HN1-mediated activation of lipogenesis through Akt-SREBP signaling promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and metastasis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with more than 800,000 deaths each year, and its 5-year survival rate is less than 12%. The role of the HN1 gene in HCC has remained elusive, despite its upregulation in various cancer types. In our investigation, we identified HN1's heightened expression in HCC tissues, which, upon overexpression, fosters cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, unveiling its role as an oncogene in HCC. In addition, silencing HN1 diminished the viability and metastasis of HCC cells, whereas HN1 overexpression stimulated their growth and invasion. Gene expression profiling revealed HN1 silencing downregulated 379 genes and upregulated 130 genes, and suppressive proteins associated with the lipogenic signaling pathway networks. Notably, suppressing HN1 markedly decreased the expression levels of SREBP1 and SREBP2, whereas elevating HN1 had the converse effect. This dual modulation of HN1 affected lipid formation, hindering it upon HN1 silencing and promoting it upon HN1 overexpression. Moreover, HN1 triggers the Akt pathway, fostering tumorigenesis via SREBP1-mediated lipogenesis and silencing HN1 effectively curbed HCC tumor growth in mouse xenograft models by deactivating SREBP-1, emphasizing the potential of HN1 as a therapeutic target, impacting both external and internal factors, it holds promise as an effective therapeutic strategy for HCC.

Regulation of Hippo-YAP/CTGF signaling by combining an HDAC inhibitor and 5-fluorouracil in gastric cancer cells.

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors diminish carcinogenesis, metastasis, and cancer cell proliferation by inducing death in cancer cells. Tissue regeneration and organ development are highly dependent on the Hippo signaling pathway. Targeting the dysregulated hippo pathway is an excellent approach for cancer treatment. According to the results of this study, the combination of panobinostat, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a chemotherapy drug, can act synergistically to induce apoptosis in gastric cancer cells. The combination of panobinostat and 5-FU was more effective in inhibiting cell viability than either treatment alone by elevating the protein levels of cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase-9. By specifically targeting E-cadherin, vimentin, and MMP-9, the combination of panobinostat and 5-FU significantly inhibited cell migration. Additionally, panobinostat significantly increased the anticancer effects of 5-FU by activating Hippo signaling (Mst 1 and 2, Sav1, and Mob1) and inhibiting the Akt signaling pathway. As a consequence, there was a decrease in the amount of Yap protein. The combination therapy of panobinostat with 5-FU dramatically slowed the spread of gastric cancer in a xenograft animal model by deactivating the Akt pathway and supporting the Hippo pathway. Since combination treatment exhibits much higher anti-tumor potential than 5-FU alone, panobinostat effectively potentiates the anti-tumor efficacy of 5-FU. As a result, it is believed that panobinostat and 5-FU combination therapy will be useful as supplemental chemotherapy in the future.

Inhibition of the interaction between Hippo/YAP and Akt signaling with ursolic acid and 3'3-diindolylmethane suppresses esophageal cancer tumorigenesis.

Hippo/YAP signaling hinders cancer progression. Inactivation of this pathway contributes to the development of esophageal cancer by activation of Akt. However, the possible interaction between Akt and Hippo/YAP pathways in esophageal cancer progression is unclear. In this study, we found that ursolic acid (UA) plus 3'3-diindolylmethane (DIM) efficiently suppressed the oncogenic Akt/Gsk-3ß signaling pathway while activating the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway in esophageal cancer cells. Moreover, the addition of the Akt inhibitor LY294002 and the PI3K inhibitor 3-methyladenine enhanced the inhibitory effects of UA plus DIM on Akt pathway activation and further stimulated the Hippo pathway, including the suppression of YAP nuclear translocation in esophageal cancer cells. Silencing YAP under UA plus DIM conditions significantly increased the activation of the tumor suppressor PTEN in esophageal cancer cells, while decreasing p-Akt activation, indicating that the Akt signaling pathway could be down-regulated in esophageal cancer cells by targeting PTEN. Furthermore, in a xenograft nude mice model, UA plus DIM treatment effectively diminished esophageal tumors by inactivating the Akt pathway and stimulating the Hippo signaling pathway. Thus, our study highlights a feedback loop between the PI3K/Akt and Hippo signaling pathways in esophageal cancer cells, implying that a low dose of UA plus DIM could serve as a promising chemotherapeutic combination strategy in the treatment of esophageal cancer.

3,3'-Diindolylmethane Augments 5-Fluorouracil-InducedGrowth Suppression in Gastric Cancer Cells through Suppression of the Akt/GSK-3ß and WNT/Beta-Catenin.

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most lethal cancers in South Korea, and it is a cancer of concern worldwide. 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) is commonly used as the first-line therapy for advanced GC; however, its side effects often limit the dosage range and impair patients' quality of life. Due to the limitations of current chemotherapy, new anticancer therapies are urgently needed. 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) has been reported to have the ability to protect against various types of cancer. Our study aimed to elucidate the anticancer effect of DIM in GC when treated with the chemotherapeutic agent 5-Fu. In our results, combined treatment with DIM and 5-Fu resulted in higher apoptosis and lower cell proliferation than treatment with 5-Fu in SNU484 and SNU638 cell lines. Furthermore, when DIM and 5-Fu were administered together, cell invasion was diminished by mediated E-cadherin, MMP-9, and uPA; p-Akt and p-GSK-3ß levels were reduced more significantly than when 5-Fu was administered alone. Moreover, in the Wnt signaling pathway, combined treatment of DIM and 5-Fu diminished ß-catenin levels in the nucleus and inhibited cyclin D1and c-Myc protein levels. The Akt inhibitor, wortmannin, further inhibited the levels of ß-catenin and c-Myc that were inhibited by DIM and 5-Fu. Furthermore, an animal xenograft model demonstrated that DIM combined with 5-Fu considerably reduced tumor growth without any toxic effects by regulating the Akt/GSK-3ß and ß-catenin levels. Our findings suggest that DIM significantly potentiates the anticancer effects of 5-Fu by targeting the Akt/GSK-3ß and WNT/ß-catenin because the combination therapy is more effective than 5-Fu alone, thereby offering an innovative potential therapy for patients with GC.

Inhibition of colorectal cancer tumorigenesis by ursolic acid and doxorubicin is mediated by targeting the Akt signaling pathway and activating the Hippo signaling pathway.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the deadliest malignant tumors worldwide and its prevalence is increasing in South Korea. The efficacy of combined treatment with natural product­derived and chemotherapy agents including curcumin combined with 5­fluorouracil, resveratrol combined with cisplatin and epigallocatechin­3­gallate (EGCG) combined with cisplatin in preventing cancer progression and killing cancer cells has emerged. The Akt and Hippo signaling pathways serve a key role in colorectal tumor growth; however, the exact role of the crosstalk between Akt and Hippo signaling pathways in CRC remains poorly elucidated. The combined effect of UA and DOX on the cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and cell cycle of CRC cells were investigated by performing Cell proliferation assay, a soft agar colony formation assay, flow cytometry, wound healing assay and western blotting assay. Subsequently, the expression of AKT and Hippo signaling pathway­associated proteins were also assessed by western blot assay. Moreover, a xenograft nude mouse model was constructed to verify the effects of UA and DOX on the tumorigenesis of HCT116 cell in vivo. The present study reported that ursolic acid (UA) strongly enhanced the antitumor action of doxorubicin (DOX) via blocking the Akt/glycogen synthase kinase­3ß (Gsk3ß) signaling pathway and activating tumor­suppressive Hippo signaling (mammalian Ste20­like kinase 1 and 2, salvador family WW domain containing protein 1 and MOB kinase activator 1), thereby downregulating downstream effector yes­associated protein 1 (Yap) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) protein expression levels in CRC cells. Furthermore, The PI3K inhibitor LY294002 further suppressed Akt activity and enhance the function of Hippo pathway­associated proteins in DOX + UA treated cells; this effect led to subsequent oncogenic Yap and CTGF inhibition following combined treatment, whereas Akt activator SC79 exerted an opposite effect in CTGF expression. In vivo, treatment with UA combined with DOX markedly suppressed the progression of CRC without any toxic effects on a xenograft mouse model by disrupting Akt signaling and activating the Hippo signaling pathway. These results demonstrated that UA and DOX treatment successfully induced Akt/Gsk3ß inactivation via Hippo signaling pathway activation to promote Yap degradation, resulting in the inhibition of colorectal tumorigenesis. In conclusion, these findings suggested that combination therapy with UA and DOX may be more effective than DOX alone. UA may be a novel anticancer strategy and could be considered for investigation as a complementary chemotherapy agent in the future.

[Effect of Acculturative Stress on Multicultural Adolescents' Life Satisfaction: Sequential Multiple Mediating Effects of Bicultural Acceptance Attitude, Self-Esteem, and Social Withdrawal -Using the 2016 Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study].

PURPOSE: This study determined acculturative stress' effect on the life satisfaction of multicultural adolescents based on Roy's Adaptation Model and some earlier studies. Further, it examined the sequential multiple mediating effects of bicultural acceptance attitude, self-esteem, and social withdrawal on life satisfaction. METHODS: Participants included 1,163 multicultural adolescents who participated in the sixth Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study. A hypothesis test was conducted using Hayes' Process Macro Model 81. RESULTS: Life satisfaction increased with a decline in acculturative stress. Each of bicultural acceptance attitude, self-esteem, and social withdrawal had a single mediating effect on the relationship between acculturative stress and life satisfaction in multicultural adolescents. The sequential multiple mediating effects of bicultural acceptance attitude and self-esteem were confirmed significant after their impact on the relationship between acculturative stress and life satisfaction was analyzed. Bicultural acceptance attitude and social withdrawal were found to have a significant sequential multiple mediating effect on the relationship, as well. CONCLUSION: This study's results demonstrate that acculturative stress reduction is critical to improving multicultural adolescents' life satisfaction. Bicultural acceptance attitude, self-esteem, and social withdrawal have a single mediating or sequential multiple mediating effect on the relationship between multicultural adolescents' acculturative stress and life satisfaction. The findings, which highlight mediating effects, indicate that by increasing bicultural acceptance attitude and self-esteem, and reducing social withdrawal, multicultural adolescents' life satisfaction can be improved.

Ursolic Acid Accelerates Paclitaxel-Induced Cell Death in Esophageal Cancer Cells by Suppressing Akt/FOXM1 Signaling Cascade.

Ursolic acid (UA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid extracted from various plants, inhibits cell growth, metastasis, and tumorigenesis in various cancers. Chemotherapy resistance and the side effects of paclitaxel (PTX), a traditional chemotherapy reagent, have limited the curative effect of PTX in esophageal cancer. In this study, we investigate whether UA promotes the anti-tumor effect of PTX and explore the underlying mechanism of their combined effect in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Combination treatment with UA and PTX inhibited cell proliferation and cell growth more effectively than either treatment alone by inducing more significant apoptosis, as indicated by increased sub-G1 phase distribution and protein levels of cleaved-PARP and cleaved caspase-9. Similar to the cell growth suppressive effect, the combination of UA and PTX significantly inhibited cell migration by targeting uPA, MMP-9, and E-cadherin in ESCC cells. In addition, combination treatment with UA and PTX significantly activated p-GSK-3ß and suppressed the activation of Akt and FOXM1 in ESCC cells. Those effects were enhanced by the Akt inhibitor LY2940002 and inverted by the Akt agonist SC79. In an in vivo evaluation of a murine xenograft model of esophageal cancer, combination treatment with UA and PTX suppressed tumor growth significantly better than UA or PTX treatment alone. Thus, UA effectively potentiates the anti-tumor efficacy of PTX by targeting the Akt/FOXM1 cascade since combination treatment shows significantly more anti-tumor potential than PTX alone both in vitro and in vivo. Combination treatment with UA and PTX could be a new strategy for curing esophageal cancer patients.

Inactivation of the Akt/FOXM1 Signaling Pathway by Panobinostat Suppresses the Proliferation and Metastasis of Gastric Cancer Cells.

Gastric cancer is the fifth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are a new class of cytostatic agents available for the treatment of various cancers and diseases. Although numerous clinical and pre-clinical trials on the anticancer effects of panobinostat have been conducted, only a few reports have investigated its efficacy in gastric cancer. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of panobinostat in gastric cancer cells. Panobinostat significantly inhibited the cell viability and proliferation of the gastric cancer cell lines SNU484 and SNU638 in a dose-dependent manner; it reduced the colony-forming ability of these cells. Moreover, it induced apoptosis as indicated by increased protein levels of cleaved poly ADP-ribose polymerase and cleaved caspase-3. Panobinostat induced the G2/M cell cycle arrest in SNU484 and SNU638 cells and subsequently decreased the G2/M phase regulatory-associated protein expression of p-Wee1, Myt1, and Cdc2. Furthermore, panobinostat significantly inhibited the metastasis of SNU484 and SNU638 cells by regulating the expression of MMP-9 and E-cadherin. Further, it decreased the protein levels of p-Akt and forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1). These effects were reversed by the Akt agonist SC79 and were accelerated by the Akt inhibitor LY2940002. Moreover, tumor growth in xenograft animal experiments was suppressed by panobinostat. These results indicated that panobinostat inhibits the proliferation, metastasis, and cell cycle progression of gastric cancer cells by promoting apoptosis and inactivating Akt/FOXM1 signaling. Cumulatively, our present study suggests that panobinostat is a potential drug for the treatment of gastric cancer.

Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Autophagy by Ursolic Acid Inhibits Growth and Metastasis of Esophageal Cancer Cells.

Ursolic acid (UA) possesses various pharmacological activities, such as antitumorigenic and anti-inflammatory effects. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the effects of UA against esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) (TE-8 cells and TE-12 cells). The cell viability assay showed that UA decreased the viability of ESCC in a dose-dependent manner. In the soft agar colony formation assay, the colony numbers and size were reduced in a dose-dependent manner after UA treatment. UA caused the accumulation of vacuoles and LC3 puncta, a marker of autophagosome, in a dose-dependent manner. Autophagy induction was confirmed by measuring the expression levels of LC3 and p62 protein in ESCC cells. UA increased LC3-II protein levels and decreased p62 levels in ESCC cells. When autophagy was hampered using 3-methyladenine (3-MA), the effect of UA on cell viability was reversed. UA also significantly inhibited protein kinase B (Akt) activation and increased p-Akt expression in a dose-dependent manner in ESCC cells. Accumulated LC3 puncta by UA was reversed after wortmannin treatment. LC3-II protein levels were also decreased after treatment with Akt inhibitor and wortmannin. Moreover, UA treatment increased cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in ESCC in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Diphenyleneiodonium (an ROS production inhibitor) blocked the ROS and UA induced accumulation of LC3-II levels in ESCC cells, suggesting that UA-induced cell death and autophagy are mediated by ROS. Therefore, our data indicate that UA inhibits the growth of ESCC cells by inducing ROS-dependent autophagy.

Activating Hippo Pathway via Rassf1 by Ursolic Acid Suppresses the Tumorigenesis of Gastric Cancer.

The Hippo pathway is often dysregulated in many carcinomas, which results in various stages of tumor progression. Ursolic acid (UA), a natural compound that exists in many herbal plants, is known to obstruct cancer progression and exerts anti-carcinogenic effect on a number of human cancers. In this study, we aimed to examine the biological mechanisms of action of UA through the Hippo pathway in gastric cancer cells. MTT assay showed a decreased viability of gastric cancer cells after treatment with UA. Following treatment with UA, colony numbers and the sizes of gastric cancer cells were significantly diminished and apoptosis was observed in SNU484 and SNU638 cells. The invasion and migration rates of gastric cancer cells were suppressed by UA in a dose-dependent manner. To further determine the gene expression patterns that are related to the effects of UA, a microarray analysis was performed. Gene ontology analysis revealed that several genes, such as the Hippo pathway upstream target gene, ras association domain family (RASSF1), and its downstream target genes (MST1, MST2, and LATS1) were significantly upregulated by UA, while the expression of YAP1 gene, together with oncogenes (FOXM1, KRAS, and BATF), were significantly decreased. Similar to the gene expression profiling results, the protein levels of RASSF1, MST1, MST2, LATS1, and p-YAP were increased, whereas those of CTGF were decreased by UA in gastric cancer cells. The p-YAP expression induced in gastric cancer cells by UA was reversed with RASSF1 silencing. In addition, the protein levels in the Hippo pathway were increased in the UA-treated xenograft tumor tissues as compared with that in the control tumor tissues; thus, UA significantly inhibited the tumorigenesis of gastric cancer in vivo in xenograft animals. Collectively, UA diminishes the proliferation and metastasis of gastric cancer via the regulation of Hippo pathway through Rassf1, which suggests that UA can be used as a potential chemopreventive and therapeutic agent for gastric cancer.

[Effects of a Moderate Drinking Program based on Social Cognitive Theory on College Students with Drinking Problems]. / ë¬¸ì œìŒì£¼ 대학생을 위한 ì‚¬íšŒì¸ì§€ì´ë¡ ì ìš© ì ˆì£¼ 프로그램의 효과.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the moderate drinking program based on social cognitive theory on changes in the drinking habits of college students with drinking problems. METHODS: This study included a total of 68 college students with drinking problems. These participants participated in 10 sessions of a moderate drinking program in which social cognitive theory was applied. Changes in the cognition and behaviors of the participants were then investigated. RESULTS: The moderate drinking program based on social cognitive theory for college students with drinking problems was effective in increasing the subjects' drinking-related knowledge (U=191.50, p<.001), enhancing their drinking refusal self-efficacy(t=8.02, p<.001), and changing their drinking-related attitudes (U=108.50, p<.001), drinking outcome expectancy (t=8.68, p<.001), amount of drinking in a single session (x 2=25.72, p<.001), number of drinking sessions per month (x 2=10.05, p=.006), and problem drinking behaviors (t=5.77, p<.001). CONCLUSION: These results can be used to inform a regular on-campus intervention programs for moderate drinking, and to implement education about moderate drinking, thereby increasing the success rate of drinking reduction.

Tristetraprolin activation by resveratrol inhibits the proliferation and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells.

Resveratrol (RSV) is a polyphenolic compound that naturally occurs in grapes, peanuts and berries. Considerable research has been conducted to determine the benefits of RSV against various human cancer types. Tristetraprolin (TTP) is an AU-rich element-binding protein that regulates mRNA stability and has decreased expression in human cancer. The present study investigated the biological effect of RSV on TTP gene regulation in colon cancer cells. RSV inhibited the proliferation and invasion/metastasis of HCT116 and SNU81 colon cancer cells. Furthermore, RSV induced a dose-dependent increase in TTP expression in HCT116 and SNU81 cells. The microarray experiment revealed that RSV significantly increased TTP expression by downregulating E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1), a downstream target gene of TTP and regulated genes associated with inflammation, cell proliferation, cell death, angiogenesis and metastasis. Although TTP silencing inhibited TTP mRNA expression, the expression was subsequently restored by RSV. Small interfering RNA-induced TTP inhibition attenuated the effects of RSV on cell growth. In addition, RSV induced the mRNA-decaying activity of TTP and inhibited the relative luciferase activity of baculoviral IAP repeat containing 3 (cIAP2), large tumor suppressor kinase 2 (LATS2), E2F1, and lin­28 homolog A (Lin28) in HCT116 and SNU81 cells. Therefore, RSV enhanced the inhibitory activity of TTP in HCT116 and SNU81 cells by negatively regulating cIAP2, E2F1, LATS2, and Lin28 expression. In conclusion, RSV suppressed the proliferation and invasion/metastasis of colon cancer cells by activating TTP.

Citrus tachibana Leaves Ethanol Extract Alleviates Airway Inflammation by the Modulation of Th1/Th2 Imbalance via Inhibiting NF-κB Signaling and Histamine Secretion in a Mouse Model of Allergic Asthma.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of bronchial airway, which is characterized by chronic airway inflammation, airway edema, goblet cell hyperplasia, the aberrant production of the Th2 cytokines, and eosinophil infiltration in the lungs. In this study, the therapeutic effect and the underlying mechanism of Citrus tachibana leaves ethanol extract (CTLE) in the ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma and compound 48/80-induced anaphylaxis were investigated. Oral administration of CTLE inhibited OVA-induced asthmatic response by reducing airway inflammation, OVA-specific IgE and IgG1 levels, and increasing OVA-specific IgG2a levels. CTLE restored Th1/Th2 balance through an increase in Th2 cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-6 and decreases in Th1 cytokines interferon-γ and IL-12. Furthermore, CTLE inhibited the total level of NF-κB and the phosphorylation of IκB-α and NF-κB by OVA. In addition, CTLE dose-dependently inhibited compound 48/80-induced anaphylaxis via blocking histamine secretion from mast cells. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of CTLE may involve the modulation of Th1/Th2 imbalance via inhibiting the NF-κB signaling and histamine secretion. Taken together, we suggest that CTLE could be used as a therapeutic agent for patients with Th2-mediated or histamine-mediated allergic asthma.

Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 inhibits gastric cancer cell proliferation by inactivating Wnt signaling pathway via c-Myc with aurora kinases.

The detailed molecular mechanisms and safety issues of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) usage in bone graft substitution remain poorly understood. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the function of rhBMP-2 in gastric cancer cells, we used microarrays to determine the gene expression patterns related to the effects of rhBMP-2. Based on a gene ontology analysis, several genes were upregulated during the regulation of the cell cycle and BMP signaling pathway. MYC was found to be significantly decreased along with its downstream target genes, the aurora kinases (AURKs), by rhBMP-2 in the network analysis. We further confirmed this finding with western blot data that rhBMP-2 inhibited c-Myc, AURKs, and ß-catenin in SNU484 and SNU638 cells. An AURK inhibitor significantly decreased c-Myc expression in gastric cancer cells. Combination treatment with rhBMP-2 and AURK inhibitor resulted in significantly decreased c-Myc expression compared with gastric cancer cells treated with an rhBMP-2 or AURK inhibitor, respectively. Similar effects for decreased c-Myc expression were observed when we silenced ß-catenin in gastric cancer cells. These results indicate that rhBMP-2 attenuated the growth of gastric cancer cells via the inactivation of ß-catenin via c-Myc and AURKs. Therefore, our findings suggest that rhBMP-2 could be safely used with patients who undergo gastric or gastroesophageal cancer surgery.

Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of 3,3'-Diindolylmethane in Gastrointestinal Cancer.

Studies in humans have shown that 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM), which is found in cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage and broccoli, is effective in the attenuation of gastrointestinal cancers. This review presents the latest findings on the use, targets, and modes of action of DIM for the treatment of human gastrointestinal cancers. DIM acts upon several cellular and molecular processes in gastrointestinal cancer cells, including apoptosis, autophagy, invasion, cell cycle regulation, metastasis, angiogenesis, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In addition, DIM increases the efficacy of other drugs or therapeutic chemicals when used in combinatorial treatment for gastrointestinal cancer. The studies to date offer strong evidence to support the use of DIM as an anticancer and therapeutic agent for gastrointestinal cancer. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive understanding of the preventive and therapeutic properties of DIM in addition to its different perspective on the safety of DIM in clinical applications for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers.

RhBMP-2 Activates Hippo Signaling through RASSF1 in Esophageal Cancer Cells.

Despite that recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) has been reported as a stimulatory effecter of cancer cell growth because of its characteristic like morphogen, the biological functions of rhBMP-2 in human esophageal cancer cells are unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether rhBMP-2 has an inhibitory effect on the growth of human esophageal squamous carcinoma cells (ESCC). RhBMP-2 significantly inhibited proliferation of ESCC cells in a dose-dependent manner in the MTT assay. Cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase was induced 24 h after rhBMP2 treatment. RhBMP-2 also reduced cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4 and CDK 6 activities, and stimulated p-Smad1/5/8, p53, and p21 levels at 12 h. In contrast, rhBMP-2 diminished poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) protein expression levels and activated cleaved PARP, cleaved caspase-7, and cleaved-caspase 9 levels in ESCC cells. In addition, rhBMP-2 increased MST1, MOB1, and p-YAP protein levels and the RASSF1 binds Mst1 more upon treatment with rhBMP2. The induced p-YAP expression in TE-8 and TE-12 cells by rhBMP-2 was reversed by the RASSF1 knockdown. In vivo study, rhBMP-2 decreased tumor volume following subcutaneous implantation and showed higher radiologic score (less bony destruction) after femoral implantation compared to those in a control group. These results suggest that rhBMP-2 inhibits rather than activates proliferation of human esophageal cancer cells which is mediated through activating the hippo signaling pathway.

Inactivation of Hippo Pathway Is Significantly Associated with Poor Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The Hippo pathway is a tumor suppressor in the liver. However, the clinical significance of Hippo pathway inactivation in HCC is not clearly defined. We analyzed genomic data from human and mouse tissues to determine clinical relevance of Hippo pathway inactivation in HCC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We analyzed gene expression data from Mst1/2(-/-) and Sav1(-/-) mice and identified a 610-gene expression signature reflecting Hippo pathway inactivation in the liver [silence of Hippo (SOH) signature]. By integrating gene expression data from mouse models with those from human HCC tissues, we developed a prediction model that could identify HCC patients with an inactivated Hippo pathway and used it to test its significance in HCC patients, via univariate and multivariate Cox analyses. RESULTS: HCC patients (National Cancer Institute cohort, n = 113) with the SOH signature had a significantly poorer prognosis than those without the SOH signature [P < 0.001 for overall survival (OS)]. The significant association of the signature with poor prognosis was further validated in the Korean (n = 100, P = 0.006 for OS) and Fudan University cohorts (n = 242, P = 0.001 for OS). On multivariate analysis, the signature was an independent predictor of recurrence-free survival (HR, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-2.28: P = 0.008). We also demonstrated significant concordance between the SOH HCC subtype and the hepatic stem cell HCC subtype that had been identified in a previous study (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Inactivation of the Hippo pathway in HCC is significantly associated with poor prognosis.

Genome-wide transcriptome analysis reveals inactivation of Wnt/ß-catenin by 3,3'-diindolylmethane inhibiting proliferation of colon cancer cells.

Multiple genetic and signaling pathway alterations underlie the development of colon cancer. We utilized genome-wide transcriptome analysis to identify important gene expression patterns following treatment with 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM), a natural compound derived from cruciferous vegetables, on colon cancer cells. Statistical analyses of gene expression data from DIM treated cells revealed that 692 genes were significantly upregulated, while 731 genes were down-regulated. Putative gene networks showed that several oncogenes (ß-catenin, Myc and FOS) were significantly suppressed by DIM treatment. Using clinical data from colon cancer patients, activation of ß-catenin was found to be significantly associated with patient prognosis by Kaplan-Meir plot analysis. We validated the mRNA and protein expression levels of c-Myc, ß-catenin, and cyclin D1, all of which were significantly suppressed after DIM treatment in DLD-1 and HCT116 cells. System level characterization of our findings suggests for the first time that ß-catenin and c-Myc, which are major genes involved in colon carcinogenesis, were significantly downregulated by DIM treatment in colon cancer cells. Therefore, targeting Wnt/ß-catenin signaling by DIM may be an attractive strategy for the prevention and treatment of colon cancer.

FOXM1-mediated downregulation of uPA and MMP9 by 3,3'-diindolylmethane inhibits migration and invasion of human colorectal cancer cells.

Although 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) has been suggested to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, the underlying biological mechanism is not clearly understood. In the present study, we investigated the effect of DIM on the migratory and invasive activities of the human colorectal cancer cell lines DLD-1 and HCT116. DIM significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells as assessed by wound healing and Matrigel invasion assays. The migratory ability of the DLD-1 and HCT116 cells was significantly reduced by DIM at 24 and 48 h. DIM also significantly inhibited the invasion rate of the DLD-1 and HCT116 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The mRNA expression levels of urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA) and matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP9) were significantly attenuated, whereas expression of E-cadherin mRNA was significantly enhanced, following DIM treatment. DIM also decreased the protein levels of uPA and MMP9, yet significantly increased E-cadherin protein expression. In addition, DIM significantly reduced the mRNA and protein levels of FOXM1 in the DLD-1 and HCT116 cells. Our results suggest that DIM can influence the cell migratory and invasive properties of human colorectal cancer cells and may decrease the invasive capacity of colorectal cancer through downregulation of uPA and MMP9 mediated by suppression of the transcription factor FOXM1.

Characteristics of dendroaspis natriuretic peptide and its receptor in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Dendroaspis natriuretic peptide (DNP) shares a functionally important sequence homology with other natriuretic peptides. However, the characteristics of DNP and its receptor in the context of diabetes remafin to be fully elucidated. In the present study, alterations in the plasma levels and tissue contents of DNP and the properties of its receptor in diabetic rats, induced by streptozotocin (STZ) injection, were investigated. The plasma levels of DNP were 90.01 ± 4.12 and 196.68 ± 5.60 pg/ml in the control and STZ-induced diabetic rats, respectively. The tissue contents of DNP in the cardiac atrium, ventricle, renal cortex and inner medulla of the STZ-induced diabetic rats were also significantly increased compared with the control rats. Specific (125)I-DNP-binding sites were located predominantly in the glomeruli and inner medulla of the rat kidney. In the glomeruli of the kidney, the apparent dissociation constants (Kd) of (125)I-DNP in the control and STZ-induced diabetic rats were 0.41 ± 0.03 and 0.56 ± 0.06 nM, respectively. The maximum binding capacities (Bmax) of (125)I-DNP in control and STZ-induced diabetic rats were 2.98 ± 0.21 and 6.22 ± 1.06 fmol/mg protein, respectively. However, no differences were observed in the apparent Kd and Bmax of (125)I-DNP in the inner medulla of the kidney between the control and STZ-induced diabetic rats. In the glomerular and inner medullary kidney membranes, DNP stimulated the production of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in a dose-dependent manner. The magnitude of cGMP production in glomerular membranes was greater in the STZ-induced diabetic rats, whereas the magnitude of cGMP production in the inner medullary membranes was lower in the STZ-induced diabetic rats compared with the control rats. These results indicated that STZ-induced diabetes modulate DNP and its receptor, and also suggested that modulation of the DNP system is involved in the renal function of diabetic animals via the intracellular domain of the kidney NP receptor.