Diallyl trisulfide and diallyl disulfide ameliorate cardiac dysfunction by suppressing apoptotic and enhancing survival pathways in experimental diabetic rats

2013 ◽  
Vol 114 (3) ◽  
pp. 402-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yao-Te Huang ◽  
Chun-Hsu Yao ◽  
Chia-Li Way ◽  
Kung-Wei Lee ◽  
Cheng-Yen Tsai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Diabetic Cardiomyopathy ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Akt Signaling ◽  
Diabetic Rat ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Diallyl Disulfide ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Diallyl Trisulfide ◽  
Akt Signaling Pathway

Cardiovascular disease is one of the major causes of mortality in diabetic patients. Mounting studies have shown that garlic exhibits, possibly through its antioxidant potential, diverse biological activities. In this study, we investigated the alleviating effects of garlic oil (GO) and its two major components, diallyl disulfide (DADS) and diallyl trisulfide (DATS), on diabetic cardiomyopathy in rats. Physiological cardiac parameters were obtained using echocardiography. Apoptotic cells were evaluated using TUNEL and DAPI staining. Protein expression levels were determined using Western blotting analysis. Our findings indicated that in diabetic rat hearts significantly decreased fractional shortening percentage, increased levels of nitrotyrosine, an elevated number of TUNEL-positive cells, enhanced levels of caspase 3 expression, and decreased PI3K-Akt signaling pathway activities were observed. Furthermore, all of these alterations were reversed following both GO and DATS (or DADS) administrations through increasing PI3K-Akt signaling pathway activities and inhibiting both the death receptor-dependent and the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathways. In conclusion, this study shows that DATS and DADS, with the efficacy order DATS > DADS, have the therapeutic potential for ameliorating diabetic cardiomyopathy. Furthermore, the therapeutic effects of GO on diabetic cardiomyopathy should be mainly from DATS and DADS.

scholarly journals Staurosporine suppresses survival of HepG2 cancer cells through Omi/HtrA2-mediated inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Tumor Biology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 101042831769431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youming Ding ◽  
Bin Wang ◽  
Xiaoyan Chen ◽  
Yu Zhou ◽  
Jianhui Ge
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Cell Viability ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Human Cancer ◽  
Akt Signaling ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Concomitant Treatment ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Akt Signaling Pathway

Staurosporine, which is an inhibitor of a broad spectrum of protein kinases, has shown cytotoxicity on several human cancer cells. However, the underlying mechanism is not well understood. In this study, we examined whether and how this compound has an inhibitory action on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway in vitro using HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. Cell viability and apoptosis were determined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase–mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, respectively. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down assay and co-immunoprecipitation were performed to detect protein–protein interactions. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to silence the expression of targeted protein. We found that staurosporine significantly decreased cell viability and increased cell apoptosis in a concentration- and time-dependent manner in HepG2 cancer cells, along with the decreased expressions of PDK1 protein and Akt phosphorylation. Staurosporine was also found to enhance Omi/HtrA2 release from mitochondria. Furthermore, Omi/HtrA2 directly bound to PDK1. Pharmacological and genetic inhibition of Omi/HtrA2 restored protein levels of PDK1 and protected HepG2 cancer cells from staurosporine-induced cell death. In addition, staurosporine was found to activate autophagy. However, inhibition of autophagy exacerbated cell death under concomitant treatment with staurosporine. Taken together, our results indicate that staurosporine induced cytotoxicity response by inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling pathway through Omi/HtrA2-mediated PDK1 degradation, and the process provides a novel mechanism by which staurosporine produces its therapeutic effects.

scholarly journals Hypermethylation of DLG3 Promoter Upregulates RAC1 and Activates the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway to Promote Breast Cancer Progression

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Bingbing Liu ◽  
Yanning Xu ◽  
Lin Zhang ◽  
Xue Yang ◽  
Ling Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Akt Signaling ◽  
Akt Pathway ◽  
Akt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition

Objective. This investigation aimed to figure out the relation between discs large homolog 3 (DLG3) expression and the progression and prognosis of breast cancer (BC). Methods. qRT-PCR was utilized for confirming DLG3 expression and RAC1 mRNA expression in BC tissues and cells. Subsequently, after overexpression or interference of DLG3, the changes of the biological activities of BC cells, including cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis, were detected through CCK-8, colony formation assay, wound healing assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. Furthermore, western blotting was utilized to measure the protein expression of DLG3 and RAC1, as well as related proteins of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Results. At both cellular and tissue level in BC, DLG3 was downregulated and methylation level was upregulated; RAC1 showed an opposite change and was of a negative correlation with DLG3. In MCF-7 and HCC1937, we found that the upregulation of DLG3 could inhibit RAC1 expression as well as cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT, while promoting apoptosis. Also, DLG3 inhibited the activation of the P13K/AKT pathway. Conclusion. Hypermethylation of DLG3 promoter upregulates RAC1 and activates the PI3K/AKT pathway, thus promoting BC progression. This conclusion provides ideas and experimental basis for improving and treating BC patients.

Betaine Alleviates Cognitive Deficits in Diabetic Rats via PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway Regulation

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bingqing Huang ◽  
Xiaoli Hu ◽  
Jie Hu ◽  
Zhenfei Chen ◽  
Hao Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Cognitive Deficits ◽  
Akt Signaling ◽  
Diabetic Rats ◽  
Diabetic Rat ◽  
Akt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Sod Activity ◽  
Akt Activation ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Pathway Regulation

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease which also causes cognitive deficits. Betaine (N,N,N-trimethylglycine), also known as trimethylglycine, has been shown to ameliorate diabetic symptoms in diabetic animals and improve cognitive ability in Alzheimer disease (AD) animals. However, the effects of betaine on cognitive deficits in diabetic animals have not been described yet. Therefore, in the current study, the effects of betaine on cognition in diabetic rats were evaluated. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We established a diabetic rat model by injecting streptozotocin (STZ) into rats and administrated betaine to these diabetic rats. We monitored the metabolism index, and glucose and insulin levels in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. We measured inflammatory cytokine levels, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, in serum and hippocampus. We also monitored oxidative stress in the hippocampus by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. We measured the learning and memory ability of diabetic rats using the Morris water and Y maze tests and tested the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt activation and p-mTOR level in the hippocampus. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Betaine improved glucose metabolism and suppressed the production of inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Also, betaine decreased MDA concentration and increased SOD activity in the hippocampus of diabetic rats. Betaine ameliorated cognitive deficits in diabetic rats, and it promoted PI3K expression and Akt activation and decreased p-mTOR expression. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Betaine alleviates cognitive deficits in STZ-induced diabetic rats via regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

scholarly journals Quercetin Improves Mitochondrial Function and Inflammation in H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress Damage in the Gastric Mucosal Epithelial Cell by Regulating the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Xueting Yao ◽  
Yingbing Mei ◽  
Wanyu Mao
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Epithelial Cell ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Mitochondrial Function ◽  
Akt Signaling ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Akt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Mucosal Epithelial Cell ◽  
Stress Damage

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders, the therapeutic strategy of which it is limited due to its complex pathogenesis. Oxidative stress-induced damage in gastric mucosal epithelial cells is related to the pathogenesis and development of FD. Quercetin (Que) is one of the active ingredients of Zhishi that showed antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Que on oxidative stress-induced gastric mucosal epithelial cells damage and its underlying molecular mechanism. The gastric mucosal epithelial cell line GES-1 was treated with 200 μM of H2O2 to construct an oxidative stress-induced damage model. The H2O2 cells were then administrated with different concentrations of Que. The results indicated that high concentration of Que (100 μM) showed cytotoxicity in H2O2-induced GES-1 cells. However, appropriate concentration of Que (25 and 50 μM) alleviated the oxidative stress damage induced by H2O2, as demonstrated by the increase of proliferation, decrease of ROS generation, apoptosis, inflammation, and alleviation of mitochondrial function and cell barrier. In addition, Que increased the activation of phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT decreased by H2O2. To investigate whether Que alleviated the oxidative stress damage in GES-1 cells by the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, the GES-1 cells were treated with Que (25 μM) combined with and without LY294002, the PI3K inhibitor. The results showed that LY294002 suppressed the alleviation effect on Que in H2O2-induced GES-1 cells. In conclusion, the current study demonstrates that Que alleviates oxidative stress damage in GES-1 cells by improving mitochondrial function and mucosal barrier and suppressing inflammation through regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, indicating the potential therapeutic effects of Que on FD.

scholarly journals IL-8 Enhances Therapeutic Effects of BMSCs on Bone Regeneration via CXCR2-Mediated PI3k/Akt Signaling Pathway

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 361-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aijun Yang ◽  
Yanzhu Lu ◽  
Junchao Xing ◽  
Zhilin Li ◽  
Xiaolong Yin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Regeneration ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Bone Defect ◽  
Chondrogenic Differentiation ◽  
Akt Signaling ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Akt Signaling Pathway

Background/Aims: Tissue engineering bone transplantation with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) is an effective technology to treat massive bone loss, while molecular regulation of the bone regeneration processes remains poorly understood. Here, we aimed to assess the role of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the recruitment of host cells by seeded BMSCs and in the bone regeneration. Methods: A transwell assay was performed to examine the role of IL-8/CXCR1/CXCR2/PI3k/Akt on the migration potential of hBMSCs. The in vitro chondrogenic differentiation of hBMSCs was assessed by examination of 2 chondrogenic markers, Sox9 and type 2 collagen (COL2). mBMSCs were used in tissue engineered bone (TEB) with/without IL-8 implanted into bone defect area with CXCR2 or Akt inhibitors. Density and Masson staining of the regenerated bone were assessed. The chondrogenesis was assessed by expression levels of associated proteins, Sox9 and COL2, by RT-qPCR and by immunohistochemistry. Results: IL-8 may trigger in vitro migration of hBMSCs via CXCR2-mediated PI3k/Akt signaling pathway. IL-8 enhances osteogenesis in the TEB-implanted bone defect in mice. IL-8 induces chondrogenic differentiation of hBMSCs via CXCR2-mediated PI3k/Akt signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: IL-8 enhances therapeutic effects of MSCs on bone regeneration via CXCR2-mediated PI3k/Akt signaling pathway.

Biological role of AKT, and regulation of AKT signaling pathway by thymoquinone: perspectives in cancer therapeutics

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Junaid ◽  
Yeasmin Akter ◽  
Syeda Samira Afrose ◽  
Mousumi Tania ◽  
Md. Asaduzzaman Khan
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Akt Signaling ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Therapeutic Drug ◽  
Akt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Anti Cancer

Background: AKT/PKB is an important enzyme with numerous biological functions, and its overexpression is related to the carcinogenesis. AKT stimulates different signaling pathways that are downstream of activated tyrosine kinases and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, hence functions as an important target for anti-cancer drugs. Objective: In this review article, we have interpreted the role of AKT signaling pathways in cancer and natural inhibitory effect of Thymoquinone (TQ) in AKT and its possible mechanism. Method: We have collected the updated information and data on AKT, their role in cancer and inhibitory effect of TQ in AKT signaling pathway from google scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Elsevier, Scopus and many more. Results: There are many drugs already developed, which can target AKT, but very few among them have passed clinical trials. TQ is a natural compound, mainly found in black cumin, which has been found to have potential anti-cancer activities. TQ targets numerous signaling pathways, including AKT, in different cancers. In fact, many studies revealed that AKT is one of the major targets of TQ. The preclinical success of TQ suggests its clinical studies on cancer. Conclusion: This review article summarizes the role of AKT in carcinogenesis, its potent inhibitors in clinical trials, and how TQ acts as an inhibitor of AKT and TQ’s future as a cancer therapeutic drug.

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