Combination treatment of docetaxel with caffeic acid phenethyl ester suppresses the survival and the proliferation of docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer cells via induction of apoptosis and metabolism interference.

BACKGROUND: Docetaxel has been approved by USFDA as a first-line treatment for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients. Patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy along with docetaxel result in superior survival, lower serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, and better quality of life. However, a significant proportion of these patients ultimately develop resistance to docetaxel within months. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), one of the main bioactive components extracted from the propolis, has been reported to be effective for repressing the tumor growth, the migration and invasion of prostate cancer (PCa) cells, as well as the downstream signaling and stability of androgen receptor (AR). We hence determined if combination treatment of docetaxel with CAPE can suppress the proliferation and the survival of docetaxel-resistant PCa cells. METHODS: We established docetaxel-resistant PC/DX25 and DU/DX50 CRPC cell lines from PC-3 and DU-145 human PCa cells, respectively. Proliferation assay, MTT assay, flow cytometry with Annexin V staining, Comet Assay, and nude mice xenograft model were applied to determine the effects of combination treatment on cell proliferation and survival of the docetaxel-resistant PCa cells. Micro-Western Array (MWA) and qRT-PCR were used to investigate the molecular mechanism lying underneath. RESULTS: Combination treatment effectively suppressed the proliferation, survival and tumor growth of docetaxel-resistant PCa cells both in vitro and in nude mice. Comet assay and flow cytometry indicated that combination treatment induced apoptosis in docetaxel-resistant PCa cells. MWA and Western blotting assay revealed that combination treatment suppressed protein expression of Bcl-2, AKT2, c-Myc, apoptosis and caspase activation inhibitor (AVEN), pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) but increased protein expression of Bax, caspase 3, cytochrome c, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and acylglycerol kinase (AGK). Overexpression of Bcl-2 in the docetaxel-resistant PCa cells enhanced cell proliferation of docetaxel-resistant PCa cells under combination treatment. Analysis with qRT-PCR suggested that combination treatment decreased cholesterol biosynthesis genes DHCR24 (24-dehydrocholesterol reductase) and LSS (lanosterol synthase) but increased genes involved in glycolysis and TCA cycle. CONCLUSIONS: Combination treatment of docetaxel with CAPE effectively suppressed the proliferation and survival of docetaxel-resistant PCa cells via inhibition of Bcl-2 and c-Myc as well as induction of metabolism interference. Combination treatment can be beneficial for patients with docetaxel-resistant PCa.

Impact of the CYP2D6 single nucleotide polymorphism on the concentration of and therapeutic response to donepezil in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Donepezil was approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) but causes variable therapeutic responses. Thus, identifying specific genetic polymorphisms, which can predict a therapeutic response to donepezil, would enable a development of personalized strategy to treatment for patients with AD. The research aimed to exam the impact of the cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1080985 on the concentration of and therapeutic response to donepezil in AD. METHODS: In total, 40 newly diagnosed AD patients who had a clinical dementia rating (CDR) of 0.5-2 and who were on donepezil were enrolled and followed up. Plasma concentrations of donepezil were determined after 6 months of donepezil treatment. Cognitive and functional statuses were evaluated annually during follow-up. The response to therapy was defined based on the change in CDR. RESULTS: At a mean of 21.8 ± 5.7 months of follow-up, 10 of 40 patients (25.0%) were nonresponders to donepezil treatment. Patients who were homozygous for the G allele exhibited a higher concentration of donepezil and concentration-to-dose ratio than those with other genotypes. Furthermore, a significantly higher proportion of patients with the G/G genotype were responders than nonresponders (90.0% vs 50.0%, P = 0.015, effect size of V: 0.457) to donepezil treatment. Conversely, patients carrying the C allele had a significantly high risk of poor responses to donepezil treatment (odds ratio: 9.00, 95% confidence interval: 1.611-50.275). CONCLUSION: The CYP2D6 SNP rs1080985 might be a useful pharmacogenetic marker of the long-term therapeutic response to donepezil in patients with AD.

