Apoptotic Effect of Astragalin in Melanoma Skin Cancers via Activation of Caspases and Inhibition of Sry-related HMg-Box Gene 10.

Though Astragalin (kaempferol-3-glucoside) contained in Paeonia lactiflora and other plants was known to have anti-oxidant, antiinflammatory, and anti-tumor activity, the anti-tumor mechanism of Astragalin has never been reported in melanomas until now. Thus, in the present study, the underlying apoptotic mechanism of Astragalin isolated from Aceriphyllum rossii was elucidated in A375P and SK-MEL-2 melanoma cells. Astragalin exerted cytotoxicity in A375P and SK-MEL-2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Also, Astragalin significantly increased the number of TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling positive cells and sub-G1 population as a feature of apoptosis in A375P and SK-MEL-2 cells compared with untreated control. Consistently, western blotting revealed that Astragalin activated caspase 9/3 and Bax, cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, and attenuated the expression of cyclin D1, Mcl-1, and Sry-related HMg-Box gene 10 (SOX10) in A375P and SK-MEL-2 cells. Of note, ectopic expression of SOX10 reduced the apoptotic ability of Astragalin to inhibit proliferation, cleave poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, and caspase 3 in A375P and SK-MEL-2 melanoma cells. Overall, our findings provide evidence that Astragalin induces apoptosis in A375P and SK-MEL-2 melanoma cells via activation of caspase9/3 and inhibition of SOX10 signaling. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Inhibition of ZNF746 suppresses invasion and epithelial to mesenchymal transition in H460 non-small cell lung cancer cells.

Although ZNF746, also known as Parkin-interacting substrate (PARIS), has been reported to suppress peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor Î³ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) and its target gene NRF-1 leading to the neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease, its function in tumorigenesis has yet to be investigated. Thus, in the present study, the role of ZNF746 in the invasion and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in H460 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells was investigated. Invasion assay showed that inhibition of ZNF746 using siRNA transfection inhibited the invasion of H460 NSCLC cells using Boyden chamber. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis revealed that the silencing of ZNF746 attenuated the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)1, MMP2 and MMP9, but not MMP7, in H460 NSCLC cells. Immunoblotting assay revealed that the expression of E-cadherin and ß-catenin of epithelial phenotype was upregulated, while Slug was downregulated in ZNF746 siRNA-transfected H460 NSCLC cells. Accordingly, the mRNA expression of E-cadherin was upregulated while vimentin or Slug, Twist, ZEB as EMT key transcriptional factors were suppressed in ZNF746 siRNA-transfected H460 NSCLC cells. Also, mRNA expression of transcriptional marker Nanog and Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4), known to enhance malignancy and metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma, was suppressed in ZNF746 siRNA-transfected H460 NSCLC cells. Notably, the endogenous expression of ZNF746 was induced in parallel with Twist at the protein level during hypoxia. Overall, our findings suggest that inhibition of ZNF746 suppresses the invasion and EMT molecules in H460 NSCLC cells and ZNF746 may be an important target molecule in lung tumorigenesis.

Digoxigenin-labeled in situ hybridization for the detection of Streptococcus suis DNA in polyserositis and a comparison with biotinylated in situ hybridization.

The objective of this study was to develop digoxigenin-labeled in situ hybridization (ISH) for the detection of Streptococcus suis in naturally infected pigs with polyserositis and to compare it with biotinylated ISH. Digoxigenin-labeled hybridization signals for S. suis were observed in cells that had infiltrated the fibrous polyserositis and microcolonies in the blood vessels. Mock hybridization showed no hybridization signals for endogenous digoxigenin. Biotinylated hybridization signals for S. suis were observed in cells that had infiltrated the fibrous polyserositis. However, similar hybridization signals were also observed in the fibrous inflammatory area using mock hybridization for endogenous biotin. The present study demonstrated that digoxigenin-labeled ISH is a valuable diagnostic tool for specific detection of S. suis in polyserositic tissues without nonspecific reactions compared with biotinylated ISH.

Ginkgetin induces apoptosis via activation of caspase and inhibition of survival genes in PC-3 prostate cancer cells.

Ginkgetin is a natural biflavonoid isolated from leaves of Ginkgo biloba L. Though it was known to have anti-inflammatory, anti-influenza virus, anti-fungal activity, osteoblast differentiation stimulating activity and neuro-protective effects, the underlying antitumor mechanism of ginkgetin still remains unclear. Thus, in the present study, anti-cancer mechanism of ginkgetin was elucidated in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. Ginkgetin suppressed the viability of PC-3 cells in a concentration-dependent manner and also significantly increased the sub-G1 DNA contents of cell cycle in PC-3 cells. Ginkgetin activated caspase-3 and attenuated the expression of survival genes such as Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, survivin and Cyclin D1 at protein and mRNA levels. Consistently, pan-caspase inhibitor Z-DEVD-fmk blocked sub G1 accumulation and cleavages of PRAP and caspase 3 induced by ginkgetin in PC-3 cells. Overall, these findings suggest that ginkgetin induces apoptosis in PC-3 cells via activation of caspase 3 and inhibition of survival genes as a potent chemotherapeutic agent for prostate cancer treatment.