The Anticancer Effects of the Garlic Organosulfide Diallyl Trisulfide through the Attenuation of B[a]P-Induced Oxidative Stress, AhR Expression, and DNA Damage in Human Premalignant Breast Epithelial (MCF-10AT1) Cells.

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is the most characterized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon associated with breast cancer. Our lab previously reported that the organosulfur compound (OSC), diallyl trisulfide (DATS), chemoprevention mechanism works through the induction of cell cycle arrest and a reduction in oxidative stress and DNA damage in normal breast epithelial cells. We hypothesize that DATS will inhibit B[a]P-induced cancer initiation in premalignant breast epithelial (MCF-10AT1) cells. In this study, we evaluated the ability of DATS to attenuate B[a]P-induced neoplastic transformation in MCF-10AT1 cells by measuring biological endpoints such as proliferation, clonogenicity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) DNA damage levels, as well as DNA repair and antioxidant proteins. The results indicate that B[a]P induced proliferation, clonogenic formation, ROS formation, and 8-OHdG levels, as well as increasing AhR, ARNT/HIF-1ß, and CYP1A1 protein expression compared with the control in MCF-10AT1 cells. B[a]P/DATS's co-treatment (CoTx) inhibited cell proliferation, clonogenic formation, ROS formation, AhR protein expression, and 8-OHdG levels compared with B[a]P alone and attenuated all the above-mentioned B[a]P-induced changes in protein expression, causing a chemopreventive effect. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that DATS prevents premalignant breast cells from undergoing B[a]P-induced neoplastic transformation, thus providing more evidence for its chemopreventive effects in breast cancer.

Involvement of AKT/PI3K Pathway in Sanguinarine's Induced Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest in Triple-negative Breast Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Chemotherapy resistance in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells is well documented. Therefore, it is necessary to develop safer and more effective therapeutic agents to enhance the outcomes of chemotherapeutic agents. The natural alkaloid sanguinarine (SANG) has demonstrated therapeutic synergy when coupled with chemotherapeutic agents. SANG can also induce cell cycle arrest and trigger apoptosis in various cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism underlying SANG activity in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells as two genetically different models of TNBC. We employed various assays including Alamar Blue to measure the effect of SANG on cell viability and proliferation rate, flow cytometry analysis to study the potential of the compound to induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, quantitative qRT PCR apoptosis array to measure the expression of different genes mediating apoptosis, and the western system was used to analyze the impact of the compound on AKT protein expression. RESULTS: SANG lowered cell viability and disrupted cell cycle progression in both cell lines. Furthermore, S-phase cell cycle arrest-mediated apoptosis was found to be the primary contributor to cell growth inhibition in MDA-MB-231 cells. SANG-treated TNBC cells showed significantly up-regulated mRNA expression of 18 genes associated with apoptosis, including eight TNF receptor superfamily (TNFRSF), three members of the BCL2 family, and two members of the caspase (CASP) family in MDA-MB-468 cells. In MDA-MB-231 cells, two members of the TNF superfamily and four members of the BCL2 family were affected. The western study data showed the inhibition of AKT protein expression in both cell lines concurrent with up-regulated BCL2L11 gene. Our results point to the AKT/PI3K signaling pathway as one of the key mechanisms behind SANG-induced cell cycle arrest and death. CONCLUSION: SANG shows anticancer properties and apoptosis-related gene expression changes in the two TNBC cell lines and suggests AKT/PI3K pathway implication in apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest. Thus, we propose SANG's potential as a solitary or supplementary treatment agent against TNBC.

Diallyl Sulfide Attenuation of Carcinogenesis in Mammary Epithelial Cells through the Inhibition of ROS Formation, and DNA Strand Breaks.

