姜黄素抗黑色素瘤分子机制研究进展

黑色素瘤是源于皮肤,粘膜,眼和中枢神经系统色素沉着区域的黑色素细胞的恶性肿瘤,虽然其发病率不高,但恶性程度极高,并且瘤细胞很早就能发生侵袭与转移,从而使患者预后很差。目前黑色素瘤的治疗方式仍以外科手术治疗为主,联合放疗、化疗、中药的综合治疗方案,然而有关黑色素瘤的中医中药治疗方面的研究尚处于起步阶段。最新研究表明,姜科植物属姜黄、郁金、莪术等的活性成分之一姜黄素具有广泛的抗癌、抗炎、抗氧化等药理特性,特别是姜黄素在黑色瘤的预防和治疗中起到不容忽视的作用,姜黄素主要通过抑制黑色素瘤细胞的增殖,促进其凋亡等途径参与黑色素瘤细胞的消亡。本文主要针对姜黄素抗黑色素瘤及其分子机制研究进展作一综述。     

姜黄素对人黑色素瘤细胞凋亡机制探讨

目的：观察姜黄素对人恶性黑色素瘤细胞系A375凋亡的影响作用,探讨姜黄素抗癌的作用机制。方法：将人恶性黑色素瘤细胞系A375等分为4组,分别用0、5、10和20μmol/L的不同浓度姜黄素对该细胞株作用48h后,通过MTT法测定细胞增殖能力;利用流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡;采用RT-PCR方法检测细胞BIRC mRNA的表达;蛋白质印迹法检测细胞BIRC7蛋白及Caspase-3蛋白的表达。结果：5μmol/L姜黄素对A375细胞增殖抑制率为（13.28±5.28）%,10μmol/L为（19.24±4.15）%,20μmol/L为（36.93±4.78）%,各组间差异有统计学意义,F=65.68,P〈0.01。5μmol/L姜黄素作用于A375细胞48h后凋亡率为（15.88±7.21）%,10μmol/L为（22.31±5.63）%,20μmol/L为（31.61±4.82）%,对照组为（3.36±1.54）%,各组间差异有统计学意义,F=25.78,P〈0.01。0μmol/L姜黄素作用A375细胞48h后BIRC7基因mRNA表达相对倍率为6.15±1.11,5μmol/L为4.54±1.23,10μmol/L为3.36±0.66,20μmol/L为2.54±0.65,各组间差异有统计学意义,F=4.743,P=0.015。0μmol/L姜黄素分别作用A375细胞48h后细胞BIRC7蛋白表达相对比值为0.88±0.36,5μmol/L为0.71±0.28,10μmol/L为0.56±0.14,20μmol/L为0.43±0.15,各组之间差异均有统计学意义,F=3.36,P=0.037。伴随姜黄素作用浓度的升高,A375细胞的生长呈显著抑制状态,呈剂量依赖性。肿瘤细胞生长、BIRC7mRNA和BIRC7蛋白表达水平均显著下调,呈剂量依赖性。结论：姜黄素可以抑制人恶性黑色素瘤细胞系A375的增殖,也可以促进其凋亡,具有抗癌作用,其作用机制之一可能通过下调BIRC7基因的表达促使黑色素瘤细胞凋亡。     

In vitro and in vivo antitumor effect of 2-methoxyestradiol on human melanoma

2-methoxyestradiol (2ME(2)) is an endogenous metabolite of estradiol with estrogen-receptor-independent antitumor and antiangiogenic activity. We examined the effects of 2ME(2) on the cellular proliferation of 8 human melanoma cell lines. We show that 2ME(2) inhibited cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis and an arrest in the G(2)/M phase, and the mechanism of action involved microtubules, mitochondrial damage and caspase activation. In male SCID mice, 2ME(2) was effective in reducing primary tumor weight and the number of liver metastases after intrasplenic injection of human melanoma cells. In the metastases, we found a significantly higher rate of apoptotic cells after 2ME(2) treatment. These findings on the antitumor effect of 2ME(2) in cell culture as well as in an animal model may have implications for designing alternative treatment options for patients with advanced malignant melanoma.     

Resveratrol potentiates the in vitro and in vivo anti-tumoral effects of curcumin in head and neck carcinomas

The survival rate of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) patients has not considerably changed over the last two decades. Polyphenols inhibit the growth of cancer cells. We determined whether the combination of Resveratrol (RES) and Curcumin (CUR) enhanced their in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities on HNSCC cell lines compared to the single compounds. We provide evidence that RES potentiated the apoptotic effect and reduced the IC50 of CUR on HNSCC cell lines. The model of compounds interaction indicated the onset of an additive effect of the two compounds compared to the single treatment after decrease of their concentrations. RES+CUR compared to CUR increased the PARP-1 cleavage, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, the inhibition of ERK1 and ERK2 phosphorylation, and the expression of LC3 II simultaneously with the formation of autophagic vacuoles. RES and CUR induced cytoplasmic NF-κB accumulation. RES+CUR administrations were safe in BALB/c mice and reduced the growth of transplanted salivary gland cancer cells (SALTO) more efficiently than CUR. Overall, combinations of CUR and RES was more effective in inhibiting in vivo and in vitro cancer growth than the treatment with CUR. Additional studies will be needed to define the therapeutic potential of these compounds in combination.     

23-羟基桦木酸体外和体内抗黑色素瘤作用的研究

目的　研究 2 3 羟基桦木酸对体内、外B16黑色素瘤细胞生长的抑制及诱导凋亡作用。方法　应用MTT分析 ,电镜观察 ,流式细胞仪 ,肿瘤体积大小测定等方法 ,对 2 3 羟基桦木酸诱导黑色素瘤细胞进行检测和观察。结果　2 3 羟基桦木酸体外 3 0～ 80 μg/ml处理 ,体内 3 0 0mg/kg～ 6 0 0mg/kg灌胃时 ,对B16细胞有显著的生长抑制作用 ,有一定的剂量依赖关系并出现大量的凋亡细胞 ,同时体内肿瘤细胞被阻滞在G0 ～G1期 ,DNA合成受阻 ,肿瘤体积缩小。结论　 2 3 羟基桦木酸对体内外黑色素瘤细胞增殖有强烈的抑制作用 ,诱导肿瘤细胞死亡的主要途径是凋亡。     

In vivo evaluation of cell mediated immunity against human melanoma

Evaluation of cell mediated immunity against human melanoma target cells was performed in an in vivo model using human tumor xenografts growing in Balb/c athymic mice. Intraperitoneal inoculation of 1 × 10⁷ human melanoma cells produced peritoneal carcinomatosis which lead to death of the animals at 23.8 ± 2.6 days (N = 12). Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from normal donors were administered to tumor bearing mice, and survival times of 22.0±2.3 days were observed (N = 8). Peripheral blood lymphocytes from four of five normal donors which had been presensitized on monolayers of melanoma tissue culture cells in vitro failed to prolong host survival times. In contrast, PBL obtained from 15 of 20 melanoma patients were found to prolong survival of the tumor bearing nude mice. Of these 15 patients, 8 were undergoing specific active immunotherapy, while 7 had not been sensitized except by the disease process. The ability of PBL obtained from patients to prolong survival of tumor bearing animals did not appear to correlate with either the stage of the disease or the patient's clinical course. The possible mechanisms for the prolonged survival and usefulness of this model are discussed.     

Cyclosporine A and its non-immunosuppressive derivative NIM811 induce apoptosis of malignant melanoma cells in in vitro and in vivo studies

Advanced melanoma is a highly malignant tumor with an increasing incidence that has a poor prognosis due to resistance to common therapeutic strategies. We have demonstrated previously that cyclosporine A (CsA) induces apoptosis of rat glioma cells, reactive astrocytes, and fibroblasts. In our present study, we investigated effects of CsA and its nonimmunosuppressive derivative NIM811 on survival of human and murine melanoma cells. We demonstrated that CsA and NIM811 affect survival of human and murine melanoma cells and induce morphological changes, alterations in nuclear morphology and an internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, consistent with an apoptotic type of death. Western blot analysis showed an activation of caspases 9, 7, 3 and PARP cleavage detectable at 24 hr after exposure of human melanoma cells to the drugs. CsA and NIM811 induced a significant increase in subG1 population of murine B16F10 melanoma cells indicative of apoptotic DNA fragmentation. Studies in murine model of melanoma showed that NIM811, but not CsA, retards tumor progression and significantly decreases tumor volume after intratumoral application. Our findings indicate that CsA and its derivatives may be new candidates for the treatment of melanoma patients.     

Taurolidine induces apoptosis of murine melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo by modulation of the Bcl-2 family proteins

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates whether taurolidine, a novel antibiotic agent, induces murine melanoma cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Murine melanoma cells (B16 4A5 and B16 F10) were treated with taurolidine (0-100 microM) for 12 and 24 hr. Cell viability and apoptosis were assessed by MTT assay and FACScan analysis. Expression of the Bcl-2 family proteins was detected by Western blot analysis. In vivo, taurolidine-induced anti-tumor cytotoxicity was assessed in C57BL/6 mice. Therapeutic effectiveness, by intraperitoneal injection of taurolidine (15 mg/mouse) on alternate days for 2 weeks, was evaluated in mice bearing B16 4A5 tumor xenografts. Primary and metastatic tumor growth and intra-tumor apoptotic index were measured. RESULTS: Taurolidine induced cell apoptosis and reduced cell viability in murine melanoma cells. The pro-apoptotic protein Bax was enhanced, whereas the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was inhibited by taurolidine treatment. In vivo, systemic injection of 15-mg taurolidine was identified as the maximally tolerated dose. Administration of taurolidine at 15 mg/mouse significantly inhibited primary and metastatic tumor growth, which was mirrored by a significantly increased intra-tumor apoptotic index. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that taurolidine significantly attenuated melanoma tumor growth, which may result from taurolidine-induced apoptosis by modulation of the Bcl-2 family proteins.     

The melanoma specific 9.2.27PE immunotoxin efficiently kills melanoma cells in vitro

Malignant melanomas are generally drug resistant and have a very poor prognosis. We have studied the effects of a chemical conjugate of pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE) and the antibody 9.2.27, which recognizes the high molecular weight melanoma associated antigen (HMW‐MAA) expressed in most malignant melanomas and melanoma cell lines. We demonstrate that the 9.2.27PE immunotoxin (IT) induces cell death in malignant melanoma cells through protein synthesis inhibition followed by some morphological and biochemical features of apoptosis, like rounding up of cells, chromatin condensation and inactivation of PARP. Unlike previous results with the 425.3PE IT in breast cancer cells, we detected no depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane after 9.2.27PE IT treatment. This is likely due to the lack of strong activation of caspase‐8 and caspase‐3. The lack of depolarization suggests that cytochrome c, a molecule that triggers activation of caspase‐3, was retained within the mitochondria. In addition, the protein level of the antiapoptotic Bcl‐2 did not decrease in contrast to other antiapoptotic molecules belonging to the inhibitor of apoptosis and the Bcl‐2 family. This suggests that Bcl‐2 may play a role in maintaining the mitochondrial membrane integrity in the 9.2.27PE‐treated cells. Nevertheless, 9.2.27PE IT efficiently killed malignant melanoma cells that can be ascribed to inhibition of protein synthesis followed by some morphological and biochemical features of apoptosis. © 2009 UICC     

The bisphosphonate pamidronate induces apoptosis in human melanoma cells in vitro

Pamidronate belongs to the class of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates that are potent inhibitors of bone resorption frequently used for the treatment of osteoporosis and cancer-induced osteolysis. The inhibition of osteoclasts' growth has been suggested as the main mechanism of the inhibitory effect of pamidronate on bone metastases. Recent findings indicated that bisphosphonates also have a direct apoptotic effect on other types of tumour cells. Nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates were shown to inhibit farnesyl diphosphate synthase, thus blocking the synthesis of higher isoprenoids. By this mechanism they inactivate monomeric G-proteins of the Ras and Rho families for which prenylation is a functional requirement. On the background of the known key role of G-proteins in tumorigenesis, we investigated a possible beneficial use of pamidronate in the treatment of malignant melanoma. Our results indicate that pamidronate inhibits the cell growth and induces apoptosis in human melanoma cells in vitro. Susceptibility to pamidronate did not correlate to CD95 ligand sensitivity or p53 mutational status. Furthermore it is interesting to note that overexpression of bcl-2 did not abolish pamidronate-induced apoptosis. These data suggests that pamidronate has a direct anti-tumour effect on malignant melanoma cells, independently of the Bax/Bcl-2 level.     

EFFECTS OF CURCUMIN ON PROLIFERATION AND APOPTOSIS IN ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA CELLS HL-60

Curcuministhemajoringredientofextractsfromcurryfamilywidelyusedasayellowspiceandfoodadditive.Ithasavarietyofpharmacologicaleffectsincludinganti-inflammation,antioxidant,decreasingbloodlipid,enhancingphagocaryosisofmonocyte-macrophagesystemandregulatinghumanimmunityfunction.Ithasbeenshowntohaveanticarcinogenicpropertiesinanimalmodelsincludingcutaneous,gastrointestinaltractandbreastcancercausedbymanykindsofcarcinogenesisagents[1].Invitrostudieshaveshownthatcurcuminselectivelyinhibitgrowthofsomep…     

alphaV integrin promotes in vitro and in vivo survival of cells in metastatic melanoma

The expression of integrin alphaV subunit on 4 melanoma-derived cell lines (A2058, SK-mel-5, WM-115 and WM-266-4) was analyzed. WM-115 cells, which originate from a primary tumor, were negative, whereas all 3 metastasis-derived lines had high levels of alphaV. To study alphaV integrins in the survival of melanoma cells, we developed a novel strategy that is exempt from extracellular inhibitors of ligand binding, which can activate integrin signaling and have integrin-independent effects on apoptosis. A recombinant adenovirus was used to transfer cDNA coding for a single-chain intracellular anti-alphaV integrin antibody into the melanoma cells. Anti-alphaV integrin adenovirus effectively inhibited the cell surface expression of alphaV integrins. In cell culture experiments, the depletion of alphaV integrins detached cells from extracellular matrix and induced apoptosis. Moreover, it prevented WM-266-4 cells from forming tumors in severe combined immunodeficiency mice but it could not prevent the growth of tumors that were formed by alphaV-negative WM-115 cells. Our results indicate that in primary melanomas there are cells that survive without alphaV integrins, whereas during the progression of disease cells can develop a dependency on these receptors. Furthermore, the data oppose the possibility that in melanoma cells apoptosis could occur due to direct activation of caspases by ligand-free alphaV integrins on the cell surface.     

Curcumin analog B14 has high bioavailability and enhances the effect of anti‐breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

Curcumin has a variety of anticancer properties, but low bioavailability prevents its use in chemotherapeutic applications. To address this problem, we tested the efficacy of the synthetic curcumin analog B14 in breast cancer cells and explored the mechanism by which B14 inhibits proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer cells. We used the breast cancer cell line MCF‐7, MDA‐MB‐231 to study the anticancer effects of B14 and assessed cell viability, cell migration and invasion, cell cycle, and apoptosis, in addition, the antitumor effect of B14 in vivo was examined in mice bearing MDA‐MB‐231 cells. We found that, as the concentration of B14 increased, cell viability decreased in a dose‐dependent manner. Compound B14 exerted the best antitumor activity and selectivity for MCF‐7 and MDA‐M‐231 cells (IC₅₀ = 8.84 μmol/L and 8.33 μmol/L, respectively), while its IC₅₀ value for MCF‐10A breast epithelial cells was 34.96 μmol/L. B14 has been shown to be a multi‐targeted drug that alters the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin E1, and cyclin‐dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), and ultimately induces G1 phase cell cycle arrest. At the same time, B14 activates the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in breast cancer cells. Furthermore, B14 was more effective than curcumin in inhibiting cell migration, invasion, and colony formation. In tumor‐bearing mice, analog B14 significantly reduced tumor growth and inhibited cell proliferation and angiogenesis. The pharmacokinetic test found that B14 was more stable than curcumin in vivo. Our data reveal the therapeutic potential of the curcumin analog B14 and the underlying mechanisms to fight breast cancer cells.     

姜黄素对子宫颈癌HeLa细胞增殖抑制作用及其机制的研究

目的:探讨姜黄素(Curcum in)对体外培养人子宫颈癌HeLa细胞抗癌作用及分子机制。方法:MTT法检测细胞增殖,流式细胞仪检测凋亡和细胞周期,PI/Hoechst33258荧光双染法检测细胞凋亡,W estern b lot法检测细胞凋亡相关蛋白Bc l-2和Bax蛋白的表达。结果:姜黄素对HeLa细胞生长有抑制作用,并呈剂量依赖性;流式细胞仪分析证实姜黄素能使HeLa细胞阻滞在S期,并出现亚二倍体凋亡峰;荧光双染法可见凋亡细胞;W estern b lot结果显示Bax蛋白表达均上调,而Bc l-2的表达无明显影响。结论:姜黄素对人子宫颈癌HeLa细胞的增殖具有显著的抑制作用并可诱导细胞凋亡;Bax蛋白的表达上调可能参与了诱导细胞凋亡。     

In vitro anti-tumour activity of alpha-galactosylceramide-stimulated human invariant Valpha24+NKT cells against melanoma

alpha-galactosylceramide (KRN 7000, alpha-GalCer) has shown potent in vivo anti-tumour activity in mice, including against melanoma and the highly specific effect of inducing proliferation and activation of human Valpha24+NKT-cells. We hypothesized that human Valpha24+NKT-cells activated by alpha-GalCer might exhibit anti-tumour activity against human melanoma. To investigate this, Valpha24+NKT-cells were generated from the peripheral blood of patients with melanoma after stimulation with alpha-GalCer pulsed monocyte-derived dendritic cells (Mo-DCs). Valpha24+NKT-cells did not exhibit cytolytic activity against the primary autologous or allogeneic melanoma cell lines tested. However, proliferation of the melanoma cell lines was markedly suppressed by co-culture with activated Valpha24+NKT-cells (mean +/- SD inhibition of proliferation 63.9 +/- 1.3%). Culture supernatants of activated Valpha24+NKT-cell cultures stimulated with alpha-GalCer pulsed Mo-DCs exhibited similar antiproliferative activities against melanoma cells, indicating that the majority of the inhibitory effects were due to soluble mediators rather than direct cell-to-cell interactions. This effect was predominantly due to release of IFN-gamma, and to a lesser extent IL-12. Other cytokines, including IL-4 and IL-10, were released but these cytokines had less antiproliferative effects. These in vitro results show that Valpha24+NKT-cells stimulated by alpha-GalCer-pulsed Mo-DCs have anti-tumour activities against human melanoma through antiproliferative effects exerted by soluble mediators rather than cytolytic effects as observed against some other tumours. Induction of local cytokine release by activated Valpha24+NKT-cells may contribute to clinical anti-tumour effects of alpha-GalCer.     

姜黄素对胆管癌 MZ-Cha-1细胞凋亡的诱导作用

目的： 研究姜黄素对胆管癌MZ-Cha-1细胞凋亡的诱导作用。方法：用0、10、20、40 μg/mL姜黄素处理MZ-Cha-1 细胞12、24、36 h后,应用噻唑蓝 (MTT)检测姜黄素对MZ-Cha-1细胞的抑制情况,再选择10 μg/mL姜黄素处理MZ-Cha-1细胞24 h后应用Giemsa和Hoechst33258染色检测MZ-Cha-1细胞的凋亡情况,应用流式细胞术检测细胞周期分布。结果：与对照组相比较,各姜黄素处理组对胆管癌MZ-Cha-1细胞有明显的抑制作用,并显示出对剂量和时间的依赖效应 (P<0.05)。10 μg/mL姜黄素诱导处理24 h后,经Giemsa染色显示细胞体积缩小、核固缩、染色质凝聚等显著的凋亡特征;细胞核经Hoechst33258 染色出现浓染致密的固缩形态和颗粒状荧光;细胞周期检测出现细胞被阻滞在G0/G1期,G2/M期细胞较对照组显著减少 (P<0.05)。结论：姜黄素能够有效诱导人胆管癌MZ-Cha-1细胞的凋亡。     

Antitumor action of curcumin in human papillomavirus associated cells involves downregulation of viral oncogenes, prevention of NFkB and AP-1 translocation, and modulation of apoptosis

Curcumin (diferuloyl methane), the major yellow pigment from the rhizomes of turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn), has anticancer properties. Infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV) leads to development of cervical carcinoma, predominantly through the action of viral oncoproteins E6 and E7.The present study aims at analyzing the antitumor and antiviral properties of curcumin, on HPV associated cervical cancer cells. Our findings indicate curcumin to be cytotoxic to cervical cancer cells in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner. The cytotoxic activity was selectively more in HPV16 and HPV18 infected cells compared to non-HPV infected cells. Balance between tumor cell proliferation and spontaneous cell death via apoptosis had an important role in regulation of tumor cell growth. Curcumin-induced apoptosis in cervical cancer cells. Morphological hallmarks of apoptosis such as nuclear fragmentation and internucleosomal fragmentation of DNA were observed. Curcumin also selectively inhibited expression of viral oncogenes E6 and E7, evident from RT-PCR and Western blotting data. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that activation of NFkappaB-induced by TNFalpha is down regulated by curcumin. Curcumin blocked IkBalpha phosphorylation and degradation, leading to abrogation of NFkappaB activation. Curcumin also down regulated the expression of COX-2, a gene regulated by NFkappaB. Binding of AP-1, an indispensable component for efficient epithelial tissue-specific gene expression of HPV was also selectively down regulated by curcumin. These results provide attractive data for the possible use of curcumin in the management of HPV associated tumors.     

Nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates inhibit cell cycle progression in human melanoma cells

Cutaneous melanoma is one of the highly malignant human tumours, due to its tendency to generate early metastases and its resistance to classical chemotherapy. We recently demonstrated that pamidronate, a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate, has an antiproliferative and proapoptotic effect on different melanoma cell lines. In the present study, we compared the in vitro effects of three different bisphosphonates on human melanoma cell lines and we demonstrated that the two nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates pamidronate and zoledronate inhibited the proliferation of melanoma cells and induced apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, cell cycle progression was altered, the two compounds causing accumulation of the cells in the S phase of the cycle. In contrast, the nonaminobisphosphonate clodronate had no effect on melanoma cells. These findings suggest a direct antitumoural effect of bisphosphonates on melanoma cells in vitro and further support the hypothesis of different intracellular mechanisms of action for nitrogen-containing and nonaminobisphosphonates. Our data indicate that nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates may be a useful novel therapeutic class for treatment and/or prevention of melanoma metastases.