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With the escalating incidence and mortality rates of cancer, there is an ever-growing emphasis on the research of anticancer drugs. Cordycepin, the primary nucleoside antibiotic isolated from Cordyceps militaris, has emerged as a remarkable agent for cancer prevention and treatment. Functioning as a natural targeted antitumor drug, cordycepin assumes an increasingly pivotal role in cancer therapy. This review elucidates the mechanisms of cordycepin in inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis, as well as its capabilities in suppressing angiogenesis and metastasis. Moreover, the immunomodulatory effects of cordycepin in cancer treatment are explored. Additionally, the current status, challenges, and future prospects of cordycepin application in clinical trials are briefly discussed. The objective is to provide a valuable reference for the utilization of cordycepin in cancer treatment.
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Previous studies show that glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3B) plays an important role in tumorigenesis. However, its role in cervical cancer is unclear. The present study silenced GSK3B with siRNAs and/or chemical inhibitors to determine its role in HeLa cervical cancer cell proliferation and migration as well as in xenograft tumor growth. Cell Counting Kit (CCK)-8 and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays were used to determine cell survival and proliferation. Scratch and Transwell® assays were used to evaluate cell migration. Xenograft tumors were used to evaluate the effect of GSK3B on tumor growth. Transcriptomic sequencing was used to clarify the mechanisms underlying the foregoing processes. Public databases and clinical specimens showed that GSK3B was upregulated in cervical cancer tissues and correlated with poor prognosis. In vitro experiments indicated that GSK3B inhibition reduced cell viability, proliferation, and migration. In vivo experiments demonstrated that GSK3B inhibition slowed xenograft tumor growth. Transcriptomic sequencing revealed that GSK3B inhibition modulated the phosphatidylinositol 3-carboxykinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) and extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction signaling pathways. GSK3B inhibition decreased the protein levels of phosphorylated PI3K and Akt and the levels of mesenchymal markers but increased those of epithelial markers. An activator of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway counteracted the suppressive effects of GSK3B inhibition on HeLa cell viability and proliferation and on PI3K/Akt signaling. Our data suggested that GSK3B regulated cervical cancer cell proliferation and migration by modulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
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Objective@#To investigate the effects of electrochemically dealloying of Ti6Al4V abutments on human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) and to provide experimental evidence for surface modification of implant abutments.@*Methods@#The samples were divided into an NC group (negative control, no other treatment on a smooth surface), an NM-1 group (nanomesh-1, electrochemical dealloying treatment in 1 mol/L NaOH 1 h on 2 V voltage), and an NM-2 group (nanomesh-2, electrochemical dealloying treatment in 5 mol/L NaOH 1 h on 2 V voltage). The surface morphologies of the samples and the adhesion of HGFs on the sample surfaces were observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The surface hydrophilicities of the samples were measured with a contact angle measuring instrument. The proliferation of HGFs on the different samples were evaluated with CCK-8, and the expression of adhesion-related genes, including collagen Ⅰ (COL1A1), collagen Ⅲ (COL3A1), fibronectin 1 (FN1), focal adhesion kinase (FAK), vinculin (VCL), integrin α2 (ITGA2), and integrin β1 (ITGB1), on the different samples was measured with qRT-PCR. The expression of vinculin on the surfaces of HGFs was observed via confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) after immunofluorescent staining. Collagen fiber secretion and syntheses of HGFs from different samples were evaluated via Sirius red staining.@*Results@#SEM revealed the formation of ordered and uniform three-dimensional mesh structures on the surfaces of the NM-1 and NM-2 groups, with grid diameters of approximately 30 nm for the NM-1 group and approximately 150 nm for the NM-2 group. Compared with that of the NC group, the water contact angles of the NM-1 group and NM-2 groups were significantly lower (P<0.000 1). Cell proliferation in the NM-1 group was significantly greater than that in the NC group (P<0.01). Moreover, there was no significant difference in the water contact angles or cell proliferation between the NM-1 group and the NM-2 group. SEM revealed that HGFs were adhered well to the surfaces of all samples, while the HGFs in the NM-1 and NM-2 groups showed more extended areas, longer morphologies, and more developed pseudopodia than did those in the NC group after 24 h. qRT-PCR revealed that the expression levels of the adhesion-related genes COL1A1, COL3A1, FN1, FAK and VCL in the NM-1 group were significantly greater than those in the NC and NM-2 groups (P<0.01). The expression of vinculin protein in the NM-1 group was the highest, and the number of focal adhesions was greatest in the NM-1 group (P<0.01). The results of Sirius red staining showed that the NM-1 group had the highest secretion and syntheses of collagen fibers (P<0.000 1).@*Conclusion@#The three-dimensional nanomechanical structure of Ti6Al4V modified by electrochemical dealloying promoted the adhesion, proliferation, collagen fiber secretion and syntheses of HGFs, and electrochemical dealloying of Ti6Al4V with a grid diameter of approximately 30 nm obviously promoted HGF formation.
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Objective To investigate the correlation between Yes-associated protein(YAP)nuclear expression and tumor size with prognosis of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer(EOC)and to study the role of YAP in EOC.Methods 120 patients with EOC were selected as the experimental group,including 38 patients with early stage(Ⅰ+Ⅱ)EOC and 8 2 patients with advanced stage(Ⅲ+Ⅳ)EOC.3 0 normal ovarian tissues obtained from patients with uterine leiomyoma were enrolled as the control group.Immunohistochemical(IHC)assay was em-ployed to determine YAP expression and sub-location.The relationship between YAP expression and the pathologi-cal parameters of the 120 patients with EOC was analyzed,so as to the prognosis of these patients.EOC cells(C13K and OV2008)were cultured with varying initial cell volumes.Ki67 expression and cell proliferation were tested by immunofluorescence and cloning assay respectively.YAP expression at mRNA and protein levels were de-tected by q-PCR and Western blot respectively when the cell conference of EOC cells reached to low(60％)and high(90％)cell density.Results The YAP nuclear expression was significantly higher in the EOC group com-pared to the control group(P＜0.05).The average diameter of stage Ⅰ+Ⅱ EOC was larger than that of stage Ⅲ+Ⅳ EOC(P＜0.01).The high nuclear expression of YAP was positively associated with pathological grade,clinical stage and the level of Ca125＞1 000 IU/ml,while negatively correlated with tumor size(all P＜0.05).Survival analyses showed that smaller tumor size(＜10 cm)and higher YAP nuclear expression were negatively as-sociated with the 3-year overall survival rate of EOC patients(P＜0.01).C13K and OV2008 cells cultured in the low density group exhibited a high number of clone formation,high Ki67 and YAP expression(P＜0.01).The down-regulation of YAP expression could decrease the cell viability of EOC cells in the low-and high-density groups(P＜0.05).Conclusion Higher level of YAP nuclear expression and smaller tumour size are inversely associated with the clinical prognosis of patients with EOC.Inhibiting YAP nuclear expression leads to a decrease in the prolif-eration capacity of EOC cells.
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Objective:To discuss the expression of programmed cell death-ligand 1(PD-L1)in the oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)cells and its effect on biological behavior of the OSCC CAL27 cells,and to clarify the possible mechanism.Methods:Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of PD-L1 protein in the oral epithelial HOK cells and OSCC CAL27,TCA8113,and SCC15 cells;immunofluorescence staining method was used to detect the expression and localization of PD-L1 protein in the CAL27 cells.The CAL27 cells were divided into control group(transfected with si-NC)and si-PD-L1 group(transfected with si-PD-L1).Western blotting method was used to detect the interference efficiency of the cells in two groups;CCK-8 assay was used to detect the proliferative activities of the cells in two groups at different time points;plate clone formation assay was used to detect the numbers of clone formation of the cells in two groups;cell scratch healing assay was used to detect the scratch healing rates of the cells in two groups;Transwell chamber assay was used to detect the numbers of migration and invasion cells in two groups.Results:The expression level of PD-L1 protein in the OSCC cells was higher than that in the HOK cells(P<0.05 or P<0.01);PD-L1 expressed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of the CAL27 cells.The CCK-8 assay and plate clone formation assay results showed that compared with control group,the proliferative activities of the CAL27 cells in si-PD-L1 group at different time points were significantly decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the numbers of clone formation were significantly decreased(P<0.01).The cell scratch healing assay results showed that compared with control group,the scratch healing rates of the cells in si-PD-L1 group were significantly decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01).The Transwell chamber assay results showed that compared with control group,the numbers of migration and invasion cells in si-PD-L1 group were significantly decreased(P<0.01).Conclusion:The expression of PD-L1 in the OSCC cells is higher than that in normal oral epithelial cells,and knocking down PD-L1 expression can inhibit the proliferation,clone formation,migration and invasion capabilities of the OSCC cells.
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Objective:To discuss the effect of apolipoprotein C1(APOC1)expression on the proliferation and apoptosis of the hepatocellular carcinoma cells,and to preliminarily clarify the related molecular mechanism.Methods:The expression level of APOC1 mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue and its relationship with the prognosis of the patient were analyzed by The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)Database;real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)method was used to detect the expression levels of APOC1 mRNA in different hepatocellular carcinoma cells;the human liver cancer HepG2 cells with low APOC1 expression were selected as the subjects.The HepG2 cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1-APOC1 plasmid to over-express APOC1(APOC1 over-expression group),and the HepG2 cells transfected with empty vector pcDNA3.1 were regarded as control group.MTS assay and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine(EdU)staining were used to detect the proliferative activities and proliferation rates of the cells in two groups;Transwell chamber assay was used to detect the numbers of migration cells in two groups;flow cytometry and TUNEL assay were used to detect the percentages of the cells at different cell cycles and apoptotic rates in two groups;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of extracellular regulated protein kinase(ERK),phosphorylated ERK(p-ERK),protein kinase B(AKT),phosphorylated AKT(p-AKT),B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),and cleaved cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3(cleaved caspase-3)proteins in the cells in two groups.Results:The TCGA Database results showed that the expression level of APOC1 mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue was lower than that in normal liver tissue(P<0.05),and the patients with low expression of APOC1 mRNA had poor prognosis.The RT-qPCR results showed that the expression level of APOC1 mRNA in the HepG2 cells was the lowest,and the HepG2 cells were chosen for the subsequent research.Compared with control group,the proliferative activity and proliferation rate of the cells in APOC1 over-expression group were decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),the number of migration cells was decreased(P<0.01),and the percentage of the cells at S phase and the apoptotic rate were significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with control group,the expression levels of p-ERK,p-AKT,and Bcl-2 proteins in the cells in APOC1 over-expression group were significantly decreased(P<0.05),and the expression level of cleaved caspase-3 protein was increased(P<0.01).Conclusion:High expression of APOC1 can inhibit the proliferation of the human liver cancer HepG2 cells and induce the apoptosis,and its mechanism may be related to inhibition of the expressions of p-ERK,p-AKT,Bcl-2 proteins and promotion of the expression of cleaved caspase-3 protein.
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OBJECTIVE The expression of cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A(CIP2A)in hypopharyngeal carcinoma FaDu cells(FaDu cells)was reduced by shRNA to understand its role in the occurrence and development of hypopharyngeal carcinoma.METHODS Specific shRNA sequence was designed,lentivirus was packaged and transfected into hypopharyngeal carcinoma FaDu cells,and CIP2A expression was specifically knocked down.The expression of CIP2A was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.RESULTS 1.After shRNA knocked down CIP2A in FaDu cells,the CIP2A mRNA expression in the experimental group(CIP2A knocked down group)was significantly lower than that in the blank group,and the CIP2A protein expression in the experimental group was also significantly lower than that in the blank group.2.Cell cloning and CCK8 experiments showed that the cell proliferation ability of the experimental group was significantly decreased compared with that of the blank group(t=50.86,P<0.01;t=12.406,P<0.001);The results of cell scratch test showed that the transverse migration ability of the experimental group was significantly decreased compared with the blank group,and the longitudinal migration ability of the experimental group was significantly decreased compared with the blank group by Transwell test(t=40.038,P<0.01;t=12.247,P<0.001).CONCLUSION After knockdown CIP2A expression in hypopharyngeal carcinoma FaDu cells,the proliferation and migration ability of hypopharyngeal cancer cells decreased,suggesting that CIP2A is involved in regulating the biological behavior of hypopharyngeal cancer cells and can be used as a potential anticancer target.
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Objective:To investigate the expression of long non-coding RNA(lncRNA) ZFP36-AS1 in bladder cancer and the effect of ZFP36-AS1/miR-221 axis on the proliferation and immune escape of bladder cancer cells.Methods:The expression difference of ZFP36-AS1 in bladder cancer tissues was analyzed by cBioPortal database. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to analyze the expression difference of ZFP36-AS1 in bladder cancer cell lines (J82, RT-4, MGH-U3, 5637). MGH-U3 cells were randomly divided into negative control (NC) group and ZFP36-AS1 group, which were transfected with pcDNA3.1-NC plasmid and pcDNA3.1-ZFP36-AS1 plasmid, respectively. Colony formation assay and flow cytometry were used to analyze the proliferation activity and cell cycle of MGH-U3 cells, respectively. T lymphocytes were co-cultured with MGH-U3 cells in each group, and the levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10), γ-interferon (IFN-γ), and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the supernatants of each group were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay verified the targeting relationship between ZFP36-AS1 and miR-221. The effect of ZFP36-AS1 on the expression of miR-221 in MGH-U3 cells was detected by RT-qPCR. Western blotting was used to detect the effect of ZFP36-AS1/miR-221 axis on the protein expression of CDK3, Cyclin C, CDK5, Cyclin D1 and Cyclin D3 in MGH-U3 cells.Results:Compared with normal bladder tissue, ZFP36-AS1 was abnormally low-expressed in bladder cancer tissue ( P<0.01). Compared with SV-HUC-1 cells, ZFP36-AS1 was abnormally low-expressed in bladder cancer cell lines (J82, RT-4, MGH-U3, 5637) ( P<0.01), and the expression was lowest in MGH-U3 cells ( P<0.01). The number of MGH-U3 cell colonies formed in the NC group and the ZFP36-AS1 group were (220.80±34.65) and (77.84±19.11), respectively, and the number of MGH-U3 cell colonies formed in the ZFP36-AS1 group was significantly down-regulated, the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.01). The proportions of G 0/G 1 phase cells in NC group and ZFP36-AS1 group were (48.04±2.89)% and (72.89±3.46)%, respectively, and the proportion of S phase cells were (35.38±2.98)% and (20.62±2.56)%, respectively. The proportion of G 2/M stage cells was (16.59±1.46)% and (6.48±1.50)%, respectively. The proportion of cells in G 0/G 1 phase were up-regulated in ZFP36-AS1 group ( P<0.01), and the proportion of cells in S phase and G 2/M phase were both down-regulated ( P<0.01). Compared with the NC group, the levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ in the ZFP36-AS1 group were significantly up-regulated ( P<0.01), and the level of IL-10 was significantly down-regulated ( P<0.01). ZFP36-AS1 can target miR-221 ( P<0.01). The relative expression of miR-221 in the NC group and the ZFP36-AS1 group was 6.84±1.35 and 1.00±0.21, respectively. Compared with the NC group, overexpression of ZFP36-AS1 could significantly inhibit the expression of miR-221 ( P<0.01). Compared with the NC group, the expressions of CDK3, Cyclin C, CDK5, Cyclin D1, and Cyclin D3 in the ZFP36-AS1 group were significantly decreased. Conclusion:ZFP36-AS1 is abnormally low-expressed in bladder cancer, and it reduces the proliferation activity of bladder cancer cells and inhibits their immune escape by inhibiting the expression of miR-221.
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Monopolar spindle 1, also known as threonine and tyrosine kinase (TTK), is a key component of spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). It is considered to be a monitoring mechanism to ensure mitotic fidelity and genomic stability. TTK is overexpressed in a variety of malignant tumors, and patients with low expression of TTK tend to have a longer survival time, suggesting that it may be used as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis. Abnormal expression of TTK often impairs the function of SAC, resulting in irregular mitosis, increased aneuploidy and mitotic disaster, thus promoting the occurrence of tumors. Current studies have shown that TTK inhibitors can inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells and increase the sensitivity of tumor cells to therapy in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy to achieve sensitization and attenuated effects. This article will review the research and application of TTK and its inhibitors in malignant tumors.
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Objective:To study the effects and potential mechanisms of the combination of dihydroartemisinin and carfilzomib on the activity, proliferation, and apoptosis of multiple myeloma ARD cell lines.Methods:In vitro cultivation of multiple myeloma ARD cells involved treating the cells with dihydroartemisinin at concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 μg/ml, and with carfilzomib at concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 nmol/L. The ARD cells were divided into a control group (no treatment) , a dihydroartemisinin group (2 μg/ml) , a carfizomib group (8 nmol/L) , and a combination group (dihydroartemisinin 2 μg/ml + carfizomib 8 nmol/L) . Cell activity and proliferation were assessed by MTT assay and EdU-488 assay; cell apoptosis was evaluated using live cell/dead cell dual staining and flow cytometry. The expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins were examined using Western blotting analysis. Results:The cell survival rates of ARD cells treated with 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 μg/ml dihydroartemisinin were (100.00±2.18) %, (50.22±3.09) %, (37.39±2.34) %, (30.42±1.79) %, (23.80±1.12) %, and (18.04±0.79) %, respectively, and there was a statistically significant difference ( F=653.30, P<0.001) . With the increase of drug concentration, ARD cell activity decreased gradually (all P<0.05) . The cell survival rates of ARD cells treated with 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 nmol/L carfilzomib were (100.00±1.12) %, (83.98±2.95) %, (67.27±2.10) %, (58.24±2.02) %, (46.34±1.14) %, and (37.47±1.36) %, respectively, and there was a statistically significant difference ( F=227.40, P<0.001) . With the increase of drug concentration, ARD cell activity decreased gradually (all P<0.05) . The cell survival rates for the control group, dihydroartemisinin group, carfilzomib group, and combination group were (100.00±2.67) %, (67.23±0.57) %, (76.23±2.83) %, and (27.06±1.09) %, respectively, and there was a statistically significant difference ( F=655.60, P<0.001) . There were statistically significant differences in the dihydroartemisinin group, carfilzomib group, and combination group compared with control group (all P<0.001) . There were statistically significant differences in the dihydroartemisinin group and carfilzomib group compared with combined group (both P<0.001) . The EdU-488 experiment showed that the EdU-positive rates of ARD cells in the control group, dihydroartemisinin group, carfilzomib group, and combination group were (100.00±8.17) %, (68.07±6.14) %, (85.04±2.78) %, and (19.62±3.83) %, respectively, and there was a statistically significant difference ( F=115.20, P<0.001) . There were statistically significant differences in the dihydroartemisinin group, carfilzomib group, and combination group compared with control group ( P<0.001; P=0.047; P<0.001) . There were statistically significant differences in the dihydroartemisinin group and carfilzomib group compared with combined group (both P<0.001) . The live cell/dead cell dual staining experiment showed, under bright-field observation, the cell morphology was intact in the control group. In all the drug groups, the cell morphology became irregular, reduced in size with condensed cytoplasmic, and apoptotic vesicles with irregular morphology were seen around the cells, among which the most obvious changes were seen in the combination group. Under fluorescence observation, the cells in the control group only displayed green fluorescence. In all drug-treated groups, cells with red fluorescence were observed, with the combination group having the highest percentage of cells with red fluorescence among the total cell population. The apoptosis rates for the control group, dihydroartemisinin group, carfilzomib group, and combination group were (9.06±2.95) %, (29.50±1.34) %, (20.77±3.00) %, and (58.23±5.13) %, respectively, and there was a statistically significant difference ( F=115.80, P<0.001) . There were statistically significant differences in the dihydroartemisinin group, carfilzomib group, and combination group compared with control group ( P<0.001; P=0.012; P<0.001) . There were statistically significant differences in the dihydroartemisinin group and carfilzomib group compared with combined group (both P<0.001) . There were statistically significant differences in the relative expression levels of P53, Cleaved-Caspase-3, Bcl-2, and Bax proteins among the control group, dihydroartemisinin group, carfilzomib group, and combination group ( F=21.76, P<0.001; F=42.87, P<0.001; F=44.27, P<0.001; F=163.50, P<0.001) . There were statistically significant differences in the dihydroartemisinin group, carfilzomib group, and combination group compared with control group (all P<0.05) . There were statistically significant differences in the dihydroartemisinin group and carfilzomib group compared with combined group (both P<0.05) . Conclusion:The combination of dihydroartemisinin and carfilzomib can synergistically inhibit the activity and proliferation of multiple myeloma ARD cells, and promote apoptosis, and the underlying mechanism may be associated with the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.