The underlying mechanism of autophagy regulating liver injury with obstructive jaundice in Sprague-Dawley rats / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of autophagy on liver injury with obstructive jaundice in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and its underlying mechanism.Methods:Thirty-five healthy male SD rats, SPF grade, aged 6-8 weeks, weighting 200-300 g, were divided into 5 groups with 7 rats in each group, including sham group (simple free common bile duct, without ligation, intraperitoneal injection of normal saline), obstructive jaundice (OJ) group (established by common bile duct ligation, intraperitoneal injection of normal saline), OJ group with 3-MA, OJ group with Rapamycin, and OJ group with 3-MA and VX-765. Morphological changes in liver tissues were analyzed with HE staining. Expression of autophagy-related protein Atg5 was detected by immunohistochemistry staining. Liver function was analyzed by automatic biochemical instrument and the level of serum interleukin (IL)-18 was detected using ELISA assay. Protein levels of autophagy related-proteins and endoplasmic reticulum stressed (ERs)-related apoptosis proteins were detected by Western Blot.Results:The relative expression of autophagy related protein Atg5 in OJ group was significantly higher than that in sham group [(5.0±1.0) vs. (2.8±1.3), t=-3.00, P<0.05]. Compared with sham group, the activity of autophagy was enhanced and the protein levels of Caspase-1/p-65 and IL-18 were significantly increased in OJ group. At the same time, apoptosis was induced by activating ERs. In OJ group, the autophagy inducer 3-MA improved the expression levels of Caspase-1/p-65 and IL-18, and aggravate liver injury. While after applying the autophagy agonist Rapamycin in OJ rat models, the expression of Caspase-1/p-65 and IL-18 was repressed and liver damage was also reduced. In addition, in rat OJ groups with 3-MA, inhibition of Caspase-1 by VX-765 could down regulate the expression of Caspase-1/p-65 and IL-18, and protect against liver injury. Conclusions:Both ERs related apoptosis and autophagy were activated after ligation of common bile duct. Besides, activation of autophagy could reduce OJ-induced liver injury in SD rats by inhibiting the Caspase-1/p-65 inflammatory pathway.

Progress of pyroptosis in gynecological diseases / 肿瘤研究与临床

Pyroptosis is a fairly new type of cell death that is frequently mediated by inflammasomes and is strongly related to Gasdermin protein family and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase (caspase). The importance of pyroptosis-related molecules in the occurrence and progression of gynecological diseases cannot be overstated. This article reviews the related mechanism of cell pyroptosis, and the relationship between pyroptosis and benign and malignant gynecological diseases, so as to provide references for the research of the diagnosis and treatment of gynecological diseases, as well as the development of targeted drugs.

Apoptosis (programmed cell death) and its signals - A review / Apoptose, morte celular programada e seus sinais: uma revisão

Abstract Apoptosis is a sequential order of cell death occurring regularly to ensure a homeostatic balance between the rate of cell formation and cell death. However, a misplaced of this balancing function can contribute to an abnormal cell growth / proliferation or autoimmune disorders etc. Apoptosis is therefore said to be crucial from the point of development of an embryo throughout the growth of an organism contributing to the renewal of tissues and also the getting rid of inflammatory cells. This review seeks to elaborate on the recent overview of the mechanism involved in apoptosis, some element and signal contributing to its function and inhibition together with how their malfunction contribute to a number of cancer related cases.

Resumo A apoptose é uma ordem sequencial de morte celular que ocorre regularmente para garantir um equilíbrio homeostático entre a taxa de formação e a morte celular. No entanto, um desequilíbrio dessa função pode contribuir para um crescimento/proliferação celular anormal ou distúrbios autoimunes. A apoptose é, portanto, considerada crucial do ponto de desenvolvimento de um embrião ao longo do crescimento de um organismo que contribui para a renovação dos tecidos e também a eliminação de células inflamatórias. Esta revisão procura elaborar a recente visão geral do mecanismo envolvido na apoptose, alguns elementos e sinais que contribuem para sua função e inibição, além de como o mau funcionamento deles contribui para vários casos relacionados ao câncer.

