The sensitivity of head and neck carcinoma cells to statins is related to the expression of their Ras expression status, and statin-induced apoptosis is mediated via suppression of the Ras/ERK and Ras/mTOR pathways.

Statins induce apoptosis of tumour cells by inhibiting the prenylation of small G-proteins. However, the details of the apoptosis-inducing mechanisms remain poorly understood. The present study showed that the induction of apoptosis by statins in four different human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines, HSC-3, HEp-2, Ca9-22, and SAS cells was mediated by increased caspase-3 activity. Statins induced apoptosis by the suppression of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate biosynthesis. Furthermore, statins decreased the levels of phosphorylated ERK and mTOR by inhibiting the membrane localization of Ras and enhancing Bim expression in HSC-3 and HEp-2 cells. We also found that in all the cell types analyzed, the IC50 values for fluvastatin and simvastatin were highest in HEp-2 cells. In addition, HSC-3, Ca9-22, and SAS cells had higher Ras expression and membrane localization, higher activation of ERK1/2 and mTOR, and lower levels of Bim expression than HEp-2 cells. Our results indicate that statins induce apoptosis by increasing the activation of caspase-3 and by enhancing Bim expression through inhibition of the Ras/ERK and Ras/mTOR pathways. Furthermore, the sensitivity of HNSCC cells to statin treatment was closely related to Ras expression and prenylation levels, indicating that statins may act more effectively against tumours with high Ras expression and Ras-variability. Therefore, our findings support the use of statins as potential anticancer agents.

Contributions of MET activation to BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia cells.

Resistance to the breakpoint cluster region-abelson 1 (BCR-ABL1) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) imatinib poses a major problem when treating chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Imatinib resistance often results from a secondary mutation in BCR-ABL1. However, in the absence of a mutation in BCR-ABL1, the basis of BCR-ABL1-independent resistance must be elucidated. To gain insight into the mechanisms of BCR-ABL1-independent imatinib resistance, we performed an array-based comparative genomic hybridization. We identified various resistance-related genes, and focused on MET. Treatment with a MET inhibitor resensitized K562/IR cells to BCR-ABL1 TKIs. Combined treatment of K562/IR cells with imatinib and a MET inhibitor suppressed extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation, but did not affect AKT activation. Our findings implicate the MET/ERK and MET/JNK pathways in conferring resistance to imatinib, providing new insights into the mechanisms of BCR-ABL1 TKI resistance in CML.

Mangiferin enhances the sensitivity of human multiple myeloma cells to anticancer drugs through suppression of the nuclear factor κB pathway.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is still an incurable hematological malignancy with a 5-year survival rate of ~35%, despite the use of various treatment options. The nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of MM. Thus, inhibition of the NF-κB pathway is a potential target for the treatment of MM. In a previous study, we showed that mangiferin suppressed the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. However, the treatment of MM involves a combination of two or three drugs. In this study, we examined the effect of the combination of mangiferin and conventional anticancer drugs in an MM cell line. We showed that the combination of mangiferin and an anticancer drug decreased the viability of MM cell lines in comparison with each drug used separately. The decrease in the combination of mangiferin and an anticancer drug induced cell viability was attributed to increase the expression of p53 and Noxa and decreases the expression of XIAP, survivin, and Bcl-xL proteins via inhibition of NF-κB pathway. In addition, the combination treatment caused the induction of apoptosis, activation of caspase-3 and the accumulation of the cells in the sub-G1 phase of the cell cycle. Our findings suggest that the combination of mangiferin and an anticancer drug could be used as a new regime for the treatment of MM.

Mangiferin induces apoptosis in multiple myeloma cell lines by suppressing the activation of nuclear factor kappa B-inducing kinase.

Mangiferin is a naturally occurring glucosyl xanthone, which induces apoptosis in various cancer cells. However, the molecular mechanism underlying mangiferin-induced apoptosis has not been clarified thus far. Therefore, we examined the molecular mechanism underlying mangiferin-induced apoptosis in multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines. We found that mangiferin decreased the viability of MM cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner. We also observed an increased number of apoptotic cells, caspase-3 activation, and a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, mangiferin inhibited the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and expression of phosphorylated inhibitor kappa B (IκB) and increased the expression of IκB protein, whereas no changes were observed in the phosphorylation levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase 1/2 (JNK1/2), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). The molecular mechanism responsible for mangiferin-induced inhibition of nuclear translocation of NF-κB was a decrease in the expression of phosphorylated NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK). Moreover, mangiferin decreased the expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), survivin, and Bcl-xL proteins. Knockdown of NIK expression showed results similar to those observed with mangiferin treatment. Our results suggest that mangiferin induces apoptosis through the inhibition of nuclear translocation of NF-κB by suppressing NIK activation in MM cell lines. Our results provide a new insight into the molecular mechanism of mangiferin-induced apoptosis. Importantly, since the number of reported NIK inhibitors is limited, mangiferin, which targets NIK, may be a potential anticancer agent for the treatment of MM.

Statins inhibited the MIP-1α expression via inhibition of Ras/ERK and Ras/Akt pathways in myeloma cells.

Macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1α) is detected at high concentrations in patients with multiple myeloma. It is thought to play an important role in the etiology of multiple myeloma and osteolysis. Thus, inhibiting MIP-1α expression may be useful in developing therapeutic treatments for multiple myeloma-induced osteolysis. In this study, we investigated the potential of statins to inhibit mRNA expression and secretion of MIP-1α in mouse myeloma cells (MOPC-31C). We found that statins inhibited the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced MIP-1α mRNA expression and protein secretion in MOPC-31C cells. This inhibition was reversed when farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP), intermediates of the mevalonate pathway, were combined with statins. Furthermore, statins reduced the GTP form of Ras, a phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and phosphorylated Akt. Our results indicate that statins inhibit biosynthesis of FPP and GGPP and thereby down regulate signal transduction of Ras/ERK and Ras/Akt pathways. The net effect suppresses LPS-induced MIP-1α mRNA expression and protein secretion in MOPC-31C cells. Thus, statins hold great promise for developing effective therapies against myeloma-induced osteolysis.

Statins improve survival by inhibiting spontaneous metastasis and tumor growth in a mouse melanoma model.

Metastatic melanoma is a life-threatening disease for which no effective treatment is currently available. In melanoma cells, Rho overexpression promotes invasion and metastasis. However, the effect of statins on spontaneous metastasis and tumor growth remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of statin-mediated tumor growth and metastasis inhibition in an in vivo model. We found that statins significantly inhibited spontaneous metastasis and tumor growth. Statins inhibited the mRNA expression and enzymatic activities of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in vivo and also suppressed the mRNA and protein expression of very late antigens (VLAs). Moreover, statins inhibited the prenylation of Rho as well as the phosphorylation of LIM kinase, serum response factor (SRF), and c-Fos downstream of the Rho signaling pathway. In addition, statins enhanced p53, p21, and p27 expression and reduced phosphorylation of cyclin-dependent kinase and expression of cyclin D1 and E2. These results indicate that statins suppress Rho signaling pathways, thereby inhibiting tumor metastasis and growth. Furthermore, statins markedly improved the survival rate in a metastasis model, suggesting that statins have potential clinical applications for the treatment of metastatic cancers.

Mangiferin suppresses CIA by suppressing the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, and RANKL through inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and ERK1/2.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation of synovial joints, ultimately leading to a progressive and irreversible joint destruction. Activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) promotes production of proinflammatory cytokines in various inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis. Mangiferin, 1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone-C2-ß-D-glucoside (C-glucosyl xanthone), is a naturally occurring polyphenol. Our previous results showed that mangiferin suppressed NF-κB activation. However, it is unclear, whether mangiferin can prevent rheumatoid arthritis through suppression of NF-κB activation and expression of various cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which play a critical role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. In the present study, we found that mangiferin suppressed the progression and incidence of CIA in DBA1/J mice. In CIA mice, mangiferin inhibited the mRNA expression of cytokine genes in thymus and spleen of CIA mie and led to decreased serum levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, and receptor activator NF-κB ligand (RANKL) via inhibition of NF-κB and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). In addition, mangiferin markedly inhibited not only developing but also clinically evident CIA. These findings suggest that mangiferin has potential clinical applications for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.