Although the essential oil of Xiangfu Siwu decoction (XFSWD) has strong pharmacological activity, its special physical and chemical properties restrict the clinical application and curative effect. In this paper, Xiangfu Siwu decoction essential oil (XFS-WO) was prepared by forming inclusion complex with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). The present study is to investigate the effect of β-CD inclusion complex on the transport of major components of XFSWO using Caco-2 cell monolayer model, thus to research the effect of this formation on the absorption of drugs with low solubility and high permeability, which belong to class 2 in biopharmaceutics classification system. A sensitive and rapid UPLC-MS/MS method was developed for simultaneous quantification of senkyunolide A, 3-n-butylphthalide, Z-ligustilide, dehydrocostus lactone and α-cyperone, which are active compounds in XFSWO. The transport parameters were analyzed and compared in free oil and its β-CD inclusion complex. The result revealed that the formation of XFSWO/β-CD inclusion complex has significantly increased the transportation and absorption of major active ingredients than free oil. Accordingly, it can be speculated that cyclodextrin inclusion complex can improve bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. Above all these mentioned researches, it provided foundation and basis for physiological disposition and pharmaceutical study of XFSWD.
Biological Transport ; Caco-2 Cells ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Humans ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; beta-Cyclodextrins ; pharmacology

Platinum-based anticancer drugs have been becoming one of the most effective drugs for clinical treatment of malignant tumors for its unique mechanism of action and broad range of anticancer spectrum. But, there are still several problems such as side effects, drug resistance/cross resistance and no-specific targeting, becoming obstacles to restrict its expanding of clinical application. In recent years, supramolecular chemistry drug delivery systems have been gradually concerned for their favorable safety and low toxicity. Supramolecular macrocycles-platinum complexes increased the water solubility, stability and safety of traditional platinum drugs, and have become hot focus of developing novel platinum-based anticancer drugs because of its potential targeting of tumor tissues/organs. This article concentrates in the research progress of the new drug delivery system between platinum-based anticancer drugs with three generations of macrocycles: crown ether, cyclodextrin, cucurbituril and calixarene.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Calixarenes ; Crown Compounds ; Cyclodextrins ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Humans ; Macrocyclic Compounds ; pharmacology ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Platinum Compounds ; pharmacology

PURPOSE: If cholesterol in the cell membrane is depleted by treating cells with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MbetaCD), the activities of transmembrane receptors are altered in a cell-specific and/or receptor-specific manner. The proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1beta is potent inducers of MUC5AC mRNA and protein synthesis in human airway epithelial cells. Cells activated by IL-1beta showed increased phosphorylation of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Thus, we investigated the effects of cholesterol depletion on the expression of MUC5AC in human airway epithelial cells and whether these alterations to MUC5AC expression were related to MAPK activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with 1% MbetaCD before adding IL-1beta for 24 hours, MUC5AC mRNA expression was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real time-PCR. Cholesterol depletion by MbetaCD was measured by modified microenzymatic fluorescence assay and filipin staining. The phosphorylation of IL-1 receptor, ERK and p38 MAPK, was analyzed by western blot. RESULTS: Cholesterol in the cell membrane was significantly depleted by treatment with MbetaCD on cells. IL-1beta-induced MUC5AC mRNA expression was decreased by MbetaCD and this decrease occurred IL-1-receptor-specifically. Moreover, we have shown that MbetaCD suppressed the activation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK in cells activated with IL-1beta. This result suggests that MbetaCD-mediated suppression of IL-1beta-induced MUC5AC mRNA operated via the ERK- and p38 MAPK-dependent pathway. CONCLUSION: Cholesterol depletion in NCI-H292 cell membrane may be considered an anti-hypersecretory method since it effectively inhibits mucus secretion of respiratory epithelial cells.
Cell Membrane/drug effects/*metabolism ; Cholesterol/*metabolism ; Epithelial Cells/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Mucin 5AC/genetics/*metabolism ; Respiratory System/*metabolism/pathology ; beta-Cyclodextrins/pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects and mechanisms of Curcumol beta-cyclodextrin Compound (CbetaC) on the proliferation and apoptosis of esophageal carcinoma cell line TE-1.