The role of inflammatory molecules related to pyroptosis pathway in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis / 国际儿科学杂志

Atopic dermatitis(AD)is a common skin disease in pediatrics.It is a chronic inflammatory skin disease related to allergic diathesis that interacts with genetic and environmental factors.In about 60% of patients, the onset is before the age of one.With the deepening of research on the pathogenesis of AD, current research shows that pyroptosis-related inflammatory molecules may be involved in the occurrence and development of AD.Pyroptosis is a kind of regulated cell death accompanied by the release of inflammatory cytokines.It has been proven to play an important role in diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease.This article summarizes the role of inflammatory molecules related to pyroptosis pathway in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis, in order to deepen the understanding of the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis and explore new therapies for it.

Effect of electroacupuncture on the learning and memory abilities in type 2 diabetic model rats with cognitive impairment / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the protein and gene expressions of Bax, Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 in cerebral cortex of type 2 diabetic rats with cognitive impairment (CI), and to explore the mechanism of EA in improving the learning and memory abilities. Methods: A total of 100 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into a normal group (n=10) and a model group (n=90) by random number table method. Rats in the model group were intraperitoneally injected with a small dose of streptozotocin (STZ) to establish the type 2 diabetic models, after being fed with high-fat and high-sugar diet for 1 month. Twenty CI rats were selected from the 50 successful model rats by the Morris water maze (MWM) test and randomly divided into a model group and an EA group according to the blood glucose level and MWM data (n=10). Rats in the EA group received acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36), Neiting (ST 44) and Yishu (Extra), of which Zusanli (ST 36) and Neiting (ST 44) were stimulated by EA apparatus, 20 min/time, once a day for 6 d a week and 4 consecutive weeks. The rats in the model and the normal groups were fixed without treatment. After 4-week treatment, the random blood glucose level of the rats was measured; the learning and memory abilities of rats were measured by MWM; terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay was used to detect apoptotic cells; Western blot (WB) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to detect the protein and gene expressions of Bax, Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 in cerebral cortex. Results: After modeling, the random blood glucose level and the escape latency tested by MWM were significantly increased, and the number of crossing the platform tested by the MWM was decreased in the EA and model groups, and were significantly different from those in the normal group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while the differences between the model group and the EA group were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). After 4-week treatment, the random glucose level and the escape latency tested by MWM were significantly increased (both P<0.05), and the number of crossing the original platform tested by the MWM was significantly reduced (P<0.01), the protein and gene expressions of Bax and Caspase-3 were significantly increased (all P<0.001), the protein and gene expressions of Bcl-2 were significantly reduced (both P<0.001), and the number of neuron apoptosis was significantly increased (P<0.001) in the model group than in the normal group; the random blood glucose level was significantly reduced (P<0.05), the escape latency tested by MWM was significantly shortened (P<0.05), and the number of crossing the original platform tested by MWM was significantly increased (P<0.05), the protein and gene expressions of Bax and Caspase-3 were significantly reduced (all P<0.001), the protein and gene expressions of Bcl-2 were significantly increased (both P<0.001), and the number of neuron apoptosis was significantly reduced (P<0.001) in the EA group than in the model group. Conclusion: EA can improve the learning and memory damages induced by type 2 diabetic model rats with CI; the action mechanism may be achieved via anti-apoptosis.

