ABSTRACT
An integrated microscopic study of the destruction of mouse Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells under starvation conditions has been carried out. It has been found that, in addition to apoptosis, necrosis, and apoptotic necrosis, already known for EAC, cell destruction can also occur through mitochondrial autolysis, which is proposed to be considered a new kind of mitoptosis. A mitoptosis in EAC is characterized by the appearance of many autolyzing mitochondria, the fusion of which leads to rupture of the cell membrane and the ejection of the nucleus from the cell. It is assumed that the polymorphism of EAC destruction patterns is explained by the different physiological state of the cells, which determines the "choice" of the cell death mechanism. This situation poses a challenge for researchers to develop complex inducers with the ability to stimulate all possible types of cancer cell death.
Subject(s)
Apoptosis/genetics , Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor/genetics , Mitochondria/genetics , Necrosis/genetics , Animals , Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor/metabolism , Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor/pathology , Cell Membrane/genetics , Cell Membrane/metabolism , Humans , Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics , MiceABSTRACT
The anti-inflammatory effect of the recombinant polypeptide HCGS 1.20, a Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor of the sea anemone Heteractis crispa, was investigated. It was shown that the polypeptide inhibits the increase of the concentration of calcium ions in mouse bone marrow derived macrophages elicited by histamine, and reduces the content of NO in lipopolysaccharide stimulated macrophages. A presumable mechanism of anti-inflammatory action of the polypeptide was being discussed.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents , Macrophages/metabolism , Peptides , Sea Anemones , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemistry , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Cell Line , Histamine/metabolism , Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology , Macrophages/pathology , Mice , Nitric Oxide/metabolism , Peptides/chemistry , Peptides/genetics , Peptides/pharmacology , Sea Anemones/chemistry , Sea Anemones/geneticsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The cytotoxic activity of sea cucumber glycosides against different types of cells and cell lines, including human tumor cell lines, has been studied for many years. However, the molecular mechanism(s) of the antitumor action of triterpene glycosides on cancer cells remain unclear. This article reports a continuation of investigations of triterpene glycoside cucumarioside A2-2 isolated from the Far-Eastern sea cucumber Cucumaria japonica. It describes a study of glycoside anticancer activity in vivo and glycoside interaction with mouse Ehrlich carcinoma cells in vitro. METHODS: The cytotoxicity of cucumarioside A2-2 and its effect on apoptosis, the cell cycle, DNA biosynthesis and p53 activity, and glycoside anticancer action against Ehrlich carcinoma cells were studied. RESULTS: Cucumarioside A2-2 influences tumor cell viability at micromolar concentrations. The EC50 for glycoside estimated by nonspecific esterase assay and MTT assay was 2.1 and 2.7 µM, respectively. Cucumarioside A2-2 at a subcytotoxic range of concentrations exhibits a cytostatic effect by blocking cell proliferation and DNA biosynthesis in the S phase. It may induce apoptosis in tumor cells in a caspase-dependent way, bypassing the activation of the p53-dependent segment. CONCLUSION: The anticancer and proapoptotic properties of cucumarioside A2-2 may be due to direct interaction of the glycoside with tumor cells. The in vivo anticancer effect of cucumarioside A2-2 may be associated with the ability of the drug to arrest the cell cycle in the synthetic phase and induce programmed tumor cell death.
