OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of danusertib (Danu), an inhibitor of Aurora kinase, on the proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and autophagy of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and explore the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: MTT assay was used to examine the effect of Danu on the viability of HepG2 cells to determine the IC50 of Danu. The effect of Danu on cell cycle distribution, apoptosis and autophagy were determined using flow cytometry. Western blotting was used to detect the expressions of the proteins related to cell cycle, apoptosis and autophagy. Chloroquine was used to suppress Danuinduced autophagy to test the apoptosis-inducing effect of Danu. RESULTS: Danu significantly inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells with IC of 39.4 μmol and 14.4 μmol at 24 h and 48 h, respectively. Danu caused cell cycle arrest in G/M phase in HepG2 cells and led to polyploidy accumulation via up-regulating the expressions of p53 and p21 and down-regulating the expressions of cyclin B1 and DC2. Danu also caused apoptosis of HepG2 cells through up-regulating the expressions of Bax, Puma, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, cleaved PARP and cytochrome C and down-regulating the expressions of Bcl-xl and Bcl-2. Danu induced autophagy via activating AMPK signaling and inhibiting PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR axis, and inhibition of Danu-induced autophagy with chloroquine enhanced the pro-apoptotic effect of Danu. CONCLUSIONS Danu inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell cycle arrest in G/M phase, apoptosis and cytoprotective autophagy in HepG2 cells.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Autophagy ; drug effects ; Benzamides ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacology

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of blockade of Ca(2+) activated channel KCa3.1 and voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 of the monocytes/macrophages on inflammatory monocyte chemotaxis. Chemotaxis assay was used to test the inflammatory Ly-6C(hi) monocyte chemotaxis caused by the monocytes/macrophages. The proliferation of monocytes/macrophages was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK8). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to detect the C-C motif ligand 7 (CCL7) in cultured media. The results showed that the recruitment of Ly-6C(hi) monocyte induced by monocytes/macrophages was suppressed by the potent Kv1.3 blocker Stichodactyla helianthus neurotoxin (ShK) or the specific KCa3.1 inhibitor TRAM-34. Meanwhile, the proliferation of monocytes/macrophages was significantly inhibited by ShK. The response of Ly-6C(hi) monocyte pretreated with ShK or TRAM-34 to CCL2 was declined. These results suggest that KCa3.1 and Kv1.3 may play an important role in monocytes/macrophages' proliferation and migration.
Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cnidarian Venoms ; pharmacology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Kv1.3 Potassium Channel ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Macrophages ; cytology ; Monocytes ; cytology ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacology ; Small-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the inhibition mechanism and safety of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrazin-4(5H)-one derivatives against proliferation of human lung cancer A549 cells, H322 cells, and human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC).

METHODSCells were treated with 40 Μmol/L of the ppo3a, ppo3b, ppo3i, and 0.1% DMSO (control) for 48 hours, respectively. Apoptosis was determined by Hoechst 33258 staining assay in H322 and A549 cells. Cell cycle distribution was determined by flow cytometry analysis in A549 cell. LC3-II, p53, and heat shock protein (HSP) 70 protein levels were detected by Western blotting in A549 cells treated with ppo3b for 48 hours. The morphology and viability of HUVEC were observed by inverted microscope and sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay.

RESULTSPpo3a, ppo3b, and ppo3i significantly induced apoptosis in H322 and A549 cells. A strong G1-phase arrest was concomitant with the growth inhibitory effect on A549 cells. Ppo3b effectively elevated the p53 protein level, but significantly reduced the HSP70 protein level. There were no significantly inhibitory effect on the morphology and viability of HUVEC when treated with ppo3a, ppo3b, and ppo3i.

CONCLUSIONSppo3a, ppo3b, and ppo3i could inhibit H322 proliferation through apoptosis and inhibit A549 through apoptosis and G1-phase arrest. The protein p53 and HSP70 might involve in the inhibition effects. These derivatives might be a clue to find effective and safe drug for lung cancers.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; analysis ; physiology ; Humans ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; analysis ; physiology

Retinoid X receptor α (RXRα) and its N-terminally truncated version tRXRα play important roles in tumorigenesis, while some RXRα ligands possess potent anti-cancer activities by targeting and modulating the tumorigenic effects of RXRα and tRXRα. Here we describe NSC-640358 (N-6), a thiazolyl-pyrazole derived compound, acts as a selective RXRα ligand to promote TNFα-mediated apoptosis of cancer cell. N-6 binds to RXRα and inhibits the transactivation of RXRα homodimer and RXRα/TR3 heterodimer. Using mutational analysis and computational study, we determine that Arg316 in RXRα, essential for 9-cis-retinoic acid binding and activating RXRα transactivation, is not required for antagonist effects of N-6, whereas Trp305 and Phe313 are crucial for N-6 binding to RXRα by forming extra π-π stacking interactions with N-6, indicating a distinct RXRα binding mode of N-6. N-6 inhibits TR3-stimulated transactivation of Gal4-DBD-RXRα-LBD by binding to the ligand binding pocket of RXRα-LBD, suggesting a strategy to regulate TR3 activity indirectly by using small molecules to target its interacting partner RXRα. For its physiological activities, we show that N-6 strongly inhibits tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)-induced AKT activation and stimulates TNFα-mediated apoptosis in cancer cells in an RXRα/tRXRα dependent manner. The inhibition of TNFα-induced tRXRα/p85α complex formation by N-6 implies that N-6 targets tRXRα to inhibit TNFα-induced AKT activation and to induce cancer cell apoptosis. Together, our data illustrate a new RXRα ligand with a unique RXRα binding mode and the abilities to regulate TR3 activity indirectly and to induce TNFα-mediated cancer cell apoptosis by targeting RXRα/tRXRα.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Ligands ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Oximes ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Protein Conformation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Pyrazoles ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Retinoid X Receptor alpha ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Thiazoles ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Transcription, Genetic ; drug effects ; Transcriptional Activation ; drug effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Animals ; Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Cannabinoids ; pharmacology ; Fibrosis ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; etiology ; metabolism ; therapy ; Piperidines ; therapeutic use ; Pyrazoles ; therapeutic use ; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 ; metabolism ; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Cannabinoid ; metabolism ; Scleroderma, Diffuse ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Skin ; metabolism ; Smad Proteins ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

Carnosol has been proved to have anti-breast cancer effect in previous research. But its ER subtype's specific regulation and mediation mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study is to observe the effect of carnosol on cell proliferation and its estrogen receptor α and β's specific regulation and mediation mechanisms with ER positive breast cancer T47D cell. With estrogen receptor α and β antagonists MPP and PHTPP as tools, the MTT cell proliferation assay was performed to observe the effect of carnosol on T47D cell proliferation. The changes in the T47D cell proliferation cycle were detected by flow cytometry. The effect of carnosol on ERα and ERβ expressions of T47D cells was measured by Western blot. The findings showed that 1 x 10(-5)-1 x 10(-7) mol x L(-1) carnosol could significantly inhibit the T47D cell proliferation, which could be enhanced by MPP or weakened by PHTPP. Meanwhile, 1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1) or 1 x 10(-6) mol x L(-1) carnosol could significantly increase ERα and ERβ expressions of T47D cells, and remarkably increase ERα/ERβ ratio. The results showed that carnosol showed the inhibitory effect on the proliferation of ER positive breast cancer cells through target cell ER, especially ERβ pathway. In the meantime, carnosol could regulate expressions and proportions of target cell ER subtype ERα and ERβ.
Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Estrogen Receptor Modulators ; pharmacology ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Estrogen Receptor beta ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacology ; Pyrimidines ; pharmacology

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib on proliferation, apoptosis of human acute myeloid leukemia cell line HL-60 and its mechanism. HL-60 cells were cultured with different concentrations of celecoxib for 24 h. Cell proliferation was analyzed by CCK-8 assay, cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were detected by flow cytometry. Cyclin D1, cyclin E1 and COX-2 mRNA expressions were determined by RT-PCR. The results showed that after the HL-60 cells were treated with different concentrations of celecoxib for 24 h, the cell growth was significantly inhibited in a dose-dependent manner(r = 0.955), IC50 was 63.037 µmol/L of celecoxib. Celecoxib could effectively induce apoptosis in HL-60 cells also in dose-dependent manner(r = 0.988), blocked the HL-60 cells in the G0/G1 phase. The expression of cyclin D1, cyclin E1 and COX-2 mRNA were downregulated. It is concluded that celecoxib can inhibit the proliferation of HL-60 cells in dose-dependent manner, celecoxib causes cell G0/G1 arrest and induces cell apoptosis possibly through down-regulation of the cyclin D1 and cyclin E1 expression, and down-regulation of COX-2 expression respectively.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Celecoxib ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cyclin E ; metabolism ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Oncogene Proteins ; metabolism ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacology ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) is involved in nerve growth in endometriosis-associated ectopic cyst.

