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Integrins, the receptors of the extracellular matrix, are critical in the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells. GMI, a Ganoderma microsporum immunomodulatory protein, possesses anticancer and antivirus abilities. The object of this study is to investigate the role of GMI in the integrins signaling pathway in lung cancer cells that harbor the EGFR L858R/T790M double mutation and osimertinib-resistance. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and western blot assay were used to investigate the effect of GMI on inhibiting the protein expressions of integrins in H1975 cells. The migration ability and xenograft tumor growth of H1975 were suppressed by GMI. To elucidate the role of the integrin family in lung cancer resistant to osimertinib (AZD-9291, Tagrisso), H1975 cells were used to establish the osimertinib-resistant cells, named H1975/TR cells. The expressions of Integrin αV and stemness markers were much higher in H1975/TR cells than in H1975 cells. GMI suppressed cell viability, tumor spheroid growth, and the expressions of integrin αV and ß1 in H1975/TR cells. Furthermore, GMI suppressed the expressions of stemness markers and formation of tumor spheres via blocking integrin αV signaling cascade. This is the first study to reveal the novel function of GMI in constraining cancer stem cells and migration by abolishing the integrin αV-related signaling pathway in EGFR-mutated and osimertinib-resistant lung cancer cells.
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The incidence of endometrial cancer has been rising in recent years. Gene mutation and high protein expression of ß-catenin are commonly detected in endometrioid endometrial cancer. ICG-001 is a ß-catenin inhibitor via blocking the complex formation of ß-catenin and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB)-binding protein (CBP). This study aims to investigate the effect of ICG-001 on endometrial cancer inhibition. First, endometrial carcinoma patient-derived xenograft (PDX)-derived organoids and primary cells were used to verify the inhibiting ability of ICG-001 on endometrial cancer. Furthermore, endometrial cancer cell lines were used to investigate the anticancer mechanism of ICG-001. Using MTT assay and tumor spheroid formation assay, ICG-001 significantly reduced the cell viability of HEC-59 and HEC-1A cells. ICG-001 enhanced cisplatin-mediated cytotoxicity. ICG-001 decreased cancer stem cell sphere formation. ICG-001 decreased the protein expressions of CD44, hexokinase 2 (HK2), and cyclin A. ICG-001 lowered the cell cycle progression by flow cytometer analysis. Autophagy, but no apoptosis, was activated by ICG-001 in endometrial cancer cells. Autophagy inhibition by ATG5 silencing enhanced ICG-001-mediated suppression of cell viability, tumor spheroid formation, and protein expression of cyclin A and CD44. This study clarified the mechanism and revealed the clinical potential of ICG-001 against endometrial cancer.
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Cachexia is a lethal muscle-wasting syndrome associated with cancer and chemotherapy use. Mounting evidence suggests a correlation between cachexia and intestinal microbiota, but there is presently no effective treatment for cachexia. Whether the Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide Liz-H exerts protective effects on cachexia and gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by the combination cisplatin plus docetaxel (cisplatin + docetaxel) was investigated. C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally injected with cisplatin + docetaxel, with or without oral administration of Liz-H. Body weight, food consumption, complete blood count, blood biochemistry, and muscle atrophy were measured. Next-generation sequencing was also performed to investigate changes to gut microbial ecology. Liz-H administration alleviated the cisplatin + docetaxel-induced weight loss, muscle atrophy, and neutropenia. Furthermore, upregulation of muscle protein degradation-related genes (MuRF-1 and Atrogin-1) and decline of myogenic factors (MyoD and myogenin) after treatment of cisplatin and docetaxel were prevented by Liz-H. Cisplatin and docetaxel treatment resulted in reducing comparative abundances of Ruminococcaceae and Bacteroides, but Liz-H treatment restored these to normal levels. This study indicates that Liz-H is a good chemoprotective reagent for cisplatin + docetaxel-induced cachexia. IMPORTANCE Cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome driven by metabolic dysregulation, anorexia, systemic inflammation, and insulin resistance. Approximately 80% of patients with advanced cancer have cachexia, and cachexia is the cause of death in 30% of cancer patients. Nutritional supplementation has not been shown to reverse cachexia progression. Thus, developing strategies to prevent and/or reverse cachexia is urgent. Polysaccharide is a major biologically active compound in the fungus Ganoderma lucidum. This study is the first to report that G. lucidum polysaccharides could alleviate chemotherapy-induced cachexia via reducing expression of genes that are known to drive muscle wasting, such as MuRF-1 and Atrogin-1. These results suggest that Liz-H is an effective treatment for cisplatin + docetaxel-induced cachexia.
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Doenças Musculares , Neoplasias , Reishi , Camundongos , Animais , Cisplatino/efeitos adversos , Caquexia/induzido quimicamente , Caquexia/tratamento farmacológico , Docetaxel/efeitos adversos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Atrofia Muscular/induzido quimicamente , Atrofia Muscular/tratamento farmacológico , Doenças Musculares/induzido quimicamente , Doenças Musculares/complicações , Polissacarídeos/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
The protein p53 is a well-known tumor suppressor that plays a crucial role in preventing cancer development [...].
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Cisplatin is an effective chemotherapeutic drug against tumors. Studies often report on the improvement of kidney injury by probiotics or short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs); however, the effects of SCFAs on cisplatin-induced kidney injury are rarely studied. The aim of this study is to evaluate the function of sodium acetate on preventing cisplatin-induced kidney injury. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay. SA-ß-gal staining was performed to investigate premature senescence. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was analyzed by H2DCFDA staining. Propidium iodide (PI) staining was analyzed by cell cycle. Protein expression was determined by Western blot assay. Annexin â ¤/PI staining was used to investigate cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Tumor growth and kidney injury were evaluated in C57BL/6 mice. Sodium acetate ameliorated cisplatin-induced premature senescence and ROS production in SV40 MES-13 glomerular cells, NRK-52E renal tubular cells, and NRK-49F renal fibroblast cells. Cisplatin-induced cell cycle arrest was inhibited by sodium acetate in SV40 MES-13 and NRK-49F cells. Sodium acetate alleviated cisplatin-induced apoptosis in vivo and in vitro but not cisplatin-induced fibrosis. Our study demonstrated that sodium acetate inhibited cisplatin-induced premature senescence, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis by attenuating ROS production. This strategy may be useful in the treatment of cisplatin-induced kidney injury.
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Injúria Renal Aguda , Cisplatino , Camundongos , Animais , Cisplatino/toxicidade , Cisplatino/metabolismo , Acetato de Sódio/farmacologia , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio/metabolismo , Linhagem Celular , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Rim/metabolismo , Injúria Renal Aguda/induzido quimicamente , ApoptoseRESUMO
Cyclosporin A is an immunosuppressive drug with anti-cancer effect. Arsenic trioxide (As2O3), a well-known cancer-inhibiting drug, induced cytotoxicity via apoptosis and autophagy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of combinational treatment with cyclosporin A and arsenic trioxide on cell viability inhibition in cervical cancer cells. Using MTT assay and combination index, combinational treatment with cyclosporin A and arsenic trioxide induced a synergistic cytotoxic effect in Caski and SiHa cells. Cyclosporin A and arsenic trioxide triggered cell death via non-apoptotic pathway by using annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) assay. Cyclosporin A and arsenic trioxide combined treatment decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. This co-treatment increased LC3B-II expression and autophagosome formation in cervical cancer cells. This study first demonstrated that combinational treatment with cyclosporin A and As2O3 trigger synergistic cytotoxic effect via autophagy in cervical cancer cells.
