Anti-tumor activity and mechanisms of isorhamnetin in combination with sorafenib for renal cancer / 药学学报

This study aimed to explore the anti-tumor activity and mechanisms of action of isorhamnetin, a compound isolated from Astragalus membranaceus, in combination with sorafenib for treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The anti-tumor activity of isorhamnetin in combination with sorafenib was detected by MTT assay with cells in culture or Renca xenograft model in mice. Western blot was used to study the mechanisms of isorhamnetin in combination with sorafenib. Lymphocyte proliferation assay was also used to investigate the effects of the two drugs in combination. The results indicated that isorhamnetin inhibited the proliferation of RCC cells, with IC50 for A498, 786-O and Renca cell lines with being 31.7, 28.8 and 106.0 μmol·L-1, respectively. Isorhamnetin in combination with sorafenib improved the anti-lymphocyte proliferation activity of sorafenib with the IC50 down to 12.0 μmol·L-1. Isorhamnetin inhibited the growth of RCC in mice slightly with the inhibition efficiency at 26.9%. With 50.0 mg·kg-1 isorhamnetin in combination with 20.0 mg·kg-1 sorafenib, the anti-tumor activity of sorafenib was enhanced, with inhibition of growth rate increased to 60.7%. Meanwhile, isorhamnetin in combination with sorafenib could promote the lymphocytes proliferation in Renca xenograft model. Western blot results showed that combination of isorhamnetin and sorafenib could inhibit c-Raf/MEK/ERK and AKT/mTOR signaling pathways. In conclusion, the combination of isorhamnetin with sorafenib could increase the anti-tumor activity of sorafenib in RCC in vitro and in vivo. The mechanisms may be related to the inhibition of c-Raf/MEK/ERK and AKT/mTOR signaling pathways. Procedures for animal study were performed with approval of the Animal Care and Use Committee of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College.

The anti-tumor activity and mechanisms of a GLI1 inhibitor FL18 in suppression of glioblastoma growth / 药学学报

The abnormal activation of hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway plays an important role in the development and progression of glioblastoma (GBM). As a transcription factor at the end of the HH pathway, the final effector of glioma-associated oncogene homoglog-1 (GLI1) is an important target in the treatment of GBM. The study was designed to evaluate the anti-tumor activities and mechanisms of a novel GLI1 inhibitor FL18 in GBM. MTT and colony formation assay were performed to determine anti-proliferation activity of FL18 in vitro. The effect of FL18 on cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry (FCM) analysis. Transwell experiment was used to explore the inhibitory activity of FL18 in cell invasion. In vivo experiments, the subcutaneously transplanted and orthotopic U-87 MG GBM xenograft model were used to study the activity of FL18 on tumor growth. The optimized dual report gene screening model was used to detect the effect of FL18 on the transcriptional activity of GLI1. Western blot assay was used to study the mechanisms of action of FL18. The results showed that the IC50 of FL18 in glioblastoma was in the nanomole level in vitro. It was observed that 22.5 and 45 mg·kg-1 FL18 reduced the tumor volume with the rate of 55.4% and 89.8% in xenograft model in mice in situ. The IC50 of FL18 on the inhibition of GLI1 transcriptional activity was 3.32×10-11 mol·L-1 analyzed by the optimized dual report gene screening model. By the Western blot experiments, it was proved that FL18 inhibited expression of GLI1 without influencing the upstream canonical HH/SMO signaling and cross-talk oncogenic pathway, such as ERK and AKT signaling. The results also demonstrated that FL18 significantly downregulated GLI1 target genes such as Bcl-2, MMP2 and MMP9 and increased the expression of c-caspase3, c-PARP and Bax. These data suggest that FL18 may generate the anti-glioma activity by inhibition of GLI1.

Anti-tumor activity and molecular mechanism of C3C12PPD in lung cancer / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-tumor effect and mechanism of a novel compound, C3C12PPD, a bioactive unnatural ginsenoside by metabolically engi-neered yeasts based on a new UDP-glycosyl- transferase from Bacillus subtilis. METHODS MTT assay was used to analyze the anti-proliferation activity of C3C12PPD in vitro. The effect of anti-tumor activity was observed by mouse Lewis xenograft model in vivo.The effects of C3C12PPD on suppressing the angio-genesis and invasion of A549 cells were investigated in vitro using Transwell and tube formation assays. RNAseq was used to find tagets of C3C12PPD. Western blotting was performed to investigate the expres-sion level of proteins in tumor tissues treated with C3C12PPD. RESULTS C3C12PPD could inhibit the growth of lung cancer in vitro and in viv o. At the dosage of 10.0 mg·kg-1, C3C12PPD inhibited tumor growth by 40.0% (P<0.05) in tumor weight in mouse Lewis xenograft. The inhibition of tube formation was 77.5%(P<0.01)and 80.3%(P<0.01)following treatment with 1×10-4and 2×10-4mol·L-1C3C12PPD for 5 h, whereas the proliferation of EA.hy926 cells was not influenced under the above concentrations. Under the concentrations of 1×10-4mol·L-1,C3C12PPD inhibited invasive ability of A549 cells(P<0.05).The results of RNAseq susgested that antitumor activity of C3C12PPD were associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis. Moreover, the proteins related to EMT, Raf/MEK/ERK and AKT/mTOR signal pathways were effected by C3C12PPD analysed by western blotting. CONCLUSION These data suggested that C3C12PPD was able to supress lung cancer through inhibit EMT, invision and angiogenesis.

MCL3 exhibited anti-tumor activity mediated by NF-κB/IL-6/State3 pathway in glioma / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE Evidience appears that parthenolide (PN) induces anti-tumor effects by NF-κB signal pathway. MCL3 the derivative of PN,is sesquiterpene lactone synthesized by the group of Professor Pan Xiandao.The study was to explore the anti-tumor activity and mechanism of MCL3 in glioma. METHODS The effect of MCL3 on the proliferation of glioma cell lines was examined by MTT assay. Apoptotic activity was investigated by flow cytometry. The Transwell cell invasion assay was used to determine the effect of MCL3 on the G422 cell invasive ability.The effect of MCL3 on the angio-genesis was analyzed by a capillary-like tube formation assay. The subcutaneously transplanted and orthotopic G422 cell xenograft models were used to detect the effect of MCL3 on tumor growth in vivo. The pathological changes were analyzed by H&E staining. Protein level related to the NF-κB signal pathway was dertimined by Western blotting. The effect of MCL3 on the NF-κB transcriptional activity was examined by a dual-luciferase reporter assay.RESULTS The anti-proliferative activity was observed following treatment with MCL3 for 96 h in G422, U-87 MG, U251 and Hs683 cell lines, and the IC50 was 8.94 μmol·L-1,6.44 μmol·L-1,14.8 μmol·L-1,18.9 μmol·L-1,respectively.The percentage of apop-totic cells increased in MCL3-treated G422 cells,and the apoptosis rate was 26.4%(the apoptosis rate was 5.68% in control group).MCL3 could inhibit the invasion in G422 cells,and the invasive inhibition rate was 43.63%(P<0.01)at 10.0 μmol·L-1.MCL3 inhibited tube formation of EA.hy926 cells,and the inhibitory rate was 81.67%(P<0.01)at 10.0 μmol·kg-1.At 40.00 mg·kg-1,MCL3 supressed tumor growth by 79.03% (P<0.01) in tumor weight in subcutaneously transplanted G422 xenograft models, and by 69.97% (P<0.01) in volume in orthopotic G422 xenograft models. H&E staining demonstrated that MCL3 could decrease tumor angiogenesis and invasion, increased necrosis of tumor cells. The dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that MCL3 inhibited NF-κB transcriptional actvity, and the inhibition rate was 50.07%(P<0.05)at 10.0 μmol·L-1compared with control.Moreover,MCL3 inhibited the phos-phorylation of NF-κB in nuclear mediated by supression of phosphorylated IKKα/β and IκB,and decreased the expression of IL-6 regulated by NF-κB.Eventually,the phosphorylation of State3 decreased following the administration of MCL3, resulting in the downregulation of State3 taget genes, including HIF, VEGF,FAK,MMP-2,MMP-9,Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL.CONCLUSION The anti-tumor effect of MCL3 was partly due to the inhibition of NF-κB/IL-6/State3 pathway in glioma.

Effect of Emodin Combined with AZT on the Proliferation and the Expression of BCL-2, NF-κB, TGF-β in the Leukemia Stem Cells-KG-1a cells / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Emodin combined with 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) on the proliferation and apoptosis of concentrated leukemia stem cells (CLSC)-human acute myeloid leukemia KG-la cells and expression of BCL-2, NF-κB and TGF-β.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The tumor stem cell-like subpopulation in human leukemia cell line KG-1a was enriched with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The CD34⁺ CD38⁻ subpopulation in the KG-1a cells was detected with flow cytometry, the cell proliferation was detected by MTT method to study the of Emodin and AZT in the CLSC. The cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of NF-κB, BCL-2 and TGF-β mRNA and proteins were measured with RT-PCR and Western blot respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>As compared with cells treated with mentioned above drugs alone, the inhibition of proliferation potential and apoptosis rate of cells in combination group markedly increase with time and concentration dependent member (P < 0.01), the expression of NF-κB, BCL-2 and TGF-β mRNA and proteins decreased.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Emodin combined AZT can synergistically inhibit the proliferation, induce cell apoptosis, and down regulate the expression of NF-κB, BCL-2 and TGF-β mRNA and proteins in the CLSC, the possible mechanism of synergistic effect may be associated with inhibiton of BCL-2 activation and down-regulation of the expression of NF-κB, and TGF-β.</p>

Relationship between rs2274223 and rs3765524 polymorphisms of PLCE1 and risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a Kazakh Chinese population / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between the rs2274223 and rs3765524 polymorphism of phospholipase C epsilon 1 (PLCE1) gene and the susceptibility to develop esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in a pure Kazakh Chinese population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was utilized to genotype the potentially functional single nucleotide polymorphism rs2274223 A>G and rs3765524 C>T of PLCE1 in an ongoing hospital-based and case-control study of 200 ESCC cases with 300 cancer-free age ( ± 5 years) and sex matched controls. Statistical analyses were performed with Statistical Products and Services Solutions software (version 13.0). Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence evaluation intervals (95%CI) measured by multivariate logistic regression analysis were adopted to study the correlation of the gene polymorphism with the susceptibility to ESCC.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The genotype frequencies observed for rs2274223 was consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in controls. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences between cases and controls with respect to genotype distribution for rs2274223 (P = 0.006). The variants of rs2274223 were found to confer significantly increased risk of ESCC (GG vs AA: OR = 3.17, 95%CI = 1.45-6.93; AG/GG vs AA: OR = 1.55, 95%CI = 1.08-2.22) in the Kazakh Chinese population. Moreover, AG/GG genotype of rs2274223 was found to be significantly associated with poorly-differentiated ESCC (OR = 2.48, 95%CI = 1.10-5.60). When the ESCC patients were divided into two subgroups, stage I/II and stage III/IV according to the AJCC TNM classification, the GT/GG genotype of rs2274223 was significantly associated with stage III/IV ESCC (OR = 1.85, 95%CI = 1.05-3.25). No significant association was found between rs3765524 and Kazakh ESCC.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These results indicate that rs2274223 site polymorphism of the PLCE1 gene is strongly associated with risk of ESCC in a Kazakh Chinese population, especially the poorly-differentiated and stage III/IV ESCC.</p>

Correlation between HLA-DRB1*0901 and 1501, HLA-DQB1*0301 and 0602 alleles and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma of Kazakh in Xinjiang, China / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the polymorphism of HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 allele in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas of Kazakh in Xinjiang, and to characterize susceptible genes for the family of Kazakh esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HLA-DRB1*0901, DRB1*1501, DQB1*0301, DQB1*0602 alleles were genotyped by sequence specific primers using polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSP) in 200 Kazakh esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and 177 normal esophageal mucosa.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequency of HLA-DRB1*1501, HLA-DQB1*0301, HLA-DQB1*0602 alleles in 200 Kazakh esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (0.455, 0.760 and 0.690) were significantly higher than that of 177 normal esophageal mucosa (0.232, 0.520, 0.554; OR = 2.78, 2.93, 1.80; P < 0.05). The frequency of HLA-DRB1*0901 between the carcinoma (0.105) and control groups (0.102) had no association (OR = 1.036, P > 0.05); The frequency of HLA-DQB1*0602 was higher in poor-differentiated squamous cell carcinomas (0.742) than that of well-differentiated tumors (0.597, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>HLA-DRB1*1501, HLA-DQB1*0301, HLA-DQB1* 0602 may be susceptible to Kazakh esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. HLA-DQB1*0602 correlates with well-differentiated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.</p>

