Anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) attenuates azoxymethane-induced colorectal cancer by antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic pathways in rats.

Herbal medicine is one of the most common fields explored for combating colon cancers, and Pimpinella anisum L. seeds (PAS) have been utilized widely as medicinal agents because of their increased essential oil (trans-anethole) contents. In this essence, our study investigates the toxic effect and chemoprotective potentials of PAS against azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon cancer in rats. The toxicity trial for PAS conducted by clustering fifteen rats into three groups (five rats each): A, normal control had 10% Tween 20; B, ingested with 2 g/kg PAS; and C, supplemented with 4 g/kg PAS. The in vivo cancer trial was performed by using 30 rats (Sprague-Dawley) that were randomly adapted in five steel cages (six rats each): group A, normal controls received two subcutaneous injections of normal saline 0.09% and ingested orally 10% Tween 20; groups B-E, rats received two injections of 15 mg/kg of azoxymethane (AOM) subcutaneously in 2 weeks and treated orally with 10% Tween 20 (group B) or intraperitoneal injection of 5-fluorouracil (35 mg/kg) (group C), or orally given 200 mg/kg PAS (group D) and 400 mg/kg PAS (group E) for 8 weeks. After the scarification of rats, the colon tissues were dissected for gross and histopathological evaluations. The acute toxicity trial showed the absence of any toxic signs in rats even after 14 days of ingesting 4 g/kg of PAS. The chemoprotective experiment revealed significant inhibitory potentials (65.93%) of PAS (400 mg/kg) against aberrant crypto foci incidence that could be correlated with its positive modulation of the immunohistochemically proteins represented by a significant up-regulation of the Bax protein and a decrease of the Bcl-2 protein expressions in colon tissues. Furthermore, PAS-treated rats had notably lower oxidative stress in colon tissues evidenced by decreased MDA levels and increased antiradical defense enzymes (SOD, CAT, and GPx). The outcomes suggest 400 mg/kg PAS as a viable additive for the development of potential pharmaceuticals against colorectal cancer.

Infliximab Inhibits Colitis Associated Cancer in Model Mice by Downregulating Genes Associated with Mast Cells and Decreasing Their Accumulation.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, can be treated with anti TNF-alpha (TNF-α) antibodies (Abs), but they also put patients with IBDs at risk of cancer. We aimed to determine whether the anti TNF-α Ab induces colon cancer development in vitro and in vivo, and to identify the genes involved in colitis-associated cancer. We found that TNF-α (50 ng/mL) inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCT8 and COLO205 colon cancer cell lines and that anti TNF-α Ab neutralized TNF-α inhibition in vitro. The effects of anti TNF-α Ab, infliximab (10 mg/kg) were investigated in mouse models of colitis-associated cancer induced by intraperitoneally injected azoxymethane (AOM: 10 mg/kg)/orally administered dextran sodium sulfate (DSS: 2.5%) (AOM/DSS) in vivo. Infliximab significantly attenuated the development of colon cancer in these mice. Microarray analyses and RT-qPCR revealed that mast cell protease 1, mast cell protease 2, and chymase 1 were up-regulated in cancer tissue of AOM/DSS mice; however, those mast cell related genes were downregulated in cancer tissue of AOM/DSS mice with infliximab. These results suggested that mast cells play a pivotal role in the development of cancer associated with colitis in AOM/DSS mice.

Tyk2 is a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer.

Janus kinase Tyk2 is implicated in cancer immune surveillance, but its role in solid tumors is not well defined. We used Tyk2 knockout mice (Tyk2Δ/Δ) and mice with conditional deletion of Tyk2 in hematopoietic (Tyk2ΔHem) or intestinal epithelial cells (Tyk2ΔIEC) to assess their cell type-specific functions in chemically induced colorectal cancer. All Tyk2-deficient mouse models showed a higher tumor burden after AOM-DSS treatment compared to their corresponding wild-type controls (Tyk2+/+ and Tyk2fl/fl), demonstrating tumor-suppressive functions of Tyk2 in immune cells and epithelial cancer cells. However, specific deletion of Tyk2 in hematopoietic cells or in intestinal epithelial cells was insufficient to accelerate tumor progression, while deletion in both compartments promoted carcinoma formation. RNA-seq and proteomics revealed that tumors of Tyk2Δ/Δ and Tyk2ΔIEC mice were immunoedited in different ways with downregulated and upregulated IFNγ signatures, respectively. Accordingly, the IFNγ-regulated immune checkpoint Ido1 was downregulated in Tyk2Δ/Δ and upregulated in Tyk2ΔIEC tumors, although both showed reduced CD8+ T cell infiltration. These data suggest that Tyk2Δ/Δ tumors are Ido1-independent and poorly immunoedited while Tyk2ΔIEC tumors require Ido1 for immune evasion. Our study shows that Tyk2 prevents Ido1 expression in CRC cells and promotes CRC immune surveillance in the tumor stroma. Both of these Tyk2-dependent mechanisms must work together to prevent CRC progression.

Anti-Obesity Drug Orlistat Alleviates Western-Diet-Driven Colitis-Associated Colon Cancer via Inhibition of STAT3 and NF-κB-Mediated Signaling.

Many researchers have argued that Western diet (WD)-induced obesity accelerates inflammation and that inflammation is a link between obesity and colorectal cancer (CRC). This study investigated the effect of WDs on the development and progression of colitis-associated colon cancer (CAC) and the efficacy of the anti-obesity agent orlistat on WD-driven CAC in mice. The results revealed that the WD exacerbated CAC in azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mice, which showed increased mortality, tumor formation, and aggravation of tumor progression. Furthermore, WD feeding also upregulated inflammation, hyperplasia, and tumorigenicity levels through the activation of STAT3 and NF-κB signaling in an AOM/DSS-induced mouse model. In contrast, treatment with orlistat increased the survival rate and alleviated the symptoms of CAC, including a recovery in colon length and tumor production decreases in WD-driven AOM/DSS-induced mice. Additionally, orlistat inhibited the extent of inflammation, hyperplasia, and tumor progression via the inhibition of STAT3 and NF-κB activation. Treatment with orlistat also suppressed the ß-catenin, slug, XIAP, Cdk4, cyclin D, and Bcl-2 protein levels in WD-driven AOM/DSS-induced mice. The results of this study indicate that orlistat alleviates colon cancer promotion in WD-driven CAC mice by suppressing inflammation, especially by inhibiting STAT3 and NF-κB activation.

Design, optimization and validation of genes commonly used in expression studies on DMH/AOM rat colon carcinogenesis model.

Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as colon cancer, is the third most common form of cancer worldwide in men and the second in women and is characterized by several genetic alterations, among them the expression of several genes. 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and its metabolite azoxymethane (AOM) are procarcinogens commonly used to induce colon cancer in rats (DMH/AOM rat model). This rat model has been used to study changes in mRNA expression in genes involved in this pathological condition. However, a lack of proper detailed PCR primer design in the literature limits the reproducibility of the published data. The present study aims to design, optimize and validate the qPCR, in accordance with the MIQE (Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments) guidelines, for seventeen genes commonly used in the DMH/AOM rat model of CRC (Apc, Aurka, Bax, Bcl2, ß-catenin, Ccnd1, Cdkn1a, Cox2, Gsk3beta, IL-33, iNOs, Nrf2, p53, RelA, Smad4, Tnfα and Vegfa) and two reference genes (Actb or ß-actin and B2m). The specificity of all primer pairs was empirically validated on agarose gel, and furthermore, the melting curve inspection was checked as was their efficiency (%) ranging from 90 to 110 with a correlation coefficient of r 2 > 0.980. Finally, a pilot study was performed to compare the robustness of two candidate reference genes.

Mouse Model of Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer (CAC): Isolation and Characterization of Mucosal-Associated Lymphoid Cells.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy worldwide presenting high mortality due to low treatment efficacy. Existing evidence indicates that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with a higher risk of developing CRC. Many murine models of inflammation-related colon carcinogenesis (CAC) have been developed to study colon carcinogenesis and novel treatments. A commonly used model involves the combination of a single dose of azoxymethane (AOM), together with three cycles of the inflammatory agent dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) (5 days in drinking water followed by a two-week rest). Following this protocol, around 50% of the animals develop CRCs after 45 days and almost 100% of animals after 60 days. During CAC development, immune cells, cytokines, and other immune mediators are involved in both tumorigenesis and the elimination of cancer cells during immunotherapy. Thus, the study of mucosal immune responses (including lamina propria mononuclear cells and intraepithelial lymphocytes) is important to understand the role of the immune system during development and therapy in CRC. Single immune cell suspensions from lamina propria and epithelium can be purified combining selective tissue digestion and Percoll gradient centrifugation. Isolated cells can be characterized using flow cytometry by analyzing surface antigens or intracellular cytokines and cytotoxic mediators or employed for further investigations like comparative studies of mRNA expression, cell-proliferation assay, protein analysis, or even functional cytotoxicity assays. The CAC model is useful to study the involvement of immune cells not only during the carcinogenesis process but, in addition, during the treatment with novel immunotherapy protocols.

Cannabinoid Receptor-1 Up-regulation in Azoxymethane (AOM)-treated Mice After Dietary Treatment with Quercetin.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The expression of cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB1-R) seems to be modulated by bioactive natural components such as the flavonoid quercetin. The aim of this study was to determine in an animal model of induced-colon cancer, whether quercetin inhibits colon carcinogenesis through changes in the expression of CB1-R. MATERIALS AND METHODS: C57BL/6J male mice were randomly assigned to standard diet or experimental diet supplemented with 0.5% quercetin. Azoxymethane (AOM) (10 mg/kg body weight) or saline solution (PBS) was intraperitoneally injected, once weekly for 6 weeks. RESULTS: The diet supplemented with quercetin induced CB1-R gene expression and protein, inhibiting the protein levels of STAT3 and p-STAT3 (both mediators of cell proliferation). Dietary quercetin also caused a significant increase in Bax/Bcl2 ratio protein expression. CONCLUSION: The anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of quercetin in AOM-treated mice are mediated by induction of the protein and gene expression levels of CB1-R.

Therapeutic Ablation of Gain-of-Function Mutant p53 in Colorectal Cancer Inhibits Stat3-Mediated Tumor Growth and Invasion.

Over half of colorectal cancers (CRCs) harbor TP53 missense mutations (mutp53). We show that the most common mutp53 allele R248Q (p53Q) exerts gain of function (GOF) and creates tumor dependence in mouse CRC models. mutp53 protein binds Stat3 and enhances activating Stat3 phosphorylation by displacing the phosphatase SHP2. Ablation of the p53Q allele suppressed Jak2/Stat3 signaling, growth, and invasiveness of established, mutp53-driven tumors. Treating tumor-bearing mice with an HSP90 inhibitor suppressed mutp53 levels and tumor growth. Importantly, human CRCs with stabilized mutp53 exhibit enhanced Jak2/Stat3 signaling and are associated with poorer patient survival. Cancers with TP53R248Q/W are associated with a higher patient death risk than are those having nonR248 mutp53. These findings identify GOF mutp53 as a therapeutic target in CRC.

Methods for In Vivo Functional Studies of Chromatin-Modifying Enzymes in Early Steps of Colon Carcinogenesis.

Since chromatin-modifying enzymes are involved in most processes needing to access the DNA fiber such as transcription, replication or DNA repair, their involvement in the regulation of gene expression in numerous physiopathological contexts is widely studied. Most of these enzymes are essential for cell growth and survival due to their pleiotropic roles and studying their impact in vivo on organ development or tissue physiopathology is challenging. In this chapter, we describe a chemically-mediated method to induce colorectal carcinogenesis that we have used to identify in vivo the role of two chromatin modifying enzymes belonging to the same multimolecular complex, the histone acetyltransferase Tip60 and the histone variant-incorporating ATPase p400.

Establishing the colitis-associated cancer progression mouse models.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been reported as an important inducer of colorectal cancer (CRC). The most malignant IBD-associated CRC type has been highlighted as colitis-associated cancer (CAC). However, lack of CAC cases and difficulties of the long follow-up research have challenged researchers in molecular mechanism probing. Here, we established pre-CAC mouse models (dextran sulfate sodium [DSS] group and azoxymethane [AOM] group) and CAC mouse model (DSS/AOM group) to mimic human CAC development through singly or combinational treatment with DSS and AOM followed by disease activity index analysis. We found that these CAC mice showed much more severe disease phenotype, including serious diarrhea, body weight loss, rectal prolapse and bleeding, bloody stool, tumor burden, and bad survival. By detecting expression patterns of several therapeutic targets-Apc, p53, Kras, and TNF-α-in these mouse models through western blot, histology analysis, qRT-PCR, and ELISA methods, we found that the oncogene Kras expression remained unchanged, while the tumor suppressors-Apc and p53 expression were both significantly downregulated with malignancy progression from pre-CAC to CAC, and TNF-α level was elevated the most in CAC mice blood which is of potential clinical use. These data indicated the successful establishment of CAC development mouse models, which mimics human CAC well both in disease phenotype and molecular level, and highlighted the promoting role of inflammation in CAC progression. This useful tool will facilitate the further study in CAC molecular mechanism.

Antagonizing pathways leading to differential dynamics in colon carcinogenesis in Shugoshin1 (Sgo1)-haploinsufficient chromosome instability model.

Colon cancer is the second most lethal cancer. It is predicted to claim 50,310 lives in 2014. Chromosome Instability (CIN) is observed in 80-90% of colon cancers, and is thought to contribute to colon cancer progression and recurrence. However, there are no animal models of CIN that have been validated for studies of colon cancer development or drug testing. In this study, we sought to validate a mitotic error-induced CIN model mouse, the Shugoshin1 (Sgo1) haploinsufficient mouse, as a colon cancer study model. Wild-type and Sgo1(-/+) mice were treated with the colonic carcinogen, azoxymethane (AOM). We tracked colon tumor development 12, 24, and 36 wk after treatment to assess progression of colon tumorigenesis. Initially, more precancerous lesions, Aberrant Crypt Foci (ACF), developed in Sgo1(-/+) mice. However, the ACF did not develop straightforwardly into larger tumors. At the 36-wk endpoint, the number of gross tumors in Sgo1(-/+) mice was no different from that in wild-type controls. However, Copy Number Variation (CNV) analysis indicated that fully developed colon tumor in Sgo1(-/+) mice carried 13.75 times more CNV. Immunohistological analyses indicated that Sgo1(-/+) mice differentially expressed IL-6, Bcl2, and p16(INK4A) . We propose that formation of ACF in Sgo1(-/+) mice is facilitated by the IL6-STAT3-SOCS3 oncogenic pathway and by the Bcl2-anti-apoptotic pathway, yet further development of the ACF to tumors is inhibited by the p16(INK4A) tumor suppressor pathway. Manipulating these pathways would be beneficial for inhibiting development of colon cancer with CIN.

Effects of selenium on colon carcinogenesis induced by azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulfate in mouse model with high-iron diet.

Selenium (Se) is known to prevent several cancers while the relationship between high iron and the risk of colorectal cancer is controversial. To investigate the effects of Se in colon carcinogenesis, we subjected three different levels of Se and high-iron diet to a mouse model of colon cancer in which animals were treated with three azoxymethane (AOM) injections followed by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) administration. There were five experimental groups including vehicle group [normal-Fe (NFe, 45 ppm)+medium-Se (MSe, 0.1 ppm)], positive control group (AOM/DSS+NFe+MSe), AOM/DSS+high-Fe (HFe, 450 ppm)+low-Se (LSe, 0.02 ppm), AOM/DSS+HFe+MSe, and AOM/DSS+HFe+high-Se (HSe, 0.5 ppm). The animals were fed on the three different Se diets for 24 weeks. The incidence of colon tumor in the high-Se diet group (AOM/DSS+HFe+HSe) showed 19.4% lower than positive control group, 5.9% lower than AOM/DSS+HFe+MSe diet group, and 11.1% lower than AOM/DSS+HFe+LSe group. The tumor multiplicity was significantly higher in the low-Se diet group (AOM/DSS+HFe+LSe) compare to all other AOM/DSS treated groups. In the high-Se diet group, the activity of hepatic GPx was comparable to that of positive control group, and significantly higher than those of low-Se or medium-Se diet groups. Expression level of hepatic GPx-1 showed similar results. Hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) level (indicator of oxidative stress) in the low-Se diet group showed the highest compared to the other groups, and it was significantly higher than positive control group. In the high-Se diet group the level of MDA in the liver was significantly lower than all other AOM/DSS treated groups. High-Se diet group showed significantly lower proliferative index than low-Se and medium-Se groups. The apoptotic indices in low-Se group and medium-Se group were significantly lower than positive control group. However, apoptotic index of high-Se diet group was significantly higher than all other AOM/DSS treated groups. These findings suggest that dietary Se supplement may have protective effect against colon cancer by decreasing proliferation, increasing apoptosis of tumor cells, and reducing oxidative stress in mice with high iron diet.

Effects of Selenium on Colon Carcinogenesis Induced by Azoxymethane and Dextran Sodium Sulfate in Mouse Model with High-Iron Diet / 한국실험동물학회지

Selenium (Se) is known to prevent several cancers while the relationship between high iron and the risk of colorectal cancer is controversial. To investigate the effects of Se in colon carcinogenesis, we subjected three different levels of Se and high-iron diet to a mouse model of colon cancer in which animals were treated with three azoxymethane (AOM) injections followed by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) administration. There were five experimental groups including vehicle group [normal-Fe (NFe, 45 ppm)+medium-Se (MSe, 0.1 ppm)], positive control group (AOM/DSS+NFe+MSe), AOM/DSS+high-Fe (HFe, 450 ppm)+low-Se (LSe, 0.02 ppm), AOM/DSS+HFe+MSe, and AOM/DSS+HFe+high-Se (HSe, 0.5 ppm). The animals were fed on the three different Se diets for 24 weeks. The incidence of colon tumor in the high-Se diet group (AOM/DSS+HFe+HSe) showed 19.4% lower than positive control group, 5.9% lower than AOM/DSS+HFe+MSe diet group, and 11.1% lower than AOM/DSS+HFe+LSe group. The tumor multiplicity was significantly higher in the low-Se diet group (AOM/DSS+HFe+LSe) compare to all other AOM/DSS treated groups. In the high-Se diet group, the activity of hepatic GPx was comparable to that of positive control group, and significantly higher than those of low-Se or medium-Se diet groups. Expression level of hepatic GPx-1 showed similar results. Hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) level (indicator of oxidative stress) in the low-Se diet group showed the highest compared to the other groups, and it was significantly higher than positive control group. In the high-Se diet group the level of MDA in the liver was significantly lower than all other AOM/DSS treated groups. High-Se diet group showed significantly lower proliferative index than low-Se and medium-Se groups. The apoptotic indices in low-Se group and medium-Se group were significantly lower than positive control group. However, apoptotic index of high-Se diet group was significantly higher than all other AOM/DSS treated groups. These findings suggest that dietary Se supplement may have protective effect against colon cancer by decreasing proliferation, increasing apoptosis of tumor cells, and reducing oxidative stress in mice with high iron diet.

Modifying Effect of Indole-3-carbinol on the Rat Colon Carcinogenesis / 한국실험동물학회지

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) found in various cruciferous vegetables has been shown to exert anti-carcinogenic activity in several target organs. Our study was conducted to assess the modifying effect of I3C on the development of colon tumor induced by azoxymethane (AOM). Eighty-seven male F344 rats were divided into 5 groups and were treated with AOM followed by I3C 100 or 300 ppm, AOM alone, I3C alone, and non-treatment, respectively. The animals were subcutaneously injected with AOM. Then diet containing I3C were fed to the rats for 37 weeks. All rats were sacrificed at 40 weeks. Liver and kidney weights of rats treated with I3C at doses of 100 or 300 ppm were significantly increased compared to those of the control group. Colonic tumor incidence and multiplicity of rats treated with I3C at doses of 100 and 300 ppm were not significant compared to those of AOM alone group. In the pathological examination, most of tumors were classified with adenoma and adenocarcinoma in the small and large intestine. These results demonstrated that I3C may have not chemopreventive effect on the rat colon carcinogenesis.

Dietary Selenium Supplement Prevents Colon Carcinogenesis Induced by Azoxymethane and Dextran Sodium Sulfate in ICR Mice / 한국실험동물학회지

The role of selenium (Se) in modulating colon carcinogenesis induced by azoxymethane (AOM) followed by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was investigated in mice. Five-week old ICR mice were fed on diets containing different concentrations (0.02, 0.1 or 0.5 ppm) of Se for 24 weeks. Animals received three (0-2nd weeks) intraperitoneal injections of AOM (10 mg/kg body weight), followed by 2% DSS with drinking water for additional 1 week. There were 4 experimental groups including vehicle control group, positive control group given AOM/DSS with AIN-93G normal diet containing 0.1% Se (NSe), a low (0.02 ppm)-Se diet group (LSe) and a high (0.5 ppm)-Se diet group (HSe). Hematology was analyzed with a blood cell differential counter. Liver Se was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were determined by using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) for proliferative activity and apoptotic index by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL), respectively. HSe group showed a low incidence of colonic tumor (64.7%), compared with the NSe positive control (75%) and LSe (77.8%) groups. In contrast, HSe group exhibited lower rate of PCNA-positive cells (39.3+/-6.9%) than positive control (64.3+/-0.3%) and LSe (57.3+/-2.9%) groups. In addition, apoptotic index of HSe group was higher than those of positive control and LSe groups. These results indicate that Se is a chemopreventive agent for colon carcinogenesis induced by AOM+DSS in male ICR mice.

Dietary Selenium Supplement Prevents Colon Carcinogenesis Induced by Azoxymethane and Dextran Sodium Sulfate in ICR Mice / 한국실험동물학회지

The role of selenium (Se) in modulating colon carcinogenesis induced by azoxymethane (AOM) followed by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was investigated in mice. Five-week old ICR mice were fed on diets containing different concentrations (0.02, 0.1 or 0.5 ppm) of Se for 24 weeks. Animals received three (0-2nd weeks) intraperitoneal injections of AOM (10 mg/kg body weight), followed by 2% DSS with drinking water for additional 1 week. There were 4 experimental groups including vehicle control group, positive control group given AOM/DSS with AIN-93G normal diet containing 0.1% Se (NSe), a low (0.02 ppm)-Se diet group (LSe) and a high (0.5 ppm)-Se diet group (HSe). Hematology was analyzed with a blood cell differential counter. Liver Se was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were determined by using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) for proliferative activity and apoptotic index by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL), respectively. HSe group showed a low incidence of colonic tumor (64.7%), compared with the NSe positive control (75%) and LSe (77.8%) groups. In contrast, HSe group exhibited lower rate of PCNA-positive cells (39.3+/-6.9%) than positive control (64.3+/-0.3%) and LSe (57.3+/-2.9%) groups. In addition, apoptotic index of HSe group was higher than those of positive control and LSe groups. These results indicate that Se is a chemopreventive agent for colon carcinogenesis induced by AOM+DSS in male ICR mice.