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Antineoplásicos , Arsenicais , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero , Feminino , Humanos , Trióxido de Arsênio/farmacologia , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/tratamento farmacológico , Ciclosporina/farmacologia , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Antineoplásicos/uso terapêutico , Apoptose , Arsenicais/farmacologia , Óxidos/farmacologia , Linhagem Celular TumoralRESUMO
Gene mutations in PIK3CA, PIK3R1, KRAS, PTEN, and PPP2R1A commonly detected in type I endometrial cancer lead to PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway activation. Bimiralisib (PQR309), an orally bioavailable selective dual inhibitor of PI3K and mTOR, has been studied in preclinical models and clinical trials. The aim of this study is to evaluate the anticancer effect of PQR309 on endometrial cancer cells. PQR309 decreased cell viability in two-dimensional and three-dimensional cell culture models. PQR309 induced G1 cell cycle arrest and little cell death in endometrial cancer cell lines. It decreased CDK6 expression and increased p27 expression. Using the Proteome Profiler Human XL Oncology Array and Western blot assay, the dual inhibitor could inhibit the expressions of c-Myc and mtp53. KJ-Pyr-9, a c-Myc inhibitor, was used to prove the role of c-Myc in endometrial cancer survival and regulating the expression of mtp53. Knockdown of mtp53 lowered cell proliferation, Akt/mTOR pathway activity, and the expressions of c-Myc. mtp53 silence enhanced PQR309-inhibited cell viability, spheroid formation, and the expressions of p-Akt, c-Myc, and CDK6. This is the first study to reveal the novel finding of the PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitor in lowering cell viability by abolishing the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/c-Myc/mtp53 positive feedback loop in endometrial cancer cell lines.
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Neoplasias do Endométrio/patologia , Retroalimentação Fisiológica , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinases/metabolismo , Inibidores de Fosfoinositídeo-3 Quinase/farmacologia , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-akt/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-myc/metabolismo , Serina-Treonina Quinases TOR/metabolismo , Proteína Supressora de Tumor p53/metabolismo , Autofagia/efeitos dos fármacos , Pontos de Checagem do Ciclo Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Morte Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Neoplasias do Endométrio/metabolismo , Feminino , Humanos , Modelos Biológicos , Proteínas Mutantes/metabolismo , Células-Tronco Neoplásicas/efeitos dos fármacos , Células-Tronco Neoplásicas/metabolismo , Células-Tronco Neoplásicas/patologia , Esferoides Celulares/efeitos dos fármacos , Esferoides Celulares/metabolismo , Esferoides Celulares/patologiaRESUMO
Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) is a hypoxia-induced gene, and its high expression is associated with poor prognosis and promotion of tumour progression in several cancers. Some studies reported that ANGPTL4 is affected by epigenetic regulation. Our previous results demonstrated that ANGPTL4 is highly expressed in most lung cancer cell lines than in normal cell lines and is upregulated by HIF-1α accumulation under NiCl2 exposure. The accurate role of ANGPTL4 and its methylation status caused by nickel in the lung carcinogenesis is not fully explored yet. In this study, we found that ANGPTL4 and HIF-1α in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tissues were significantly upregulated compared with those in normal tissues in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort (p < 0.001). The ANGPTL4 expression was statistically correlated to advanced stage (p = 0.019) and N value (p = 0.002). The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that ANGPTL4 and HIF-1α expression levels were independently associated with the 5-year survival of patients with LUAD in TCGA database and immunohistochemistry staining. In vitro experiments indicated that ANGPTL4 was upregulated by the demethylation agent. The methylation-specific PCR and bisulfite sequencing assessed the methylation status of the ANGPTL4 promoter, and results showed that NiCl2-treated cells had low ANGPTL4 methylation status. We further demonstrated that the DNA demethylase, TET1, was significantly increased under NiCl2 exposure. The knockdown of TET1 expression repressed the NiCl2-induced ANGPTL4. We also showed that nickel-induced TET1 was stimulated by HIF-1α. Our work established ANGPTL4 as a potential oncogene that contributes to lung cancer progression and nickel-elicited carcinogenesis.
