Tristetraprolin: A novel target of diallyl disulfide that inhibits the progression of breast cancer.

Diallyl disulfide (DADS), a volatile component of garlic oil, has various biological properties, including antioxidant, antiangiogenic and anticancer effects. The present study aimed to explore novel targets of DADS that may slow or stop the progression of breast cancer. First, xenograft tumor models were created by subcutaneously injecting MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells into nude mice. Subsequently, western blot analysis was performed to investigate the expression of tristetraprolin (TTP), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the xenograft tumors, and cell cultures. Tablet cloning, Transwell and wound healing assays revealed that DADS treatment significantly inhibited the proliferation, invasion and migration of breast cancer cells. In addition, DADS treatment led to significant downregulation of uPA and MMP-9 protein expression, but significantly upregulated TTP expression in vivo and in vitro. Knocking down TTP expression using small interfering RNA reversed the aforementioned effects of DADS, which suggests TTP is a key target of DADS in inhibiting the progression of breast cancer.

[Diallyl disulfide inhibits invasion and metastasis of MCF-7 breast cancer cells in vitro by down-regulating p38 activity].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of diallyl disulfide (DADS) on invasion and metastasis of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and explore the possible mechanism. METHODS: MCF-7 cells treated with 100, 200, and 400 µmol/L of DADS for 24 h were examined for cell invasion and migration capacities using Transwell assay and wound healing assay, respectively. The protein expression of E-cadherin, vimentin, MMP-9 and p-p38 in the cells were detected with Western blotting. The effect of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) as the agonist of p38 activity was tested in antagonizing the effects of DADS. RESULTS: DADS inhibited the invasion and migration of MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner, down-regulated the protein expression of Vimentin and MMP-9 and up-regulated E-cadherin expression in the cells. Treatment with TGF-ß1 to up-regulate p38 activity obviously antagonized the inhibitory effect of DADS on the invasion and metastasis of MCF-7 cells. CONCLUSION: DADS can inhibit the invasion and metastasis of MCF-7 cells in vitro by down-regulating p38 activity.

Selective growth of Au nanoparticles on (111) facets of Cu2O microcrystals with an enhanced electrocatalytic property.

The selective growth of Au nanoparticles on (111) facets of truncated octahedral and cuboctahedral Cu(2)O crystals has been achieved by exploiting the differences in the standard potential between AuCl(4)(-)/Au and Cu(2+)/Cu(2)O pairs and in surface energies between (111) and (100) planes. The density and size of Au nanoparticles can be controlled by tuning the concentration of the gold precursor. Truncated octahedral Cu(2)O-Au nanocomposites have a 10 times higher electrochemically catalytic activity toward H(2)O(2) reduction than do pure Cu(2)O crystals. The enhanced catalysis may be derived from the polarization of Au NPs at the interface, which makes Cu(2)O more active for H(2)O(2) reduction.

Graphene oxide sheet-prussian blue nanocomposites: green synthesis and their extraordinary electrochemical properties.

A facile and green method for the synthesis of graphene oxide sheets (GOs)-prussian blue nanocomposites has been presented via a spontaneous redox reaction in a aqueous solution containing FeCl3, K3[Fe(CN)6] and graphene oxide sheets. Electrochemical property investigation demonstrates PB nanocubes formed on the surface of GOs retain their excellent electrochemical activity and the GOs can enhance the electron transfer between PB and GC electrode. Moreover, the obtained nanocomposites even have shown a higher sensitivity toward the electrocatalytical reduction of H2O2 than that of multiwalled carbon nanotube/PB nanocomposites. Given their extraordinary electrochemical properties and the green preparation, as-prepared GO-PB nanocomposites have great potential in the field of electrochemical sensor and biofuel cell.