Guggulsterone induces apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells through intrinsic mitochondrial pathway

AIM: To investigate the effects of guggulsterone on the proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatoma Hep G2 cells in vitro and relevant mechanisms.METHODS: Human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep G2 cells and normal human liver L-02 cells were treated with different concentrations of guggulsterone(5-100 μmol/L) for 24-72 h. Cell proliferation was tested by MTT assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis were investigated using flow cytometry(FACS). Bcl-2 and Bax m RNA and protein expression was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. TGF-β1, TNF-α, and VEGF contents were determined by ELISA.RESULTS: Guggulsterone significantly inhibited Hep G2 cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. FACS showed that guggulsterone arrested Hep G2 cell cycle at G0/G1 phase. Guggulsterone induced apoptosis was also observed in Hep G2 cells, with 24.91% ± 2.41% and 53.03% ± 2.28% of apoptotic cells in response to the treatment with 50 μmol/L and 75 μmol/L guggulsterone, respectively. Bax m RNA and protein expression was significantly increased and Bcl-2 m RNA and protein expression was decreased. ELISA analysis showed that the concentrations of TGF-β1 and VEGF were significantly decreased and TNF-α concentration was increased.CONCLUSION: Guggulsterone exerts its anticancer effects by inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis in Hep G2 cells. Guggulsterone induces apoptosis by activation of the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway.     

Overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 in human HepG2, Bel-7402 and SMMC-7721 hepatoma cell lines and mechanism of cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor celecoxib-induced cell growth inhibition and apoptosis

AIM: To investigate the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression level in human HepG2, Bel-7402 and SMMC-7721 hepatoma cell lines and the molecular mechanism of COX-2 selective inhibitor celecoxib-induced cell growth inhibition and cell apoptosis. METHODS: Hepatoma cells were cultured and treated with celecoxib. Cell In situ hybridization (ISH) and immunocytochemistry were used to detect COX-2 mRNA and protein expression. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen and phosphorylated Akt were also detected by immunocytochemistry assay. Cell growth rates were assessed by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl-2, 5-diphenylte-trazolium (MTT) bromide colorimetric assay. Celecoxib-induced cell apoptosis was measured by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and flow cytometry (FCM). The phosphorylated Akt and activated fragments of caspase-9, caspase-3 were examined by Western blotting analysis. RESULTS: Increased COX-2 mRNA and protein expression were detected in all three hepatoma cell lines. Celecoxib could significantly inhibit cell growth and the inhibitory effect was in a dose- and time-dependent manner evidenced by MTT assays and morphological changes. The apoptotic index measured by TUNEL increased correspondingly with the increased concentration of celecoxib and the reaction time. With 50 μmol/L celecoxib treatment for 24 h, the apoptotic index of HepG2, BEL-7402 and SMMC-7721 cells was 25.01±3.08%, 26.40±3.05%, and 30.60±2.89%, respectively. Western blotting analysis showed remarkable activation of caspase-9, caspase-3 and dephosphorylation of Akt (Thr308). Immunocytochemistry also showed the reduction of PCNA expression and phosphorylation Akt (Thr308) after treatment with celecoxib. CONCLUSION: COX-2 mRNA and protein overexpression in HepG2, Bel-7402 and SMMC-7721 cell lines correlate with the increased cell growth rate. Celecoxib can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of hepatoma cell strains in a dose- and time-dependent manner.     

