A natural flavonoid, apigenin isolated from Clerodendrum viscosum leaves, induces G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in MCF-7 cells through the regulation of p53 and caspase-cascade pathway

Background With 9.6 million deaths in 2018, cancer remains the second leading cause of death worldwide. Breast cancer is the most deadly type of cancer among females, with 55.2% of crude incidence rate and 16.6% of crude mortality rate. Purpose The present study was aimed to investigate the anti-breast cancer potential of natural dietary flavonoid, apigenin isolated from Clerodendrum viscosum leaves. Methods Apigenin was evaluated for in-depth anticancer activity in MCF-7 cells using cell viability assay, cell cycle analysis, Annexin-V-FLUOS staining, ROS induction, morphological analysis, and western blot analysis. Results Apigenin showed selective cytotoxicity on MCF-7 cells with an IC50-56.72 ± 2.35 µM, while negligible cytotoxicity was observed on WI-38 cells. Further, the flow cytometer-based analysis showed that apigenin halted MCF-7 cells in the G2/M phase arrest followed by dose-dependent apoptosis. Moreover, the FACS and confocal microscopy results confirmed the elevation of intracellular ROS and nuclear fragmentation in apigenin-treated MCF-7 cells. Western blots showed up-regulation of cell cycle regulatory proteins, increased p53 expression, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, activation of caspases, and cleavage of PARP. Finally, apigenin treatment in the presence of Pifithrin-µ showed decreased apoptotic population and it was further confirmed through western blotting study. The results revealed the vital role of p53 in apigenin-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. Conclusions In the present findings, treatment of apigenin-induced intracellular ROS in MCF-7 cells followed by induction of G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and further apoptosis through the regulation of p53 and caspase-cascade signaling pathway (AU)

Estabilización clínica en enfermedades neurodegenerativas: estudio clínico en fase II / Clinical stabilisation in neurodegenerative diseases: clinical study in phase II

Introducción. Los trastornos neurodegenerativos, como enfermedad de Parkinson (EP), enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA) y esclerosis múltiple (EM), son patologías progresivas cuyos tratamientos actuales no han demostrado eficacia para detener su progresión (estabilización clínica). Aunque tienen características clínicas muy distintas, comparten mecanismos fisiopatológicos de progresión. Desarrollamos un compuesto diseñado para obtener estabilización clínica, al controlar el daño celular por apoptosis aberrante, oxidación, depósito de metales y proteínas anormales y de vías enzimáticas fisiopatológicas, como la de las caspasas y el sistema MAPK. Pacientes y métodos. Incluimos 42 pacientes con EA, EP y EM. Les administramos el compuesto cada 12 horas y los citamos trimestralmente para evaluación clínica y revisión de exámenes de laboratorio generales. Resultados. Se realizó seguimiento de 3 a 24 meses (media: 8,85 ± 5,99 meses). No se registraron efectos clínicos adversos y sólo aisladas y leves alteraciones en los resultados de laboratorio, sin importancia clínica. Obtuvimos estabilización clínica en todos los pacientes (100%) con EM y mejoría en las puntuaciones de la Expanded Disability Status Scale en 4 pacientes (40%); estabilización clínica en 17 pacientes (100%) con EP y mejoría en puntuación de la Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale en 15 (88,2%); y estabilización clínica en los 12 pacientes (100%) con EA y aumento de la calificación del test minimental en 9 (75%). Conclusión. El compuesto es seguro y una opción terapéutica prometedora, al observarse una evidente tendencia hacia la estabilización clínica por medio de su utilización. Debe realizarse un estudio experimental para establecer el alcance terapéutico del compuesto, su posible efecto preventivo y valorar otras indicaciones (AU)

Introduction. Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis (MS), are progressive pathological conditions in which current treatments have not proved to be effective at curbing their progress (clinical stabilisation). Although they have very different clinical characteristics, they share the same pathophysiological mechanisms of progression. We developed a compound designed to obtain clinical stabilisation which acts by controlling cell damage due to aberrant apoptosis, oxidation, abnormal deposits of metals and proteins, and pathophysiological enzymatic pathways, such as that of caspases and the MAPK system. Patients and methods. Forty-two patients with AD, PD and MS were included in the study. The compound was administered to them every 12 hours and they were given appointments every three months for a clinical evaluation and a review of general lab analyses. Results. Subjects were submitted to a follow-up of between 3 and 24 months (mean: 8.85 ± 5.99 months). No clinical side effects were recorded and there were only some slight alterations in the lab test results, although they were not clinically relevant. Clinical stabilisation was achieved in all the patients (100%) with MS and the scores on the Expanded Disability Status Scale improved in four patients (40%); clinical stabilisation in 17 patients (100%) with PD and improvements in the score on the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale in 15 of them (88.2%); and clinical stabilisation in 12 patients (100%) with AD, and an increase in the score obtained on the minimental test in nine cases (75%). Conclusions. The compound is safe and a promising therapeutic option, since there is a clear tendency towards clinical stabilisation when it is being used. An experimental study needs to be conducted in order to determine the therapeutic scope of the compound and its possible preventive effects, as well as to evaluate other indications (AU)