scholarly journals Synthesis of a New Phenyl Chlormethine-Quinazoline Derivative, a Potential Anti-Cancer Agent, Induced Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Through Mediating Sirt1/Caspase 3 Signaling Pathway

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia-jia Lv ◽  
Wen-ting Song ◽  
Xin-min Li ◽  
Jian-mei Gao ◽  
Ze-li Yuan
Author(s):  
Xiao-Feng Zhu ◽  
Xiao-Jin Li ◽  
Zhong-Lian Cao ◽  
Xiu-Jie Liu ◽  
Ping Yang ◽  
...  

Background: A Chinese folk medicine plant Pleurospermum lindleyanum possesses pharmacological activities of heat-clearing, detoxifying and preventing from hepatopathy, coronary heart disease, hypertension, and high altitude sickness. We isolated and characterized its constituents to investigate its synergistic effects against human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the synergistic anti-cancer activities of isolates from P. lindleyanum with 5-FU on hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells in vitro and their primary mechanisms. Methods: Sequential chromatographic techniques were conducted for the isolation studies. The isolates structures were established by spectroscopic analysis as well as X-ray crystallographic diffraction. Growth inhibition was detected by MTT assay. The isobologram method was used to assess the effect of drug combinations. Flow cytometry and western blot were used to examine apoptosis and protein expression. Results: A new coumarin (16), along with sixteen known compounds, were isolated from the whole plant of P. lindleyanum and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Four coumarins (2, 3, 5, and 16), two flavonoids (8 and 9) and three phytosterols and triterpenes (12-14) were found to synergistically enhance the inhibitory effect of 5-FU against SMMC-7721 cells. Among them, compounds 3 and 16 exhibited the best synergistic effects with IC50 of 5-FU reduced by 16-fold and 22-fold possessing the minimum Combination Index (CI) 0.34 and 0.27. The mechanism of action of combinations might be through synergistic arresting for the cell cycle at G1 phases and the induction of apoptosis. Moreover, western blotting and molecular docking revealed that compounds 3 or 5 might promote 5-FU-induced apoptosis by regulating the expression of Caspase 9 and PARP. Conclusion: Constituents from P. lindleyanum may improve the treatment effectiveness of 5-FU against hepatocellular carcinoma cells.


Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinling Wang ◽  
Chengmin Li ◽  
Yiru Wang ◽  
Lian Li ◽  
Zhaoyu Han ◽  
...  

Ubiquitin-like modifier 1 ligating enzyme 1 (UFL1) is an E3 ligase of ubiquitin fold modifier 1 (UFM1), which can act together with its target protein to inhibit the apoptosis of cells. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) can affect the ovarian health of female animals by affecting the apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells. The physiological function of UFL1 on the apoptosis of bovine (ovarian) granulosa cells (bGCs) remains unclear; therefore, we focused on the modulating effect of UFL1 on the regulation of LPS-induced apoptosis in ovarian granulosa cells. Our study found that UFL1 was expressed in both the nucleus and cytoplasm of bGCs. The results here demonstrated that LPS caused a significant increase in the apoptosis level of bGCs in cows, and also dramatically increased the expression of UFL1. Furthermore, we found that UFL1 depletion caused a significant increase in apoptosis (increased the expression of BAX/BCL-2 and the activity of caspase-3). Conversely, the overexpression of UFL1 relieved the LPS-induced apoptosis. In order to assess whether the inhibition of bGCs apoptosis involved in the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway resulted from UFL1, we detected the expression of NF-κB p-p65. LPS treatment resulted in a significant upregulation in the protein concentration of NF-κB p-p65, and knockdown of UFL1 further increased the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65, while UFL1 overexpression significantly inhibited the expression of NF-κB p-p65. Collectively, UFL1 could suppress LPS-induced apoptosis in cow ovarian granulosa cells, likely via the NF-κB pathway. These results identify a novel role of UFL1 in the modulation of bGC apoptosis, which may be a potential signaling target to improve the reproductive health of dairy cows.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Wang ◽  
Chunhui Xia ◽  
Wei Chen ◽  
Yuhang Chen ◽  
Yiyi Wang ◽  
...  

