ABT-737 sensitizes curcumin-induced anti-melanoma cell activity through facilitating mPTP death pathway.

In the current study, we studied the potential role of ABT-737, a novel Bcl-2 inhibitor, on curcumin-induced anti-melanoma cell activity in vitro. The associated mechanisms were also investigated. We demonstrated that ABT-737 significantly sensitized curcumin-induced activity against melanoma cells (WM-115 and B16 lines), resulting in substantial cell death and apoptosis with co-administration. At the molecular level, curcumin and ABT-737 synergistically induced mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening in melanoma cells, the latter was evidenced by mitochondrial membrane potential (MPP) reduction and mitochondrial complexation between cyclophilin-D (CyPD) and adenine nucleotide translocator 1 (ANT-1). Significantly, mPTP blockers, including cyclosporin A and sanglifehrin A, remarkably inhibited curcumin and ABT-737 co-administration-induced cytotoxicity against melanoma cells. Meanwhile, siRNA-mediated knockdown of CyPD or ANT-1, the two key components of mPTP, alleviated WM-116 cell death by the co-treatment. Collectively, we show that ABT-737 sensitizes curcumin-induced anti-melanoma cell activity probably through facilitating mPTP death pathway. ABT-737 could be further investigated as a potential curcumin adjuvant in melanoma and other cancer treatment.

[Retracted] Antitumor­ and apoptosis­inducing effects of pomolic acid against SK­MEL­2 human malignant melanoma cells are mediated via inhibition of cell migration and sub­G1 cell cycle arrest.

Following the publication of the above paper, a concerned reader drew to the Editor's attention that several figures (Figs. 3­8 inclusive) contained apparent anomalies, including repeated patternings of data within the same figure panels. After having conducted an independent investigation in the Editorial Office, the Editor of Molecular Medicine Reports has determined that the above paper should be retracted from the Journal on account of a lack of confidence concerning the originality and the authenticity of the data. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office never received any reply. The Editor regrets any inconvenience that has been caused to the readership of the Journal. [the original article was published on Molecular Medicine Reports 17: 1035­1040, 2018; DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017.7977].

The effect of phytohormones on safflower regeneration plant.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of phytohormones on the regeneration of safflower, in order to provide a foundation for the rapid propagation of safflower seeds and genetic transformation. METHODS: The experiment used the cotyledons as the explant and studied the influence of calli induction, differentiation and rooting by phytohormones. RESULTS: 1. Different hormones by single using induced calli, but didn't directly produce adventitious buds; 2. With the combination of different phytohormones on the differentiation of adventitious buds were significantly different, the roots were also significantly different; 3. Cotyledon calli induction medium: MS + 3% Sucrose + 0.7% Agar + 1.0 mg/L NAA; differentiation medium: MS + 3% Sucrose + 0.7% Agar + 0.2 mg/L NAA + 1.0 mg/L 6-BA; rooting medium: 1/4 MS + 2.0 mg/L NAA + 0.5 mg/L IAA. CONCLUSION: We have screened out the best culture medium of calli induction, differentiation and rooting via using singularity phytohormone and two phytohormones.

C-type lectin receptor-mediated immune recognition and response of the microbiota in the gut.

C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) are powerful pattern-recognition receptors that discern 'self' and 'non-self' in our body and protect us from invasive pathogens by mediating immune recognition and response. The gastrointestinal tract is very important for the maintenance of homeostasis; it is the largest shelter for the billions of microorganisms in the body and CLRs play a crucial regulatory role in this system. This study focuses on several CLRs, including Dectin-1, Dectin-2, Dectin-3 and Mincle. We summarize the roles of CLRs in maintaining gastrointestinal immune-system homeostasis, especially their functions in mediating immune recognition and responses in the gut, discuss their relationships to some diseases, highlight the significance of CLR-mediated sensing of microbial and non-microbial compounds in the gut immune system and identify new therapeutic targets.

Antitumor­ and apoptosis­inducing effects of pomolic acid against SK­MEL­2 human malignant melanoma cells are mediated via inhibition of cell migration and sub­G1 cell cycle arrest.

Malignant melanoma is the leading cause of mortality among the skin­associated diseases because of its highly metastatic nature and lethality. The aim of the present study was to evaluate antitumor and apoptosis effects of pomolic acid, a pentacyclic triterpene, against SK­MEL­2 human malignant melanoma cells. Its effect on cell migration and cell cycle arrest were also studied. An MTT assay was used to assess the cell cytotoxicity effects induced by pomolic acid. Fluorescence microscopy using acridine orange/propidium iodide and Hoechst 33342 staining, along with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), was used to study the effects of pomolic acid on apoptosis induction in these cells. The effects of pomolic acid on cell migration were studied using an in vitro wound healing assay. The effects of pomolic acid on cell cycle phase distribution were evaluated by flow cytometry using propidium iodide as fluorescent probe. The results revealed that pomolic acid induced significant dose­ and time­dependent antiproliferative effects in SK­MEL­2 human malignant melanoma cells, with IC50 values of 110.3, 88.1 and 79.3 µM after 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively. Pomolic acid­treated cells exhibited red fluorescence, and the intensity of this fluorescence increased in a dose­dependent manner, indicating apoptosis induction. After the cells were treated with 25, 75 and 150 µM pomolic acid, significant morphological alterations characteristic of apoptosis were observed by TEM, including loss of microvilli, a damaged plasma membrane, damaged cellular organelles and enlarged lysosomes. Pomolic acid also led to sub­G1 cell cycle arrest, and inhibited cancer cell migration in a dose­dependent manner. These results implicate pomolic acid as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of malignant melanoma.