METHODSThe CbetaC was prepared by saturated solution and confirmed by infrared absorption spectroscopy. The effects of CbetaC (at 25, 50, 100 mg/L) on the proliferation of human esophageal carcinoma cell line TE-1 in vitro was analyzed by MTT assay. The cell cycles and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometer. The relative expression of survivin mRNA was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and calculated by the 2(-deltaCt) method. The protein expression of survivin was measured by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, results of MTT showed that CbetaC at each dose significantly inhibited the proliferation of TE-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The results of flow cytometry showed that CbetaC resulted in the cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 and G2/M phase, and promoted the cell apoptosis. Besides, when compared with the control group, the protein and mRNA expressions of survivin obviously decreased in each CbetaC group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCbetaC could inhibit the proliferation of esophageal carcinoma cell TE-1 and promote the apoptosis. Its inhibition on the survivin expression was correlated with its inhibition on the malignant phenotypes of esophageal carcinoma cells.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Sesquiterpenes ; pharmacology ; beta-Cyclodextrins ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo develop a drug delivery system triptolide-polyethylenimine-cyclodextrin and to evaluate its anticancer activity in vitro.

METHODSTriptolide was conjugated to polyethylenimine-cyclodextrin by N, N'-carbonyldiimidazole to form triptolide-polyethylenimine-cyclodextrin. (1)H-NMR, FT-IR and XRD were used to confirm its structure. The anticancer effect of the polymer was assessed by MTT assay, erasion trace test and hematoxylin-eosin staining. The potential to condense siRNA and to delivery siRNA into cytoplasm was demonstrated by gel retardation assay, zeta-potential determination and fluorescence staining.

RESULTSTriptolide was successfully conjugated to polyethylenimine-cyclodextrin and the conjugation rate of triptolide was 10% (w/w). siRNA was effectively condensed by the polymer at the N/P ratio of 5, and its particle size was 300 ±15 nm and zeta potential was 8 ±2.5 mV. MTT assay, erasion trace test and hematoxylin-eosin staining revealed that triptolide-polyethylenimine-cyclodextrin had anticancer effect and low cytotoxicity to normal cells. The polymer was able to deliver siRNA to the cytoplasm effectively as demonstrated by fluorescence staining.

CONCLUSIONTriptolide-polyethylenimine-cyclodextrin is able to inhibit the growth and migration of cancer cells in vitro and to carry siRNA into cells effectively. It is potential to be used as a novel prodrug for co-delivery of gene and drug in cancer treatment.

Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclodextrins ; Diterpenes ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Drug Carriers ; Epoxy Compounds ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Nanoparticles ; Phenanthrenes ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Polyethyleneimine ; Polymers

OBJECTIVETo synthesize a (2-Hydroxypropyl)-γ-cyclodextrin-polyethylenimine/adamantane-conjugated doxorubicin (γ-hy-PC/Ada-Dox) based supramolecular nanoparticle with host-guest interaction and to identify its physicochemical characterizations and antitumor effect.

METHODSA novel non-viral gene delivery vector γ-hy-PC/Ada-Dox was synthesized based on host-guest interaction. 1H-NMR, NOESY, UV-Vis, XRD and TGA were used to confirm the structure of the vector. The DNA condensing ability of complexes was investigated by particle size, zeta potential and gel retardation assay. Cytotoxicity of complexes was determined by MTT assay in BEL-7402 and SMMC-7721 cells. Cell wound healing assay was performed in HEK293 and BEL-7404 cells. The transfection efficiency was investigated in HEK293 cells. H/E staining and cell uptake assay was performed in BEL-7402 cells.

RESULTSThe structure of γ-hy-PC/Ada-Dox was characterized by 1H-NMR, NOESY, UV-Vis, XRD, TGA. The drug loading was 0.5% and 5.5%. Gel retardation assay showed that γ-hy-PC was able to completely condense DNA at N/P ratio of 2; 0.5% and 5.5% γ-hy-PC/Ada-Dox was able to completely condense DNA at N/P ratio of 3 and 4,respectively. The cytotoxicity of polymers was lower than that of PEI25KDa. The transfection efficiency of γ-hy-PC was higher than that of γ-hy-PC/Ada-Dox at N/P ratio of 30 in HEK293 cells; and the transfection efficiency was decreasing when Ada-Dox loading was increasing. Cell uptake assay showed that γ-hy-PC/Ada-Dox was able to carry drug and FAM-siRNA into cells.

CONCLUSIONThe novel vector γ-hy-PC/Ada-Dox has been developed successfully, which has certain transfection efficiency and antitumor activity.

2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin ; Adamantane ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Nanoparticles ; Polyethyleneimine ; Transfection ; beta-Cyclodextrins

OBJECTIVETo study the influences of endocannabinoid-anandamide (AEA) on the proliferation and apoptosis of the colorectal cancer cell line (CaCo-2) and to elucidate the effects of CB1 and lipid rafts, and to further elucidate the molecular mechanism and the effect of AEA on the generation and development of colorectal cancer.

METHODSHuman colorectal cancer cell line CaCo-2 was cultured in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum in 5% CO(2) atmosphere at 37°C. CaCo-2 cells were divided into different groups and treated with different concentrations of AEA, AEA + SR141716A, AEA + AM630 and AEA + methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MCD). MTT assay was used to determine the effects of AEA, its putative CB1, CB2 receptor antagonists (SR141716A and AM630) and MCD on the proliferation of CaCo-2 cells. Annexin V-PE/7AAD binding assay was used to detect apoptosis in the CaCo-2 cells. Western-blot was applied to check the expressions of CB1, CB2, p-AKT and caspase-3 proteins in different groups of CaCo-2 cells.

RESULTSAEA inhibited the proliferation of CaCo-2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner and the effect could be antagonized by SR141716A and MCD. The inhibiting rates were (21.52 ± 0.45)%, (42.16 ± 0.21)%, (73.64 ± 0.73)% and (83.28 ± 0.71)%, respectively, at different concentrations of AEA (5, 10, 20 and 40 µmol/L). The three groups (20 µmol/L AEA, 20 µmol/L AEA + 10 µmol/L SR141716A and 20 µmol/L AEA + 1 mmol/L MCD) showed different inhibiting rates [(73.64 ± 0.73)%, (16.15 ± 0.75)% and (12.58 ± 0.63)%], respectively. Annexin V-PE/7AAD binding assay showed that AEA induced apoptosis in the CaCo-2 cells and MCD could antagonize this effect. The apoptosis rates of the three groups (control, 20 µmol/L AEA and 20 µmol/L AEA + 1 mmol/L MCD) were (2.95 ± 0.73)%, (39.61 ± 0.73)% and (14.10 ± 0.64)%, respectively. The expressions of CB1, CB2, p-AKT and Caspase-3 proteins were all observed in the CaCo-2 cells. AEA inhibited p-AKT protein expression and induced caspase-3 protein expression. The two actions were also antagonized by MCD.

CONCLUSIONSAEA can strongly suppress the proliferation of colorectal cancer CaCo-2 cells via the CB1 receptor and membrane cholesterol-LRs and induce apoptosis via lipid rafts. Anandamide plays a very important role in the carcinogenesis and development of colorectal cancer. MCD is a critical member in this system.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arachidonic Acids ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Caco-2 Cells ; Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Endocannabinoids ; Humans ; Indoles ; pharmacology ; Membrane Microdomains ; metabolism ; Piperidines ; pharmacology ; Polyunsaturated Alkamides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacology ; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; beta-Cyclodextrins ; metabolism

