This study aims to delve into the influences and underlying mechanisms of Banxia Xiexin Decoction(BXD) on the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration of colon cancer cells. Firstly, the components of BXD in blood were identified by UPLC-MS/MS, and subsequently the content of these components were determined by HPLC. Then, different concentrations of BXD were used to treat both the normal intestinal epithelial cells(NCM460) and the colon cancer cells(HT29 and HCT116). The cell viability and apoptosis were examined by the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) and flow cytometry, respectively. Western blot was employed to determine the expression of the apoptosis regulators B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X(Bax). The cell wound healing assay and Transwell assay were employed to measure the cell migration and invasion, respectively. Additionally, Western blot was employed to determine the expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)-associated proteins, including epithelial cadherin(E-cadherin), neural cadherin(N-cadherin), and vimentin. The protein and mRNA levels of the factors in the poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase(PARG)/poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1(PARP1)/nuclear factor kappa-B p65(NF-κB p65) signaling pathway were determined by Western blot and RT-qPCR, respectively. The results demonstrated that following BXD intervention, the proliferation of HT29 and HCT116 cells was significantly reduced. Furthermore, BXD promoted the apoptosis, enhanced the expression of Bcl-2, and suppressed the expression of Bax in colon cancer cells. At the same time, BXD suppressed the cell migration and invasion and augmented the expression of E-cadherin while diminishing the expression of N-cadherin and vimentin. In addition, BXD down-regulated the protein and mRNA levels of PARG, PARP1, and NF-κB p65. In conclusion, BXD may inhibit the malignant phenotypes of colon cancer cells by mediating the PARG/PARP1/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Colonic Neoplasms/pathology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Phenotype ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Apoptosis ; Cell Movement/drug effects* ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; HCT116 Cells ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/biosynthesis* ; Humans ; Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1 ; Glycoside Hydrolases ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; NF-kappa B p50 Subunit

The Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell is the most representative mammalian cell protein expression system, and it is widely used in recombinant protein, vaccine and other biopharmaceutical fields. However, due to its vulnerability to environmental factors, apoptosis, and metabolic inhibitors, CHO cells demonstrate poor robustness, and thus the integrated viable cell density and unit cell productivity are largely limited. To improve the robustness and foreign protein expression efficiency of CHO cells, we employed CRISPR/Cas9 to knock out the apoptosis genes Bax and Bak and the lactate dehydrogenase gene LDHa, thereby blocking apoptosis and lactic acid metabolism pathways. The results of apoptosis and single cell viability detection showed that the number of apoptotic cells in the knockout cell lines Bax^-/-, Bax-bak^-/-, and LDHa-Bax-bak^-/- was reduced by 22.51%, 37.73%, and 64.12%, respectively, compared with the wild-type cell line CHO-K1, which indicated that the anti-apoptotic ability was significantly improved. After staurosporine treatment, the single cell viability of Bax^-/-, Bax-bak^-/-, and LDHa-Bax-bak^-/- cells was increased by 30.8%, 22%, and 41.1%, respectively. After treatment with puromycin, the single cell viability of Bax^-/-, Bax-bak^-/-, and LDHa-Bax-bak^-/- cells was increased by 26.7%, 30.7%, and 38.8%, respectively. To further investigate the production performance of cells obtained after blocking apoptosis and lactic acid metabolism pathways, we induced transient expression of human tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in these cells. The results showed that the secretion of tPA in Bax^-/-, Bax-Bak^-/-, and LDHa-Bax-Bak^-/- cells was 11.12%, 46.18%, and 63.13%, respectively, higher than that in wild-type CHO-K1 cells. The expression of intracellular tPA was increased by 35.65%, 130%, and 192.15%. In conclusion, blocking apoptosis and lactic acid metabolism pathways simultaneously can improve cell robustness and productivity, with the performance better than blocking the apoptosis pathway alone. The above results indicated that the constructed cell lines were expected to be the delivery carriers of protein drugs such as medicinal peptides, and better used for the treatment of diseases.
CHO Cells ; Cricetulus ; Animals ; Apoptosis/genetics* ; Lactic Acid/metabolism* ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis* ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/genetics* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/genetics* ; bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein/genetics* ; Cricetinae ; CRISPR-Cas Systems ; Staurosporine/pharmacology*

The polysaccharides from pumpkin fruit (PP) were obtained and purified by hot-water extraction, anion-exchange chromatography, and gel column chromatography. The physicochemical properties of PP were determined by gel filtration chromatography, gas chromatography, fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Results indicated that the molecular weight of PP was about 23 kDa and PP was composed of D-Arabinose, D-Mannose, D-Glucose, and D-Galactose with a molar ratio of 1 : 7.79 : 70.32 : 7.05. FTIR and NMR spectra indicated that PP was the polysaccharide containing pyranose ring. Additionally, PP protected islets cells from streptozotocin (STZ) injury in vitro via increasing the levels of super-oxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and reducing the production of NO. The experiment of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction further proved that PP inhibited apoptosis via modulating the expression of Bax/Bcl-2 in STZ-damaged islet cells. In conclusion, PP could be explored as a novel agent for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Chromatography, Gas ; Chromatography, Gel ; Cucurbita ; chemistry ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Islets of Langerhans ; drug effects ; injuries ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Molecular Weight ; Monosaccharides ; analysis ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Superoxide Dismutase ; drug effects ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; drug effects