IL-10 from plasmacytoid dendritic cells promotes angiogenesis in the early stage of endometriosis.

An elevated level of IL-10 has been considered a critical factor for the development of endometriosis; however, its detailed mechanism and causal relationship remain unclear. This study explored the cellular source and angiogenic activity of local IL-10 during the early stage of endometriosis. Using a surgical murine model, we found that localised treatment with exogenous recombinant IL-10 on the day of surgery significantly enhanced endometriotic lesion growth and angiogenesis, whereas blocking local IL-10 activity using mAbs significantly suppressed those effects. Adoptive transfer of Il10+/+ plasmacytoid dendritic cells into mice significantly enhanced lesion development, whereas Il10-/- plasmacytoid dendritic cells significantly inhibited lesion development. Furthermore, in vitro angiogenesis analyses demonstrated that the IL-10 and IL-10 receptor pathway stimulated the migratory and tube formation ability of HUVECs as well as ectopic endometrial mesenchymal stem cells through, at least in part, a VEGF-dependent pathway. We also found that recombinant IL-10 directly stimulated angiogenesis, based on a Matrigel plug assay as well as a zebrafish model. Pathological results from human endometrioma tissues showed the increased infiltration of CD123+ plasmacytoid dendritic cells and higher percentages of cells that express the IL-10 receptor and CD31 as compared with the corresponding normal counterparts. Taken together, these results show that IL-10 secreted from local plasmacytoid dendritic cells promotes endometriosis development through pathological angiogenesis during the early disease stage. This study provides a scientific basis for a potential therapeutic strategy targeting the IL-10-IL-10 receptor pathway in the endometriotic milieu. © 2019 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

MiR-193b Mediates CEBPD-Induced Cisplatin Sensitization Through Targeting ETS1 and Cyclin D1 in Human Urothelial Carcinoma Cells.

Transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein delta (CEBPD) plays multiple roles in tumor progression. Studies have demonstrated that cisplatin (CDDP) induced CEBPD expression and had led to chemotherapeutic drug resistance. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of CDDP-regulated CEBPD expression and its relevant roles in CDDP responses remain elusive. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression in a sequence-specific manner. Abnormal miRNAs expression is associated with tumor progression. In current study, a large-scale PCR-based miRNA screening was performed to identify CEBPD-associated miRNAs in urothelial carcinoma cell line NTUB1. Eleven miRNAs were selected with more than twofold changes. MiR-193b-3p, a known tumor suppressor, down-regulated proto-oncogenes Cyclin D1, and ETS1 expression and led to cell cycle arrest, cell invasion, and migration inhibition. The expression of miR-193b-3p was associated with the DNA binding ability of CEBPD in CDDP response. CEBPD knocking-down approach provided a strong evidence of the positive correlation between CEBPD and miR-193b-3p. CDDP-induced CEBPD trans-activated miR-193b-3p expression and it directly targeted the 3'-UTR of Cyclin D1 and ETS1 mRNA, and silenced the protein expression. In addition, miR-193b-3p also inhibited cell migration activity, arrested cell at G1 phase, and sensitized NTUB1 to CDDP treatment. In conclusion, this study indicates that CEBPD exhibits an anti-tumorigenic function through transcriptionally activating miR-193b-3p expression upon CDDP treatment. This study provides a new direction for managing human urothelial carcinoma. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 1563-1573, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A resensitizes gemcitabine resistant urothelial carcinoma cells via suppression of TG-interacting factor.

Gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) has been widely used for advanced and metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC). However, resistance to this remedy has been noticed. We have demonstrated that increase of TG-interacting factor (TGIF) in specimens is associated with worse prognosis of upper tract UC (UTUC) patients. The roles of TGIF in the gemcitabine resistance of UC were explored. Specimens of 23 locally advanced/advanced stage UTUC patients who received GC systemic chemotherapy after radical nephroureterectomy were collected to evaluate the alterations of TGIF in the resistance to the remedy by using immunohistochemistry. In vitro characterizations of mechanisms mediating TGIF in gemcitabine resistance were conducted by analyzing NTUB1 cells and their gemcitabine-resistant subline, NGR cells. Our results show that increased TGIF is significantly associated with chemo-resistance, poor progression-free survival, and higher cancer-related deaths of UTUC patients. Higher increases of TGIF, p-AKT(Ser473) and invasive ability were demonstrated in NGR cells. Overexpression of TGIF in NTUB1 cells upregulated p-AKT(Ser473) activation, enhanced migration ability, and attenuated cellular sensitivity to gemcitabine. Knockdown of TGIF in NGR cells downregulated p-AKT(Ser473) activation, declined migration ability, and enhanced cellular sensitivity to gemcitabine. In addition, histone deacetylases inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) inhibited TGIF, p-AKT(Ser473) expression and migration ability. Synergistic effects of gemcitabine and TSA on NGR cells were also demonstrated. Collectively, TGIF contributes to the gemcitabine resistance of UC via AKT activation. Combined treatment with gemcitabine and TSA might be a promising therapeutic remedy to improve the gemcitabine resistance of UC.

Enriched Astaxanthin Extract from Haematococcus pluvialis Augments Growth Factor Secretions to Increase Cell Proliferation and Induces MMP1 Degradation to Enhance Collagen Production in Human Dermal Fibroblasts.

Among many antioxidants that are used for the repairing of oxidative stress induced skin damages, we identified the enriched astaxanthin extract (EAE) from Haematococcus pluvialis as a viable ingredient. EAE was extracted from the red microalgae through supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction. To compare the effectiveness, EAE wastreated on human dermal fibroblasts with other components, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), and doxycycline. With sirius red staining and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), we found that PMA decreased the collagen concentration and production while overall the addition of doxycycline and EAE increased the collagen concentration in a trial experiments. EAE increased collagen contents through inhibited MMP1 and MMP3 mRNA expression and induced TIMP1, the antagonists of MMPs protein, gene expression. As for when tested for various proteins through western blotting, it was seen that the addition of EAE increased the expression of certain proteins that promote cell proliferation. Testing those previous solutions using growth factor assay, it was noticeable that EAE had a positive impact on cell proliferation and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) than doxycycline, indicating that it was a better alternative treatment for collagen production. To sum up, the data confirmed the possible applications as medical cosmetology agentsand food supplements.

PTP4A3 Independently Predicts Metastasis and Survival in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Treated with Radical Nephroureterectomy.

PURPOSE: Increasing evidence has shown that protein tyrosine phosphatases have dominant roles in setting the levels of tyrosine phosphorylation and promoting oncogenic processes. PTP4A3 has been implicated in cancer metastasis but to our knowledge the role of PTP4A3 in upper tract urothelial carcinoma is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of PTP4A3 with disease characteristics, distant metastasis and prognosis of upper tract urothelial carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The importance of PTP4A3 was initially examined in paired normal urothelium, noninvasive upper tract urothelial carcinoma, invasive upper tract urothelial carcinoma and nodal metastatic tissue. The PTP4A3 transcript level was assessed in another 20 upper tract urothelial carcinoma samples by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. PTP4A3 protein expression was determined by immunohistochemistry using the H-score in 340 upper tract urothelial carcinoma samples. It was further correlated with clinicopathological factors, and disease specific and metastasis-free survival. RESULTS: The expression of PTP4A3 significantly increased from normal urothelium, noninvasive upper tract urothelial carcinoma and invasive upper tract urothelial carcinoma to nodal metastatic tissue (p <0.001). The PTP4A3 transcript level was also markedly up-regulated in higher stage upper tract urothelial carcinoma (p = 0.002). Over expression of PTP4A3 protein was significantly associated with advanced pT status, nodal metastasis, lymphovascular invasion and perineural invasion (each p <0.001) as well as with inferior disease specific and metastasis-free survival on multivariate analysis (each p <0.0001). In addition, it predicted metastasis in patients with pTa, pT1 and pT2 upper tract urothelial carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Results imply that PTP4A3 has a role in the carcinogenesis of upper tract urothelial carcinoma. PTP4A3 over expression independently predicted the metastasis and outcome of upper tract urothelial carcinoma, which was even more important in organ confined disease.

