Plumbagin induces apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and inhibits protein synthesis in LoVo colon cancer cells: A proteomic analysis.

Extracted from the roots of Plumbago zeylanica L., plumbagin is a natural naphthoquinone with potential as an anticancer compound. However, no studies have investigated its impact on LoVo (colon cancer) cells, and the specific mechanisms by which plumbagin exerts its anticancer effects remain to be established. The anticancer potential of plumbagin against LoVo cells was evaluated using a battery of assays, including MTT assay, clone formation assay, transwell chamber invasion assay, and wound-curing assay. Cell cycle analysis and cell apoptosis analysis were conducted to break down the anticancer impact of plumbagin on LoVo cells. A label-free proteomics technology was employed to investigate alterations in protein expression in LoVo cells treated with plumbagin. Our investigation indicated that plumbagin markedly inhibited the LoVo cells proliferation, and induced the apoptosis in LoVo cells, simultaneously induced G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest. The LC-MS/MS proteomics assay revealed 78 proteins that were differentially expressed upon treatment with plumbagin. Bioinformatics and functional analyses indicated that these proteins were predominantly involved in protein synthesis and translation. Our findings revealed that multiple mechanisms are involved in the anticancer activity of plumbagin against LoVo cells, resulting in decreased cell viability. Proteomic analysis suggests that plumbagin may impede protein synthesis by reducing the expression of eukaryotic initiation factors. Our findings demonstrate that plumbagin exerts its anticancer activity against LoVo cells through multiple mechanisms, including inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and disruption of protein synthesis. These results provide new insights into the therapeutic potential of plumbagin for colon cancer treatment.

Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cell Culture in a Microfluidically Controlled Environment with a Static Molecular Gradient of Polyphenol.

To study the simultaneous effect of the molecular gradient of polyphenols (curcumin, trans-resveratrol, and wogonin) and biological factors released from tumor cells on apoptosis of adjacent cells, a novel microfluidic system was designed and manufactured. The small height/volume of microfluidic culture chambers and static conditions allowed for establishing the local microenvironment and maintaining undisturbed concentration profiles of naturally secreted from cells biochemical factors. In all trials, we observe that these conditions significantly affect cell viability by stimulating cell apoptosis at lower concentrations of polyphenols than in traditional multiwell cultures. The observed difference varied between 20.4-87.8% for curcumin, 11.0-37.5% for resveratrol, and 21.7-62.2% for wogonin. At low concentrations of polyphenols, the proapoptotic substances released from adjacent cells, like protein degradation products, significantly influence cell viability. The mean increase in cell mortality was 38.3% for microfluidic cultures. Our research has also confirmed that the gradient microsystem is useful in routine laboratory tests in the same way as a multiwell plate and may be treated as its replacement in the future. We elaborated the new repetitive procedures for cell culture and tests in static gradient conditions, which may become a gold standard of new drug investigations in the future.

[Silence of circBANP increases radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer cells and inhibits growth of subcutaneous xenografts by up-regulating miR-338-3p expression].

Objective: To investigate the effect of circBANP on radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer cells and subcutaneous transplanted tumor in nude mice and its potential molecular mechanism. Methods: The carcinoma and adjacent normal mucosal tissues of 20 patients with colorectal cancer who were surgically resected in Henan People's Hospital from January 2018 to January 2019 were selected. The radio-resistant colorectal cancer cell LoVo/R was established. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expressions of circBANP and miR-338-3p. The radiation sensitivity was determined by cell clone formation experiment. Cell vitality was detected by using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT). The expressions of autophagy-related protein microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) and p62 were detected by western blot. The fluorescence intensity of LC3 in cells was detected by immunofluorescence assay. The downstream microRNAs (miRNAs) of circBANP were predicted by Circular RNA Interactome website and further verified by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. The transplanted tumor model of LoVo/R cells in nude mice was established, and the effect of circBANP on the growth of transplanted tumor after radiation was observed. Results: The expression levels of circBANP and miR-338-3p in colorectal cancer tissues were 3.21+ 0.29 and 0.47+ 0.04, respectively, which were significantly higher than 1.00+ 0.07 and 1.00+ 0.05 in adjacent tissues (P<0.05). The circBANP expression level of LoVo/R cells was 3.21±0.34, higher than 1.00±0.07 of LoVo cells (P<0.05), and the expression level of miR-338-3p of LoVo/R cells was 0.33±0.04, lower than 1.00±0.08 of LoVo cells (P<0.05). After 4 Gy irradiation, compared with the control group, the viability of LoVo/R cells in the circBANP silencing group [(34±4)% vs (62±6)%, P<0.05], the cell survival fraction (0.07±0.02 vs 0.27±0.04, P<0.05) were decreased, and the radiation sensitization ratio was 1.843, the expression of LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰin LoVo/R cells increased while p62 expression decreased, the cell autophagy was observed. Autophagy inhibitor chloroquine reversed the increased expression of LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ and inhibited expression of p62 in LoVo/R cells induced by radiation, and promoted the suppression of cell viability and survival induced by radiation, the radiotherapy sensitization ratio was 1.780. Compared with control group after 4 Gy irradiation, the relative fluorescence intensity of LC3 in circBANP silencing LoVo/R cells decreased (0.11±0.01 vs 1.00±0.12, P<0.05), the expression of LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰdecreased (1.25±0.13 vs 3.84±0.39, P<0.05) while p62 expression increased (2.76±0.29 vs 1.00±0.08, P<0.05). As predicted by Circular RNA Interactome website and confirmed by double luciferase reporter gene assay, miR-338-3p was the target gene of circBANP. The relative fluorescence intensity of LC3 in circBANP silencing + anti-miR-338-3p + 4 Gy group increased (7.32±0.72 vs 1.00±0.09, P<0.05), the expression level of LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ increased (4.13±0.43 vs 2.31±0.23, P<0.05) while p62 expression decreased (0.34±0.03 and 1.00±0.11, P<0.05), the radiotherapy sensitization ratio was 0.596. Nude mice subcutaneously transplanted tumor experiment showed that the tumor volume and weight of circBANP silencing group on 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, and 31 days were lower than those of control group (P<0.05), while the tumor volume and weight of circBANP silencing + anti-miR-338-3p group on days of 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28 and 31 after inoculated were higher than those of circBANP+ anti-miR-NC group (P<0.05). Conclusions: CircBANP can regulate the radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer cells by regulating the expression of miR-338-3p, and affect the growth of transplanted tumor in nude mice. CircBANP may be a potential target for enhancing radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer cells.

Long noncoding RNA HOTAIR silencing inhibits invasion and proliferation of human colon cancer LoVo cells via regulating IGF2BP2.

Colon cancer is one of the most life-threatening malignancies worldwide. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) is a cancer-associated biomarker involved in the metastasis and prognosis of several cancers. However, whether and how HOTAIR affects colon cancer progression is still unclear. Consequently, we used RNA interference to knock down HOTAIR to explore its effects on human colon cancer cells. The dual luciferase reporter gene assay was initially used for testify the regulating relationship between lncRNA HOTAIR and insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2). We determined the expressions of HOTAIR, IGF2BP2, E-cadherin, and vimentin. Meanwhile, cell growth, cycle and apoptosis, migration, and invasion were assayed. LoVo cells were transplanted into nude mice, and tumor formation and microvessel density were evaluated. LncRNA HOTAIR positively regulated IGF2BP2. Besides, the expressions of HOTAIR and E-cadherin and the apoptosis were increased, while the expressions of IGF2BP2 and vimentin, the growth, invasion and migration of LoVo cells, the average tumor weight, and microvessel density value were decreased. Of importance, overexpressed IGF2BP2 could reverse the above impacts. Taken together, the current study indicates that silencing of HOTAIR could inhibit the invasion, proliferation, and migration, and promote apoptosis of colon cancer LoVo cells through suppressing IGF2BP2 and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Expression of lncRNA PVT1 in colorectal cancer tissues and cells and its effect on chemo-sensitivity to cisplatin and the possible mechanisms / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

@#Objective: To study the regulatory effects and possible mechanism of long non-coding RNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (lncRNA PVT1) on chemotherapy sensitivity to cisplatin (DDP) of colorectal cancer (CRC)．Methods: A total of 112 pairs of matched cancer and adjacent non-cancerous tissues were obtained from the CRC patients who underwent surgical resection in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University betweenApril 2006 and March 2011.All specimens were confirmed by pathological examinations. Tumor tissues and corresponding adjacent non-cancerous tissues from 30 cisplatin-sensitive CRC patients and 30 cisplatin-resistant patients were selected. Human CRC cell lines (HT29, SW480, HCT116, RKO and LoVo) and normal colonic epithelial cell line NCM460 were also collected for this study; and DDP-resistant RKO/DDP and LoVo/DDP cell lines were constructed. siPVT1, siNC, LV-PVT1 and LV-NC were transfected into LoVo and RKO cells or LoVo/DDP and RKO/DDP cells using lipofectamineTM2000. The expression of lncRNA PVT1 in CRC tissues and cells was tested by Real-time qPCR. CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry and WB were performed to test the effect of PTV1 knockout or enforcement on cell proliferation, apoptosis and expressions of apoptosis-related proteins, respectively. The CRC subcutaneous transplanted xenograft model was established on athymic nude mice to study the effect of PVT1 over-expression on tumor growth and DDP resistance. Results: PVT1 was highly expressed in the cancer tissues and CRC cells, and its expression was positively associated with cisplatin resistance of CRC. After knockdown of PVT1, the proliferation of cisplatinresistant CRC cells was significantly suppressed, while the apoptosis was significantly enhanced (P<0.05 or P<0.01); Mechanically, the levels of drug resistance-associated molecules, including MDR1 and MRP1, as well as the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 were significantly downregulated whereas the levels of pro-apoptotic Bax and cleaved caspase-3 were increased in PVT1-silenced DDP-resistant CRC cells. Over-expression of PVT1 reversely increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis of CRC cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In addition, PVT1 over-expression in CRC cells significantly promoted DDP-resistance in vivo (P<0.05). Conclusion: Collectively, knockdown of PVT1 expression can significantly suppress cell proliferation and promote apoptosis of DDP-resistant CRC cells. Overexpression of PVT1 can significantly promote the growth of CRC cells in vitro and transplanted xenograft in vivo. PVT1 regulates endogenous apoptosis pathways and further promotes the sensitivity of CRC cells to cisplatin chemotherapy via inhibiting the expressions of MDR1 and MRP1.

Thymoquinone suppresses migration of LoVo human colon cancer cells by reducing prostaglandin E2 induced COX-2 activation.

AIM: To identify potential anti-cancer constituents in natural extracts that inhibit cancer cell growth and migration. METHODS: Our experiments used high dose thymoquinone (TQ) as an inhibitor to arrest LoVo (a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line) cancer cell growth, which was detected by cell proliferation assay and immunoblotting assay. Low dose TQ did not significantly reduce LoVo cancer cell growth. Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is an enzyme that is involved in the conversion of arachidonic acid into prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in humans. PGE2 can promote COX-2 protein expression and tumor cell proliferation and was used as a control. RESULTS: Our results showed that 20 µmol/L TQ significantly reduced human LoVo colon cancer cell proliferation. TQ treatment reduced the levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-GSK3ß, and ß-catenin and thereby inhibited the downstream COX-2 expression. Results also showed that the reduction in COX-2 expression resulted in a reduction in PGE2 levels and the suppression of EP2 and EP4 activation. Further analysis showed that TG treatment inhibited the nuclear translocation of ß-catenin in LoVo cancer cells. The levels of the cofactors LEF-1 and TCF-4 were also decreased in the nucleus following TQ treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with low dose TQ inhibited the COX-2 expression at the transcriptional level and the regulation of COX-2 expression efficiently reduced LoVo cell migration. The results were further verified in vivo by confirming the effects of TQ and/or PGE2 using tumor xenografts in nude mice. CONCLUSION: TQ inhibits LoVo cancer cell growth and migration, and this result highlights the therapeutic advantage of using TQ in combination therapy against colorectal cancer.