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Proteína 4 Semelhante a Angiopoietina/metabolismo , Regulação da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Subunidade alfa do Fator 1 Induzível por Hipóxia/metabolismo , Pulmão/patologia , Oxigenases de Função Mista/metabolismo , Níquel/toxicidade , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas/metabolismo , Adenocarcinoma de Pulmão/metabolismo , Adenocarcinoma de Pulmão/patologia , Idoso , Proteína 4 Semelhante a Angiopoietina/genética , Brônquios/citologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Células Epiteliais/efeitos dos fármacos , Feminino , Humanos , Subunidade alfa do Fator 1 Induzível por Hipóxia/genética , Neoplasias Pulmonares/metabolismo , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Oxigenases de Função Mista/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas/genéticaRESUMO
PURPOSE: Pemetrexed-based chemotherapy (Pem-C) is the first-line chemotherapy for advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, limited tumor-associated proteins in blood are available to predict pemetrexed response and/or survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Plasma samples from three responders and three nonresponders with stage IIIB-IV NSCLC were collected prior to Pem-C and analyzed using Proteome ProfilerTM Human XL Oncology Array to detect 84 oncology-related proteins. The plasma concentrations of cathepsin S, endoglin (ENG), and matrix metalloproteinases 3 and 9 in 71 patients with advanced NSCLC treated with Pem-C were further measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on the remarkable differences in the four proteins between responders and nonresponders in the array results. RESULTS: Pem-C responders had significantly higher ENG levels but not the other three markers than nonresponders (mean ENG level: 27.1 ± 7.4 vs 22.3 ± 6.9, p < 0.01). High ENG concentration was correlated with improved progression-free survival (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.31-0.86, p < 0.01) and overall survival (HR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.32-0.94, p < 0.05) in patients treated with Pem-C, and the ENG level was an independent factor in our cohort (HR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.33-0.89, p < 0.05). ENG concentration in Pem-C responders also significantly increased at the time of best response (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Cumulatively, this study reveals that ENG is correlated with Pem-C responsiveness in patients, which indicates the potential use of plasma ENG levels as a non-invasive biomarker for pemetrexed-based treatment in patients with non-squamous NSCLC.
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Saracatinib is an oral Src-kinase inhibitor and has been studied in preclinical models and clinical trials of cancer therapy. GMI, a fungal immunomodulatory protein from Ganoderma microsporum, possesses antitumor capacity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of combination treatment with saracatinib and GMI on parental and pemetrexed-resistant lung cancer cells. Cotreatment with saracatinib and GMI induced synergistic and additive cytotoxic effect in A549 and A400 cells by annexin V/propidium iodide assay and combination index. Using western blot assay, saracatinib, and GMI combined treatment synergistically induced caspase-7 activation in A549 cells. Different from A549 cells, saracatinib and GMI cotreatment markedly increased LC3B-II in A400 cells. ATG5 silencing abolished the caspase-7 activation and reduced cell death in A549 cells after cotreatment. This is the first study to provide a novel strategy of treating lung cancer with or without drug resistance via combination treatment with GMI and saracatinib.
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Proteína 5 Relacionada à Autofagia/genética , Benzodioxóis/farmacologia , Caspase 7/genética , Inibidores Enzimáticos/farmacologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamento farmacológico , Quinazolinas/farmacologia , Quinases da Família src/genética , Células A549 , Animais , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/farmacologia , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Autofagia/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteína 5 Relacionada à Autofagia/antagonistas & inibidores , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteínas Fúngicas/química , Proteínas Fúngicas/farmacologia , Ganoderma/química , Humanos , Fatores Imunológicos/farmacologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/genética , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patologia , Camundongos , Mutações Sintéticas Letais/efeitos dos fármacos , Ensaios Antitumorais Modelo de Xenoenxerto , Quinases da Família src/antagonistas & inibidoresRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Adaptive drug resistance is an unfavourable prognostic factor in cancer therapy. Pemetrexed-resistant lung cancer cells possess high-metastatic ability via ERK-ZEB1 pathway-activated epithelial-mesenchymal transition. GMI is a fungal immunomodulatory protein that suppresses the survival of several cancer cells. METHODS: Cell viability was analysed by MTT, clonogenic, tumour spheroid, and cancer stem cell sphere assays. Western blot assay was performed to detect the protein expression. Chemical inhibitors and ATG5 shRNA were used to inhibit autophagy. Tumour growth was investigated using xenograft mouse model. RESULTS: GMI decreased the viability with short- and long-term effects and induced autophagy but not apoptosis in A549/A400 cells. GMI downregulated the expression levels of CD133, CD44, NANOG and OCT4. GMI induces the protein degradation of CD133 via autophagy. CD133 silencing decreased the survival and proliferation of A549/A400 cells. GMI suppressed the growth and CD133 expression of A549/A400 xenograft tumour. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to reveal the novel function of GMI in eliciting cytotoxic effect and inhibiting CD133 expression in pemetrexed-resistant lung cancer cells via autophagy. Our finding provides evidence that CD133 is a potential target for cancer therapy.
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Antígeno AC133/metabolismo , Resistencia a Medicamentos Antineoplásicos/efeitos dos fármacos , Ganoderma/metabolismo , Fatores Imunológicos/administração & dosagem , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamento farmacológico , Células A549 , Antígeno AC133/genética , Animais , Autofagia , Proteína 5 Relacionada à Autofagia/antagonistas & inibidores , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteínas Fúngicas/administração & dosagem , Proteínas Fúngicas/farmacologia , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Fatores Imunológicos/farmacologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/genética , Neoplasias Pulmonares/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos , Pemetrexede/administração & dosagem , Pemetrexede/farmacologia , Proteólise , Ensaios Antitumorais Modelo de XenoenxertoRESUMO
ABT-737, a B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) family inhibitor, activates apoptosis in cancer cells. Arsenic trioxide is an apoptosis activator that impairs cancer cell survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a combination treatment with ABT-737 and arsenic trioxide on uterine cervical cancer cells. MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-25-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay revealed that ABT-737 and arsenic trioxide induced a synergistic effect on uterine cervical cancer cells. Arsenic trioxide enhanced ABT-737-induced apoptosis and caspase-7 activation and the ABT-737-mediated reduction of anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 in Caski cells. Western blot assay revealed that arsenic trioxide promoted the ABT-737-mediated reduction of CDK6 and thymidylate synthetase in Caski cells. Arsenic trioxide promoted ABT-737-inhibited mitochondrial membrane potential and ABT-737-inhibited ANT expression in Caski cells. However, ABT-737-elicited reactive oxygen species were not enhanced by arsenic trioxide. The combined treatment induced an anti-apoptosis autophagy in SiHa cells. This study is the first to demonstrate that a combination treatment with ABT-737 and arsenic trioxide induces a synergistic effect on uterine cervical cancer cells through apoptosis. Our findings provide new insights into uterine cervical cancer treatment.
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ß-catenin is important in development of lung cancer. In our previous study, GMI, a fungal immunomodulatory protein, inhibits lung cancer cell survival. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of GMI on ß-catenin inhibition and apoptosis induction. GMI induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells bearing wild-type and mutated EGFR. GMI did not reduce the ß-catenin mRNA expression but suppressed the protein expressions of ß-catenin that resulted in the transcriptional downregulation of its target genes: survivin and cyclin-D1. The transcriptional activation activity of ß-catenin was demonstrated by TOPFLASH/FOPFLASH luciferase reporter assay. Inhibition of GSK-3ß and proteasome blocked the inhibiting effect of GMI on ß-catenin and its target genes. ß-catenin silencing increased activation of apoptosis in GMI-treated H1355 cells. This is the first study to reveal the novel function of GMI in inducing apoptosis via ß-catenin inhibition. These results provide a new potential of GMI in against lung cancer.
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Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteínas Fúngicas/farmacologia , Ganoderma/metabolismo , Fatores Imunológicos/farmacologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patologia , beta Catenina/antagonistas & inibidores , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Regulação para Baixo , Glicogênio Sintase Quinase 3 beta/metabolismo , Humanos , beta Catenina/metabolismoRESUMO
POU-homeodomain transcription factor POU3F2 is a critical transcription factor that participates in neuronal differentiation. However, little is known about its downstream mediators. Here genome-wide analyses of a human neuronal differentiation cell model, NT2D1, suggested neurotrophin-3 (NTF3), a key mediator of neuronal development during the early neurogenic period, as a putative regulatory target of POU3F2. Western blot, cDNA microarray, and real-time quantitative PCR analyses showed that POU3F2 and NTF3 were upregulated during neuronal differentiation. Next-generation-sequence-based POU3F2 chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing and genome-wide in silico prediction demonstrated that POU3F2 binds to the NTF3 promoter during neuronal differentiation. Furthermore, unidirectional deletion or mutation of the binding site of POU3F2 in the NTF3 promoter decreased promoter-driven luciferase activity, indicating that POU3F2 is a positive regulator of NTF3 promoter activity. While NTF3 knockdown resulted in decreased viability and differentiation of NT2D1 cells, and POU3F2 knockdown downregulated NTF3 expression, recombinant NTF3 significantly rescued viable neuronal cells from NTF3- or POU3F2-knockdown cell cultures. Moreover, immunostaining showed colocalization of POU3F2 and NTF3 in developing mouse neurons. Thus, our data suggest that NTF3 is a novel target gene of POU3F2 and that the POU3F2/NTF3 pathway plays a role in the process of neuronal differentiation.
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Diferenciação Celular , Proteínas de Homeodomínio/metabolismo , Proteínas do Tecido Nervoso/metabolismo , Neurônios/citologia , Neurônios/metabolismo , Neurotrofina 3/genética , Fatores do Domínio POU/metabolismo , Animais , Sequência de Bases , Diferenciação Celular/genética , Feminino , Inativação Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Neurotrofina 3/metabolismo , Regiões Promotoras Genéticas , Ligação Proteica/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteínas Recombinantes/farmacologia , Ativação Transcricional/genética , Regulação para Cima/efeitos dos fármacos , Regulação para Cima/genéticaRESUMO
Autophagy is an intracellular recycling and degradation process for regulating tumor progression, survival and drug resistance. Nickel compounds have been identified as human carcinogens. However, the role of nickel-induced autophagy in lung carcinogenesis has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we determined that hexokinase 2 (HK2), which phosphorylates glucose and regulates autophagy, is the key mediator in nickel-induced autophagy in lung bronchial epithelial cells. We attempted to investigate the effects of the antidiabetic drug metformin on HK2 expression and lung cancer chemoprevention. Our results showed that metformin decreases nickel-induced autophagy and activation of apoptosis through inhibition of HK2 gene, protein and activity. Furthermore, we demonstrated that lipocalin 2 (LCN2), which is released by neutrophils at sites of infection and inflammation is involved in HK2-driven autophagy pathway. Knockdown of endogenous HK2 and LCN2 by shRNA reduced nickel-elicited autophagy and apoptosis, illustrating that metabolic alteration and inflammatory action are important in nickel-elicited carcinogenesis. We also determined the association between nickel-induced autophagy and apoptosis. Inhibition of nickel-induced autophagy abolished apoptotic cell death in chloroquine-treated, shLC3 Beas-2B cells and Atg5-/- MFFs. From TGCA database and immunohistochemistry analysis, HK2 and LCN2 expression increased in lung squamous cell carcinoma and their related adjacent normal tissues. Taken together, our results demonstrated that metformin alleviates NiCl2-induced autophagy and apoptosis via HK2-driven LCN2 activation in human bronchial epithelial cells. This novel mechanism provides a strategy for targeting nickel-elicited lung cancer progression, as well as for preventing HK2 cumulative damage triggered by environmental carcinogens.
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Hispolon, a phenolic compound isolated from Phellinus igniarius, induces apoptosis and anti-tumor effects in cancers. However, the molecular mechanism involved in hispolon-mediated tumor-suppressing activities observed in cervical cancer is poorly characterized. Here, we demonstrated that treatment with hispolon inhibited cell metastasis in two cervical cancer cell lines. In addition, the downregulation of the lysosomal protease Cathepsin S (CTSS) was critical for hispolon-mediated suppression of tumor cell metastasis in both in vitro and in vivo models. Moreover, hispolon induced autophagy, which increased LC3 conversion and acidic vesicular organelle formation. Mechanistically, hispolon inhibited the cell motility of cervical cells through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, and blocking of the ERK pathway reversed autophagy-mediated cell motility and CTSS inhibition. Our results indicate that autophagy is essential for decreasing CTSS activity to inhibit tumor metastasis by hispolon treatment in cervical cancer; this finding provides a new perspective on molecular regulation.
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Autofagia/efeitos dos fármacos , Catecóis/administração & dosagem , Catepsinas/genética , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/tratamento farmacológico , Animais , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Apoptose/genética , Autofagia/genética , Ciclo Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Ciclo Celular/genética , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Movimento Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Feminino , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Camundongos , Metástase Neoplásica , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/genética , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/patologia , Ensaios Antitumorais Modelo de XenoenxertoRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Hot flashes have been postulated to be linked to systemic inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between hot flashes, pro-inflammatory factors, and leukocytes in healthy, non-obese postmenopausal women. PARTICIPANTS AND DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 202 women aged 45-60 years were stratified into one of four groups according to their hot-flash status: never experienced hot flashes (Group N), mild hot flashes (Group m), moderate hot flashes (Group M), and severe hot flashes (Group S). Variables measured in this study included clinical parameters, hot flash experience, leukocytes, and fasting plasma levels of nine circulating cytokines/chemokines measured by using multiplex assays. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations of hot flashes with these pro-inflammatory factors. SETTINGS: The study was performed in a hospital medical center. RESULTS: The mean values of leukocyte number were not different between these four groups. The hot flash status had a positive tendency toward increased levels of circulating IL-6 (P-trend = 0.049), IL-8 (P-trend < 0.001), TNF-α (P-trend = 0.008), and MIP1ß (P-trend = 0.04). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that hot-flash severity was significantly associated with IL-8 (P-trend < 0.001) and TNFα (P-trend = 0.007) among these nine cytokines/chemokines after adjustment for age, menopausal duration, BMI and FSH. Multivariate analysis further revealed that severe hot flashes were strongly associated with a higher IL-8 (% difference, 37.19%; 95% confidence interval, 14.98,63.69; P < 0.001) and TNFα (51.27%; 6.64,114.57; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The present study provides evidence that hot flashes are associated with circulating IL-8 and TNF-α in healthy postmenopausal women. It suggests that hot flashes might be related to low-grade systemic inflammation.
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Fogachos/sangue , Interleucina-8/sangue , Pós-Menopausa , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/sangue , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
The welding is the major working process in fitness equipment manufacturing industry, and International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified welding fumes as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). The present study aimed to evaluate associations between the occupational exposure of metals and oxidative damage and telomere length shortening in workers involved in the manufacture of fitness equipment. The blood metal concentrations were monitored and malondialdehyde (MDA), alkaline Comet assay was determined as oxidative damage in 117 workers from two representative fitness equipment manufacturing plants. MDA levels varied according to workers' roles at the manufacturing plants, and showed a trend as cutting>painting>welding>administration workers. Welders had marginally shorter average telomere lengths than the administrative workers (p=0.058). Cr and Mn levels were significantly greater in welders than they were in administrative workers. There were significantly positive correlations between MDA and Cr and Mn levels, the major components of welding fume. However, the association would be eliminated if co-metals exposure were considered simultaneously. In future, telomere length and MDA might be potential biomarkers for predicting cardiovascular disease in co-metals exposed workers.
Assuntos
Metais Pesados/sangue , Exposição Ocupacional/análise , Encurtamento do Telômero , Soldagem , Adulto , Poluentes Ocupacionais do Ar/análise , Biomarcadores/análise , Dano ao DNA , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Malondialdeído/sangue , Estresse Oxidativo , Taiwan/epidemiologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Chloroquine, a lysosomal inhibitor, is used for malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus erythematosus therapy. In our previous study, FIP-gts, an immunomodulatory protein from Ganoderma tsugae, inhibited cell viability in lung cancer cells and urothelial cancer cells. Urothelial carcinoma is the most common type of bladder cancer. Cisplatin resistance is an important issue in urothelial carcinoma therapy. PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of combination treatment with FIP-gts and chloroquine on cytotoxicity to resensitize the cisplatin-resistant cells. METHODS: FIP-gts and chloroquine cytotoxicity were determined by evaluating CCK-8 assay. Cell death pathways, ROS and cell cycle arrested were analysed through flow cytometry and Western blot. ShRNA targeting to autophagy-related genes were tested to evaluate their autophagic cell death for resistant urothelial cells. RESULTS: Using CCK-8 assay, chloroquine increased FIP-gts-induced cytotoxicity in parental and cisplatin-resistant urothelial cancer cell lines. On flow cytometry, chloroquine enhanced FIP-gts-mediated sub-G1 accumulation, annexin V positive signal and mitochondrial membrane potential loss. Caspase-3/PARP cascade and z-VAD-fmk were performed to prove that FIP-gts and chloroquine induced caspase-independent cell death. Using H2DCFDA staining and flow cytometry, FIP-gts and chloroquine did not induce ROS production. N-acetyl cysteine, a ROS scavenger, inhibited the cytotoxicity and LC3-II accumulation in FIP-gts and chloroquine-treated N/P cells. To elucidate the role of autophagy in caspase-independent cell death by FIP-gts and chloroquine, LC3 shRNA were used to inhibit autophagy in N/P cells. The capabilities of FIP-gts and chloroquine to induce cytotoxicity and sub-G1 phase accumulation were abolished in autophagy-defective cells. This is the first study to reveal the novel function of FIP-gts in triggering caspase-independent cell death in cisplatin-resistant urothelial cancer cells. CONCLUSION: Chloroquine enhanced FIP-gts-induced autophagy dependent caspase-independent cell death via abundant autophagosome accumulation. Combination treatment with FIP-gts and chloroquine may provide a new strategy for urothelial cancer therapy.
Assuntos
Autofagia/efeitos dos fármacos , Cloroquina/farmacologia , Cisplatino/farmacologia , Proteínas Fúngicas/farmacologia , Fatores Imunológicos/farmacologia , Neoplasias Urológicas/tratamento farmacológico , Clorometilcetonas de Aminoácidos/farmacologia , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/farmacologia , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Caspases/metabolismo , Ciclo Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Cloroquina/administração & dosagem , Resistencia a Medicamentos Antineoplásicos/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteínas Fúngicas/administração & dosagem , Ganoderma/química , Humanos , Potencial da Membrana Mitocondrial/efeitos dos fármacos , Neoplasias Urológicas/patologiaRESUMO
Chemoresistance in cancer therapy is an unfavorable prognostic factor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Elevation of intracellular calcium level in multidrug resistant (MDR) sublines leads to sensitization of MDR sublines to cell death. We demonstrated that a fungal protein from Ganoderma microsporum, GMI, elevates the intracellular calcium level and reduces the growth of MDR subline via autophagy and apoptosis, regardless of p-glycoprotein (P-gp) overexpression, in mice xenograft tumors. In addition, we examined the roles of autophagy in the death of MDR A549 lung cancer sublines by GMI, thapsigargin (TG) and tunicamycin (TM) in vitro. Cytotoxicity of TG was inhibited by overexpressed P-gp. However, TM-induced death of MDR sublines was independent of P-gp level. Combinations of TG and TM with either docetaxel or vincristine showed no additional cytotoxic effects on MDR sublines. TG- and TM-mediated apoptosis of MDR sublines was demonstrated on Annexin-V assay and Western blot and repressed by pan-caspase inhibitor (Z-VAD-FMK). Treatment of MDR sublines with TG and TM also augmented autophagy with accumulation of LC3-II proteins, breakdown of p62 and formation of acidic vesicular organelles (AVOs). Inhibition of ATG5 by shRNA silencing significantly reduced autophagy and cell death but not apoptosis following TG or TM treatment. GMI treatment inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt/S473 and p70S6K/T389. Interestingly, the phosphorylation of ERK was not associated with GMI-induced autophagy. We conclude that autophagy plays a pro-death role in acquired MDR and upregulation of autophagy by GMI via Akt/mTOR inhibition provides a potential strategy for overcoming MDR in the treatment of lung cancers.