Phosphorylation and anti-tumor activity of exopolysaccharide from Lachnum YM120.

Phosphorylated polysaccharide PLEP-1a, with the PO4³â» content of 6.39%, was prepared from LEP-1a by phosphorylation. IR, (13)C NMR and (31)P NMR results of PLEP-1a showed that the original basic structure of the polysaccharide was not changed, and the -H2PO3 group was linked at C6 of LEP-1a. The results of anti-tumor experiments in vivo showed that 100 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of LEP-1a could significantly improve the food consumption, body weight, tumor inhibition rate and thymus index of S180 sarcoma mice, and increase the levels of SOD, IL-2 and TNF-α in mice blood serum, indicating that LEP-1a had an excellent anti-tumor activity. Furthermore, PLEP-1a had a significantly enhanced inhibitory effect on S180 sarcoma mice than LEP-1a, suggesting that phosphorylation is an effective way of improving the biological activity of LEP-1a.

In vivo growth inhibition of sarcoma 180 by latex proteins from Calotropis procera.

Latex of Calotropis procera has been described as a relevant source of pharmacologically active proteins, including proteins with anticancer activity. A previous in vitro study of laticifer proteins (LP) from C. procera reported that they had selective cytotoxic effects on human cancer cell lines. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of LP in vivo using mice transplanted with sarcoma 180. Biochemical, hematological, histopathological, and morphological analyses were performed in animals given LP by oral or intraperitoneal routes. LP significantly reduced tumor growth (51.83%) and augmented the survival time of animals for up to 4 days. Tumor growth inhibitory activity was lost when LP fraction was submitted to proteolysis, acidic treatment, or pretreated with iodoacetamide. However, LP retained its inhibitory activities on sarcoma 180 growth after heat treatment. Thus, it seems that heat-stable proteins are involved in tumor suppression. Biochemical parameters, such as the enzymatic activity of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase and urea content in serum were not affected in treated mice. It is worth noting that LP completely eliminated the 5-FU-induced depletion of leukocytes in mice even when given orally. The active proteins were recovered in a single fraction by ion exchange chromatography and still exhibited anticancer activity. This study confirms the pharmacological potential of proteins from the latex of C. procera to control sarcoma cell proliferation.

Methylglyoxal induced activation of murine peritoneal macrophages and surface markers of T lymphocytes in sarcoma-180 bearing mice: involvement of MAP kinase, NF-kappa beta signal transduction pathway.

Methylglyoxal profoundly stimulates host's immune response against tumor cell by producing reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI's) and reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI's) [Bhattacharyya, N., Pal, A., Patra, S., Haldar, A.K., Roy, S., Ray, M., 2008. Activation of macrophages and lymphocytes by methylglyoxal against tumor cells in the host. Int. Immunophar. 8 (11), 1503-1512]. Present study indicated that methylglyoxal stimulates iNOS activation by p38 MAPK-NF-kappa beta dependent pathway and ROS production by ERK and JNK activation in sarcoma-180 tumor bearing mice. Proinflammatory cytokines, for macrophage activation, IL-6 and IL-1 beta were also increased. Production of TLR 4 and TLR 9, which acts through the same signaling pathway, were also upregulated. Hence, concluded that methylglyoxal augmented the IL-6 and IL-1 beta, expression of TLR 4 and TLR 9 and produced MAPKs, important regulators of ROIs and RNIs. Methylglyoxal treatment also increased M-CSF, an upregulator of macrophage production. CD8 and CD4 molecules, associated with T(C) and T(H) cells respectively, were also increased. Overall methylglyoxal treatment is important for enhancement of macrophages and lymphocyte activation or immunomodulation against sarcoma-180 tumor.

Enzymes of creatine biosynthesis, arginine and methionine metabolism in normal and malignant cells.

