Effect of Nimesulide on proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells

AIM: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been suggested to be associated with carcinogenesis. We sought to investigate the effect of the selective COX-2 inhibitor, Nimesulide on proliferation and apoptosis of SMMC-7721 human hepatoma cells.METHODS: This study was carried out on the culture of hepatic carcinoma SMMC-7721 cell line. Various concentrations of Nimesulide (0, 200 micromol/L, 300 micromol/L, 400 micromol/L) were added and incubated. Cell proliferation was detected with MTT colorimetric assay, cell apoptosis by electron microscopy, flow cytometry and TUNEL.RESULTS: Nimesulide could significantly inhibit SMMC-7721 cells proliferation dose-dependent and in a dependent manner compared with that of the control group. The duration lowest inhibition rate produced by Nimesulide in SMMC-7721 cells was 19.06%, the highest inhibition rate was 58.49%. After incubation with Nimesulide for 72 h, the most highest apoptosis rate and apoptosis index of SMMC-7721 cells comparing with those of the control were 21.20%+/-1.62% vs 2.24%+/-0.26% and 21.23+/-1.78 vs 2.01+/-0.23 (P【0.05). CONCLUSION:The selective COX-2 inhibitor, Nimesulide can inhibit the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells and increase apoptosis rate and apoptosis index of SMMC-7721 cells. The apoptosis rate and the apoptosis index are dose-dependent. Under electron microscope SMMC-7721 cells incubated with 300 micromol and 400 micromol Nimesulide show apoptotic characteristics. With the clarification of the mechanism of selective COX-2 inhibitors, These COX-2 selective inhibitors can become the choice of prevention and treatment of cancers.

Expression and significance of new inhibitor of apoptosis protein survivin in hepatocellular carcinoma

AM: To investigate expression and significance of inhibitor of apoptosis protein survivin in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: The expression of survivin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was investigated in 38 cases of HCC tissues and 38 liver cirrhosis tissues by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The relationship between the expression of survivin and clinicopathological factors of HCC was analyzed. RESULTS: Survivin protein was detected in 23 (60.5%) of 38 HCCs and 3 (7.9%) of 38 liver cirrhosis tissues. In 23 cases of HCC which expressed survivin, the expression of VEGF was positive in 18 cases and slight positive or negative in 5 cases. While in 15 cases of HCC which did not express survivin, 12 cases did not express or slightly expressed, and 3 cases expressed VEGF. In liver cirrhosis tissues, the expression of VEGF was as follows: 24 cases were negative, 10 cases were weak positive and 4 cases were strong positive. The expression of survivin was coincident with the expression of VEGF in HCC (P<0.01). The expression of survivin in HCC had no relationship with the patients' age, gender, tumor size and differentiation level of HCC, while it was related to the metastasis of HCC. The protein quantitative analysis by Western blot also showed that overexpression of survivin in HCC was closely correlated to the expression of VEGF (P<0.01). Furthermore, stronger expression of survivin and VEGF was also found in patients with metastasis rather than in those with no metastasis (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Survivin plays a pivotal role in the metastasis of HCC, and it has some correlation with tumorigenesis. The expression of survivin in the primary lesion is very useful as an indicator for metastasis and prognosis of HCC. It could become a new target of gene therapy of HCC.

S100A8/A9 induces autophagy and apoptosis via ROS-mediated cross-talk between mitochondria and lysosomes that involves BNIP3

The complex formed by two members of the S100 calcium-binding protein family, S100A8/A9, exerts apoptosisinducing activity in various cells of different origins. Here, we present evidence that the underlying molecular mechanisms involve both programmed cell death I （PCD I, apoptosis） and PCD II （autophagy）-like death. Treatment of cells with S100A8/A9 caused the increase of Beclin-1 expression as well as Atgl2-Atg5 formation. S100A8/A9-induced cell death was partially inhibited by the specific PI3-kinase class Ⅲ inhibitor, 3-methyladenine （3-MA）, and by the vacuole H＋-ATPase inhibitor, bafilomycin-A1 （Baf-A1）. S100A8/A9 provoked the translocation of BNIP3, a BH3 only pro-apoptotic Bcl2 family member, to mitochondria. Consistent with this finding, ATM-BNIP3 overexpression partially inhibited S100A8/A9-induced cell death, decreased reactive oxygen species （ROS） generation, and partially pro- tected against the decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential in S100A8/A9-treated ceils. In addition, either ATM-BNIP3 overexpression or N-acetyl-L-cysteine co-treatment decreased lysosomal activation in cells treated with S100A8/A9. Our data indicate that S100A8/A9-promoted cell death occurs through the cross-talk of mitochondria and lysosomes via ROS and the process involves BNIP3.

Synergistic suppression of the PI3K inhibitor CAL-101 with bortezomib on mantle cell lymphoma growth

Objective: To investigate the effects of CAL-101, particularly when combined with bortezomib(BTZ) on mantle cell lymphoma(MCL) cells, and to explore its relative mechanisms.Methods: MTT assay was applied to detect the inhibitory effects of different concentrations of CAL-101. MCL cells were divided into four groups: control group, CAL-101 group, BTZ group, and CAL-101/BTZ group. The expression of PI3K-p110σ, AKT, ERK, p-AKT and p-ERK were detected by Western blot. The apoptosis rates of CAL-101 group, BTZ group, and combination group were detected by flow cytometry. The location changes of nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB) of 4 groups was investigated by NF-κB Kit exploring. Western blot was applied to detect the levels of caspase-3 and the phosphorylation of AKT in different groups. Results: CAL-101 dose- and time-dependently induced reduction in MCL cell viability. CAL-101 combined with BTZ enhanced the reduction in cell viability and apoptosis. Western blot analysis showed that CAL-101 significantly blocked the PI3K/AKT and ERK signaling pathway in MCL cells. The combination therapy contributed to the inactivation of NF-κB and AKT in MCL cell lines. However, cleaved caspase-3 was up-regulated after combined treatment. Conclusion: Our study showed that PI3K/p110σ is a novel therapeutic target in MCL, and the underlying mechanism could be the blocking of the PI3K/AKT and ERK signaling pathways. These findings provided a basis for clinical evaluation of CAL-101 and a rationale for its application in combination therapy, particularly with BTZ.

Lipids-induced Apoptosis Is Aggravated by Acyl-coenzyme A:Cholesterol Acyltransferase Inhibitor

Objective To investigate the role of acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitor(ACATI) in apoptosis induced by lipids and whether lipids-induced apoptosis is accompanied by increase of free cholesterol in endoplasmic reticulum(ER),in order to further understand the mechanism of lipids-induced apoptosis in advanced atherosclerosis.Methods Human vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate(PMA) differentiated THP-1 macrophages were used.Tritiated thymidine incorporation was applied to detect cell proliferation.Cytotoxicity was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) release.4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole(DAPI) staining,caspase-3,-7 assay,and Annexin-V/propidium iodide(PI) staining were used to detect apoptosis.High performance liquid chromatography was used in intracellular free cholesterol and cholesterol ester assay.ER free cholesterol was quantified.Results Different lipids had different effects on proliferation and cytotoxicity of VSMCs.25-hydroxycholesterol(25OHC) had biphasic effects on the proliferation of VSMCs.At low concentration,it stimulated cell proliferation,but turned to proliferation inhibition as concentration reached 15 μg/mL.25OHC and acetylated low density lipoprotein(AcLDL) could respectively induce apoptosis in human VSMCs and PMA differentiated THP-1 macrophages,which was aggravated by ACATI,accompanied by increase of intracellular free cholesterol content.There was also an increase of cholesterol content in ER with AcLDL-induced apoptosis in THP-1 macrophages.Conclusions Lipids could induce apoptosis,accompanied by increase of intracellular free cholesterol content,which could be augmented by ACATI,suggesting that insults resulting in ER free cholesterol rise might be the initiator of apoptosis.

Effect of trkA kinase inhibitor on apoptosis of human pterygium fibroblasts

Objective： The aim of this study was to investigate the growth inhibition effects and the mechanisms of trkA kinase inhibitor on human pterygium fibroblasts（HPF）. Methods： Three normal conjunctivas and eleven pterygiums were surgically collected, trkA and p75 was examined in different tissues by immunohistochemistry, trkA and p75 expression was detected in HPF by immumofluorescence method. After being treated with 10-80 nmol/L trkA kinase inhibitor for 24-96 h, the growth activities of HPF were studied by MTT colorimetry. Caspase-3 was inspected in HPF by spectrophotometric method. The apoptosis of HPF was detected by flow cytometry. Results： Expression of trkA and p75 was significantly observed in epithelium and fibroblast of pterygium tissues. Expression of trkAwas observed in epithelium and fibroblast of normal conjunc- tiva. Expression of p75 was only observed in epithelium of normal conjuncUva, trkA kinase inhibitor could effectively inhibit the growth of human pterygium fibroblasts in vitro in time and dose dependent manners. Caspase-3 expression was increased. The rates of apoptosis were 8.26%-29.62% （P 〈 0.01）. Conclusion： TrkA and p75 possibly participate in genesis and development of pterygium, trkA kinase inhibitor could induce apoptosis of human pterygium fibroblasts. Inducing apoptosis through changing the ratio of trkA and p75 in fibroblasts and up-regulate Caspase-3 was probably one of its molecular mechanisms.

