Metazoans and Intrinsic Apoptosis: An Evolutionary Analysis of the Bcl-2 Family

The B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) family is a group of genes regulating intrinsic apoptosis, a process controlling events such as development, homeostasis and the innate and adaptive immune responses in metazoans. In higher organisms, Bcl-2 proteins coordinate intrinsic apoptosis through their regulation of the integrity of the mitochondrial outer membrane; this function appears to have originated in the basal metazoans. Bcl-2 genes predate the cnidarian-bilaterian split and have been identified in porifera, placozoans and cnidarians but not ctenophores and some nematodes. The Bcl-2 family is composed of two groups of proteins, one with an α-helical Bcl-2 fold that has been identified in porifera, placozoans, cnidarians, and almost all higher bilaterians. The second group of proteins, the BH3-only group, has little sequence conservation and less well-defined structures and is found in cnidarians and most bilaterians, but not porifera or placozoans. Here we examine the evolutionary relationships between Bcl-2 proteins. We show that the structures of the Bcl-2-fold proteins are highly conserved over evolutionary time. Some metazoans such as the urochordate Oikopleura dioica have lost all Bcl-2 family members. This gene loss indicates that Bcl-2 regulated apoptosis is not an absolute requirement in metazoans, a finding mirrored in recent gene deletion studies in mice. Sequence analysis suggests that at least some Bcl-2 proteins lack the ability to bind BH3-only antagonists and therefore potentially have other non-apoptotic functions. By examining the foundations of the Bcl-2 regulated apoptosis, functional relationships may be clarified that allow us to understand the role of specific Bcl-2 proteins in evolution and disease.     

Mitochondrial Lipids: From Membrane Organization to Apoptotic Facilitation

Mitochondria are the most complex intracellular organelles, their function combining energy production for survival and apoptosis facilitation for death. Such a multivariate physiology is structurally and functionally reflected upon their membrane configuration and lipid composition. Mitochondrial double membrane lipids, with cardiolipin as the protagonist, show an impressive level of complexity that is mandatory for maintenance of mitochondrial health and protection from apoptosis. Given that lipidomics is an emerging field in cancer research and that mitochondria are the organelles with the most important role in malignant maintenance knowledge of the mitochondrial membrane, lipid physiology in health is mandatory. In this review, we will thus describe the delicate nature of the healthy mitochondrial double membrane and its role in apoptosis. Emphasis will be given on mitochondrial membrane lipids and the changes that they undergo during apoptosis induction and progression.     

Novel Insights into Autophagy and Prostate Cancer: A Comprehensive Review

Autophagy is a complex process involved in several cell activities, including tissue growth, differentiation, metabolic modulation, and cancer development. In prostate cancer, autophagy has a pivotal role in the regulation of apoptosis and disease progression. Several molecular pathways are involved, including PI3K/AKT/mTOR. However, depending on the cellular context, autophagy may play either a detrimental or a protective role in prostate cancer. For this purpose, current evidence has investigated how autophagy interacts within these complex interactions. In this article, we discuss novel findings about autophagic machinery in order to better understand the therapeutic response and the chemotherapy resistance of prostate cancer. Autophagic-modulation drugs have been employed in clinical trials to regulate autophagy, aiming to improve the response to chemotherapy or to anti-cancer treatments. Furthermore, the genetic signature of autophagy has been found to have a potential means to stratify prostate cancer aggressiveness. Unfortunately, stronger evidence is needed to better understand this field, and the application of these findings in clinical practice still remains poorly feasible.     

The effect of bovine milk lactoferrin on human breast cancer cell lines

The evidence that biologically active food components are key environmental factors affecting the incidence of many chronic diseases is overwhelming. However, the full extent of such components in our diet is unknown, as is our understanding of their mechanisms of action. Beyond the interaction of these food components with the gut and intestinal immune functions, whey proteins such as lactoferrin are being tested as anticancer agents. Lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein that has been reported to inhibit several types of cancer. In the present work, the effects of bovine milk lactoferrin on human breast cancer HS578T and T47D cells were studied. The cells were either untreated or treated with lactoferrin concentrations ranging from 0.125 to 125 μM. Lactoferrin decreased the cell viability of HS578T and T47D by 47 and 54%, respectively, and increased apoptosis about 2-fold for both cell lines. Proliferation rates decreased by 40.3 and 63.9% for HS578T and T47D, respectively. For the T47D line, cell migration decreased in the presence of the protein. Although the mechanisms of action are not fully known, the results gathered in this work suggest that lactoferrin interferes with some of the most important steps involved in cancer development.     

Mebendazole-Induced Blood-Testis Barrier Injury in Mice Testes by Disrupting Microtubules in Addition to Triggering Programmed Cell Death

Mebendazole (MBZ) is a synthetic benzimidazole known for its antiparasitic properties. In recent years, growing evidence showed that MBZ was also used as an anti-tumor agent. However, whether (and to what extent) this drug treatment affected the male reproductive system was not well-understood. In this study, male C57BL/6 mice were injected with 40 mg/kg/day of MBZ. The treatment was for 3 and 7 days. Our results showed that the injected mice exhibited an abnormal spermatogenic phase with a significant decrease in sperm. We further detected microtubule disruption and transient functional destruction of the blood–testes barrier (BTB) in the MBZ-injected mice testes (BTB). Our data confirmed that MBZ suppressed the expression of the BTB junction-associated proteins and disrupted the Sertoli cells’ function in vivo. Moreover, MBZ-treated mice demonstrated an aberrant caspase-3 signalling pathway, which resulted in the apoptosis of the germ cells. Here, we present our data, indicating that MBZ impairs BTB by reducing the expression of the microtubules’ and BTB junction-associated proteins. The last leads to activating the caspase-3 pathway, which triggers extensive germ cell apoptosis.     

中草药免疫增强剂对泌乳期奶山羊淋巴细胞凋亡的影响

通过AnnexinⅤ-FITC/PI双染流式细胞术测定奶山羊饲喂中草药免疫增强剂后,血液、脾脏和乳上淋巴结淋巴细胞凋亡率的变化情况。结果表明,中草药免疫增强剂能够抑制血液、脾脏和乳上淋巴结淋巴细胞的凋亡。     

N-乙酰-半胱氨酸干预壬基酚对小鼠Sertoli TM4细胞的损伤作用

目的：研究N-乙酰-半胱氨酸（N-acetyl-cysteine,NAC）对壬基酚（nonylphenol,NP）诱导的小鼠Sertoli TM4细胞氧化损伤及凋亡的干预作用。方法：以Sertoli TM4细胞为对象,实验分为对照组、NP组（20 μmol/L NP处理）、NP＋NAC组（5 mmol/L NAC预处理4 h后20 μmol/L NP处理24 h）、NAC组（5 mmol/L NAC处理4 h后换正常培养基培养）,采用噻唑蓝法检测细胞存活率;流式细胞术检测活性氧（reactive oxygen species,ROS）含量和细胞凋亡情况;试剂盒法检测超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase,SOD）活力、过氧化氢酶（catalase,CAT）活力、丙二醛（malondialdehyde,MDA）含量及Caspase-3相对活力;Western blot法检测细胞外信号调节激酶（extracellular signal-regulated kinase,ERK）和c-Jun氨基末端激酶（c-Jun N-terminal kinase,JNK）磷酸化情况。结果：与对照组相比,20 μmol/L NP处理24 h能显著降低细胞存活率（P＜0.05）,同时诱导细胞内ROS生成,下调SOD和CAT活力,增加MDA含量,诱导Sertoli TM4细胞凋亡,增加Caspase-3相对活力,促进ERK、JNK蛋白磷酸化激活;与NP组相比,NAC预处理能够明显削弱NP引起的细胞内ROS生成,使SOD、CAT活力下调,MDA含量增加,Sertoli TM4细胞凋亡,Caspase-3相对活力增强,激活ERK、JNK信号通路。结论：NAC具有干预NP对小鼠Sertoli TM4细胞损伤的作用,这可能与NAC抑制NP诱导的细胞氧化应激和凋亡以及阻断ERK、JNK信号通路的激活相关。     

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。     

草苁蓉提取物抑制肺癌细胞增殖分子机制的研究

草苁蓉提取物可通过促进肿瘤细胞凋亡抑制A549肺癌细胞增殖。继续探讨草苁蓉提取物(BRE)抑制肺癌细胞增殖的分子机制。采用流式细胞术检测A549细胞周期分布和细胞凋亡,免疫细胞化学法检测凋亡相关蛋白Bax、Bc1-2、P53和Fas蛋白的表达,ELISA法检测sFAS蛋白的表达。结果表明,BRE改变肺癌细胞周期分布,使多数细胞阻滞于G0/G1期。同时,BRE诱导肺癌细胞凋亡,明显增加Fas表达,增加Bax表达和降低Bc1-2表达,但不改变P53表达以及sFas蛋白水平。提示,BRE抗肺癌细胞增殖作用与其改变细胞周期分布、增高Fas表达和降低Bcl-2/Bax比值而诱导肺癌细胞凋亡相关。     

罗非鱼头长链碱的分离纯化及抗肿瘤活性

目的：探讨罗非鱼头长链碱（tilapia head long chain bases,TH-LCB）的提取纯化方法及其体外抗肿瘤 活性。方法：以罗非鱼头为原料,采用有机溶剂提取法,提取纯化得到TH-LCB;采用四甲基偶氮唑盐法、细胞 凋亡率和细胞周期的测定和蛋白免疫印迹等方法,探讨了TH-LCB对人白血病K562细胞的增殖抑制作用和凋亡诱 导作用。结果：TH-LCB可显著抑制人K562细胞的增殖,TH-LCB作用24、48 h后的半数抑制浓度分别为42.207、 39.494 μg/mL;随着TH-LCB质量浓度的增加,细胞凋亡率逐渐增加,sub-G0/G1峰（凋亡峰）也随之升高,表明 TH-LCB通过诱导细胞凋亡来抑制K562细胞增殖;Western blot结果表明,TH-LCB可提高细胞内Caspase-3的蛋白 表达量,呈剂量依赖效应。结论：TH-LCB可通过诱导K562细胞凋亡抑制其增殖,这一过程可能与Caspase-3的 激活有关。