A new insight into Cd exposure-induced hemocyte reduction in Lymantria dispar larvae: Involvement of the ROS-ATF6-ER stress-apoptosis pathway.

Hemocytes are important targets for heavy metal-induced immunotoxicity in insects. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism by which cadmium (Cd) exposure affects the hemocyte count in Lymantria dispar larvae. The results showed that the number of larval hemocytes was significantly decreased under Cd exposure, accompanied by a significant increase in the apoptosis rate and the expression of Caspase-3. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of hemocytes in the Cd-treated group showed irregular swelling. Expression levels of ER stress indicator genes (CHOP, Bip1, Bip2, Bip3, and Bip4) were significantly higher in the Cd-treated group. Among the three pathways that potentially mediate ER stress, only the key genes in the ATF6 pathway (ATF6, S1P-1, S1P-2, and WFS1) exhibited differential responses to Cd exposure. Cd exposure significantly increased the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the expression of oxidative stress-related genes (CNCC, P38, and ATF2) in hemocytes. Studies using inhibitors confirmed that apoptosis mediated the decrease in hemocyte count, ER stress mediated apoptosis, ATF6 pathway mediated ER stress, and ROS or oxidative stress mediated ER stress through the activation of the ATF6 pathway. Taken together, the ROS-ATF6-ER stress-apoptosis pathway is responsible for the reduction in the hemocyte count of Cd-treated L. dispar larvae.

CHRNE compound heterozygous mutations in congenital myasthenic syndrome: A case report.

RATIONALE: Congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMSs) are a group of rare genetic disorders of the neurological junction, which can result in structural or functional weakness. Here, we characterized a case of CMS in order to clarify the diagnosis and expand the understanding of it. The molecular diagnosis had implications for choice of treatment and genetic counseling. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 3-year-old male patient with CMS had ptosis and limb weakness for 2 months after birth. Clinical course and electrophysiological, imaging, and genetic findings were assessed. Protein structure/function was predicted. A novel mutation of c.295C>T (exon 4) and another known mutation of c.442T>A (exon 5) were found in CHRNE. Both mutations localized in conserved sequences. The c.442T>A (p.C148S) missense mutation in CHRNE was predicted to be damaging/deleterious. The iterative threading assembly refinement (I-TASSER) server generated vastly different 3-dimensional (3D) atomic models based on protein sequences from wide-type and novel nonsense mutation of c.295C>T (p.R99X) in CHRNE. DIAGNOSES: The diagnosis of CMS with CHRNE mutations in Han Chinese was confirmed. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was given prednisone (10 mg, once daily, taken orally) and pyridostigmine (15 mg, three times a day, taken orally). OUTCOMES: The patient had a moderate response to prednisone and pyridostigmine. LESSONS: We expanded the genotype and phenotype of CMS with CHRNE mutations in Han Chinese and provided new insights into the molecular mechanism of CMS and help to the diagnosis and treatment of CMS.

Cochinchina momordica seed suppresses proliferation and metastasis in human lung cancer cells by regulating multiple molecular targets.

Cochinchina Momordica Seed, which is the dried ripe seed of Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng, has been used as a mainly anticancer ingredient for many years in China. This study aims at investigating the roles of an ethanol-soluble extract of Cochinchina Momordica Seed (ECMS) in suppressing the proliferation and metastasis of human lung cancer cells, and further elucidating underlying molecular mechanisms. Our researches suggest that ECMS dose-dependently decreased the survival rates of A549 and H1299 cells, and inhibited the migration and invasion in A549 cells. ECMS-induced apoptosis was accompanied by up-regulation of p53, Bax and the down-regulation of Bcl-2, PI-3K/Akt signal pathway, and resulted in the dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and sequentially activated caspase-3 cascade. Pre-treated with specific inhibitors, LY294002 (PI-3K inhibitor) and BAY11-7082 (NF-κB inhibitor) could enhance the anti-proliferation effects of ECMS on A549 cells. Furthermore, ECMS could increase the level of E-cadherin and decrease of the level of STAT-3 and MMP-2, and scarcely affected the expression of VEGF, and resulted in the inhibition of migration and invasion. Pre-treated with specific inhibitors, WP1066 (STAT-3 inhibitor) and TIMP-2 (MMP-2 inhibitor) could enhance the inhibitory effects of ECMS on migration. In conclusion, the current data demonstrated ECMS inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells by inducing apoptosis, at least partly through the activation of p53 and inactivation of PI-3K/Akt signaling. STAT-3 and MMP-2 pathways may be partly involved in anti-metastasis activities of ECMS. Hence, ECMS might be a promising candidate for the therapy of the non-small cell lung cancer by regulating multiple molecular targets.

S-benzyl-cysteine-mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis involving activation of mitochondrial-dependent caspase cascade through the p53 pathway in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells.

S-benzyl-cysteine (SBC) is a structural analog of S-allylcysteine (SAC), which is one of the major water- soluble compounds in aged garlic extract. In this study, anticancer activities and the underlying mechanisms of SBC action were investigated and compared these with those of SAC using human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. SBC significantly suppressed the survival rate of SGC-7901 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and the inhibitory activities of SBC were stronger than those of SAC. Flow cytometry revealed that SBC induced G2-phase arrest and apoptosis in SGC-7901 cells. Typical apoptotic morphological changes were observed by Hoechst 33258 dye assay. SBC-treatment dramatically induced the dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), and enhanced the enzymatic activities of caspase-9 and caspase-3 whilst hardly affecting caspase-8 activity. Furthermore, Western blotting indicated that SBC-induced apoptosis was accompanied by up-regulation of the expression of p53, Bax and the down-regulation of Bcl-2. Taken together, this study suggested that SBC exerts cytotoxic activity involving activation of mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis through p53 and Bax/Bcl-2 pathways in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells.

Cochinchina momordica seed extract induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human gastric cancer cells via PARP and p53 signal pathways.

Cochinchina momordica seed is the dried ripe seed of Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng, which is a kind of fruit and consumed for dietary as well as medicinal uses. In this study, using the human SGC7901 and MKN-28 gastric cancer cell lines, we explored the anticancer activity of the extract from cochinchina momordica seed (ECMS). ECMS inhibited significantly the survival rates of SGC7901 and MKN-28 cells in concentration- and time-dependent manners by MTT assay. The typical apoptotic morphological changes were observed by Hoechst 33258 dye assay after SGC7901 and MKN-28 cells were treated with ECMS for 48 h. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that ECMS-treatment blocked the cells at the S phase of cell cycle. Furthermore, the protein expression levels of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and Bcl-2 were downregulated notably by ECMS-treatment, whereas those of Fas/Fas-associated death domain, p53, and Bax were upregulated in SGC7901 cells. ECMS dramatically enhanced the enzymatic activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9 whilst slightly increased caspase-8 activity. Taken together, this study demonstrated that ECMS exerted cytotoxic activities via PARP and p53 signal pathways in the human gastric cancer cells.

Cochinchina momordica seed extract induces G2/M arrest and apoptosis in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells by modulating the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Cochinchina momordica seeds are a kind of traditional Chinese herb. In this study, anticancer activity and underlying mechanisms were investigated with an extract using human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. The survival rate was reduced in a concentration- and time-dependent manner as assessed by MTT assay. After incubation for 48 h, typical apoptotic morphological changes were observed by Hoechst 33258 dye assay. Flow cytometry revealed that the treatment obviously induced G2/M arrest and apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, western blotting demonstrated downregulation of protein expression of PI3K, Akt, NF-kB, Bcl-2, Cdk1 and cyclin B1, whereas Bax and caspase-3 were upregulated. Our results suggest that the extract induced cell cycle G2/M arrest and apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells by decreasing PI3K/Akt pathway. Therefore, we propose that ECMS has potential as a breast cancer chemotherapeutic agent.