Antitumor effect and mechanism of Gecko on human esophageal carcinoma cell lines in vitro and xenografted sarcoma 180 in Kunming mice

AIM: To investigate the anti-tumor effect of Chinese medicine Gecko on human esophageal carcinoma cell lines and xenografted sarcoma 180 in Kunming mice and its mechanism. METHODS: The serum pharmacological method was used in vitro . The growth rates of the human esophageal carcinoma cells (EC9706 or EC1) were measured by a modifi ed 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The transplanted tumor model of the mouse S180 sarcoma was established. Fifty mice were randomly divided into fi ve groups (n = 10). Three Gecko groups were treated respectively with oral administration of Gecko powder at a daily dose of 13.5 g/kg, 9 g/kg, and 4.5 g/kg. The negative group (NS group) was treated with oral administration of an equal volume of saline and the positive group (CTX group) was treated with 100 mg/kg Cytoxan by intraperitoneal injection at the fi rst day. After 2 wk of treatment, the anti-tumor activity was evaluated by tumor tissue weighing. The impact on immune organ was detected based on the thymus index, spleen index, phagocytic rate and phagocytic index. The protein expression of vascular endothelingrowth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were detected by immunohistochemistry. The cell apoptotic rate was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. RESULTS: The A value in each group treated with Gecko after 72 h was reduced signif icantly in EC9706 and in EC1. The tumor weight in each group of Gecko was decreased signifi cantly (1.087 ± 0.249 vs 2.167 ± 0.592; 1.021 ± 0.288 vs 2.167 ± 0.592; 1.234 ± 0.331 vs 2.167 ± 0.592; P < 0.01, respectively). However, the thymus index and Spleen index of mice in Gecko groups had no significant difference compared with the NS group. The immunoreactive score of VEGF and bFGF protein expression of each Gecko group by immunohistochemical staining were lowered signifi cantly. The apoptosis index (AI) of each group was increased progressively with increase of dose of Gecko by TUNEL. CONCLUSION: Gecko has anti-tumor effects in vitro and in vivo; induction of tumor cell apoptosis and the down-regulation of protein expression of VEGF and bFGF may be contributed to anti-tumor effects of Gecko.

Long-term outcome of patients with atrial myxoma after surgical intervention: analysis of 403 cases

Objective To assess long-term survival and late cardiovascular events in patients with atrial myxoma after surgical intervention. Methods Retrospective analysis of 403 patients undergoing resection of atrial myxoma from January 2002 to December 2016 was conducted with a median follow-up period of 4.5 (range: 0.5?15) years. Results The cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass times were 41.1 ± 21.4 and 65.2 ± 27.3 min,respectively. A diagnosis of myxoma was histopathologically confirmed in all cases. The early in-hospital mortality rate was 0.7%(n = 3). During the follow-up period,tumor recurrence occurred in six patients and cerebral infarction in nine. There were 48 (11.9%) patients with late onset atrial fibrillation (AF). By multivariate analysis,age (HR = 1.05,95% CI: 1.02–1.09,P < 0.001),left atrial diameter (HR = 1.23,95% CI: 1.08–1.36,P = 0.012),and mitral valve surgery (HR = 1.17,95% CI: 1.05–1.29,P = 0.027) were independent predictors of late onset AF. Twenty-one (5.2%) patients died during the follow-up period. Advanced age (HR = 1.07,95% CI: 1.04–1.10,P = 0.003) and multiple surgical procedures (HR = 1.18,95% CI: 1.06–1.29,P = 0.012) were significantly associated with overall mortality. Conclusions Atrial myxoma can be resected with good long-term survival. Late onset AF is common after surgery in patients with atrial myxoma. Advanced age,left atrial diameter,and mitral valve surgery were independent predictors of outcomes.

