ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to determine in a rat model of hepatocarcinoma (HCC) the effects of the antiangiogenic agent TNP-470 on antioxidant enzymes, including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutases (Mn-SOD and Cu,Zn-SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Tumor was induced in male Wistar rats by diethylnitrosamine and promoted by two-thirds hepatectomy plus acetaminofluorene administration. Experiments were carried out 28 weeks after initiating the treatment. TNP-470 was administered at 30 mg/kg, 2 times per week from weeks 20 to 28. Carcinomatous tissue was growing outside dysplastic nodules in rats with HCC. HCC caused oxidative stress demonstrated by increased lipid peroxidation and oxidized/reduced glutathione ratio that was accompanied by a reduced activity of antioxidant enzymes Cu,Zn-SOD, GPx, and CAT. In contrast, Mn-SOD activity and expression were higher in hepatocarcinoma than in control groups. These effects were absent in animals receiving TNP-470. No significant differences between untreated and TNP-470-treated rats were observed in the expression of the Cu,Zn-SOD, glutathione peroxidise, and CAT. We conclude that TNP-470 inhibits expression and activity of Mn-SOD induced by experimental hepatocarcinogenesis. Oxidative stress reduction by TNP-470 accounts for yet another anti-cancer effect of this molecule.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/metabolism , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism , Cyclohexanes/pharmacology , Liver Neoplasms/metabolism , Liver/metabolism , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Sesquiterpenes/pharmacology , Angiogenesis Inhibitors/pharmacology , Animals , Carcinogens , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/chemically induced , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy , Diethylnitrosamine , Disease Models, Animal , Free Radical Scavengers/metabolism , Liver/pathology , Liver Neoplasms/chemically induced , Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy , Male , O-(Chloroacetylcarbamoyl)fumagillol , Rats , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to determine in a rat model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) the effects of the antiangiogenic agent TNP-470 on cell proliferation and effectors of the apoptotic pathway, including p53, p21WAF1/CIP1, cyclin D, and cyclin E. Tumor was induced in male Wistar rats by diethylnitrosamine and promoted by two-thirds hepatectomy plus acetaminofluorene administration. Experiments were carried out at 28 weeks after initiating the treatment. TNP-470 was administered at 30 mg/kg, 3 times per week from 20 to 28 weeks. Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor beta (HGFbeta) liver expression were increased by hepatocarcinogenesis (+38% and +183%, respectively), and treatment with TNP-470 was able to prevent the increase in these angiogenic factors induced by HCC. HCC coursed with reduced expression of p21WAF1/CIP1 and p53 (-63% and -60%, respectively). Hepatic expression of cyclin D and cyclin E were significantly increased in rats with HCC (+108% and +115%, respectively). In animals with experimental carcinogenesis, a significant increase in the expression of Cdk4 and CdK2 was also observed (+119% and +187%, respectively). These effects were prevented by TNP-470 administration. In conclusion, cell-cycle inhibition by TNP-470 is mediated at least in part by an activation of p21WAF1/CIP1 because of a p53-dependent mechanism, with reduction of the cyclin D-Cdk4 and cyclin E-Cdk 2 expression. These cytostatic effects should be considered when assessing the efficacy of TNP-470 for anti-angiogenic therapy. These findings may prove useful for the development of therapies for the treatment of human HCC.