EGFR mediates docetaxel resistance in human castration-resistant prostate cancer through the Akt-dependent expression of ABCB1 (MDR1).

Recent studies have shown that docetaxel-based chemotherapy confers a survival benefit in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (PC). Also epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was found to have multiple roles in prostatic tumorigenesis. However, the EGFR-mediated chemoresistance mechanism in human PC was not well delineated. In this study, we explored the mechanism of EGFR-mediated docetaxel resistance in PC. A series of stable docetaxel-resistant PC/DX sublines were established at our laboratory. The docetaxel IC50s of PC3 and PC/DX25 cells were 0.01 and 1.33 µM, respectively. Cellular resistance to docetaxel was significantly associated with increased EGFR and EGFR activation in PC/DX25. There was a dose-dependent increase in EGFR expression associated with the magnitude of docetaxel resistance. Expression of EGFR in PC/DX25 was higher than that in PC3, RWPE-1 and LNCaP cells. Similar results were also found in human PC tissues by immunohistochemical staining. We showed that docetaxel sensitivity can be stored in PC/DX25 cells by knockdown and inactivation of EGFR expression through EGFR siRNA and specific inhibitors, respectively. Contrarily, overexpression of EGFR or recombinant EGF protein treatment could rescue PC3 cells from docetaxel-mediated cytotoxicity. Gefitninb (ZD1839) significantly inhibited the growth of PC/DX25 cells by MTT in vitro and on xenografted nude mice in vivo. Moreover, EGFR-mediated docetaxel resistance occurred through the Akt-dependent ABCB1 expression in PC cells. These findings demonstrated EGFR played an important role in docetaxel-resistant PC and EGFR inhibition may enhance the therapeutic efficacy of docetaxel-based treatment.

Autophagy is deficient and inversely correlated with COX-2 expression in nasal polyps: a novel insight into the inflammation mechanism.

BACKGROUND: Nasal polyposis is characterised by persistent inflammation of the upper airways. Autophagy has been implicated in many chronic inflammatory diseases. Whether autophagy plays a role in nasal polyp (NP) inflammation is completely unknown and deserves investigation. METHODS: LC3 and COX-2 expression, the common autophagy and inflammation indicators, respectively, was analysed by immunoblotting in fresh tissues of NP and control nasal mucosa (NM). Primary cultures of NP-derived fibroblasts (NPDFs) and NMDFs were established for in vitro studies. Autophagy was induced by amino acid starvation and LC3 ectopic overexpression or inhibited by 3-methyladenine in the fibroblasts. Inflammation was induced by IL1-ß and TNF-α. LC3 and COX-2 expression was confirmed in NP specimens by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: LC3 expression was decreased while COX-2 expression was significantly increased in fresh NP tissues compared with the NM control. In NMDFs and NPDFs, autophagy induction by starvation and LC3 overexpression downregulated COX-2 expression. Conversely, autophagy inhibition by 3-methyladenine enhanced COX-2 expression. However, IL1-ß and TNF-α had no effect on autophagy. Immunohistochemical studies on the NP specimens showed that most displayed low LC3 expression, whereas COX-2 was highly expressed in >50% of the specimens. Examination of two consecutive NP sections from the same tissue blocks revealed a negative correlation between LC3 and COX-2 expression. CONCLUSION: Autophagy is deficient in NP tissues and COX-2 is negatively regulated by autophagy in NP-derived fibroblasts. Since COX-2 is essential for the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, this study might help interpret persistent mucosal inflammation in NP. Attenuation of inflammation by restoring autophagy might be a therapeutic strategy for treating NP.

EGFR-mediated hyperacetylation of tubulin induced docetaxel resistance by downregulation of HDAC6 and upregulation of MCAK and PLK1 in prostate cancer cells.

Docetaxel-based chemotherapy has generally been considered as one of the effective treatments for castration-resistant prostate cancer (PCa). However, clinical treatment with docetaxel often encounters a number of undesirable effects, including drug resistance. Tubulin isoforms have been previously examined for their resistance to docetaxel in many cancers, but their real mechanisms remained unclear. In this study, a series of docetaxel-resistant PC/DX cell sublines were established by chronically exposing PC3 to progressively increased concentrations of docetaxel. Western blotting results showed significantly higher expression of acetyl-tubulin, α-tubulin, ß-tubulin, γ-tubulin, and ßIII-tubulin in PC/DX25 than in parental PC3 cells. PC/DX25 with greater resistance to docetaxel had higher levels of acetyl-tubulin and mitotic centromere-associated kinesin (MCAK) than PC3 cells. This study found that docetaxel induced the expression of acetyl-tubulin and MCAK in PC3 cells at a dose- and time-dependent manner. Both mRNA and protein levels of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) were significantly decreased in PC/DX25 compared with PC3 cells. PC3 increased the resistance to docetaxel by HDAC6 knockdown and Tubastatin A (HDAC6 inhibitor). Conversely, PC/DX25 reversed the sensitivity to docetaxel by MCAK knockdown. Notably, flow cytometry analysis revealed that MCAK knockdown induced significantly sub G1 fraction in PC/DX cells. Overexpression of polo-like kinase-1 increased the cell survival rate and resistance to docetaxel in PC3 cells. Moreover, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation induced the upregulation of acetyl-tubulin in docetaxel-resistant PCa cells. These findings demonstrated that the EGFR-mediated upregulated expression of acetyl-tubulin played an important role in docetaxel-resistant PCa.

Kaempferol-Enhanced Migration and Differentiation of C2C12 Myoblasts via ITG1B/FAK/Paxillin and IGF1R/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathways.

SCOPE: Kaempferol (KMP), a bioactive flavonoid compound found in fruits and vegetables, contributes to human health in many ways but little is known about its relationship with muscle mass. The effect of KMP on C2C12 myoblast differentiation and the mechanisms that might underlie that effect are studied. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study finds that KMP (1, 10 µM) increases the migration and differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts in vitro. Studying the possible mechanism underlying its effect on migration, the study finds that KMP activates Integrin Subunit Beta 1 (ITGB1) in C2C12 myoblasts, increasing p-FAK (Tyr398) and its downstream cell division cycle 42 (CDC42), a protein previously associated with cell migration. Regarding differentiation, KMP upregulates the expression of myosin heavy chain (MHC) and activates IGF1/AKT/mTOR/P70S6K. Interestingly, pretreatment with an AKT inhibitor (LY294002) and siRNA knockdown of IGF1R leads to a decrease in cell differentiation, suggesting that IGF1/AKT activation is required for KMP to induce C2C12 myoblast differentiation. CONCLUSION: Together, the findings suggest that KMP enhances the migration and differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts through the ITG1B/FAK/paxillin and IGF1R/AKT/mTOR pathways. Thus, KMP supplementation might potentially be used to prevent or delay age-related loss of muscle mass and help maintain muscle health.

Common variants in IGF1 pathway genes and clinical outcomes after radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) pathway plays a critical role in malignant transformation, and epidemiology studies have also shown that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IGF1 pathway genes are associated with prostate cancer risk. However, the clinical significance of these SNPs on prostate cancer aggressiveness and prognosis after radical prostatectomy (RP) has not been determined. METHODS: We evaluated the associations of 4 common SNPs in IGF1 and IGF1R with age at diagnosis, preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, pathologic Gleason score, pathologic stage, surgical margin, lymph node metastasis, and PSA recurrence in a cohort of 320 localized prostate cancer patients receiving RP. The prognostic significance on time to PSA recurrence was also assessed by Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: IGF1 rs2946834 alleles/genotypes and an IGF1 specific haplotype AT, containing the minor allele of rs2946834, were associated (P ≤ 0.028) with a 1.49- to 2.22-fold higher risk of having advanced-stage prostate cancer. In addition, a genetic interaction profile consisting of IGF1 rs2946834 and IGF1R rs2016347 was significantly associated with PSA recurrence (P = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Our study is the first to evaluate the impact of SNPs in IGF1 pathway genes on PSA recurrence. A genetic interaction between IGF1 rs2946834 and IGF1R rs2016347 might be a predictor of outcomes following RP.

Vitamin D receptor gene variants and clinical outcomes after androgen-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: Molecular epidemiology studies have shown that vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms are associated with prostate cancer risk. However, the prognostic value of these polymorphisms on clinical outcomes in prostate cancer patients receiving androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) has not been determined. METHODS: We evaluated the association of five common VDR polymorphisms, ApaI, Tru9I, BsmI, FokI, and Cdx2, with clinicopathologic characteristics and clinical outcomes, including disease progression, prostate cancer-specific mortality, and all-cause mortality, in a cohort of 601 prostate cancer patients treated with ADT. RESULTS: Of the five VDR polymorphisms, FokI rs2228570 and BsmI rs1544410 were associated with Gleason score at diagnosis (P = 0.043) and prostate-specific antigen nadir following ADT (P = 0.023), respectively. The haplotype analysis revealed that the A-A-G (ApaI-Tru9I-BsmI) compared with C-G-G individuals were more likely to have high Gleason score (P = 0.050). However, none of these polymorphisms were significantly associated with disease progression and mortality after ADT. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest study to date investigating the association of VDR polymorphisms and clinical outcomes in prostate cancer patients receiving ADT. Polymorphisms in the VDR gene might be associated with Gleason score, but these polymorphisms had no main effect on predicting response to ADT.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester suppresses EGFR/FAK/Akt signaling, migration, and tumor growth of prostate cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is upregulated in prostate cancer (PCa). However, suppression of EGFR did not improve the patient outcome, possibly due to the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling in PCa. Compounds able to suppress both PI3K/Akt and EGFR signaling may be effective for treating advanced PCa. PURPOSE: We examined if caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) simultaneously suppresses the EGFR and Akt signaling, migration and tumor growth in PCa cells. METHODS: Wound healing assay, transwell migration assay and xenograft mice model were used to determine the effects of CAPE on migration and proliferation of PCa cells. Western blot, immunoprecipitation, and immunohistochemistry staining were performed to determine the effects of CAPE on EGFR and Akt signaling. RESULTS: CAPE treatment decreased the gene expression of HRAS, RAF1, AKT2, GSK3A, and EGF and the protein expression of phospho-EGFR (Y845, Y1069, Y1148, Y1173), phospho-FAK, Akt, and ERK1/2 in PCa cells. CAPE treatment inhibited the EGF-induced migration of PCa cells. Combined treatment of CAPE with EGFR inhibitor gefitinib showed additive inhibition on migration and proliferation of PCa cells. Injection of CAPE (15 mg/kg/3 days) for 14 days suppressed the tumor growth of prostate xenografts in nude mice as well as suppressed the levels of Ki67, phospho-EGFR Y845, MMP-9, phospho-Akt S473, phospho-Akt T308, Ras, and Raf-1 in prostate xenografts. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested that CAPE can simultaneously suppress the EGFR and Akt signaling in PCa cells and is a potential therapeutic agent for advanced PCa.

Down-regulation of PKCζ in renal cell carcinoma and its clinicopathological implications.

BACKGROUND: Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is highly resistant to systemic chemotherapy. Unfortunately, nearly all patients die of the metastatic and chemoresistant RCC. Recent studies have shown the atypical PKCζ is an important regulator of tumorigenesis. However, the correlation between PKCζ expression and the clinical outcome in RCC patients is unclear. We examined the level of PKCζ expression in human RCC. METHODS: PKCζ mRNA and protein expressions were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) respectively in RCC tissues of 144 patients. Cellular cytotoxicity and proliferation were assessed by MTT. RESULTS: PKCζ expression was significantly higher in normal than in cancerous tissues (P<0.0001) by real-time PCR and IHC. Similarly, PKCζ expression was down-regulated in four renal cancer cell lines compared to immortalized benign renal tubular cells. Interestingly, an increase of PKCζ expression was associated with the elevated tumor grade (P=0.04), but no such association was found in TNM stage (P=0.13). Tumors with higher PKCζ expression were associated with tumor size (P=0.048). Expression of higher PKCζ found a poor survival in patients with high tumor grade. Down-regulation of PKCζ showed the significant chemoresistance in RCC cell lines. Inactivation of PKCζ expression enhanced cellular resistance to cisplatin and paclitaxel, and proliferation in HK-2 cells by specific PKCζ siRNA and inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: PKCζ expression was associated with tumorigenesis and chemoresistance in RCC.

The association of eNOS G894T polymorphism with metabolic syndrome and erectile dysfunction.

INTRODUCTION: Accumulated evidences have outlined the potential relation between insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction. The impaired ability of endothelium to synthesize or release nitric oxide may provide a common pathophysiological mechanism in the development of metabolic syndrome (MtS) and erectile dysfunction (ED). AIM: The aim of this article was to investigate the genetic susceptibility of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) G894T polymorphism underlying the development of both disorders. METHODS: A total of 590 subjects with a mean (standard deviation) age of 55.3 years (4.1) were enrolled during a free health screening. Complete clinical data and questionnaires were taken for all subjects. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors of MtS and ED. The eNOS G894T polymorphism was determined using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The definition of MtS was according to the modified criteria developed by the Bureau of Health Promotion in Taiwan. Patients with ED were defined as those having a five-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) <21. RESULTS: Our results showed that the eNOS 894T allele carriers had significantly higher prevalence of MtS and ED (odds ratio [OR]=1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.05∼2.56, P=0.02 and OR=1.76, 95% CI=1.11∼2.80, P=0.01, respectively) after adjustment for each other and age. Also the T allele carriers had significantly lower IIEF-5 score and more MtS components than G allele carriers (P<0.01 and P<0.01, respectively), which were significantly associated with an increment of the T allele number (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The eNOS 894T allele carriers are at greater risk for both MtS and ED, suggesting that eNOS G894T gene polymorphism might play an implication as a common genetic susceptibility factor to develop both disorders.

Associations of the lower urinary tract symptoms with the lifestyle, prostate volume, and metabolic syndrome in the elderly males.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the lifestyle, prostate volume (PV), and metabolic syndrome (MS) on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in the elderly males. A total of 764 men aged greater than 40 years were enrolled. Their severities of LUTS were assessed by the International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaire, while their MS was diagnosed according to the criteria developed by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. Lifestyle factors, PV, and components of MS were compared between no/mild and moderate/severe LUTS groups. In univariate analysis, age, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and PV significantly correlated with the severity of LUTS, but the presence or any components of MS did not. Results of multivariate analysis showed that aging, cigarette smoking, lack of regular exercise, and larger PV were independent predictors for moderate/severe LUTS. Notably, the risk factors for LUTS was influenced by the presence of MS. PV may play a role in determining the severity of LUTS for men without MS, while physical activity was the critical factor for men with MS. It was suggested that healthy lifestyle would be beneficial to lessen the severity of LUTS in the elderly males.

The Promotion of Migration and Myogenic Differentiation in Skeletal Muscle Cells by Quercetin and Underlying Mechanisms.

