Synergistic Inhibition of Breast Cancer Cell Growth by an Epigenome-Targeting Drug and a Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor.

BACKGROUND: Epigenome-targeting drugs, for example, histone decetylases (HDACs) inhibitors, have been recently shown to induce apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells, which could potentially be used as anticancer therapy. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been widely used in clinical trials of various cancers. HDAC inhibitor vorinostat, TKIs dasatinib have been tested in pivotal phase 2 clinical trials in patients with breast cancer. The combination treatment of vorinostat with dasatinib is expected to have synergistic effect on inhibiting breast cancer cell growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antiproliferation effects of the combined drugs on MCF-7 cells were designed according to Chou-Talalay method and analyzed with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cell-cycle perturbation and cell apoptosis induction of the combination drugs were examined by Flow cytometry. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and the expression of Bcl-2 were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Our results revealed that the combination treatment had synergistic effects on anti-MCF7 cells, enhanced G2/M cell arrest, the generation of ROS, the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and cell apoptosis in MCF-7 cells in synergy. Moreover, the combination treatment decreased Bcl-2 expression. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that the combination of vorinostat with dasatinib exerted synergistic anticancer effects on MCF-7 cells by inducing cell cycle arrest, ROS production, and apoptosis through the mitochondria-mediated intrinsic pathway.

Opioid peptides and innate immune response in mollusc.

The nervous and the immune systems can exchange information through opioid peptides. Furthermore, some opioid peptides can function as endogenous messengers of the immune system, and participate in an important part in the regulation of the various components of the immune response. Since the capacity of immunocytes to release and respond to opioid neuropeptide messengers is not restricted to mammalian organisms, recent studies have indicated that invertebrate models have been particularly useful to understand the mechanisms of the immune response. Moreover, the immunocytes of molluscs resemble cells of the vertebrate monocyte/macrophage lineage and are activated by similar substances, which control the main immune responses, i.e. phagocytosis, chemotaxis, and cytotoxicity. Recently, Mytilus edulis has been the subject of recent studies to determine whether the relationship between the immune and nervous systems seen in vertebrates also exists in invertebrates. The focus of this review is to describe how the opioid peptides participate in immune processes in molluscs.

Effects of leucine-enkephalin on catalase activity and hydrogen peroxide levels in the haemolymph of the Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas).

The nervous and immune systems of invertebrates can exchange information through neuropeptides. Furthermore, some opioid peptides can function as endogenous immune system messengers and participate in the regulation of the immune responses. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of leucine-enkephalin (L-ENK) on the activity of catalase (CAT) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) content in the haemolymph of the Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas). The CAT activity and H(2)O(2) content were investigated after the haemolymph of the species was exposed to 1, 5, and 50 microg/mL of LENK. The results indicate that the intracellular and extracellular CAT activity was increased with increasing concentration of L-ENK, while the intracellular and extracellular H(2)O(2) content was decreased with increasing concentration of L-ENK. L-ENK may regulate the intracellular and extracellular CAT activity and H2O2 content via binding with opioid neuropeptide receptors on immunocytes of the oysters. The data strongly suggests an involvement of opioid peptides in the regulation of the antioxidant defence systems of Crassostrea gigas.

A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of Tong Luo Hua Shi capsule, a modernized Tibetan medicine, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Tong Luo Hua Shi (TLHS) is a new formulation of the traditional Tibetan medicine Wu-wei-gan-lu that has been used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for hundreds of years in China. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TLHS in patients with RA. METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding study performed in patients with active RA from five medical centers. Patients received three doses (4.8, 3.6, or 2.4 g/day po) of TLHS or placebo (tid po) for 8 weeks. Blood sampling, physical examination, and assessment of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20 % improvement (ACR20) criteria were performed before and every 2 weeks after starting treatment. The primary endpoint was the ACR20. The secondary endpoints included safety. RESULTS: A total of 240 participants were screened and 236 patients were randomized (n = 59/group); 20 dropped out. After 8 weeks, ACR20 improvements in the TLHS 4.8 g and 3.6 g groups were significantly higher than in the placebo group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). ACR50 improvement in the TLHS 4.8 g group was significantly higher compared with the placebo group (P < 0.01). Symptoms of RA were significantly relieved in the TLHS groups. In the TLHS groups, insomnia (n = 1), gastroenteric reactions (n = 2), arrhythmia (n = 1), and minor hepatic lesion (n = 1) were reported; in the placebo group, hepatic dysfunction (n = 1) was reported (P = 0.878). CONCLUSIONS: TLHS improved the symptoms of patients with RA according to the ACR20. Moreover, TLHS was safe. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR-TRC-12003871 . Registered on 1 January 2012.

Synergistic inhibitory effect of berberine and d-limonene on human gastric carcinoma cell line MGC803.

This study aims at evaluating the anticancer effects of berberine hydrochloride (berberine) and d-limonene, alone and in combination, on human gastric carcinoma cell line MGC803 to determine whether berberine and d-limonene work synergistically and elucidate their mechanisms. MGC803 cells were treated with berberine and d-limonene, alone and in combination, for 24-48 h. The inhibitory effects of these drugs on growth were determined by MTT assay. The combination index and drug reduction index were calculated with the Chou-Talalay method based on the median-effect principle. Flow cytometry and laser scanning confocal microscopy were employed to evaluate the effects of both drugs on cell-cycle perturbation and apoptosis, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential, and expression of Bcl-2 and caspase-3 in MGC803 cells. Berberine or d-limonene alone can inhibit the growth of MGC803 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Berberine and d-limonene at a combination ratio of 1:4 exhibited a synergistic effect on anti-MGC803 cells. The two drugs distinctly induced intracellular ROS generation, reduced the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm), enhanced the expression of caspase-3, and decreased the expression of Bcl-2. The combination of berberine and d-limonene showed more remarkable effects compared with drugs used singly in MGC803 cells. The combination of berberine and d-limonene exerted synergistic anticancer effects on MGC803 cells by cell-cycle arrest, ROS production, and apoptosis induction through the mitochondria-mediated intrinsic pathway.