Essential oil of Curcuma wenyujin induces apoptosis in human hepatoma cells

AIM： To investigate the effects of the essential oil of Curcuma wenyujin （CWO） on growth inhibition and on the induction of apoptosis in human HepG2 cancer cells. METHODS： The cytotoxic effect of drugs on HepG2 cells was measured by 3-（4,5-dimethylthiazol-2- yl）-2,5-diphenyltetra-zolium bromide （MTT） assay. DNA fragmentation was visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis. Cell cycle and mitochondrial transmembrane potential （△Ψm） were determined by flow cytometry （FCM）. Cytochrome C immunostaining was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy. Caspase-3 enzymatic activity was assayed by the cleavage of Ac-DEVD-R110. Cleaved PARP and active caspase-3 protein levels were measured by FCM using BD？ CBA Human Apoptosis Kit. RESULTS： Treatment with CWO inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner, and the IC50 of CWO was approximately 70 μg/mL. CWO was found to inhibit the growth of HepG2 cells by inducing a cell cycle arrest at S/G2. DNA fragmentation was evidentlyobserved at 70 μg/mL after 72 h of treatment. During the process, cytosolic HepG2 cytochrome C staining showed a markedly stronger green fluorescence than in control cells in a dose-dependent fashion, and CWO also caused mitochondrial transmembrane depolarization. Furthermore, the results clearly demonstrated that both, activity of caspase-3 enzyme and protein levels of cleaved PARP, significantly increased in a dose- dependent manner after treatment with CWO. CONCLUSION： CWO exhibits an antiproliferative effect in HepG2 cells by inducing apoptosis. This growth inhibition is associated with cell cycle arrest, cytochrome C translocation, caspase 3 activation, Poly- ADP-ribose polymerase （PARP） degradation, and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. This process involves a mitochondria-caspase dependent apoptosis pathway. As apoptosis is an important anti-cancer therapeutic target, these results suggest a potential of CWO as a chemotherapeutic agent.     

18α-甘草酸二铵对丝裂霉素C诱导的HepG2细胞凋亡的影响及机制

目的探讨18α-甘草酸二铵对丝裂霉素（MMC）诱导的HepG2细胞凋亡的影响及机制。方法18Ⅸ一甘草酸二铵不同浓度与低剂量MMC（50p．g／m1）MMC联合作用,采用MTT比色法观察MMC对HepG2细胞活性率的影响;流式细胞术分析凋亡细胞的百分率、线粒体膜电位的改变及Caspase－3的活性变化;WesternBlot检测细胞内细胞色素c的表达及凋亡相关蛋白Bcl－2／Bax的表达情况。结果单独MMC（50gg／m1）处理的HepG2细胞活性率明显降低,凋亡率显著增加,线粒体膜电位下降,Caspase-3活性增加,细胞内细胞色素C表达增加,抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2表达减少,而促凋亡蛋白Bax表达增加。不同浓度的18α-甘草酸二铵与MMC合用组,这些指标的变化均受到抑制。结论18Ⅸ一甘草酸二铵可抑制MMC诱导的HepG2细胞凋亡,其机制可能通过调控凋亡相关蛋白的表达而实现。     

Staurosporine诱导乳鼠心肌细胞凋亡与Bcl-2/Bax的关系

目的 探讨staurosporine（STS）诱导心肌细胞凋亡过程中,凋亡调节蛋白Bcl-2和Bax的变化及意义。方法 以STS诱导原代培养的SD乳鼠心肌细胞,检测半胱天冬蛋白酶(caspase)-3的活性及用Hoechst-33258荧光染色观察细胞凋亡。用免疫印迹法（Western blot）检测Bcl-2和Bax表达的变化。用免疫荧光共聚焦显微镜和免疫印迹法观察Bax在细胞内的分布。结果 以4 μmol/L STS处理心肌细胞,随着处理时间的延长,细胞中caspase-3的活性逐渐增加,与对照组比较,8 h达到峰值（P<0.01）。Hoechst-33258荧光染色显示,多数细胞核呈现核分叶。STS诱导心肌细胞凋亡过程中,Bcl-2和Bax的水平与对照组比较无显著变化。正常细胞内的Bax均匀分布于细胞质中,在STS处理的细胞中,Bax明显聚集于线粒体上,呈现明显的线粒体的转位。STS诱导心肌细胞凋亡过程中,胞质片段Bax的水平明显下降,而线粒体片段Bax的水平明显升高,进一步证实STS诱导细胞凋亡过程中伴有明显的Bax线粒体转位。结论 STS诱导细胞凋亡中,伴有明显的Bax由胞质向线粒体的转位。     

Mechanism of apoptotic effects induced selectively by ursodeoxycholic acid on human hepatoma cell lines

AIM: To investigate the effects of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) on apoptosis and proliferation of hepatoma cell lines. METHODS: Human hepatoma cell lines HepG2 and BEL 7402 were cultured in medium supplemented with different concentrations of UDCA, normal human hepatic line L-02 was used as control. Cell proliferation, apoptosis and gene expression were detected using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, flow cytometry, Western blot, DNA ladder assay, electron microscopy, and immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: Ursodeoxycholic acid inhibited the proli- feration of HepG2 and BEL7402 cell lines in a dose- dependent manner. Ursodeoxycholic acid can change cell cycle distribution of HepG2 and BEL7402, the proportion of cells in G0-G1 phase increased whereas the proportion of S phase cells and G2-M phase cells decreased. Ursodeoxycholic acid arrested the cell cycle in G0-G1 phase by down-regulating the cell cycle related proteins cyclin D1, D3 and retinoblastoma protein (pRb). The apoptotic rates of HepG2 and BEL7402 treated with UDCA (1.0 mmol/L) were significantly higher than those of control. In the HepG2 and BEL7402 treated with UDCA, expression of bcl-2 decreased whereas expression of Bax increased, the nuclear fragmentation and chromosomal condensed, cells shrank and lost attachment, apoptotic bodies and DNA ladders appeared. UDCA had no effect in inducing apoptosis on L-02 cell lines. CONCLUSION: UDCA can selectively inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of HepG2 and BEL7402 cell lines by blocking cell cycle and regulating the expression of Bax/bcl-2 genes.     

Specific COX-2 inhibitor, meloxicam, suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis in human HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is associated with carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of COX-2 in four hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines, and evaluate the effect of a selective COX-2 inhibitor, meloxicam, in HepG2, a high COX-2 expressing cell line. METHODS: Expression of COX-2 was detected using RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis. Cell proliferation was measured using MTT assay. Cell cycle distribution was determined by flow cytometry. Apoptosis was detected with TUNEL method. Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cell cycle regulatory proteins including cyclins A, B1, D1 and E, and apoptosis-related proteins including Fas, Fas ligand and Bcl-2 were examined using Western blotting. RESULTS: Cyclooxygenase-2 was intensely expressed in HepG2, HLE and BEL7402 cells, but weakly expressed in SMMC-7402 cells. Meloxicam suppressed proliferation of HepG2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, resulting in cell cycle arrest in S phase and cell accumulation in G0/G1 phase. Expression of PCNA, cyclin A but not cyclin B1, cyclin D1 or cyclin E was down-regulated by meloxicam. Meloxicam also induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells, with increased expression of Fas ligand, but the expression of Fas and Bcl-2 was not affected by meloxicam treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that the specific COX-2 inhibitor meloxicam suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis in HCC cells that express COX-2, suggesting that COX-2 inhibition may offer a novel chemopreventive and therapeutic approach for HCC.     

Specific COX-2 inhibitor NS398 induces apoptosis in human liver cancer cell line HepG2 through BCL-2

AIM: To evaluate the effects of NS-398, a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, on the proliferation and apoptosis of HepG2 cells. METHODS: The effects of NS-398 on the proliferation of HepG2 cells were evaluated by MTT. DNA fragmentation gel analysis was used to analyze the apoptotic cells. DNA ploidy and apoptotic cell percentage were calculated by flow cytornetry. The expression of COX-2 and Bcl-2 mRNA was identified by competitive RT-PCR. Furthermore, expression level of Bcl-2 was detected using Western blot in HepG2 after treated with NS-398. RESULTS: NS-398 inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. DNA ploidy analysis showed that S phase cells were significantly decreased with increase of NS-398 concentration. The quiescent GO/G1 phase was accumulated with decrease of Bcl-2 mRNA. Whereas NS-398 had no effect on the expression of COX-2 mRNA, and no correlations were found between COX-2 mRNA and HepG2 cell proliferation and apoptosis induced by NS-398 (r=0.056 and r=0.119, respectively). Bcl-2 protein level was inhibited after treated with NS-398. CONCLUSION: NS-398 significantly inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis of HepG2 cells. Mechanisms involved may be accumulation of quiescent GO/G1 phase and decrease of Bcl-2 expression.     

Overexpression of Bcl-2 protects human hepatoma cells from Fas-antibody-mediated apoptosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Fas is a cell surface antigen, that triggers apoptosis upon specific ligand or antibody binding. The proto-oncogene bcl-2 prevents apoptosis induced by various treatments. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether Bcl-2 protects hepatoma cells from Fas-mediated apoptosis. METHODS: Two human cell lines, HCC-T and HepG2 were used. Expression of Fas antigen and Bcl-2 was detected by flow cytometry and Western blotting. Cell viability and apoptotic change were examined after anti-Fas- and antisense oligodeoxynucleotide treatments. Apoptotic cells were detected by nick-end labelling and the TUNEL method. To test if Bcl-2 expression can protect HepG2 cells from Fas-mediated apoptosis, the cells were transduced using retroviral vector, LZBC, designed to coexpress E. coli beta-galactosidase and human Bcl-2. To further confirm the protective effect of Bcl-2 expression against Fas-mediated apoptosis in HepG2, Bcl-2 expressing plasmid vector was produced and a cell line stably expressing Bcl-2 was cloned. RESULTS: Western blot analysis showed constitutive Bcl-2 expression in HCC-T cells, but not in HepG2 cells. HCC-T was resistant to apoptosis after treatment with an agonist anti-Fas antibody (1 microg/ml for 3 days), whereas 33% of the HepG2 cells were killed by this treatment. Inhibition of Bcl-2 expression by transfection of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides caused spontaneous apoptosis in HCC-T, but not in HepG2 cells, suggesting that Bcl-2 is essential for survival of HCC-T cells, whereas other proteins may substitute for it in HepG2 cells. Following LZBC infection, 10% HepG2 cells were beta-galactosidase-positive by X-gal staining and Bcl-2-positive. In cells surviving after anti-Fas treatment, the proportion of beta-galactosidase-positive cells increased to 50% and the beta-galactosidase activity increased 6-fold, indicating that Bcl-2 expression protected the cells from Fas-mediated apoptosis. In the cloned HepG2 cells stably expressing Bcl-2, the extent of Fas-mediated apoptosis was inversely related to the level of Bcl-2 expression. CONCLUSION: Bcl-2 confers protection to human hepatoma cells against Fas-mediated apoptosis, and is essential for survival of some, but not all, hepatoma cells.     

Overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 in human HepG2, Bel-7402 and SMMC-7721 hepatoma cell lines and mechanism of cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor celecoxib-induced cell growth inhibition and apoptosis

AIM: To investigate the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)expression level in human HepG2, Bel-7402 and SMMC-7721hepatoma cell lines and the molecular mechanism of COX-2 selective inhibitor celecoxib-induced cell growth inhibition and cell apoptosis.METHODS: Hepatoma cells were cultured and treated with celecoxib. Cell in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunocytochemistry were used to detect COX-2 mRNA and protein expression. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen and phosphorylated Akt were also detected by immunocytochemistry assay. Cell growth rates were assessed by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) bromide colorimetric assay. Celecoxibinduced cell apoptosis was measured by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and flow cytometry (FCM). The phosphorylated Akt and activated fragments of caspase-9, caspase-3 were examined by Western blotting analysis.RESULTS: Increased COX-2 mRNA and protein expression were detected in all three hepatoma cell lines. Celecoxib could significantly inhibit cell growth and the inhibitory effect was in a dose- and time-dependent manner evidenced by MTr assays and morphological changes.The apoptotic index measured by TUNEL increased correspondingly with the increased concentration of celecoxib and the reaction time. With 50 μmol/L celecoxib treatment for 24 h, the apoptotic index of HepG2, BEL-7402and SMMC-7721 cells was 25.01±3.08%, 26.40±3.05%,and 30.60±2.89%, respectively. Western blotting analysis showed remarkable activation of caspase-9, caspase-3and dephosphorylation of Akt (Thr308). Immunocytochemistry also showed the reduction of PCNA expression and phosphorylation Akt (Thr308) after treatment with celecoxib.CONCLUSION: COX-2 mRNA and protein overexpression in HepG2, Bel-7402 and SMMC-7721 cell lines correlate with the increased cell growth rate. Celecoxib can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of hepatoma cell strains in a dose- and time-dependent manner.     

乙醇诱导HepG2细胞调亡模型的建立及Bcl—2对抗作用

目的 研究Ｂｃｌ－２家族蛋白在乙醇引发肝细胞调亡时的作用。方法 以ＴＵＮＥＬ法,ＤＮＡ梯度检测乙醇诱导ＨｅｐＧ２肝细胞凋亡,以免疫组织化学法检测细胞中Ｂｃｌ－２、Ｂａｘ、Ｂａｋ等蛋白表达情况,并以Ｂｃｌ－２腺病毒感染细胞观察其抗调亡作用。结果 体积分数０．２％、１．０％乙醇处理２４ｈ对ＨｅｐＧ２细胞无明显细胞毒性作用;３．０％组则有明显的细胞毒性作用,伴有典型的凋亡特征。免疫组织化学发现Ｂａｘ、Ｂ     

Mechanisms underlying aspirin-mediated growth inhibition and apoptosis induction of cyclooxygenase-2 negative colon cancer cell line SW480

AIM： To investigate the effects of aspirin （acetylsalicylic acid） on proliferation and apoptosis of colorectal cancer cell line SW480 and its mechanism. METHODS： Cyclooxygenase （COX）-2 negative colorectal cancer cell line SW480 was treated with aspirin at concentrations of 2.5 mmol/L, 5.0 mmol/L, 10.0 mmol/L for different periods in v/tro. Anti-proliferation effect of aspirin on SW480 was detected by 3-（4,5-dimeth- ylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide （MTT） assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis were observed by flow cytometry （FCM）. Transmission electron microscope （TEM） was used for morphological study. Apoptosis-associated genes were detected by immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting. RESULTS： Aspirin inhibited SW480 proliferation and induced apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Treatment with different concentrations of aspirin significantly increased the proportions of cells at the G0/G1 phase and decreased the proportions of cells at the S- and G2/M phases in a concentration-dependent manner. Aspirin not only induced apoptosis but also caused cell necrosis at a high concentration as well. After treatment with aspirin, SW480 cells displayed typically morphological features of apoptosis and necrosis under TEM, and increased the Bcl-2 expression in cells, but the expression of Bax was down regulated. CONCLUSION： Aspirin inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of SW480 cells. Its anti-tumor mechanism may arrest cell cycle and shift Bax/Bcl-2 balance in cells.     

鹅脱氧胆酸衍生物HS-1200诱导人肝癌细胞株凋亡的作用及机制

鹅脱氧胆酸衍生物HS-1200可有效地抑制肝肿瘤细胞株BEL7402的生长,其作用随药物浓度提高和作用时间延长而增强,呈一定的剂量、时间依赖性;鹅脱氧胆酸衍生物HS-1200对人肝肿瘤细胞株BEL7402有显著的生长抑制作用,该生长抑制作用与HS-1200诱导肝肿瘤细胞凋亡有关;HS-1200对正常肝细胞株无生长抑制及诱导凋亡的作用.HS-1200诱导凋亡的机制可能是HS-1200提升Bax而降低Bcl-2的表达,从而使线粒体膜通透性增高,使细胞色素C由线粒体释放入胞质,活化easpase-9,活化的caspase-9切割pro-caspase-3生成caspase-3,从而诱导凋亡;但上述凋亡过程caspase-8特异性抑制剂未改变HS-1200诱导的凋亡,因而HS-1200诱导肝肿瘤细胞凋亡途径为内源性凋亡途径.     

Alisol B acetate induces apoptosis of SGC7901 cells via mitochondrial and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases/Akt signaling pathways

AIM： To examine the effect of alisol B acetate on the growth of human gastric cancer cell line SGC7901 and its possible mechanism of action.
METHODS： The cytotoxic effect of alisol B acetate on SGC7901 cells was measured by 3-（4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl）-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide （MI-I-） assay. Phase-contrast and electron microscopy were used to observe the morphological changes. Cell cycle and mitochondrial transmembrane potential （A~Pm） were determined by flow cytometry. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of apoptosis-regulated gene Bcl-2, Bax, Apaf-1, caspase-3, caspase-9, Akt, P-Akt and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases （PI3K）.
RESULTS： Alisol B acetate inhibited the proliferation of SGC7901 cell line in a time- and dose-dependent manner. PI staining showed that alisol B acetate can change the cell cycle distribution of SGC7901, increase the proportion of cells in G0-G1 phase and decrease the proportion of S phase cells and G2-M phase cells. Alisol B acetate at a concentration of 30 pmol/L induced apoptosis after 24, 48 and 72 h incubation, with occurrence rates of apoptotic cells of 4.36%, 14.42% and 21.16%, respectively. Phase-contrast and electron microscopy revealed that the nuclear fragmentation and chromosomal condensed, cells shrank and attachment loss appeared in the SGC7901 treated with alisol B acetate. Apoptosis of SGC7901 cells was associated with cell cycle arrest, caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and up-regulation of the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and inhibition of the PI3K/Akt.
CONCLUSION： Alisol B acetate exhibits an antiproliferative effect in SGC7901 cells by inducing apoptosis. Apoptosis of SGC7901 cells involves mitochondria-caspase and PI3K/Akt dependent pathways.     

PPARγ pathway activation results in apoptosis and COX-2 inhibition in HepG2 cells

AIM: To investigate whether troglitazone (TGZ), theperoxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gammaligand, can induce apoptosis and inhibit cell proliferation inhuman liver cancer cell line HepG2 and to explore themolecular mechanisms. METHODS: [3-(4,5)-dimethyithiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (NTT), [3H] Thymidine incorporation,Hochest33258 staining, DNA ladder, enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay (ELISA), RT-PCR, Northern and Western blotting analyses were employed to investigate the effect of TGZ on HepG2 cells and related molecular mechanisms.RESULTS: TGZ was found to inhibit the growth of HepG2cells and to induce apoptosis. During the process, the expression of COX-2 mRNA and protein and Bcl-2 protein was down-regulated, while that of Bax and Bak proteins was up-regulated, and the activity of caspase-3 was elevated.Furthermore, the level of PGE2 was decreased transiently after 12 h of treatment with 30 gM troglitazone. CONCLUSION: TGZ inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells, which may be associated with the activation of caspase-3-like proteases, down-regulation of the expression of COX-2 mRNA and protein, Bcl-2 protein,the elevation of PGE2 levels, and up-regulation of the expressions of Bax and Bak proteins.     

沉默热休克蛋白70-2基因经线粒体依赖通路介导肝癌细胞凋亡

目的 探讨沉默热休克蛋白(HSP)70-2对肝癌细胞生长、凋亡的影响,以及诱导肝癌细胞凋亡的详细作用机制. 方法 Westem blot、免疫细胞化学法检测HSP70-2在4种肝癌细胞和正常肝细胞中的表达.设计合成针对HSP70-2基因的特异性短发夹状RNA(shRNA),构建真核表达载体HSP70-2 shRNA1和HSP70-2 shRNA2.转染肝癌细胞后,四甲基偶氮唑盐法检测细胞增殖,膜联蛋白/碘化丙啶双染法检测细胞凋亡情况,罗丹明染色检测细胞线粒体跨膜电位变化,Western blot检测多聚ADP-核糖聚合酶、caspase-3、caspase-9蛋白切割情况,以及细胞色素C、Bax,Bcl-2蛋白的表达变化. 结果 HSP70-2在4种肝癌细胞中均高表达,在L02细胞中仅有微量表达.HSP70-2 shRNA1、shRNA2均能有效抑制肝癌细胞中HSP70-2的表达.沉默HSP70-2基因显著抑制肝癌细胞生长,诱导肝癌细胞凋亡,转染48 h后,shRNA1和shRNA2诱导HepG2细胞的凋亡指数分别为55.8%±1.8%和57.1%±1.6%,诱导Huh细胞凋亡指数分别为54.9%±1.1%和60.2%±2.6%,与对照组相比,差异均有统计学意义,P值均＜0.01.转染HSP70-2 shRNA 48 h后,肝癌细胞线粒体跨膜电位显著下降,细胞色素C从线粒体释放到胞质中,caspase-3、caspase-9激活,多聚ADP核糖聚合酶被剪切降解,抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2表达减少,促凋亡蛋白Bax表达明显增加.结论 沉默HsP70-2能通过激活线粒体凋亡通路导致肝癌细胞凋亡.     

Overexpression of human truncated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha induces apoptosis in HL-1 cardiomyocytes

AIMS: Our goal was to analyse whether truncated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) overexpression induces apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. METHODS AND RESULTS: We constructed a recombinant vector of human truncated PPARalpha and a mammalian expression vector to transfect PPARalpha into a line of murine cardiomyocytes designated HL-1. Four hallmarks of apoptosis were measured in these transfected cells: depolarization of mitochondrial membrane, activation of caspase-3, phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization, and DNA fragmentation. Co-transfection with human cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein (CREB) and human CREB binding protein (CBP) and analysis of apoptosis regulatory proteins, Bcl-2 and Bax, were also performed in truncated PPARalpha-transfected cells to determine the potential mechanisms by which truncated PPARalpha may influence apoptosis. Progressive depolarization of mitochondrial membrane, activation of caspase-3, PS externalization, DNA fragmentation, and cell death were observed in HL-1 cells upon increasing levels of transfected truncated PPARalpha. The expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 decreased in transfected HL-1 cardiomyocytes, whereas no changes in the proapoptotic protein Bax were observed in these cells. Overexpression of CREB plus CBP abolished the inhibitory effect of truncated PPARalpha on Bcl-2 protein. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that human truncated PPARalpha overexpression induces apoptosis in HL-1 cardiomyocytes. In addition, our findings suggest that truncated PPARalpha may induce cardiomyocyte apoptosis through the inhibition of the antiapoptotic protein, Bcl-2. It is proposed that competition with CREB for coactivators like CBP could be involved in this inhibitory effect.     

A novel Bcl-2 small molecule inhibitor 4-(3-methoxy-phenylsulfannyl)-7-nitro-benzofurazan-3-oxide (MNB)-induced apoptosis in leukemia cells

A novel small molecule inhibitor, 4-(3-methoxy-phenylsulfannyl)-7-nitro-benzofurazan-3-oxide (MNB), competes with the Bak BH3 peptide to bind Bcl-2 protein with a binding affinity of IC₅₀ = 0.70 μM, as assessed by a fluorescence polarization based binding assay. HL-60 cells express the highest levels of Bcl-2 among the cell lines examined. Treated with 5 μM of MNB only for 6 h, 85% of HL-60 cells were detected to undergo apoptosis. Pan-caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-FMK, blocks MNB-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells. Caspase-2, caspase-3, caspase-7, caspase-8, caspase-9, and PARP activation were observed at as early as 4 to 6 h of MNB treatment. In addition, it has been confirmed that the caspase-3 specific inhibitor, Z-DEVD-FMK, blocks the activation of caspase-8 in MNB-treated HL-60 cells. MNB treatment does not change Bcl-2 or Bax expression level in HL-60 cells, but causes Bid cleavage. Further experiments have illustrated that MNB inhibits the heterodimerization of Bcl-2 with Bax or Bid, reduces the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨmt), and induces cytochrome c release from mitochondria in HL-60 cells. These results suggest that MNB induces apoptosis in HL-60 by inhibiting the heterodimerization of Bcl-2 with pro-apoptosis Bcl-2 members, resulting in a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome c release, activation of caspases and PARP; it is a caspase-dependent process in which the activation of caspase-8 is dependent on the mitochondrial apoptosis signal transduction pathway. MNB prolongs the life spans of HL-60 bearing mice, potently kills fresh AML and ALL cells, indicating that it has the potential to be developed to treat leukemia.     

Arsenic trioxide induces apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells via changes in cell cycle,caspase activation,and GADD expression

We have previously shown that arsenic trioxide blocks proliferation and induces apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells at low, non-toxic concentrations. The mechanisms of the apoptosis was investigated in MiaPaCa2 and PANC-1 cells that have been previously shown to be responsive to arsenic trioxide. The results show the caspase-3, caspase-7, and caspase-9 are all activated by arsenic trioxide, together with cleavage of the downstream caspase-3 target poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP). Expression of the anti-apoptosis proteins, Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 expression decreased time-dependently while Bax expression increased. These findings indicate that the Bcl family of proteins, the mitochondrial pathway and activation of the caspase cascade are responsible for arsenic-induced apoptosis. Flow cytometric analysis revealed changes of cell cycle distribution from a G0/G1 phase arrest at 24 hours to G2/M phase arrest at 72 hours following arsenic treatment. The sub-G0/G1 cell population of apoptotic cells was increased at these times. Arsenic increased expression of the P21 protein and decreased levels of cyclin A, cyclin B1 and cyclin D1, but expression of CDK2, CDK4, CDK6, and cyclin E were not affected. Arsenic trioxide markedly enhanced the expression of GADD45 and GADD153 in a time-dependent manner. In summary, arsenic trioxide induced apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells through activating the caspase cascade via the mitochondrial pathway, GADD expression and by modifying cell cycle progress and changes in several cycle-regulating proteins. This old drug may be valuable for treatment of pancreatic cancer.