ABSTRACT
Cancer is a major global public health problem. Statistics from the national cancer center of China also show that cancer has become a major disease threatening human health with increasing morbidity and mortality. The occurrence and development mechanism of cancer is complex， involving multiple stages， multiple genes and multiple signaling pathways. Conventional chemoradiotherapy and emerging targeted therapy methods are the main methods in treatment of tumor. However， the quality of life of patients as well as the sustained and effective therapeutic effect are seriously affected due to the toxic side effects and drug resistance. Therefore， it is the global focus to find safe and effective anti-cancer drugs. The research and development and application of anti-cancer herbal medicines such as paclitaxel， vinblastine， podophyllin， ginsenoside and ginseng polysaccharide have brought new hope for the treatment of cancer. Cucurbitacine from Chinese medicine cucurbitaceae plantsare is a kind of highly oxidized tetracyclic triterpene compound with extensive pharmacological effects and complex mechanism. In the family of cucurbitacines， cucurbitin B， D， E and I have been studied most frequently on anticancer effect， and in a large number of studies， they have been found to play an important role in tumor diseases of the digestive system， respiratory system， reproductive system， blood system， urinary system and so on. With significant effect in inhibiting tumor cells proliferation， blocking the cell cycle， inducing apoptosis and autophagy death， inhibiting cell migration and invasion， inhibiting tumor angiogenesis， regulating the levels of reactive oxygen species and regulating immune system， such cucurbitacins are expected to be developed as a new kind of anti-cancer drugs. The authors of this study aim to provide reference for the further research and development of new anti-cancer drugs about cucurbitines by summarizing the anti-tumor effect and mechanism of the cucurbitacins.
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to investigate whether the conjugation of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) to 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) could enhance the anti-tumor efficiency of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in epidermoid carcinoma cells. The mRNA and protein expression levels were determined by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot, respectively. Cell viability, apoptosis, invasion, and migration were determined by MTT assay, flow cytometry, transwell invasion assay, and migration assay, respectively. Singlet oxygen generation was detected by the singlet oxygen sensor green reagent assay. Our results showed that PDT with 5-ALA and GNPs-conjugated 5-ALA (5-ALA-GNPs) significantly suppressed cell viability, increased cell apoptosis and singlet oxygen generation in both HaCat and A431 cells, and PDT with 5-ALA and 5-ALA-GNPs had more profound effects in A431 cells than that in HaCat cells. More importantly, 5-ALA-GNPs treatment potentiated the effects of PDT on cell viability, cell apoptosis, and singlet oxygen generation in A431 cells compared to 5-ALA treatment. Further in vitro assays showed that PDT with 5-ALA-GNPs significantly decreased expression of STAT3 and Bcl-2 and increased expression of Bax in A431 cells compared with PDT with 5-ALA. In addition, 5-ALA-GNPs treatment enhanced the inhibitory effects of PDT on cell invasion and migration and Wnt/β-catenin signaling activities in A431 cells compared to 5-ALA treatment. In conclusion, our results suggested that GNPs conjugated to 5-ALA significantly enhanced the anti-tumor efficacy of PDT in A431 cells, which may represent a better strategy to improve the outcomes of patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
Subject(s)
Humans , Skin Neoplasms/pathology , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology , Metal Nanoparticles/administration & dosage , Levulinic Acids/pharmacology , Photochemotherapy , RNA, Neoplasm , Cell Survival/drug effects , Apoptosis/drug effects , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation/drug effectsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the role of eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1A1 (eEF1A1) in regulating the invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and the possible mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of eEF1A1 and NOB1 in different HCC cell lines and normal liver cells. The invasion and migration abilities of HCC cells with eEF1A1 knockdown or overexpression were examined using Transwell chamber assay and RTCA assay, and the changes in NOB1 mRNA and protein expressions in the cells were detected. The effects of increasing NOB1 expression in HCCLM3-sheEF1A1 cells and decreasing NOB1 expression in eEF1A1-overexpressing MHCC97h cells on eEF1A1 expression and cell invasion and migration abilities were analyzed using Western blotting, Transwell chamber assay and RTCA assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expressions of eEF1A1 and NOB1 were significantly increased in positive correlation in HCC cells as compared with normal hepatocytes. Knockdown of eEF1A1 significantly decreased the invasion and migration of HCC cells and reduced the mRNA and protein expression of NOB1 ( < 0.01). Overexpression of eEF1A1 significantly enhanced invasion and migration of HCC cells and increased NOB1 mRNA and protein expressions ( < 0.01). Increasing NOB1 expression in HCCLM3-sheEF1A1 cells led to the restoration of NOB1 expression and cell invasion and migration abilities ( < 0.01), whereas decreasing NOB1 in MHCC97h-eEF1A1 cells resulted in inhibition of NOB1 expression and cell invasion and migration ( < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>eEF1A1 positively regulates the expression of NOB1 to promote the invasion and migration of HCC cells .</p>
ABSTRACT
Objective · To determine the expression of miRNA-7 in TWEAK-stimulated macrophages and their secreted exosomes;to investigate the role of exosomal miRNA-7 from TWEAK-stimulated macrophages in modulating the metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells.Methods · Real-time PCR analysis was used to determine the miRNA-7 expression in TWEAK-stimulated macrophages,their exosomes and recipient HO8910-PM cells.The activity of EGFR signaling pathway in HO8910-PM cells was detected by Western blotting analysis.AntagomiR-7 was used to downregulate the miRNA-7expressions in macrophage exosomes and then their effect on metastasis of HO8910-PM cells was examined by transwell assay.Results ·TWEAK increased the levels of miRNA-7 in macrophages and their secreted exosomes and also resulted in an elevated level of miRNA-7 in recipient HO8910-PM cells,which eventually reduced the activity of EGFR/AKT/ERK1/2 pathway.Pre-transfection of antagomiR-7 remarkably decreased the levels of miRNA-7 in macrophages,their secreted exosomes and the recipient EOC cells,with the enhancement of HO8910-PM metastasis.Conclusion · Exosomal miRNA-7 from TWEAK-stimulated macrophages plays a critical role in suppressing the metastasis of EOC cells by attenuation of EGFR signaling pathway.