Hyperoside Downregulates the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (RAGE) and Promotes Proliferation in ECV304 Cells via the c-Jun N-Terminal Kinases (JNK) Pathway Following Stimulation by Advanced Glycation End-Products In Vitro

Hyperoside is a major active constituent in many medicinal plants which are traditionally used in Chinese medicines for their neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects. The molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are unknown. In this study, quiescent ECV304 cells were treated in vitro with advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the presence or absence of hyperoside. The results demonstrated that AGEs induced c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) activation and apoptosis in ECV304 cells. Hyperoside inhibited these effects and promoted ECV304 cell proliferation. Furthermore, hyperoside significantly inhibited RAGE expression in AGE-stimulated ECV304 cells, whereas knockdown of RAGE inhibited AGE-induced JNK activation. These results suggested that AGEs may promote JNK activation, leading to viability inhibition of ECV304 cells via the RAGE signaling pathway. These effects could be inhibited by hyperoside. Our findings suggest a novel role for hyperoside in the treatment and prevention of diabetes.     

Lupeol Treatment Attenuates Activation of Glial Cells and Oxidative-Stress-Mediated Neuropathology in Mouse Model of Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) signifies a major cause of death and disability. TBI causes central nervous system (CNS) damage under a variety of mechanisms, including protein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. Astrocytes and microglia, cells of the CNS, are considered the key players in initiating an inflammatory response after injury. Several evidence suggests that activation of astrocytes/microglia and ROS/LPO have the potential to cause more harmful effects in the pathological processes following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Previous studies have established that lupeol provides neuroprotection through modulation of inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in Aβ and LPS model and neurodegenerative disease. However, the effects of lupeol on apoptosis caused by inflammation and oxidative stress in TBI have not yet been investigated. Therefore, we explored the role of Lupeol on antiapoptosis, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative stress and its potential mechanism following TBI. In these experiments, adult male mice were randomly divided into four groups: control, TBI, TBI+ Lupeol, and Sham group. Western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, and ROS/LPO assays were performed to investigate the role of lupeol against neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Lupeol treatment reversed TBI-induced behavioral and memory disturbances. Lupeol attenuated TBI-induced generation of reactive oxygen species/lipid per oxidation (ROS/LPO) and improved the antioxidant protein level, such as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme-oxygenase 1 (HO-1) in the mouse brain. Similarly, our results indicated that lupeol treatment inhibited glial cell activation, p-NF-κB, and downstream signaling molecules, such as TNF-α, COX-2, and IL-1β, in the mouse cortex and hippocampus. Moreover, lupeol treatment also inhibited mitochondrial apoptotic signaling molecules, such as caspase-3, Bax, cytochrome-C, and reversed deregulated Bcl2 in TBI-treated mice. Overall, our study demonstrated that lupeol inhibits the activation of astrocytes/microglia and ROS/LPO that lead to oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis followed by TBI.     

吴茱萸碱对人结肠癌lovo细胞生长的抑制作用

目的探讨吴茱萸碱(Evodiamine,Evo)在体内外对人结肠癌lovo细胞生长的抑制作用及其机制。方法采用MTT法检测Evo对人结肠癌lovo细胞、人乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞以及人肺癌A549细胞生长的影响;流式细胞术分析Evo对lovo细胞细胞周期和细胞凋亡的影响;采用Evo治疗lovo细胞荷瘤裸鼠,并绘制肿瘤生长曲线;Westernblot法检测Evo对lovo细胞和肿瘤组织中Bcl-2及procaspase-3表达的影响。结果 Evo能抑制lovo细胞生长(P<0.01),促进MDA-MB-231细胞增殖(P<0.01),对A549细胞无明显作用(P>0.05);可将lovo细胞阻滞于S期(P<0.01),并呈时间依赖性诱导其凋亡(P<0.01);能抑制lovo细胞荷瘤裸鼠肿瘤生长(P<0.05);Westernblot检测结果显示,Evo在体内外均可降低lovo细胞Bcl-2及procas-pase-3的表达。结论 Evo可通过抑制Bcl-2表达,激活caspase-3,诱导凋亡,从而抑制lovo细胞的生长。     

DADS Suppresses Human Esophageal Xenograft Tumors through RAF/MEK/ERK and Mitochondria-Dependent Pathways

Diallyl disulfide (DADS) is a natural organosulfur compound isolated from garlic. DADS has various biological properties, including anticancer, antiangiogenic, and antioxidant effects. However, the anticancer mechanisms of DADS in human esophageal carcinoma have not been elucidated, especially in vivo. In this study, MTT assay showed that DADS significantly reduced cell viability in human esophageal carcinoma ECA109 cells, but was relatively less toxic in normal liver cells. The pro–apoptotic effect of DADS on ECA109 cells was detected by Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) staining. Flow cytometry analysis showed that DADS promoted apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner and the apoptosis rate could be decreased by caspase-3 inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO. Xenograft study in nude mice showed that DADS treatment inhibited the growth of ECA109 tumor in both 20 and 40 mg/kg DADS groups without obvious side effects. DADS inhibited ECA109 tumor proliferation by down-regulating proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). DADS induced apoptosis by activating a mitochondria-dependent pathway with the executor of caspase-3, increasing p53 level and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and downregulating the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway in ECA109 xenograft tumosr. Based on studies in cell culture and animal models, the findings here indicate that DADS is an effective and safe anti-cancer agent for esophageal carcinoma.     

脂多糖诱导小鼠巨噬细胞系RAW264.7细胞的活化凋亡作用

目的探讨脂多糖(LPS)诱导小鼠巨噬细胞系RAW264.7细胞活化凋亡的作用。方法体外培养小鼠巨噬细胞系RAW264.7细胞,分别用0.5、1.0、2.5μg/mlLPS刺激RAW264.7细胞24h,一氧化氮(NO)试剂盒检测细胞培养上清中NO水平;用1.0μg/mlLPS分别刺激细胞3d和6d,台盼蓝拒染法检测细胞增殖情况;用1.0μg/mlLPS刺激细胞6d,流式细胞术分析细胞周期及细胞凋亡情况。结果经LPS刺激后24h,RAW264.7细胞培养上清中NO含量明显增加,且具有剂量依赖性;LPS刺激3d和6d后,细胞的增殖均受到抑制,且呈时间依赖性;LPS刺激6d时,细胞周期被阻滞在S期,并出现明显的凋亡。结论LPS具有诱导小鼠巨噬细胞系RAW264.7细胞活化凋亡的作用。     

Iron Chelator Induces Apoptosis in Osteosarcoma Cells by Disrupting Intracellular Iron Homeostasis and Activating the MAPK Pathway

Osteosarcoma is a common malignant bone tumor in clinical orthopedics. Iron chelators have inhibitory effects on many cancers, but their effects and mechanisms in osteosarcoma are still uncertain. Our in vitro results show that deferoxamine (DFO) and deferasirox (DFX), two iron chelators, significantly inhibited the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells (MG-63, MNNG/HOS and K7M2). The viability of osteosarcoma cells was decreased by DFO and DFX in a concentration-dependent manner. DFO and DFX generated reactive oxygen species (ROS), altered iron metabolism and triggered apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells. Iron chelator-induced apoptosis was due to the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway, with increased phosphorylation levels of JNK, p38 and ERK, and ROS generation; in this process, the expression of C-caspase-3 and C-PARP increased. In an orthotopic osteosarcoma transplantation model, iron chelators (20 mg/kg every day, Ip, for 14 days) significantly inhibited the growth of the tumor. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that iron metabolism was altered, apoptosis was promoted, and malignant proliferation was reduced with iron chelators in the tumor tissues. In conclusion, we observed that iron chelators induced apoptosis in osteosarcoma by activating the ROS-related MAPK signaling pathway. Because iron is crucial for cell proliferation, iron chelators may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for osteosarcoma.     

流感疫苗诱导Hela细胞凋亡与免疫调节效应

目的观察流感疫苗诱导Hela细胞凋亡与免疫调节效应。方法将流感疫苗作用于Hela细胞,采用MTT比色法和流式细胞仪检测疫苗对Hela细胞增殖、凋亡和细胞周期的影响;同时用MTT法检测疫苗对小鼠脾细胞增殖的影响;采用结晶紫、中性红染色及MTT法,分别检测脾细胞诱导上清中IFN-γ、IL-2和TNF-α的分泌情况。结果一定浓度流感疫苗能够抑制Hela细胞增殖,促进细胞凋亡,凋亡率可达58·37%;还可促进小鼠脾细胞增殖及Th1型细胞分泌IFN-γ。结论流感疫苗能够抑制Hela细胞增殖,此作用可能是通过诱导Hela细胞凋亡、调节免疫细胞增殖及IFN-γ的分泌而实现的。     

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Ginsenoside Rg5 in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated BV2 Microglial Cells

Microglia are resident immune cells in the central nervous system. They play a role in normal brain development and neuronal recovery. However, overactivation of microglia causes neuronal death, which is associated with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, controlling microglial activation has been suggested as an important target for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of ginsenoside Rg5 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells and rat primary microglia. The data showed that Rg5 suppressed LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production and proinflammatory TNF-α secretion. In addition, Rg5 inhibited the mRNA expressions of iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1β, COX-2 and MMP-9 induced by LPS. Further mechanistic studies revealed that Rg5 inhibited the phophorylations of PI3K/Akt and MAPKs and the DNA binding activities of NF-κB and AP-1, which are upstream molecules controlling inflammatory reactions. Moreover, Rg5 suppressed ROS production with upregulation of hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. Overall, microglial inactivation by ginsenoside Rg5 may provide a therapeutic potential for various neuroinflammatory disorders.     

Lentiviral-Mediated Short Hairpin RNA Knockdown of MTDH Inhibits Cell Growth and Induces Apoptosis by Regulating the PTEN/AKT Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The activation of oncogenes and the loss of tumor suppressor genes are believed to play critical roles in the pathogenesis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Metaherin (MTDH), also called astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1), is frequently amplified in a variety of cancers, but the roles of MTDH with regard to growth and apoptosis in HCC have not yet been studied. In the present study, we first analyzed the expression of MTDH in HCC samples. We found that MTDH protein levels are higher in most HCC cancerous tissues compared with their matched adjacent non-tumor tissues. Additionally, the MTDH mRNA was also higher in HCC tissues compared to their matched adjacent non-tumor tissues. Knockdown of the endogenous MTDH using small interfering RNA further showed that deficiency of MTDH suppressed cell growth and caused apoptosis in HCC cells. Knockdown MTDH promoted PTEN and p53 expression in HCC cells and inhibited AKT phosphorylation. Knockdown MTDH also inhibited tumor growth in vivo. All these results indicated that MTDH protein levels in most HCC tissues are higher than non-tumor tissues, and knockdown of MTDH inhibited growth and induced apoptosis in HCC cells through the activation of PTEN. Therefore, MTDH might be an effective targeted therapy gene for HCC.     

Survivin-siRNA真核表达载体的构建及其对胃癌SGC-7901细胞增殖和凋亡的影响

目的构建Survivin-siRNA真核表达载体,并探讨其对胃癌SGC-7901细胞增殖和凋亡的影响。方法化学合成4条能转录出siRNA的模板DNA,各75个碱基,退火形成2条双链DNA,双酶切后插入pSUPER.basic载体。将阳性重组质粒转染SGC-7901细胞,进行细胞计数,并用MTT法检测细胞的增殖活性;半定量RT-PCR检测细胞Survivin基因mRNA的转录水平;流式细胞术检测细胞周期的变化。结果PCR和酶切鉴定表明Survivin-siRNA真核表达载体构建正确,其能下调SGC-7901细胞Survivin基因mRNA的转录水平,抑制SGC-7901细胞生长和增殖,并促进细胞凋亡,使G0/G1和亚G1期细胞增多,S期细胞减少。结论已成功构建了Survivin-siRNA真核表达载体,其能下调SGC-7901细胞中Survivin基因mRNA的转录水平,使细胞增殖减弱,凋亡增加,为RNA干扰技术应用于胃癌的基因治疗提供了一定的实验依据。     

The Role of the Pathogen Dose and PI3Kγ in Immunometabolic Reprogramming of Microglia for Innate Immune Memory

Microglia, the innate immune cells of the CNS, exhibit long-term response changes indicative of innate immune memory (IIM). Our previous studies revealed IIM patterns of microglia with opposing immune phenotypes: trained immunity after a low dose and immune tolerance after a high dose challenge with pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP). Compelling evidence shows that innate immune cells adopt features of IIM via immunometabolic control. However, immunometabolic reprogramming involved in the regulation of IIM in microglia has not been fully addressed. Here, we evaluated the impact of dose-dependent microglial priming with ultra-low (ULP, 1 fg/mL) and high (HP, 100 ng/mL) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) doses on immunometabolic rewiring. Furthermore, we addressed the role of PI3Kγ on immunometabolic control using naïve primary microglia derived from newborn wild-type mice, PI3Kγ-deficient mice and mice carrying a targeted mutation causing loss of lipid kinase activity. We found that ULP-induced IIM triggered an enhancement of oxygen consumption and ATP production. In contrast, HP was followed by suppressed oxygen consumption and glycolytic activity indicative of immune tolerance. PI3Kγ inhibited glycolysis due to modulation of cAMP-dependent pathways. However, no impact of specific PI3Kγ signaling on immunometabolic rewiring due to dose-dependent LPS priming was detected. In conclusion, immunometabolic reprogramming of microglia is involved in IIM in a dose-dependent manner via the glycolytic pathway, oxygen consumption and ATP production: ULP (ultra-low-dose priming) increases it, while HP reduces it.     

RNA聚合酶Ⅱ转录的ALU序列对HEK293细胞凋亡的影响

目的探讨RNA聚合酶Ⅱ转录的ALU序列对人胚肾293(HEK293)细胞凋亡的影响以及干扰素(IFN)在此机制中的作用。方法取对数生长期的HEK293细胞,分为6组,ALU-293组(瞬时转染重组质粒pcDNA3.1-ALU)、pcDNA3.1-293组[瞬时转染空质粒pcDNA3.1(-),作为阴性对照]、Poly I∶C-293组[瞬时转染dsRNA的多聚肌苷胞苷酸(Poly I∶C),作为阳性对照]、IFNβ-293组(加入1.65×104 U IFNβ,作为阳性对照)、空白对照组(未经处理的HEK293细胞)和HBs-293组(瞬时转染重组质粒pcDNA3.1-HBs),转染后48 h,采用MTT法检测细胞的增殖活性;Cellular DNA Fragmentation ELISA和DNA Ladder法检测细胞的凋亡情况;Real-time PCR检测细胞中IFNβ基因mRNA的水平。结果瞬时转染重组质粒pcDNA3.1-ALU能够抑制HEK293细胞增殖,并促使其凋亡,且细胞中IFNβmRNA的水平显著上调。结论 RNA聚合酶Ⅱ转录的ALU序列能够通过激活干扰素系统来诱导细胞凋亡。     

姜黄素对人喉癌Hep-2细胞的生长抑制及诱导凋亡作用

目的探讨姜黄素(Curcumin)对人喉癌Hep-2细胞的生长抑制及诱导凋亡作用。方法将Hep-2细胞用含不同浓度姜黄素(3、6、12.5、25μmol/L)的培养基分别培养24和48h,采用MTT法检测其对细胞增殖的影响;台盼蓝染色法检测其对细胞活力的影响;流式细胞术检测其对细胞周期分布及细胞凋亡的影响;DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测其对细胞DNA的影响。结果姜黄素可明显抑制Hep-2细胞增殖,且呈时间-剂量依赖性;可明显降低细胞活力,且呈剂量依赖性;可使细胞阻滞在G2/M期,并诱导细胞出现典型的凋亡峰,凋亡率呈时间-剂量依赖性;能使细胞DNA形成典型的DNA-Ladder。结论姜黄素对人喉癌Hep-2细胞增殖及细胞活力具有显著的抑制作用,并能诱导Hep-2细胞发生凋亡。     

Radioprotective and Antioxidant Effect of Resveratrol in Hippocampus by Activating Sirt1

Reactive oxygen species can lead to functional alterations in lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, and an accumulation of ROS (Reactive oxygen species) is considered to be one factor that contributes to neurodegenerative changes. An increase in ROS production occurs following irradiation. Neuronal tissue is susceptible to oxidative stress because of its high oxygen consumption and modest antioxidant defenses. As a polyphenolic compound, resveratrol is frequently used as an activator of Sirt1 (Sirtuin 1). The present study was designed to explore the radioprotective and antioxidant effect of resveratrol on Sirt1 expression and activity induced by radiation and to provide a new target for the development of radiation protection drugs. Our results demonstrate that resveratrol inhibits apoptosis induced by radiation via the activation of Sirt1. We demonstrated an increase in Sirt1 mRNA that was present on 21 days of resveratrol treatment following irradiation in a concentration-dependent manner. Such mRNA increase was accompanied by an increase of Sirt1 protein and activity. Resveratrol effectively antagonized oxidation induced by irradiation, supporting its cellular ROS-scavenging effect. These results provide evidence that the mitochondrial protection and the antioxidant effect of resveratrol contribute to metabolic activity. These data suggest that Sirt1 may play an important role to protect neurons from oxidative stress.     

Knockdown of akt sensitizes osteosarcoma cells to apoptosis induced by Cisplatin treatment

Akt plays an important role in the inhibition of apoptosis induced by chemotherapy and other stimuli. We therefore investigated if knockdown of Akt2 promoted drug-induced apoptosis in cultured osteosarcoma cells in vitro. SAOS-2 cells were transfected with Akt2 siRNA. The sensitivity of the transformed cell line to the chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin was assessed. Reduced expression of Akt2 did not directly inhibit the growth rate of the transfected cells; however, it significantly increased their sensitivity to cisplatin. Knockdown of Akt2, together with cisplatin treatment, promoted the expression of p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA). It is possible that the augmentation of cisplatin cytotoxicity may be mediated by PUMA activation. The results of this study suggest that knockdown of Akt2 expression may have therapeutic applications in enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy in patients with osteosarcoma.     

结肠癌源性exosomes的分离及其相关免疫学性质

目的分离结肠癌细胞株的exosomes,并分析其在致敏抗原呈递细胞及激活相关效应细胞过程中的作用。方法差速离心法分离体外培养的正常exosomes和经热休克处理的sw1116细胞(Heat shocked sw1116,HS-sw1116)分泌的exosomes(Heat shocked exosomes,HS-Exo),并在电子显微镜下观察exosomes和HS-Exo的形态结构;SDS-PAGE初步分析exosomes和HS-Exo的蛋白组分,CCK-8法检测其促外周血单个核细胞(Peripheral blood monouclear cells,PBMCs)增殖的能力。结果电子显微镜观察,exosomes和HS-Exo的形态学结构无明显差异,其平均直径约为150 nm;exosomes和HS-Exo的蛋白条带分布情况基本相同,在高相对分子质量区域蛋白分布较多;exosomes比sw1116细胞更易引起PBMCs的增殖反应,HS-sw1116细胞和HS-Exo促PBMCs增殖的作用比sw1116细胞和exosomes更明显(P<0.05)。结论结肠癌sw1116细胞株可分泌exosomes,其比肿瘤细胞更易引起PBMCs的增殖,热休克处理可进一步增强细胞和exosomes的促PBMCs增殖的能力,exosomes在结肠癌免疫治疗方面具有重要的应用价值。     

Bufalin Induces Lung Cancer Cell Apoptosis via the Inhibition of PI3K/Akt Pathway

Bufalin is a class of toxic steroids which could induce the differentiation and apoptosis of leukemia cells, and induce the apoptosis of gastric, colon and breast cancer cells. However, the anti-tumor effects of bufalin have not been demonstrated in lung cancer. In this study we used A549 human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cell line as the experimental model to evaluate the potential of bufalin in lung cancer chemotherapy. A549 cells were treated with bufalin, then the proliferation was detected by MTT assay and apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry analysis and Giemsa staining. In addition, A549 cells were treated by Akt inhibitor LY294002 in combination with bufalin and the activation of Akt and Caspase-3 as well as the expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2 and livin were examined by Western blot analysis. The results showed that Bufalin inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells and induced the apoptosis of A549 cells in a dose and time dependent manner. Mechanistically, we found that bufalin inhibited the activation of Akt. Moreover, bufalin synergized with Akt inhibitor to induce the apoptosis of A549 cells and this was associated with the upregulation of Bax expression, the downregulation of Bcl-2 and livin expression, and the activation of Caspase-3. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that bufalin induces lung cancer cell apoptosis via the inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway and suggest that bufalin is a potential regimen for combined chemotherapy to overcome the resistance of lung cancer cells to chemotherapeutics induced apoptosis.     

Expression and Functions of Fibroblast Growth Factor 10 in the Mouse Mammary Gland

Fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10) is important as a mesenchymal mediator of epithelial growth and morphogenesis. In this study, the expression and localization of the FGF10 protein were detected by laser scanning confocal microscopy during mouse postnatal mammary gland development. Mammary explants were cultured to investigate the functions of FGF10. The results revealed that FGF10 localizes mainly in the mesenchyme near the ductal epithelial cells and the alveolar epithelial cells of the mammary gland. Peak FGF10 expression levels were observed at lactation day 10. FGF10 induced FGFR2-IIIb expression in the mammary epithelium, except in virgin or pregnant mice. FGF10 promoted the proliferation of mammary gland epithelial cells and reduced apoptosis. FGF10 is important during the mouse mammary gland growth, development, and reconstruction, and its effects are mediated by FGFR2-IIIb.