Up-regulated basigin-2 in microglia induced by hypoxia promotes retinal angiogenesis.

Retinal microglia cells contribute to vascular angiogenesis and vasculopathy induced by relative hypoxia. However, its concrete molecular mechanisms in shaping retinal angiogenesis have not been elucidated. Basigin, being involved in tumour neovasculogenesis, is explored to exert positive effects on retinal angiogenesis induced by microglia. Therefore, we set out to investigate the expression of basigin using a well-characterized mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy, which recapitulated hypoxia-induced aberrant neovessel growth. Our results elucidate that basigin is overexpressed in microglia, which accumulating in retinal angiogenic sprouts. In vitro, conditioned media from microglia BV2 under hypoxia treatment increase migration and tube formation of retinal capillary endothelia cells, compared with media from normoxic condition. The angiogenic capacity of BV2 is inhibited after basigin knockdown by small interfering RNAs. A new molecular mechanism for high angiogenic capacity, whereby microglia cells release basigin via up-regulation of PI3K-AKT and IGF-1 pathway to induce angiogenesis is unveiled. Collectively, our results demonstrate that basigin from hypoxic microglia plays a pivotal pro-angiogenic role, providing new insights into microglia-promoting retinal angiogenesis.

Curcumin: updated molecular mechanisms and intervention targets in human lung cancer.

Curcumin, a yellow pigment derived from Curcuma longa Linn, has attracted great interest in the research of cancer during the past decades. Extensive studies documented that curcumin attenuates cancer cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. Curcumin has been demonstrated to interact with multiple molecules and signal pathways, which makes it a potential adjuvant anti-cancer agent to chemotherapy. Previous investigations focus on the mechanisms of action for curcumin, which is shown to manipulate transcription factors and induce apoptosis in various kinds of human cancer. Apart from transcription factors and apoptosis, emerging studies shed light on latent targets of curcumin against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), microRNAs (miRNA), autophagy and cancer stem cell. The present review predominantly discusses significance of EGFR, miRNA, autophagy and cancer stem cell in lung cancer therapy. Curcumin as a natural phytochemicals could communicate with these novel targets and show synergism to chemotherapy. Additionally, curcumin is well tolerated in humans. Therefore, EGFR-, miRNA-, autophagy- and cancer stem cell-based therapy in the presence of curcumin might be promising mechanisms and targets in the therapeutic strategy of lung cancer.

Polydatin attenuates hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and reverses remodeling through protein kinase C mechanisms.

Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension is a life-threatening emergency if untreated. Consistent pulmonary hypertension also leads to arteries and ventricular remodeling. The clinical therapeutic strategy for pulmonary hypertension and the corresponding remodeling mainly interacts with NO, angiotensin II (Ang II) and elevated endothelin (ET) targets. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of polydatin on hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. It was observed that polydatin attenuated hypoxic pulmonary hypertension, reversed remodeling, and regulated NO, Ang II, ET contents in the serum and lung samples. However, forced activation of PKC signaling by its selective activator thymeleatoxin (THX) could abate the effects of polydatain. These results suggest that polydatin might be a promising candidate for hypoxic pulmonary treatment through interaction with PKC mechanisms.

Curcumin reverses cis-platin resistance and promotes human lung adenocarcinoma A549/DDP cell apoptosis through HIF-1α and caspase-3 mechanisms.

Curcumin, a yellow pigment derived from Curcuma longa Linn, has been favored by the Eastern as dietary ingredients for centuries. During the past decade, extensive investigations have revealed curcumin sensitized various chemotherapeutic agents in human breast, colon, pancreas, gastric, liver, brain and hematological malignant disorders in vivo and in vitro. Several pathways and specific targets including NF-κB, STAT3, COX-2, Akt and multidrug resistant protein have been identified to facilitate curcumin as a chemosensitizer. Recent studies suggest HIF-1α participated in the development of drug resistance in cancer cells and targeting HIF-1α either by RNAi or siRNA successfully overcame chemotherapeutic resistance. To investigate the mechanism basis of curcumin as a chemosensitizer in lung cancer, we examined curcumin's effects on HIF-1α in cis-platin (DDP) sensitive A549 and resistant A549/DDP cell lines by RT-PCR and Western blot. HIF-1α in A549/DDP cells was found to be overexpressed at both mRNA and protein levels together with a poor response to DDP. Results from transient transfection and flow cytometry showed the HIF-1α abnormality contributed to DDP resistance in A549/DDP lung cancer cells. Combined curcumin and DDP treatment markedly inhibited A549/DDP cells proliferation, reversed DDP resistance and triggered apoptotic death by promoting HIF-1α degradation and activating caspase-3, respectively. Expression of HIF-1α-dependent P-gp also seemed to decrease as response to curcumin in a dose-dependent manner. Our findings shed light on drug resistant reversing effect of curcumin in lung cancer cells by inhibiting HIF-1α expression and activating caspase-3.

Myocardial apoptosis and infarction after ischemia/reperfusion are attenuated by kappa-opioid receptor agonist.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: It remains unclear whether U50488H (a selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist) produces anti-apoptotic effect during ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). Therefore, the effect of U50488H on myocardial apoptosis was investigated in the present study. METHODS: Rats were subjected to 45min coronary artery occlusion and 180min of reperfusion. U50488H (1.5mg/kg IV) was given prior to occlusion. Nor-Binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) (2mg/kg IV), a selective kappa-opioid receptor antagonist, was given 10min prior to U50488H. Cardiac apoptosis was evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and in situ identification of nuclear DNA fragmentation. RESULTS: The ultrastructure injury of myocardium, myocardial infarct size, and plasma CK and LDH were reduced significantly with administration of U50488H before I/R, whereas the effects of U50488H were abolished by nor-BNI. DNA fragments were visualized by agarose electrophoresis, and clear DNA ladder formation was observed in myocardial tissue from hearts subjected to I/R. Administration of U50488H before ischemia exerted a significant anti-apoptotic effect as evidenced by markedly weaker DNA ladder formation. TUNEL staining showed U50488H treatment before I/R significantly reduced the percentage of apoptotic cells, which was blocked by 5-HD, a mitochondrial k(ATP) channel blocker. In accordance, U50488H treatment significantly inhibited I/R-induced elevated activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9. U50488H also produced an increase in Bcl-2 and a decrease in Bax protein expression in the I/R heart, and the anti-apoptotic effects of U50488H were all blocked by nor-BNI. CONCLUSIONS: U50488H reduces myocardial necrosis and apoptosis after I/R and activation of kappa-opioid receptor may mediate a role in U50488H-induced myocardial protection.