1.In vivo study of resveratrol regulating Wnt signaling pathway to enhance temozolomide against gliomas
Sen HU ; Junyi WANG ; Nianxuan LI ; Xingyao BU ; Zhaoyue YAN ; Bangqing WANG ; Yushuai GAO
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2020;19(2):146-153
Objective To investigate the effect of resveratrol (Res) on temozolomide (TEM) against gliomas in vivo.Methods Human glioma cell line T98G was transplanted into BALB/C-nu female nude mice to establish orthotopic human glioma cell transplanted models.Five d after modeling,the 48 successfully modeled nude mice were randomly divided into solvent control group,Res group,TEM group,combination drug group,Wnt signaling pathway agonist group,and Wnt signaling pathway inhibitor group(n=8);and dimethyl sulfoxide (10 mg/kg),Res (10 mg/kg),TEM (25 mg/kg),Res (10mg/kg+TEM (25 mg/kg),Res (10 mg/kg)+TEM (25 mg/kg)+lithium chloride (2 mg/kg),and Res (10mg/kg)+TEM (25 mg/kg)+IWR-1 (5 mg/kg) were given,respectively,once/d for 30 d.During the administration,the survival status of nude mice in each group was continuously observed,tumor volume was measured by MR imaging every 5 d.Thirty d after administration,TUNEL was used to detect the apoptosis of tumor cells,and immunofluorescence was used to detect the immunofluorescent intensity of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) and β-catenin in the tumor tissues.Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels of Wnt signaling pathway-related proteins (Wnt2,and β-catenin),MGMT,and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β).Results As compared with the TEM group,the combination drug group and Wnt signaling pathway inhibitor group had significantly decreased tumor volumes 20,25,30,and 35 d after modeling (/P<0.05);as compared with the combination drug group,the Wnt signaling pathway inhibitor group had significantly decreased tumor volumes while Wnt signaling pathway agonist group had significantly increased tumor volumes 20,25,30,and 35 d after modeling (P<0.05).TUNEL showed that the apoptosis rate of tumor cells in the combination drug group and Wnt signaling pathway inhibitor group was significantly increased as compared with that in the temozolomide group (P<0.05);as compared with that in the TEM group,the apoptosis rate of tumor cells in the Wnt signaling pathway inhibitor group was significantly increased while that in the Wnt signaling pathway agonist group was statistically decreased (P<0.05).Western blotting results showed that as compared with those in the combination drug group,the protein expression levels ofWnt2,β-catenin,and MGMT in the Wnt signaling pathway inhibitor group were significantly reduced,and GSK-3β protein expression level was significantly increased;while the protein expression levels of Wnt2,[β-catenin,and MGMT in the Wnt signaling pathway agonist group were significantly increased,and GSK-3β protein expression level was significantly decreased (P<0.05).Conclusion Res inhibits Wnt signaling pathway by reducing expressions of Wnt2 and β-catenin,leading to decrease in MGMT expression,thereby enhancing the anti-glioma effect of TEM.
2.Animal Models of Ovarian Cancer Based on Characteristics of Clinical Symptoms of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
Chu YI ; Xinyi MA ; Yangjie WU ; Junyi BU ; Min MA ; Xianxin YAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(8):206-214
ObjectiveOvarian cancer is the third most common gynecologic cancer worldwide, with the second highest mortality rate among gynecologic cancers, and age-standardized rates are gradually increasing in many low- and middle-income countries. At present, its etiology and pathogenesis are not clear. There are no obvious symptoms in the early stage, and when the symptoms become obvious, it often indicates the advanced stage. The 5-year survival rate of the advanced stage is only 17%, which poses a great threat to women's health. Therefore, an in-depth study of the etiology and pathogenesis of ovarian cancer is very important to the exploration of prevention and treatment methods for ovarian cancer. Based on the clinical characteristics of ovarian cancer in traditional Chinese and Western medicine, and combined with the existing evaluation methods of animal models, this study evaluated the animal model of ovarian cancer, and provided analysis and suggestions. MethodThis study searched China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang data, VIP information database, and PubMed database using the keywords "ovarian cancer" and "animal model", excluded the articles that did not meet the criteria, and then classified the remaining studies. Combined with the clinical diagnostic criteria of Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation, the related indicators of ovarian cancer animal models were assigned and the degree of agreement was evaluated. ResultThe use of the transplanted animal model exhibited the highest frequency, followed by that of the induced model. The degree of agreement of traditional Chinese medicine for each model was lower than that of Western medicine. The induced ovarian cancer model had a high degree of clinical agreement and was similar to human ovarian cancer in terms of tumor growth pattern, disease progression and complications, which is an ideal animal model of ovarian cancer. Although this animal model can simulate the etiology and pathogenesis of ovarian cancer to a certain extent and reflect some indicators of traditional Chinese and Western medicine, it lacks differentiation of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes. ConclusionOn the basis of the original model, the animal model of ovarian cancer was added with Qi deficiency syndrome, blood deficiency syndrome, Qi stagnation syndrome, blood stasis syndrome, heat-toxin syndrome, and Yang deficiency syndrome to establish an animal model combining traditional Chinese medicine disease and syndrome of ovarian cancer, which could better simulate the clinical actual situation of traditional Chinese and Western medicine and lay a solid foundation for the study of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
3.Xihuangwan Inhibits Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism in Ovarian Cancer Cells
Xianxin YAN ; Shouyi HONG ; Ruirui MA ; Yanqiu WANG ; Junyi BU ; Min MA
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(1):70-76
ObjectiveTo study the effect of Xihuangwan extract on mitochondrial energy metabolism in ovarian cancer SKOV3 and HEY cells and to explore the underlying mechanism. MethodSKOV3 and HEY cells were cultured in vitro and treated with different concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 g·L-1) of Xihuangwan extract. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) was used to examine the viability of SKOV3 and HEY cells treated with Xihuangwan extract. The adenosine-triphosphate (ATP) levels in SKOV3 and HEY cells were measured by kit. Flow cytometry was employed to measure the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ co-activator 1α (PGC1α), transcription factor A, mitochondrial (TFAM), translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20 (TOMM20), and aplasia Ras homologue member Ⅰ (ARHⅠ) in SKOV3 and HEY cells. Mito-Tracker Green staining was used to observe the morphological changes of mitochondria in SKOV3 and HEY cells. ResultCompared with blank group, Xihuangwan extract treatment for 24, 48 h inhibited the viability of SKOV3 and HEY cells in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with blank group, Xihuangwan extract (10, 15, 20 g·L-1) groups presented lowered ATP levels (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the 20 g·L-1 Xihuangwan extract group had lower ATP level than the 10 and 15 g·L-1 Xihuangwan extract groups (P<0.05). Compared with blank group, Xihuangwan extract increased the content of ROS in SKOV3 and HEY cells in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the 20 g·L-1 Xihuangwan extract group had higher ROS content than the 10 g·L-1 Xihuangwan extract group (P<0.05). Compared with blank group, Xihuangwan extract up-regulated the expression level of ARHⅠ protein in SKOV3 and HEY cells in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.01), and the expression levels of ARHⅠ protein was higher in the 20 g·L-1 Xihuangwan extract group than in the 10 and 15 g·L-1 Xihuangwan extract groups (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, Xihuangwan extract down-regulated the protein levels of PGC1α, TFAM, and TOMM20 in SKOV3 and HEY cells in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the protein levels of TFAM and TOMM20 in the HEY cells treated with 20 g·L-1 Xihuangwan extract were lower than those in the HEY cells treated with 10, 15 g·L-1 Xihuangwan extract (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, 20 g·L-1 Xihuangwan extract decreased the Mito-Tracker fluorescence intensity of SKOV3 and HEY cells (P<0.05). ConclusionXihuangwan can compromise the mitochondrial function of ovarian cancer SKOV3 and HEY cells and reduce cell energy metabolism to inhibit the proliferation of SKOV3 and HEY cells by up-regulating ARHⅠ and inhibiting PGC1α/TFAM signaling axis.
4.Glutamine synthetase-negative hepatocellular carcinoma has better prognosis and response to sorafenib treatment after hepatectomy.
Mingyang SHAO ; Qing TAO ; Yahong XU ; Qing XU ; Yuke SHU ; Yuwei CHEN ; Junyi SHEN ; Yongjie ZHOU ; Zhenru WU ; Menglin CHEN ; Jiayin YANG ; Yujun SHI ; Tianfu WEN ; Hong BU
Chinese Medical Journal 2023;136(17):2066-2076
BACKGROUND:
Glutamine synthetase (GS) and arginase 1 (Arg1) are widely used pathological markers that discriminate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma; however, their clinical significance in HCC remains unclear.
METHODS:
We retrospectively analyzed 431 HCC patients: 251 received hepatectomy alone, and the other 180 received sorafenib as adjuvant treatment after hepatectomy. Expression of GS and Arg1 in tumor specimens was evaluated using immunostaining. mRNA sequencing and immunostaining to detect progenitor markers (cytokeratin 19 [CK19] and epithelial cell adhesion molecule [EpCAM]) and mutant TP53 were also conducted.
RESULTS:
Up to 72.4% (312/431) of HCC tumors were GS positive (GS+). Of the patients receiving hepatectomy alone, GS negative (GS-) patients had significantly better overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) than GS+ patients; negative expression of Arg1, which is exclusively expressed in GS- hepatocytes in the healthy liver, had a negative effect on prognosis. Of the patients with a high risk of recurrence who received additional sorafenib treatment, GS- patients tended to have better RFS than GS+ patients, regardless of the expression status of Arg1. GS+ HCC tumors exhibit many features of the established proliferation molecular stratification subtype, including poor differentiation, high alpha-fetoprotein levels, increased progenitor tumor cells, TP53 mutation, and upregulation of multiple tumor-related signaling pathways.
CONCLUSIONS
GS- HCC patients have a better prognosis and are more likely to benefit from sorafenib treatment after hepatectomy. Immunostaining of GS may provide a simple and applicable approach for HCC molecular stratification to predict prognosis and guide targeted therapy.
Humans
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Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism*
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Sorafenib/therapeutic use*
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Liver Neoplasms/metabolism*
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Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/metabolism*
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Hepatectomy
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Retrospective Studies
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Prognosis
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Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/surgery*