The creatine/creatine kinase system decreases drastically in sarcoma. In the present study, an investigation of catalytic activities, western blot and mRNA expression unambiguously demonstrates the prominent expression of the creatine-synthesizing enzymes l-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase and N-guanidinoacetate methyltransferase in sarcoma, Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and Sarcoma 180 cells, whereas both enzymes were virtually undetectable in normal muscle. Compared to that of normal animals, these enzymes remained unaffected in the kidney or liver of sarcoma-bearing mice. High activity and expression of mitochondrial arginase II in sarcoma indicated increased ornithine formation. Slightly or moderately higher levels of ornithine, guanidinoacetate and creatinine were observed in sarcoma compared to muscle. Despite the intrinsically low level of creatine in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and Sarcoma 180 cells, these cells could significantly take up and release creatine, suggesting a functional creatine transport, as verified by measuring mRNA levels of creatine transporter. Transcript levels of arginase II, ornithine-decarboxylase, S-adenosyl-homocysteine hydrolase and methionine-synthase were significantly upregulated in sarcoma and in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and Sarcoma 180 cells. Overall, the enzymes related to creatine and arginine/methionine metabolism were found to be significantly upregulated in malignant cells. However, the low levels of creatine kinase in the same malignant cells do not appear to be sufficient for the building up of an effective creatine/phosphocreatine pool. Instead of supporting creatine biosynthesis, l-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase and N-guanidinoacetate methyltransferase appear to be geared to support cancer cell metabolism in the direction of polyamine and methionine synthesis because both these compounds are in high demand in proliferating cancer cells.

Membrane fluidity altering and enzyme inactivating in sarcoma 180 cells post the exposure to sonoactivated hematoporphyrin in vitro.

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a novel tumor therapy method. We investigated membrane fluidity, activity of the enzymes and membrane morphology in vitro post hematoporphyrin-SDT treatment. Furthermore, the potential mechanisms behind the changes in membrane fluidity and enzymic activity were discussed. Tumor cells were exposed to ultrasound at 1.75 MHz for up to 3 min in the presence and absence of hematoporphyrin. Fluorescence polarization, contents of Malonaldehyde, and levels of free fatty acid were assessed. Activity of enzymes was checked by the plumbic nitrate detection method. For the morphologic study, a scanning electron microscope was used to observe the cellular surface. Ultrasonically induced cell damage increased in the presence of HPD (from 15% to 24%). Compared with ultrasound treatment alone, the fluidity decreased from 5.037 to 3.908, malonaldehyde content and free fatty acid level increased from 0.743 nmol/mL to 0.97 9 nmol/mL and from 237.180 micromol/L to 730.769 micromol/L, respectively, post ultrasound combined with HPD treatment. Inactivity of adenylate cyclase and guanylate cyclase and significant deformation of the cellular surface were also observed post SDT treatment. Our results suggested that alterations in membrane modality and lipid composition played important roles in SDT-mediated inhibition of tumor growth, even inducing tumor cell death, which might be attributed to a sono-chemical activation mechanism.

[The effect of tetrandrine on the expression of the P170, LRP and TOPO II in S180's tumor cell induced by chemotherapy in the mice with acquired multi-drug resistance].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of tetrandrine on the P170 production expressed by multi-drug resistance gene, lung resistant protein (LRP), and topoisomeras II and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism. METHOD: Cellular model of multi-drug resistance was established in S180 tumor cell by means of the scheme of PFC chemotherapy at the dosage lower than that with curative effect. P170, LRP and TOPO II were measured by flow cytometry after the mouse model was treated with tetrandrine for 4 weeks. RESULT: tetrandrine obviously reduced the enhancement of express of P170, LRP and the activity of TOPO II in the tumor cells with multi-drug resistance induced by chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Tetrandrine significantly inhibits the multi-drug resistance of tumor cells induced by chemotherapy via diminishing both the expression of multi-drug resistance gene and the activity of topoisomeras II.

Enhancement of the anti-tumor activity of S-1 by low-dose cisplatin in mice bearing the sarcoma-180 model.

The combination of S-1, consisting of 1 mol/l tegafur, 0.4 mol/l 5-chloro-2,4-dihydroxypyridine and 1 mol/l potassium oxonate, plus low-dose cisplatin has showed promising anti-tumor activities in experimental and clinical studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of this combination chemotherapy. Mice bearing sarcoma-180 cells were divided into groups of seven animals each - Group A: no treatment; Group B: 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 10 mg/kg continuous i.p. infusion; Group C: S-1 10 mg/kg p.o.; Group D: cisplatin 0.2 mg/kg i.p.; Group E: B+D; Group F: C+D. Treatments were given for 5 consecutive days, and then anti-tumor activity, the concentration of 5-FU, the thymidylate synthase inhibition rate (TSIR) and the level of 5-FU incorporated into RNA (F-RNA) in tumor tissue were evaluated. Anti-tumor activity in Group F was higher than in any other group. A significantly higher concentration of 5-FU in tumor was detected in the S-1-treated groups (C and F) than in the 5-FU-treated groups (B and E). No differences in TSIR were observed between the groups treated with 5-FU or S-1 with or without cisplatin; however, the F-RNA level in Group F was about 1.24 times significantly higher than that in Group C. Group F showed the highest anti-tumor activity, with increasing intratumoral levels of 5-FU and F-RNA, but not that of TSIR. These results suggested that the superior anti-tumor activity obtained by S-1+cisplatin might be associated with an incorporation of 5-FU into RNA.