Chromosomal imbalances revealed in primary rhabdomyo-sarcomas by comparative genomic hybridization / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Previous cytogenetic studies revealed aberrations varied among the three subtypes of rhabdomyosarcoma. We profiled chromosomal imbalances in the different subtypes and investigated the relationships between clinical parameters and genomic aberrations.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Comparative genomic hybridization was used to investigate genomic imbalances in 25 cases of primary rhabdomyosarcomas and two rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines. Specimens were reviewed to determine histological type, pathological grading and clinical staging.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Changes involving one or more regions of the genome were seen in all rhabdomyosarcomal patients. For rhabdomyosarcoma, DNA sequence gains were most frequently (> 30%) seen in chromosomes 2p, 12q, 6p, 9q, 10q, 1p, 2q, 6q, 8q, 15q and 18q; losses from 3p, 11p and 6p. In aggressive alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, frequent gains were seen on chromosomes 12q, 2p, 6p, 2q, 4q, 10q and 15q; losses from 3p, 6p, 1q and 5q. For embryonic rhabdomyosarcoma, frequent gains were on 7p, 9q, 2p, 18q, 1p and 8q; losses only from 11p. Frequently gained chromosome arms of translocation associated with rhabdomyosarcoma were 12q, 2, 6, 10q, 4q and 15q; losses from 3p, 6p and 5q. The frequently gained chromosome arms of nontranslocation associated with rhabdomyosarcoma were 2p, 9q and 18q, while 11p and 14q were the frequently lost chromosome arms. Gains on chromosome 12q were significantly correlated with translocation type. Gains on chromosome 9q were significantly correlated with clinical staging.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Gains on chromosomes 2p, 12q, 6p, 9q, 10q, 1p, 2q, 6q, 8q, 15q and 18q and losses on chromosomes 3p, 11p and 6p may be related to rhabdomyosarcomal carcinogenesis. Furthermore, gains on chromosome 12q may be correlated with translocation and gains on chromosome 9q with the early stages of rhabdomyosarcoma.</p>

Comparative genomic hybridization: the profile of chromosomal imbalances in rhabdomyosarcoma / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To characterize the profile of chromosomal imbalances of rhabdomyosarcoma(RMS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to investigate genomic imbalances in 25 cases of primary RMS including 10 cases of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARM), 12 cases of embryonic rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS), 3 cases of polymorphic rhabdomyosarcoma (PRMS) and 2 RMS cell lines (A240 originated from ARMS and RD from PRMS), with correlation to histological type, pathologic grading, clinical staging, gender and age, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All twenty-five rhabdomyosarcomas showed evidence of increased or decreased DNA sequence copy numbers involving one or more regions of the genome. (1) The frequently gained chromosome regions in RMS were 2p, 12q, 6p, 9q, 10q, 1p, 2q, 6q, 8q, 15q, 18q, and the frequently lost chromosome regions were 3p, 11p, 6p. (2) The frequently gained chromosome arms in ARMS were 12q, 2p, 6, 2q, 4q, 10q, 15q. The frequently lost chromosome arms were 3p, 6p, 1q, 5q. The frequently gained chromosome regions in ERMS were 7p, 9q, 2p, 18q, 1p, 8q. The frequently lost chromosome arms in ERMS were 11p. (3) The frequently gained chromosome arms in translocation associated RMS were 12q, 2, 6, 10q, 4q and 15q (> 30%), 3p, 6p, 5q (> 30%) were the frequently loss chromosome arms. The frequently gained chromosome regions in non-translocation associated RMS were 2p, 9q, 18q (> 30%), and 11p, 14q (> 30%) were the frequently loss chromosome regions. Gain of 12q was significantly correlated with the translocation-associated tumors (P < 0.05). (4) Gains of 9q was significantly correlated with clinical staging (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Gain of 2p, 12q, 6p, 9q, 10q, 1p, 2q, 6q, 8q, 15q, 18q and loss of 3p, 11p, 6p may be involved in the tumorigenesis of RMS. Gains of 12q may be correlated with gene fusion/chromosomal translocation in ARMS. Gains of 9q may be correlated with an early tumor stage of RMS.</p>

Sorting of spermatogonial stem cells in mice / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To search for an effective method for enriching spermatogonial stem cells in mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Bilateral artificial cryptorchidism was performed on 20 six-week old male Kunming mice. Three months after the operation, the testes were removed and single cell suspension prepared by two-step enzyme digestion. FITC-conjugated anti-alpha6-integrin antibody and PE-conjugated anti-c-kit antibody were added for adequate time on ice. Then the cells with low side scatter light-scattering properties were sorted and positively stained for alpha6-integrin and negative c-kit expression. And the viability of the isolated cells was assessed by trypan blue exclusion.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The sorted spermatogonial stem cells constitute 2.8% of the testis cells and over 95% of them were viable.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>FACS can be used to isolate quantities of viable spermatogonial stem cells.</p>