Dietary Conjugated Linoleic Acids Arrest Cell Cycle Progression and Prevent Ovarian Cancer Xenografts Growth Suggesting a Trans-10 Cis-12 Isoform Specific Activity

Therapies for treating ovarian cancer (OvCa) successfully are largely inadequate. Alternative therapies and diet(s) with preventive potential to debilitated onset, and reduced OvCa tumor burden in situ, have not been systematically studied. Preventive role of conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) has been reported in many other cancers. We report the first systematic in vitro and in vivo study modeling potential preventive mechanism(s) of CLA, an octadecadienolic fatty acid in clear cell OvCa cell line TOV-21G. We demonstrate that a dose and time-dependent down-regulation of cyclin E and A proteins (p 0.05) by CLA (t10,c12) was concomitant with cell cycle arrest of TOV-21G cell lines in S phase. To understand the molecular mechanism underlying CLA (t10,c12) induced S phase arrest, levels of cell cycle regulatory proteins were determined by western blot analyses. Exposure to CLA (t10,c12) increased p21(CIP1/WAF1), and p27(KIP1) protein levels in a time and dose-dependent manner. Interestingly CLA (t10,c12) did not significantly affect protein levels of cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) 2, and p53, however, hyperphosphorylated form of pRb (p 0.05) was abrogated. Exposure to CLA (c9,t11) indicated a modest increase in p21(CIP1/WAF1) and p27(KIP1) levels, but changes in cyclin A and E levels were statistically insignificant. These results indicate that CLA (t10,c12) mediated p27(KIP1) upregulation and inhibition of hyperphosphorylation of ppRb may be the possible mechanism for the S phase arrest in TOV-21G cell line. Our in vivo data showed that CLA reduced the progression of TOV-21G xenografts by >50%. Together our results provide evidence of CLA exerted preventive effect on OvCa cell and tumor growth. Tumor growth arrest may be resultant from CLA (t10,c12) mediated modulation of cell cycle arrest.

Overexpression of p27^(KIP1)induced cell cycle arrest in G_1 phase and subsequent apoptosis in HCC-9204 cell line

AIM We have previously reported that inducible over-expresaion of Bak may prolong cell cycle in G1 phase and lead to apoptosis in HCC-9204 cells. This study is to investigate whether p27KIP1 plays an important role in this process. MEHODS In order to elucidate the exact function of p27KIP1 in this process, a zinc inducible p27KIP1 stable transfectant and transient p27KIP1- GFP fusion transfectant were constructed. The effects of inducible p27KIP1 on cell growth, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were examined in the mock, control pMD vector, and pMD-KIP1 transfected HCC-9204 cells. RESULTS This p27KIP1-GFP transfectant may transiently express the fusion gene. The cell growth was reduced by 35% at 48 h of p27KIP1 induction with zinc treatment as determined by trypan blue exclusion assay. These differences remained the same after 72 h of p27KIP1 expression, p27KIP1 caused cell cycle arrest after 24 h of induction, with 40% increase in G1 population. Prolonged p27KIP1 expression in this cell line induced apoptotic cell death reflected by TUNEL assay. Fourty-eight h and 72 h of p27KIP1 expression showed a characteristic DNA ladder on agarose gel electrophoresis.

Norcantharidin inhibits growth of human gallbladder carcinoma xenografted tumors in nude mice by inducing apoptosis and blocking the cell cycle in vivo

BACKGROUND: Gallbladder carcinoma, a lethal malignant neoplasm with poor prognosis, has dismal results of surgical resection and chemoradiotherapy. We previously reported that norcantharidin (NCTD) is useful against growth, proliferation, and invasion of human gallbladder carcinoma GBC-SD cells in vitro. In this study, we further studied the inhibitory effect of NCTD on the growth of xenografted tumors of human gallbladder carcinoma in nude mice in vivo and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: The tumor xenograft model of human gallbladder carcinoma in nude mice in vivo was established with subcutaneous GBC-SD cells. The experimental mice were randomly divided into control, 5-FU, NCTD, and NCTD+5-FU groups which were given different treatments. Tumor growth in terms of size, growth curve, and inhibitory rate was evaluated. Cell cycle, apoptosis, and morphological changes of the xenografted tumors were assessed by flow cytometry and light/electron microscopy. The expression of the cell cycle-related proteins cyclin-D1 and p27 as well as the apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2, Box, and survivin were determined by the streptavidin-biotin complex (SABC) method and RT-PCR. RESULTS: NCTD inhibited the growth of the xenografted tumors in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Tumor volume decreased (5.61+/-0.39 vs. 9.78+/-0.61 cm(3), P=0.000) with an increased tumor inhibitory rate (42.63% vs. 0%, P=0.012) in the NTCD group compared with the control group. The apoptosis rate increased (15.08+/-1.49% vs. 5.49+/-0.59%, P=0.0001) along with a decreased percentage of cells in S phase (43.47+/-2.83% vs. 69.85+/-1.96%, P=0.0001) in the NTCD group compared with the control group. The morphological changes of apoptosis such as nuclear shrinkage, chromatin aggregation, chromosome condensation, and typical apoptosis bodies in the xenografted tumor cells induced by NCTD were observed by light and electron microscopy. The expression of cyclin-D1, Bcl-2 and survivin proteins/mRNAs decreased significantly, with increased expression of p27 and Bax proteins/mRNAs in the NCTD group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: NCTD inhibits the growth of xenografted tumors of human gallbladder carcinoma in nude mice by inducing apoptosis and blocking the cell cycle in vivo.

Effect of p27^(KIP1) on cell cycle and apoptosis in gastric cancer cells

AIM： To elucidate the effect of p27^KIP1 on cell cycle and apoptosis regulation in gastric carcinoma cells. METHODS： The whole length of p27^KIP1 cDNA was transfected into human gastric cancer cell line SCG7901 by lipofectamine. Expression of p27^KIP1 protein or mRNA was analyzed by Western blot and RNA dot blotting, respectively. Effect of p27^KIP1 on cell growth was observed by MTT assay and anchorage-independent growth in soft agar. Tumorigenicity in nude mice was used to assess the in vivo biological effect of p27^KIP1. Flow cytometry, TUNEL, and electron microscopy were used to assess the effect of p27^KIP1 on cell cycle and apoptosis. RESULTS： Expression of p27^KIP1 protein or mRNA increased evidently in SCG7901 cells transfected with p27^KIP1. The cell growth was reduced by 31% at 48 h after induction with zinc determined by cell viability assay. The alteration of cell malignant phenotype was evidently indicated by the loss of anchorage-independent growth ability in soft agar. The tumorigenicity in nude mice was reduced evidently （0.55±0.14 cm vs 1.36±0.13cm, P〈0.01）. p27^KIP1 overexpression caused cell arrest with 36% increase （from 33.7% to 69.3%, P〈0.01） in G1 population. Prolonged p27^KIP1 expression induced apoptotic cell death reflected by pre-G1 peak in the histogram of FACS, which was also confirmed by TUNEL assay and electron microscopy. CONCLUSION： p27^KIP1 can prolong cell cycle in G1 phase and lead to apoptosis, p27^KIP1 may be a good candidate for cancer gene therapy.

Effect of cis-9,trans-11-conjugated linoleic acid on cell cycle of gastric adenocarcinoma cell line(SGC-7901)

AIM: To determine the effect of cis -9, trans -11-conjugated linoleic acid (c9, t11-CLA) on the cell cycle of gastric cancer cells (SGC-7901) and its possible mechanism in inhibition cancer growth. METHODS: Using cell culture and immunocytochemical techniques, we examined the cell growth, DNA synthesis, expression of PCNA, cyclin A, B(1), D(1), p16(ink4a) and p21(cip/waf1) of SGC-7901 cells which were treated with various c9, t11-CLA concentrations (25, 50, 100 and 200 micromol.L(-1))of c 9, t 11-CLA for 24 and 48h, with a negative control (0.1% ethane). RESULTS: The cell growth and DNA synthesis of SGC-7901 cells were inhibited by c9, t11-CLA.SGC-7901 cells. Eight day after treatment with various concentrations of c9, t11-CLA mentioned above, the inhibition rates were 5.92%, 20.15%, 75.61% and 82.44%, respectively and inhibitory effect of c9, t11-CLA on DNA synthesis (except for 25 micromol.L, 24h) showed significantly less (3)H-TdR incorporation than that in the negative controls (P【0.05 and P【0.01). Immunocytochemical staining demonstrated that SGC-7901 cells preincubated in media supplemented with different c9, t11-CLA concentrations at various times significantly decreased the expressions of PCNA (the expression rates were 7.2-3.0%, 24h and 9.1-0.9% at 48h, respectively), Cyclin A (11.0-2.3%, 24h and 8.5-0.5%,48h), B(1) (4.8-1.8% at 24h and 5.5-0.6% at 48h)and D(1) (3.6-1.4% at 24h and 3.7%-0 at 48h) as compared with those in the negative controls(the expressions of PCNA, Cyclin A, B(1) and D(1) were 6.5% at 24h and 9.0% at 48h, 4.2% at 24h and 5.1% at 48h, 9.5% at 24h and 6.0% at 48h,respectively)(P【0.01), whereas the expressions of P16(ink4a) and P21(cip/waf1), cyclin-dependent kinases inhibitors(CDKI), were increased. CONCLUSION: The cell growth and proliferation of SGC-7901 cell is inhibited by c9, t11-CLA via blocking the cell cycle, with reduced expressions of cyclin A,B(1) and D(1) and enhanced expressions of CDKI(P16(ink4a) and p21(cip/waf1)).

Effect of androgen withdrawal on activation of ERKs and expression of cell cycle regulation molecules in human prostate carcinoma cells

Objective: To explore the possible mechanisms of growth regression of human androgen dependent prostate carcinoma cells caused by androgen withdrawal. Methods: After 24 h of treatment with 1 × 10-9 mol/L dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the expression of phosphorylated ERK proteins and cell cycle regulation molecules including CDK2, CDK4, CDK6 and P27kip1 in human androgen dependent prostate carcinoma cell line LNCaP was measured by Western blot analysis 0 h, 8 h and 24 h of after androgen withdrawal. Human androgen independent prostate carcinoma cell line PC-3 was also examined as control. Results: Down-regulation of phosphorylated ERK, CDK2, CDK4 and CDK6 and up-regulation of P27kip1 were found initially in LNCaP cell line 8 h after androgen withdrawal. The levels of phosphorylated ERK and CDKs decreased continuously and reached the lowest after 24 h, while continuous elevation of P27kip1 was detected thereafter to 24 h. No expression change of phosphorylated ERK, CDKs and P27kip1 were detected in PC-3 cell line. Conclusion: The androgen withdrawal can cause ERKs activation decrease and cell cycle regulation molecules changes, which may be one of the mechanisms for inhibited growth of androgen dependent prostate carcinoma after androgen ablation by either operative or medicine methods.

Effect of WFDC 2 silencing on the proliferation,motility and invasion of human serous ovarian cancer cells in vitro

Objective:To investigate effect and possible mechanisms of silencing human WFDC2（HE4） gene on biological behavior changes as cell proliferation,apoplosis,movement and invasion of human serous ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3.Methods:Lentiviral WFDC2 gene sequence of small interfering siRNA was stablely transfected into SKOV3 identified by Q-PCR and western-blot. Obtained SKOV3 stable strains with silenced HE4 were measured by proliferation,apoplosis, migration,and invasion.Results:Gene sequencing showed that the oligonucleotides were successfully inserted into the expected site.After silencing HE4 in the SKOV3,proliferation was significandy inhibited（P【0.05）.G0/G1 phase was arrested by the cell cycle（P【0.01） and capacity of the migration and invasion decreased significandy（P【0.01）.Slight early apoptosis ratio and no change of late apoplosis were found without change of Caspase-3 or Bcl-2 protein.Proteins involed in ERK pathway as phosphorylated protein as p-EGFR,p- ERK decreased and protease protein involved in tissue remoding as matrix metalloproteinases MMP-9,MMP-2 and cathepsin B decreased compared with control group.Conclusions:HE4 gene plays an important role in regulating proliferation,apoptosis,migration,invasion of serous ovarian cancer cells by ERK pathway and protease system.Its role in apoptosis needs to be further explored,and it may be a potential target for serous ovarian cancer.