Synergistic anti-tumor effect of ultrasound and hematoporphyrin on sarcoma180 cells with special reference to the changes of morphology and cytochrome oxidase activity of tumor cells.

This study is aimed at evaluating the inhibitory effects of the association of hematoporphyrin and ultrasound at variable intensities with a fixed frequency of 1.1MHz in tumor nodules. Specifically, the effects were studied both in solid and ascitic S180 tumors transplanted in mice by clinical, cytochemical and ultrastructural evaluation. The results indicated that the use of hematoporphyrin alone had no significant effect on destroying tumor cells. The ultrasound alone had little effect. Interestingly, the inhibition was much more effective when hematoporphyrin was combined with ultrasound. The inhibition was 3 times better than ultrasound alone and 8 times better than hematoporphyrin used alone. Our results also indicated that the changes on cell structure and cytochrome oxidation activity are important factors that could inhibit tumor cell growth and induce cell death. Apoptosis of tumor cells could be induced by hematoporphyrin. Our study investigated the killing mechanism on S180 tumor cells by using hematoporphyrin and low frequency ultrasound at cell, tissue and individual level.

COX-2/VEGF-dependent facilitation of tumor-associated angiogenesis and tumor growth in vivo.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are known to suppress the occurrence and progression of malignancies such as colorectal cancers. However, the precise mechanism of these actions remains unknown. We have evaluated the role of an inducible cyclo-oxygenase (COX-2) in tumor-associated angiogenesis and tumor growth, and identified the downstream molecules involved using a ddy mouse model of sponge angiogenesis, which mimics tumor angiogenesis and is COX-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) dependent. In this model, VEGF expression was down-regulated by selective COX-2 inhibition with NS-398. To find out the involvement of COX-2/VEGF pathway in tumor-associated angiogenesis, we estimated angiogenesis occurring around implanted Millipore chambers containing sarcoma-180 (S-180) cells or Lewis lung carcinoma cells. Daily oral administration of NS-398 or of aspirin, a nonselective COX inhibitor, suppressed angiogenesis seen around the Millipore chambers. S-180 cells implanted in ddy mice formed substantial tumors with extensive angiogenesis markedly suppressed by aspirin and COX-2 inhibitors NS-398 and JTE522, but not by mofezolac, an inhibitor of constitutive COX-1. Tumor-associated angiogenesis was also significantly suppressed by a neutralizing antibody against VEGF. S-180 tumor growth in the subcutaneous tissues was also suppressed by aspirin, COX-2 selective inhibitors, and the VEGF antibody, but not by the COX-1 inhibitor. These results demonstrate that the inhibition of the COX-2/VEGF-dependent pathway was effective in tumor-associated angiogenesis, tumor growth, and tumor metastasis.

Differential inductions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 in host tissues during the growth of ascitic sarcoma 180 cells in mice.

This study was designed to investigate the changes of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 in host tissues in response to the growth of tumor cells. Zymogram showed that the responses of both MMPs in the host tissues were differential but concurrent. The liver, a prime target of metastases, had profound increases in MMP-2 and -9. The other usual targets had significant increases in MMP-9. MMP-2 was specifically increased in the spleen. These results indicate that the growth of tumor cells at the primary site could influence the MMP system of host tissues located at the distance.

Enhanced vascular permeability in solid tumor involving peroxynitrite and matrix metalloproteinases.

Peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)), which is generated from nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide anion (O(2)(.-)) under pathological conditions, plays an important role in pathophysiological processes. Activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) contributes to tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. NO mediates the enhanced vascular permeability and retention (EPR) effect in solid tumors, and ONOO(-)activates proMMP to MMP in vitro. In this study, we examined the role of ONOO(-)in the EPR effect in solid tumors and normal tissues as related to MMP activation. Authentic ONOO(-), at 50 nmol or higher concentrations, induced the enhanced vascular permeability in normal dorsal skin of mice. ONOO(-)scavengers ebselen and uric acid significantly suppressed the EPR effect in mouse sarcoma 180 (S-180) tumors. Indirect evidence for formation of ONOO(-)in S-180 and mouse colon adenocarcinoma (C-38) tumors included strong immunostaining for nitrotyrosine in the tumor tissue, predominantly surrounding the tumor vessels. MMP inhibitor BE16627B (66.6 mg / kg i.v., given 2 times) or SI-27 (10 mg / kg i.p., given 2 times) significantly suppressed the ONOO(-)-induced EPR effect in S-180 tumors and in normal skin. Soybean trypsin inhibitor (Kunitz type), broad-spectrum proteinase inhibitor ovomacroglobulin, and bradykinin receptor antagonist HOE 140 also significantly suppressed the ONOO(-)-induced EPR effect in normal skin tissues. These data suggest that ONOO(-)may be involved in and promote the EPR effect in tumors, which could be mediated partly through activation of MMPs and a subsequent proteinase cascade to generate potent vasoactive mediators such as bradykinin.

[Experimental study on effect of fuzheng yiliu decoction on tumor cell cycle and telomerease].

OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of anti-tumor effect of Fuzheng Yiliu Decoction (FZYLD). METHODS: S180 neoplasm strain was inoculated in Kunming mice to establish model of S180 solid tumor. The model animals were treated with FZYLD by gastrogavage, the cell cycle of tumor were checked up by flow cytometer and the telomerease kit was used to test telomerease activity. RESULTS: The stage G0/1 ratio of tumor cells in model animals treated with FZYLD increased, while cells of S stage decreased, with telomerease activity inhibited. These changes were different significantly from those in the model animals treated with normal saline (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: FZYLD could block the tumor cell proliferation procedure and inhibit the DNA synthesis and duplication in tumor cell. And the suppression of telomerease activity might be one of the mechanisms affecting the tumor cell proliferation cycle.

Neovascularisation offers a new perspective to glutamine related therapy.

Angiogenesis or the generation of new blood vessel, is an important factor in the growth of a solid tumor. Hence, it becomes a necessary parameter of any kind of therapeutic study. Glutamine is an essential nutrient of tumor tissue and glutamine related therapy involves clearance of circulatory glutamine by glutaminase. Therefore, using different murine solid tumor models, the present study was undertaken to find out whether the S-180 cell glutaminase has any effect on angiogenesis of solid tumor, or not. Result indicates that the purified S-180 cell glutaminase reduces tumor volume and restrict the generation of neo blood vessels. Therefore, it can be concluded that this enzyme may be an effective device against the cancer metastasis.

Isolation and purification of phosphate dependent glutaminase from sarcoma-180 tumor and its antineoplastic effects on murine model system.

High rate of glutamine use is a characteristic of tumor cell both in vivo and in vitro and experimental cancer therapies have developed by depriving tumor cells of glutamine. In several investigations, bacterial glutaminase was found to be a potent therapeutic agent against varieties of tumor, but it showed suppressive effects on haematopoietic systems and inhibitory effects on normal lymphocytic blastogenesis. No antineoplastic study has nevertheless been undertaken with glutaminase enzyme purified from mammalian source. In the present study we report the purification of glutaminase enzyme from mitochondria of highly malignant S-180 cell using ion exchange chromatography and affinity column chromatography of glutamine. Purified enzyme is a kidney type phosphate dependent glutaminase with Mr 64 KD. Effect of enzyme therapy has been investigated in transplantable as well as induced tumor model in both ascites and solid form. It has been observed that the enzyme at the total dose of 10 unit/mouse successfully inhibited the tumor burden both in ascitic and solid tumor and subsequently increases the host's life span. There was no significant toxic effect on the peripheral blood cells.

Nucleosides and nucleotides. 175. Structural requirements of the sugar moiety for the antitumor activities of new nucleoside antimetabolites, 1-(3-C-ethynyl-beta-D-ribo-pentofuranosyl)cytosine and -uracil1.

We previously designed 1-(3-C-ethynyl-beta-d-ribo-pentofuranosyl)uracil (EUrd) and its cytosine congener (ECyd) as potential multifunctional antitumor nucleoside antimetabolites. They showed potent and broad-spectrum antitumor activity against various human and mouse tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. To clarify the structure-activity relationship of the sugar moiety, various 3'-C-carbon-substituted analogues, such as 1-propynyl, 1-butynyl, ethenyl, ethyl, and cyclopropyl derivatives, of ECyd and EUrd were synthesized. We also prepared 3'-deoxy analogues and 3'-homologues of ECyd and EUrd with different configurations to determine the role of the 3'-hydroxyl group and the length between the 3'-carbon atom and the ethynyl group and a 2'-ethynyl derivative of ECyd to determine the spatial requirements of the ethynyl group. The in vitro tumor cell growth inhibitory activities of these nucleosides against mouse leukemic L1210 and human KB cells showed that ECyd and EUrd were the most potent inhibitors in the series, with IC50 values of 0.016 and 0.13 microM for L1210 cells and 0.028 and 0.029 microM for KB cells, respectively. Only 3'-C-1-propynyl and -ethenyl derivatives of ECyd showed greatly reduced cytotoxicity. We found that the cytotoxic activity of these nucleosides predominantly depended on their first phosphorylation by uridine/cytidine kinase.

Increase of alkaline phosphatase in multidrug-resistant tumor cells and their cross-resistance to 6-thioguanine.

The expression of alkaline phosphatase (AP) was analyzed in multidrug-resistant (MDR) tumor cells (sarcoma 180, lung carcinoma, and renal cell carcinoma cell lines) by means of immunocytochemistry. MDR cell cultures showed an overexpression of AP and a cross-resistance to 6-thioguanine (6-TG, CAS 154-42-7). Significant correlations between AP expression and doxorubicin or vincristine resistance and P-glycoprotein (P-170) expression were found in these cell cultures. A specific AP inhibitor, levamisole, reversed resistance to 6-TG, but not to doxorubicin. This indicates that 6-TG resistance is certainly associated to P-170 but a causal function of AP for the development of MDR does not exist.

Protection of mRNA against nucleases in cytoplasmic extracts of mouse sarcoma ascites cells.

The mRNA present in extracts of mouse sarcoma 180 (S-180) ascites cells is relatively resistant to degradation when compared to added tracer ribosomal RNA. Deproteinized mRNA added to the extract is about as resistant as the endogenous mRNA, an indication that the protection is not due to any protein present in the endogenous mRNP structure. A major determinant of protection lies at the 5' end of RNA chains, where the presence of a triphosphate or a cap enhances the stability of mRNA transcripts. Addition of poly(A) to a capped transcript had little effect on stability. Stabilization by the cap structure is apparently not due to association of transcripts with a cap-binding protein. The discrimination in RNA decay rates appears to be based on interaction of the different RNA species with an exonuclease, which represents the predominant ribonuclease activity in the extract. Other major cytoplasmic nucleases are suppressed by an RNase inhibitor that is present in excess.

A 5' exoribonuclease from cytoplasmic extracts of mouse sarcoma 180 ascites cells.

An exonuclease that appears to represent the predominant nuclease activity in cytoplasmic extracts of sarcoma 180 ascites cells has been partially purified and characterized. The enzyme attacks RNA chains in a 5' to 3' direction, and releases 5'-mononucleotides. The initial cleavage, however, can occur at either the first, second and probably third phosphodiester linkage in some RNAs. The enzyme attacks transcripts terminated with a 5'-triphosphate more slowly than those with a 5' monophosphate, and releases a compound larger than GTP from transcripts that begin with a pppG. Capped transcripts are cleaved at least as readily as those with a 5'-P, yielding a compound larger than 7mGpppGm. The occurrence of an such an exonuclease capable of attacking capped RNAs would make it possible for mammalian cells to initiate mRNA degradation by a 5' exonucleolytic mechanism.

Schedule-dependent inhibition of thymidylate synthase by 5-fluorouracil in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: An optimal treatment schedule of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) remains to be clarified. METHODS: A randomized study was conducted to investigate schedule-dependent thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibition by 5-FU in 16 patients with gastric cancer who underwent surgical resection. Surgical specimens of tumor, normal gastric mucosa, and regional lymph nodes were obtained 12 hours after administration of 5-FU either as a continuous infusion (1000 mg/m2 for 48 hours) or as a bolus injection (500 mg/m2 x 2 in 48 hours). RESULTS: The total TS activity (567.8 +/- 294 fmol/mg protein) and the rate of TS inhibition (74.7 +/- 23.1%) in cancer tissues were significantly higher in the continuous-infusion group than in the bolus-injection group (228.5 +/- 104.6 fmol/mg protein and 48.8 +/- 12%, respectively). Likewise, the total TS activity (807.4 +/- 440.3 fmol/mg protein) and the rates of TS inhibition in lymph nodes (72.3 +/- 17.1%) and in normal gastric mucosa (85.1 +/- 12.2%) were significantly higher in the continuous-infusion group than those in the bolus-injection group (232.4 +/- 142.3 fmol/mg protein and 53.6 +/- 17.0% in lymph nodes and 46.5 +/- 14.3% in normal gastric mucosa, respectively). There was a significant correlation between the total TS activity and TS inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous infusion of 5-FU provides a superior antimetabolic effect in the treatment of gastric cancer, which may lead to a superior antitumor effect.