Chalcones Enhance TRAIL-Induced Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer Cells

Chalcones exhibit chemopreventive and antitumor effects. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a naturally occurring anticancer agent that induces apoptosis in cancer cells and is not toxic to normal cells. We examined the cytotoxic and apoptotic effect of five chalcones in combination with TRAIL on prostate cancer cells. The cytotoxicity was evaluated by the MTT and LDH assays. The apoptosis was determined using flow cytometry with annexin V-FITC. Our study showed that all five tested chalcones: chalcone, licochalcone-A, isobavachalcone, xanthohumol, butein markedly augmented TRAIL-mediated apoptosis and cytotoxicity in prostate cancer cells and confirmed the significant role of chalcones in chemoprevention of prostate cancer.     

Chrysin,Apigenin and Acacetin Inhibit Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis—Inducing Ligand Receptor-1 (TRAIL-R1) on Activated RAW264.7 Macrophages

Expression level of Tumor Necrosis Factor—related apoptosis—inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptors is one of the most important factors of TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in cancer cells. We here report for the first time data concerning TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 receptor expression on RAW264.7 macrophages. Three substances belonging to flavones: chrysin, apigenin and acacetin which differ from their substituents at the 4'' position in the phenyl ring were used in assays because of the variety of biological activities (e.g., anticancer activity) of the polyphenol compounds. The expression of TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 death receptors on non-stimulated and LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-stimulated macrophages was determined using flow cytometry. We demonstrate that RAW264.7 macrophages exhibit TRAIL-R1 surface expression and that the tested compounds: chrysin, apigenin and acacetin can inhibit TRAIL-R1 death receptor expression level on macrophages.     

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver: A Possible New Target for Type 2 Diabetes Prevention and Treatment

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disorder worldwide. Several lines of evidence have indicated a pathogenic role of insulin resistance, and a strong association with type 2 diabetes (T2MD) and metabolic syndrome. Importantly, NAFLD appears to enhance the risk for T2MD, as well as worsen glycemic control and cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients. In turn, T2MD may promote NAFLD progression. The opportunity to take into account NAFLD in T2MD prevention and care has stimulated several clinical studies in which antidiabetic drugs, such as metformin, thiazolidinediones, GLP-1 analogues and DPP-4 inhibitors have been evaluated in NAFLD patients. In this review, we provide an overview of preclinical and clinical evidences on the possible efficacy of antidiabetic drugs in NAFLD treatment. Overall, available data suggest that metformin has beneficial effects on body weight reduction and metabolic parameters, with uncertain effects on liver histology, while pioglitazone may improve liver histology. Few data, mostly preclinical, are available on DPP4 inhibitors and GLP-1 analogues. The heterogeneity of these studies and the small number of patients do not allow for firm conclusions about treatment guidelines, and further randomized, controlled studies are needed.     

重组2型腺相关病毒肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体基因治疗制剂的质量分析

目的对重组2型腺相关病毒肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体(recombinant adeno-associated virus 2 encoding tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-induced ligand,r AAV2-TRAIL)基因治疗制剂进行质量分析,并针对其关键质量属性建立质控方法。方法采用PCR法对r AAV2-TRAIL基因治疗制剂中插入的启动子CAG和目的基因TRAIL进行鉴别;在腺病毒(Ad5)的辅助下,将r AAV2-TRAIL体外感染293T细胞后,采用ELISA法检测培养上清中目的蛋白TRAIL的表达量,检测r AAV2-TRAIL对神经胶质瘤U251细胞的体外杀伤活性;设计引物及探针,采用Q-PCR法检测r AAV2-TRAIL基因治疗制剂中的r AAV2-TRAIL滴度、可能存在的复制型rc AAV滴度以及残余辅助病毒1型单纯疱疹病毒(herpes simplex virus 1,HSV1)滴度。结果启动子CAG和目的基因TRAIL的PCR鉴定结果与理论及理化对照品相符;r AAV2-TRAIL感染293T细胞48 h后,上清中TRAIL表达量为(0.36±0.18)ng/ml,RSD为50.0%;r AAV2-TRAIL体外作用于神经胶质瘤细胞U251,细胞生长相对抑制率为(26.6±3.75)%,RSD为14.1%;制剂中r AAV2-TRAIL滴度为(4.72×1011±0.52×1011)copies/ml,RSD为11.0%,rc AAV滴度为(2.49×107±0.18×107)copies/ml,RSD为7.2%,HSV1滴度为(6.02×106±0.51×106)copies/ml,RSD为8.5%。r AAV2-TRAIL/rc AAV为1.90×104,r AAV2-TRAIL/HSV1为7.84×104。结论建立的质控方法可用于r AAV2-TRAIL的质量控制,为该产品质量标准的建立奠定了基础,同时对以AAV为载体的基因治疗制剂的质量研究提供参考。     

MTS染色法测定重组人肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体的生物学活性

目的 建立稳定可靠的重组人肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体(Recombinant human TNF-related apoptosis-induc-ing ligand,rhTRAIL)生物学活性检测方法——MTS染色法。方法采用人非小细胞肺癌细胞(NCI-H460)凋亡-MTS染色法对3批rhTRAIL供试品进行检测,采用四参数回归法计算供试品效价;并对该方法的专属性、精密性和准确性进行验证。结果 3批供试品(20071101、20071102、20071103)的效价分别为7.3×104、8.1×104和9.3×104 U/ml,相关系数(R2)分别为0.998、0.996和0.998。rhTRAIL抗体能完全阻断rhTRAIL与NCI-H460细胞间的应答反应。该方法专属性较好,不同检测板间、不同加样位置、不同工作日间和不同试验人员间检测结果的平均变异系数分别为12%、26%、24%和7%,平均加样回收率为114%。结论 MTS染色法测定rhTRAIL的生物学活性具有较高的准确性和可信度,适用于rhTRAIL生物学活性的常规检测。     

Overcoming Hypoxic-Resistance of Tumor Cells to TRAIL-Induced Apoptosis through Melatonin

A solid tumor is often exposed to hypoxic or anoxic conditions; thus, tumor cell responses to hypoxia are important for tumor progression as well as tumor therapy. Our previous studies indicated that tumor cells are resistant to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced cell apoptosis under hypoxic conditions. Melatonin inhibits cell proliferation in many cancer types and induces apoptosis in some particular cancer types. Here, we examined the effects of melatonin on hypoxic resistant cells against TRAIL-induced apoptosis and the possible mechanisms of melatonin in the hypoxic response. Melatonin treatment increased TRAIL-induced A549 cell death under hypoxic conditions, although hypoxia inhibited TRAIL-mediated cell apoptosis. In a mechanistic study, hypoxia inducible factor-1α and prolyl-hydroxylase 2 proteins, which increase following exposure to hypoxia, were dose-dependently down-regulated by melatonin treatment. Melatonin also blocked the hypoxic responses that reduced pro-apoptotic proteins and increased anti-apoptotic proteins including Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. Furthermore, melatonin treatment reduced TRAIL resistance by regulating the mitochondrial transmembrane potential and Bax translocation. Our results first demonstrated that melatonin treatment induces apoptosis in TRAIL-resistant hypoxic tumor cells by diminishing the anti-apoptotic signals mediated by hypoxia and also suggest that melatonin could be a tumor therapeutic tool by combining with other apoptotic ligands including TRAIL, particularly in solid tumor cells exposed to hypoxia.     

TRAIL and Paclitaxel Synergize to Kill U87 Cells and U87-Derived Stem-Like Cells in Vitro

U87-derived stem-like cells (U87-SLCs) were cultured using serum-free stem cell media and identified by both biological behaviors and markers. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and paclitaxel (PX), in combination or alone, was used to treat U87-MG human glioma cells (U87 cells) or U87-SLCs. The results showed that TRAIL/PX cannot only synergistically inhibit U87 cells but also U87-SLCs. We observed a significantly higher apoptotic rate in U87 cells simultaneously treated with TRAIL/PX for 24 h compared to cells treated with either drug alone. Furthermore, there was a remarkably higher apoptosis rate in U87-SLCs induced by the TRAIL/PX combination compared with either drug alone. Unlike the simultaneous treatment in U87 cells, U87-SLCs were pretreated for 24 h with 1 μmol/L of PX followed by 1000 ng/mL of TRAIL. Protein assays revealed that TRAIL/PX synergy was related to DR4, cleaved caspase-8 and cleaved caspase-3 upregulation, whereas the mitochondrial pathway was not involved in TRAIL-induced apoptosis. The present study indicates that PX can sensitize U87 cells and U87-SLCs to TRAIL treatment through an extrinsic pathway of cell apoptosis. The combined treatment of TRAIL and PX may be a promising glioma chemotherapy because of its successful inhibition of U87-SLCs, which are hypothesized to influence chemotherapeutic outcomes of gliomas.     

Regulation of TRAIL-Receptor Expression by the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand- receptor (TRAIL-R) family has emerged as a key mediator of cell fate and survival. Ligation of TRAIL ligand to TRAIL-R1 or TRAIL-R2 initiates the extrinsic apoptotic pathway characterized by the recruitment of death domains, assembly of the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC), caspase activation and ultimately apoptosis. Conversely the decoy receptors TRAIL-R3 and TRAIL-R4, which lack the pro-apoptotic death domain, function to dampen the apoptotic response by competing for TRAIL ligand. The tissue restricted expression of the decoy receptors on normal but not cancer cells provides a therapeutic rational for the development of selective TRAIL-mediated anti-tumor therapies. Recent clinical trials using agonistic antibodies against the apoptosis-inducing TRAIL receptors or recombinant TRAIL have been promising; however the number of patients in complete remission remains stubbornly low. The mechanisms of TRAIL resistance are relatively unexplored but may in part be due to TRAIL-R down-regulation or shedding of TRAIL-R by tumor cells. Therefore a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying TRAIL resistance is required. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) has been shown to regulate TRAIL-R members suggesting that pharmacological inhibition of the UPS may be a novel strategy to augment TRAIL-based therapies and increase efficacies. We recently identified b-AP15 as an inhibitor of proteasome deubiquitinase (DUB) activity. Interestingly, exposure of tumor cell lines to b-AP15 resulted in increased TRAIL-R2 expression and enhanced sensitivity to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis and cell death in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, targeting the UPS may represent a novel strategy to increase the cell surface expression of pro-apoptotic TRAIL-R on cancer cells and should be considered in clinical trials targeting TRAIL-receptors in cancer patients.     

人TRAIL细胞外段基因在大肠杆菌中的表达及其包涵体的复性

目的　在大肠杆菌中表达人肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体细胞外段 (sTRAIL)基因 ,并研究其包涵体的复性。方法　应用RT- PCR法从正常人外周血单核细胞中获得sTRAIL的编码基因 ,将其克隆到原核表达载体pBV2 2 0 ,于大肠杆菌DH5α中通过温控诱导表达 ;将包涵体进行变性和复性处理后 ,采用离子交换层析纯化表达产物 ,并经Dotblot及MTT试验鉴定。结果　通过温度诱导 ,目的基因主要以包涵体形式高效表达 ,包涵体蛋白经梯度透析法复性可获得具有抗肿瘤活性的重组人sTRAIL。结论　已获得大量纯化重组人sTRAIL ,为开发新型抗肿瘤制剂奠定基础。