Garlic has long been used medicinally for many diseases, including cancer. One of the active garlic components is diallyl sulfide (DAS), which prevents carcinogenesis and reduces the incidence rate of several cancers. In this study, non-cancerous MCF-10A cells were used as a model to investigate the effect of DAS on Benzo (a)pyrene (BaP)-induced cellular carcinogenesis. The cells were evaluated based on changes in proliferation, cell cycle arrest, the formation of peroxides, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels, the generation of DNA strand breaks, and DNA Polymerase ß (Pol ß) expression. The results obtained indicate that when co-treated with BaP, DAS inhibited BaP-induced cell proliferation (p < 0.05) to levels similar to the negative control. BaP treatment results in a two-fold increase in the accumulation of cells in the G2/M-phase of the cell cycle, which is restored to baseline levels, similar to untreated cells and vehicle-treated cells, when pretreated with 6 µM and 60 µM DAS, respectively. Co-treatment with DAS (60 µM and 600 µM) inhibited BaP-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation by 132% and 133%, respectively, as determined by the accumulation of H2O2 in the extracellular medium and an increase in 8-OHdG levels of treated cells. All DAS concentrations inhibited BaP-induced DNA strand breaks through co-treatment and pre-treatment methods at all time points evaluated. Co-Treatment with 60 µM DAS increased DNA Pol ß expression in response to BaP-induced lipid peroxidation and oxidative DNA damage. These results indicate that DAS effectively inhibited BaP-induced cell proliferation, cell cycle transitions, ROS, and DNA damage in an MCF-10A cell line. These results provide more experimental evidence for garlic's antitumor abilities and corroborate many epidemiological studies regarding the association between the increased intake of garlic and the reduced risk of several types of cancer.

Human umbilical cord blood cells decrease microglial survival in vitro.

When human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) cells are systemically administered following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats, they produce a reduction in infarct size resulting in recovery of motor function. Rats receiving HUCB cells have a less severe inflammatory response compared to MCAO stroke rats. The purpose of this study was to determine the interaction between HUCB cells and the main resident immune cells of the brain (microglia) under normoxic and hypoxic conditions in vitro. Primary microglial cultures were incubated for 2 h in no oxygen (95% N, 5% CO(2)) and low glucose (1%) media. Mononuclear HUCB cells were added to half the cultures at the beginning of the hypoxia conditions. Microglial viability was determined using fluorescein diacetate/propidium iodide (FDA/PI) labeling and cytokine expression using ELISA. In some studies, CD11b+ or CD19+ cells isolated from the HUCB mononuclear fraction with magnetic antibody cell sorting (MACS) were used instead of the mononuclear fraction. Co-culturing mononuclear HUCB cells with microglia decreased viability of the microglia during hypoxia. In the microglial monocultures, hypoxia significantly increased release of IL-1beta compared to normoxia, while adding HUCB cells in the hypoxia condition decreased IL-1beta concentrations to the same level as in the normoxia monocultures. Both CD11b+ and CD19+ HUCB cells decreased microglial viability during normoxia and hypoxia. Our data suggest that HUCB cells may produce a soluble factor that decreases viability of microglia.

Blockade of adrenoreceptors inhibits the splenic response to stroke.

Recent studies have highlighted the involvement of the peripheral immune system in delayed cellular degeneration after stroke. In the permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of stroke, the spleen decreases in size. This reduction occurs through the release of splenic immune cells. Systemic treatment with human umbilical cord blood cells (HUCBC) 24 h post-stroke blocks the reduction in spleen size while significantly reducing infarct volume. Splenectomy 2 weeks prior to MCAO also reduces infarct volume, further demonstrating the detrimental role of this organ in stroke-induced neurodegeneration. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system after MCAO results in elevated catecholamine levels both at the level of the spleen, through direct splenic innervation, and throughout the systemic circulation upon release from the adrenal medulla. These catecholamines bind to splenic alpha and beta adrenoreceptors. This study examines whether catecholamines regulate the splenic response to stroke. Male Sprague-Dawley rats either underwent splenic denervation 2 weeks prior to MCAO or received injections of carvedilol, a pan adrenergic receptor blocker, prazosin, an alpha1 receptor blocker, or propranolol, a beta receptor blocker. Denervation was confirmed by reduced splenic expression of tyrosine hydroxylase. Denervation prior to MCAO did not alter infarct volume or spleen size. Propranolol treatment also had no effects on these outcomes. Treatment with either prazosin or carvedilol prevented the reduction in spleen size, yet only carvedilol significantly reduced infarct volume (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that circulating blood borne catecholamines regulate the splenic response to stroke through the activation of both alpha and beta adrenergic receptors.

