Nitidine chloride (NC) is a natural alkaloid compound derived from the plant Zanthoxylum nitidum and is known for its therapeutic anticancer potential. In this study, we investigated the effects of NC on growth and signaling pathways in human oral cancer cell lines and a tumor xenograft model. The apoptotic effects and related molecular targets of NC on human oral cancer were investigated using trypan blue exclusion assay, DAPI staining, Live/Dead assay, Western blotting, Immunohistochemistry/Immunofluorescence and a nude mouse tumor xenograft. NC decreased cell viability in both HSC3 and HSC4 cell lines; further analysis demonstrated that cell viability was reduced via apoptosis. STAT3 was hyper-phosphorylated in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) compared with normal oral mucosa (NOM) and dephosphorylation of STAT3 by the potent STAT3 inhibitor, cryptotanshinone or NC decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis. NC also suppressed cell viability and induced apoptosis accompanied by dephosphorylating STAT3 in four other oral cancer cell lines. In a tumor xenograft model bearing HSC3 cell tumors, NC suppressed tumor growth and induced apoptosis by regulating STAT3 signaling without liver or kidney toxicity. Our findings suggest that NC is a promising chemotherapeutic candidate against human oral cancer.
Our findings suggest that NC triggers apoptosis via lysosome-dependent Mcl-1 protein degradation and could be chosen as a promising chemotherapeutic candidate against human OSCCs.
Abstract. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are established from blastocysts and give rise to various types of cells and tissues. In the present study, we assessed the osteogenic potential of ESCs using in vitro culture conditions and in vivo differentiation in tooth sockets. An ESC-derived embryoid body (EB) was formed and subsequently induced to an osteogenic lineage. The differentiated EB cells exhibited increased expression of various osteogenic markers as determined by real-time PCR analysis. Likewise, the differentiated EB-derived cells had enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium accumulation, as determined by cytochemical methods. For in vivo transplantation, mixtures of ESCs and hydroxyapatite/ tricalcium phosphate particles or EBs alone were transplanted into female rat tooth sockets. After 12 weeks, we observed formation of osteogenic structure in the tooth sockets without evidence of teratomas. These data suggest that pluripotent ESCs can serve as an alternative source for the reconstruction of craniofacial structures, as well as for further applications.
Taken together, we conclude that ERK1/2 signaling pathway inhibition by silymarin and silibinin increases the expression of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member Bim which, subsequently, induces mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in salivary gland cancer-derived cells.
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