Cholesterol is one of major components of cell membrane and plays a role in vesicular trafficking and cellular signaling. We investigated the effects of cholesterol on matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activation in human dermal fibroblasts. We found that tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) expression and active form MMP-2 (64 kD) were dose-dependently increased by methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MbetaCD), a cholesterol depletion agent. In contrast, cholesterol depletion-induced TIMP-2 expression and MMP-2 activation were suppressed by cholesterol repletion. Then we investigated the regulatory mechanism of TIMP-2 expression by cholesterol depletion. We found that the phosphorylation of JNK as well as ERK was significantly increased by cholesterol depletion. Moreover, cholesterol depletion-induced TIMP-2 expression and MMP-2 activation was significantly decreased by MEK inhibitor U0126, and JNK inhibitor SP600125, respectively. While a low dose of recombinant TIMP-2 (100 ng/ml) increased the level of active MMP-2 (64 kD), the high dose of TIMP-2 (> or = 200 ng/ml) decreased the level of active MMP-2 (64 kD). Taken together, we suggest that the induction of TIMP-2 by cholesterol depletion leads to the conversion of proMMP-2 (72 kD) into active MMP-2 (64 kD) in human dermal fibroblasts.
Anthracenes/pharmacology ; Butadienes/pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cholesterol/metabolism/*physiology ; Cyclodextrins/pharmacology ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors/physiology ; Fibroblasts/*drug effects/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoprecipitation ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors/physiology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2/*metabolism ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nitriles/pharmacology ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2/*metabolism

To prepare polyrotaxane-camptothecin conjugates and evaluate its anti-tumor effect, polyrotaxane-camptothecin conjugates were successfully synthesized, and the release behavior was performed; MTT assay and cell morphology were used to examine the inhibition of cells' proliferation effect in vitro. The experimental study of the antitumor effect on S180 mice in vivo was also performed to further evaluate the anti-tumor effect of conjugate. The result showed polyrotaxane-camptothecin conjugates can effectively inhibit the proliferation in a dose dependent effect. In vivo study and cell morphology observation of S180 mice showed significant decrease in growth of tumor, degree of tumor infiltration and blood vessel number. The result indicated anti-tumor mechanism may be through affect the angiogenesis and reduced blood supply to tumor cells and then leading to necrosis.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Camptothecin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclodextrins ; chemistry ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Compounding ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; pathology ; Poloxamer ; chemistry ; Rotaxanes ; chemistry ; Sarcoma 180 ; pathology ; Tumor Burden ; drug effects

Neuronal apoptosis induced by amyloid beta-peptide (A beta) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the molecular mechanism underlying A beta-induced apoptosis remains undetermined. The disialoganglioside GD3 involves ceramide-, Fas- and TNF-alpha-mediated apoptosis in lymphoid cells and hepatocytes. Although the implication of GD3 has been suggested, the precise role of GD3 in A beta-induced apoptosis is still unclear. Here, we investsigated the changes of GD3 metabolism and characterized the distribution and trafficking of GD3 during A beta-induced apoptosis using human brain-derived TE671 cells. Extracellular A beta induced apoptosis in a mitochondrial-dependent manner. GD3 level was negligible in the basal condition. However, in response to extracellular A beta, both the expression of GD3 synthase mRNA and the intracellular GD3 level were dramatically increased. Neosynthesized GD3 rapidly accumulated in cell surface lipid microdomains, and was then translocated to mitochondria to execute the apoptosis. Disruption of membrane lipid microdomains with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin significantly prevented both GD3 accumulation in cell surface and A beta-induced apoptosis. Our data suggest that rapidly accumulated GD3 in plasma membrane lipid microdomains prior to mitochondrial translocation is one of the key events in A beta-induced apoptosis.
Amyloid beta-Peptides/*pharmacology ; *Apoptosis ; Cell Line ; Gangliosides/*metabolism/physiology ; Humans ; Membrane Microdomains/*metabolism ; Mitochondria/*metabolism ; Sialyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; beta-Cyclodextrins/pharmacology