Gecko crude peptides inhibit migration and lymphangiogenesis by down regulating the expression of VEGF-C in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and human lymphatic endothelial cells

OBJECTIVE To explore the role of gecko crude peptides(GCPs)in the proliferation,apoptosis,migration and lymphangiogenesis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells(Hep G2)and human lymphaticendothelial cells(HLECs)in vitro.METHODS The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT)assay was used to evaluate the anti-proliferative effect of GCPs and si RNA-VEGF-C on Hep G2 cells,Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry were performed to analyze cycle and apoptosis.The migration and invasion ability of cells were assayed by transwell chamber experiment and wound-healing assay.The protein and m RNA expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor-C(VEGF-C)and CXC chemokine receptor-4(CXCR4)were detected by q-PCR,immunofluorescence,Western blot.The protein expressions of the extracellular signal regulated kinase(ERKI/2),c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK),p38-mitogen activated protein kinases(p38 MAPK),serine/threonine kinase(Akt)and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K)were detected by western blot.The anti-lymphangiogenesis effect of GCPs on the HLECs was analyzed using an in vitro tube-formation assay.The protein and m RNA expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3(VEGFR-3)and stromal cell-derived factor-1(SDF-1)were detected by q-PCR,Western blot.RESULTS GCPs and si RNA-VEGF-C inhibited Hep G2 proliferation,invasion and migration,and the most obvious inhibitory effect was both synergistic effects.Thus,GCPs suppressed HLECs proliferation,migration and tubelike structure formationin a dose-dependent manner,and had inhibitory effect of tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis in vitro.Additionally,we found that GCPs and si RNA-VEGF-C decreased the expressions of MMP-2,MMP-9,VEGF-C,CXCR4,phospho-ERK1/2,phospho-P38,phospho-JNK and PI3K in Hep G2 cells.Moreover,GCPs had a dose-dependent depressive effecton the expressions of VEGFR-3,SDF-1 in HLECs.CONCLUSION The low expression of VEGF-C mediated by si RNA-VEGF-C and GCPs inhibit tumor proliferation,invasion and migrationby suppressing the MAPK signaling pathway through reduced levels of VEGF-C,and GCPs inhibit tumor lymphangiogenesis by suppressing the CXCR4/SDF-1 signaling pathway through suppressed VEGF-C/VEGFR-3.

Saikosaponins-b suppresses tumor growth and angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating VEGF/ERK/HIF-1α signal pathway

OBJECTIVE Angiogenesis therapy has attracted interest as a potential treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).In this study,we investigated the anti-proliferative activities and antiangiogenesis effects of saikosaponins(SS)-b on hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and its regulation on VEGF/ERK/HIF-1 αsignal pathway.METHODS H22 hepatoma-bearing mice model and HepG-2 cells were used to study the anti-tumor and anti-angiogenesis effects of SS-b in vivo and in vitro.Pathological change of tumor tissue was observed by HE staining,the microvascular changes were detected by immunohistochemical method.The effects of SS-b on angiogenesis were examined by using the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane(CAM)model.The effects of SS-b on proliferation,migration and invasion were investigated by MTT assay,scratch wound healing assay and transwell assay inhuman umbilical vein endothelial cell(HUVEC)and HepG2 cells in vitro.Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),matrix metalloproteinase-2/9(MMP-2/9),hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α)expression and the phosphorylation of extracellular regulated kinase(ERK)were analyzed using RT-PCR and Westernblot.RESULTS SS-b effectively inhibited the tumor growth of H22 mice in vivo.The inhibitory rate of tumor was 49.1%,50.7%,66.1%in SS-b 5,10 and 20 mg·kg-1group respectively.HE staining results showed that SS-b induced tumor necrosis and nuclear dissolution in H22 mice.Moreover,SS-b also reduced the number of microvessels of tumor tissue in H22 mice significantly and suppressed the angiogenesis of CAM induced by b-FGF.SS-b had an obvious inhibitory effect on cell proliferation,migration and invasion of HUVEC cells and HepG-2 cells.These effects were associated with downregulation of the expression of MMP2/9 and suppression of VEGF/ERK/HIF-1αsignaling in H22 mice and Hep-G2 cells.CONCLUSION Our findings showed that SS-b exerts anti-tumor effects by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis via regulating VEGF/ERK/HIF-1α signal pathway in vivo and in vitro.

Differentially expressed genes of HepG2 cells treated with gecko polypeptide mixture

OBEJECTIVE Gecko has been clinically used in China for many years.It has been proved that the gecko polypeptide mixture(GPM) extracted from gecko could inhibit the growth of multiple types of tumor cells.In order to investigate the possible anti-tumor molecular mechanisms of GPM,we used RNA-seq technology to identify the differentially expressed genes of human hepatocellular carci.noma(HCC) HepG2 cells treated with or without GPM.METHODS The HepG2 cells were treated with different concentration of GPM(0,0.1,0.2,0.3,0.4 mg·mL-1) for 6 h,12 h and 24 h,respectively.MTT assay was used to detect the viability of HepG2 cells.DAPI fluorescence staining was performed to observe nucleus morphological changes of HepG2 cells.Western blot analysis was applied to observe the expres.sion of apoptosis-related proteins and endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERs)-related proteins in HepG2 cells.Flow cytometry was also applied to detect reactive oxygen species(ROS) generation.In this report,we showed that GPM could induce HepG2 cells apoptosis and influence HepG2 cells proliferation in a dose-dependent manner.We applied many analysis methods,including differentially expressed genes analysis,Gene Ontology(GO) enrichment analysis,KEGG pathway enrichment analysis,protein-protein interaction network analysis to screen out possible molecular mechanisms.RESULTS ER-nucleus signaling pathway,cellular response to stress and apoptotic processes were identified the potential anti-cancer molecular biological process of GPM.GPM may also induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells via endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway.The GPM could induce ROS generation and up-regulate ERs-related proteins.CONCLUSION The present study revealed the potential anti-tumor mechanism of GPM.

Differentially expressed genes of HepG2 cells treated with gecko polypeptide mixture

OBJECTIVE In order to investigate the possible anti-tumor molecular mechanisms of gecko polypeptide mixture(GPM).METHODS RNA-seq technology was used to identify the differentially expressed genes of human hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)HepG2 cells treated with or without GPM.The HepG2 cells were treated with different concentration of GPM(0,0.1,0.2,0.3,0.4 mg·mL^(-1))for 6 h,12 h and 24 h,respectively.MTT assay was used to detect the viability of HepG2 cells.DAPI fluorescence staining was performed to observe nucleus morphological changes of HepG2 cells.Western blot analysis was applied to observe the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in HepG2 cells.RESULTS The results showed that GPM could induce HepG2 cells apoptosis and influence HepG2 cells proliferation in a dose-dependent manner.We applied many analysis methods,including differentially expressed genes analysis,Gene Ontology(GO)enrichment analysis,KEGG pathway enrichment analysis,protein-protein interaction network analysis to screen out possible molecular mechanisms.ER-nucleus signaling pathway,cellular response to stress and apoptotic processes were identified the potential anti-cancer molecular biological process of GPM.GPM may also induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells via endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway.The mechanism is closely related to ERs,which might be beneficial for clinical therapy of HCC.CONCLUSION GPM can inhibit cells proliferation and induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells.The gene expression profile of GPM in HepG2 cells was obtained.The present study revealed the potential anti-tumor mechanism of GPM.

Investigation of the structural and dynamic basis of kinesin dissociation from microtubule by atomistic molecular dynamics simulations

Kinesin is a molecular motor that can step processively on microtubules via the hydrolysis of ATP molecules.An important factor characterizing the processivity of the kinesin motor is its dissociation from the microtubule.Here,using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations,we studied the dissociation process of the kinesin head in weak-microtubulebinding or ADP state from tubulin on the basis of the available high-resolution structural data for the head and tubulin.By analyzing the simulated snapshots of the structure of the head-tubulin complex we provided detailed structural and dynamic information for the dissociation process.We found that the dissociation of the head along different directions relative to the tubulin exhibits very different dynamic behaviors.Moreover,the potential forms or energy landscapes of the interaction between the head and tubulin along different directions were determined.The studies have important implications for the detailed molecular mechanism of the dissociation of the kinesin motor and thus are critical to the mechanism of its processivity.

Saikosaponin-b regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of HepG2 cells by targeting the MACC1/c-Met/Akt signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE Metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1(MACC1)is an oncogene that has been newly identified.It promotes tumor proliferation and invasion via the MET pathway.Our study investigated the effects of Saikosaponin-b(SS-b)on the proliferation and apoptosis of HepG2 cells and its regulation on MACC1/c-Met/Akt signaling pathway.METHODS HepG2 cells were treated with SS-b(10-800 g·L^(-1))for 48 h in vitro.The CCK-8 assay was used to assess cell proliferation,and cell apoptosis was determined by Hoechst33258 staining,AnnexinⅤ/PI staining and caspase 3 assay.RT-PCR was used to examine the expression of MACC1,c-MET and hepatocyte growth factor(HGF)mR NA.MACC1 protein was detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.The protein expressions of p-cMET,c-MET,p-AKT,AKT,p-BAD,BAD were measured by Western blot.RESULTS SS-b inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells in dose-dependent way and induced cell apoptosis significantly.HepG2 cells showed karyopyknosis,fragmentation and fluorescence highlight in SS-b treatment group.FCM results showed that apoptosis rate of HepG2 cells increased with SS-b concentration.The immunofluorescence results showed that the MACC1 expression decreased significantly in HepG2 cells treated with SS-b.The expression levels of MACC1,c-MET and HGF mR NA in HepG2 cells were significantly inhibited by SS-b.SS-b also significantly decreased the protein expressions of MACC1,p-c-MET and p-AKT while increased the expression of p-BAD and caspase 3 in HepG2 cells(P<0.05).CONCLUSION SS-b inhibited the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of HepG2 cells by targeting the MACC1/c-Met/Akt signaling pathway.

Regulation of nitric oxide donor JS-K on tumor energy metabolism in H22 tumor-bearing mice

OBJECTIVE To investigate the regulation of {O^2(2,4-dinitrophenyl)1-[(4-ethoxycarbonyl)piperazin-1-yl]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate}(JS-K),anitric oxide donor,on tumor energy metabolism in H22 tumor-bearing mice.METHODS The hepatoma animal model in BALB/c mice was established with H22 cell line.The JS-K group and model group were received JS-K(0.75 and 1.5 mg?kg^(-1)) and saline via tail intravenous once every 3 d for 14 d,received 5 injections,respectively.The positive group was received 5-FU 20 mg·kg^(-1) by intraperitoneal injection once a day for 14 d.On the 15 th day mice were sacrificed.The tumor growth inhibition rate were calculated.The activities of hexokinase(HK),phosphofructo kinase(PFK),pyruvate kinase(PK),succinate dehydrogenase(SDH),adenosine triphosphatase(ATPase),and the levels of lactic acid(LD) and adenosine triphosphate(ATP) in tumor tissues were determined by colorimetric method.RESULTS Compared with model group,the tumor mass of JS-K0.75 and 1.5 mg·kg^(-1) group was significantly reduced(P<0.01),and the tumor growth inhibition rate was 23.9% and 50.3%,respectively.The activity of HK,PFK,PK,SDH and ATPase of tumor tissue in model group was(22.6±3.7,14.4±2.6,12.9±3.2 and 10.5±2.6)U·g^(-1) protein and(0.70±0.10)μmol Pi·mg^(-1) protein per hour,respectively;which in JS-K 1.5 mg?kg^(-1) group was dropped by 42.0%,26.6%,22.7%,23.3% and 21.7%(P<0.01,P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the level of ATP and LD in JS-K group was dropped(P<0.01).CONCLUSION JS-K can inhibit the growth of tumor in H22 tumor-bearing mice and its mechanism may be related to regulating the tumor energy metabolism with inhibition of glycolysis and aerobic oxidation.

Status and Trends of GAP Base Construction of Chinese Materia Medica in Guangdong Province

It is one of the key points for modernization and internationalization of traditional Chinese medicines to construct the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) base of Chinese materia medica (CMM). GAP helps to minimize contamination and improve the quality of CMM during the plantation and the production of Chinese crude drugs. In this article, the status and development of CMM production bases of GAP in Guangdong Province, China, are presented. The suggestions upon the problems during the development of GAP for Chinese crude drugs are also provided.