Sensitizing the cytotoxic action of Docetaxel induced by Pentoxifylline in a PC3 prostate cancer cell line.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed types of cancers worldwide. In its initial period, the tumor is hormone-sensitive, but in advanced states, it evolves into a metastatic castration-resistant tumor. In this state, chemotherapy with taxanes such as Docetaxel (DTX) comprises the first line of treatment. However, the response is poor due to chemoresistance and toxicity. On the other hand, Pentoxifylline (PTX) is an unspecific inhibitor of phosphodiesterases; experimental, and clinically it has been described as sensitizing tumor cells to chemotherapy, increasing apoptosis and decreasing senescence. We study whether the PTX sensitizes prostate cancer cells to DTX for greater effectiveness. METHODS: PC3 human prostate cancer cells were treated in vitro at different doses and times with PTX, DTX, or their combination. Viability was determined by the WST-1 assay by spectrophotometry, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, generic caspase activation and senescence by flow cytometry, DNA fragmentation and caspases-3, -8, and -9 activity by ELISA. RESULTS: We found that PTX in PC3 human prostate cancer cells induces significant apoptosis per se and increases that generated by DTX, while at the same time it reduces the senescence caused by the chemotherapy and increases caspases-3,-8, and -9 activity in PTX + DTX-treated cells. Both treatments blocked the PC3 cell in the G1 phase. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that PTX sensitizes prostate tumor cells to apoptosis induced by DTX. Taken together, the results support the concept of chemotherapy with rational molecular bases.

Frecuencia de patrones de anticuerpos antinucleares, en pacientes con sospecha de enfermedades sistémicas reumáticas autoinmunes / Frequency of antinuclear antibodies patterns in patients with suspected of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases / Frequência de Padrões de anticorpo antinucleares em pacientes com suspeita de doenças sistêmicas reumáticas autoimunes / Fréquence des profils d'anticorps antinucléaires dans les cas de suspicion de maladies rhumatismales auto-immunes systémiques

Resumen Objetivo: El objetivo de este trabajo es describir la frecuencia de los patrones de tinción de Anticuerpos antinucleares (ANA), en pacientes con sospecha de enfermedades autoinmunes, en el sureste mexicano. Materiales y métodos: Se emplearon células Hep-2 y anticuerpo anti-IgG acoplado a FITC (EuroimmunTM) para el análisis de las muestras a través de inmunofluorescencia indirecta. Resultados: Del total de los pacientes, 89 fueron mujeres (87.2%) y 13 hombres (12.7%), en edades de 2 a 88 años. Se observó que 85 muestras (70.6 %) correspondieron al patrón nuclear, 10 (9.8 %) al patrón citoplasmático y 7 (6.8 %) al patrón mitótico. De los patrones nucleares, 37 (36.8%), 17 (16.7%) y 12 (11.8%) correspondieron a patrones homogéneo, granular fino y granular grueso respectivamente. Conclusiones: En este trabajo se observó, que la mayor frecuencia de anticuerpos antinucleares se encontró en pacientes en edad productiva. Los patrones más observados fueron el homogéneo, granular fino y granular grueso. El patrón homogéneo se asocia a LES cuando se presenta en títulos altos.

Abstract Objective: The objective of this work was to describe the frequency of antinuclear antibody (ANA) staining patterns in patients with suspected autoimmune diseases in southeastern Mexico. Materials and methods: Hep2 cells and Anti-Human IgG coupled to FITC (EuroimmunTM) were used for analyzing samples through indirect immunofluorescence. Results: 87.2 % per cent (89) of the total number of patients were women and 12.7 % were men (13) aged from 2 to 88 years. It was observed that 85 samples (70.6%) corresponded to the nucleolar pattern, 10 (9.8%) to the cytoplasmic pattern and 7 (6.8%) to the mitotic pattern. Of the nuclear patterns, 37 (36.8%), 17 (16.7%) and 12 samples (11.8%) corresponded to homogeneous, nuclear fine speckled and nuclear coarse speckled patterns respectively. Conclusions: In this work, it was observed that the highest frequency of antinuclear antibodies was found in patients of productive age. The most observed patterns were the homogeneous, nuclear fine speckled and nuclear coarse speckled. The homogeneous pattern is associated with SLE when presented in high titers.