The effects of over-expression of testis-specific expressed gene 1 (TSEG-1) on the viability and apoptosis of cultured spermatogonial GC-1spg cells were investigated, and the immortal spermatogonial cell line GC-1spg (CRL-2053™) was obtained as the cell model in order to explore the function of TSEG-1. We transfected the eukaryotic vector of TSEG-1, named as pEGFP-TSEG-1 into cultured spermatogonial GC-1spg cells. Over-expression of TSEG-1 inhibited the proliferation of GC-1spg cells, and arrested cell cycle slightly at G0/G1 phase. Transfection of TSEG-1 attenuated the transcript levels of Ki-67, PCNA and cyclin D1. In addition, over-expression of TSEG-1 induced early and late apoptosis, and reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential of GC-1spg cells. Moreover, transfection of TSEG-1 significantly enhanced the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and transcript levels of caspase 9, and decreased the expression of Fas and caspase 8 in GC-1spg cells. These results indicated over-expression of TSEG-1 suppresses the proliferation and induces the apoptosis of GC-1spg cells, which establishes a basis for further study on the function of TSEG-1.
Animals ; Caspase 8 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cell Line ; Cyclin D1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; G1 Phase ; physiology ; Histones ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ki-67 Antigen ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Male ; Mice ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Resting Phase, Cell Cycle ; physiology ; Spermatogonia ; cytology ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics

To study the function and potential application of nkx2.5, a critical gene for heart development, we constructed a recombinant adenovirus overexpressing nkx2.5 gene (Ad-Nkx2.5) with the AdEasy system. To evaluate the effect and mechanism of Ad-Nkx2.5 against oxidative injury, the H9c2 myocardial cells were infected with the recombinant adenoviruses Ad-Nkx2.5 or Ad-EGFP, and subsequently exposed to H2O2 to induce apoptosis. The anti-apoptotic potential of Ad-Nkx2.5 was validated by MTT assay for cell viability, Hoechst33342 staining for cellular morphology, and immunoblotting for caspase-3 activity. Ad-Nkx2.5 infection led to an increased survival rate of H9c2 cells and decreased the amount of caspase-3 in an active form. Additionally, overexpression of Nkx2.5 inhibited the release of cytochrome C from the mitochondria into the cytosol. Mechanismic studies showed that Nkx2.5 upregulated bcl-2 gene expression and significantly repressed H2O2-induced expression of bax detected by Real-time PCR. Additionally, H2O2 treatment did not affect the nuclear localization of Nkx2.5. These findings indicate that adenovirus-mediated nkx2.5 gene transfer exerted a protective effect on H9c2 cells against H2O2-induced apoptosis via mitochondrial pathway, and the Nkx2.5-mediated expression modulation of apoptosis-associated genes could be involved in this event.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.5 ; Homeodomain Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Bcel-2 family proteins (Bcl-x(L), Bcl-2, Mel-1 etc.) are key regulators of some life processes, including apoptosis and autophagy. They are currently considered as promising targets for developing new anti-tumor therapies. In our study, the human Bcl-2/Bcl-x(L) chimeric gene and the human/mouse Mel-1 chimeric gene were designed and cloned, and the prokaryotic expression vectors for expressing glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins and histidine tag fusion proteins were constructed respectively. These two proteins as well as the GST-Bcl-x(L) fusion protein were all successfully expressed in E. coli and subsequently purified. In addition, we measured the binding of these Bcl-2 family proteins to the Bid BH3 peptide by fluorescence polarization-based assay. The dissociation constants (Kd) obtained by us were in general agreement with the data reported in literature. The Kd values of all three proteins with or without the GST tag were almost identical. All these results validate the biological functions of these Bcl-2 family proteins obtained by us. These proteins can be used in the experimental screening of small-molecule regulators of Bcl-2 family proteins in vitro.
Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fluorescence Polarization ; methods ; Glutathione Transferase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; bcl-X Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of pGCsi-H1-APRIL on the growth of human colorectal cancer cells in transplated tumor in nude mice and to improve the effect of APRIL on proliferation and apoptosis of colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODSHuman CRC model was established in nude mice, and the nude mice were treated with APRIL siRNA twice per week for 2 weeks. APRIL mRNA expression was surveyed by PCR and APRIL protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of PCNA protein was detected by ELISA. The expression of bcl-2 and bcl-xl was assessed by immunohistochemical staining, and TUNEL staining was used to detect apoptosis.

