Furthermore, proper folding of ABCG2 and its targeting to the EVs membrane are crucial components of the biogenesis of EVs and their MDR function. We propose that Akt signaling inhibitors which disrupt ABCG2 targeting and EVs biogenesis may readily overcome MDR thus warranting in vivo studies with these promising drug combinations.     

Differential roles of phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 and akt1 expression and phosphorylation in breast cancer cell resistance to Paclitaxel, Doxorubicin, and gemcitabine

3-Phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1) and Akt1 are two closely related components of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) pathway, which is aberrantly regulated in breast cancer. Despite the importance of PDK1, few studies have evaluated it as a potential target for cancer therapy compared with studies of Akt1. We hypothesized that PDK1 is a superior target in the PI3K pathway. To test this, we first used a mouse mammary cell line retrovirally infected to express human PDK1 or Akt1 for comparative studies of treatment with paclitaxel, doxorubicin, and gemcitabine. Overexpression of PDK1 or Akt1 conferred similar resistance to treatment with paclitaxel or doxorubicin compared with control cells. However, the PDK1-overexpressing cells were more resistant to gemcitabine than were the Akt1-overexpressing cells. We next correlated the expression and activation-specific phosphorylation of PDK1 and Akt1 with the cytotoxic effects of the same agents in several human breast cancer cell lines. Cells with high levels of phosphorylated PDK1 were more resistant to gemcitabine-induced apoptosis than cells expressing high levels of phosphorylated Akt1. To further validate this observation, we used small interfering RNA oligonucleotides to selectively knock down PDK1 or Akt1 expression in MCF7 human breast cancer cells. We found that knockdown of PDK1 expression sensitized MCF7 cells to gemcitabine-induced apoptosis more effectively than did knockdown of Akt1 expression in the same cells. Our findings show that PDK1 may be a superior alternative to Akt1 as a target for sensitizing breast cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents, particularly gemcitabine.     

Proteasome inhibitor bortezomib increases PTEN expression and enhances trastuzumab-induced growth inhibition in trastuzumab-resistant cells

PTEN (phosphatase and tension homolog deleted on chromosome 10) has been shown to be inactivated in a wide range of cancers and the role of this gene product is associated with the suppression of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway in many cancers. Recently, some reports demonstrated that the degree of PTEN expression could predict trastuzumab chemosensitivity in ErbB2-overexpressing breast cancer. Here, we demonstrate the possible involvement of a proteasome inhibitor (PS341) in PTEN expression and elucidate the influence of PI3K/Akt, one of the main cascades of the ErbB2 downstream pathway, and discuss the role of the proteasome inhibitors in trastuzumab resistance. ErbB2-overexpressing SKBR3 human breast cancer cells and trastuzumab-resistant SKBR3/R cells were analyzed in this study. We show that the expression of phosphorylated Akt was highly increased in trastuzumab-resistant cells, although the expression of PI3K, phosphorylated PI3K and non-phosphorylated Akt was unchanged in comparison with wild-type SKBR3 cells. However, following treatment with PS341, the level of phosphorylated Akt was decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Conversely, the level of PTEN was increased in the same fashion. PS341 showed sufficient cytotoxicity in resistant cells in combination with trastuzumab and the efficacy of trastuzumab was inclined to be better in resistant cells under PS341 treatment. Remarkable activity of Akt was observed in trastuzumab-resistant SKBR3 breast cancer cells and this phenomenon could be associated with the decreased expression of PTEN. The proteasome inhibitor PS341 could increase the level of PTEN and inhibit the downstream pathway of ErbB2, interfering with phosphorylation of Akt.     

Doxorubicin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles to overcome multidrug resistance in cancer therapy

In the present study we developed doxorubicin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN-Dox) using biocompatible compounds, assessed the in vitro hemolytic effect, and examined their in vivo effects on drug retention and apoptosis intensity in P-glycoprotein-overexpressing MCF-7/ADR cells, a representative Dox-resistant breast cancer cell line. Our SLNs did not show hemolytic activity in human erythrocytes. In comparison with Dox, SLN-Dox efficiently enhanced apoptotic cell death through the higher accumulation of Dox in MCF-7/ADR cells. Therefore, SLN-Dox have potential to serve as a useful therapeutic approach to overcome the chemoresistance of adriamycin-resistant breast cancer.From the Clinical EditorDoxorubicin loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN-Dox) were studied in a cell line representative of doxorubicin resistant breast cancer. The nanoparticles did not show hemolytic activity; furthermore, they efficiently enhanced apoptotic cell death through higher accumulation of doxorubicin in cancer cells. This approach may be viable in overcoming the chemoresistance of adriamycin resistant breast cancer.     

The natural antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid induces p27-dependent cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

Unlike normal cells, tumor cells survive in a specific redox environment where the elevated reactive oxygen species contribute to enhance cell proliferation and to suppress apoptosis. Alpha-lipoic acid, a naturally occurring reactive oxygen species scavenger, has been shown to possess anticancer activity, due to its ability to suppress proliferation and to induce apoptosis in different cancer cell lines. Since at the moment little information is available regarding the potential effects of alpha-lipoic acid on breast cancer, in the present study we addressed the question whether alpha-lipoic acid induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Moreover, we investigated some molecular mechanisms which mediate alpha-lipoic acid actions, focusing on the role of the PI3-K/Akt signalling pathway. We observed that alpha-lipoic acid is able to scavenge reactive oxygen species in MCF-7 cells and that the reduction of reactive oxygen species is followed by cell growth arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, via the specific inhibition of Akt pathway and the up-regulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27^kip1, and by apoptosis, via changes of the ratio of the apoptotic-related protein Bax/Bcl-2. Thus, the anti-tumor activity of alpha-lipoic acid observed in MCF-7 cells further stresses the role of redox state in regulating cancer initiation and progression.     

鱼腥草总黄酮调控PI3K/Akt信号通路诱导人乳腺癌细胞株MCF-7凋亡的实验研究

目的：探讨鱼腥草总黄酮调控磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶（PI3K）/蛋白激酶B（Akt）信号通路对人乳腺癌细胞株MCF-7凋亡的诱导作用。方法：取对数期MCF-7细胞,随机分为4组（5个复孔）,低、中、高剂量组分别用3,6,9 g·L^-1鱼腥草总黄酮处理,对照组用磷酸盐缓冲液（PBS）处理。干预48 h后进行细胞形态学观察;对比干预12,24,48 h时的细胞凋亡率;对比干预48 h时PI3K、Akt、B淋巴细胞瘤-2基因（Bcl-2）、Bcl-2相关X蛋白（Bax）mRNA和PI3K、Akt、磷酸化Akt（pAkt）、Bcl-2、Bax蛋白相对表达量。结果：Hoechst 33258染色结果显示,干预后3剂量组部分细胞体积缩小、染色质浓缩,出现凋亡小体,且中剂量组凋亡现象最为明显;细胞凋亡率、Bax mRNA和蛋白相对表达量组间比较,中剂量组最高、高剂量组其次、低剂量组其稍低、对照组最低,且每2组间比较差异均有显著性（P<0.05）;细胞凋亡率组内比较,对照组随时间的延长变化不显著（P>0.05）,3剂量组均随时间的延长显著增加（P<0.05）;PI3K、Bcl-2 mRNA和PI3K、pAkt、Bcl-2蛋白相对表达量组间比较,中剂量组最低、高剂量组其次、低剂量组稍高、对照组最高,且每2组间比较差异均有显著性（P<0.05）;Akt mRNA和蛋白相对表达量组间比较差异均不显著（P>0.05）。结论：鱼腥草总黄酮可促进人乳腺癌细胞株MCF-7的凋亡,其中浓度为6 g·L^-1时促凋亡作用最强,推测是通过下调PI3K、Bcl-2 mRNA和PI3K、pAkt、Bcl-2蛋白表达,上调Bax mRNA和蛋白的表达,与PI3K/Akt信号通路有关。     

Targeting the ABCG2-overexpressing multidrug resistant (MDR) cancer cells by PPARγ agonists

Background and Purpose

Multidrug resistance (MDR), usually mediated by overexpression of efflux transporters such as P-gp, ABCG2 and/or MRP1, remains a major obstacle hindering successful cancer chemotherapy. There has been great interest in the development of inhibitors towards these transporters to circumvent resistance. However, since the inhibition of transporter is not specific to cancer cells, a decrease in the cytotoxic drug dosing may be needed to prevent excess toxicity, thus undermining the potential benefit brought about by a drug efflux inhibitor. The design of potent MDR modulators specific towards resistant cancer cells and devoid of drug-drug interactions will be needed to effect MDR reversal.

Experimental Approach

Recent evidence suggests that the PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway may be exploited to alter ABCG2 subcellular localization, thereby circumventing MDR. Three PPARγ agonists (telmisartan, pioglitazone and rosiglitazone) that have been used in the clinics were tested for their effect on the PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway and possible reversal of ABCG2-mediated drug resistance.

Key Results

The PPARγ agonists were found to be weak ABCG2 inhibitors by drug efflux assay. They were also shown to elevate the reduced PTEN expression in a resistant and ABCG2-overexpressing cell model, which inhibit the PI3K-Akt pathway and lead to the relocalization of ABCG2 from the plasma membrane to the cytoplasma, thus apparently circumventing the ABCG2-mediated MDR.

Conclusions and Implications

Since this PPARγ/PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway regulating ABCG2 is only functional in drug-resistant cancer cells with PTEN loss, the PPARγ agonists identified may represent promising agents targeting resistant cells for MDR reversal.     

肽修饰的甲氨蝶呤体外抗肿瘤作用初步研究

本文以人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞及人红白血病K562细胞作为受试细胞,分别采用MTT比色法、流式细胞仪、RT-PCR技术检测促黄体激素释放激素肽修饰的甲氨蝶呤(methotrexate modified by luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone peptide,LH-RH-MTX)对细胞增殖的抑制作用以及对细胞周期和凋亡、LHRHR mRNA表达量的影响。结果显示,LH-RH-MTX对MCF-7细胞增殖的抑制作用明显高于K562细胞;相同浓度的LH-RH-MTX对MCF-7细胞增殖的抑制作用明显高于游离MTX,对鼠骨髓单核细胞的抑制作用明显小于游离MTX;经LH-RH-MTX作用后,S期细胞明显增加,细胞凋亡率明显升高,LHRHR mRNA的相对表达量明显下降。LH-RH可作为导向分子将药物靶向递送到LHRHR高表达的肿瘤细胞,降低药物的毒副作用,提高治疗指数。     

LY294,002, a specific inhibitor of PI3K/Akt kinase pathway, antagonizes P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance

The transmembrane transport pump P-glycoprotein (P-gp) causes the efflux of chemotherapeutic agents from cells and is an important system that secures multidrug resistance (MDR) of neoplastic cells. In the present study drug sensitive L1210 and multidrug resistant L1210/VCR mouse leukemic cell lines were used as an experimental model. We found that LY 294,002, a specific inhibitor of PI3K/Akt kinase pathway, reduced the degree of vincristine resistance in L1210/VCR cells significantly and in a concentration-dependent manner. This was accompanied by decrease in IC(50) value to vincristine from 3.195+/-0.447 to 1.898+/-0.676 micromol/l for 2 micromol/l, to 0.947+/-0.419 micromol/l for 4 micromol/l, and to 0.478+/-0.202 micromol/l for 8 micromol/l LY294,002. The IC(50) value of sensitive cells for vincristine was about 0.010 micromol/l. FACS analysis of the proportion of cells in apoptosis or necrosis by annexin-V apoptosis kit showed the following: (i) vincristine-induced apoptosis in resistant cell to a much lower extent than in sensitive cells; (ii) LY294,002 alone did not induce apoptosis or necrosis in both sensitive and resistant cells; (iii) LY294,002 applied together with vincristine significantly increased the number of apoptotic cells. Transport activity of P-gp in resistant cells was monitored using calcein/AM as substrate and was depressed by LY294,002 in a concentration dependent manner. Significant differences in calcein retention were not observed when cells were preincubated with LY294,002 at different times from 0.5 to 24h. Sensitive and resistant cells contain similar amounts of uncleaved (i.e., unactivated) caspase-3 but in latter cells the activation of caspase-3 by proteolytic cleavage was decreased. The reversal of vincristine resistance by LY294,002 was associated with marked activation of caspase-3. Western blot analysis revealed that the development of MDR phenotype in L1210/VCR cells was also associated with increased level of Bcl-2 protein. All the above findings point to the possible involvement of PI3K/Akt kinase pathway in modulation of P-gp mediated multidrug resistance in L1210/VCR mouse leukemic cell line. MDR reversal effect of LY294,002 is accompanied with this compound's influence on vincristine-induced apoptosis.     

阿霉素和紫杉醇诱发的人乳腺癌耐药细胞株的比较研究

目的通过比较研究乳腺癌耐药细胞株的细胞生物学特性,探讨不同化疗药物诱发的多药耐药细胞模型的共性。方法以人乳腺癌细胞株MCF-7为亲本细胞,采用阿霉素(Adriamycin,Adr)及紫杉醇(Taxol,Tax)低浓度持续加量诱导法建立了多药耐药的人乳腺癌细胞株MCF-7Adr及MCF-7Tax。SRB法测定细胞生长曲线、半数致死浓度(IC50)、耐药指数(RF)和耐药谱;显微镜观察细胞形态,FCM分析细胞动力学周期,免疫组化检测细胞表型变化;Hoechst33342染色分析侧群细胞(side population,sp)比例。结果MCF-7Adr及MCF-7Tax细胞较MCF-7亲本细胞对相应药物的IC50提高500倍,撤药培养100 d后RF仍维持在150倍以上,并对多种化疗药物产生交叉耐药性;耐药细胞分化程度低于同步传代的亲本细胞,细胞倍增时间与亲本细胞接近,但S期细胞明显增加,G1期细胞减少,且随着撤药时间的延长,耐药细胞的增殖速度加快;耐药细胞P-gP、LRP和GSTπ的表达水平较亲本细胞有明显增加,ER阳性表达丢失;耐药细胞中SP细胞比例明显增高。结论MCF-7Adr和MCF-7Tax具有多药耐药细胞的基本生物学共性,两者均可作为研究MDR机制的耐药细胞模型。     

Overcoming chemotherapy resistance via simultaneous drug-efflux circumvention and mitochondrial targeting

Multidrug resistance (MDR) has been considered as a huge challenge to the effective chemotherapy. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new strategies to effectively overcome MDR. Here, based on the previous research of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) polymer–drug conjugates, we designed an effective system that combined drug-efflux circumvention and mitochondria targeting of anticancer drug doxorubicin (Dox). Briefly, Dox was modified with mitochondrial membrane penetrating peptide (MPP) and then attached to (HPMA) copolymers (P-M-Dox). Our study showed that macromolecular HPMA copolymers successfully bypassed drug efflux pumps and escorted Dox into resistant MCF-7/ADR cells via endocytic pathway. Subsequently, the mitochondria accumulation of drugs was significantly enhanced with 11.6-fold increase by MPP modification. The excellent mitochondria targeting then resulted in significant enhancement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as reduction of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, which could further inhibit drug efflux and resistant cancer cell growth. By reversing Dox resistance, P-M-Dox achieved much better suppression in the growth of 3D MCF-7/ADR tumor spheroids compared with free Dox. Hence, our study provides a promising approach to treat drug-resistant cancer through simultaneous drug efflux circumvention and direct mitochondria delivery.     

Capsaicin may induce breast cancer cell death through apoptosis-inducing factor involving mitochondrial dysfunction

The majority of breast cancer patients are resistant to chemotherapy or radiotherapy due to the down-regulation or lack of caspase-3 expression. Capsaicin was found to inhibit cancer cell growth in caspase-3-deficient human breast cancer cells. This study aimed to investigate the growth-inhibitive effect of capsaicin and its mechanisms in human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and BT-20. The results showed that cell viability decreased in a dose-dependent manner in both the caspase-3-deficient and non-deficient cells through inducing cell apoptosis and arresting the cell cycle in the S phase. Capsaicin significantly decreased mitochondria membrane potential, induced the cleavage of PARP-1, and decreased procaspase-7 expression in both cells. Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) was distinctly released from mitochondria and translocated into the cytoplasm and nucleus in MCF-7 cells (52.9%), but not in BT-20 cells (2%) after treatment with 200 μM of capsaicin for 24 hours. Capsaicin inhibited breast cancer cell growth through inducing cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the S phase. This apoptotic effect could be induced through the mitochondrial pathway, and PARP-1 subsequently cleaved by activation of caspase-7. The application of capsaicin in clinical therapy could be useful for breast cancer patients.