Resumo Objetivo: deste trabalho é descrever a frequência dos padrões de coloração de anticorpos antinucleares (ANA) em pacientes com suspeita de doenças autoimunes no sudeste mexicano. Materiais e métodos: células Hep-2 e anticorpo anti-IgG acoplado a FITC (EuroimmunTM) foram utilizados para a análise das amostras por imunofluorescência indireta. Resultados: Do total de pacientes, 89 eram mulheres (87,2%) e 13 homens (12,7%), com idade entre 2 e 88 anos. Observou-se que 85 amostras (70,6%) corresponderam ao padrão nuclear, 10 (9,8%) ao padrão citoplasmático e 7 (6,8%) ao padrão mitótico. Dos padrões nucleares, 37 (36,8%), 17 (16,7%) e 12 (11,8%) corresponderam aos padrões homogêneo, granular fino e granular grosso, respectivamente. Conclusões: Neste trabalho observou-se que a maior frequência de anticorpos antinucleares foi encontrada em pacientes em idade produtiva. Os padrões mais observados foram homogêneo, granular fino e granular grosso. O padrão homogêneo está associado ao LES quando ocorre em altos títulos.

Résumé Objectif : L'objectif de ce travail est de décrire la fréquence des profils de coloration des Anticorps Antinucléaires (ANA), dans les cas de suspicion de maladies auto-immunes, dans le sud-est du Mexique. Matériels et méthodes : Des cellules Hep-2 et un anticorps anti-IgG couplé au FITC (EuroimmunTM) ont été utilisés pour l'analyse desé chantillons par immunofluorescence indirecte. Résultats : Sur le total des patients, 89 étaient des femmes (87,2 %) et 13 des hommes (12,7 %), tous âgés de 2 à 88 ans. Il a été observé que 85 échantillons (70,6 %) correspondaient au patron nucléaire, 10 (9,8 %) au patron cytoplasmique et 7 (6,8 %) au patron mitotique. Parmi es patrons nucléaires, 37 (36,8%), 17 (16,7%) et 12 (11,8%) avaient respectivement un aspect homogène, moucheté à grains fins et moucheté à gros grains. Conclusions : Dans travail, il a été observé que la fréquence la plus élevée d'anticorps antinucléaires a été trouvée chez les patients en âge productif. Les aspects les plus observés ont été de type homogène, moucheté à grains fins et moucheté à gros grains. L'aspect homogène est associé à l'ELS lorsqu'il est présenté en titres élevés.

Pentoxifylline Enhances the Apoptotic Effect of Carboplatin in Y79 Retinoblastoma Cells.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy. Carboplatin (CPt) is a DNA damage-inducing agent that is widely used for the treatment of RB. Unfortunately, this drug also activates the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-ĸB), leading to promotion of tumor survival. Pentoxifylline (PTX) is a drug that inhibits the phosphorylation of I kappa B-alpha (IĸBα) in serines 32 and 36, and this disrupts NF-ĸB activity that promotes tumor survival. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of the PTX on the antitumor activity of CPt. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Y79 RB cells were treated with CPt, PTX, or both. Cell viability, apoptosis, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, the activity of caspase-9, -8, and -3, cytochrome c release, cell-cycle progression, p53, and phosphorylation of IĸBα, and pro- and anti-apoptotic genes were evaluated. RESULTS: Both drugs significantly affected the viability of the Y79 RB cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The PTX+CPt combination exhibited the highest rate of apoptosis, a decrease in cell viability and significant caspase activation, as well as loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome c, and increased p53 protein levels. Cells treated with PTX alone displayed decreased I kappa B-alpha phosphorylation, compared to the CPt treated group. In addition, the PTX+CPt combination treatment induced up-regulation of the proapoptotic genes Bax, Bad, Bak, and caspases- 3, -8, and -9, compared to the CPt and PTX individual treated groups. CONCLUSION: PTX induces apoptosis per se and increases the CPt-induced apoptosis, augmenting its antitumor effectiveness.