HuaChanSu suppresses tumor growth and interferes with glucose metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by restraining Hexokinase-2.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become the sixth highly diagnosed cancer and the fourth main reason of cancer deaths worldwide. HuaChanSu, an extract from dried toad skin, exhibits good anticancer effects and has been widely used in the treatment of liver cancer. The reprogramming of glucose metabolism is one remarkable feature of hepatocellular carcinoma, and the effects of HuaChanSu on the abnormal glucose metabolism of cancer cells have not been elucidated. In our study, we investigate the effects of HuaChanSu on glucose metabolism of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and tumor growth in vivo. The results show that HuaChanSu inhibits the tumor growth of hepatoma H22-bearing mice and prolongs the survival time of tumor-bearing mice, additionally, HuaChanSu has no obvious adverse effects in these mice. In vitro, HuaChanSu restrains the proliferation, induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of human hepatoma cells. HuaChanSu also promotes ROS production and causes mitochondrial damage. Furthermore, HuaChanSu inhibits glucose uptake and lactate release in human hepatoma cells. Mechanistically, we find that HuaChanSu downregulates Hexokinase-2 (HK2) expression, and using RNA interference, we confirm that HuaChanSu suppresses the growth of HepG2 cells by interfering with glucose metabolism through downregulation of Hexokinase-2. However, knockdown of Hexokinase-2 has no obvious effect on the proliferation of SK-HEP-1 cells, although glucose uptake and lactate release are reduced in siHK2-transfected SK-HEP-1 cells, subsequently, we illustrate that two human hepatoma cell lines exhibit glucose metabolism heterogeneity, which causes the different cell proliferation responses to the inhibition of Hexokinase-2. Taken together, our study indicates that HuaChanSu could inhibit tumor growth and interfere with glucose metabolism via suppression of Hexokinase-2, and these findings provide a new insight into the anti-hepatoma mechanisms of HuaChanSu and lay a theoretical foundation for the further clinical application of HuaChanSu.

Diastereo- and enantioselective construction of spirooxindole scaffolds through a catalytic asymmetric [3 + 3] cycloaddition.

A chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed asymmetric [3 + 3] cycloaddition of C3-substituted 2-indolylmethanols with isatin-derived azomethine ylides has been established, which afforded chiral spirooxindoles in considerable yields, moderate to good enantioselectivities and excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 85% yield, 96 : 4 er, all >95 : 5 dr).

Substrate-Controlled Regioselective Arylations of 2-Indolylmethanols with Indoles: Synthesis of Bis(indolyl)methane and 3,3'-Bisindole Derivatives.

A substrate-controlled regioselective arylation of 2-indolylmethanols with indoles has been established, which efficiently afforded bis(indolyl)methane and 3,3'-bisindole derivatives in high yields and with a broad substrate scope (up to 98% yield, 36 examples). This approach will not only provide an important strategy for the diversified synthesis of bis(indolyl)methane and 3,3'-bisindole derivatives but also serve as a good example for substrate-controlled regioselective reactions.

Catalytic Enantioselective and Regioselective [3+3] Cycloadditions Using 2-Indolylmethanols as 3 C Building Blocks.

The first catalytic asymmetric cycloaddition using 2-indolylmethanols as 3C building blocks has been established by a chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed enantioselective and regioselective [3+3] cycloaddition of 2-indolylmethanols with azomethine ylides, which constructed biologically important tetrahydro-γ-carboline frameworks in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 83 % yield, 99:1 e.r.). This reaction not only represents the first application of 2-indolylmethanols as 3C building blocks in catalytic asymmetric cycloadditions, but also has established an abnormal regioselectivity in indolylmethanol-involved transformations.

Enantioselective Construction of Tetrahydroquinolin-5-one-Based Spirooxindole Scaffold via an Organocatalytic Asymmetric Multicomponent [3 + 3] Cyclization.

The first catalytic enantioselective construction of biologically important tetrahydroquinolin-5-one-based spirooxindole has been developed via a chiral cinchona alkaloid catalyzed asymmetric three-component [3 + 3] cyclization of cyclic enaminone, isatin, and malononitrile, which afforded a series of tetrahydroquinolin-5-one-based spirooxindoles in high yields and with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% yield, 97:3 er). This reaction could be applicable to large-scale synthesis of enantioenriched tetrahydroquinolin-5-one-based spirooxindoles. This synthetic methodology will not only provide a unique approach for the construction of chiral tetrahydroquinolin-5-one-based spirooxindole scaffolds but also increase our understanding of catalytic enantioselective multicomponent reactions.

[Role of acetylcholine in gelsenicine-induced death in mice].

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the acetylcholine concentration in the blood and gelsenicine-induced death in mice. Kunming mice were given intraperitoneal injections of normal saline, gelsenicine or different doses of acetylcholine chloride. Atropine was given to the mice which received gelsenicine or medium dose acetylcholine chloride injection. The blood was sampled immediately when the mice died or survived for 20 min after injection. The acetylcholine concentration and acetylcholinesterase activity in the blood were measured by the testing kits, and the mortality was calculated and analyzed. The results showed that half lethal dose of gelsenicine (0.15 mg/kg) reduced the acetylcholinesterase activity and increased the blood acetylcholine concentration. The blood acetylcholine concentration of the dead mice in the gelsenicine group was increased to 43.0 µg/mL (from 31.1 µg/mL in the control), which was lower than that (53.9 µg/mL) of the dead mice in the medium dose acetylcholine chloride group, but almost equal to that (42.7 µg/mL) of the survival mice in the medium dose acetylcholine chloride group. Atropine could successfully rescue the mice from acetylcholine poisoning, but its efficiency of rescuing the mice from gelsenicine intoxication was weak. These results suggest that gelsenicine can inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity and increase blood acetylcholine concentration, but the accumulation of acetylcholine may not be the only or main cause of the death induced by gelsenicine in mice.

Overexpression of chloride channel-3 is associated with the increased migration and invasion ability of ectopic endometrial cells from patients with endometriosis.

STUDY QUESTION: Is chloride channel-3 (ClC-3) involved in regulating the biological behavior of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs)? SUMMARY ANSWER: ClC-3 promotes endometriotic cell migration and invasion. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: ClC-3 plays a significant role in the migration and invasion of various kinds of cells. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: An ITALIC! in vitro investigation of the effect of ClC-3 on the migration and invasion of ectopic ESCs from patients with endometriosis. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: The ectopic and eutopic endometrial samples from 43 female patients with endometriosis and the endometrial samples from 39 non-endometriotic female patients were collected. Primary cells from these samples were isolated and cultured. Real-time RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and western blot were used to detect the expression of ClC-3 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9). Small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology was employed to knock down ClC-3 expression. The migration and invasion ability of ESCs was measured by the transwell assay with uncoated or Matrigel-coated membranes. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The expression of ClC-3 mRNA and proteins was significantly up-regulated in the ectopic tissues from endometriotic patients, while that in the eutopic endometrial tissues of the same patients did not significantly differ from that in non-endometriotic patients. The migration and invasion ability and MMP-9 expression was increased in the ESCs from ectopic endometrial tissues. The knockdown of ClC-3 expression by ClC-3 siRNA inhibited ESC migration and invasion and attenuated the expression of MMP-9. ClC-3 expression level was well-correlated to the clinical characteristics and symptoms of endometriosis patients, including infertility, dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia and diameter of endometriosis lesion. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Further studies are needed to examine the regulatory mechanism of estrogen on ClC-3 expression of ESCs. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: ClC-3 is involved in the migration and invasion processes of ESCs and can regulate MMP-9 expression. Up-regulation of ClC-3 expression may contribute to endometriosis development by regulating MMP-9 expression. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81173064, 81272223, 81273539), the Ministry of Education of China (20124401110009), the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (S2011010001589) and the Science and Technology Programs of Guangdong (2013B051000059), Guangzhou (2013J500015) and Dongguan (2011108102006). The authors have no conflict of interest.

Diastereo- and enantioselective construction of an indole-based 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran scaffold via catalytic asymmetric [3+2] cyclizations of quinone monoimides with 3-vinylindoles.

The first catalytic asymmetric [3+2] cyclization of quinone monoimides with olefins has been established, which employed 3-vinylindoles as a class of competent olefins and spiro-chiral phosphoric acid as a powerful chiral catalyst, leading to chemo-, diastereo- and enantioselective construction of a biologically important 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran framework with optical purity (up to 99% yield, >95 : 5 dr, 96 : 4 er).

[Response of Maize to Lead Stress and Relevant Chemical Forms of Lead].

A sand-culture experiment was carried out to research the differences in lead (Pb) chemical-form among different maize varieties for roots and shoots under Pb stress, and further investigate into the mechanism of maize endurance to resist Pb. The results showed that the wheat varieties of Zhengdan 958 and Longping 206 have the maximum Pb tolerance, whereas Lianchuang 5's tolerance of Pb was the minimum. Pb form in roots and shoots were mainly harmfulness HAc-extractable and HCl-extractable, accounting for a high proportion of 60% - 87%. Moreover, these values in roots were slightly higher than those in shoots. And concentrations of alcohol-extractable and water-extractable Pb accounted for the proportion of 6% - 20%. Under 100 mg x L(-1) Pb stress, the alcohol-extractable together with water-extractable Pb content in shoots of Longping 206 was the lowest (0.52 mg x kg(-1)), and that of in Zhengdan 958 shoots was 0.93 mg x kg(-1) which was also very low. However, for Lianchuang 5, the content could reach 2.78 mg x kg(-1). Under the stress of 800 mg x L(-1) Pb, content of alcohol-extractable together with water-extractable Pb in Zhengdan 958 shoots was 2.41 mg x kg(-1), which was still the lowest. These were probable reasons why Zhengdan 958 was more resistant to Pb stress than other varieties. Tolerance of Zhengdan 958 to Pb stress was related to it's strong ability to convert toxic Pb into non-toxic Pb.

Organocatalytic asymmetric cascade reactions of 7-vinylindoles: diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of C7-functionalized indoles.

The first catalytic asymmetric cascade reaction of 7-vinylindoles has been established by the rational design of such substrates. Cascade reactions with isatin-derived 3-indolylmethanols in the presence of a chiral phosphoric acid derivative allow the diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of C7-functionalized indoles as well as the construction of cyclopenta[b]indole and spirooxindole frameworks (all >95:5 d.r., 94->99 % ee). This approach not only addresses the great challenge of the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of C7-functionalized indoles, but also provides an efficient method for constructing biologically important cyclopenta[b]indole and spirooxindole scaffolds with excellent optical purity. Investigation of the reaction pathway and activation mode has suggested that this cascade reaction proceeds through a vinylogous Michael addition/Friedel-Crafts process, in which dual H-bonding activation of the two reactants plays a crucial role.

Catalytic asymmetric Povarov reaction of isatin-derived 2-azadienes with 3-vinylindoles.

The first catalytic asymmetric Povarov reaction of isatin-derived 2-azadienes with 3-vinylindoles was established in the presence of chiral phosphoric acid, which tolerates a wide range of substrates with generally excellent diastereoselectivity and good enantioselectivity (up to >95 : 5 dr, 89 : 11 er). This approach will greatly enrich the chemistry of the catalytic asymmetric Povarov reaction, in particular ketone-involved transformations. Furthermore, this protocol represents the first diastereo- and enantio-selective construction of a spiro[indolin-3,2'-quinoline] framework bearing an indole moiety. This novel type of spiro-compound not only contains two chiral centers, including one quaternary stereogenic center, but also integrates two biologically important structures of spiro[indolin-3,2'-quinoline] and indole, which may find medicinal applications after bioassay.

[Studies on relationship of phytoplankton and water environmental factors in Shahu Lake].

Analysis approaches of correlation, multiple stepwise regression and canonical correspondence analysis were employed between phytoplankton and water environmental factors in ShaHu Lake based on the data from Apr. 2009 to Jan. 2010. The results showed that the correlation between phytoplankton density, phytoplankton biomass, chlorophyll-a and water temperature (WT), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), potassium permanganate index,5 days biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) was positive, and phytoplankton density, phytoplankton biomass, chlorophyll-a and Secchi-depth (SD) was negatively correlated. Followed by the importance of environmental factors which affected phytoplankton density in Shahu Lake ranged as follows: WT, potassium permanganate index, SD, BOD5, TP, TN. Those affected phytoplankton biomass ranged as follows: WT,TP, potassium permanganate index,SD,TN. Those affected on chlorophyll-a ranged as follows: potassium permanganate index, WT, SD, TP, TN, BOD5. CCA result showed that 16 species of phytoplankton were divided into 3 groups which had the obvious seasonal distribution characteristics in Shahu Lake. SD, potassium permanganate index,WT, TN, TP were the main water environmental factors correlated with the distribution of phytoplankton community of Shahu Lake.