Peanut testa extracts enhance anticancer effect of cisplatin against human cholangiocarcinoma cells via modulation of histone deacetylase inhibitory activity

Objective: To investigate the effect of combination treatments of cisplatin and KK4 and ICG15042 peanut testa extracts against cholangiocarcinoma cells in vitro.Methods: The growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of cholangiocarcinoma cells were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. The levels of proteins involved in apoptosis were assessed using Western blotting assays. The caspase activity was assessed using a colorimetric caspase activity assay. Results: Cisplatin and peanut (KK4 and ICG15042) testa extracts inhibited the growth of cholangiocarcinoma cell lines (KKU-M214 and KKU-100 cells) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The combination treatments reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis of cholangiocarcinoma cells more efficiently than single-drug treatments. Cancer cell death synergistically mediated by cisplatin and peanut testa extracts was observed in KKU-M214 cells (combination index < 1.0) but not in KKU-100 cells (combination index > 1.0). The combination treatments also increased the sub-G1 population and caused KKU-M214 cell cycle arrest at S and G2/M phases, which were the combined effects of cisplatin (S phase arrest) and peanut testa extracts (G2/M phase arrest). In addition, pERK1/2, Ac-H3, Bcl-2 and proteins related to apoptosis, including Bax and caspases 3, 8, 9, exhibited enhanced expression in KKU-M214 cells. The combination treatments caused down-regulation of p53, whereas the expression of p21 was fairly constant when compared with cisplatin single drug treatment. Conclusions: Peanut testa extracts in combination with cisplatin synergistically reduce cell viability and induce apoptosis through stimulation of caspases 3, 8 and 9 in KKU-M214 cells.

Peanut testa extracts enhance anticancer effect of cisplatin against human cholangiocarcinoma cells via modulation of histone deacetylase inhibitory activity

Objective: To investigate the effect of combination treatments of cisplatin and KK4 and ICG15042 peanut testa extracts against cholangiocarcinoma cells in vitro. Methods: The growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of cholangiocarcinoma cells were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. The levels of proteins involved in apoptosis were assessed using Western blotting assays. The caspase activity was assessed using a colorimetric caspase activity assay. Results: Cisplatin and peanut (KK4 and ICG15042) testa extracts inhibited the growth of cholangiocarcinoma cell lines (KKU-M214 and KKU-100 cells) in a dose- A nd time-dependent manner. The combination treatments reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis of cholangiocarcinoma cells more efficiently than singledrug treatments. Cancer cell death synergistically mediated by cisplatin and peanut testa extracts was observed in KKU-M214 cells (combination index 1.0). The combination treatments also increased the sub-G1 population and caused KKU-M214 cell cycle arrest at S and G2/M phases, which were the combined effects of cisplatin (S phase arrest) and peanut testa extracts (G2/M phase arrest). In addition, pERK1/2, Ac-H3, Bcl-2 and proteins related to apoptosis, including Bax and caspases 3, 8, 9, exhibited enhanced expression in KKU-M214 cells. The combination treatments caused down-regulation of p53, whereas the expression of p21 was fairly constant when compared with cisplatin single drug treatment. Conclusions: Peanut testa extracts in combination with cisplatin synergistically reduce cell viability and induce apoptosis through stimulation of caspases 3, 8 and 9 in KKU-M214 cells.

Chronic alcoholism associated with diabetes induced apoptosis in the corpus cavernosum of rats

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the effects of alcohol exposure and diabetes on apoptotic process in the corpus cavernosum. Methods Forty eight male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control, diabetic, alcoholic and diabetic-alcoholic. Samples of the corpus cavernosum were prepared to study protein expression of apoptotic genes (Caspases-3 and 9) by immunohistochemistry and Real-Time PCR. Results The immunoreactivity of Caspases-3 and -9 was diffuse and higher in the treated groups though there was no significant difference between the experimental groups, only when compared with the control group. An increase was observed in the gene expression of Caspases-9 in the diabetic and ethanol-diabetic groups when compared with control and ethanol groups. Conclusions The association of these factors (ethanol and diabetes) probably can affect the apoptosis mechanism in lesions of the cavernous tissue in the rat penis. Both gene and protein expression of Caspase-9 in diabetic and ethanol-diabetic groups suggest the involvement of the apoptosis cascade from this study model.

Alpha-hederin induces the apoptosis of oral cancer SCC-25 cells by regulating PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

BACKGROUND: Oral cancer is one of the common malignant tumors of the head and neck. However, current treatments have numerous side effects, and drugs from natural sources may have better therapeutic potential. This research investigated the induction of apoptosis by α-hederin (α-HN), a constituent of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel, in the oral cancer cell line SCC-25 and its underlying mechanism. RESULTS: SCC-25 cells were treated with 50, 100, and 200 µmol/L α-HN. Cell proliferation; extent of apoptosis; activities of caspases-3, 8, and 9; and the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, phosphorylated (p)-phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), p-Akt, and p-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) proteins were determined using the 3-(4,5)-2-thiazole-(2,5)-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide, flow cytometry, caspase activity detection kits, and western blot assays, respectively. The results showed that the proliferation of SCC-25 cells in the α-HN-treated groups decreased significantly, and the inhibitory effect was time and concentration dependent. Compared with cells in the control group, the extent of apoptosis increased significantly, caspase-3 and -9 activities were significantly enhanced, and the Bcl-2 level was lowered and the Bax level was elevated significantly in SCC-25 cells treated with α-HN for 48 h (P b 0.05). The expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt, and p-mTOR was also significantly lower in SCC-25 cells treated with α-HN than that in the control group (P b 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that α-HN can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of SCC-25 cells and may exert these effects by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Relationship between TIPE2 and caspase-11 during pyroptosis in macrophages of mice / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective To evaluate the relationship between tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced protein 8-like 2 (TIPE2) and caspase-11 during pyroptosis in macrophages of mice.Methods J774A.1 macrophages of mice were divided into 4 groups (n =6 each) using a random number table method:nonspecific siRNA (Scr-siRNA) group (S group),Scr-siRNA plus LPS/ATP group (S+LPS/ATP group),TIPE2-siRNA group (T group) and TIPE2-siRNA plus LPS/ATP group (T+LPS/ATP group).The corresponding siRNA and Lipofectamine2000 transfection reagents were added to each group,and transfection was performed for 24-48 h,and in addition LPS 1.0 μg/ml was then added,cells were incubated for 5 h,then ATP 5.0 mmol/L was added,and cells were incubated for 1 h in S + LPS/ATP and T + LPS/ATP groups.Cells were collected to detect the expression of TIPE2,caspase-11,NOD-like receptor familypyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) and caspase-1 (by Western blot).The supernatant was collected for determination of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities and concentrations of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and IL-18 (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).Results Compared with group S,the expression of TIPE2 was significantly down-regulated,the expression of caspase-11,NLRP3 and caspase-1 was up-regulated,and the activities of LDH and MPO and concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in supernatant were increased in group S+LPS/ATP (P＜0.05).Compared with group T,the expression of TIPE2 was significantly down-regulated,the expression of caspase-11,NLRP3 and caspase-1 was up-regulated,and the activities of LDH and MPO and concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in supernatant were increased in group T+LPS/ATP (P＜0.05).Compared with group S+LPS/ATP,the expression of TIPE2 was significantly down-regulated,the expression of caspase-11,NLRP3 and caspase-1 was up-regulated,and and the activities of LDH and MPO and concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in supernatant were increased in group T+LPS/ATP (P＜0.05).Conclusion TIPE2 inhibits pyroptosis in macrophages through down-regulating the expression of caspase-11 in mice.