Thapsigargin increases apoptotic cell death in human hepatoma BEL-7404 cells

Effects of thapsigargin, an inhibitor of Ca2+-ATPase in surface of endoplasmic reticulum, on apoptotic cell death were studied in human hepatoma cells of BEL-7404 cell line by using both flow cytometry and electron mi-croscopy Propidium iodide staining and flow cytome- try revealed that in the serum-free condition, thapsigar-gin increased the rate of apoptosis of BEL- 7404 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Prolongation of the period of serum-free condition enhanced the apoptosis induced by thapsigargin treatment. Morphological observation with electron microscope further demonstrated that chromatin condensation and fragmentation, apoptotic bodies existed in TG-treated cells, supporting that thapsigargin is a po-tent activator of apoptosis in the cells.

Enhanced apoptosis in post-liver transplant hepatitis C:Effects of virus and immunosuppressants

Hepatitis C(HCV)-infected patients have a poorer survival post-liver transplantation compared to patients transplanted for other indications,since HCV recurrence post-transplant is universal and commonly follows an aggressive course.There is increasing evidence that in the non-transplant setting,induction of hepatocyte apoptosis is one of the main mechanisms by which HCV drives liver inflammation and fibrosis,and that HCV proteins directly promote apoptosis.Recent studies have shown that post-liver transplant,there is a link between high levels of HCV replication,enhanced hepatocyte apoptosis and the subsequent development of rapidly progressive liver fibrosis.Although the responsible mechanisms remain unclear,it is likely that immunosuppressive drugs play an important role.It is well known that immunosuppressants impair immune control of HCV,thereby allowing increased viral replication.However there is also evidence that immunosuppressants may directly induce apoptosis and this may be facilitated by the presence of high levels of HCV replication.Thus HCV and immunosuppressants may synergistically interact to further enhance apoptosis and drive more rapid fibrosis.These findings suggest that modulation of apoptosis within the liver either by changing immunosuppressive therapy or the use of apoptosis inhibitors may help prevent fibrosis progression in patients with post-transplant HCV disease.

Activity identification of anti-caspase-3 mRNA hammerhead ribozyme in both cell-free condition and BRL-3A cells

Objective To study the transcription effects and cleavage activities of rat caspase-3 specific hammerhead ribozyme (Rz107) in both cell-free conditions and BRL-3A cells. Methods Rat caspase-3 gene fragment was cloned into the pGEM-T EASY vector under the T7 promoter control. The 32 P-labeled caspase-3 transcript was the target-RNA. Rz107 genes designed against caspase-3 mRNA were cloned into vector p1.5 between 5'-cis-Rz and 3'-cis-Rz. 32 P-labeled ribozyme transcripts were incubated with target-RNAs at different conditions and autoradiographed after denaturing gel-electrophoresis. Rz107 was electroporated into BRL-3A cells and the Rz107 expression was analyzed by RT-PCR. Results In cell-free conditions, Rz107 was active at 37℃. The optimal temperature was 50℃. The Km and kcat were 14.13?nmol/L and 2.31*min-1 respectively. Intracellular cleavage efficiency of Rz107 was 37%, as analyzed by RT-PCR. This indicated that the design of Rz107 was correct, and Rz107 had the activity of common enzymes.Conclusions Rz107 in cell-free conditions possessed perfect specific catalytic cleavage activity, and it can also cleave the target RNA successfully in cells. The results illustrate the feasibility of ribozyme therapy as a potential alternative approach for treating liver disease caused by apoptosis.

Rho signaling inhibitor,Y-27632,inhibits invasiveness of metastastic hepatocellular carcinoma in a mouse model

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is among the mostcommon tumors worldwide.Despite extensiveexploration of novel therapies,the prognosis of HCCpatients with intrahepatic metastasis is still poor,and notreatment is effective against metastases.Therefore,more effective therapeutic strategies for treatment ofmetastasis are urgently needed.