Objective To investigate the effect of silibinin(SB)on the proliferation and invasion of cervical cancer HeLa cells and its mechanism.Methods CCK-8 was used to detect the effect of different concentrations of SB on the proliferation of HeLa cells,and the proper concentration of SB was screened.The cells were divided into 9 groups:control,SB-L(SB low dose),SB-M(SB medium dose),SB-H(SB high dose),PD98059(ERK1/2 signal inhibitor),SB202190(p38 MAPK inhibitor),PD98059+SB,SB202190+SB and cisplatin group.CCK-8 was used to detect cell proliferation.Transwell chamber was used to observe the cell invasion.Real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2),MMP-9,p-extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)and p-p38.Western blot was used to detect the expression of MMP-2,MMP-9,ERK1/2,p38,p-ERK1/2 and p-p38.Results Compared with the control group,the proliferation rate and the number of inva-sive cells in other groups were significantly reduced(P＜0.05).And the expression levels of MMP-2,MMP-9,p-ERK1/2 and p-p38 were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with SB-M group,the above changes in PD98059+SB group and SB202190+SB group were more significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion SB can inhibit the proliferation and invasion of HeLa cells,and its mechanism may be related to inhibition of ERK/p38 MAPK signal pathway activation and downregulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression.

AIM: Recombinant human adenovirus-p53 injection (rAd-p53) is the first marketed gene therapeutic drug worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and primary efficacy of rAd-p53 administrated on advanced solid tumors. METHODS: 24 patients with advanced solid tumor treated with rAd-p53 were reviewed, including 5 cases of renal carcinoma, 4 of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, 4 of colorectal carcinoma, 2 of melanoma, 1 of non-small-celllung cancer, 1 of esophageal carcinoma, 1 of gastric cardia carcinoma, 1 of thymic carcinoma, 1 of duodenal carcinoma, 1 of thyroid carcinoma, 1 of pancreatic carcinoma, 1 of endometrial carcinoma and 1 of rhabdomyosarcoma. RAd-p53 was weekly administrated at the dose of 1?10~ 12 VP, and 4 times of administration was defined as one cycle. Administration approach included intratumoral injection,intrabronchial drop in, intraperitoneal injection, intra-arterial infusion and intravenous drip. Combined therapy was given with chemotherapy in 18 cases, radiotherapy in 2, concomitant chemotherapy and radiotherapy in 1, abdominal thermotherapy and orally gefitinib in 1, cytokine immunotherapy in 1 and without combination therapy in 1. RESULTS: 23 cases underwent 35 cycles of therapy except for 1 case discontinued because of early progression. Among the 21 evaluable cases 5 PR, 5 SD and 11 PD were observed. Overall response rate was 23.8%(5/21) and disease control rate was 47.6%(10/21). Grade I-II injection site pain, chill, fever and myalgia were the most frequent side effects. Grade III fever developed in 2 cases and grade III-IV myelosuppression in 4 cases combined with chemotherapy. Furthermore, severe ostealgia occurred in 2 cases and transient hypotension in 1. CONCLUSION: RAd-p53 is tolerable in patients with advanced solid tumor. A further randomized clinical trial is necessary to confirm the antitumor activity of rAd-p53 combined with conventional strategies.

BACKGROUND:Diabetic osteoporosis is gaining public attention.However,few studies have reported the effect of a high-glucose environment on the osteogenic differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and the corresponding therapeutic strategies. OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether vitamin D3 can restore the osteogenic differentiation potential of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in a high-glucose environment. METHODS:The viability of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells was detected by CCK-8 assay to screen the appropriate vitamin D3 intervention concentration.Under the high-glucose environment,RT-qPCR,western blot assay,immunofluorescence,JC-1 mitochondrial membrane potential,alizarin red staining,and β-galactosidase staining were used to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation potential,intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation,mitochondrial membrane potential alteration,and cell senescence of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells after vitamin D3 intervention.The underlying mechanism was also discussed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Vitamin D3 significantly promoted the proliferation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in the range of 0.1 μmol/L to 1 mmol/L.(2)High-glucose environment down-regulated the mRNA and protein level expressions of osteogenic-related genes α1-I collagen,alkaline phosphatase,Runt-associated transcription factor 2,and osteocalcin in human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells,which induced oxidative stress and cellular senescence.(3)Vitamin D3 at an intervention concentration of 10 μmol/L significantly restored the osteogenic phenotype of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells under high-glucose conditions and attenuated intracellular oxidative stress and cellular senescence by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.(4)These findings suggested that the osteogenic differentiation ability of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells was reduced in the high-glucose environment,and vitamin D3 could partially improve their osteogenic differentiation ability and reduce cell damage.

BACKGROUND:Osteoporosis has a high incidence,leading to fracture and other complications.However,existing drugs have great side effects and are difficult to meet the clinical application. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect and potential mechanism of fucoxanthin on osteoporosis induced by glucocorticoid. METHODS:Primary rat osteoblasts were inoculated in 6-well plates.When the cell fusion reached 80%,the cells were divided into four groups:the control group was cultured alone for 24 hours,the glucocorticoid group was intervened with dexamethasone for 24 hours,the fucoxanthin group was intervened with fucoxanthin for 24 hours,and the glucocorticoid + fucoxanthin group was intervened with dexamethasone and fucoxanthin at the same time for 24 hours.After intervention,cell proliferation,apoptosis,intracellular reactive oxygen species level,and protein expression of apoptosis-related proteins,bone formation-related proteins,and nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 were detected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Cell counting kit-8 results showed that the cell viability was decreased in the glucocorticoid group compared with the control group(P＜0.05)but increased in the glucocorticoid+fucoxanthin group compared with the glucocorticoid group(P＜0.05).JC-1 mitochondrial membrane potential staining and flow cytometry assay showed that the percentage of apoptosis increased in the glucocorticoid group compared with the control group(P＜0.05)but decreased in the glucocorticoid+fucoxanthin group compared with the glucocorticoid group(P＜0.05).Western blot assay showed that compared with the control group,the protein expression of BAX and cleaved poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase was elevated in the glucocorticoid group(P＜0.05),and the protein expression of BCL2,type Ⅰ collagen α1 peptide chain,alkaline phosphatase,osteocalcin,and RUNX2 was decreased in the glucocorticoid group(P＜0.05).Compared with the glucocorticoid group,the protein expression of BAX and cleaved poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase was decreased(P＜0.05),and the protein expression of BCL2,type Ⅰ collagen α1 peptide chain,alkaline phosphatase,osteocalcin,and RUNX2 was elevated(P＜0.05)in the glucocorticoid+fucoxanthin group.Fluorescent probe assay showed an increase in reactive oxygen species level in the glucocorticoid group compared with the control group(P＜0.05)and a decrease in reactive oxygen species level in the glucocorticoid+fucoxanthin group compared with the glucocorticoid group(P＜0.05).Immunofluorescence staining and western blot assay showed that the protein expression of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 in the glucocorticoid group was decreased compared with that in the control group(P＜0.05);and the protein expression of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 in the glucocorticoid+fucoxanthin group was elevated compared with that in the glucocorticoid group(P＜0.05).To conclude,fucoxanthin can improve glucocorticoid-induced osteoblast apoptosis and the expression of bone formation-related molecules by activating nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2.