miR‑423 sponged by lncRNA NORHA inhibits granulosa cell apoptosis

Background Atresia and degeneration,a follicular developmental fate that reduces female fertility and is triggered by granulosa cell(GC)apoptosis,have been induced by dozens of miRNAs.Here,we report a miRNA,miR-423,that inhibits the initiation of follicular atresia(FA),and early apoptosis of GCs.Results We showed that miR-423 was down-regulated during sow FA,and its levels in follicles were negatively correlated with the GC density and the P4/E2 ratio in the follicular fluid in vivo.The in vitro gain-of-function experiments revealed that miR-423 suppresses cell apoptosis,especially early apoptosis in GCs.Mechanically speaking,the miR-423 targets and interacts with the 3’-UTR of the porcine SMAD7 gene,which encodes an apoptosis-inducing factor in GCs,and represses its expression and pro-apoptotic function.Interestingly,FA and the GC apoptosis-related lncRNA NORHA was demonstrated as a ceRNA of miR-423.Additionally,we showed that a single base deletion/insertion in the miR-423 promoter is significantly associated with the number of stillbirths(NSB)trait of sows.Conclusion These results demonstrate that miR-423 is a small molecule for inhibiting FA initiation and GC early apoptosis,suggesting that treating with miR-423 may be a novel approach for inhibiting FA initiation and improving female fertility.

TuBG1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma via ATR/P53-apoptosis and cycling pathways

Background:As reported,γ-tubulin(TuBG1)is related to the occurrence and development of various types of malignant tumors.However,its role in hepatocellular cancer(HCC)is not clear.The present study was to investigate the relationship between TuBG1 and clinical parameters and survival in HCC patients.Methods:The correlation between TuBG1 and clinical parameters and survival in HCC patients was ex-plored by bioinformatics analysis.Immunohistochemistry was used for the verification.The molecular function of TuBG1 was measured using colony formation,scratch assay,trans-well assay and flow cytometry.Gene set enrichment analysis(GSEA)was used to pick up the enriched pathways,followed by investigating the target pathways using Western blotting.The tumor-immune system interactions and drug bank database(TISIDB)was used to evaluate TuBG1 and immunity.Based on the TuBG1-related immune genes,a prognostic model was constructed and was further validated internally and externally.Results:The bioinformatic analysis found high expressed TuBG1 in HCC tissue,which was confirmed us-ing immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.After silencing the TuBG1 in HCC cell lines,more G1 arrested cells were found,cell proliferation and invasion were inhibited,and apoptosis was promoted.Furthermore,the silence of TuBG1 increased the expressions of Ataxia-Telangiectasia and Rad-3(ATR),phospho-P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(P-P38MAPK),phospho-P53(P-P53),B-cell lymphoma-2 associated X protein(Bax),cleaved caspase 3 and P21;decreased the expressions of B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),cyclin D1,cyclin E2,cyclin-dependent kinase 2(CDK2)and CDK4.The correlation analysis of immunohistochemistry and clinical parameters and survival data revealed that TuBG1 was negatively corre-lated with the overall survival.The constructed immune prognosis model could effectively evaluate the prognosis.Conclusions:The increased expression of TuBG1 in HCC is associated with poor prognosis,which might be involved in the occurrence and development of HCC.

miR-24-3p promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of porcine granulosa cells by targeting P27

Ovarian follicle development is associated with the physiological functions of granulosa cells(GCs),including proliferation and apoptosis.The level of miR-24-3p in ovarian tissue of high-yielding Yorkshire×Landrace sows was significantly higher than that of low-yielding sows.However,the functions of miR-24-3p on GCs are unclear.In this study,using flow cytometry,5-ethynyl-2′-de-oxyuridine(EdU)staining,and cell count,we showed that miR-24-3p promoted the proliferation of GCs increasing the proportion of cells in the S phase and upregulating the expression of cell cycle genes,moreover,miR-24-3p inhibited GC apoptosis.Mechanistically,on-line prediction,bioinformatics analysis,a luciferase reporter assay,RT-qPCR,and Western blot results showed that the target gene of miR-24-3p in proliferation and apoptosis is cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B(P27/CDKN1B).Furthermore,the effect of miR-24-3p on GC proliferation and apoptosis was attenuated by P27 overexpression.These findings suggest that miR-24-3p regulates the physiological functions of GCs.

Prohibitin 1 inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis via the p53-mediated mitochondrial pathway in vitro

BACKGROUND Prohibitin 1(PHB1)has been identified as an antiproliferative protein that is highly conserved and ubiquitously expressed,and it participates in a variety of essential cellular functions,including apoptosis,cell cycle regulation,prolifera-tion,and survival.Emerging evidence indicates that PHB1 may play an important role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).However,the role of PHB1 in HCC is controversial.AIM To investigate the effects of PHB1 on the proliferation and apoptosis of human HCC cells and the relevant mechanisms in vitro.METHODS HCC patients and healthy individuals were enrolled in this study according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria;then,PHB1 levels in the sera and liver tissues of these participates were determined using ELISA,RT-PCR,and immunohistoche-mistry.Human HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells were transfected with the pEGFP-PHB1 plasmid and PHB1-specific shRNA(shRNA-PHB1)for 24-72 h.Cell prolif-eration was analysed with an MTT assay.Cell cycle progression and apoptosis were analysed using flow cytometry(FACS).The mRNA and protein expression levels of the cell cycle-related molecules p21,Cyclin A2,Cyclin E1,and CDK2 and the cell apoptosis-related molecules cytochrome C(Cyt C),p53,Bcl-2,Bax,caspase 3,and caspase 9 were measured by real-time PCR and Western blot,respectively.RESULTS Decreased levels of PHB1 were found in the sera and liver tissues of HCC patients compared to those of healthy individuals,and decreased PHB1 was positively correlated with low differentiation,TNM stage III-IV,and alpha-fetoprotein≥400μg/L.Overexpression of PHB1 significantly inhibited human HCC cell proliferation in a time-dependent manner.FACS revealed that the overexpression of PHB1 arrested HCC cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle and induced apoptosis.The proportion of cells in the G0/G1 phase was significantly increased and the proportion of cells in the S phase was decreased in HepG2 cells that were transfected with pEGFP-PHB1 compared with untreated control and empty vector-transfected cells.The percentage of apoptotic HepG2 cells that were transfected with pEGFP-PHB1 was 15.41%±1.06%,which was significantly greater than that of apoptotic control cells(3.65%±0.85%,P<0.01)and empty vector-transfected cells(4.21%±0.52%,P<0.01).Similar results were obtained with SMMC-7721 cells.Furthermore,the mRNA and protein expression levels of p53,p21,Bax,caspase 3,and caspase 9 were increased while the mRNA and protein expression levels of Cyclin A2,Cy-clin E1,CDK2,and Bcl-2 were decreased when PHB1 was overexpressed in human HCC cells.However,when PHB1 was upregulated in human HCC cells,Cyt C expression levels were increased in the cytosol and decreased in the mitochondria,which indicated that Cyt C had been released into the cytosol.Conversely,these effects were reversed when PHB1 was knocked down.CONCLUSION PHB1 inhibits human HCC cell viability by arresting the cell cycle and inducing cell apoptosis via activation of the p53-mediated mitochondrial pathway.

Hydrangea serrata extract exerts tumor inhibitory activity against hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells via inducing p27/CDK2-mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

Objective:To examine the inhibitory effect of Hydrangea serrata extract against hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and its underlying mechanisms.Methods:The effects of Hydrangea serrata extract on growth inhibition of tumor cells and spheroids were assessed using MTT and 3D culture assays.Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analyses were employed to investigate the changes in mRNA and protein expression levels of molecules related to cell cycle and apoptosis.Results:Hydrangea serrata extract effectively inhibited the growth of both tumor cells and spheroids.The extract also significantly upregulated p27 mRNA expression and downregulated CDK2 mRNA expression,leading to cell cycle arrest.Moreover,increased BAX/Bcl-2 ratio as well as caspase-9 and-3 were observed after treatment with Hydrangea serrata extract,indicating the induction of tumor cell apoptosis.Conclusions:Hydrangea serrata extract has the potential to alleviate tumors by effectively modulating cell-cycle-related gene expressions and inducing apoptosis,thereby inhibiting tumor growth.