RESULTSThe expression of APRIL mRNA in the APRIL siRNA group was (0.13 ± 0.05) × 10(-3), significantly lower than that in the vector group (0.95 ± 0.04) × 10(-3) and the PBS group (0.96 ± 0.05) × 10(-3). The expression of APRIL protein in the APRIL siRNA group was (87.5 ± 5.0)% lower than that in the vector and PBS groups (P < 0.05). APRIL siRNA significantly suppressed the growth of SW480 tumor: the IR (inhibitory rate) of APRIL siRNA group was (60.7 ± 1.5)% (P < 0.05). The expression of PCNA in APRIL siRNA group was (176.8 ± 18.1) ng/ml, was (56.5 ± 2.0)% lower than that of PBS group (328.4 ± 22.8) ng/ml. Furthermore, the expressions of anti-apoptosis proteins bcl-2 and bcl-xl of APRIL siRNA group were (82.6 ± 4.5)% and (79.2 ± 3.5)% lower than those of the PBS group. The apoptotic rate of the APRIL siRNA group was 40.1% ± 2.5%, significantly higher than that in the vector group (2.5 ± 0.1)% and PBS group (2.5 ± 0.2)% (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAPRIL siRNA may significantly suppress the growth and promote apoptosis in transplanted tumor of human colorectal cancer in nude mice. APRIL may become a candidate gene of gene therapy of human colorectal cancer.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Ligands ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; bcl-X Protein ; metabolism

To study the inhibitory effect of a recombinant adenoviral vector carrying human IL-24 gene on SGC-7901 human gastric cancer cell. We infected the SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells with Ad blank adenovirus at various multiplicity of infection (MOIs) to find the optimal infective dose. The SGC-7901 tumor cells were infected with Ad-IL-24 at the optimal MOI in the following experiments. Adenovirus-mediated IL-24 transcription expression in SGC-7901 cells was examined by RT-PCR. The growth-suppressing effect of Ad-IL-24 on SGC-7901 tumor cells was assessed by MTT assay. Apoptosis and cell cycle of SGC-7901 tumor cells infected with Ad-IL-24 was evaluated by flow cytometer (FCM), respectively. The karyomorphology of apoptotic SGC-7901 tumor cells was examined using Hoechst33258 staining under fluorescence microscopy. The expression of apoptosis-related genes was future determined by semi-quantification RT-PCR; We demonstrated that the MOI of 100 was the optimal infective dose in the study on adenovirus-mediated IL-24 gene transfer into SGC-7901 gastric cancer cell; IL-24 gene mediated by adenovirus could successfully transcribe in SGC-7901 tumor cells; Ad-IL-24 could significantly inhibit SGC-7901 tumor cell growth and induce apoptosis, it also can up-regulate the express of bax, caspase-3 and p53 whilst down-regulate the bcl-2 expression. Thus, adenovirus-mediated IL-24 expression had marked anti-tumor effect in suppressing SGC-7901 human gastric cancer cell growth and inducing apoptosis, which may be closely associated with its up-regulation of bax/bcl-2, caspase-3 and p53.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Interleukins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Transfection ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

To study the inhibitory effect and anti-cancer mechanisms of interleukin 24 (IL-24) on human osteosarcoma cell MG-63, we delivered IL-24 into MG-63 cells in vitro and in vivo by adenovirus. The expression level of IL-24 was detected by RT-PCR and fluorescence microscope; the growth inhibition, apoptosis rate and apoptosis body were measured by MTT, Flow cytometry and Hoechst staining respectively. Furthermore, we analyzed the expression of bcl-2, bax, caspase3 genes by RT-PCR after overexpression of IL-24. For in vivo study, we first established the MG-63 tumor model by grafting MG-63 cells in athymic nude mice; and then injected Ad-IL-24 into the tumors. Two weeks after injection, we sacrificed the mice, removed the tumors, weighed and calculated the ratios of tumor-suppression. We also detected the expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3 and CD34 with immumohistochemistry. Our in vitro results indicated that Ad-IL-24 was transcribed and translated in MG-63 osteosarcoma cells. More interestingly, IL-24 inhibited the growth of MG-63 cells and induced apoptosis by up-regulation of bax, caspase-3 and down-regulation of bcl-2. The in vivo data showed that IL-24 suppressed the tumor growth conspicuously through down-regulating the expression of bcl-2, and up-regulating the expression of bax, caspase-3. This study would provide evidence for the gene therapy of IL-24 on osteosarcoma.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; Bone Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Interleukins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Osteosarcoma ; pathology ; therapy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differential expression of apoptosis associated gene Bcl-2 and Bax through cell cycle and its possible clinical meaning.

METHODSThe prostate cancer cell line PC-3 was synchronized in M, G1, S and G2 phase using modified thymine deoxyriboside blockage and high pressure N2O technique. The efficiency of synchronization was detected by flow-cytometry. RT-PCR and Western blot methods were used to examine the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in mRNA and protein level.

RESULTSThe synchronized rate of M, G1, S and G2 phase were 92.1%, 87.0%, 80.2% and 75.9% respectively. Bcl-2 was constitutively expressed through the cell cycle, but both the mRNA and protein expression level of Bcl-2 were very high in the G1 phase, dramatically decreased in M, S and G2 phase. The expression level of Bax had no change through the cell cycle.

CONCLUSIONSCell cycle could influence the expression level of Bcl-2 significantly but not Bax, these might have some clinical relevance.

Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics