Selective estrogen receptor modulator BC-1 activates antioxidant signaling pathway in vitro via formation of reactive metabolites.

AIM: Benzothiophene compounds are selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), which are recently found to activate antioxidant signaling. In this study the molecular mechanisms of antioxidant signaling activation by benzothiophene compound BC-1 were investigated. METHODS: HepG2 cells were stably transfected with antioxidant response element (ARE)-luciferase reporter (HepG2-ARE cells). The expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in HepG2-ARE cells was suppressed using siRNA. The metabolites of BC-1 in rat liver microsome incubation were analyzed using LC-UV and LC-MS. RESULTS: Addition of BC-1 (5 µmol/L) in HepG2-ARE cells resulted in a 17-fold increase of ARE-luciferase activity. Pretreatment with the estrogen receptor agonist E2 (5 µmol/L) or antagonist ICI 182,780 (5 µmol/L) did not affect BC-1-induced ARE-luciferase activity. However, transfection of the cells with anti-Nrf2 siRNA suppressed this effect by 79%. Addition of BC-1 in rat microsome incubation resulted in formation of di-quinone methides and o-quinones, followed by formation of GSH conjugates. BC-1 analogues with hydrogen (BC-2) or fluorine (BC-3) at the 4' position did not form the di-quinone methides. Both BC-2 and BC-3 showed comparable estrogenic activity with BC-1, but did not induce ARE-luciferase activity in HepG2-ARE cells. CONCLUSION: Benzothiophene compound BC-1 activates ARE signaling via reactive metabolite formation that is independent of estrogen receptors.

[Atractylenolide I Can Induce Apoptosis of U266 Cells and Enhance Bortezomib Effect].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of atractylenolide I on proliferation and apoptosis of U266 cells, and anti-multiple myeloma effect of bortezomib. METHODS: Bortezomib, bortezomib combined atractylenolide I and atractylenolide I at different concentrations were added into U266 cells respectively, cellular proliferation toxicity was evaluated by CCK-8 assay, apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by using flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis were used to detect the mRNA and protein levels of targeting gene Caspase-3,Caspase-9,BCL-2,BAX,JAK2,STAT3 and IL-6, respectively. RESULTS: The proliferation of U266 cells could inhibited by atractylenolide I, and the apoptosis of U266 cells could be promoted by atractylenolide I, also, which showed a dose-dependent manner(P<0.00; r=0.99). Moreover, the atractylenolide I could regulat the mitochondrial pathway(P<0.01). The combination of 2 drugs could strengther the inhibition of U266 cell proliferation significantly, and the expression level of IL-6,JAK2,STAT3 and BCL-2 mRNA and protein could be decreased by single drug and 2 drugs both(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Atractylenolide I significantly inhibits the proliferation of U266 cells and promotes their apoptosis. At the same time, it acts synergistically with bortezomib, which may be related to mitochondrial pathway, and probably related to the regulating of IL-6, JAK2 and STAT3 gene expression in signal pathway of JAK2/STAT3.

A subpathway-based method of drug reposition for polycystic ovary syndrome.

The need for development of new therapeutic agents for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is urgent due to general lack of efficient and specialized drugs currently available. We aimed to explore the metabolic mechanism of PCOS and inferred drug reposition for PCOS by a subpathway-based method. Using the GSE34526 microarray data from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, we first identified the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between PCOS and normal samples. Then, we identified 13 significantly enriched metabolic subpathways that may be involved in the development of PCOS. Finally, by an integrated analysis of PCOS-involved subpathways and drug-affected subpathways, we identified 54 novel small molecular drugs capable to target the PCOS-involved subpathways. We also mapped the DEGs of PCOS and a potential novel drug (alprostadil) into purine metabolism pathway to illustrate the potentially active mechanism of alprostadil on PCOS. Candidate agents identified by our approach may provide insights into a novel therapy approach for PCOS.