Acanthoic acid induces cell apoptosis through activation of the p38 MAPK pathway in HL-60 human promyelocytic leukaemia

The present study was designed to evaluate the molecular mechanisms of the action of acanthoic acid (ACAN) from Acanthopanax koreanum (Araliaceae) against HL-60 human promyelocytic leukaemia cells. ACAN reduced the proliferation of HL-60 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner accompanied by the induction of apoptosis. Possible mechanisms of ACAN-induced apoptosis were also examined. The results showed that ACAN-induced the phosphorylation of members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 MAPK (p38), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). A specific p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) significantly blocked ACAN-induced apoptosis and cell viability, whereas an ERK inhibitor (PD98059) and JNK inhibitor (SP600125) had no effect. Moreover, ACAN induced the cleavage of caspase-3 and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), and decreased the level of Bcl-xL, but these effects were inhibited by SB203580 pre-treatment. These results strongly suggest that ACAN may have cancer chemopreventive and therapeutic potential, due to its ability to activate the p38 MAPK-mediated signalling pathways.     

Tetrahydrocurcumin, a major metabolite of curcumin, induced autophagic cell death through coordinative modulation of PI3K/Akt-mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways in human leukemia HL-60 cells

Scope: Autophagy (type II programmed cell death) is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis. Several autophagy‐deficient or knockout studies indicate that autophagy is a tumor suppressor. Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC), a major metabolite of curcumin, has been demonstrated with anti‐colon carcinogenesis and antioxidation in vivo. Methods and results: In the present study, we found that treatment with THC induced autophagic cell death in human HL‐60 promyelocytic leukemia cells by increasing autophage marker acidic vascular organelle (AVO) formation. Flow cytometry also confirmed that THC treatment did not increase sub‐G1 cell population whereas curcumin did with strong apoptosis‐inducing activity. At the molecular levels, the results from Western blot analysis showed that THC significantly down‐regulated phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase/protein kinase B and mitogen‐activated protein kinase signalings including decreasing the phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin, glycogen synthase kinase 3β and p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase. Further molecular analysis exhibited that the pretreatment of 3‐methyladenine (an autophagy inhibitor) also significantly reduced acidic vascular organelle production in THC‐treated cells. Conclusion: Taken together, these results demonstrated the anticancer efficacy of THC by inducing autophagy as well as provided a potential application for the prevention of human leukemia.     

Induction of apoptosis in HL-60 cells by skimmed milk digested with a proteolytic enzyme from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Bovine skimmed milk digested with cell-free extract of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was found to exhibit proliferation inhibition activity towards human leukemia (HL-60) cells. The optimum pH for digestion of skimmed milk and production of the proliferation inhibition factor was pH 4.8. Nondigested skimmed milk exhibited little suppressive effect on the proliferation of HL-60 cells. An active enzyme involved in the production of cell proliferation inhibitory materials from skimmed milk was purified from the cell-free extract of S. cerevisiae by a series of column chromatographies: DEAE-Sephacel, D-tryptophan methyl ester-Sepharose 4B, Hiload Superdex G-200 and HPLC Mono Q. The homogeneous purified enzyme and exhibited a molecular mass of 33 kDa in sodium dodeceyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and was identified as protease B by N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis. Bovine skimmed milk digested with purified protease B was found to inhibit proliferation activity of HL-60 cells most strongly when digestion was conducted at pH 4.8. The cell proliferation inhibition activity induced by digested skimmed milk was shown to be due to the induction of apoptosis, demonstrated by the formation of apoptotic bodies and fragmentation of DNA in treated cells. The proliferation inhibition factors produced were recovered in the soluble fraction of 92% ethanol, suggesting that the factors were hydrophilic low molecular mass substances derived from skimmed milk.     

6‐Dehydrogingerdione,an active constituent of dietary ginger,induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through reactive oxygen species/c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase pathways in human breast cancer cells

This study is the first to investigate the anticancer effect of 6‐dehydrogingerdione (DGE), an active constituent of dietary ginger, in human breast cancer MDA‐MB‐231 and MCF‐7 cells. DGE exhibited effective cell growth inhibition by inducing cancer cells to undergo G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis. Blockade of cell cycle was associated with increased levels of p21, and reduced amounts of cyclin B1, cyclin A, Cdc2 and Cdc25C. DGE also enhanced the levels of inactivated phosphorylated Cdc2 and Cdc25C. DGE triggered the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway indicated by a change in Bax/Bcl‐2 ratios, resulting in caspase‐9 activation. We also found the generation of reactive oxygen species is a critical mediator in DGE‐induced cell growth inhibition. DGE clearly increased the activation of apoptosis signal‐regulating kinase 1 and c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK), but not extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38. In addition, antioxidants vitamin C and catalase significantly decreased DGE‐mediated JNK activation and apoptosis. Moreover, blocking JNK by specific inhibitors suppressed DGE‐triggered mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Taken together, these findings suggest that a critical role for reactive oxygen species and JNK in DGE‐mediated apoptosis of human breast cancer.     

Geraniin-mediated apoptosis by cleavage of focal adhesion kinase through up-regulation of Fas ligand expression in human melanoma cells

Geraniin, a form of tannin separated from geranium, causes cell death through induction of apoptosis; however, cell death characteristics for geraniin have not yet been elucidated. Here, we investigated the mechanism of geraniin-induced apoptosis in human melanoma cells and demonstrated that geraniin was able to induce cell apoptosis in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. We also examined the signaling pathway related to geraniin-induced apoptosis. To clarify the relationship between focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and geraniin-induced apoptosis, we treated human melanoma cells with geraniin and found that this resulted dose- and time-dependent degradation in FAK. However, FAK cleavage was significantly inhibited when cells were pretreated with a selective inhibitor of caspase-3 (Ac-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-CHO). Here, we demonstrated for the first time that geraniin triggered cell death by caspase-3-mediated cleavage of FAK. There were two possible mechanisms for activating caspase-3, mitochondria-mediated and receptor-mediated apoptosis. To confirm the geraniin-relevant signaling pathway, using immunoblot analysis we found that geraniin-induced apoptosis was associated with the up-regulation of Fas ligand expression, the activation of caspase-8, the cleavage of Bid, and the induction of cytochrome c release from mitochondria to the cytosol. Treatment with geraniin caused induction of caspase-3 activity in a dose- and time-dependent manner followed by proteolytic cleavage of poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase, and DNA fragmentation factor 45. The geraniin-induced apoptosis may provide a pivotal mechanism for its cancer-chemopreventive action.     

茶多酚体外诱导白血病细胞凋亡

目的:为研发天然抗白血病新药,研究茶多酚主要活性成分表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(EGCG)体外诱导细胞凋亡的作用。方法:采用体视显微镜、DNA凝胶电泳及透射电镜技术,观察EGCG对体外诱导人急性早幼粒白血病细胞(HL-60)凋亡的影响及其诱导凋亡的最佳作用时间和最佳作用浓度。结果:发现EGCG实验组中,HL-60细胞生长被显著抑制,DNA凝胶电泳中可见DNA条带,其细胞超微结构明显改变。当250μg/ml EGCG作用细胞6h时,其诱导细胞凋亡的作用最明显。结论:EGCG可体外诱导HL-60细胞凋亡,可能是抗白血病的侯选药。     

Methyl jasmonate enhances antioxidant activity and flavonoid content in blackberries (Rubus sp.) and promotes antiproliferation of human cancer cells

The effects of preharvest methyl jasmonate (MJ) application on fruit quality, antioxidant activity and flavonoid content in blackberries (Rubus sp.) were determined. Anticancer activity against human lung A549 cells and HL-60 leukemia cells was also evaluated. Three blackberry cultivars (Chester Thornless, Hull Thornless and Triple Crown) were used in these experiments. Blackberries treated with MJ (0.01 and 0.1 mM) had higher soluble solids content, and lower titratable acids than untreated fruit as well as enhanced content of flavonoids and increased antioxidant capacity. Extracts of treated fruit showed enhanced inhibition of A549 cell and HL-60 cell proliferation and induced the apoptosis of HL-60 cells. Cultivar Hull Thornless had higher soluble solids and lower titratable acids compared to cv. Chester Thornless and Triple Crown. On the basis of fresh weight of fruit, Hull Thornless also had significantly higher anthocyanin, total phenolic content, antioxidant and antiproliferation activity than other two cultivars.     

Effects of highly ripened cheeses on HL-60 human leukemia cells: Antiproliferative activity and induction of apoptotic DNA damage

To establish cheese as a dairy product with health benefits, we examined the multifunctional role of cheeses. In this report, we clarify whether different types of commercial cheeses may possess antiproliferative activity using HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cell lines as a cancer model. Among 12 cheese extracts tested, 6 (Montagnard, Pont-l’Eveque, Brie, Camembert, Danablue, and Blue) revealed strong growth inhibition activity and induction of DNA fragmentation in HL-60 cells. Based on the quantification of nitrogen contents in different cheese samples, a positive correlation between the ripeness of various cheeses and their antiproliferative activity tested in HL-60 cells was displayed. Four varieties of Blue cheese ripened for 0, 1, 2, or 3 mo demonstrated that the Blue cheese ripened for a long term was capable of causing the strong suppression of the cell growth and the induction of apoptotic DNA damage as well as nucleic morphological change in HL-60 cells. Collectively, these results obtained suggest a potential role of highly ripened cheeses in the prevention of leukemic cell proliferation.     

食物黄酮异荭草素及其银纳米颗粒的保肝活性

为提高食物黄酮异荭草素（Iso）的生物活性和预防苯并（a）芘（BaP）诱发的肝损伤提供一定的依据，以Iso及其银纳米颗粒（Iso-AgNPs）为研究对象，建立食品高温有害产物BaP损伤HL-7702人肝细胞模型，基于细胞凋亡、自噬和焦亡3种程序性死亡方式，通过MTT、台盼蓝染色、荧光标记、流式细胞术、Western blotting等方法检测Iso-AgNPs的保肝作用。结果表明：相较于Iso，Iso-AgNPs能更好地钝化BaP对HL-7702人肝细胞活力的抑制作用，促进细胞增殖，显著抑制BaP诱导的HL-7702人肝细胞凋亡性、自噬性和焦亡性损伤。因此，Iso-AgNPs可提高Iso的生物活性且预防肝细胞损伤。     

Solamargine upregulation of Fas, downregulation of HER2, and enhancement of cytotoxicity using epirubicin in NSCLC cells

Nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is not generally a chemosensitive tumor, and the mechanism of resistance to the relevant anticancer drugs has not been fully elucidated. Solamargine (SM), the major steroidal glycoalkaloids extracted from the Chinese herb Solanum, inhibits the growth of human tumor cells. We have previously demonstrated that SM regulates tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNFRs)- and mitochondria-mediated pathways and sensitizes NSCLC cells to initiate apoptosis. Interestingly, this investigation reveals that SM up-regulated Fas expression and down-regulated the expression of HER2, whose overexpression is associated with resistance to drugs, and promotes chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in NSCLC A549 and H441 cells. After treatment with SM, the expression of HER2 mRNA was correlated with the expression of topoisomerase IIalpha (TOP2A) mRNA. The combinatory use of low concentrations of SM with low-toxic topoisomerase II inhibitor epirubicin accelerated apoptotic cell death. Therefore, the downregulation of the HER2 and TOP2A expression by SM with epirubicin may partially explain the SM and epirubicin cytotoxicity synergy effect in NSCLC. Results of this study suggest that SM induces Fas and TNFR-induced NSCLC cell apoptosis and reduces HER2 expression. These findings provide the synergistic therapeutic interaction between SM and epirubicin, suggesting that such combinations may be effectively exploited in future human cancer clinical trials.     

Vitamin C induces apoptosis in AGS cells by down-regulation of 14-3-3σ via a mitochondrial dependent pathway

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is an essential component of most living cells. Apart from antioxidant activity, it has been reported to inhibit cancer cell growth in vitro in human cancer cells. However, the cellular mechanism underlying anticancer activity has not been fully elucidated. In this study, vitamin C showed a cytotoxic effect on human gastric cancer cell line AGS (LD50 300μg/ml). Further, flow cytometry analysis showed that vitamin C increased the sub-G1 (apoptosis) population and apoptosis confirmed by fluorescein isothiocyanate-Annexin V double staining in AGS cells. Moreover, specific immuno-blotting revealed the expression of the phosphorylated form of Bad (S136), 14-3-3σ, pro-caspases-3, -6, -8, and-9 protein levels were significantly decreased and Bax/Bcl-xL ratio was increased in a dose-dependent manner. Also, wound healing assay results showed that vitamin C inhibited AGS cell proliferation. These findings suggest that vitamin C induces apoptosis and might be a potential therapeutic agent for gastric cancer.     

巴莲莲子生物碱提取物对人肝癌细胞HepG2的体外抗癌效果

本研究对巴莲莲子生物碱提取物的体外抗癌效果进行研究,以证实巴莲莲子生物碱提取物的生理活性作用。采用噻唑蓝法、4’,6-二脒基-2-苯基吲哚染色法和实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应法检测巴莲莲子生物碱对人肝癌细胞HepG2的体外增殖抑制作用和凋亡诱导作用。巴莲莲子生物碱可以抑制HepG2细胞的体外增殖,但是对正常肝细胞L02无毒性,不影响其增殖。通过对癌细胞形态的观察发现随着巴莲莲子生物碱质量浓度的提高,更多的癌细胞被诱导凋亡从而死亡。同时,巴莲莲子生物碱能上调HepG2细胞的Bax、caspase-3、caspase-8、caspase-9、p53、p21基因表达和下调Bcl-2、Bcl-x L基因表达,从而促进癌细胞凋亡。巴莲莲子生物碱是一类生物活性成分,实验条件下具有较好的体外抗癌效果。     

Induction of apoptosis by diphlorethohydroxycarmalol isolated from brown alga,Ishige okamurae

The anti-cancer effect of diphlorethohydroxycarmalol (DC) isolated from Ishige okamurae, a brown alga, via the induction of apoptosis resulting from mitochondrial dysfunction was assessed in human promyelocytic leukemia (HL60) cells. The apoptotic mechanisms of DC induction on tumor cells were studied in this work for the first time. DCs were determined to evidence marked cytotoxicity on HL60 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The induction of apoptosis in HL60 cells by DC was evidenced by the accumulation of sub-G₁ cell population and nuclear condensation. Further investigations into the depletion of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ_m) determined that DC treatment induced apoptosis via the regulation of the expression of pro-survival and pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members. It was demonstrated that the anti-cancer activity of DC was mediated by apoptotic induction resulting from mitochondrial dysfunction. Our study results also indicated dysfunction and that DCs may constitute a new and promising agent for the treatment of human promyelocytic leukemia cells.     

Induction of apoptosis in HeLa cells by ethanolic extract of Corallina pilulifera

Marine organisms are rich sources of new, biologically active compounds. Seaweeds have traditionally been used as food, but have also been used as folk medicine, particularly by coastal peoples. Recently, much attention has been paid to the anticancer activity of seaweed. Thus, we have screened organic extracts of seaweeds for their anticancer activity against human cell lines, and selected Corallina pilulifera as a candidate for use in treatment. The ethanolic extracts of Corallina pilulifera (EECP) showed cytotoxic activity against human cervical adenocarcinoma cell line, HeLa. The IC₅₀ of EECP against the HeLa cells was 250 μg/ml. Treatment of HeLa cells with various concentrations of EECP resulted in growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. In Western blot analysis, apoptosis in the HeLa cells was associated with the release of cytochrome C from mitochondria into the cytosol, activation of caspase-3 and caspase-8, and proteolytic cleavage of PARP (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase). These results strongly suggest that EECP may be a potential candidate in the field of anticancer drug discovery.     

Suppression of EGF-induced tumor cell migration and matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression by capsaicin via the inhibition of EGFR-mediated FAK/Akt, PKC/Raf/ERK, p38 MAPK, and AP-1 signaling

Scope: Capsaicin is a cancer‐suppressing agent. The aim of our study was to determine the effect of capsaicin on tumor invasion and migration; the possible mechanisms involved in this inhibition were investigated in human fibrosarcoma cells. Methods and results: We employed invasion, migration and gelatin zymography assays to characterize the effect of capsaicin on HT‐1080 cells. Transient transfection assays and immunoblot analysis were performed to study its molecular mechanisms of action. Capsaicin inhibited the epidermal growth factor (EGF)‐induced activation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐9 and MMP‐2, and further inhibited cell invasion and migration. Capsaicin decreased the EGF‐induced expression of MMP‐9, MMP‐2, and MT1‐MMP, but did not alter TIMP‐1 and TIMP‐2 levels. Capsaicin suppressed EGF‐induced c‐Jun and c‐Fos nuclear translocation, and also abrogated the EGF‐induced phosphorylation of EGF receptor (EGFR), focal adhesion kinase (FAK), protein kinase C (PKC), phosphatidylinositol 3‐Kinase (PI3K)/Akt, extracellular regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, and JNK1/2, an upstream modulator of AP‐1. Furthermore, the EGFR inhibitor inhibited EGF‐induced MMP‐9 expression, as well as AP‐1 activity and cell migration. Conclusion: Capsaicin inhibited the EGF‐induced invasion and migration of human fibrosarcoma cells via EGFR‐dependent FAK/Akt, PKC/Raf/ERK, p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), and AP‐1 signaling, leading to the down‐regulation of MMP‐9 expression. These results indicate the role of capsaicin as a potent anti‐metastatic agent, which can markedly inhibit the metastatic and invasive capacity of fibrosarcoma cells.     

Phytate hydrolysate induces circumferential F‐actin ring formation at cell–cell contacts by a Rho‐associated kinase‐dependent mechanism in colorectal cancer HT‐29 cells

Phytate (inositol hexa‐phosphate or IP6) possessing anticancer activity is hydrolyzed by phytase in intestinal microbes and the metabolites are distributed throughout the colon. Cellular circumferential F‐actin rings, which are involved in cell polarity and structure, are lost early during tumorigenesis. We investigated F‐actin ring formation by the phytate hydrolysate in colorectal cancer HT‐29 cells to explore the novel mechanisms underlying the phytate‐mediated anticancer function. The phytate hydrolysate, but not inositol or phytate, induced F‐actin ring formation with a peak at 10 min in the cells and was associated with phosphorylation of myosin regulatory light chain. F‐actin ring formation and myosin regulatory light chain phosphorylation by the phytate hydrolysate were suppressed by inhibitors of Rho‐associated kinase (ROCK), Janus kinase (JAK), c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK), and protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ). Activation of ROCK and JAK, but not JNK or PKCδ, was observed at 10 min and/or earlier after stimulation with the phytate hydrolysate. Altogether, the phytate hydrolysate induces circumferential F‐actin ring formation through a ROCK‐dependent myosin II activation in the HT‐29 cells, which requires JAK activation and basal activities of JNK and PKC. Hydrolysis products of phytate in the intestine may contribute to anticancer function of phytate.     

Anti-inflammatory Effects of Limonene from Yuzu (Citrus junos Tanaka) Essential Oil on Eosinophils

ABSTRACT: Yuzu (Citrus junos Tanaka) has been used as a traditional medicine in Japan. We investigated in vitro anti-inflammatory effects of limonene from yuzu peel on human eosinophilic leukemia HL-60 clone 15 cells. To examine anti-inflammatory effects of limonene on the cells, we measured the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), nuclear factor (NF) kappa B, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). We found that low concentration of limonene (7.34 mmol/L) inhibited the production of ROS for eotaxin-stimulated HL-60 clone 15 cells. 14.68 mmol/L concentration of limonene diminished MCP-1 production via NF-kappa B activation comparable to the addition of the proteasomal inhibitor MG132. In addition, it inhibited cell chemotaxis in a p38 MAPK dependent manner similar to the adding of SB203580. These results suggest that limonene may have potential anti-inflammatory efficacy for the treatment of bronchial asthma by inhibiting cytokines, ROS production, and inactivating eosinophil migration.     

Erythrodiol, a natural triterpenoid from olives, has antiproliferative and apoptotic activity in HT-29 human adenocarcinoma cells

Erythrodiol is the precursor of pentacyclic triterpenic acids present in Olea Europaea. Although olive oil and some of its constituents are reported to have anticarcinogenic activities, erythrodiol has not been assessed in its cell biological functions in detail. We therefore determined its effects on cell growth and apoptosis in human colorectal carcinoma HT-29 cells. Proliferation, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis were measured by fluorescence-based techniques. Erythrodiol inhibited cell growth with an EC50 value of 48.8 +/- 3.7 microM without any cytotoxic effects in a concentration range up to 100 microM. However, exposure of cells for 24 h to 50, 100, and 150 microM erythrodiol increased caspase-3-like activity by 3.2-, 4.8-, and 5.2-fold over that in control cells. We here demonstrate for the first time that, in colon adenocarcinoma cells, erythrodiol exerts antiproliferative and proapoptotic activity.     

表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯分子修饰及抗癌研究进展

表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯((–)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate,EGCG)是茶叶中的一类重要儿茶素,在体内外实验中被证实具有广泛的抗癌活性。研究发现,其抗癌机理包含诱导细胞凋亡、抗血管生成、调控细胞周期、阻滞细胞转移、协同抗癌等,但由于多羟基的化学结构使其在中性或碱性介质中极不稳定,最终导致其生物活性利用率降低,限制了临床应用范围。已有研究表明,分子修饰能显著改善EGCG分子活性,增强其稳定性,并使其表现出较强的抗癌活性。本文首先概述EGCG分子修饰的方法,然后对EGCG及其衍生物的抗癌实例和作用机理进行归纳总结。     

Anti‐inflammatory and anticancer activities of water‐soluble peptide extracts of buffalo and cow milk Cheddar cheeses

This article aimed to assess the anti‐inflammatory and anticancer potential of water‐soluble peptide (WSP) extracts from buffalo and cow milk Cheddar cheeses. Anti‐inflammatory activity was evaluated on the basis of nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated macrophage (RAW‐264.7) cells. A cell viability assay, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were performed to explore anticancer activity in a colon cancer model (HT‐29). The WSP extracts of both Cheddar cheeses effectively inhibited NO production in activated macrophages. Maximum growth inhibition was observed in the HT‐29 cells at concentrations of 400 and 500 μg/mL. A significant increase in cell population at G₀/G₁ phase of the cell cycle was observed. Moreover, the WSP extracts also induced extensive apoptosis in colon cancer cells.