Marsdenia tenacissima injection, a standard Marsdenia tenacissima extract (MTE), has been approved as an adjuvant therapeutic agent for various cancers. Our previous study showed that MTE inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of prostate cancer (PCa) cells. However, the underlying mechanisms and active ingredients of MTE against PCa were not completely understood. This study revealed that MTE induced significant decreases in cell viability and clonal growth in PCa cells. In addition, MTE induced the apoptosis of DU145 cells by reducing the mitochondrial membrane potential and increasing the expression of Cleaved Caspase 3/7, Cyt c, and Bax. In vivo, DU145 xenografted NOD-SCID mice treated with MTE showed significantly decreased tumor size. TUNEL staining and Western blot confirmed the pro-apoptotic effects of MTE. Network pharmacology analysis collected 196 ingredients of MTE linked to 655 potential targets, and 709 PCa-associated targets were retrieved, from which 149 overlapped targets were screened out. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that the HIF-1, PI3K-AKT, and ErbB signaling pathways were closely related to tumor apoptosis. Western blot results confirmed that MTE increased the expression of p-AKT^Ser473 and p-GSK3β^Ser9, and decreased the expression of p-STAT3^Tyr705in vitro and in vivo. A total of 13 compounds in MTE were identified by HPLC-CAD-QTOF-MS/MS and UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. Molecular docking analysis indicated that six compounds may interact with AKT, GSK3β, and STAT3. In conclusion, MTE induces the endogenous mitochondrial apoptosis of PCa by regulating the AKT/GSK3β/STAT3 signaling axis, resulting in inhibition of PCa growth in vitro and in vivo.
Mice ; Animals ; Male ; Humans ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Mice, SCID ; Marsdenia ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Apoptosis ; STAT3 Transcription Factor

BACKGROUND: Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by sicca syndrome and/or systemic manifestations. The treatment is still challenging. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic role and mechanism of exosomes obtained from the supernatant of stem cells derived from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED-exos) in sialadenitis caused by SS. METHODS: SHED-exos were administered to the submandibular glands (SMGs) of 14-week-old non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, an animal model of the clinical phase of SS, by local injection or intraductal infusion. The saliva flow rate was measured after pilocarpine intraperitoneal injection in 21-week-old NOD mice. Protein expression was examined by western blot analysis. Exosomal microRNA (miRNAs) were identified by microarray analysis. Paracellular permeability was evaluated by transepithelial electrical resistance measurement. RESULTS: SHED-exos were injected into the SMG of NOD mice and increased saliva secretion. The injected SHED-exos were taken up by glandular epithelial cells, and further increased paracellular permeability mediated by zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1). A total of 180 exosomal miRNAs were identified from SHED-exos, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis suggested that the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway might play an important role. SHED-exos treatment down-regulated phospho-Akt (p-Akt)/Akt, phospho-glycogen synthase kinase 3β (p-GSK-3β)/GSK-3β, and Slug expressions and up-regulated ZO-1 expression in SMGs and SMG-C6 cells. Both the increased ZO-1 expression and paracellular permeability induced by SHED-exos were abolished by insulin-like growth factor 1, a PI3K agonist. Slug bound to the ZO-1 promoter and suppressed its expression. For safer and more effective clinical application, SHED-exos were intraductally infused into the SMGs of NOD mice, and saliva secretion was increased and accompanied by decreased levels of p-Akt/Akt, p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β, and Slug and increased ZO-1 expression. CONCLUSION Local application of SHED-exos in SMGs can ameliorate Sjögren syndrome-induced hyposalivation by increasing the paracellular permeability of glandular epithelial cells through Akt/GSK-3β/Slug pathway-mediated ZO-1 expression.
Mice ; Animals ; Humans ; Sjogren's Syndrome/therapy* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Tight Junctions/metabolism* ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; Xerostomia ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase ; MicroRNAs/genetics*

Objective: To establish three types of xenotransplantation models using human myeloma cell lines ARP1, MM.1S, and NCI-H929 and to compare the proliferation, tumor load, and biological characteristics of the three types of cells after transplantation. Methods: Suspensions of human myeloma cell lines ARP1, MM.1S, and NCI-H929 were implanted into NOD/SCID mice by subcutaneous injection or tail vein injection. The survival of the mice was observed weekly, and the tumor load was measured. Flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of CD138(+) cells in tumor tissue or the mouse bone marrow. CD138(+) cells and light chains were detected by immunofluorescence. Light chains in bone marow and peipheral blood were measured by ELISA, and bone disease was assessed by micro-CT. Results: Mice injected with ARP1, MM.1S, and NCI-H929 cells all formed tumors subcutaneously in about 2 weeks. Immunofluorescence detection supported plasma cell tumors. Kappa light chains were detected in the peripheral blood of ARP1 mice on day 20 after tail vein transplantation (8.2±1.0 ng/ml) . After 6 weeks of tail vein transplantation, mice in the ARP1 group showed signs of weight loss, mental depression, and dragging legs, and human CD138(+)CD38(+) cells were detected in the bone marrow (BM) . Furthermore, bortezomib (BTZ) treatment given once the tumor was established significantly reduced the tumor burden[ (5.7±0.2) % vs (21.3±2.1) %, P<0.01]. Human CD138(+)CD38(+) cells were not detected in the BM of the MM.1S or NCI-H929 groups. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the mouse models constructed by the three cell lines (ARP1, MM.1S, and NCI-H929) can be used as models for the pathogenesis and clinical research of MM.
Animals ; Bortezomib/therapeutic use* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Mice, SCID ; Multiple Myeloma/drug therapy*

OBJECTIVE: To establish the in vivo traceable acute myeloid leukemia mice model with Luciferase-Expressing KG1a Cells. METHODS: KG1a cells with stable luciferase gene expression (called as KG1a-Luc cells) were constructed by lentivirus transfection, then sifted out by puromycin. Eighteen male NOD-SCID-IL2rg RESULTS: KG1a cells expressing luciferase stably were successfully obtained. The tumor luminescence wildly spread at day 17 captured by in vivo imaging. The KG1a-Luc tumor cells could be detected in the peripheral blood of the mice, with the average percentage of (16.27±6.66)%. The morphology and pathology result showed that KG1a-Luc cells infiltrate was detected in bone marrow, spleens and livers. The survival time of the KG1a-Luc mice was notably shorter as compared with those in the control group, the median survival time was 30.5 days (95%CI: 0.008-0.260). CONCLUSION The acute myeloid leukemia NOD-SCID-IL2rg
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Interleukin Receptor Common gamma Subunit ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Luciferases/genetics* ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Mice, SCID

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of cell division cycle protein 37 (Cdc37) in multiple myeloma (MM) and its effect on MM cell proliferation. METHODS: The expression of Cdc37 mRNA in CD138 RESULTS: Cdc37 was highly expressed in newly diagnosed CD138 CONCLUSION Cdc37 is highly expressed in newly diagnosed MM patients. Inhibition of Cdc37 results in decreased proliferation activity and G
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; Cell Proliferation ; Chaperonins ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Mice, SCID ; Multiple Myeloma

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of topical administration of cyclosporine A (CsA) on salivary secretion and inflammation of the submandibular glands in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. METHODS: Female NOD mice, 21 aged 14 weeks and 18 aged 21 weeks were selected and randomly divided into low-dose group, high-dose group and control group on average. CsA was injected into submandibular glands. One week later the saliva stimulated by pilocarpine was collected and measured. The submandibular glands were collected to make paraffin sections. The lymphocyte infiltration in submandi-bular gland was observed by microscope after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The number of lymphocyte infiltration foci was counted to calculate the focus sore and the ratio of lymphocyte infiltration area to total gland area was figured up by Leica image analysis system. The expressions of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-13, IL-17F, IL22 and IL-23a in the submandibular glands of the NOD mice were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell apoptosis in the submandibular gland was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). The levels of serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid (UA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspertate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin (ALB) and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer to evaluate liver and kidney functions. RESULTS: After topical injection of CsA in the submandibular gland, the stimulated salivary flow rate of the 14- and 21-week-old NOD mice significantly increased compared with the control group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and the number and area of lymphocyte infiltration foci in the 14-week-old NOD mice low-dose group significantly decreased compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Low and high dose of CsA had similar effects on reducing inflammation and improving salivary secretion. The overall level of inflammatory cytokines in the submandibular gland did not decrease significantly. The number of cell apoptosis of submandibular gland in the NOD mice treated with CsA decreased compared with the control group, but there was no statistically significant difference. Topical injection of CsA had no adverse effect on liver and kidney function in the NOD mice. CONCLUSION Topical injection of CsA can reduce lymphocyte infiltration in submandibular gland of NOD mice and improve salivary secretion.
Animals ; Cyclosporine ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/drug therapy* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Inflammation ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Saliva ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; Submandibular Gland

To obtain ultrasound and thermal tomography images of breast cancer during its growth and to assess the value of thermal tomography in detecting breast cancer. Breast cancer models were established with NOD/SCID mice and SD rats. These animal models were examined by thermal tomography,plain ultrasound,and contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Tumor tissues were stained with CD34 to explore the relationship between tumor heat production and vascular pathology. Thermal tomography detected breast cancer 2-4 days earlier than ultrasound. The expression of CD34 in tumor tissues was increased,along with thickened,increased,and irregular blood vessels. Thermal tomography can detect early breast cancer and is a promising tool for screening breast cancer.
Animals ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Early Diagnosis ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Mice, SCID ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; diagnostic imaging ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tomography ; Ultrasonography, Mammary

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antitumor effect of ponatinib on the growth of cholangiocarcinoma xenograft derived from a clinical patient in a mouse model expressing FGFR2-CCDC6 fusion protein. METHODS: Lung metastatic tumor tissue was collected from a patient with advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and implanted subcutaneously a NOD/SCID/ Il2rg-knockout (NSG) mouse. The tumor tissues were harvested and transplanted in nude mice to establish mouse models bearing patient-derived xenograft (PDX) of cholangiocarcinoma expressing FGFR2-CCDC6 fusion protein. The PDX mouse models were divided into 4 groups for treatment with citrate buffer (control group), intragastric administration of 20 mg/kg ponatinib dissolved in citrate buffer (ponatinib group), weekly intraperitoneal injections of 50 mg/kg gemcitabine and 2.5 mg/ kg cisplatin (gemcitabine group), or ponatinib combined with gemcitabine and cisplatin at the same doses (10 mice in each group, and 9 mice were evaluated in ponatinib group). The expressions of p-FGFR, p-FRS2, p-AKT, p-ERK, CD31, and Ki-67 in the xenografts were evaluated with immunohistochemistry, and cell apoptosis was analyzed with cleaved caspase-3 (CC3) staining and TUNEL staining. Western blotting was used to detect the expressions of FGFR2, p-FGFR, AKT, p-AKT, ERK, p-ERK, FRS2 and p-FRS2 in the tumor tissues. RESULTS: Compared with those in the control group, the mice in ponatinib group showed a significantly reduced tumor volume ( CONCLUSIONS Ponatinib can regulate FGFR signaling to inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of tumor cells in mice bearing patient-derived cholangiocarcinoma xenograft with FGFR2 fusion. FGFR inhibitor can serve as a treatment option for patients with cholangiocarcinoma with FGFR2 fusion.
Animals ; Bile Duct Neoplasms/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cholangiocarcinoma/genetics* ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; Heterografts ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Mice, Nude ; Mice, SCID ; Pyridazines ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2 ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

BACKGROUND: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by poor differentiation, high malignancy and rapid growth fast, short double time, early and extensive metastatic malignancy. In clinical, chemotherapy is the main treatment method, while resistance to multiple chemotherapy drugs in six to nine months has been a major clinical challenge in SCLC treatment. Therefore, It has important clinical value to building SCLC aninimal model which is similar to patients with SCLC. Animal model of xenotransplantation (PDX) from the patients with small cell lung cancer can well retain the characteristics of primary tumor and is an ideal preclinical animal model. The study is aimed to establish SCLC PDX animal model and induce the chemoresistance model to help to study the mechanism of chemoresistance and individual treatment. METHODS: Fresh surgical excision or puncture specimens from SCLC patients were transplanted into B-NSGTM mice subcutaneous tissues with severe immunodeficiency in one hour after operation the B-NSGTM mice subcutaneous in 1 hour, and inject chemotherapy drugs intraperitoneally after its tumor growed to 400 mm³ with EP which is cisplatin 8 mg/kg eight days and etoposide 5 mg/kg every two days until 8 cycles. Measure the tumor volum and mice weights regularly, then re-engrafted the largest tumor and continue chemotherapy. RESULTS: Nine cases were conducted for B-NSG mice modeling. Three of nine cases could be engrafted to new B-NSG mice at least two generation. The SCLC PDX animal models have been established successfully. After adopting chemotherapy drugs, the chemoresistance PDX models have been established. High homogeneity was found between xenograft tumor and patient's tumor in histopathology, immunohistochemical phenotype (Syn, CD56, Ki67). CONCLUSIONS The SCLC PDX animal model and the chemoresistance PDX animal model have been successfully constructed, the success rate is 33%, which provides a platform for the clinical research, seeking for biological markers and choosing individual treatment methods of SCLC.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; pharmacology ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Etoposide ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin Receptor Common gamma Subunit ; deficiency ; genetics ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Mice, Knockout ; Mice, SCID ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; methods ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of Zengye Decoction (, ZYD) on the submandibular glands (SMGs) in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. METHODS: Twenty-seven female NOD mice were randomly equally divided into 3 groups: the model group, the hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) group, and the ZYD group. Nine C57/B6 mice served as the normal group. After 1-week acclimation, the HCQ and ZYD groups were intragastrically administered with HCQ and ZYD, respectively, and the normal and model groups were administered with normal saline. Changes in the salivary flow rate were observed. Mice from all 4 groups were sacrificed at the age of 20 weeks. The serum and SMGs were collected. Serum cytokines gamma-interferon (IFN-γ), interleukin-10 (IL-10) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Histological changes in the submandibular glands were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The mRNA expression of IFN-γ, IL-10 and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the submandibular glands were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the salivary flow of the ZYD group significantly increased (P<0.05), the extent of the histological changes was ameliorated (P<0.05), and the Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance was remedied (P<0.05). In the ZYD-treated mice, the VIP mRNA was up-regulated (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS ZYD is beneficial in protecting structure and function of SMGs in NOD mice. The mechanism may be associated with the correction of the Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance, and with the prevention of a progressive decline of the VIP level.
Animals ; Cytokines ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Salivation ; drug effects ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Submandibular Gland ; drug effects ; pathology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; genetics