Relationship between TIPE2 and caspase-11 during pyroptosis in macrophages of mice / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective@#To evaluate the relationship between tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced protein 8-like 2 (TIPE2) and caspase-11 during pyroptosis in macrophages of mice.@*Methods@#J774A.1 macrophages of mice were divided into 4 groups (n=6 each) using a random number table method: non-specific siRNA (Scr-siRNA) group (S group), Scr-siRNA plus LPS/ATP group (S+ LPS/ATP group), TIPE2-siRNA group (T group) and TIPE2-siRNA plus LPS/ATP group (T+ LPS/ATP group). The corresponding siRNA and Lipofectamine2000 transfection reagents were added to each group, and transfection was performed for 24-48 h, and in addition LPS 1.0 μg/ml was then added, cells were incubated for 5 h, then ATP 5.0 mmol/L was added, and cells were incubated for 1 h in S+ LPS/ATP and T+ LPS/ATP groups.Cells were collected to detect the expression of TIPE2, caspase-11, NOD-like receptor familypyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) and caspase-1 (by Western blot). The supernatant was collected for determination of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities and concentrations of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and IL-18 (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).@*Results@#Compared with group S, the expression of TIPE2 was significantly down-regulated, the expression of caspase-11, NLRP3 and caspase-1 was up-regulated, and the activities of LDH and MPO and concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in supernatant were increased in group S+ LPS/ATP (P<0.05). Compared with group T, the expression of TIPE2 was significantly down-regulated, the expression of caspase-11, NLRP3 and caspase-1 was up-regulated, and the activities of LDH and MPO and concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in supernatant were increased in group T+ LPS/ATP (P<0.05). Compared with group S+ LPS/ATP, the expression of TIPE2 was significantly down-regulated, the expression of caspase-11, NLRP3 and caspase-1 was up-regulated, and and the activities of LDH and MPO and concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in supernatant were increased in group T+ LPS/ATP (P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#TIPE2 inhibits pyroptosis in macrophages through down-regulating the expression of caspase-11 in mice.

Plasma Levels of K18 Fragments Do Not Correlate with Alcoholic Liver Fibrosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Noninvasive markers of liver fibrosis in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) are crucial to establish early intervention. Previous studies have suggested that plasma levels of cleaved keratin-18 (K18; M30) fragments can predict the severity of liver disease. The aim of this study was to correlate plasma M30 levels with stages of liver fibrosis in ALD. METHODS: Patients with ALD (n=139, 79.1% males) and liver histology were included, and plasma samples were collected to quantify plasma M30 levels. Patients were stratified into five groups by fibrosis stage (F0=14; F1=15; F2=35; F3=17; and F4=58) according to the Kleiner score. Differences between groups were evaluated using the chi-square test or analysis of variance. Trends by fibrosis stage were calculated by logistic regression analysis, and sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were determined. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in M30 levels among fibrosis stages. The correlation between plasma M30 levels and fibrosis was poor (Pearson’s correlation coefficient=0.13, Spearman rho=0.20 [p=0.02]), and M30 levels did not correlate with alcohol-specific histological features. However, significant correlations of M30 levels with aspartate aminotransferase (Spearman rho=0.653, p 200 U/L reveal a sensitivity for predicting cirrhosis of 84.5% with a negative predictive value of 73.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma M30 levels are often elevated in ALD and correlate with serum transaminases but do not reflect fibrosis. The usefulness as a prognostic marker awaits evaluation in prospective studies.

Efficacy of phosphocreatine pre-administration on XIAP and Smac in ischemic penumbra of rats with focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury

Abstract Purpose: To observe the efficacy of phosphocreatine pre-administration (PCr-PA) on X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), the second mitochondia-derived activator of caspase (Smac) and apoptosis in the ischemic penumbra of rats with focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI). Methods: A total of 60 healthy male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=20): group A (the sham operation group), group B <intraperitoneally injected with 20 mg/kg (10 mg/ml) of saline before preparing the ischemia-reperfusion (IR) model>, and group C <intraperitoneally injected with 20 mg/kg (10 mg/ml) of PCr immediately before preparing the IR model>. After 24 h for reperfusion, the neurological function was evaluated and the tissue was sampled to detect expression of XIAP, Smac and caspase-3 positive cells in the ischemic penumbra so as to observe the apoptosis. Results: Compared with group B, neurological deficit scores, numbers of apoptotic cells, expression of Smac,caspase-9 and the numbers of Caspase-3 positive cells were decreased while expression of XIAP were increased in the ischemic penumbra of group C. Conclusions: Phosphocreatine pre-administration may elicit neuroprotective effects in the brain by increasing expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein, reducing expression of second mitochondia-derived activator of caspase, and inhibiting the apoptosis in the ischemic penumbra.

Icariin reduces human colon carcinoma cell growth and metastasis by enhancing p53 activities

Icariin has been reported to possess high anticancer activity. Colon carcinoma is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Here, the anticancer activity of icariin against HCT116 colon carcinoma cells and the possible underlying mechanism were studied. The trypan blue staining assay, wound healing assay, clonogenic assay, CCK-8 assay, and Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining method were carried out to determine the changes of HCT116 cell growth and migration. mRNA and protein expressions were determined by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot, respectively. Moreover, small interfering RNA (siRNA) plasmid was used to examine the role of p53 in icariin-induced apoptosis in HCT116 cells. Icariin significantly suppressed colon carcinoma HCT116 cells by decreasing migration and viability, and simultaneously promoting apoptosis. Icariin exerted the anti-tumor effect in a dose-dependent manner by up-regulating p53. During treatment of icariin, p-p53, p21, and Bax levels increased, and Bcl-2 level decreased. Short time treatment with icariin induced DNA damage in HCT116 cells. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of icariin was decreased after p53 knockdown or by using caspase inhibitors. p53 was involved in activities of caspase-9 and caspase-3. Icariin repressed colon carcinoma cell line HCT116 by enhancing p53 expression and activating p53 functions possibly through Bcl-2/Bax imbalance and caspase-9 and -3 regulation. Icariin treatment also induced DNA damage in HCT116 cells.

Effects of curcumin on expression of caspase-3 , caspase-8 and caspase-9 in PC12 cells induced by Aβ25-35 / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To investigate the effects of curcumin on the viability ,the lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)re-lease,the apoptosis,and the activity and the expression levels of caspase-3,caspase-8 and caspase-9 of rat adrenal pheo-chromocytoma PC12 cells induced by β-amyloid protein 25-35(Aβ25-35 ).METHODS:The PC12 cells were treated with Aβ25-35.The viability and LDH release rates were measured by MTT assay and LDH kit ,respectively.The cells were ran-domly divided into blank control group ,model group,curcumin 10μmol/L group and curcumin 20μmol/L group.The ap-optotic rates were evaluated by flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI staining.The activities and expression levels of caspase-3,caspase-8 and caspase-9 were detected by colorimetric method and Western blot analysis.RESULTS:Com-pared with model group ,curcumin significantly increased the viability ,and decreased the LDH release rates and the apop-totic rates of the PC12 cells treated with Aβ25-35(P<0.01).Compared with model group,curcumin significantly decreased the activity and expression levels of caspase-3,caspase-8 and caspase-9(P<0.05 or P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Cur-cumin inhibits Aβ25-35-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells by inhibiting the expression of caspase-3,caspase-8 and caspase-9.

Effects of turmeric volatile oil combined with cisplatin on the proliferation and apoptosis of a human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell line A431 and their mechanisms / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To evaluate the effects of turmeric volatile oil (TVO) combined with cisplatin on the proliferation and apoptosis of a human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell line A431,and to explore their mechanisms.Methods Some cultured A431 cells at exponential growth phase were divided into several groups to be treated with 5,10,20,40 and 80 mg/L TVO,as well as high-glucose Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) containing 1％ dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO,control group),respectively.After 24-hour treatment,cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) assay was performed to estimate the proliferative activity of A431 cells in the above groups.Some other A431 cells were divided into 4 groups:control group treated with high-glucose DMEM containing 1％ DMSO,TVO group treated with 40 mg/LTVO,cisplatin group treated with 10 mg/L cisplatin,and TVO + cisplatin group treated with 40 mg/L TVO and 10 mg/L cisplatin.After 24-hour treatment,CCK8 assay was performed to estimate the cellular proliferative activity,inverted microscopy to observe changes in cell morphology,fluorescence microscopy to detect cell apoptosis after acridine orange (AO)/ethidium bromide (EB) double-staining,colorimetry to evaluate the activity of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9,and Western blot analysis to determine the protein expression of Caspase-3 and p-glycoprotein.Results After 24-hour treatment with 5,10,20,40 and 80 mg/L TVO,the cell proliferation rates were inhibited by (12.83 ± 6.4)％,(16.27 ± 11.4)％,(21.61 ± 9.1)％,(33.11 ± 2.0)％ and (46.00 ± 3.3)％ respectively,and the inhibition rates were all significantly higher in these groups than in the control group (4.03％ ± 1.4％,all P ＜ 0.05).The 50％ inhibitory concentration (IC50) of TVO at 24 hours was (61.66 ± 1.03) mg/L.Compared with the control group,the proliferation inhibition rates significantly increased in the TVO group,cisplatin group and TVO + cisplatin group (all P ＜ 0.05),suggesting that the combination of TVO and cisplatin showed synergistic inhibitory effects with a combination index of 1.366.Moreover,A431 cells turned round to different extents and became apoptotic in the TVO group and cisplatin group,and the TVO + cisplatin group showed obviously decreased number of cells and a large number of cell debris.The TVO + cisplatin group also showed significantly increased activity of Caspase-3 (1.520 ± 0.115) and Caspase-9 (2.760 ± 0.297) as well as protein expression of Caspase-3 (1.482 ± 0.016) compared with the TVO group (Caspase-3 activity:1.117 ± 0.095;Caspase-9 activity:1.259 ± 0.059;Caspase-3 protein expression:1.156 ± 0.006,all P ＜ 0.01) and cisplatin group (Caspase-3 activity:1.381 ± 0.089;Caspase-9 activity:1.829 ± 0.171;Caspase-3 protein expression:1.296 ± 0.021,all P ＜ 0.01),but significantly decreased p-glycoprotein expression (0.528 ± 0.014) compared with the TVO group (1.311 ± 0.011,P ＜ 0.01) and cisplatin group (1.169 ± 0.012,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion TVO combined with cisplatin can synergistically inhibit the proliferation of A431 cells and induce cell apoptosis,which may be associated with activation of the caspase system and decreased expression of pglycoprotein.

Apoptotic and nonapoptotic function of caspase 7 in spermatogenesis / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Recent studies have reported that caspase 7 has an apoptotic and nonapoptotic function. However, the relationship between caspase 7 and spermatogenesis remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the possible function of caspase 7 during normal and abnormal spermatogenesis. The cleaved form of caspase 7 was detected in testis tissues at different postpartum times (5-14 weeks) by qRT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Then, the mice models of spermatogenic dysfunction were obtained by busulfan (30 mg kg-1 to further evaluate the potential function and mechanism of caspase 7. qRT-PCR and Western blot results showed that caspase 7 expression was gradually elevated from 5 to 14 weeks, which was not connected with apoptosis. IHC results revealed that caspase 7 was mainly located in spermatogenic cells and Leydig cells. In addition, spermatogenic dysfunction induced by busulfan gradually enhanced the apoptosis and elevated the expression of caspase 3, caspase 6, and caspase 9, but decreased the expression of caspase 7 in spermatogenic cells. However, when spermatogenic cells were mostly disappeared at the fourth week after busulfan treatment, caspase 7 expression in Leydig cells was significantly increased and positively correlated with the expression of caspase 3, caspase 6, and caspase 9. Therefore, these results indicate that caspase 7 has a nonapoptic function that participates in normal spermatogenesis, but also displays apoptotic function in spermatogenic dysfunction.

17-DMAG has the Potentiated Anticancer Effects Against Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Transfection of the Gene Encoding Hepatitis B Viral X Protein

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatitis B viral protein X (HBx) is implicated in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as well as the elevation of heat shock proteins (HSPs) after hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We thus investigated the anticancer effects of an HSP90 inhibitor 17-Dimethylaminoethylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-DMAG) in HBx-transfected hepatocellular carcinoma cells. METHODS: pcDNA-HBx was made by inserting the HBx gene derived from the HBV-infected patient into pcDNA3.1 using the restriction enzymes (XbaI/HindIII). HBx-expressing HepG2 cells were then generated by transfecting HepG2 cells with pcDNA containing HBx gene. To compare the anticancer effects of 17-DMAG between pcDNA-HBx transfected HepG2 cells and the control cells (pcDNA-transfected HepG2 cells), we performed various molecular studies, including Ez-cytox proliferation assay, Western blot analysis, and flow cytometry. RESULTS: 17-DMAG inhibited the proliferation of pcDNA-HBx transfected HepG2 cells better than control cells (P<0.05). After treating with a various concentration of 17-DMAG (50–1,000 nM), pcDNA-HBx transfected HepG2 cells exhibited higher expression of pro-apoptotic proteins (c-caspase-3, c-caspase-8, and c-caspase-9) than did control cells (P<0.05). pcDNA-HBx transfected HepG2 cells showed higher activities of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 than did control cells (P<0.05). Finally, we found that the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins (PARP and c-caspase-3) was considerably decreased by the use of a caspase inhibitor suggesting that 17-DMAG induces the cell death of HepG2 cells caspase-dependently. CONCLUSIONS: Our study strongly suggests that 17-DMAG has antiviral effects against HBV as well as anticancer effects against HepG2 cells. Thus, the application of 17-DMAG appears to be particularly advantageous to the HCC patients related with HBV infection.

A preliminary study on the expression of caspases in stretch-induced apoptosis in human periodontal ligament cells / 医用生物力学

Objective To study the expression of caspases in stretch-induced apoptosis in human periodontal ligament cells (HPDLCs). Methods HPDLCs in vitro were subjected to mechanical stretch with 20% strain for 6 h or 24 h. The apoptotic rates were analyzed by flow cytometry. The protein expression of caspase-3, -5, -7, -8 and -9 was detected by Western blot, and the activity of caspase-3, -5, -8 and -9 was measured using colorimetric assay. Results Mechanical stretches with 20% strain for 6 and 24 h could induce apoptosis in HPDLCs. Compared with non-stretching control group, the protein expression level and activity of caspase-3, as well as the protein expression level of caspase-7 were up-regulated by 24 h-stretch. The protein expression level and activity of caspase-5, -8, -9 were up-regulated after stretches for 6 h and 24 h. Conclusions Mechanical stretch with 20% strain can induce apoptosis in HPDLCs in vitro, with the activation of caspase-3, -5, -7, -8 and -9.

Apoptosis (programmed cell death) and its signals - A review

Abstract Apoptosis is a sequential order of cell death occurring regularly to ensure a homeostatic balance between the rate of cell formation and cell death. However, a misplaced of this balancing function can contribute to an abnormal cell growth / proliferation or autoimmune disorders etc. Apoptosis is therefore said to be crucial from the point of development of an embryo throughout the growth of an organism contributing to the renewal of tissues and also the getting rid of inflammatory cells. This review seeks to elaborate on the recent overview of the mechanism involved in apoptosis, some element and signal contributing to its function and inhibition together with how their malfunction contribute to a number of cancer related cases.

Resumo A apoptose é uma ordem sequencial de morte celular que ocorre regularmente para garantir um equilíbrio homeostático entre a taxa de formação e a morte celular. No entanto, um desequilíbrio dessa função pode contribuir para um crescimento/proliferação celular anormal ou distúrbios autoimunes. A apoptose é, portanto, considerada crucial do ponto de desenvolvimento de um embrião ao longo do crescimento de um organismo que contribui para a renovação dos tecidos e também a eliminação de células inflamatórias. Esta revisão procura elaborar a recente visão geral do mecanismo envolvido na apoptose, alguns elementos e sinais que contribuem para sua função e inibição, além de como o mau funcionamento deles contribui para vários casos relacionados ao câncer.