Exposure to silver nanoparticles induces size- and dose-dependent oxidative stress and cytotoxicity in human colon carcinoma cells.

The antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have made these particles one of the most frequently utilized nanomaterials in consumer products; therefore, a comprehensive understanding of their toxicity is necessary. In particular, information about the cellular uptake and size dependence of AgNPs is insufficient. In this study, we evaluated the size-dependent effects of AgNPs by treating the human LoVo cell line, an intestinal epithelium model, with spherical AgNPs of well-defined sizes (10, 20, 40, 60 and 100nm). The cellular uptake was visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy, and various cytotoxicity parameters were analyzed in a size- and dose-dependent manner. In addition, the cellular proteomic response to 20 and 100nm AgNPs was investigated to increase the understanding of potential mechanisms of action. Our data indicated that cellular uptake and toxicity were regulated by size; smaller particles easily penetrated the cells, and 100nm particles did not. It was hypothesized that this size-dependent effect resulted from the stimulation of a signaling cascade that generated ROS and inflammatory markers, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and subsequently inducing apoptosis. By contrast, the cell proliferation, was independent of AgNPs particle size, indicating a differentially regulated, ROS-independent pathway.

Effects of high mechanical index ultrasound of radiation microbubble on the colon cancer cell skeletal / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To Study the effects of high mechanical index ultrasound radiation microbubble on colon cancer cell skeletal.Methods Lovo cell were cultured in vitro,and this study was divided into control group,simple contrast agent group,microbubble plus ultrasound radiation group and simple ultrasound radiation group.Ultrasound contrast agent SonoVue and ultransound (frequency 1.5 MHz and MI 1.7) were used.Results In the control group,the microtubes were densest in dyeing silk,and extended to the edge of a cell.In the ultrasound and microbubble group,the microtubes were weaker and thin,the.network was mainly in the structure of the long axis.The cells arranged in a slight pigmentation to the density cell,to reach out many fine short hair,there were obviously a sense of silk and directional.In the microbubble and ultrasound group,Lovo cells streamed of the central significantly reduced,fluorescent lighting,with short hair.There was no difference in the ultrasound group and the microbubble group with microfilament and microtubule.Conclusions High mechanical index ultrasound radiation can changed into vacant,a trace of the assembly and distributed to the tumor cells are attacking,the transfer of restraining.

Cloning of trichosanthin gene and its induction effects on the apoptpsis of colorectal carcinoma LoVo cell / 复旦学报（医学版）

Objective To clone cDNA of trichosanthin (TCS) and purify TCS, and to study its influence on apoptosis and growth inhibition of colorectal carcinoma LoVo cells in vitro. Methods MTT assay was adopted to measure the growth inhibition ratio of LoVo cells treated with TCS, and apoptosis was assayed by agarose gel eletrophoresis. Results The results showed that the higher concentration of TCS and the longer testing time, the stronger growth inhibition of LoVo cells. DNA agarose gel eletrophoresis showed a gradient, which confirmed that TCS could induce the apoptosis of LoVo cells. Conclusions TCS can inhibit the growth of LoVo cells in vitro and induce its apoptosis. Our study provides evidence for the application of TCS in clinical treatment of human colorectal carcinoma.

The in vitro apoptosis of human colon cancer cells induced by SFPS / 基础医学与临床

Objective To study the anti-tumor effects of SFPS against human colon cancer cells.Methods Inhibition of the cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay.SFPS induced apoptosis of lovo and RKO cells was observed by electron microscopy and flow cytometry.The potential of SFPS in inhibiting lovo and RKO cells viability was assessed by MTT assay.Results SFPS significantly exhibited antiproliferative activity which depended on dosage.Morphological examination showed chromosomal condensation, karyotheca margination,cell shrinkage and the presence of apoptosis bodies.The overall effect of SFPS on the cell cycle distribution was examined by flow cytometry.However,it was also found that SFPS arrested the human colon cancer cell line RKO at G0/G1 phase,and the RKO cells at S phase decreased significantly,while no change in cell cycle distribution from SFPS treated lovo cells was observed.Conclusion SFPS may induce the apoptosis of lovo and RKO cells in vitro through anti-tumor proliferation.