Aging and muscle disorders frequently cause a decrease in myoblast migration and differentiation, leading to losses in skeletal muscle function and regeneration. Several studies have reported that natural flavonoids can stimulate muscle development. Quercetin, one such flavonoid found in many vegetables and fruits, has been used to promote muscle development. In this study, we investigated the effect of quercetin on migration and differentiation, two processes critical to muscle regeneration. We found that quercetin induced the migration and differentiation of mouse C2C12 cells. These results indicated quercetin could induce myogenic differentiation at the early stage through activated p-IGF-1R. The molecular mechanisms of quercetin include the promotion of myogenic differentiation via activated transcription factors STAT3 and the AKT signaling pathway. In addition, we demonstrated that AKT activation is required for quercetin induction of myogenic differentiation to occur. In addition, quercetin was found to promote myoblast migration by regulating the ITGB1 signaling pathway and activating phosphorylation of FAK and paxillin. In conclusion, quercetin can potentially be used to induce migration and differentiation and thus improve muscle regeneration.

Plasma biomarkers and their correlation in adult children of parents with Alzheimer's disease.

Family history (FH) of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with changes in several cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers in cognitively normal individuals. However, potential changes in plasma biomarkers remain unknown. This study aimed to evaluate potential plasma biomarkers and their correlation in cognitively normal adult children (AC) and to compare this data with their AD parents and unrelated non-demented controls (NC). Participants with dementia due to AD, their AC and NC were recruited. Plasma samples were assessed for amyloid beta (Aß)1-42, Aß1-40, total tau (T-tau) and phosphorylated tau (P-tau). Kruskal-Wallis test was used for the comparison of this data between the three groups. Spearman rank correlation was used for evaluation of the correlations between Aß1-40 and Aß1-42, and T-tau and P-tau in the AD and AC groups. A total of 99 subjects completed the assessment (30 had AD; 38 were AC group; and 31 were NC). Compared with the NC group, there were significantly higher levels of Aß1-40, P-tau, and P-tau/T-tau ratio, and lower levels of Aß1-42 and Aß1-42/Aß1-40 ratio in the AD and AC groups. The correlation between the level of Aß1-42 and Aß1-40 and level of T-tau and P-tau was only observed in the AC but not in the AD group. AC of AD parents demonstrate some indicators of AD like their parents. Disruption to the correlation between Aß and tau in AD may be a biomarker for the development of AD in AC, which should be examined in a longitudinal cohort.

Gamma Frequency Inhibits the Secretion and Aggregation of Amyloid-ß and Decreases the Phosphorylation of mTOR and Tau Proteins in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) was the main cause of dementia in an aging society; unfortunately, there is no effective treatment for AD now. Meditation has been reported to thicken the cerebral cortex, and gamma wave at a frequency of 40 hertz (Hz) was recorded during the meditation process from the brain. Previous study showed that non-invasive scintillation gamma frequency oscillation increased the space in recognition and memory of auditory cortex hippocampal gyrus in AD mice model. However, the AD-related molecular change by exposure of 40 Hz gamma frequency in brain cells was still unclear. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the AD-related molecular change by exposure of 40 Hz gamma frequency in SH-SY5Y cells. METHODS: We designed the light and sound generators at 40 Hz gamma frequency for this study. SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to sound or light of 40 Hz gamma frequency, respectively. The concentrations of amyloid-ß40 (Aß40) and amyloid-ß42 (Aß42) were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The protein levels were examined by Western blotting. The aggregation of Aß42 was examined by thioflavin T assay. RESULTS: Our results showed that the secretion of Aß, phosphorylation of AKT, mTOR, and tau, and aggregation of Aß42 were significantly inhibited by 40 Hz gamma frequency in SH-SY5Y cells. The phosphorylation of 4E-BP1, downstream of mTOR, was induced by 40 Hz gamma frequency in SH-SY5Y cells. CONCLUSION: Our study showed 40 Hz gamma frequency involved in the inhibition of secretion and aggregation of Aß and inhibition of p-Tau protein expression through the mTOR/4E-BP1/Tau signaling pathway.