Hydrogen peroxide induces lysosomal protease alterations in PC12 cells.

Alterations in lysosomal proteases have been implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases. The current study demonstrates a concentration-dependent decrease in PC12 cell viability and transient changes in cystatin C (CYSC), cathepsin B (CATB), cathepsin D (CATD) and caspase-3 following exposure to H2O2. Furthermore, activation of CATD occurred following exposure to H2O2 and cysteine protease suppression, while inhibition of CATD with pepstatin A significantly improved cell viability. Additionally, significant PARP cleavage, suggestive of caspase-3-like activity, was observed following H2O2 exposure, while inhibition of caspase-3 significantly increased cell viability compared to H2O2 administration alone. Collectively, our data suggest that H2O2 induced cell death is regulated at least in part by caspase-3 and CATD. Furthermore, cysteine protease suppression increases CATD expression and activity. These studies provide insight for alternate pathways and potential therapeutic targets of cell death associated with oxidative stress and lysosomal protease alterations.

6-Hydroxydopamine induces cystatin C-mediated cysteine protease suppression and cathepsin D activation.

Alteration in the lysosomal system (LS) may represent a central mechanism in neurodegeneration. 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) induces oxidative stress and cell death in catecholaminergic cells. The LS and caspases participate in apoptosis, although the mechanism(s) that is involved is not completely understood. Here, we show that Pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells exposed to 6-OHDA results in lysosomal dysregulation, caspase activation and cell death. Cells exposed to 6-OHDA increased expression and release of cystatin C (CC) and suppressed cathepsin B (CB). CB activity significantly declined 24h following exposure to 6-OHDA, however neutralization of CC restored CB activity. Cathepsin D (CD) and caspase-3 activity also increased following exposure to 6-OHDA. Inhibition of CD and caspase-3 with pepstatin A (PA) and DEVD-Cho, respectively, attenuated the 6-OHDA induced cell death at 48 and 72 h. However, the CB inhibitor CA-074 Me failed to protect cells. Additionally, poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage was evaluated after exposure to 6-OHDA and PA, CA-074 Me, and DEVD-Cho. Only DEVD-Cho significantly decreased PARP cleavage following exposure to 6-OHDA. Hence, caspase-3 mediated PARP cleavage following exposure to 6-OHDA appears independent of CB and CD alterations. These studies suggest alternate pathways and potential therapeutic targets of cell death associated with oxidative stress, CC, and lysosomal dysregulation.

Enhanced cystatin C and lysosomal protease expression following 6-hydroxydopamine exposure.

6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) is a selective neurotoxin used to induce apoptosis in catecholamine-containing neurons. Although biochemical products and reactive oxygen species (ROS) of 6-OHDA have been well documented, the activation of cellular pathways following exposure are not well understood. Apoptosis in PC12 (Pheochromocytoma) cells was induced by 6-OHDA in a dose (10-150 microM) and time-dependent (24-72 h) manner compared to experimental controls (no treatment). PC 12 cells exposed to 50 microM 6-OHDA demonstrated the involvement of caspase 3 and lysosomal protease alterations. Following 6-OHDA exposure, the caspase 3-like inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO significantly decreased 6-OHDA induced cell death. In addition, alterations in expression of the lysosomal cysteine and aspartic proteases, cathepsin B (CB) and cathepsin D (CD) and the endogenous cysteine protease inhibitor cystatin C were observed utilizing immunocytochemical analysis at 24, 48, and 72 h following 6-OHDA exposure. Furthermore, CB and CD and cystatin C immuno-like reactivity was more pronounced in TUNEL positive cells. Moreover, Western blot analysis confirmed a significant increase in protein expression for CB and CD at 72 h and a temporal and concentration dependent increase in cystatin C in response to 6-OHDA. Cells treated with pepstatin A, an inhibitor for CD, showed a significant decrease in cell death, however, CA-074ME, a specific inhibitor for CB, failed to protect cells from 6-OHDA induced cell death. Thus, these results suggest that apoptosis induced by 6-OHDA exposure is mediated in part through caspase 3 activation and lysosomal protease CD.