Blockage of PI3K/PKB/P27^(kip1) signaling pathway can antagonize 17β-estradiol-induced Ishikawa proliferation and cell cycle progression

It is well-known that risk for endometrial adenocarcinoma increases in patients with high level ofestrogen that is unopposed by progestin. And activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase （ERK） and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B （PI3K/PKB） pathway are responsible for hormone-dependent cell growth in endometrial carcinoma. PI3K produces phosphatidylinositol- 3-phosphates by phosphory-lating the D3 hydroxyl of phosphoinositides, leading to membrane translocation of PKB,

PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEAR ANTIGEN(PCNA) IN OVARIAN CARCINOMA AND ITS RELATION TO LYMPH NODE METASTASIS AND PROGNOSIS

Objective: To investigate expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in ovarian epithelial cancer and its relation to lymph node metastasis, outcome of second look laparotomy (SLL) and prognosis Methods: Monoclonal antibody PC10 was used to stain PCNA in archival paraffin embedded tissues Results: PC10 immunostaining was performed successfully in all 74 primary and 31 intraperitoneal metastatic tumors The expression levels of PCNA were significantly increased in 31 metastatic tumors compared with their primary tumor from the same patients (7 94 vs 6 89, P=0 042) The expression levels was more elevated in bilateral than in unilateral ovarian cancer, but it was not associated with lymph node metastasis, clinical stage, histological grade and subtype In 28 patients with stage III ovarian cancer undergone SLL, the mean immunoreactive score (IRS) of PCNA of the primary tumor was significantly higher in patients with negative SLL than in those with positive SLL (7 59 vs 6 10, P =0 03) Since chemotherapy was performed following surgical debulking, negative SLL more frequently seen in patients with high PCNA expression might suggest better chemotherapeutic sensitivity due to higher proliferation fraction of tumor cell Univariate analysis of survival indicated that the overall survival was inversely associated with the level of PCNA expression, while multivariate analysis with Cox's model showed that independent prognostic factors were the residual tumor after primary debulking ( P<0 001 ) and clinical stage ( P <0 05), followed by PCNA expression( P =0 09) Conclusion: The expression of PCNA may beuseful in predicting the patients' prognosis, but is not correlated with lymph node metastasis

Effects of Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotide to Follicle-stimulating Hormone Receptor on the Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis in Cells Derived from Human Ovarian Mucinous Cystadenocarcinoma in Vitro

The human ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinoma （hOMC） cells were co-cultured with antisense oligodeoxynucleotide （antisense ODN）, nonsense ODN, and follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH） at different concentrations for the purpose of observing the effects of antisense ODN to FSH receptor （FSHR） on the proliferation and apoptosis of cultured hOMC cells in vitro. The inhibitory rates of growth were measured by using MTT method on the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th days after the interference of antisense ODN, nonsense ODN, and FSH, respectively. The apoptotic rates and the cell cycles were determined by means of flow cytometry, the apoptosis indexes were detected by using TUNEL, and the expression of caspase-3 was measured by using SP immunohistochemistry. Compared with that in the control group, the proliferative activity of hOMC cells was increased obviously in FSH groups （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）, decreased distinctly in antisense ODN groups （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）, and unchanged in nonsense ODN groups, respectively. Meanwhile, antisense ODN could significantly antagonize the FSH-promoted cell proliferative activity （P〈0.01）. Compared with those in the control group, the apoptotic rates and the expression of caspase-3 were dramatically increased in the mid- and high-dose antisense ODN groups （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）, while the number of cells in G1/G0 phase was significantly decreased and that in S phase distinctly increased （P〈0.01）, There was no change in nonsense ODN groups （P〉0.05）, It was suggested that FSH may improve the development of hOMC cells, However, antisense ODN could inhibit proliferative activity and the FSH-promoted proliferative activity in hOMC cells, at the same time, antisense ODN could inhibit hOMC cell growth by inducing apoptosis.

Impact of siRNA targeting pirh2 on proliferation and cell cycle control of the lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of pirh2(p53-induced RING-H2)protein in the proliferation,apoptosis and cell cycle control of the lung cancer cell line A549.Pirh2 expression was detected by immunofluores-cence,Western blot analysis and real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR).Cell proliferation was assessed by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8).Cell cycle control and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry.The results showed that pirh2 was expressed in the cytoplasm of A549 cells.The inhi-bition of pirh2 expression by siRNA(psiRNA-pirh2)resulted in reduced cell proliferation and increased apoptosis.In addition,the number of G0/G1 phase cells was increased but G2/M cells were not affected significantly.Taken together,the inhibition of pirh2 expression in the lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 resulted in reduced tumor cell growth via the inhibition of cell proliferation,the activation of apoptosis and the interruption of cell cycle transition.

Human ovarian neoplasm cell CD147 stimulates production and activation of matrix metalloproteinases in co-cultures with mouse fibroblasts

Objective: To investigate the expression of CD147 on human ovarian neoplasm cell lines and its influence on production and activation of matrix metallproteinases(MMPs). Methods: The expression of CD147 on different human ovarian neoplasm cell lines was studied by western blotting. Co-culture was carried out to investigate the stimulative effect of the positive expression CD147 cell HO-8910 on the production of MMPs of fibroblast cell in vitro. Zymography and immune blotting were used to study the production and activity of positive MMPs, at the time, to explore the relation between CD147 and MMPs. Results: CD147 was positively presented in 2 ovarian neoplasm cell lines(HO-8910,3-AO), but in SKOV3, TC-1,NIN3T3 cell was negative. MMP-2 and MMP-9 were detected by HO-8910 cell line, mouse fibroblast cell and co-culture cells; but the expression in co-culture cell is obviously higher than individual cultures of each type alone.CD147 stimulated MMPs in dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: CD147 causes increased production and activation of MMP-2, MMP-9.CD147 is probably a indirect marker of some ovarian cancer cells with invasion and metastasis.

In vitro study of influence of raloxifene on the growth of human ovarian cancer cell line Skov 3

Objective: To study the effects of raloxifene on the growth of the human ovarian cancer cell line Skov3 and on the expression of cell proliferative antigen Ki-67 in vitro.Methods: The proliferative capacity of the ovarian cancer cell line Skov3 in the culture medium with raloxifene was evaluated by the microculture tetrazolium assay (MTT) and the expression of cell proliferation was appraised by the immunohistochemical staining of ki-67.Results: The growth of ovarian cancer cell line Skov3 was inhibited by raloxifene at high concentrations, while a trend of growth promotion at initial then followed by growth inhibition was found when raloxifene was at low concentrations. Raloxifene at high concentrations not only significantly reduced the expression of Ki-67 but also destroyed the cell structure.Conclusion: Raloxifene does not stimulate the growth of human ovarian cancer cell line Skov3significantly.

Cinobufotalin as a Novel Agent to Inhibit in Vitro Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cell Proliferation, Migration and Invasion

Objective: Cinobufotalin (CINO), a cardiotonic steroid (CTS) or bufadienolide, is extracted from the skin secretions of giant toads and is utilized in traditional Chinese medicine (Chan Su). CINO has been used as a cardiotonic, diuretic and a hemostatic agent. Recently, CINO has been shown to inhibit lung cancer cell function and has been implicated in several other disease processes. In this study, we pursued the potential anticancer application of CINO using the ovarian tumor cell line SK-OV-3. Study Design: We evaluated the effect of CINO on cultures of SK-OV-3. Cells were treated with 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, and 10 μM CINO. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and viability were measured using commercially available kits. Cell cycle progression was evaluated by a Cell Cycle Phase Determination Kit. Apoptosis was evaluated by an Apoptotic Blebs Assay Kit;cell cycle arrest and apoptotic signaling were determined by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. Results: CINO at ≥ 0.5 μM inhibited SKOV-3 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion (p < 0.05). There was a higher (p < 0.05) percentage of S phase cells in groups treated with CINO at 0.5 μM. CINO at ≥ 0.5 μM down regulated expression of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) and caused cell death. Conclusion: This data demonstrates that CINO impairs SK-OV-3 cell function via cell cycle arrest and apoptotic signaling, suggesting CINO be further investigated as a novel anti-ovarian cancer agent.

Relationship between phenotypes of cell-function differentiation and pathobiological behavior of gastric carcinomas

AIM: To reveal the correlation between the functional differentiation phenotypes of gastric carcinoma cells and the invasion and metastasis by a new way of cell-function classification.METHODS:Surgically resected specimens of 361 gastric carcinomas(GC) were investigated with enzyme-, mucin-, and tumor-related marker immunohistochemistry. According to the direction of cell-function differentiation, stomach carcinomas were divided into five functionally differentiated types. RESULTS: (1) Absorptive function differentiation type (AFDT): there were 82 (22.7%) patients including 76 (92.7%) aged 45 years. Sixty-nine (84.1%) cases belonged to the intestinal type. Thirty-eight (46.3%) expressed CD44v6 and 9 (13.6%) of 66 male patients developed liver metastasis.The 5-year survival rate of patients in this group (58.5%) was higher than those with the other types (P【0.01). (2) Mucin secreting function differentiation type (MSFDT): 54 (15%) cases. Fifty-three (98.1%) tumors had penetrated the serosa, 12 (22.2%) expressed ER and 22 (40.7%) expressed CD44v6. The postoperative 5-year survival rate was 28.6%. (3) Absorptive and mucin-producing function differentiation type (AMPFDT): there were 180 (49.9%) cases, including 31 (17.2%) aged younger than 45 years. The tumor was more common in women (62, 34.4%,) and expressed more frequently estrogen receptors (ER) (129, 81.7%) than other types (P【0.01). Ovary metastasis was found in 12 (19.4%) out of 62 female subjects. The patients with this type GC had the lowest 5-year survival rate (24.7%) among all types. (4) Specific function differentiation type (SFDT): 13 (3.6%) cases. Nine (69.2%) tumors of this type derived from APUD system, the other 4 (30.7%) were of different histological differentiation. Sixty per cent of the patients survived at least five years. (5) Non-function differentiation type (NFDT): 32 (8.9%) cases. Nineteen (59.4%) cases had lymph node metastases but no one with liver or ovary metastasis. The 5-year survival rate was 28.1%. CONCLUSION: This new cell-function classification of GC is helpful in indicating the characteristics of invasion and metastasis of GC with different cell-function differentiation phenotypes. Further study is needed to disclose the correlation between the cell-functional differentiation phenotypes and the relevant genotypes and the biological behavior of gastric carcinoma.

人脐带间充质干细胞治疗多囊卵巢综合征模型小鼠卵巢组织中Rab27A的表达

背景:多囊卵巢综合征是导致育龄女性不孕的常见生殖内分泌疾病,目前尚无有效的治疗方法,人脐带间充质干细胞可能有助于修复卵巢功能,但其治疗多囊卵巢综合征方面的研究较少。目的:探讨人脐带间充质干细胞治疗多囊卵巢综合征的作用及机制。方法:3周龄雌性ICR小鼠随机分为3组(n=15):正常对照组不作处理,模型组连续21 d灌胃来曲唑诱导建立多囊卵巢综合征模型,治疗组连续21 d灌胃来曲唑+经尾静脉注射人脐带间充质干细胞悬液。治疗前和治疗后7,14 d称量小鼠体质量;治疗后连续10 d阴道涂片检测小鼠动情周期;治疗后14 d,ELISA检测小鼠外周血性激素水平,苏木精-伊红染色观察卵巢形态学改变,免疫荧光、免疫组化检测卵巢组织中Rab27A蛋白表达。结果与结论:①与正常对照组相比,模型组小鼠动情周期紊乱,体质量明显升高,卵泡刺激素水平降低,黄体生成素和睾酮水平均升高,卵巢可见较多囊状扩张的卵泡,Rab27A蛋白表达水平降低;②与模型组相比,治疗组小鼠体质量降低,卵泡刺激素水平升高,黄体生成素和睾酮水平均降低,多囊状扩张的卵泡减少,Rab27A蛋白表达水平升高;③结果表明,人脐带间充质干细胞可能通过上调Rab27A的表达改善多囊卵巢综合征小鼠血清性激素水平及卵巢功能。

Effects of ursolic acid and oleanolic acid on human colon carcinoma cell line HCT15

AIM: Ursolic acid (UA) and oleanolic acid (OA) are triperpene acids having a similar chemical structure and are distributed wildly in plants all over the world. In recent years, it was found that they had marked anti-tumor effects. There is little literature currently available regarding their effects on colon carcinoma cells. The present study was designed to investigate their inhibitory effects on human colon carcinoma cell line HCT15. METHODS: HCT15 cells were cultured with different drugs. The treated cells were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and their morphologic changes observed under a light microscope. The cytotoxicity of these drugs was evaluated by tetrazolium dye assay. Cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry (FCM). Data were expressed as means +/-SEM and Analysis of variance and Student' t-test for individual comparisons. RESULTS: Twenty-four to 72 h after UA or OA 60 micromol/L treatment, the numbers of dead cells and cell fragments were increased and most cells were dead at the 72nd hour. The cytotoxicity of UA was stronger than that of OA. Seventy-eight hours after 30 micromol/L of UA or OA treatment, a number of cells were degenerated, but cell fragments were rarely seen. The IC(50) values for UA and OA were 30 and 60 micromol/L, respectively. Proliferation assay showed that proliferation of UA and OA-treated cells was slightly increased at 24h and significantly decreased at 48 h and 60 h, whereas untreated control cells maintained an exponential growth curve. Cell cycle analysis by FCM showed HCT15 cells treated with UA 30 and OA 60 for 36 h and 72 h gradually accumulated in G(0)/G(1) phase (both drugs P【0.05 for 72 h), with a concomitant decrease of cell populations in S phase (both drugs P【0.01 for 72 h) and no detectable apoptotic fraction. CONCLUSION: UA and OA have significant anti-tumor activity. The effect of UA is stronger than that of OA. The possible mechanism of action is that both drugs have an inhibitory effect on tumor cell proliferation through cell-cycle arrest.

Inhibitory effect of norcantharidin on the growth of human gallbladder carcinoma GBC-SD cells in vitro

BACKGROUND: Gallbladder carcinoma is a lethal malignant neoplasm with dismal surgical results. Unfortunately, the adjuvant therapies for gallbladder carcinoma such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy are also disappointing. We reported that norcantharidin (NCTD), a demethylated form of cantharidin, which is an active ingredient of the Chinese medicine Mylabris, was used against human gallbladder carcinoma GBC-SD cells. In the present study, we further studied the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of NCTD on growth of human gallbladder carcinoma GBC-SD cells in vitro. METHODS: Human gallbladder carcinoma GBC-SD cells were grown in cell culture and divided into a NCTD group and a control group. The inhibitory effect of NCTD on growth of GBC-SD cells was investigated by evaluation of proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and morphological changes of the cells. Cell proliferation was assessed by tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay. The induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. The morphological changes of the cells were observed by light- and electron-microscopy. To elucidate the anticancer mechanism of NCTD, expression of the proliferation-related gene proteins PCNA, Ki-67, cyclin-D-1 and p27 and the apoptosis-related gene proteins Bcl-2, Bax and Survivin were determined by the streptavidin-biotin complex method and RT-PCR. RESULTS: NCTD inhibited the proliferation of GBCSD cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with an IC50 of 56.18 mu g/ml at 48 hours. The flow cytometric profiles revealed that NCTD (at the IC50 for 48 hours) significantly increased the proportion of cells in G(2)/M phase and significantly decreased the proportion of cells in S phase, with a significantly increased rate of cell apoptosis. After treatment with the 48-hour IC50 dose of NCTD, cell shrinkage, vacuolar cytoplasm, membrane budding, karyorrhexis, karyolysis, chromosome condensation and chromatin aggregation in some GBCSD cells were observed by light-microscopy; decreased microvilli, Golgiosome atrophy, mitochondrial swelling, nuclear shrinkage, chromosome condensation and typical apoptosis bodies were seen by electron-microscopy, and the morphological changes of apoptosis occurred in GBCSD cells. The expression of PCNA, Ki-67 and Bcl-2 proteins decreased significantly; the Pix or relative levels of PCNA mRNA, cyclin-D-1 mRNA, Bcl-2 mRNA and Survivin mRNA decreased significantly, whereas the Pix or relative levels of p27 mRNA and Bax mRNA increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: NCTD inhibits the growth of human gallbladder carcinoma GBC-SD cells in vitro. Its anticancer mechanism may correlate with inhibition of cell proliferation, arrest of the cell cycle, blockage of DNA synthesis, influence on cell metabolism, induction of cell apoptosis and influence on expression of the proliferation-related genes PCNA, Ki-67, cyclin-D-1 and p27, and the apoptosis-related genes Bcl-2, Bax and Survivin in human gallbladder carcinoma GBC-SD cells.

Radiobiological characteristics of cancer stem cells from esophageal cancer cell lines

AIM: To study the cancer stem cell population in esophageal cancer cell lines KYSE-150 and TE-1 and identify whether the resulting stem-like spheroid cells display cancer stem cells and radiation resistance characteristics.

Mechanical properties of hepatocellular carcinoma cells

AIM: To study the viscoelastic properties of human hepatocytes and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells under cytoskeletal perturbation, and to further to study the viscoelastic properties and the adhesive properties of mouse hepatoma cells (HTC) in different cell cycle. METHODS: Micropipette aspiration technique was adopted to measure viscoelastic coefficients and adhesion force to collagen coated surface of the cells. Three kinds of cytoskeleton perturbing agents, colchicines (Col), cytochalasin D (CD) and vinblastine (VBL), were used to treat HCC cells and hepatocytes and the effects of these treatment on cell viscoelastic coefficients were investigated. The experimental results were analyzed with a three-element standard linear solid. Further, the viscoelastic properties of HTC cells and the adhesion force of different cycle HTC cells were also investigated. The synchronous G(1) and S phase cells were achieved through thymine-2-desoryriboside and colchicines sequential blockage method and thymine-2-desoryriboside blockage method respectively. RESULTS: The elastic coefficients, but not viscous coefficient of HCC cells (K(1)=103.6+/-12.6N.m(-2), K(2)=42.5 +/ 10.4N.m(-2), mu=4.5 +/- 1.9Pa.s), were significantly higher than the corresponding value for hepatocytes (K(1)=87.5 +/- 12.1N.m(-2), K(2)=33.3+/-10.3N.m(-2), mu=5.9+/-3.0Pa.s, P【0.01). Upon treatment with CD, the viscoelastic coefficients of both hepatocytes and HCC cells decreased consistently, with magnitudes for the decrease in elastic coefficients of HCC cells (K(1): 68.7 N.m(-2) to 81.7N.m(-2), 66.3% to 78.9%; K(2): 34.5N.m(-2) to 37.1N.m(-2), 81.2% to 87.3%, P【0.001) larger than those for normal hepatocytes (K(1): 42.6N.m(-2) to 49.8N.m(-2), 48.7% to 56.9%; K(2): 17.2N.m(-2) to 20.4N.m(-2), 51.7% to 61.3%, P【0.001). There was a little decrease in the viscous coefficient of HCC cells (2.0 to 3.4Pa.s, 44.4 to 75.6%, P【0.001) than that for hepatocytes (3.0 to 3.9Pa.s, 50.8 to 66.1% P【0.001). Upon treatment with Col and VBL, the elastic coefficients of hepatocytes generally increased or tended to increase while those of HCC cells decreased. HTC cells with 72.1% of G(1) phase and 98.9% of S phase were achieved and high K(1), K(2) value and low mu value were the general characteristics of HTC cells. G(1) phase cells had higher K(1) value and lower mu value than S phase cells had, and G(1) phase HTC cells had stronger adhesive forces ((275.9 +/- 232.8) x 10(-10)N) than S phase cells ((161.2 +/- 120.4) x 10(-10)N, P【0.001). CONCLUSION: The difference in both the pattern and the magnitude of the effect of cytoskeletal perturbing agent on the viscoelastic properties between HCC cells and hepatocytes may reflect differences in the state of the cytoskeleton structure and function and in the sensitivity to perturbing agent treatment between these two types of cells. Change in the viscoelastic properties of cancer cells may affect significantly tumor cell invasion and metastasis as well as interactions between tumor cells and their micro-mechanical environments.