OBJECTIVETo explore the inhibitory effect of norcantharidin (NCTD) on the expression of DNA replication initiation protein Cdc6 in cancer cells.

METHODSMTT assay was performed to detect the inhibitory effect on different cancer cell lines, including HeLa, HepG2, Jurkat and Ramos cells. The effect of NCTD on Cdc6 protein level was detected by Western blotting, and BrdU incorporation assay was used to evaluate the DNA replication of the cells.

RESULTSNCTD significantly inhibited the proliferation of the cells and caused degradation of Cdc6 protein to result in the inhibition of the DNA replication of the cells shown by BrdU incorporation assay.

CONCLUSIONNCTD can induce the degradation of Cdc6 in cancer cells to produce an anti-cancer effect.

Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Replication ; drug effects ; Humans ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism

In order to find the endogenous potential biomarkers of in vitro hepatic injury caused by NCTD-Na and elucidate the mechanism of hepatic injury of NCTD-Na,ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) was used for lipidomics detection.Multivariate statistical analysis was used to study the endogenous lipid metabolic changes of human normal liver cells LO2 injury after the treatment with sodium norcantharidate(NCTD-Na).The results showed that the half maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50) of NCTD-Na was 0.034 mmol·L-1.A total of 280 differential metabolites were found between the control group and the low-dose group,with VIP > 2.0 and P<0.05.At the same time,a total of 273 differential metabolites were found between the control group and the high-dose group,with VIP > 2.0 and P<0.05.Cell metabolite profiles showed clear separation among control group,the low-dose group and the high-dose group,and 111 differential metabolites were found,with VIP > 2.0,P<0.05,RSD<30% and in a dose-dependent manner.It was found that most of the above differential metabolites were lipid metabolites after the analysis of simple preparnation methods and database search.A total of 32 potential biomarkers were identified,including 3 phosphatidylcholine(PC),5 lysophosphatidylcholine(Lyso PC),3 ceramide(Cer),1 sphingomyelin(SM),1 phosphatidylethanolamine(PE),10 lysophosphatidylethanolamine(LysoPE),4 diacylglycerol(DG),1 Phosphatidic acid(PA),1 lysophosphatidic acid(Lyso PA),1 phosphatidyl glycerol(PG),1 fatty acid hydroxy fatty acid(FAHFA) and 1 phosphatidylserine(PS).The changes of PCs,Cers,SM,PE and DGs were closely related liver protection,DNA methylation and self-repair in hepatocytes,apoptosis,methylation and detoxification of carcinogens,as well as lipid peroxides production process.Also,they had impact on the proliferation of hepatocytes,differentiation and gene transcription disorders.Cells stimulated by NCTD-Na could promote the production of PA as well as the synthesis and catabolism of FAHFA in a variety of ways.The levels of Lyso PCs,LysoPEs and Lyso PA were correlated with PCs,PE and PA;PE and PS might have valgus during apoptosis,triggering phagocytosis.
Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism ; Lipids ; analysis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/pharmacology* ; Cell Line ; Hypoxia ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/drug therapy* ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Reperfusion Injury ; Tetrahydronaphthalenes/pharmacology*

Animals ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic ; pharmacology ; Heterografts ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Mice, Nude ; Multiple Myeloma ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

Analgesics, Non-Narcotic ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Azetidines ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Nicotinic Agonists ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Pyridines ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Structure-Activity Relationship

To design and synthesize the hepatic targeting anticancer prodrug with norcantharidin (NCTD-Gal) conjugating structure, galactosylated NCTD derivatives were synthesized from NCTD analogues modified by a series of amino acids via acylation, hydrolysis, glycosylation and deacetylation. Seven new compounds were synthesized as beta-O-glycosides and characterized by IR, MS, NMR and element analysis. The compound 4a was chosen for the inchoate antitumor experiments on mice. The result showed that the antitumor inhibition rate of 4a groups with medium and high dose are clearly higher than that of NCTD group, which suggests that anticancer effect of NCTD is improved at a certain degree by galactosylation.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Female ; Galactose ; chemistry ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Prodrugs ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology

BACKGROUNDWe have reported that norcantharidin (NCTD) induces human melanoma A375-S2 cell apoptosis and that the activation of caspase and the mitochondrial pathway are involved in the apoptotic process. This study aimed at investigating the roles of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and protein kinase C (PKC) in A375-S2 cell apoptosis induced by NCTD.

METHODSWe assessed the effects of NCTD on cell growth inhibition using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-dipheyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, DNA fragmentation (DNA agarose gel electrophoresis), and MAPK protein levels (Western blot analysis) in A375-S2 cells. Photomicroscopic data were also collected.

RESULTSThe NCTD inhibitory effect on A375-S2 cells was partially reversed by MAPK and PKC inhibitors. The expression of phosphorylated JNK and p38 also increased after the treatment with NCTD, and inhibitors of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 (SP600125 and SB203580, respectively) had significant inhibitory effects on the upregulation of phosphorylated JNK and p38 expression. Simultaneously, the PKC inhibitor staurosporine blocked the upregulation of phosphorylated JNK and phosphorylated p38, but had little effect on extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) expression.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that the activation of JNK and p38 MAPK promotes the process of NCTD-induced A375-S2 cell apoptosis and that PKC plays an important regulation role in the activation of MAPKs.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Fragmentation ; drug effects ; Enzyme Activation ; Humans ; Melanoma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; physiology ; Protein Kinase C ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Staurosporine ; pharmacology

The biotransformation, CYP reaction phenotyping, the impact of CYP inhibitors and enzyme kinetics of 3-cyanomethyl-4-methyl-DCK (CMDCK), a new anti-HIV preclinical candidate belonging to DCK analogs, were investigated in human intestinal microsomes and recombinant cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. CMDCK (4 micromol L(-1)) was incubated with a panel of rCYP enzymes (CYP1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6 and 3A4) in vitro. The remaining parent drug in incubates was quantitatively analyzed by a LC-MS method. CYP3A4 was identified as the principal CYP isoenzyme responsible for its metabolism in intestinal microsomes. The major metabolic pathway of CMDCK was oxidation and a number of oxidative metabolites were screened with LC-MS. The Km, Vmax, CLint and T1/2 of CMDCK obtained from human intestinal microsome were 45.6 micromol L(-1), 0.33 micromol L(-1) min(-1), 12.1 mL min(-1) kg(-1) and 25.7 min, respectively. Intestinal clearance of CMDCK was estimated from in vitro data to be 3.3 mL min(-1) kg(-1), and was almost equal to the intestinal blood flow rate (4.6 mL min(-1) kg(-1)). The selective CYP3A4 inhibitors, ketoconazole, troleandomycin and ritonavir demonstrated significant inhibitory effects on CMDCK intestinal metabolism, which suggested that co-administration of CMDCK with potent CYP3A inhibitors, such as ritonavir, might decrease its intestinal metabolic clearance and subsequently improve its bioavailability in body.
Anti-HIV Agents ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Biological Availability ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Coumarins ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors ; Humans ; Intestines ; metabolism ; Ketoconazole ; pharmacology ; Metabolic Clearance Rate ; Microsomes ; metabolism ; Ritonavir ; pharmacology ; Troleandomycin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of norcantharidin (NCTD) on the expression of mRNA and protein of fibronectin (FN), collagen IV(Col IV) and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) in human kidney proximal tubular epithelial (HK)-2 cells induced by high glucose. METHODS: HK-2 cells were incubated with serum-free DMEM for 24 h to synchronize cell growth, and then the cells were divided into 4 groups: Group C (5.5 mmol/L D-glucose), Group M (5.5 mmol/L D-glucose + 24.5 mmol/L-mannitol), Group HG (30 mmol/L D-glucose), and Group HG + NCTD (30 mmol/L D-glucose + 0.5-40 mg/L NCTD). Cytotoxicity of HK-2 cells induced by high glucose of NCTD was detected by Trypan blue dye exclusive assay. The effect of NCTD on the proliferation of HK-2 cells in high glucose was determined by MTT. The cells were collected to extract total RNA and protein at 6, 24 and 48 h after the incubation. The expression of FN, Col IV and TGF-β1 mRNA was examined by RT-PCR, and FN, Col IV and TGF-β1 protein was analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS: Trypan blue dye exclusive assay showed NCTD concentrations over 5 mg/L were rather toxic in HK-2 cells. The proliferation of HK-2 cells in high glucose was interrupted by interfered with 5 mg/L NCTD as measured by MTT (P<0.05). NCTD at 5 mg/L had a stronger inhibitory effect than NCTD at 2.5 mg/L. Real-time PCR and Western blot showed that the mRNA and protein expression of FN, collagen IV and TGF-β1 increased in HK-2 cells treated with high glucose (P<0.05), while that in cells treated by NCTD was dramatically inhibited (P<0.05). No change in these parameters was detected in the 30 mmol/L D-mannitol control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION NCTD can downregulate FN, collagen IV and TGF-β1 mRNA and protein expression in HK-2 cells stimulated by 30 mmol/L D-glucose.
Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Collagen Type IV ; genetics ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Fibronectins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glucose ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Kidney Tubules, Proximal ; cytology ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism

Influenza virus is a virus causing upper respiratory tract infection disease with high morbidity and mortality. China is considered as an area with high rate of influenza morbidity. Prevention and treatment of influenza currently rely on vaccines and antiviral agents in the world. In addition, traditional Chinese medicines also have been used in clinical for influenza therapy. In vitro anti-influenza virus activities of 10 traditional Chinese medicines were studied by cytopathic effect (CPE). Qingre Jiedu oral liquid (factory H) had strong antiviral activity against influenza virus A/Guangdong Luohu/219/2006 (H1N1); Yinhuang oral liquid had strong antiviral activity against influenza virus A/Hanfang/359/95 and A/Yuefang/243/72 (H3N2). Qingkailing oral liquid (factory G) had strong antiviral activity against influenza virus A/Jifang/15/90 (H3N2). Qingre Jiedu oral liquid (factory H) had strong antiviral activity against influenza virus A/Jifang/15/90, A/Yuefang/243/72 (H3N2) and virus B.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Chlorogenic Acid ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral ; drug effects ; Dogs ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Indoles ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; drug effects ; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype ; drug effects ; Influenza B virus ; drug effects ; Iridoids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology