A novel flavonoid isolated from Sophora flavescens exhibited anti-angiogenesis activity, decreased VEGF expression and caused G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in vitro.

Kushen, the dried root of Sophora flavescens Ait, is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Kushen alkaloids have been developed in China as anticancer drugs, and more potent antitumor activities have been identified in kushen flavonoids than in kushen alkaloids. In this study, the anti-angiogenic properties of (2S)-7,2',4'-triihydroxy-5-methoxy-8-dimethylallyl flavanone (Compound 1, a novel flavonoid isolated from Kushen), were examined using the human umbilical vein endothelial cell line (ECV304) in vitro. The results indicated that compound 1 shows anti-angiogenesis activity via inhibitory effects on cell proliferation, cell migration, cell adhesion, and tube formation. Further studies indicated that compound 1 blocks cell cycles in the G0/G1 phase without inducing apoptosis, and down regulates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. The free radical scavenging activity of compound 1 was found through 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) incubation assay in cells. The anti-angiogenic properties of compound 1 and its antiproliferative effect on endothelial cells without causing apoptosis make it a good candidate for development as a agent against development of tumors.

Retraction Notice to: Long Noncoding RNA OIP5-AS1 Promotes the Progression of Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Regulating the hsa-miR-26a-3p/EPHA2 Axis.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.05.032.].

Whole-Transcriptome Sequencing Identifies Key Differentially Expressed mRNAs, miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs Associated with CHOL.

To systematically evaluate the whole-transcriptome sequencing data of cholangiocarcinoma (CHOL) to gain more insights into the transcriptomic landscape and molecular mechanism of this cancer, we performed whole-transcriptome sequencing based on the tumorous (C) and their corresponding non-tumorous adjacent to the tumors (CP) from eight CHOL patients. Subsequently, differential expression analysis was performed on the C and CP groups, followed by functional interaction prediction analysis to investigate gene-regulatory circuits in CHOL. In addition, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) for CHOL data was used to validate the results. In total, 2,895 differentially expressed messenger RNAs (dif-mRNAs), 56 differentially expressed microRNAs (dif-miRNAs), 151 differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (dif-lncRNAs), and 110 differentially expressed circular RNAs (dif-circRNAs) were found in CHOL samples compared with controls. Enrichment analysis on those differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to miRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA also identified the function of spliceosome. The downregulated hsa-miR-144-3p were significantly enriched in the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) complex network, which also included 7 upregulated and 13 downregulated circRNAs, 7 upregulated lncRNAs, and 90 upregulated and 40 downregulated mRNAs. Moreover, most of the DEGs and a few of the miRNAs (such as hsa-miR-144-3p) were successfully validated by TCGA data. The genes involved in RNA splicing and protein degradation processes and miR-144-3p may play fundamental roles in the pathogenesis of CHOL.

Long Noncoding RNA OIP5-AS1 Promotes the Progression of Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Regulating the hsa-miR-26a-3p/EPHA2 Axis.

Numerous studies have suggested that dysregulated long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) contributed to the development and progression of many cancers. lncRNA OIP5 antisense RNA 1 (OIP5-AS1) has been reported to be increased in several cancers. However, the roles of OIP5-AS1 in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) remain to be investigated. In this study, we demonstrated that OIP5-AS1 was upregulated in LIHC tissue specimens and its overexpression was associated with the poor survival of patients with LIHC. Furthermore, loss-of function experiments indicated that OIP5-AS1 promoted cell proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, binding sites between OIP5-AS1 and hsa-miR-26a-3p as well as between hsa-miR-26a-3p and EPHA2 were confirmed by luciferase assays. Finally, a rescue assay was performed to prove the effect of the OIP5-AS1/hsa-miR-26a-3p/EPHA2 axis on LIHC cell biological behaviors. Based on all of the above findings, our results suggested that OIP5-AS1 promoted LIHC cell proliferation and invasion via regulating the hsa-miR-26a-3p/EPHA2 axis.

Apoptosis of murine melanoma cells induced by heavy-ion radiation combined with Tp53 gene transfer.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of exogenous wild type p53 (Tp53) on murine melanoma B16 cell apoptosis induced by carbon-ion beam (C-beam) irradiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The murine cell line B16, which has wild-type Tp53 gene status was studied, as well as B16 cells transfected with an adenoviral vector containing the wild-type Tp53 gene (B16/Tp53). Cells were irradiated with C-beam and assayed for cell survival (colony-forming assay), cellular morphology (acridine orange assay), the frequency of apoptotic cells (fluorescence microscopy) and protein expression (Western blot analysis). RESULTS: The radiosensitivity of B16/Tp53 cells was significantly higher than that of B16 cells. In contrast with Tp53 transfer alone, the combination of C-beam with Tp53 transfer induced a higher proportion of apoptotic cells and micronuclei. After C-beam irradiation, there was no significant increased expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 and Tp53 in B16/Tp53 cells compared to B16 cells, but a decreased expression of murine double minute-2 (Mdm2) was observed. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest the potential application of C-beam combined with Tp53 in the treatment of melanoma in human patients.

Comparative study on radiosensitivity of various tumor cells and human normal liver cells.

AIM: To investigate the radiation response of various human tumor cells and normal liver cells. METHODS: Cell lines of human hepatoma cells (SMMC-7721), liver cells (L02), melanoma cells (A375) and cervical tumor (HeLa) were irradiated with (60)Co gamma-rays. Cell survive was documented by a colony assay. Chromatid breaks were measured by counting the number of chromatid breaks and isochromatid breaks immediately after prematurely chromosome condensed by Calyculin-A. RESULTS: Linear quadratic survival curve was observed in all of four cell lines, and dose-dependent increase in radiation-induced chromatid and isochromatid breaks were observed in GB2B phase. Among these four cell lines, A375 was most sensitive to radiation, while, L02 had the lowest radiosensitivity. For normal liver cells, chromatid breaks were easy to be repaired, isochromatid breaks were difficult to be repaired. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the gamma-rays induced chromatid breaks can be possibly used as a good predictor of radiosensitivity, also, unrejoined isochromatid breaks probably tightly related with cell cancerization.

Effect of exogenous wild-type p53 on melanoma cell death pathways induced by irradiation at different linear energy transfer.

We investigated the effect of exogenous wild-type p53 on the radiation-induced cells apoptosis and necrosis at different levels of linear energy transfer (LET) to evaluate its mechanisms. The human melanoma cell line A375, which bears wild-type p53 gene status, was used, as well as the transfectant A375 cells (A375/p53) with adenoviral vector containing the wild-type p53 gene. We exposed these cells to X-rays and to accelerated carbon-ion (C-) beams. Cellular sensitivities were determined by using clonogenic assay. Apoptotic and necrotic cell deaths were determined morphologically by dual staining (acridine orange and ethidium bromide) using fluorescence microscopy. We discovered that (1) there was no significant difference in survival fraction between A375 cells and A375/p53 cells irradiated by C-beams with greater than 32 KeV/microm LET, (2) although apoptosis in the two kinds of cells increased in an LET-dependent manner, exogenous wild-type P53 induced cell apoptosis efficiently in A375/p53 relative to A375 cells with X-rays or high-LET irradiation, and (3) by high-LET irradiation, the number of necrosis in A375 cells increased significantly (P < 0.05) in comparison with A375/p53 cells. These results indicate that in high-LET irradiation apoptosis induction is p53 dependent partly and exogenous wild-type P53 plays an important role in modulating cell death type, although there was no significant difference in cellular radiosensitivities. Our observation in the study offers the potential application of high-LET radiation combined with p53 in the management of human patients with melanoma.

Observation of DNA damage of human hepatoma cells irradiated by heavy ions using comet assay.

AIM: Now many countries have developed cancer therapy with heavy ions, especially in GSI (Gesellschaft f r Schwerionenforschung mbH, Darmstadt, Germany), remarkable results have obtained, but due to the complexity of particle track structure, the basic theory still needs further researching. In this paper, the genotoxic effects of heavy ions irradiation on SMMC-7721 cells were measured using the single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay). The information about the DNA damage made by other radiations such as X-ray, gamma-ray, UV and fast neutron irradiation is very plentiful, while little work have been done on the heavy ions so far. Hereby we tried to detect the reaction of liver cancer cells to heavy ion using comet assay, meanwhile to establish a database for clinic therapy of cancer with the heavy ions. METHODS: The human hepatoma cells were chosen as the test cell line irradiated by 80 Mev/u (20)Ne(10+) on HIRFL (China), the radiation-doses were 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 Gy, and then comet assay was used immediately to detect the DNA damages, 100-150 cells per dose-sample (30-50 cells were randomly observed at constant depth of the gel). The tail length and the quantity of the cells with the tail were put down. EXCEL was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: We obtained clear images by comet assay and found that SMMC-7721 cells were all damaged apparently from the dose 0.5 Gy to 8 Gy (t-test: P<0.001, vs control). The tail length and tail moment increased as the doses increased, and the number of cells with tails increased with increasing doses. When doses were higher than 2 Gy, nearly 100 % cells were damaged. Furthermore, both tail length and tail moment, showed linear equation. CONCLUSION: From the clear comet assay images, our experiment proves comet assay can be used to measure DNA damages by heavy ions. Meanwhile DNA damages have a positive correlation with the dose changes of heavy ions and SMMC-7721 cells have a great radiosensitivity to (20)Ne(10+). Different reactions to the change of doses indicate that comet assay is a useful tool to detect DNA damage induced by heavy ions.

The antiangiogenic activity of Kushecarpin D, a novel flavonoid isolated from Sophora flavescens Ait.

AIMS: Kushecarpin D (KD) is a novel flavonoid isolated from the traditional Chinese herbal medicine Kushen (the dried root of Sophora flavescens Ait). As part of our continuous effort to explore Chinese traditional medicinal herbs and to identify novel natural anticancer products, the antiangiogenic properties of KD were examined in vitro using a human umbilical vein endothelial cell line (ECV304). MAIN METHODS: The SRB and Trypan Blue exclusion assays were used to evaluate the effect of KD on cell proliferation. The antiangiogenic activities of KD were evaluated through studies of cell migration, cell adhesion, and tube formation. DCFH-DA and DHE fluorescent assays were used to detect the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Catalase activity was detected using the colorimetric ammonium molybdate method. Cell cycle and apoptosis were measured using flow cytometry and the Hoechst 33258 staining assay. KEY FINDINGS: The results indicated that KD showed antiangiogenic activity via inhibitory effects on cell proliferation, cell migration, cell adhesion, and tube formation. ROS levels were down-regulated and catalase activity was up-regulated after treatment with KD. The cell cycle was arrested at the G2/M phase, while no apoptosis was observed using the Hoechst 33258 staining assay or following the flow cytometric analysis of the sub-G1 proportion. SIGNIFICANCE: The antiangiogenic properties of KD, in combination with its anti-proliferative effect and ability to induce cell cycle arrest without inducing apoptosis, make it a good candidate for development as antitumor agent. However, further studies are essential to elucidate its mechanism of action.

Factors associated with post-pancreaticoduodenectomy hemorrhage: 303 consecutive cases analysis.

BACKGROUND: Because of the complexity and severity of the surgery and its associated complications, pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, especially the hemorrhage post-PD. Exploring the factors associated with post-PD hemorrhage is very important for the patients' safety. METHODS: Clinical data from 303 cases of PD between January 1998 and December 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The overall mortality rate was 4.95% (15/303). However, post-operative bleeding occurred in 25 patients (8.25%) with nine episodes resulting in death (36.00%). Univariate analysis was performed and identified tumor size, Child's classification, total pancreatic uncinatic process resection, and pancreatic leakage as significant risk factors for post-PD hemorrhage. In the severe hemorrhage group, incomplete resection of uncinate process of pancreas and pancreatic leakage were the main causes. The multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that each of these variables is an independent risk factor. CONCLUSIONS: Primary prevention of bleeding complications depends on total pancreatic uncinatic process resection and meticulous hemostatic techniques during surgery. In addition, several peri-operative factors were found to contribute to post-PD bleeding.