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a novel and promising antitumor treatment. Our previous study showed that hydrophilic/lipophilic tetra-α-(4-carboxyphenoxy) phthalocyanine zinc- (TαPcZn-) mediated PDT (TαPcZn-PDT) inhibits the proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma Bel-7402 cells by triggering apoptosis and arresting cell cycle. However, mechanisms of TαPcZn-PDT-induced apoptosis of Bel-7402 cells have not been fully clarified. In the present study, therefore, effect of TαPcZn-PDT on apoptosis, P38MAPK, p-P38MAPK, Caspase-8, Caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bid, Cytochrome c, and mitochondria membrane potential in Bel-7402 cells without or with P38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 or Caspase-8 inhibitor Ac-IEFD-CHO was investigated by haematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining assay, flow cytometry analysis of annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) double staining cells and 5,5′,6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′-tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide (JC-1), and immunoblot assay. We found that TαPcZn-PDT resulted in apoptosis induction, activation of P38MAPK, Caspase-8, Caspase-3, and Bid, downregulation of Bcl-2, release of Cytochrome c from mitochondria, and disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential in TαPcZn-PDT-treated Bel-7402 cells. In contrast, SB203580 or Ac-IEFD-CHO attenuated induction of apoptosis, activation of P38MAPK, Caspase-8, Caspase-3, and Bid, downregulation of Bcl-2, release of Cytochrome c from mitochondria, and disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential in TαPcZn-PDT-treated Bel-7402 cells. Taken together, we conclude that Caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bid, and mitochondria are involved in autoregulatory feedback of P38MAPK/Caspase-8 during TαPcZn-PDT-induced apoptosis of Bel-7402 cells.


2012 ◽  
Vol 303 (1) ◽  
pp. E132-E143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang Zhao ◽  
Fengjie Huang ◽  
Mengxiong Tang ◽  
Xiaoming Li ◽  
Nina Zhang ◽  
...  

We demonstrated previously that the activation of ALK7 (activin receptor-like kinase-7), a member of the type I receptor serine/threonine kinases of the TGF-β superfamily, resulted in increased apoptosis and reduced proliferation through suppression of Akt signaling and the activation of Smad2-dependent signaling pathway in pancreatic β-cells. Here, we show that Nodal activates ALK7 signaling and regulates β-cell apoptosis. We detected Nodal expression in the clonal β-cell lines and rodent islet β-cells. Induction of β-cell apoptosis by treatment with high glucose, palmitate, or cytokines significantly increased Nodal expression in clonal INS-1 β-cells and isolated rat islets. The stimuli induced upregulation of Nodal expression levels were associated with elevation of ALK7 protein and enhanced phosphorylated Smad3 protein. Nodal treatment or overexpression of Nodal dose- or time-dependently increased active caspase-3 levels in INS-1 cells. Nodal-induced apoptosis was associated with decreased Akt phosphorylation and reduced expression level of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP). Remarkably, overexpression of XIAP or constitutively active Akt, or ablation of Smad2/3 activity partially blocked Nodal-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, siRNA-mediated ALK7 knockdown significantly attenuated Nodal-induced apoptosis of INS-1 cells. We suggest that Nodal-induced apoptosis in β-cells is mediated through ALK7 signaling involving the activation of Smad2/3-caspase-3 and the suppression of Akt and XIAP pathways and that Nodal may exert its biological effects on the modulation of β-cell survival and β-cell mass in an autocrine fashion.


Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1627
Author(s):  
Min Yeong Kim ◽  
Hyesook Lee ◽  
Seon Yeong Ji ◽  
So Young Kim ◽  
Hyun Hwangbo ◽  
...  

Isoalantolactone (IALT) is one of the isomeric sesquiterpene lactones isolated from the roots of Inula helenium L. IALT is known to possess various biological and pharmacological activities, but its anti-cancer mechanisms are not well understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-proliferative effects of IALT in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and to evaluate the potential anti-cancer mechanisms. Our results demonstrated that IALT treatment concentration-dependently suppressed the cell survival of HCC Hep3B cells, which was associated with the induction of apoptosis. IALT increased the expression of death-receptor-related proteins, activated caspases, and induced Bid truncation, subsequently leading to cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. In addition, IALT contributed to the cytosolic release of cytochrome c by destroying mitochondrial integrity, following an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 expression ratio. However, IALT-mediated growth inhibition and apoptosis were significantly attenuated in the presence of a pan-caspase inhibitor, suggesting that IALT induced caspase-dependent apoptosis in Hep3B cells. Moreover, IALT activated the mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathway, and the anti-cancer effect of IALT was significantly diminished in the presence of a potent c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor. IALT also improved the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), whereas the ROS inhibitor significantly abrogated IALT-induced growth reduction, apoptosis, and JNK activation. Furthermore, ROS-dependent apoptosis was revealed as a mechanism involved in the anti-cancer activity of IALT in a 3D multicellular tumor spheroid model of Hep3B cells. Taken together, our findings indicate that IALT exhibited anti-cancer activity in HCC Hep3B cells by inducing ROS-dependent activation of the JNK signaling pathway.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin-Yu Li ◽  
Xin Zhou ◽  
Yu- Liu ◽  
Feng Qiu ◽  
Qing-Qing Zhao

Abstract Purpose: NeosedumosideIII (Neo) is a megastigmanes and belongs to monocyclic sesquiterpenoids compound with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other pharmacological activities. In order to explore the anti-cancer effect and possible mechanism of Neo, the study examined the anti-proliferation and apoptosis effect of Neo against human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and SMMC-772 cells and related mechanism in vitro. Methods :The anti-proliferation effect of Neo was detected on HepG2 cells and SMMC-772 cells by MTT assay and IC50 with increasing dose and time. Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometer. The changes of Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3, Caspase-8 and Caspase-9 proteins were detected by western blotting.Results :The results indicated that Neo could inhibited proliferation of HepG2 cells and SMMC-772 cells in vitro and promoted apoptosis, it significantly induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells and SMMC-772 cells arrested cell cycle at G0/G1 phase in a dose-dependent manner, reduce the expression of Bcl-2 protein, and increase the expression of Bax and Caspase-3, Caspase-8 and Caspase-9 proteins. Conclusion:Neo could inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells and SMMC-7721 cells in vivo which suggested that it might be served as a promising candidate for the treatment of liver cancer.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingyue Zhu ◽  
Haipeng Feng ◽  
Bo Lin ◽  
Ying Zhou ◽  
Yifeng Zheng ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Vincosamide(Vinco) was first identified in the methanolic extract of the leaves of Psychotria leiocarpa, and Vinco has important anti-inflammatory effects and activity against cholinesterase. However, whether Vinco inhibits the malignant behaviors of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) cells is still unclear. In the present study, we explored the role of Vinco in suppressing the malignant behaviors of HCC cells. Methods MTT and trypan blue exclusion assays were applied to detect the proliferation and death of HCC cells; electron microscopy was performed to observe change in cellular mitochondrial morphology; scratch repair and Transwell assays were used to analyze the migration and invasion of HCC cells; the expression and localization of proteins were detected by laser confocal microscopy and Western blotting; and the growth of the cancer cells in vivo was assessed in a mouse tumor model. Results At a dose of 10–80 µg/ml, Vinco inhibited the proliferation of HCC cells and promoted their apoptosis in a time- and dose-independent manner but had little effect on normal liver cells. Additionally, 80 µg/ml Vinco significantly disrupted the morphology of mitochondria and suppressed the migration and invasion of HCC cells. The growth of HCC cells in the animal tumor model was significantly inhibited after treatment with Vinco (10 mg/kg/day) for 3 days. The results of the present study indicate that Vinco (10–80 µg/ml) plays novel roles in activating caspase-3, promoting the expression of PTEN, and inhibiting the phosphorylation of AKT(Ser 473) and mTOR (Thr2448) and that Vinco was able to also suppress the expression of CXCR4, Src, MMP9, EpCAM, Ras and Oct4 in HCC cells. Conclusions Vinco plays a role in inhibiting the malignant behaviors of HCC cells, and the molecular mechanism may involve in suppressing the expression of the growth-, metastasis-related factors Src, Ras, MMP9, EpCAM and CXCR4 and activating the activity of caspase-3. Vinco also blocks the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Thus, Vinco is an available chemotherapy for HCC patients.


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