Response of Subcutaneous Xenografts of Endometrial Cancer in Nude Mice to Inhibitors of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Akt and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) Pathways: An Effective Therapeutic Strategy for Endometrial Cancer

Objective: This study was designed to explore whether inhibition of the extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathways can inhibit the growth of xenografts of endometrial cancer cell lines with different estrogen receptors (ER) profiles in vivo and to provide preliminary laboratory basis for the probability of endometrial adenocarcinoma treatment with blockage of the two pathways, especially to endometrial cancer with low ER status. Methods: Human endometrial cancer Ishikawa bearing ER and HEC-1Awith low ER status cells were subcutaneously injected into BALB/c nude mice to establish endometrial cancer xenograft tumor models. The effects of PI3K/Akt inhibitor LY294002, MAPK/ERK1/2 inhibitor PD-98059 and their combinations on the growth of the xenograft tumors and apoptotic state of Ishikawa and HEC-1Acells were tested in vivo using the inhibitory rate, the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick-end labeling assay, H/E-stain. Western blot analysis was used to detect the alterations of activated ERK (P-ERK) and AKT (P-AKT) during this process. Results: LY294002, a PI3K/Akt pathway inhibitor, induced significant suppression in the growth of both Ishikawa and HEC-1Acell xenograft tumors, concomitant with increased apoptosis in xenografts as evidenced by TUNEL. A similar effect was also observed when the MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling pathway was inhibited by PD98059. Concurrent inhibition of the PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK1/2 pathways showed enhanced anti-tumor effects in vivo as indicated by increased apoptosis. At the same time, the levels of P-ERK and P-AKT in both xenograft tumors decreased, and their levels in combination group was the lowest. Conclusions: PD98059, LY294002 and their combinations showed remarkable inhibitory effects on xenograft tumors of endometrial carcinoma cell lines with different expression status of ER in vivo through blockage of PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling pathways. This suggests that targeting these pathways may be an effective therapeutic strategy against endometrial carcinomas, especially for ER-negative cancers which show poor response to endocrinal therapy.

Inhibition of LY294002 in retinal neovascularization via down-regulation the PI3K/AKT-VEGF pathway in vivo and in vitro

AIM： To investigate the effects of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase（PI3 K） inhibitor LY294002 on retinal neovascularization（RNV） in the oxygen-induced retinopathy（OIR） mouse model and human umbilical vein endothelial cells（HUVECs）.METHODS： C57 BL/6 J mice were randomly divided into normoxia-control, OIR-control and LY294002 treatment groups. LY294002 or phosphate-buffered solution was intraperitoneally injected daily into mouse pups from P6 to P9 in LY294002 treatment group or OIR-control group. Morphological and pathological changes in RNV, as well as expression levels of PI3 K, serine-threonine kinase（AKT） and vascular endothelial growth factor（VEGF） were observed. HUVECs treating with LY294002 were exposed to hypoxia; the expression of PI3 K, AKT and VEGF were examined by Western blot and RT-PCR analyses.RESULTS： Compared with the OIR-control group, LY294002 significantly inhibit RNV. Adenosine diphosphatase（ADPase） staining and hematoxylin and eosin staining indicated that the clock hour scores of neovascularization and the nuclei of pre-retinal neovascular cells in the LY294002 treatment group were clearly less than those in the OIR-control group（1.41±0.52 vs 6.20±1.21; 10.50±1.58 vs 22.25±1.82, both P〈0.05）. Intravitreal injection of LY294002（in the LY294002 treatment group） markedly decreased PI3 K/AKT-VEGF expression compared with the OIR-control group by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and RT-PCR（all P〈0.05）. In HUVECs treated with hypoxia, expression of PI3 K, AKT and VEGF were downregulated in the hypoxia-LY294002 group（all P〈0.05）.CONCLUSION： The PI3 K inhibitor LY294002 can inhibit RNV by downregulating PI3 K, AKT, and VEGF expression in vivo and in vitro. LY294002 may provide an effective method for preventing retinopathy of prematurity（ROP）.

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.

Effects of LY294002 on the function of retinal endothelial cell in vitro

AIM： To study the effects of LY294002 [phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase（PI3K） inhibitor] on the function and mechanisms of retinal endothelial cells（RECs） in vitro.METHODS： RECs were randomly divided into control group and LY294002 treatment group. RECs in the control group were placed the incubator for hypoxic exposure in vitro. RECs in the LY294002 treatment group were pretreated with LY294002（40 μmol/L） under hypoxic condition. The expression of matrix metalloproteinase（MMP）-2, MMP-9, vascular endothelial growth factor（VEGF）, and apoptosis and proliferation of RECs were evaluated with Western blot, real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction（RT-PCR）, and flow cytometric analysis, correspondently.RESULTS： Compared with the control group, treating the RECs with LY294002 was able to remarkably inhibit cell proliferation rates（t_（1d）=2.13, t_（2d）=2.65, t_（3d）=2.36, t_（4d）=2.06, all P〈0.05）. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that a moderate increase in apoptosis in the LY294002 treatment group compared to the control group（t=2.51, P〈0.05）. The expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF were downregulated in the LY294002 treatment group by Western blot and real-time RT-PCR（all P〈0.05）.CONCLUSION： LY294002 regulates the function of RECs by reducing the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and VEGF in vitro. LY294002 may provide an effective method for preventing pathological angiogenesis.

LY294002 potentiates the anti-cancer effect of oxaliplatin for gastric cancer via death receptor pathway

AIM:To examine the effects of combined treatment of oxaliplatin and phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase inhibitor,2-(4-morpholinyl) -8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one(LY294002) for gastric cancer. METHODS:Cell viability was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay.Apoptotic cells were detected by flow cytometric analysis and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay.Western blotting and immuno-precipitation were used to examine protein expression and recruitment,respectively.Nuclear factorκB(NFκB) binding activities were investigated using electrophoretic mobility shift assay.Nude mice were used to investigate tumor growth. RESULTS:Treatment with combined oxaliplatin and LY294002 resulted in increased cell growth inhibi-tion and cell apoptosis in vitro,and increased tumor growth inhibition and cell death in the tumor mass in vivo.In MKN45 and AGS cells,oxaliplatin treatment promoted both protein kinase B(Akt) and NFκB activation,while pretreatment with LY294002 significantly attenuated oxaliplatin-induced Akt activity and NFκB binding.LY294002 promoted oxaliplatin-induced Fas ligand(FasL) expression,Fas-associated death domain protein recruitment,caspase-8,Bid,and caspase-3 activation,and the short form of cellular caspase-8/FLICEinhibitory protein(c-FLIPS) inhibition.In vivo,LY294002 inhibited oxaliplatin-induced activation of Akt and NFκB,and increased oxaliplatin-induced expression of FasL,inhibition of c-FLIPS,and activation of caspase-8,Bid,and caspase-3. CONCLUSION:Combination of oxaliplatin and LY294002 was therapeutically promising for gastric cancer treatment.The enhanced sensitivity of the combined treatment was associated with the activation of the death receptor pathway.

Effects of LY294002 on the invasiveness of human gastric cancer in vivo in nude mice

AIM: To investigate the effects of class phosphatidy-linositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 on the invasiveness and related mechanisms of implanted tumors of SGC7901 human gastric carcinoma cells in nude mice. METHODS: Nude mice were randomly divided into model control groups and LY294002 treatment groups. On days 5, 10 and 15 after treatment, the inhibitory rate of tumor growth, pathological changes in tumor specimens, expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, CD34 [representing microvessel density (MVD)] and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), as well as apoptosis indexes in tumor samples were observed.RESULTS: In this study, we showed that treatingthe tumors with LY294002 could significantly inhibit carcinoma growth by 11.3%, 29.4% and 36.7%, after 5, 10 and 15 d, respectively, compared to the control group. Hematoxylin & eosin staining indicated that the rate of inhibition increased progressively (23.51% ± 3.11%, 43.20% ± 3.27% and 63.28% ± 2.10% at 5, 10 and 15 d, respectively) along with apoptosis. The expression of MMP-2 was also downregulated (from 71.4% ± 1.6% to 47.9% ± 0.7%, 31.9% ± 0.9% and 7.9% ± 0.7%). The same effects were observed in MMP-9 protein expression (from 49.4% ± 1.5% to 36.9% ± 0.4%, 23.5% ± 0.9% and 7.7% ± 0.6%), the mean MVD (from 51.2% ± 3.1% to 41.9% ± 1.5%, 30.9% ± 1.7% and 14.9% ± 0.8%), and the expression of VEGF (from 47.2% ± 3.1% to 25.9% ± 0.5%, 18.6% ± 1.2% and 5.1% ± 0.9%) by immunohistochemical staining.CONCLUSION: The classPI3K inhibitor LY294002could inhibit the invasiveness of gastric cancer cells by downregulating the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and VEGF, and reducing MVD.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor, LY294002, induced senescence-like changes in human diploid fibroblasts

Objective To reveal the role of Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3Ks) in regulating human diploid fibroblast (2BS cell) senescence as well as the possible mechanisms involved.Methods Using a PI3Ks specific inhibitor, LY294002, cell cycle, apoptosis, proliferation, senescence association β-galactosidase staining as well as senescence association CKIs, p16INK4 and p21Cip1 protein expressions were all measured in the low passages of 2BS cells.Results Both 25 μmol/L and 50 μmol/L concentrations of LY294002 could cause a significant decrease in cells entering into S phase, and this cell cycle of G, phase arrest was dose-dependent. Meanwhile, LY294002 contributed to apoptosis, caused 2BS cell growth arrest, and activated senescence association p-galactosidase (P<0. 05). In addition, LY294002 could induce time-course expressions of p16INK4 and p21Cip1 in 2BS cell lines.Conclusions PI3Ks inhibitor LY294002 could induce senescence-like changes in 2BS cell lines. Two senescence associated CKIs, p16INK4 and p21Cip1, might be involved in this senescence phenotype proceeding in 2BS cell lines.

LY294002 Enhances Inhibitory Effect of Gemcitabine on Proliferation of Human Pancreatic Carcinoma PANC-1 Cells

Phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （PKB, Akt） pathway plays a major role in proliferation and survival of many types of cells. The inhibitory effect of LY294002, widely ap- plied as an inhibitor of PI3K, in combination with gemcitabine on proliferation of PANC-1 ceils was investigated. The expression of PI3K, phosphorylated AM （p-Akt） and multidrng-resistance like protein （MRP） in normal pancreas tissues, chronic pancreatitis tissues and pancreatic carcinoma tissues was de- tected. The effects of LY294002 combined with gemcitabine on proliferation of PANC-1 cells and pro- tein levels of p-Akt and MRP were detected. The results showed that the positive expression rate of PI3K, p-Akt and MRP in pancreatic carcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that in normal pan- creas tissues and chronic pancreatitis tissues （P〈0.01 and P〈0.05 respectively）. LY294002 could effec- tively enhance the inhibitory effect of gemcitabine on proliferation of PANC-1 cells. Furthermore, Western blotting revealed that LY294002 combined with gemcitabine reduced the protein levels of p-Akt and MRP, which contributed to the inhibition of proliferation. It is concluded that LY294002 in combination with gemcitabine may represent an alternative therapy for pancreatic carcinoma.

血管生成素-1对HCT-8细胞的作用及其可能机制的研究

目的观察血管生成素-1(Angiopoietin-1,Ang-1)蛋白对无血清DMEM培养基培养的结肠癌细胞(HCT-8)存活率的影响,探讨其与PI3-’kinase/Akt通路的关系。方法将不同浓度(0、0.05、0.2、0.4、0.82、.0 mg/L)的Ang-1蛋白作用于HCT-8细胞,用MTT法检测细胞增殖,根据实验结果选定Ang-1蛋白的后续实验浓度,加入Ang-1及LY294002,应用Western blotting蛋白免疫印记法分析相关蛋白(Tie-2、PI3K、Akt)的变化。结果 Ang-1(0.05、0.2、0.4、0.82、.0 mg/L)+DMEM组与无血清DMEM培养基组比较,Tie-2、PI3K、Akt三种蛋白在HCT-8细胞中的表达均增强(P<0.01,P<0.01,P<0.01),DMEM+Ang-1+LY294002组三种蛋白的表达均减弱(P>0.05,P<0.01,P<0.01)。结论较低浓度(0.05 mg/L)的血管生成素-1蛋白在结肠癌细胞中即有抗凋亡作用,并且随着剂量的增加抗凋亡作用平稳,其诱导凋亡的机理可能与Tie-2/PI3-’kinase/Akt调节的通路有关,应用该途径的抑制剂LY294002可抑制结肠癌细胞的生长,实现抗肿瘤作用。

PI-3 kinase pathway can mediate the effect of TGF-β1 in inducing the expression of SHARP-2 in LLC-PK1 cells

We aim to investigate the effect of transforming growth factor （TGF）-β1 on the expression of enhancer of split- and hairy-related protein-2 （SHARP-2） messenger RNA （mRNA） and its signaling pathway. In this study, several cell lines including LLC-PK1 （a porcine kidney tubular epithelial cell line）, MDCK （Madin-Darby canine kidney） and CTLL-2 （cytotoxic T-lymphocyte line） were treated with recombinant human TGF-131, and a series of experiments were carried out, involving Northern blot analysis of total RNA from these cells. Further, several specific chemical inhibitors were applied before TGF-β1 treatment to probe the signaling pathway. The results showed that TGF-β1 can significadtly up-regulate SHARP-2 mRNA expression in the LLC-PK1 cell line. The peak level of induction was found 2 h after TGF-β1 stimulation. While one phospho- inositide 3-kinases （PI-3） kinase inhibitor, LY294002, completely blocked the effect of TGF-131 on SHARP-2 mRNA expression in LLC-PK1 cells at a low concentration, other inhibitors, including PD98059, staurosporine, AG490, wortmannin, okadaic acid and rapamycin, had no effect. The effect of LY294002 was dose-dependent. We conclude that, in LLC-PK1 cells at least, TGF-β1 can effectively induce the SHARP-2 mRNA expression and that the PI-3 kinase pathway can mediate this effect.