METHODSThe effect of CB1R agonist and antagonist on the expression of pan-neuronal marker protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 in ectopic cyst was examined by immunofluorescence and Western blot in endometriosis model of 18 rats.

RESULTSImmunofluorescence revealed that PGP 9.5 was expressed in the nerve fibers and was mainly distributed in the cyst hilum. Western blot revealed that the protein density of either PGP 9.5 (2 week: 0.38 ± 0.05; 4 week: 0.63 ± 0.03; 8 week: 0.80 ± 0.07, P < 0.01) or CB1R (2 week: 0.48 ± 0.04; 4 week: 0.68 ± 0.01; 8 week: 0.80 ± 0.03, P < 0.01) in the ectopic cyst increased with cyst size. In addition, compared to control group (0.75 ± 0.01), PGP 9.5 expression in the ectopic cyst was promoted by CB1R agonist ACPA (0.81 ± 0.01, P < 0.05), and inhibited by CB1R antagonist AM251 (0.67 ± 0.03, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSCB1R was involved in the nerve growth of ectopic cyst associated with endometriosis.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cysts ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endometriosis ; metabolism ; Female ; Peripheral Nerves ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Piperidines ; pharmacology ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of puerarin on MPP(+) -induced SH-SY5Y cells by chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA).

METHODThe Parkinson's disease cell model was established by injuring SH-SY5Y cells with 1 mmol x L(-1) MPP+. The CCK-8 staining was adopted to detect the effect the puerarin of different concentrations on the survival rate of MPP(+)-induced SH-SYSY cells. The autophagosome formation was observed under transmission electron microscope. The AO staining showed the changes in the lysosome activity. RT-PCR was used to detect the changes in Lamp2a and Hsc70 mRNA expressions. The western blotting was adopted to test the expressions of Lamp2a, Hsc70 and alpha-synuclein protein in cells.

RESULTWithin the concentration range of 12. 5-50.0 micromol x L(-1), the pretreatment with puerain for 30 minutes could protect the injury of MPP+ in SH-SY5Y cells, and showed a certain dose-effect relationship. The AO staining and electron microscope showed the effect of puerain within the concentration range of 12.5-50.0 micromol x L(-1) on 1 mmol x L(-1) MPP(+)-induced SH-SY5Y cells; autophagosomes emerged in cells, and increased along with the rise in the puerarin dose. The results of the flow cytometry revealed that 50.0 micromol x L(-1) of puerarin could protect against the increase of the ROS level in 1 mmol x L(-1) MPP(+) -induced SH-SY5Y cells and prevent the oxidative injury. The results of RT-PCR and western blotting indicated that puerain within the concentration range of 12.5-50.0 micromol x L(-1) alleviated the MPP(+)-induced SH-SY5Y cell injury, and inhibited the accumulation of alpha-synuclein proteins in MPP(+) -induced SH-SY5Y cells by up-regulating Hsc70, Lamp2a mRNA and protein level.

CONCLUSIONPuerarin could protect against the MPP(+) -induced cell injury, whose protective mechanism may be related to the chaperone-mediated autophagy pathway of interventional molecules.

Autophagy ; drug effects ; genetics ; HSC70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 2 ; genetics ; Molecular Chaperones ; genetics ; Parkinson Disease ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Phagosomes ; drug effects ; genetics ; Piperidines ; pharmacology ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects ; genetics

Neurotensin receptor-1 (NTR1), which can stimulate the intracellular cascade signal pathway, belongs to the large superfamily of G-protein coupled receptors. NTR1 is related to the occurrence and development of several kinds of diseases. In order to screen the inhibitors for the cancers associated with NTR1 protein, we established a CHO (Chinese hamster ovary) cell line in which human neurotensin receptor-1 was highly expressed. The method is to construct the recombinant plasmid which was lysed with the hNTR1 gene and transfect it into CHO cells. After selected with G418, the cell line was evaluated by Western blotting analysis and calcium flux assays. Through the calcium flux assays on FlexStation 3, we got the EC50 value of neurotensin peptide which is the natural NTR1 agonist, and the IC 50 value of SR48692 which is the known NTR1 antagonist. The established human CHO/NTR1 cell line can be used to study the profile of NTR1 biological activity and further screen of NTR1 antagonists and agonists.
Animals ; CHO Cells ; Calcium Signaling ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Humans ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacology ; Quinolines ; pharmacology ; Receptors, Neurotensin ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection