Curcumin inhibits AP-2γ-induced apoptosis in the human malignant testicular germ cells in vitro

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the effects of curcumin on proliferation and apoptosis in testicular cancer cells in vitro and to investigate its molecular mechanisms of action. Methods: NTera-2 human malignant testicular germ cell line and F9 mouse teratocarcinoma stem cell line were used. The anti-proliferative effect was examined using MTT and colony formation assays. Hoechst 33258 staining, TUNEL and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining assays were used to analyze cell apoptosis. Protein expression was examined with Western blot analysis and immunocytochemical staining. Results: Curcumin (5, 10 and 15 μmol/L) inhibited the viability of NTera-2 cells in dose-and time-dependent manners. Curcumin significantly inhibited the colony formation in both NTera-2 and F9 cells. Curcumin dose-dependently induced apoptosis of NTera-2 cells by reducing FasL expression and Bcl-2-to-Bax ratio, and activating caspase-9, -8 and -3. Furthermore, curcumin dose-dependently reduced the expression of AP transcription factor AP-2γ in NTera-2 cells, whereas the pretreatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 blocked both the curcumin-induced reduction of AP-2γ and antiproliferative effect. Curcumin inhibited ErbB2 expression, and decreased the phosphorylation of Akt and ERK in NTera-2 cells. Conclusion: Curcumin induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation in NTera-2 cells via the inhibition of AP-2γ-mediated downstream cell survival signaling pathways.

Cordycepin‐induced unfolded protein response‐dependent cell death, and AKT/MAPK‐mediated drug resistance in mouse testicular tumor cells

“…Studies have demonstrated that Akt pathway is a pro‐survival pathway by activating pro‐survival signal cascades and inhibiting apoptotic signal cascades . To examine the underlying mechanisms of cordycepin resistance, the PI3KAkt/mTOR and related pathways for surviving in attached and suspended MA‐10 cells were carried out after 24‐hour cordycepin treatments.…”

“…Studies have demonstrated that Akt pathway is a pro-survival pathway by activating pro-survival signal cascades and inhibiting apoptotic signal cascades. [30][31][32] To examine the underlying mechanisms of cordycepin resistance, the PI3KAkt/ mTOR and related pathways for surviving in attached and suspended MA-10 cells were carried out after 24-hour cordycepin treatments. Results showed that the phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR in attached MA-10 cells were induced more by cordycepin as compared to the suspended MA-10 cells (Figure 7A,B).…”

The effects of Curcuma longa and curcumin on reproductive systems

“…It has been reported that curcumin (5, 10 and 15 μM) inhibited the viability of NTera-2 human malignant testicular germ cells (Zhou et al 2013). Curcumin has been revealed to inhibit the colony formation in both NTera-2 and F9 mouse teratocarcinoma stem cells.…”

“…Curcumin has been revealed to inhibit the colony formation in both NTera-2 and F9 mouse teratocarcinoma stem cells. It has been proposed that curcumin (15 μM) can suppress AP-2γ, a marker of testicular germ cell tumors, and inhibit amplifi cation and expression of NTera-2 cells (Zhou et al 2013). …”

Tetramethylpyrazine Protects Against Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation-Induced Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells Injury via Rho/Rho-kinase Signaling Pathway

“…The cells were stained with (1) PI, a vital dye that incorporates preferentially in dead cells, (2) annexin V, a protein binding to membrane PS residues, externalized during apoptosis. The total apoptosis ratio was the sum of the early apoptotic and late apoptotic ratios (Zhou et al 2013). As shown in Fig.…”