Isoalantolactone is a sesquiterpene lactone compound isolated from the roots of Inula helenium L. Previous studies have demonstrated that isoalantolactone possesses antifungal, anti-bacterial, anti-helminthic and anti-proliferative properties in a variety of cells, but there are no studies concerning its effects on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In the present study, an MTT assay demonstrated that isoalantolactone has anti-proliferative activity against the HNSCC cell line (UM-SCC-10A). Immunostaining identified that this compound induced UM-SCC-10A cell apoptosis but not necrosis. To explain the molecular mechanisms underlying its effects, flow cytometry and western blot analysis showed that the apoptosis was associated with cell cycle arrest during the G1 phase, up-regulation of p53 and p21, and down-regulation of cyclin D. Furthermore, our results revealed that induction of apoptosis through a mitochondrial pathway led to up-regulation of pro-apoptotic protein expression (Bax), down-regulation of anti-apoptotic protein expression (Bcl-2), mitochondrial release of cytochrome c (Cyto c), reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and activation of caspase-3 (Casp-3). Involvement of the caspase apoptosis pathway was confirmed using caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK pretreatment. Together, our findings suggest that isoalantolactone induced caspase-dependent apoptosis via a mitochondrial pathway and was associated with cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase in UM-SCC-10A cells. Therefore, isoalantolactone may become a potential drug for treating HNSCC.
Arginine is a semiessential amino acid required for the growth of melanoma and hepatocellular carcinoma, and the enzymatic removal of arginine by pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI) or arginase is being tested clinically. Here, we report a genetically engineered arginase FC fusion protein exhibiting a prolonged half-life and enhanced efficacy. The use of this enzyme to treat different tumor lines both inhibited cell proliferation and impaired cellular migration in vitro and in vivo. Our data reinforce the hypothesis that nutritional depletion is a key strategy for cancer treatment.
Oxidative stress is one of the main causes of AMD. Hydrogen has anti-oxidative stress and apoptotic effects on retinal injury. However, the effect of hydrogen on AMD is not clear. In this study, fundus radiography, OCT, and FFA demonstrated that HRW reduced the deposition of drusen-like structures in RPE layer, prevented retina from thinning and leakage of ocular fundus vasculature induced by NaIO3. ERG analysis confirmed that HRW effectively reversed the decrease of a-wave and b-wave amplitude in NaIO3-mice. Mechanistically, HRW greatly reduced the oxidative stress reaction through decreased MDA levels, increased SOD production, and decreased ROS content. The OGG1 expression was downregulated which is a marker of oxidative stress. Involvement of oxidative stress was confirmed using oxidative stress inhibitor ALCAR. Moreover, oxidative stress reaction was associated with expression of Sirt1 level and HRW significantly inhibited the downregulation of Sirt1 expression. This result was further confirmed with AICAR which restore Sirt1 expression and activity. In addition, NaIO3-induced retinal damage was related to apoptosis via caspase 8 and caspase 9, but not the caspase 3 pathways, which led to upregulation of Bax and p53, downregulation of Bcl-2, and increase in Jc-1-positive cells in mice. However, HRW effectively reversed these effects that apoptosis induced. These results suggest that HRW protects retinal functions against oxidative stress injury through inhibiting downregulation of Sirt1 and reducing retinal apoptosis. Therefore, we speculated that hydrogen administration is a promising treatment for AMD therapy.
Background/Aims: Clinically, biliary obstruction is often accompanied by progressive inflammation. Dehydroandrographolide (DA) possesses anti-inflammatory properties. However, the anti-inflammatory activities of DA in cholestatic liver injury remain unclear. Methods: Mice were administered with DA by intraperitoneal injection after bile duct ligation (BDL) on day 1. Then mice were subjected to an ileocecal vein injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Liver function markers, histology, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, NF-κB activation and fibrosis formation were evaluated in BDL mice with LPS. LPS binding to primary Kupffer cells was examined by high-content cytometers. Results: DA was shown to greatly lower initially higher than normal levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total bilirubin (TBIL) in the serum and liver of BDL mice with LPS. DA exerted hepatic protective effects that were also confirmed by prolonged survival of BDL mice with LPS. Liver histopathology showed reduced inflammatory cellular infiltration, bile duct proliferation, and biliary necrosis with DA treatment. Furthermore, DA reduced the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 in liver tissue and plasma and showed decreased NF-κB activation in BDL mice with LPS. DA could prevent LPS binding to primary Kupffer cells in the normal liver and BDL mice liver. DA also suppressed LPS-stimulated inflammatory responses by blocking the interaction between LPS and TLR4 in primary Kupffer cells and human LX-2 cells, thereby inhibiting NF-κB activation. Conclusion: DA inhibition of inflammation against liver damage following BDL with LPS may be a promising agent for the treatment of cholestatic liver injury.
BackgroundAlthough radiotherapy is one of the mainstream approaches for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), this cancer is always associated with resistance to radiation. In this study, the mechanism of action of isoalantolactone as well as its radiosensitizing effect was investigated in UMSCC-10A cells.MethodsThe radiosensitization of UMSCC-10A cells treated with isoalantolactone was analyzed by colony formation assay. The radiosensitization effects of isoalantolactone on cell proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis regulation were examined by BrdU incorporation assay, DNA content assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Western blotting was performed to determine the effects of isoalantolactone combined with radiation on the protein expression of Mek, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk1/2) as well as phosphorylated Mek and Erk1/2. Erk1/2 knockdown by siRNA was used to confirm that isoalantolactone specifically inhibited the activation of Erk1/2 signaling pathway in UMSCC-10A cells.ResultsIsoalantolactone enhanced the radiosensitivity of UMSCC-10A cells; the sensitivity enhanced ratios (SERs) were 1.44 and 1.63, respectively, for 2.5 and 5 μM. Moreover, isoalantolactone enhanced radiation-induced cell proliferation and apoptosis and cell cycle arrested at G2/M phase. Furthermore, no marked changes were observed in the expression of total Erk1/2 and Mek protein after radiation treatment. However, isoalantolactone was significantly reduced radiation-induced the phosphorylation of Erk1/2, whereas it altered the phosphorylation of Mek to a lesser extent. In addition, the radiosensitivity of UMSCC-10A cells with Erk1/2 knockdown was increased. Isoalantolactone cannot further prevent the proliferation of UMSCC-10A cells with Erk1/2 knockdown which other mechanism regulated cell proliferation.ConclusionOur results suggested that isoalantolactone enhanced radiation-induced apoptosis, cell cycle arrested and reduced the cell proliferation of UMSCC-10A cells via specifically inhibited the phosphorylation of Erk1/2. Thus a low concentration of isoalantolactone may be used to overcome the resistance of UMSCC-10A cells to radiation and may be a promising radiosensitizer in cancer therapy.
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