Apoptotic pathway induced by diallyl trisulfide in pancreatic cancer cells

AIM: To investigate the effects of diallyl trisulfide (DATS), a garlic-derived organosulfur compound, in pancreatic cancer cells.

Diallyl disulfide and diallyl trisulfide in garlic as novel therapeutic agents to overcome drug resistance in breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide.It is a cancer that originates from the mammary ducts and involves mutations in multiple genes.Recently,the treatment of breast cancer has become increasingly challenging owing to the increase in tumor heterogeneity and aggressiveness,which gives rise to therapeutic resistance.Epidemiological,populationbased,and hospital-based case-control studies have demonstrated an association between high intake of certain Allium vegetables and a reduced risk in the development of breast cancer.Diallyl disulfide(DADS)and diallyl trisulfide(DATS)are the main allyl sulfur compounds present in garlic,and are known to exhibit anticancer activity as they interfere with breast cancer cell proliferation,tumor metastasis,and angiogenesis.The present review highlights multidrug resistance mechanisms and their signaling pathways in breast cancer.This review discusses the potential anticancer activities of DADS and DATS,with emphasis on drug resistance in triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC).Understanding the anticancer activities of DADS and DATS provides insights into their potential in targeting drug resistance mechanisms of TNBC,especially in clinical studies.

Protective Effect of Diallyl Trisulfide on Liver in Rats with Sepsis and the Mechanism

The protective effects of diallyl trisulfide on liver were examined in rats with sepsis. Sepsis was reproduced in rats by cecum ligation and puncture (CLP). Fifty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group (group S, n=8), sepsis model group (group C, n=24), diallyl trisulfide (DATS)-treated group (group D, n=24). Animals in groups C and D were further divided into three subgroups according to different observation time points, with 8 rats in each sub-group.Rats in group D and C were intravenously injected with normal saline or DATS respectively at a dose of 20 mg/kg after the establishment of sepsis model. Eight rats in groups C and D were sacrificed at 3, 6 and 24 h post-CLP and their livers were harvested for detection of interleukin (IL)-1 receptor associated kinase-4 (IRAK-4), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), c-fos, c-jun, malondialdehydethhe (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and for pathological examination. The results showed that the levels of serum IRAK-4, NF-κB and TNF-α in hepatic tissues were higher in group C than group S (control group) (P<0.05). After DATS treatment, the levels of IRAK-4 and NF-κB in the hepatic tissues and serum TNF-α in group D were lower than those in group C (P<0.05). The levels of c-fos and c-jun and MDA in the hepatic tissues were higher in group C than in group S (P<0.05). After DATS treatment, the levels of c-fos and c-jun and MDA in the hepatic tissues were significantly lower in group D than in group C (P<0.05). When compared with group S group, concentration of SOD in the hepatic tissues in group C was significantly lower (P<0.05). After DATS treatment, the concentration of SOD in the hepatic tissues was higher in group D than in group C (P<0.05). These findings suggested that treatment with DATS could ameliorate sepsis-induced liver injury in rats. The protective effect might be related to its ability to inhibit the signal pathway of IRAK-4 and NF-κB, thereby decreasing the production of oxygen free radicals and down-regulating the expression of c-fos and c-jun.

The DNA injury-repair of esophageal cancer EC109 cells to diallyl trisulfide (DATS) combining radiation

Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of diallyl trisulfide (DATS) combining radiation on DNA injury-repair of Esophageal cancer EC109 cells. Methods: Using 10 and 20 μg/mL DATS on EC109 cells, and taking X-ray radiation 24 h later. Investigate the radiosensitization effect of DATS on EC109 cells by clone formation, and the mechanism of DNA injury-repair by Comet Assay. Results: The clone formation resulted that DATS had radiosensitization effect on EC109 cells. Radiosensitization enhancement ratios of 10 and 20 μg/mL DATS in combination with radiation were 1.55, 1.64 (Do) and 1.43, 1.75 (Dq) respectively. In the comet assay, the TM (tail moments) of 20 μg/mL DATS combining radiation group lines at 0 h, 2 h, 6 h and 24 h were 7.16 ± 2.61, 3.65 ± 2.06, 2.09 ± 0.83, 1.45 ± 1.37 respectively. They were slightly increased than radiation group (0.95 ± 0.65, 0.11 ± 0.07, 0.1 ± 0.05, 0.11 ± 0.08) and DATS group (1.81 ± 1.23, 1.58 ± 1.40, 0.45 ± 0.25, 0.60 ± 0.40) (P < 0.01). The result showed that DATS combining radiation had the effect of increasing DNA damage and inhibiting DNA repair on EC109 cells. Conclusion: DATS has radiosensitization effect on Esophageal cancer EC109 cells. And the effect is probably related with DNA injury-repair.

Effect of Diallyl Trisulfide on Induction of UDS by Mutagenic Drugs in Primary Rat Hepatocytes

Mosl of anticancer drugs are mutagenic. A possible exeeption is diallyl .trisulfide(DAT ), a component of garlic. It is an antimutagenic anticunccr chemical although it ismainly uscd as antibiotic. Its modifying effeci on induction of UDS by mutagenicmitomycin C (MMC), cyclophosphamide (CP) and cis-diamine dichloroplatin (DDP) was invcstigiltcd with the UDS assay in the primary cultures of Wistar rat hepatocytes (hpc)using the autoradiographic technique. Resultsshowed that 1.0-4.0 nmol/ml of DAT didnot inducc UDS and that MMC, CP and DDP resulted in a significant induction ofdosc-dependent UDS. DAT enhanced induction of UDS by these drugs. A dose-effectrclationship was observed betwecn dose of DAT and enhancement of induction of UDS.Howcvcr, thc mcchanism of the enhancement is not clear.

Effect of Diallyl Trisulfide on the Activation of T Cell and Macrophage－mediated Cytotoxicity

At high concentration (50 μg/ml), diallyl trisulfide (DATS) had an inhibitory effect on T cell activation (compared with control group, P<0.05). But at appropriate concentrations(3.125-12. 5 μg/ml). DATS augmented the activation of T lymphocytes by Con A (compared with control group, P<0. 01). The augmentation of T cell activation by DATS was related to its inhibitory effect on the production of nitric oxide (NO) by macrophages.In a wide range of concentrations (1-100 μg/ml) , DATS can inhibit the production of NO by macrophas,es (P<0.05,P<0.01). In addition, DATS can antagonize the inhibition of tumor-derived immunosuppressive factors produced by S180 cells and Ehrlich ascitic cancer cells on the activation of T cells, and reduce the inhibitory rate significantly (P<0.01). DATS, despite its inhibition of the production of NO by macrophages, can significantly enhance the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 by macrophages.When macrophages were pretreated with DATS for 24 h, the cytotoxicity % of macrophages to three tumor cell lines was significantly higher than that in corresponding control group (P<0.05,P<0.01). In the presence of both DATS and LPS, the cytotoxicity of macrophages was further enhanced so that the cytotoxicity % of macrophages to tumor cells was significantly higher than either that in the presence of DAIS alone or that in the presence of LPS alone(P<0.05, P<0.01). These results indicate that DATS can augment the activation of T cells and enhance the anti-tumor function of macrophage, suggesting that DATS may be potentially useful in tumor therapy.

Biomechanopharmacology in Evaluation of Herbs of Activating Blood Circulation to Remove Blood Stasis

Herbs of activating blood circulation to remove blood stasis (ABCRBS) are a category of over 10% in the modern Chinese Pharmacopoeia. A new borderline discipline, biomechanopharmacology, is shaping by the efforts of applying biomechanics in pharmacological studies of ABCRBS herbs. Biomechanics is involved in modeling of blood stasis syndrome (BSS) with mechanical force induced injury and model evaluation by shear stress monitoring for blood coagulation. Investigations showed that tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) contained in Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort and diallyl trisulfide (DT) extracted from garlic demonstrated inhibiting characteristics on vWF mediated platelet activation and thrombus formation occurring under high shear rates. The effect of TMP on shear-induced platelet aggregation might be due to inhibition of calcium channel activity since it showed significant inhibition on intracellular level of calcium demonstrated by laser confocal microscope. The combined effects of TMP and shear stress on rat cerebral microvascular endothelial cell (rCMEC) were investigated by various doses of TMP incorporated with different levels of shear stress generated by a rotational cone-plate rheometer. The results indicated that apoptosis of rCMECs could be restrained by a combination of medial level of shear stress with a suitable dose of TMP. To study the influences of shear stress, pressure and TMP on angiogenesis of vascular endothelial cell, cultured rCMEC was pretreated in a flow chamber with independent adjustment for levels of shear stress and pressure, and then 3D cultured on Matrigel. The results indicate that combined effects of shear stress, pressure and TMP may influence angiogenesis significantly. We believe that research on interactions among blood shear stress, secretion of endothelial cell, and pharmacodynamics will be an interesting area of biomechanopharmacology. Herbs of ABCRBS and their extracts for protecting endothelial cells to maintain their normal functions are expected.