Possible Role of Cellular Polyamine Metabolism in Neuronal Apoptosis

Recent studies have shown that cellular levels of polyamines(PAs)are significantly altered in neurodegenerative diseases.Evidence from in vivo animal and in vitro cell experiments suggests that the cellular levels of various PAs may play important roles in the central nervous system through the regulation of oxidative stress,mitochondrial metabolism,cellular immunity,and ion channel functions.Dysfunction of PA metabolism related enzymes also contributes to neuronal injury and cognitive impairment in many neurodegenerative diseases.Therefore,in the current work,evidence was collected to determine the possible associations between cellular levels of PAs,and related enzymes and the development of several neurodegenerative diseases,which could provide a new idea for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in the future.

Ellagic acid inhibits gastric cancer cells by modulating oxidative stress and inducing apoptosis

Objective:To evaluate the anticancer effect of ellagic acid on gastric cancer cells.Methods:MTT assay was used to evaluate the effect of ellagic acid at different concentrations(0.5-100μg/mL)on gastric cancer AGS cells.RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses were applied to assess apoptosis(BCL-2,CASP-3,and BAX)and autophagy(LC3,ATG5,and BECN1)in AGS cells treated with ellagic acid.The expression of invasion-related markers including TP53,CDKN2A,and PTEN was determined.In addition,cell cycle markers including cyclin A,B,D,and E were measured by ELISA.Oxidative stress markers were evaluated using spectrophotometry.Results:Ellagic acid inhibited the proliferation of AGS cells in a concentration-and time-dependent manner.The expression of BCL-2 was significantly decreased(P<0.05)and CASP-3 and BAX were markedly increased(P<0.01)in AGS cells treated with ellagic acid.However,this compound induced no significant changes in the expression levels of LC3,ATG5,and BECN1(P>0.05).Moreover,the oxidative stress markers including SOD,TAC,and MDA were increased by ellagic acid(P<0.01).Conclusions:Ellagic acid can inhibit cell proliferation,induce apoptosis,and modulate oxidative stress in AGS cells.However,further in vivo and molecular studies are needed to verify its anticancer efficacy.

Mechanism of stilbene glycosides on apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells via regulating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Objective:To investigate the effects of stilbene glycoside(TSG)on okadaic acid-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cells(SH-SY5Y)via the PI3K/AKT pathway.Methods:The optimal concentration of OA was screened by CCK-8 assay,and SH-SY5Y cells were divided into control group,model group,TSG group,LY294002 group and LY294002+TSG group.The proliferation and apoptosis in each group were detected by CCK-8 and TUNEL assays;Western blotting method and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of PI3K,P-PI3K(Y607),AKT,P-AKT(Ser473),Bcl-2 and Bax proteins.The relative protein expression was represented by P-PI3K(Y607)/PI3K,P-AKT(Ser473)/AKT and Bcl-2/Bax gray ratio.Results:CCK-8 screened the optimal concentration of OA as 40 nmol/L.Compared with the control group,the model group increased relative cell viability,decreased apoptosis rate,the pathway and apoptotic proteins expression levels of P-PI3K(Y607)/PI3K,P-AKT(Ser473)/AKT and Bcl-2/Bax were decreased,and the mRNA expression levels of PI3K,AKT and Bcl-2 were decreased.Bax mRNA expression level increased(P<0.05);Compared with model group,TSG group increased relative cell viability,decreased apoptosis rate,increased protein expression levels of P-PI3K(Y607)/PI3K,P-AKT(Ser473)/AKT,Bcl-2/Bax,and increased mRNA expression levels of PI3K,AKT,and Bcl-2.Bax mRNA expression decreased(P<0.05),LY294002 group decreased relative cell viability,increased apoptosis rate,P-PI3K(Y607)/PI3K protein expression levels were significantly decreased(P<0.05),P-AKT(Ser473)/AKT and Bcl-2/Bax protein expression levels were significantly decreased,but there was no statistical significance,PI3K,AKT and Bcl-2 mRNA expression levels were decreased,and Bax mRNA expression levels were increased(all P<0.05);Compared with LY294002 group,LY294002+TSG group increased relative cell viability,decreased apoptosis rate,and the protein expression levels of P-PI3K(Y607)/PI3K,P-AKT(Ser473)/AKT and Bcl-2/Bax were increased.The mRNA expression levels of PI3K,AKT,Bcl-2 were increased,Bax was decreased(all P<0.05).Conclusion:Stilbene glycoside may alleviate okadaic acid-induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells by interfering with the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway,which in turn regulates the expression of apoptotic factors such as Bcl-2 and Bax.

Sm-like 5 knockdown inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of colon cancer cells by upregulating p53,CDKN1A and TNFRSF10B

BACKGROUND The role of Sm-like 5(LSM5)in colon cancer has not been determined.In this study,we investigated the role of LSM5 in progression of colon cancer and the potential underlying mechanism involved.AIM To determine the role of LSM5 in the progression of colon cancer and the potential underlying mechanism involved.METHODS The Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis database and the Human Protein Atlas website were used for LSM5 expression analysis and prognosis analysis.Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were utilized to detect the expression of mRNAs and proteins.A lentivirus targeting LSM5 was constructed and transfected into colon cancer cells to silence LSM5 expression.Proliferation and apoptosis assays were also conducted to evaluate the growth of the colon cancer cells.Human GeneChip assay and bioinformatics analysis were performed to identify the potential underlying mechanism of LSM5 in colon cancer.RESULTS LSM5 was highly expressed in tumor tissue and colon cancer cells.A high expression level of LSM5 was related to poor prognosis in patients with colon cancer.Knockdown of LSM5 suppressed proliferation and promoted apoptosis in colon cancer cells.Silencing of LSM5 also facilitates the expression of p53,cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A(CDKN1A)and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily 10B(TNFRSF10B).The inhibitory effect of LSM5 knockdown on the growth of colon cancer cells was associated with the upregulation of p53,CDKN1A and TNFRSF10B.CONCLUSION LSM5 knockdown inhibited the proliferation and facilitated the apoptosis of colon cancer cells by upregulating p53,CDKN1A and TNFRSF10B.

Novel wild edible mushroom Astraeus hygrometricus(Pers.)Morgan induces robust apoptosis on human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells through a RONS-subsisted mitochondria-dependent pathway

Objective:To explore the therapeutic effects of the novel wild edible mushroom Astraeus hygrometricus(Pers.)Morgan(A.hygrometricus)on human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.Methods:Extensive screening of the antiproliferative and chemopreventive potential of different extracts from 5 wild mushrooms,A.hygrometricus,Phallus sp.,Lentinus sp.,Tricholoma sp.,and Serpula sp.was performed against a panel of 6 cancer cell lines and normal cells using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT)assay.Apoptosis determination,cell cycle profiling,intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)and reactive nitrogen species(RNS),and mitochondrial membrane potential were analyzed by flow cytometry.The activity of caspases was measured colorimetrically,and the expression pattern of mitochondrial proteins was analyzed.Results:The methanol extract of A.hygrometricus and MOLT-4 cells were identified as the most potent extract exhibiting antiproliferative activity and most sensitive cell line,respectively.The mushroom extract induced robust selective apoptosis in MOLT-4 cells and arrested cell cycle progression at the G0/G1 stage.The extract disrupted the mitochondrial membrane potential and enhanced ROS production in MOLT-4 cells.The methanol extract induced apoptosis by downregulating the expression of Bcl-2,increasing the expression of Bax,and activating the caspase cascade.Conclusion:The novel wild edible mushroom is a potential repository of biomolecules for the development of antileukemic drugs.

Absent in melanoma 2 attenuates proliferation and migration and promotes apoptosis of human colorectal cancer cells by activating P38MAPK signaling pathway

Colorectal cancer(CRC)stands among the top prevalent cancers worldwide and holds a prominent position as a major contributor to cancer-related mortality globally.Absent in melanoma 2(AIM2),a constituent of the interferoninducible hematopoietic interferon-inducible nuclear antigens with 200 amino acid repeats protein family,contributes to both cancer progression and inflammasome activation.Despite this understanding,the precise biological functions and molecular mechanisms governed by AIM2 in CRC remain elusive.Consequently,this study endeavors to assess AIM2’s expression levels,explore its potential antitumor effects,elucidate associated cancer-related processes,and decipher the underlying signaling pathways in CRC.Our findings showed a reduced AIM2 expression in most CRC cell lines.Elevation of AIM2 levels suppressed CRC cell proliferation and migration,altered cell cycle by inhibiting G1/S transition,and induced cell apoptosis.Further research uncovered the participation of P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(P38MAPK)in AIM2-mediated modulation of CRC cell apoptosis and proliferation.Altogether,our achievements distinctly underscored AIM2’s antitumor role in CRC.AIM2 overexpression inhibited proliferation and migration and induced apoptosis of CRC cells via activating P38MAPK signaling pathway,indicating AIM2 as a prospective and novel therapeutic target for CRC.

NQO1 Mediates Lenvatinib Resistance by Regulating ROS-induced Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the third leading cause of cancer-associated death worldwide.As a first-line drug for advanced HCC treatment,lenvatinib faces a significant hurdle due to the development of both intrinsic and acquired resistance among patients,and the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown.The present study aims to identify the pivotal gene responsible for lenvatinib resistance in HCC,explore the potential molecular mechanism,and propose combinatorial therapeutic targets for HCC management.Methods Cell viability and colony formation assays were conducted to evaluate the sensitivity of cells to lenvatinib and dicoumarol.RNA-Seq was used to determine the differences in transcriptome between parental cells and lenvatinib-resistant(LR)cells.The upregulated genes were analyzed by GO and KEGG analyses.Then,qPCR and Western blotting were employed to determine the relative gene expression levels.Afterwards,the intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry.Results PLC-LR and Hep3B-LR were established.There was a total of 116 significantly upregulated genes common to both LR cell lines.The GO and KEGG analyses indicated that these genes were involved in oxidoreductase and dehydrogenase activities,and reactive oxygen species pathways.Notably,NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1(NQO1)was highly expressed in LR cells,and was involved in the lenvatinib resistance.The high expression of NQO1 decreased the production of ROS induced by lenvatinib,and subsequently suppressed the apoptosis.The combination of lenvatinib and NQO1 inhibitor,dicoumarol,reversed the resistance of LR cells.Conclusion The high NQO1 expression in HCC cells impedes the lenvatinib-induced apoptosis by regulating the ROS levels,thereby promoting lenvatinib resistance in HCC cells.

SENEX-mediated CDK4/6 inhibition promotes senescence and confers apoptosis resistance in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Background:The primary cause of treatment failure in patients with refractory or relapsed B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma(r/r B-NHL)is resistance to current therapies,and therapy-induced senescence(TIS)stands out as a crucial mechanism contributing to tumor drug resistance.Here,we analyzed SENEX/Rho GTPase Activating Protein 18(ARHGAP18)expression and prognostic significance in doxorubicin-induced B-NHL-TIS model and r/r B-NHL patients,investigating its target in B-NHL cell senescence and the effect of combining specific inhibitors on apoptosis resistance in B-NHL-TIS cells.Methods:Raji cells were transfected with the human SENEX shRNA recombinant lentiviral vector(Sh-SENEX)and the empty vector negative(NC)to construct a stable transfection cell line with knockdown of SENEX.Effect of SENEX-silencing on B-NHL-TIS formation,cell function and cell cycle-related pathways was analyzed.Using doxorubicin(DOX)-inducible senescent B-NHL cells combined with the specific cyclin dependent kinase 4/6(CDK4/6)inhibitor Palbociclib to observe that blocking CDK4/6 effects on TIS formation.SENEX expression of 21 B-NHL patients and 8 healthy controls were analyzed by qRT-PCR,and the correlation between its expression and clinical indicators were evaluated.Results:The downregulation of SENEX expression promotes G1-S phase transition and apoptosis while inhibiting cell proliferation,collectively suppressing the formation of TIS in B-NHL.Blockade of CDK4/6 promotes the DOX-induced G1 phase arrest to enhance TIS formation in B-NHL cells which can reverse the regulatory effect of silencing SENEX on B-NHL cell cycle regulation and senescence.The expression levels of SENEX were notably elevated in B-NHL patients compared to healthy controls,and Elevated expression levels of SENEX were associated with poor prognosis of B-NHL patients.Conclusions:SENEX enhances apoptosis resistance in B-NHL by inhibiting CDK4/6,thereby preventing G1-S phase transition and promoting TIS formation.

Experiment on inducing apoptosis of melanoma cells by micro-plasma jet

As a promising cancer treatment method,cold atmospheric plasma has received widespread attention in recent years.However,previous research has focused more on how to realize and expand the anti-cancer scope of plasma jet.There are also studies on the killing of small-scale cancer cells,but the effects of plasma jet on normal cells and normal cell clusters have been ignored.Therefore,we proposed a 50μm sized micro-plasma jet device,and used the device to treat melanoma cells(A-375)and human glial cells(HA1800)to evaluate their anti-cancer effects and effects on normal cells.The experimental results show that this kind of micro-plasma jet device can effectively inactivate cancer cells in a short period of time,while having little effect on normal cells.This work provides a certain experimental basis for the application offine plasma jet to clinically inactivate cancer cells.

Treadmill exercise exerts a synergistic effect with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes on neuronal apoptosis and synaptic-axonal remodeling

Treadmill exercise and mesenchymal stem cell transplantation are both practical and effective methods for the treatment of cerebral ischemia.However,whether there is a synergistic effect between the two remains unclear.In this study,we established rat models of ischemia/reperfusion injury by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 2 hours and reperfusion for 24 hours.Rat models were perfused with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes(MSC-exos)via the tail vein and underwent 14 successive days of treadmill exercise.Neurological assessment,histopathology,and immunohistochemistry results revealed decreased neuronal apoptosis and cerebral infarct volume,evident synaptic formation and axonal regeneration,and remarkably recovered neurological function in rats subjected to treadmill exercise and MSC-exos treatment.These effects were superior to those in rats subjected to treadmill exercise or MSC-exos treatment alone.Mechanistically,further investigation revealed that the activation of JNK1/c-Jun signaling pathways regulated neuronal apoptosis and synaptic-axonal remodeling.These findings suggest that treadmill exercise may exhibit a synergistic effect with MSC-exos treatment,which may be related to activation of the JNK1/c-Jun signaling pathway.This study provides novel theoretical evidence for the clinical application of treadmill exercise combined with MSC-exos treatment for ischemic cerebrovascular disease.

miR-221/222/PUMA Axis Promotes Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Apoptosis

Background: To investigate the therapeutic activity of the miR-221/222 inhibitor against OSCC in vitro and in vivo. Materials and Methods: HSC3 and HSC6 were treated with miR-221/222 inhibitor and the empty vector respectively. After the recombinants were transfected into HSC3 and HSC6 with LipofectamineTM MAX, the expression of miR-221/222 and PUMA was analyzed by RT-PCR. The proliferation and migration of HSC3 and HSC6 were detected by CCK-8 assay and Wound-healing assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. The effect of the miR-221/222 inhibitor was also assessed in OSCC xenografts in BALB/c-nu mice. Results: Transfection of the miR-221/222 inhibitor increased cell apoptosis and upregulated PUMA expression in OSCC cell lines HSC3 and HSC6 with the significantly reduced expression of miR-221 and miR-222. Furthermore, the miR-221/222 inhibitor suppressed cell growth and invasion and blocked the cell cycle at the G1 phase. Obvious anti-tumor activity was achieved in BALB/c-nu mice by treatment with the miR-221/222 inhibitor, together with the upregulation of PUMA protein in tumors retrieved from the mice. Conclusions: There was a significant inhibitory effect of the miR-221/222 inhibitor on the growth of OSCC both in vitro and in vivo, and there might be a regulatory loop between miR-221/222 and PUMA. These findings demonstrated that downregulation of miR-221/222 could induce cell apoptosis, and it might be considered as a candidate target for gene therapy of OSCC.

Alu antisense RNA ameliorates methylglyoxal-induced human lens epithelial cell apoptosis by enhancing antioxidant defense

AIM:To determine whether an antisense RNA corresponding to the human Alu transposable element(Aluas RNA)can protect human lens epithelial cells(HLECs)from methylglyoxal-induced apoptosis.METHODS:Cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)and 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT)assays were used to assess HLEC viability.HLEC viability/death was detected using a Calcein-AM/PI double staining kit;the annexin V-FITC method was used to detect HLEC apoptosis.The cytosolic reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels in HLECs were determined using a reactive species assay kit.The levels of malondialdehyde(MDA)and the antioxidant activities of total-superoxide dismutase(T-SOD)and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)were assessed in HLECs using their respective kits.RT-q PCR and Western blotting were used to measure m RNA and protein expression levels of the genes.RESULTS:Aluas RNA rescued methylglyoxal-induced apoptosis in HLECs and ameliorated both the methylglyoxalinduced decrease in Bcl-2 m RNA and the methylglyoxalinduced increase in Bax m RNA.In addition,Aluas RNA inhibited the methylglyoxal-induced increase in Alu sense RNA expression.Aluas RNA inhibited the production of ROS induced by methylglyoxal,restored T-SOD and GSHPx activity,and moderated the increase in MDA content after treatment with methylglyoxal.Aluas RNA significantly restored the methylglyoxal-induced down-regulation of Nrf2 gene and antioxidant defense genes,including glutathione peroxidase,heme oxygenase 1,γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase and quinone oxidoreductase 1.Aluas RNA ameliorated methylglyoxal-induced increases of the m RNA and protein expression of Keap1 that is the negative regulator of Nrf2.CONCLUSION:Aluas RNA reduces apoptosis induced by methylglyoxal by enhancing antioxidant defense.

Drug repositioning of disulfiram induces endometrioid epithelial ovarian cancer cell death via the both apoptosis and cuproptosis pathways

Various therapeutic strategies have been developed to overcome ovarian cancer.However,the prognoses resulting from these strategies are still unclear.In the present work,we screened 54 small molecule compounds approved by the FDA to identify novel agents that could inhibit the viability of human epithelial ovarian cancer cells.Among these,we identified disulfiram(DSF),an old alcohol-abuse drug,as a potential inducer of cell death in ovarian cancer.Mechanistically,DSF treatment significantly reduced the expression of the anti-apoptosis marker Bcell lymphoma/leukemia-2(Bcl-2)and increase the expression of the apoptotic molecules Bcl2 associated X(Bax)and cleaved caspase-3 to promote human epithelial ovarian cancer cell apoptosis.Furthermore,DSF is a newly identified effective copper ionophore,thus the combination of DSF and copper was used to reduce ovarian cancer viability than DSF single treatment.Combination treatment with DSF and copper also led to the reduced expression of ferredoxin 1 and loss of Fe-S cluster proteins(biomarkers of cuproptosis).In vivo,DSF and copper gluconate significantly decreased the tumor volume and increased the survival rate in a murine ovarian cancer xenograft model.Thus,the role of DSF revealed its potential for used as a viable therapeutic agent for the ovarian cancer.

Dihydroartemisinin enhances cell apoptosis in diffuse large B cell lymphoma by inhibiting the STAT3 activity

Background:Dihydroartemisinin(DHA)is reported to be a potential anticancer agent,and the mechanisms underlying the effects of DHA on diffuse large B cell lymphoma however are still obscure.This study aimed to assess the antitumor effect of DHA on diffuse large B cell lymphoma cells and to determine the potential underlying mechanisms of DHA-induced cell apoptosis.Methods:Here,the Cell Counting Kit 8 assay was conducted to study cell proliferation.We performed Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide staining,real-time polymerase chain reaction,and western blot analysis to analyze cell apoptosis and potential molecular mechanisms.Results:The results showed that DHA substantially suppressed cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis in vitro in a time-and concentration-dependent fashion.Moreover,STAT3 activity could be inhibited after stimulation with DHA.Conclusion:These results imply that the underlying anti-tumoral effect of DHA may increase apoptosis in diffuse large B cell lymphoma cells via the STAT3 signaling pathway.In addition,DHA might be an effective drug for diffuse large B cell lymphoma therapy.

Vitamin B3 inhibits apoptosis and promotes autophagy of isletβcells under high glucose stress

Background:Hyperglycemia is a typical symptom of diabetes.High glucose induces apoptosis of isletβcells.While autophagy functions in cytoprotection and autophagic cell death.The interaction between autophagy and apoptosis is important in the modulation of the function of isletβcells.Vitamin B3 can induce autophagy and inhibit isletβapoptosis.Method:The mechanism of vitamin B3-mediated protective effect on the function of isletβcells was explored by the method of western blot,immunofluorescence and flow cytometry.Results:In the present study,high glucose stress increased the apoptosis rate,while vitamin B3 reduced the apoptosis rate.The effect of vitamin B3 on autophagy flux under normal and high glucose stress was also investigated.Vitamin B3 increased the number of autophagosomes and increased the light chain(LC)3-II/LC3-I ratio.In contrast,vitamin B3 decreased sequestosome 1(SQSTM1)/p62 protein expression and inhibited the phosphorylation of mammalian ribosomal protein S6 kinaseβ-1(p70S6K/S6K1),which was a substrate of mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)under normal and high glucose stress.To further verify the protective effect of vitamin B3 on apoptosis,we treated isletβcell RIN-m5F with autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine(3-MA).Vitamin B3 decreased the apoptosis rate under high glucose stress,while the inhibition of apoptosis by vitamin B3 was blocked after adding 3-MA.Conclusion:Our data suggested that vitamin B3 reduced the apoptosis rate ofβcells,possibly through inducing autophagy under high glucose stress.