OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of knocking down fascin on cervical cancer cell proliferation and tumorigenicity in nude mice. METHODS: Cervical cancer CaSki cells were infected with a lentiviral vector carrying fascin siRNA or with a negative control lentivirus, and fascin mRNA and protein expressions in the cells were detected using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. MTT assay was used to determine the proliferation of CaSki cells with fascin knockdown. CaSki cells transfected with fascin siRNA or the control lentiviral vector and non-transfected CaSki cells were inoculated subcutaneously in nude mice, and the volume and weight of the transplanted tumor were measured; Western blotting was used to detect the expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), survivin, cyclin dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) and p21 proteins in the tumor xenograft. RESULTS: Infection with the lentiviral vector carrying fascin siRNA, but not the negative control vector, caused significant reductions in the expression levels of fascin mRNA and protein in CaSki cells ( < 0.05). Fascin knockdown resulted in significantly reduced proliferation of CaSki cells ( < 0.05). The nude mice inoculated with CaSki cells with fascin knockdown showed reduced tumor volume and weight, lowered levels of PCNA, survivin and CDK4, and increased expression of p21 protein in the tumor xenograft compared with the control mice. The negative control lentivirus did not affect the proliferation or tumorigenicity of CaSki cells in nude mice or the expression levels of PCNA, survivin, CDK4 or p21 proteins in the xenografts. CONCLUSIONS Knocking down fascin can inhibit the growth and tumorigenicity of cervical cancer cells in nude mice.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Microfilament Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Survivin ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tumor Burden ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; etiology ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Huaiqihuang Granules (, HQH), a mixture of Chinese herbs including Trametes robiniophila Murr, Fructus Lycii and Polygonatum sibiricum, on adriamycininduced nephropathy (ADRN) in rats and its underlying mechanisms.

METHODSRats with ADRN were divided into four groups: the sham group, the model group (distilled water), the low-dose HQH-treated (2 g/kg) group, and the high-dose HQH-treated (4 g/kg) group. Body weight and 24-h urinary protein (Upro) were checked every week. After 5-week intervention, at the end of the study, the rats were sacrificed and blood samples were collected for examination of biochemical parameters, including glomerular morphological makers, podocyte shape, cellular apoptosis, expressions of nephrin, inflammatory and apoptosis markers.

RESULTSHQH ameliorated the rat's general status, proteinuria, renal morphological appearance and glomerulosclerosis. The decreased expression of nephrin in ADRN rats was increased by HQH, as well as the impaired podocyte foot process fusion. Cytosolic levels of p65 and inhibitor of nuclear factor κBα (IκBα) were decreased in ADRN rats, and recovered by the treatment of HQH. Consistently, the induced expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), phosphorylated nuclear factor κB p65 (p-NFκB p65) and IκBα in ADRN were markedly suppressed by HQH. In addition, induction of Bax, cleaved caspase-3 and cytochrome C in ADRN rats were suppressed by HQH, indicating the amelioration of apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONHQH could ameliorate renal impairments in ADRN rats by increasing nephrin expression, inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway via the down-regulation of p-NF-κB p65 and p-IκBα, and suppression of glomerular and tubular apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Doxorubicin ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Kidney ; drug effects ; pathology ; Kidney Diseases ; blood ; chemically induced ; complications ; drug therapy ; Kidney Glomerulus ; drug effects ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Kidney Tubules ; drug effects ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Proteinuria ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antitumor effect of lycorine on renal cell carcinoma ACHN cells and explore the possible mechanism.

METHODSWe used flow cytometry to examine the effect of lycorine on ACHN cell cycle and apoptosis. The cell proliferation, migration and invasion were assessed with MTS assay, wound healing assay, and Transwell assay, respectively. Colony forming assay was performed, and the mRNA and protein levels of Bax, Bcl-2, survivin, caspase-3, cyclin D1 and CDK4 were measured with qRT-PCR and Western blotting.

RESULTSLycorine obviously inhibited the proliferation of ACHN cells with an IC(50) of 24.34 µmol/L. Lycorine also induced apoptosis of ACHN cells, caused cell cycle arrest at G(0)/G(1) phase, and suppressed the colony forming ability of the cells in a dose-dependent manner. The migration and invasion of ACHN cells were significantly inhibited by 5 µmol/L lycorine. Lycorine up-regulated the mRNA levels of CDK4, Bax, caspase-3 while down-regulated the levels of survivin, Bcl-2 and Cyclin D1; the protein levels of CDK4 and Bax were increased and cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and surviving expressions were decreased, but caspase-3 expression showed no significant changes following the treatment.

CONCLUSIONLycorine has obvious antitumor effect against ACHN cells, suggesting its value as a new therapeutic agent for renal cell carcinoma.

Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; Phenanthridines ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of Foxo3a gene over-expression on the development of rat ovarian granulosa cells and in prevention of cisplatin-induced ovarian damage in rats.

METHODSRat ovarian granulose cells released mechanically from the ovaries were cultured in vitro and identified with HE staining and immunohistochemical staining for FSHR. A recombinant adenovirus carrying Foxo3a gene was constructed for infecting the granulose cells, and the cell growth and expressions of cyclin D1, p27, Bax, and Bim were detected; the cell apoptosis and cell cycle changes were detected using Hoechst/PI 33342 staining and flow cytometry, respectively. The transfected cells were challenged with cisplatin and the cell apoptosis was detected with flow cytometry.

RESULTSOver 90% of the cultured cells survived and contained more than 95% ovarian granulose cells. Infection of the cells with the recombinant adenovirus resulted in over-expressions of Foxo3a at the mRNA and protein levels at 36 h and 48 h after the infection, respectively. The infected cells showed suppressed proliferation, increased apoptotic rate and cell cycle arrest in G1 phase with increased expressions of Bim, p27, and cyclin D1 but without significant changes in Bax expression. Cisplatin exposure caused a significantly higher apoptosis rate in the infected cells than in the control cells.

CONCLUSIONOver-expression of Foxo3a gene can promote granulose cell apoptosis by increasing Bim expression and cause cell cycle arrest in G1 phase by increasing cyclin D1 and p27 expressions, but can not prevent the toxic effects of cisplatin on ovarian granulosa cells.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; Bcl-2-Like Protein 11 ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cisplatin ; adverse effects ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; metabolism ; Female ; Forkhead Box Protein O3 ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Granulosa Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Transfection ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDSurvivin is an oncoprotein silenced in normal mature tissues but reactivated in serous ovarian cancer (SOC). Although transcriptional activation is assumed for its overexpression, the long 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) in survivin gene, which contains many alternate polyadenylation (APA) sites, implies a propensity for posttranscriptional control and therefore was the aim of our study.

METHODSThe abundance of the coding region, the proximal and the distal region of survivin mRNA 3'-UTR, was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in SOC samples, cell lines, and normal fallopian tube (NFT) tissues. The APA sites were confirmed by rapid amplification of cDNA 3' ends and DNA sequencing. Real-time PCR were used to screen survivin-targeting microRNAs (miRNAs) that were inversely correlated with survivin. The expression of an inversely correlated miRNA was restored by pre-miRNA transfection or induction with a genotoxic agent to test its inhibitory effect on survivin overexpression.

RESULTSVarying degrees of APA were observed in SOC by comparing the abundance of the proximal and the distal region of survivin 3'-UTR, and changes of 3'-UTR correlated significantly with survivin expression (r = 0.708, P< 0.01). The main APA sites are proved at 1197 and 1673 of survivin 3'-UTR by DNA sequencing. Higher level of 3'-UTR proximal region than coding region was observed in NFT, as well as in SOC and cell lines. Among the survivin-targeting miRNAs, only a few highly expressed miRNAs were inversely correlated with survivin levels, and they mainly targeted the distal part of the 3'-UTR. However, in ovarian cancer cells, restoration of an inversely correlated miRNA (miR-34c) showed little effect on survivin expression.

CONCLUSIONSIn NFT tissues, survivin is not transcriptionally silenced but regulate posttranscriptionally. In SOC, aberrant APA leads to the shortening of survivin 3'-UTR which enables it to escape the negative regulation of miRNAs and is responsible for survivin up-regulation.

3' Untranslated Regions ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Polyadenylation ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of artesunate (ART) on proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of SKM-1 cells in vitro and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

METHODSAfter SKM-1 cells were treated with different concentrations of ART, the cell proliferation was determined by CCK-8 method. Apoptosis and distribution of cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry. Both DCFH-DA fluorescent probe and Fluo-3-Am fluorescent probe were used to detect the changes of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium ion concentration. Western blot was used to measure the protein levels of BCL-2, BAX, BAD, P-BAD, survivin and XIAP.

RESULTSART obviously inhibited the growth of SKM-1 cells in time and dose-dependent manners (r = -0.841; r = 0.-786). The antioxidant trolox-pretreatment significantly decreased the growth inhibition effect of ART on SKM-1 cells. Caspase inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO partially reduced the growth inhibition effect of ART on SKM-1 cells. After treatment with ART for 24 hours, the apoptosis of SKM-1 cells was found, the cell cycle of SKM-1 was arrested in G0/G1 phase, ART could elevate the levels of calciumion and reactive orygen. ART could significantly down-regulate the protein expression levels of P-BAD and survivin in SKM-1 cells, and showed a highly negative correlation with ART dose (r = -0.909; r = -0.849). On the contrary, ART had no significant effect on expression levels of BAD and XIAP in SKM-1 cells, and after ART treatment, although BCL-2 protein expression was not significantly different when compared with control group, but the BCL-2/BAX ratio significantly decreased and highly negatively correlated with ART dose (r = -0.866).

CONCLUSIONThe ART significantly suppresses the cell proliferation, induces the apoptosis and promoted cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase in SKM-1 cells. The mechanisms of ART anti-MDS is associated with the increase of intracellular calciumion concentration and ROS levels. In addition, the pro-apoptotic activity of ART may be involved in the regulation of BCL-2 /BAX ratio and the expressions of P-bad and survivin.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Artemisinins ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; Oligopeptides ; pharmacology ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of rapamycin on the expression of survivin and caspase-3 at mRNA level in K562 cells and the influence of rapamycin on K562 cell ultrastructure.

METHODSThe effects of rapamycin at various concentration on K562 cell proliferation were analyzed by CCK8; the morphological characteristics of K562 cells was observed by transmission electron microscopy; the expression of survivin and caspase-3 at mRNA level in K562 cells treated with rapamycin was detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe proliferation of K562 cells was significantly inhibited by rapamycin. The apoptosis level of K562 cells increased with increase of rapamycin concentration, the expression of survivin at mRNA level decreased with increase of rapamycin concentration (P < 0.05). The expression of caspase-3 at mRNA level increased with increase of rapamycin concentration.

CONCLUSIONRapamycin can prornote K562 cell apoptosis through up-regulating caspase-3 level and reduceing survivin level.

Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; K562 Cells ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; RNA, Messenger ; Sirolimus ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of Tal1 gene, which is aberrantly expressed in 40%-60% of patients with T lymphocytic leukemia (T-ALL), in the proliferation of T-ALL cells.

METHODSWe established stable Jurkat-siTal1 and Jurkat-T1 cell lines by trasnfecting T-ALL Jurkat cells with lentiviral vectors to knock-down or overexpress Tal1. Jurkat cells transfected with negative control siRNAs for Tal1 knock-down (Jurkat-mock1) and over-expression(Jurkat-mock2) served as the control cells. The proliferation of the cells lines was assessed using CCK-8 assay, and the cell cycle distribution was determined by flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expressions of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2 (CDKN2A) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1 (CDKN2B) were measured by real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively.

RESULTSJurkat-T1 cells showed more active proliferation in vitro than Jurkat-mock2 cells, while Jurkat-siTal1 cells showed slower growth than Jurkat-mock1 cells. In Jurkat-T1 cells, G0/G1 phase cells were decreased and S phase cells increased compared with Jurkat-mock2 cells, and Jurkat-siTal1 cells showed increased G0/G1 phase cells and decreased S phase cells compared with Jurkat-mock1 cells. Real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting showed that Tal1 inhibited the cellular expression of CDKN2A and CDKN2B at both mRNA and protein levels.

CONCLUSIONTal1 promotes the growth and the transition from G0/G1 phase to S phase in T-ALL cells Jurkat by inhibiting the expressions of G0/G1 and S phase negative regulatory proteins CDKN2A and CDKN2B.

Apoptosis ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; Lentivirus ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; T-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Protein 1

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of monoamine oxidase inhibitor phenelzine on proliferation, apoptosis and histone modulation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line Molt-4 cells.

METHODSThe effect of Phenelzine on cell proliferation was detected by MTT. Apoptotic rate was measured by flow cytometry. The variation of apoptosis associated proteins Caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21, tumor suppressor protein p15, and the expression level of histone methylation of H3K4, H3K9 and histone acetylation of H3, DNMT1 were detected by Western Blot.

RESULTS① Molt-4 cell proliferation rates were (87.68±3.54)%, (67.84±3.24)%, (51.48±3.37)%, (28.72±2.56)% respectively after exposured to phenelzine at 5, 10, 15, 20 μmol/L for 24 h, P<0.05. ② After 10 μmol/L of phenelzine exposure for 24, 48, 72 h, cell proliferation rates were (67.84±3.24)%, (50.24±2.01)%, (40.31±2.25)%, P<0.05. ③ The apoptotic rates were (13.64±2.58)%, (31.24±3.42)%, (56.37±4.26)% after phenelzine treatment at 5, 10, 20 μmol/L for 24 h, which was concentration dependent. ④ Phenelzine could upregulate the expression of Bax, caspase-3, p21, and downregulate Bcl-2 expression. Phenelzine upregulated the methylation level of histone H3K4me1, H3K4me2 and histone acetylated H3, while it didn't change the level of histone H3K4me3, H3K9me1, H3K9me2. ⑤ Phenelzine inhibited DNMT1 expression and promoted p15 expression.

CONCLUSIONSPhenelzine increased the methylation of histone H3K4me1, H3K4me2, acetylation of histone H3 and p21, and decreased the expression of DNMT1 and p15, and ultimately inhibited the proliferation and apoptosis of Molt-4 cells.

Acetylation ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; metabolism ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1 ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases ; metabolism ; Histones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Methylation ; Phenelzine ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the inhibition and molecular mechanism of icaritin (ICT) combined doxorubicin (DOX) on human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells in vitro.

METHODSThe control group, ICT groups (10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 µmol/L), DOX groups (1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 µg/mL), and combination groups (20 µmol/ L ICT +1 µg/mL DOX, 20 µmol/L ICT +2 µg/mL DOX, 20 µmol/L ICT +4 µg/mL DOX, 40 µmol/L ICT +1 µg/mL DOX, 40 µmol/L ICT +2 µg/mL DOX, 40 µmol/L ICT +4 µg/mL DOX, 80 µmol/L ICT +1 µg/mL DOX, 80 µmol/L ICT +2 µg/mL DOX, 80 µmol/L ICT +4 µg/mL DOX) were set up. Human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells were respectively cultured and their effects on morphological changes were observed using inverted phase contrast microscope after 24-and 48-h intervention. The cell proliferation inhibition rate of each group was de- termined using CCK-8, and IC50 calculated. The MG-63 apoptosis rate was detected using Annexin V-FITC/ PI double dye flow cytometry. Expression levels of bcl-2, caspase-3, and p21 were detected using RT-PCR.

RESULTSICT and DOX could obviously inhibit the proliferation of MG-63 cell. Along with ICT concentration increasing from 10 µmol/L to 160 µmol/L, the cell proliferation inhibition rate also increased gradually from 9.67% ± 3.62% to 89.18% ± 9.66%. The IC50 was 46.93 µmol/L and 3.87 µg/mL respectively. ICT and DOX could cause either early or late stage apoptosis, down-regulate Bcl-2 gene expression, and up-regulate gene expressions of Caspase-3 and p21 respectively (P < 0.05). Aforesaid changes were more obviously seen in combination groups than in lCT groups and DOX groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCT combined DOX had additive or synergistic inhibition effect for the proliferation of osteosarcoma MG-63 cells, which might be related with regulating gene expressions of bcl-2, caspase-3, and p21.

Apoptosis ; Bone Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Synergism ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Osteosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism