OBJECTIVE: The effects of the staurosporine on contraction of self-assembled constructs and extracellular matrix syntheses of goat temporomandibular joint discs were investigated. METHODS: Goat temporomandibular joint disc cells were isolated and cultured to P3, and 5.5×10⁶ cells were combined with different concentrations of staurosporine (0, 0.1, 1, 10, 100 nmol·L⁻¹) in agarose wells and cultured for one week. The samples were frozen and sectioned. Safranin-O,  Picro-sirius red and immunohistochemical staining were performed to observe the distributions of the extracellular matrix and the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Blyscan kits were utilized to quan--titatively detect the contents of type Ⅰ collagen (ColⅠ) and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). RESULTS: Each group of goat temporo-mandibular joint disc cells in the agarose wells were gathered to self-assemble into a disc-shaped base for 4 hours and then to gradually contract into a round shape. The Picro-sirius red staining was strong and indicated collagen distribution. The Safranin-O staining observed GAGs throughout the entire construct. The expression of ColⅠ was strongly posi-tive in the staurosporine groups; however, the expression of α-SMA was weak. ColⅠ and GAGs contents in the stau-rosporine groups were greater than that of the control group, especially in the 10 nmol·L⁻¹ group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Staurosporine has a certain effect on the shrinkage of self-assembled constructs; however, such effect is not prominent. Staurosporine contributes to the construction synthesis of extracellular matrix.
Animals ; Collagen Type I ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Goats ; Staurosporine ; pharmacology ; Temporomandibular Joint ; Temporomandibular Joint Disc ; cytology ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of staurosporine (ST) on the proliferation and apoptosis of prostate cancer PC-3 cells.

METHODSProstate cancer PC-3 cells were treated in vitro with ST at 10(-8) mol/L. The expressions of cyclin A and cyclin D1 proteins in the cells were detected by Western blot, the effect of ST on the proliferation of the cells determined by MTT assay and plate colony formation, the apoptosis of the cells examined by flow cytometry, and their morphological changes observed under the light microscope.

RESULTSST treatment markedly decreased the expressions of cyclin A and cyclin D1 in the PC-3 cells, and significantly inhibited the growth of the PC-3 cells (19.35%) at 48 h. (F = 31.06, P < 0.01). The colony formation rate of the PC-3 cells was (37.10 +/- 3.43) % in the ST group, significantly lower than (64.80 +/- 4.34) % in the control (chi2 = 14.59, P < 0.05) and (62.80 +/- 4.36) % in the DMSO group (chi2 = 12.50, P < 0.05), while the apoptosis rate of the cells was remarkably higher in the ST group ([19.6 +/- 2.20] %) than in the control ([5.33 +/- 1.40] %) and the DMSO group ([5.50 +/- 0.96] %) (F = 104.36, P < 0.01). Under the light microscope, the ST-treated cells were round with indistinct margins as compared with those of the other two groups.

CONCLUSIONST could significantly inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of PC-3 cells.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Staurosporine ; pharmacology

AIMTo study whether tacrine and donepezil can prevent cell apoptosis induced by staurosporine in NG108-15 and Hela cell lines.

METHODSMTT assay was used to examine if staurosporine impairs cell metabolism. Phase-contrast and fluorescence microscope were used to examine cell morphological changes. DNA was isolated and electrophoretically separated on 1% agarose gel to observe if there were DNA fragments. Western blot was made to analyse protein levels of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and proapoptotic Bax.

RESULTSNG108-15 cells treated with 0.1 mumol.L-1 staurosporine for 12-24 hours exhibited marked cell death and DNA fragmentation. Pre-treatment with 0.1 mmol.L-1 tacrine provided approximately 40% protective effect and resulted in obvious inhibition or delay of DNA fragmentation. Moreover, NG108-15 cells treated with tacrine became elongated and polarized, and showed longer processes than control cells. Pretreatment with 0.1 mmol.L-1 tacrine significantly increased the expression of Bcl-2 protein level and delayed the staurosporine-induced increase of Bax protein expression. However, donepezil did not show any protective effect on the cell impairment induced by staurosporine in NG108-15 cells. In Hela cells 0.1 mumol.L-1 staurosporine also induced significant cell injury, but pretreatment with tacrine and donepezil did not provide any obvious protective effect against this cell damage.

CONCLUSIONDonepezil did not provide obvious protective effect against apoptosis, and protective effects of tacrine might not be mediated through AChE inhibition. Protective effects of tacrine against staurosporine-induced injury might be selective to different cells.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Glioma ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Hybrid Cells ; Indans ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Neuroblastoma ; Piperidines ; pharmacology ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Staurosporine ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Tacrine ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the effect of angiotensin II (AngII) on the expression of tissue factor (TF) by monocytes and its mechanisms.

METHODSMonocytes were isolated from healthy volunteers by Ficoll-Hypaque gradient and Percoll, and cultured in RPMI-1640. Procoagulant activity (PCA) was determined by one-stage clotting method, TF antigen by ELISA. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the TF gene mRNA. The levels of IkappaBalpha was detected by Western blot. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) were performed to evaluate the activity of NF-kappaB.

RESULTSAngII (10(-9) - 10(-7) mol/L) significantly increased monocyte PCA, TF antigen and TF mRNA expression in a dose and time dependent manner. Losartan (10(-6) - 10(-5) mol/L) significantly inhibited the effects of AngII on TF activity, antigen and mRNA expression in a dose-dependent effects. Staurosporine (2.5 x 10(-7) mol/L) and genistein (4 x 10(-5) mol/L) lowered TF level of monocytes (P < 0.05). Western blot analysis revealed that after exposure to AngII (10(-7) mol/L), IkappaBalpha level decreased at 15 min, reached nadir at 60 min, and recovered at 180 min. EMSA showed NF-kappaB binding activity increased at 15 min, reached peak at 60 min, and recovered at 180 min. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC, 10(-4) mol/L), an inhibitor of NF-kappaB, or AT1R antagonist losartan (10(-5)mol/L) inhibited AngII-induced NF-kappaB translocation.

CONCLUSIONSAngII could induce the expression of TF in human monocytes, and this effect was mediated by AT1R. The PKC pathway played the most important role in AngII-induced TF expression. The activation of NF-kappaB was involved in TF expression in monocytes.

Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Genistein ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Losartan ; pharmacology ; Monocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Protein Kinase C ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 ; physiology ; Staurosporine ; pharmacology ; Thromboplastin ; genetics

Estrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease, possibly by ameliorating neuronal degeneration. In the present study, we examined the neuroprotective spectrum of estrogen against excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and serum-deprivation-induced apoptosis of neurons in mouse cortical cultures. 17beta-estradiol as well as 17alpha-estradiol and estrone attenuated oxidative neuronal death induced by 24 hr exposure to 100 microM FeCl2, excitotoxic neuronal death induced by 24 hr of exposure to 30 microM N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and serum-deprivation induced neuronal apoptosis. Furthermore, estradiol attenuated neuronal death induced by Abeta25-35. However, all these neuroprotective effects were mediated by the anti-oxidative action of estrogens. When oxidative stress was blocked by an antioxidant trolox, estrogens did not show any additional protection. Addition of a specific estrogen receptor antagonist ICI182,780 did not reverse the protection offered by estrogens. These findings suggest that high concentrations of estrogen protect against various neuronal injuries mainly by its anti-oxidative effects as previously shown by Behl et al. Our results do not support the view that classical estrogen receptors mediate neuroprotection.
Amyloid beta-Protein/pharmacology ; Animal ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Cells, Cultured ; Chelating Agents/pharmacology ; Chromans/pharmacology ; Estradiol/pharmacology ; Estrogens/pharmacology* ; Estrogens/metabolism ; Estrone/pharmacology ; Ethylenediamines/pharmacology ; Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists/pharmacology ; Ferric Compounds/pharmacology ; Lactate Dehydrogenase/analysis ; Mice ; N-Methylaspartate/pharmacology ; Neurons/metabolism ; Neurons/drug effects* ; Neurons/cytology ; Organ of Corti/cytology ; Peptide Fragments/pharmacology ; Staurosporine/pharmacology

Estrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease, possibly by ameliorating neuronal degeneration. In the present study, we examined the neuroprotective spectrum of estrogen against excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and serum-deprivation-induced apoptosis of neurons in mouse cortical cultures. 17beta-estradiol as well as 17alpha-estradiol and estrone attenuated oxidative neuronal death induced by 24 hr exposure to 100 microM FeCl2, excitotoxic neuronal death induced by 24 hr of exposure to 30 microM N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and serum-deprivation induced neuronal apoptosis. Furthermore, estradiol attenuated neuronal death induced by Abeta25-35. However, all these neuroprotective effects were mediated by the anti-oxidative action of estrogens. When oxidative stress was blocked by an antioxidant trolox, estrogens did not show any additional protection. Addition of a specific estrogen receptor antagonist ICI182,780 did not reverse the protection offered by estrogens. These findings suggest that high concentrations of estrogen protect against various neuronal injuries mainly by its anti-oxidative effects as previously shown by Behl et al. Our results do not support the view that classical estrogen receptors mediate neuroprotection.
Amyloid beta-Protein/pharmacology ; Animal ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Cells, Cultured ; Chelating Agents/pharmacology ; Chromans/pharmacology ; Estradiol/pharmacology ; Estrogens/pharmacology* ; Estrogens/metabolism ; Estrone/pharmacology ; Ethylenediamines/pharmacology ; Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists/pharmacology ; Ferric Compounds/pharmacology ; Lactate Dehydrogenase/analysis ; Mice ; N-Methylaspartate/pharmacology ; Neurons/metabolism ; Neurons/drug effects* ; Neurons/cytology ; Organ of Corti/cytology ; Peptide Fragments/pharmacology ; Staurosporine/pharmacology

Actin cytoskeleton has been known to control and/or be associated with chondrogenesis. Staurosporine and cytochalasin D modulate actin cytoskeleton and affect chondrogenesis. However, the underlying mechanisms for actin dynamics regulation by these agents are not known well. In the present study, we investigate the effect of staurosporine and cytochalasin D on the actin dynamics as well as possible regulatory mechanisms of actin cytoskeleton modulation. Staurosporine and cytochalasin D have different effects on actin stress fibers in that staurosporine dissolved actin stress fibers while cytochalasin D disrupted them in both stress forming cells and stress fiber-formed cells. Increase in the G-/F-actin ratio either by dissolution or disruption of actin stress fiber is critical for the chondrogenic differentiation. Cytochalasin D reduced the phosphorylation of cofilin, whereas staurosporine showed little effect on cofilin phosphorylation. Either staurosporine or cytochalasin D had little effect on the phosphorylation of myosin light chain. These results suggest that staurosporine and cytochalasin D employ different mechanisms for the regulation of actin dynamics and provide evidence that removal of actin stress fibers is crucial for the chondrogenic differentiation.
Actin Cytoskeleton/*drug effects ; Actins/metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation/*drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chickens ; Chondrogenesis/*drug effects ; Cytochalasin D/*pharmacology ; Mesoderm/cytology/drug effects ; Myosin Light Chains/metabolism ; Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors/*pharmacology ; Phosphorylation ; Staurosporine/*pharmacology ; Stress Fibers/drug effects

AIMTo investigate the radiosensitizing effect and mechanism of action of staurosporine (STP) in human colon carcinoma HT-29 and breast cancer MCF-7/ADR cells.

METHODSThe effect of STP on the cytotoxicity of X-ray was determined by clonogenic assay. The effect of STP on cell cycle arrest induced by X irradiation was studied in two cell lines by using flow cytometry, Western Blotting was performed to indicate the changes of cyclin B1 and cdc2 protein levels.

RESULTSSTP sensitized the two cell lines to X-ray by clonogenic assay. STP potentiated the cytotoxicity of X-ray by 2.10- and 2.09-fold in HT-29 and MCF-7/ADR cells. Flow cytometry assay showed that exposure of HT-29 and MCF-7/ADR cells to X-ray caused cells arrest in G2 phase. The percentage of arrest G2 phase cells were 56% and 52.7%, respectively. The addition of STP after irradiation resulted in a dose-dependent reduction of G2 phase arrest induced by X-ray. Furthermore, the results showed that STP blocked decrease of cyclin B1 expression induced by X-ray, while mitotic index measurement indicated that X-ray-irradiated cells treated with STP entered mitosis. The data suggested that the potentiation of cytotoxicity of X-ray by STP is associated with the suppression of cyclin B1 expression, which result in the abrogation of G2 arrest, before the cells entered into M phase, they had not enough time to repair.

CONCLUSIONSTP is a potent G2 checkpoint abrogator and markedly enhanced the cytotoxicity of X irradiation in the p53 mutant cancer cells.

Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cyclin B ; biosynthesis ; Cyclin B1 ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Female ; G2 Phase ; drug effects ; HT29 Cells ; Humans ; Mitotic Index ; Particle Accelerators ; Radiation Tolerance ; drug effects ; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents ; pharmacology ; Staurosporine ; pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

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

To investigate Bax translocation from cytosol into mitochondria induced by staurosporine (STS) in GFP-Bax-tagged MCF7 stable cell line, the viability was measured by MTT method. Bax translocation from cytosol into mitochondria was investigated under the fluorescence microscope. The dose-effect and time-course relationships were also observed and the percentage of GFP-Bax punctuate cells were calculated. Immunofluoresence method was used to observe Bax translocation to mitochondria, Cyt-c release from mitochondria and Annexin V label. The TMRE assay was used to investigate membrane pertential (Deltapsim) and function of mitochondria. Western blotting was used to observe the mechanism of apoptosis induced by STS. The results showed that STS can induce Bax translocation from cytoplasm to mitochondria, Cyt-c release from mitochondria and Annexin V label. The Western blotting analysis presented the inhibitory effect on apoptosis induced by STS of SP600125 which is a specific JNK inhibitor. The study revealed the mechanism of STS induced apoptosis associated with JNK activated pathway.
Anthracenes ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Cytosol ; metabolism ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Kinase 4 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Membrane Potentials ; drug effects ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Protein Transport ; drug effects ; Staurosporine ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism