Upregulation of B-cell translocation gene 2 by epigallocatechin-3-gallate via p38 and ERK signaling blocks cell proliferation in human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells

HOXA1 silencing inhibits cisplatin resistance of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells via IκB/NF-κB signaling pathway

The resistance of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells to cisplatin remains a tough nut to crack in OSCC therapy. Homeobox A1 (HOXA1) overexpression has been detected in head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSC). Accordingly, this study aims to explore the potential role and mechanism of HOXA1 on cisplatin resistance in OSCC. The expression of HOXA1 in HNSC and its role in overall survival (OS) rate of OSCC patients were analyzed by bioinformatic analysis. Following transfection as needed, OSCC cells were induced by different concentrations of cisplatin, and the cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated by cell counting kit-8 and flow cytometry assays. The mRNA and protein expression levels of HOXA1 and the phosphorylation of IκBα and p65 were determined by real-time quantitative PCR and western blot. HOXA1 expression level was upregulated in HNSC tissues and OSCC cells. Overexpressed HOXA1 was correlated with a low OS rate of OSCC patients. Cisplatin exerted an anti-cancer effect on OSCC cells. HOXA1 silencing or cisplatin suppressed OSCC cell viability, boosted the apoptosis, and repressed the phosphorylation of IκBα and p65. Intriguingly, the combination of HOXA1 silencing and cisplatin generated a stronger anti-cancer effect on OSCC cells than their single use. HOXA1 silencing attenuates cisplatin resistance of OSCC cells via IκB/NF-κB signaling pathway, hinting that HOXA1 is a biomarker associated with OSCC and HOXA1 silencing can enhance the sensitivity of OSCC cells to cisplatin.

Plant-Derived Polyphenols to Prevent and Treat Oral Mucositis Induced by Chemo- and Radiotherapy in Head and Neck Cancers Management

Oral Mucositis (OM) is the most common side effect due to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which are the conventional treatment options for head and neck cancers. OM is a severe inflammatory condition characterized by multifactorial etiopathogenesis. It further negatively affects patients' quality of life by severe impairment of normal oral functions. Consequently, it is mandatory to identify new effective therapeutic approaches to both prevent and treat OM while also avoiding any recurrence. Polyphenols recently attracted the interest of the scientific community due to their low toxicity and wide range of biological activities making them ideal candidates for several applications in the odontostomatological field, particularly against OM. This review collects the in vivo studies and the clinical trials conducted over the past 13 years evaluating the preventive and curative effects of several polyphenolic compounds towards chemo- and radiotherapy-induced OM, both when administered alone or as a plant-extracted phytocomplex. The literature fully confirms the usefulness of these molecules, thus opening the possibility of their clinical application. However, polyphenol limitations (e.g., unfavourable physicochemical properties and susceptibility to degradation) have emerged. Consequently, the interest of the scientific community should be focused on developing innovative delivery systems able to stabilize polyphenols, thus facilitating topical administration and maximizing their efficacy.

Phyllanthus emblica fruits: a polyphenol-rich fruit with potential benefits for oral management

The fruit of Phyllanthus emblica Linn., which mainly grows in tropical and subtropical regions, is well-known for its medicine and food homology properties. It has a distinctive flavor, great nutritional content, and potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and immunoregulatory effects. According to an increasing amount of scientific and clinical evidence, this fruit shows significant potential for application and development in the field of oral health management. Through the supplementation of vitamins, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and other nutrients reduce virulence expression of various oral pathogens, prevent tissue and mucosal damage caused by oxidative stress, etc. Phyllanthus emblica fruit can promote saliva secretion, regulate the balance of the oral microecology, prevent and treat oral cancer early, promote alveolar bone remodeling and aid mucosal wound healing. Thus, it plays a specific role in the prevention and treatment of common oral disorders, producing surprising results. For instance, enhancing the effectiveness of scaling and root planing in the treatment of periodontitis, relieving mucosal inflammation caused by radiotherapy for oral cancer, and regulating the blood glucose metabolism to alleviate oral discomfort. Herein, we systematically review the latest research on the use of Phyllanthus emblica fruit in the management of oral health and examine the challenges and future research directions based on its chemical composition and characteristics.

Methyltransferase-like 3-induced N6-methyladenosine upregulation promotes oral squamous cell carcinoma by through p38

BACKGROUND

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), a main type of squamous cell cancer, is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Recent reports suggested methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3)-mediated N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification to be an essential regulator in the fate determination of stem cells. However, the functional significance of METTL3 in OSCC remains largely unknown.

METHODS

METTL3 expression was examined in OSCC patient samples, followed by correlation analysis against clinical tumor features. Functional assays, such as assessment of surface marker expression, colony forming, BrdU incorporation, tumor xenograft assay, and m6A dot blot, were conducted to study the impact of METTL3 knockdown (KD) in OSCC cells.

RESULTS

High METTL3 expression was positively correlated with more severe clinical features of OSCC tumors. METTL3 KD caused impairment of stem-like capacities in OSCC cells, such as tumorigenicity in vivo and colony-forming ability in vitro. Furthermore, METTL3-KD and cycloleucine, a methylation inhibitor, decreased m6A levels and down-regulated p38 expression in OSCC cells. On the contrary, the impaired cell proliferation capacity of OSCC cells after METTL3-KD was restored by exogenous expression of p38.

CONCLUSION

Our findings identified m6A methyltransferase METTL3 as a key element in the regulation of tumorigenesis in OSCC.

Engineering metal‐phenolic networks for enhancing cancer therapy by tumor microenvironment modulation

The complicated tumor microenvironment (TME) is featured by low pH values, high redox status, and hypoxia, which greatly supports the genesis, development, and metastasis of tumors, leading to drug resistance and clinical failure. Moreover, a lot of immunosuppressive cells infiltrate in such TME, resulting in depressing immunotherapy. Therefore, the development of TME-responsive nanoplatforms has shown great significance in enhancing cancer therapeutics. Metal-phenolic networks (MPNs)-based nanosystems, which self-assemble via coordination of phenolic materials and metal ions, have emerged as excellent TME theranostic nanoplatforms. MPNs have unique properties including fast preparation, tunable morphologies, pH response, and biocompatibility. Besides, functionalization and surface modification can endow MPNs with specific functions for application requirements. Here, the representative engineering strategies of various polyphenols are first introduced, followed by the introduction of the engineering mechanisms of polyphenolic nanosystems, fabrication, and distinct properties of MPNs. Then, their advances in TME modulation are highlighted, such as antiangiogenesis, hypoxia relief, combination therapy sensitization, and immunosuppressive TME reversion. Finally, we will discuss the challenges and future perspectives of MPNs-based nanosystems for enhancing cancer therapy. This article is categorized under: Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease.

Effects of artificial honey and epigallocatechin-3-gallate on streptococcus pyogenes

Background

Streptococcus pyogenes is an important global human pathogen that causes pharyngitis, and antibacterial therapy has become an important part of the overall therapy for pharyngitis. As natural derivatives, honey and green tea are often recommended for patients with pharyngitis in traditional Chinese medicine without experimental theoretical basis on wether the combined effect of honey and green tea on pharyngitis is better than they alone. The aims of this study were to explore the effects of artificial honey (AH) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on S. pyogenes and elucidate the possible mechanisms, which were investigated using MIC (the minimum inhibitory concentration), FIC (fractional inhibitory concentration) index, growth pattern, biofilm formation and RT-qPCR.

Results

The MIC of AH on S. pyogenes was 12.5% (v/v) and the MIC of EGCG was 1250 μg/ml. The FIC index of AH and EGCG was 0.5. The planktonic cell growth, growth pattern and biofilm formation assays showed that AH and EGCG mixture had stronger inhibitory effect on S. pyogenes than they alone. RT-qPCR confirmed that the expression of hasA and luxS gene were inhibited by AH and EGCG mixture.

Conclusions

AH and EGCG mixture can inhibit the planktonic cell growth, biofilm formation and some virulence genes expression of S. pyogenes, better than they alone. The combination of honey and green tea have the potential to treat pharyngitis as natural derivatives, avoiding drug resistance and double infection.

An investigation on [5 fluorouracil and epigallocatechin-3-gallate] complex activity on HT-29 cell death and its stability in gastrointestinal fluid

Recently an enhancement of the sensitivity of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells by 5-fluorouracil (5FU) due to the concurrent treatment with epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been found. In the present paper, to investigate on this aspect, adenocarcinoma cells HT29 were treated with 5FU, EGCG and an equimolar mixture of 5FU and EGCG ([5FU+EGCG]) and cell viability was determined. While 5FU exhibits a clear activity, EGCG alone does not express any activity. However by treating the cells with [5FU+EGCG] a strong effect of EGCG is evidenced: the sensitivity of HT29 cells to 5FU was increased by 12-fold. A simulation of the behavior of [5FU+EGCG] in different compartments of the gastrointestinal digestion model was also performed. 5FU and EGCG solubilized into a mixture of digestive fluids analyzed by mass spectrometry did not lead to signals of 5FU, EGCG and the related complex, while by diluting the solution they become detectable. On the contrary, when 5FU and EGCG are submitted to the step-by-step digestion model procedure, the analysis did not show the presence of 5FU, EGCG and [5FU+EGCG]. This behaviour could be ascribed to the instability of these compounds due to the too severe digestion conditions and/or to the complexity of the matrix which could lead in ESI conditions to the suppression of the signals of the analytes of interest.

BTG2 Serves as a Potential Prognostic Marker and Correlates with Immune Infiltration in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background

B-cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2) has been revealed to be involved in the occurrence and development of multiple cancers. However, the role of BTG2 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is still ambiguous. Thus, this study aims to investigate the prognostic value of BTG2 and its correlation with immune infiltration in LUAD.

Methods

The expression of BTG2 in LUAD was analyzed using the TIMER and UALCAN databases. The correlations between BTG2 expression and clinicopathological factors were investigated using the UALCAN databases. The Kaplan–Meier plotter, GEPIA, and TCGA databases were employed to assess the prognostic value of BTG2. The STRING database and Cytoscape software were used to construct an interaction network and mine co-expression genes. The TISIDB database was examined for a correlation between BTG2 and driver genes in LUAD. Enrichment analysis of co-expressed genes and BTG2 was performed using the LinkedOmics database. Finally, the correlations between BTG2 and immune infiltrates were investigated using the TIMER, GEO, and TISIDB database.

Results

BTG2 was significantly downregulated in LUAD. The decreased expression of BTG2 in LUAD was significantly correlated with higher cancer stages and shorter duration of overall survival. The expressions of BTG2-related co-expression genes were associated with the prognosis in LUAD. The expression of BTG2 was closely associated with the mutations of TP53 and ROS1. Enrichment analysis revealed that BTG2 was significantly correlated with immune‐associated signaling pathways and function. In addition, the expression of BTG2 was found to be closely related to immune infiltration, multiple gene markers of immune cells, chemokines, and chemokine receptors.

Conclusion

Our findings have effectively demonstrated that BTG2 expression was downregulated in LUAD, indicating poor prognosis. Closely relating to immune cell infiltration, BTG2 may be a promising immune-related biomarker and molecular target for patients with LUAD.

EGCG inhibits growth of tumoral lesions on lip and tongue of K-Ras transgenic mice through the Notch pathway

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the main active ingredient of green tea, exhibits low toxic side effect and versatile bioactivities, and its anti-cancer effect has been extensively studied. Most of the studies used cancer cell lines and xenograft models. However, whether EGCG can prevent tumor onset after cancer-associated mutations occur is still controversial. In the present study, Krt14-cre/ERT-Kras transgenic mice were developed and the expression of K-RasG12D was induced by tamoxifen. Two weeks after induction, the K-Ras mutant mice developed exophytic tumoral lesions on the lips and tongues, with significant activation of Notch signaling pathway. Administration of EGCG effectively delayed the time of appearance, decreased the size and weight of tumoral lesions, relieved heterotypic hyperplasia of tumoral lesions, and prolonged the life of the mice. The Notch signaling pathway was significantly inhibited by EGCG in the tumoral lesions. Furthermore, EGCG significantly induced cell apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation of tongue cancer cells by blocking the activation of Notch signaling pathway. Taken together, these results indicate EGCG as an effective chemotherapeutic agent for tongue cancer by targeting Notch pathway.

PlatyphyllenoneExerts Anti-Metastatic Effects on Human Oral Cancer Cells by Modulating Cathepsin L Expression, MAPK Pathway and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Advanced-stage oral cancers with lymph node metastasis are associated with poor prognosis and a high mortality rate. Although recent advancement in cancer treatment has effectively improved the oral cancer prognosis, the majority of therapeutic interventions are highly expensive and are associated with severe sideeffects. In the present study, we studied the efficacy of a diarylheptanoid derivative, platyphyllenone, in modulating the metastatic potential of human oral cancer cells. Specifically, we treated the human oral cancer cells (FaDu, Ca9-22, and HSC3) with different concentrations of platyphyllenone and measured the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The study findings revealed that platyphyllenonesignificantly inhibited the motility, migration, and invasion of human oral cancer cells. Mechanistically, platyphyllenone reduced p38 phosphorylation, decreased β-catenin and Slug, increased E-cadherin expression, and reduced cathepsin L expression, which collectively led to a reduction in cancer cell migration and invasion. Taken together, our study indicates that platyphyllenone exerts significant anti-metastatic effects on oral cancer cells by modulating cathepsin L expression, the MAPK signaling pathway, and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process.

Metal-phenolic networks for cancer theranostics

Metal-phenolic networks (MPNs) have shown promising potential in biomedical applications since they provide a rapid, simple and robust way to construct multifunctional nanoplatforms. As a novel nanomaterial self-assembled from metal ions and polyphenols, MPNs can be prepared to assist the theranostics of cancer owing to their bio-adhesiveness, good biocompatibility, versatile drug loading, and stimuli-responsive profile. This Critical Review aims to summarize recent progress in MPN-based nanoplatforms for multimodal tumor therapy and imaging. First, the advantages of MPNs as drug carriers are summarized. Then, various tumor therapeutic modalities based on MPNs are introduced. Next, MPN-based theranostic systems are reviewed. In terms of in vivo applications, specific attention is paid to their biosafety, biodistribution, as well as excretion. Finally, some problems and limitations of MPNs are discussed, along with a future perspective on the field.

Expression of TOB/BTG family members in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

In recent years, the role of anti-proliferative TOB proteins in the regulation of immune response by inhibiting T cell activation has been demonstrated. Nevertheless, no previous studies have explored their expression in patients with IBD. The aim of the study was to characterize the gene and protein expression of the TOB/BTG family in intestinal tissue of patients with IBD. This is an observational and cross-sectional study that included 63 IBD patients. Gene expression of TOB/BTG family was measured by RT-PCR. Protein expression of TOB/CD16 and BTG/Ki-67 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. TOB/BTG family mRNAs were detected and quantitated by RT-qPCR in rectal and ileum biopsies from UC patients and CD patients, respectively, and non-inflammatory control tissues. Results showed that TOB1 and BTG1 gene expression was decreased in the colonic mucosa from patients with UC compared with the control group. The TOB2 and BTG2 genes were over-expressed in the colonic mucosa of patients with UC in remission compared with the active UC and control group. The high TOB2 gene expression was associated with histological remission (P = .01). TOB1/CD16, TOB2/CD16, BTG1/Ki-67, BTG2/Ki-67 and BTG4/Ki-67 single and double positive cells were mostly NK, macrophages, epithelial cells, connective tissue cells and perivascular inflammatory infiltrates in tissues from patients with UC and CD. This is the first depiction of the TOB/BTG family gene and protein expression in rectal and ileum tissues by a CD16⁺ subpopulation in IBD.

LncRNA XIST Inhibits the Progression of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma via Sponging miR-455-3p/BTG2 Axis

Objective

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common cancers, accounting for over 90% of malignant lesions in the oral cavity. Long non-coding RNAs play an important role in the development of OSCC. This study aimed to investigate the effects of lncRNA XIST on the malignant behaviors of OSCC cells and its possible molecular mechanisms.

Methods

Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to detect the RNA and protein level, respectively. CAL27 and SCC25 cells with the lowest expression level of XIST were used for further study. MTT, transwell assay, colony formation, and xenograft model were applied to examine the effect of XIST on the progression of OSCC. FISH assay was performed to investigate the co-location of XIST and miR-455-3p in OSCC cells. The bioinformatics analysis, luciferase, and RNA pull down assay were utilized to predict and verify the target genes of miR-455-3p.

Results

XIST was downregulated in OSCC tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of XIST inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of OSCC cells. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay confirmed XIST could bind to miR-455-3p. Besides, miR-455-3p directly targeted BTG2 in OSCC cells. Rescue experiments further confirmed the positive interaction between miR-455-3p and XIST as well as between miR-455-3p and BTG2.

Conclusion

XIST was down-regulated in OSCC. XIST regulated the expression of BTG2 via sponging miR-455-3p. XIST/miR-455-3p/BTG2 signal axis inhibited the malignant progression of OSCC.

SRXN1 stimulates hepatocellular carcinoma tumorigenesis and metastasis through modulating ROS/p65/BTG2 signalling

Sulfiredoxin 1 (SRXN1) is a pivotal regulator of the antioxidant response in eukaryotic cells. However, the role of SRXN1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is far from clear. The present study aims to elucidate whether SRXN1 participates in tumorigenesis and metastasis of HCC and to determine the molecular mechanisms. We found that SRXN1 expression was up-regulated in HCC tissue samples and correlated with poor prognosis in HCC patients. We also observed that SRXN1 knockdown by transient siRNA transfection inhibited HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Overexpression of SRXN1 increased HCC cell migration and invasion. B-cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2) was identified as a downstream target of SRXN1. Mechanistic studies revealed that SRXN1-depleted reactive oxygen species (ROS) modulated migration and invasion of HCC cells. In addition, the ROS/p65/BTG2 signalling hub was found to regulate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which mediates the pro-metastasis role of SRXN1 in HCC cells. In vivo experiments showed SRXN1 promotes HCC tumour growth and metastasis in mouse subcutaneous xenograft and metastasis models. Collectively, our results revealed a novel pro-tumorigenic and pro-metastatic function of SRXN1 in HCC. These findings demonstrate a rationale to exploit SRXN1 as a therapeutic target effectively preventing metastasis of HCC.

Natural Compounds Targeting Cancer Stem Cells: A Promising Resource for Chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) are the subpopulation of cancer cells which are directly involved in drug resistance, metastases to distant organ and cancer recurrence.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted through various electronic databases including, Pubmed, Scopus, Google scholar using the keywords "cancer stem cells" and "natural compounds" in the present study. Articles published between 1999 and 2019 were reviewed. All the expositions concerning CSCs associated cancer pathogenesis and therapy resistance, as well as targeting these properties of CSCs by natural compounds were selected for the current study.

RESULTS

Natural compounds have always been thought as a rich source of biologically active principles, which target aberrantly activated signaling pathways and other modalities of CSCs, while tethering painful side effects commonly involved in the first-line and second-line chemo-radiotherapies. In this review, we have described the key signaling pathways activated in CSCs to maintain their survival and highlighted how natural compounds interrupt these signaling pathways to minimize therapy resistance, pathogenesis and cancer recurrence properties of CSCs, thereby providing useful strategies to treat cancer or aid in cancer therapy improvement. Like normal stem cells, CSCs rely on different signaling pathways and other properties for their maintenance. Therefore, the success of cancer treatment depends on the development of proper anti-neoplastic drugs capable of intercepting those signaling pathways as well as other properties of CSCs in order to eradicate this evasive subpopulation of cancer cells.

CONCLUSION

Compounds of natural origin might act as an outstanding source to design novel therapies against cancer stem cells.

Aldose Reductase Differential Inhibitors in Green Tea

Aldose reductase (AKR1B1), the first enzyme in the polyol pathway, is likely involved in the onset of diabetic complications. Differential inhibition of AKR1B1 has been proposed to counteract the damaging effects linked to the activity of the enzyme while preserving its detoxifying ability. Here, we show that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), one of the most representative catechins present in green tea, acts as a differential inhibitor of human recombinant AKR1B1. A kinetic analysis of EGCG, and of its components, gallic acid (GA) and epigallocatechin (EGC) as inhibitors of the reduction of L-idose, 4-hydroxy2,3-nonenal (HNE), and 3-glutathionyl l-4-dihydroxynonanal (GSHNE) revealed for the compounds a different model of inhibition toward the different substrates. While EGCG preferentially inhibited L-idose and GSHNE reduction with respect to HNE, gallic acid, which was still active in inhibiting the reduction of the sugar, was less active in inhibiting HNE and GSHNE reduction. EGC was found to be less efficient as an inhibitor of AKR1B1 and devoid of any differential inhibitory action. A computational study defined different interactive modes for the three substrates on the AKR1B1 active site and suggested a rationale for the observed differential inhibition. A chromatographic fractionation of an alcoholic green tea extract revealed that, besides EGCG and GA, other components may exhibit the differential inhibition of AKR1B1.

Preclinical Pharmacological Activities of Epigallocatechin-3-gallate in Signaling Pathways: An Update on Cancer

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the main bioactive component of catechins predominantly present in svarious types of teas. EGCG is well known for a wide spectrum of biological activity as an anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor agent. The effect of EGCG on cell death mechanisms via the induction of apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy has been documented. Moreover, its anti-proliferative and chemopreventive action has been demonstrated in many cancer cell lines. It was also involved in the modulation of cyclooxygenase-2, in oxidative stress and inflammation of different cell processes. EGCG has been reported as a promising target for plasma membrane proteins, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In addition, it has been demonstrated a mechanism of action relying on the inhibition of ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, NF-κB, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). EGCG and its derivatives were used in proteasome inhibition and they were involved in epigenetic mechanisms. In summary, EGCG is the most predominant and bioactive constituent of teas and it has a pivotal role in cancer prevention. Its preclinical pharmacological activities are associated with complex molecular mechanisms that involve numerous signaling pathways.

TGFBI Promotes Tumor Growth and is Associated with Poor Prognosis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Purpose: In a previous study, we found that transforming growth factor beta-induced (TGFBI) is a hub gene strongly associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), using gene chip meta-analysis and PPI network analysis. Thus, the present study was established to explore the role of TGFBI in the pathogenesis of OSCC and to define the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: The correlations between TGFBI expression and the clinicopathological features and prognosis of OSCC were analyzed. Then, TGFBI-knockout HSC-3 cell lines were constructed using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro were determined by cell counting, CCK-8, colony formation, and Transwell assays. Moreover, a xenograft animal study was implemented to determine the tumorigenicity and metastatic ability associated with TGFBI in vivo. The genes and pathways differentially expressed after TGFBI knockout were determined using transcriptional sequencing and bioinformatics.

Results: TGFBI expression was significantly higher in OSCC than in normal tissue. Its high expression was also correlated with high stage and was predictive of poor prognosis, as we expected. Knockout of TGFBI inhibited cell proliferation and clone formation, and enhanced cell migration and invasion in vitro. Besides, the xenograft animal study showed that TGFBI knockout suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Furthermore, transcriptome sequencing revealed that genes associated with cell proliferation, metastasis, and inflammatory responses exhibited a change of expression upon TGFBI knockout. GO and KEGG analyses indicated that the function of TGFBI is related to responses to bacteria and inflammatory responses.

Conclusions: TGFBI overexpression can promote OSCC and is associated with poor prognosis in OSCC patients. TGFBI knockout can inhibit cell proliferation and metastasis in vivo. TGFBI may alter cell responses to bacteria, which causes an imbalance in the immune inflammatory response and promotes the development of OSCC.

Elevated microRNA-145 inhibits the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma through inactivating ERK/MAPK signaling pathway by down-regulating HOXA1

Background: Oral cancer is one of the most frequent solid cancers worldwide, and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) constitutes approximately 90% of oral cancers. The discovery of reliable prognostic indicators would be a potential strategy for OSCC treatment. In the present study, we aim to explore the underlying mechanism by which microRNA-145 (miR-145) affected OSCC. Methods: Forty-eight patients diagnosed with OSCC were enrolled to obtain the OSCC tissues and adjacent normal tissues. The targeting relationship between miR-145 and Homeobox A1 (HOXA1) was verified. In order to assess the effects of miR-145 in OSCC and the detailed regulatory mechanism, the SCC-9 cell line was adopted, in which expression of miR-145 and HOXA1 were altered by transfection. Then, a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to evaluate the cell viability, migration, invasion, and tumor growth. Results: miR-145 was poorly expressed and HOXA1 was highly expressed in OSCC. HOXA1 was verified as a target of miR-145 to mediate the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen activated protein kinase (ERK/MAPK) signaling pathway. In the circumstance of miR-145 elevation or HOXA1 depletion, the SCC-9 cell line manifested with inhibited cell viability, invasion, and migration in vitro, coupled with reduced tumor growth in vivo, with a decreased expression of ERK/MAPK signaling pathway-related genes/proteins. Conclusion: These findings suggested that miR-145 can inhibit HOXA1 to inactivate the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway, thereby suppressing OSCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion to further inhibit the development of OSCC, highlighting a novel therapeutic target for the OSCC treatment.

Effects and mechanisms of tea for the prevention and management of cancers: An updated review

Tea is a traditional and popular beverage worldwide, and the consumption of tea has been demonstrated to possess many health benefits, such as cardiovascular protection, anti-obesity, anti-diabetes, and anticancer. Epidemiological studies have shown that the consumption of tea is inversely associated with the risk of several cancers. In addition, experimental studies have revealed that the anticancer actions of tea are mainly attributed to tea polyphenols, such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate and theaflavins. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that the possible anticancer mechanisms are the inhibition on proliferation, anti-angiogenesis, induction of apoptosis, suppression on metastasis, inhibition on cancer stem cells, and modulation on gut microbiota. Its synergetic anticancer effects with drugs or other compounds could promote anticancer therapies. Furthermore, clinical trials have elucidated that intervention of tea phytochemicals is effective in the prevention of several cancers. This paper is an updated review for the prevention and management of cancers by tea based on the findings from epidemiological, experimental and clinical studies, and special attention is paid on the mechanisms of action.

Combination of 5-Florouracil and polyphenol EGCG exerts suppressive effects on oral cancer cells exposed to radiation

OBJECTIVE

Natural compounds such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) have previously shown chemotherapeutic properties with few side-effects. In our study, we evaluated the effects of combining EGCG with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and radiotherapy on oral squamous cell cancer. We evaluated whether the combination of lower doses of 5-FU with EGCG could be equally or more effective than the use of higher doses of 5-FU alone.

METHODS

Cell viability, migration and cell cycles were assayed in oral cancer cell lines treated with 5-FU, 5-FU + EGCG and radiation (0, 2.5 and 5 Gy).

RESULTS

This study found that the combination of EGCG with 5-FU reduced cell viability and migration distance compared to control samples and the same dose of 5-FU alone. Addition of EGCG increased the number of cells in the G2/M phase, while 5-FU arrested the cell cycle in phase S. Moreover, cell exposure to 5 Gy radiation decreased the effects of combining with EGCG.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, the combination of EGCG and 5-FU reduced both cell viability and migration as well as altered the cell cycle to a greater extent than 5-FU alone.

Para-Toluenesulfonamide Induces Anti-tumor Activity Through Akt-Dependent and -Independent mTOR/p70S6K Pathway: Roles of Lipid Raft and Cholesterol Contents

Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cells can resist many cellular stresses to ensure survival. There is an unmet medical need to fight against the multiple adaptive mechanisms in cells to achieve optimal treatment in patients. Para-toluenesulfonamide (PTS) is a small molecule that inhibited cell proliferation of PC-3 and DU-145, two CRPC cell lines, through p21- and p27-independent G1 arrest of cell cycle in which cyclin D1 was down-regulated and Rb phosphorylation was inhibited. PTS also induced a significant loss of mitochondrial membrane potential that was attributed to up-regulation of both Bak and PUMA, two pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members, leading to apoptosis. PTS inhibited the phosphorylation of m-TOR, 4E-BP1, and p70S6K in both cell lines. Overexpression of constitutively active Akt rescued the inhibition of mTOR/p70S6K signaling in PC-3 cells indicating an Akt-dependent pathway. In contrast, Akt-independent effect was observed in DU-145 cells. Lipid rafts serve as functional platforms for multiple cellular signaling and trafficking processes. Both cell lines expressed raft-associated Akt, mTOR, and p70S6K. PTS induced decreases of expressions in both raft-associated total and phosphorylated forms of these kinases. PTS-induced inhibitory effects were rescued by supplement of cholesterol, an essential constituent in lipid raft, indicating a key role of cholesterol contents. Moreover, the tumor xenograft model showed that PTS inhibited tumor growth with a T/C (treatment/control) of 0.44 and a 56% inhibition of growth rate indicating the in vivo efficacy. In conclusion, the data suggest that PTS is an effective anti-tumor agent with in vitro and in vivo efficacies through inhibition of both Akt-dependent and -independent mTOR/p70S6K pathways. Moreover, disturbance of lipid raft and cholesterol contents may at least partly explain PTS-mediated anti-tumor mechanism.

Bioinformatics analysis of microarray profiling identifies the mechanism of focal adhesion kinase signalling pathway in proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer cells modulated by green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin 3-gallate

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate potential gene and signal pathway associated with tumour progression.

METHODS

Related microarray data set of breast cancer was obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus database, and differential-expressed genes (DEGs) between two control samples and two treated samples were analysed using statistical software R. We collected 50 epigallocatechin-3-gallate(EGCG)-related genes and 119 breast cancer-related genes to create a knowledge base for following pathway analysis.

KEY FINDINGS

A total of 502 mRNAs were identified as DEGs based on microarray analysis. Upregulated DEGs mainly enriched in nuclear nucleosome, cell adhesion, DNA packaging complex, Wnt-activated receptor activity, etc., while the downregulated DEGs significantly enriched in ncRNA processing, mitotic nuclear division, DNA helicase activity, etc. DEGs mostly enriched in gap junction, cell cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, focal adhesion, etc. EGCG suppressed FAK signalling pathway. Furthermore, EGCG could inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation and promote apoptosis by modulating CCND1.

CONCLUSIONS

Epigallocatechin 3-gallate might exert influence on breast cancer progression through inhibiting focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signalling pathway.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate affects the proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of tongue squamous cell carcinoma through the hippo-TAZ signaling pathway

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the mechanism by which epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) inhibits the biological behaviors of the tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) through the Hippo-tafazzin (TAZ) signaling pathway and to provide insights into molecular targeted therapy in TSCC. CAL27 and SCC15 cells were treated with different concentrations of EGCG for 24 h. Cell proliferation was determined using Cell-Counting Kit-8 and EdU assays. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion were measured using scratch and Transwell assays, respectively. Furthermore, protein levels of associated target genes were detected using a western blot assay. It was demonstrated that EGCG affected biological behaviors of CAL27 and SCC15 cells in concentration- and time-dependent manners. In addition, EGCG decreased the protein levels of TAZ, LATS1, MOB1 and JNK. Overexpression of TAZ alleviated the effect of EGCG on CAL27 cells. Furthermore, the combination of EGCG and simvastatin inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion, and promoted apoptosis significantly compared with single treatment in CAL27 cells. The results of the present study suggested that EGCG affects proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of TSCC through the Hippo-TAZ signaling pathway.

Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester Induces N-myc Downstream Regulated Gene 1 to Inhibit Cell Proliferation and Invasion of Human Nasopharyngeal Cancer Cells

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a bioactive component extracted from propolis, is widely studied due to its anti-cancer effect. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is distinct from other head and neck carcinomas and has a high risk of distant metastases. N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) is demonstrated as a tumor suppressor gene in several cancers. Our result showed that CAPE treatment could repress NPC cell growth, through induction of S phase cell cycle arrest, and invasion. CAPE treatment stimulated NDRG1 expression in NPC cells. NDRG1 knockdown increased NPC cell proliferation and invasion and rendered NPC cells less responsive to CAPE growth-inhibiting effect, indicating CAPE repressed NPC cell growth partly through NDRG1indcution. CAPE treatment increased phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and p38 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Pre-treatments by inhibitors of ERK (PD0325901), JNK (SP600125), or p38 (SB201290), respectively, all could partly inhibit the CAPE effect on NDRG1 induction in NPC cells. Further, STAT3 activity was also repressed by CAPE in NPC cells. In summary, CAPE attenuates NPC cell proliferation and invasion by upregulating NDRG1 expression via MAPK pathway and by inhibiting phosphorylation of STAT3. Considering the poor prognosis of NPC patients with metastasis, CAPE could be a promising agent against NPC.

High expression of glutamate-ammonia ligase is associated with unfavorable prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer

Glutamate-ammonia ligase (GLUL), which is also called GS (glutamine synthetase), is the enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of glutamine from glutamate and ammonia in an ATP-dependent reaction. Here, we found higher expression of GLUL in the ovarian cancer patients was associated with worse disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). In addition, GLUL was heterogeneously expressed in various ovarian cancer cells. The mRNA and protein expression levels of GLUL in NIH:OVCAR-3 and ES-2 cells were obviously higher than that in the other types of ovarian cancer cells. Knockdown of GLUL in NIH:OVCAR-3 or ES-2 cells could significantly decrease the proliferation ability. Furthermore, GLUL knockdown markedly inhibited the p38 MAPK signaling pathway in NIH:OVCAR-3 or ES-2 cells. Our findings suggest that decreasing expression of GLUL may be a new approach that can be used for ovarian cancer treatment.

PRMT5 promotes cell proliferation by inhibiting BTG2 expression via the ERK signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma

Increasing evidence suggests that PRMT5, a protein arginine methyltransferase, has roles in cell growth regulation and cancer development. However, the role of PRMT5 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression remains unclear. Here, we showed that PRMT5 expression was frequently upregulated in HCC tissues, and its expression was inversely correlated with overall survival in HCC patients. PRMT5 knockdown markedly inhibited in vitro HCC proliferation and in vivo tumorigenesis. We revealed that the mechanism of PRMT5‐induced proliferation was partially mediated by BTG downregulation, leading to cell cycle arrest during the G1 phase in HCC cells. Ectopic BTG2 overexpression decreased HCC growth, caused cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase, and downregulated Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E1 protein expression. Furthermore, we found that PRMT5‐induced ERK phosphorylation regulated BTG2 expression in HCC cells, whereas pretreatment with a selective ERK1/2 inhibitor (PD184352) significantly reversed the effect of PRMT5 on BTG2 expression. Our results indicated that PRMT5 promotes HCC proliferation by downregulating BTG2 expression via the ERK pathway.

ROS-responsive capsules engineered from green tea polyphenol–metal networks for anticancer drug delivery

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive nanocapsules for cancer drug delivery were engineered from green tea polyphenol–metal networks.

BTG2 is a tumor suppressor gene upregulated by p53 and PTEN in human bladder carcinoma cells

Although widely deemed as a tumor suppressor gene, the role of B-cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2) in bladder cancer is still inconclusive. We investigated the role and regulatory mechanism of BTG2 in bladder cancer. BTG2 expression in human bladder tissues was determined by RT-qPCR and immunoblotting assays. Expressions of BTG2 and PTEN in bladder carcinoma cells were determined by immunoblotting, RT-qPCR, or reporter assays. The ³ H-thymidine incorporation assay, flow cytometry, and the xenograft animal model were used to determine the cell growth. BTG2 expression was lower in human bladder cancer tissues than normal bladder tissues. Highly differentiated bladder cancer cells, RT4, expressed higher BTG2 than the less-differentiated bladder cancer cells, HT1376 and T24. Overexpression of BTG2 in T24 cells inhibited cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Camptothecin and doxorubicin treatments in RT-4 cells or transient overexpression of p53 into p53-mutant HT1376 cells induced p53 and BTG2 expression. Further reporter assays with site-mutation of p53 response element from GGGAAAGTCC to GGAGTCC within BTG2 promoter area showed that p53-induced BTG2 gene expression was dependent on the p53 response element. Ectopic PTEN overexpression in T24 cells blocked the Akt signal pathway which attenuated cell growth via upregualtion of BTG2 gene expression, while reverse effect was found in PTEN-knockdown RT-4 cells. PTEN activity inhibitor (VO-OHpic) treatment decreased BTG2 expression in RT-4 and PTEN-overexpressed T24 cells. Our results suggested that BTG2 functioned as a bladder cancer tumor suppressor gene, and was induced by p53 and PTEN. Modulation of BTG2 expression seems a promising way to treat human bladder cancer.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway in oral cancer

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway is associated with tumor cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. The present review assesses the involvement of the MAPK signaling pathway in oral cancer progression and invasion based on analysis of individual sub-pathways and their mechanisms of action. The regulation of this pathway for targeted oral cancer therapy is explored and the challenges confronting this, as well as corresponding potential solutions, are discussed. Exploring this pathway with an emphasis on its components, subfamilies, sub-pathways, interactions with other pathways and clinical practice modes may improve oral cancer treatment.

Expression and prognosis analyses of the Tob/BTG antiproliferative (APRO) protein family in human cancers

Background

Despite advances in early diagnosis and treatment, cancer remains the major cause of mortality in the world. The Tob/BTG antiproliferative (APRO) protein family is reported to participate in diverse human diseases. However, there’s little known about their expression and prognostic values in most human cancers.

Methods

We performed a detailed cancer vs. normal analysis. The mRNA expression levels of APRO family in various cancers were analyzed via the Oncomine database. Moreover, the Kaplan-Meier Plotter and PrognScan databases were used to evaluate the prognostic values.

Results

We observed that the mRNA expression levels of TOB1-2 and BTG2 were decreased in most cancers compared with normal tissues, while BTG3 was upregulated in most cancers. In survival analyses based on Kaplan-Meier Plotter, TOB1, BTG1 and BTG4 showed significant associations with survival outcome of different subtypes of breast cancer. Decreased BTG2 was related with poor relapse free survival (RFS) in all subtypes of breast cancer. Especially, besides RFS, reduced BTG2 also indicated worse overall survival and distant metastasis free survival in breast cancer patients who were classified as luminal A. Significant prognostic effects of the whole APRO family were also found in lung adenocarcinoma, but not in squamous cell lung carcinoma. In addition, potential correlations between some APRO family members and survival outcomes were also observed in ovarian, colorectal and brain cancer.

Conclusions

Some members of APRO family showed significant expression differences between cancer and normal tissues, and could be prognostic biomarkers for defined cancer types.

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells by Suppressing Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway

The beneficial effects of tea consumption on cancer prevention have been generally reported, while (−)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the major active component from green tea. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a crucial role in the process of cancer development. Targeting CSCs may be an effective way for cancer intervention. However, the effects of EGCG on colorectal CSCs and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Spheroid formation assay was used to enrich colorectal CSCs from colorectal cancer cell lines. Immunoblotting analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to measure the alterations of critical molecules expression. Immunofluorescence staining analysis was also used to determine the expression of CD133. We revealed that EGCG inhibited the spheroid formation capability of colorectal cancer cells as well as the expression of colorectal CSC markers, along with suppression of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis. Moreover, we illustrated that EGCG downregulated the activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, while upregulation of Wnt/β-catenin diminished the inhibitory effects of EGCG on colorectal CSCs. Taken together, this study suggested that EGCG could be an effective natural compound targeting colorectal CSCs through suppression of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, and thus may be a promising agent for colorectal cancer intervention.

GLUL Promotes Cell Proliferation in Breast Cancer

Glutamate-ammonia ligase (GLUL) belongs to the glutamine synthetase family. It catalyzes the synthesis of glutamine from glutamate and ammonia in an ATP-dependent reaction. Here, we found higher expression of GLUL in the breast cancer patients was associated with larger tumor size and higher level of HER2 expression. In addition, GLUL was heterogeneously expressed in various breast cancer cells. The mRNA and protein expression levels of GLUL in SK-BR-3 cells were obviously higher than that in the other types of breast cancer cells. Results showed GLUL knockdown in SK-BR-3 cells could significantly decrease the proliferation ability. Furthermore, GLUL knockdown markedly inhibited the p38 MAPK and ERK1/ERK2 signaling pathways in SK-BR-3 cells. Thus, GLUL may represent a novel target for selectively inhibiting p38 MAPK and ERK1/ERK2 signaling pathways and the proliferation potential of breast cancer cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 2018-2025, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Silymarin and its active component silibinin act as novel therapeutic alternatives for salivary gland cancer by targeting the ERK1/2-Bim signaling cascade

PURPOSE

Approximately 20% of all salivary gland cancer patients who are treated with current treatment modalities will ultimately develop metastases. Its most common form, mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is a highly aggressive tumor with an overall 5-year survival rate of ~30%. Until now, several chemotherapeutic drugs have been tested for the treatment of salivary gland tumors, but the results have been disappointing and the drugs often cause unwanted side effects. Therefore, several recent studies have focused on the potential of alternative and/or complementary therapeutic options, including the use of silymarin.

METHODS

The effects of silymarin and its active component silibinin on salivary gland cancer-derived MC3 and HN22 cells and their underlying molecular mechanisms were examined using trypan blue exclusion, 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, Live/Dead, Annexin V/PI staining, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) measurement, quantitative RT-PCR, soft agar colony formation and Western blotting analyses.

RESULTS

We found that silymarin and silibinin dramatically increased the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bim in a concentration- and time-dependent manner and, concomitantly, induced apoptosis in MC3 and HN22 cells. We also found that ERK1/2 signaling inhibition successfully sensitized these cells to the apoptotic effects of silymarin and silibinin, which indicates that the ERK1/2 signaling pathway may act as an upstream regulator that modulates the silymarin/silibinin-induced Bim signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, we conclude that ERK1/2 signaling pathway inhibition by silymarin and silibinin increases the expression of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member Bim which, subsequently, induces mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in salivary gland cancer-derived cells.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester upregulates N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 via ERK pathway to inhibit human oral cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo

SCOPE

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a bioactive component of propolis, is considered as a new anti-cancer agent. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common oral cancer with unsatisfying survival. N-myc downstream regulated family genes (NDRGs) involve in numerous physiological processes. We investigated the anti-cancer effect of CAPE on OSCC and related mechanisms.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Cell proliferation assay, western blot, gene transfection and knockdown, and reporter assay were applied. We showed that CAPE attenuated OSCC cell proliferation and invasion in vitro, and safely and effectively inhibited OSCC cell growth in a xenograft animal model. CAPE treatment induced NDRG1, but not NDRG2 and NDRG3, expression in OSCC cells as determined by western blot, RT-qPCR, and reporter assay. The 5'-deletion assay demonstrated that CAPE increased NDRG1 promoter activity depending on the region of -128 to +46 of the 5'-flanking of NDRG1 gene. NDRG1 gene knockdown attenuated CAPE anti-growth effect on OSCC cells. CAPE activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. The extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor (PD0325901) and ERK1 knockdown blocked CAPE-induced NDRG1 expression in OSCC cells.

CONCLUSION

CAPE activated MAPK signaling pathway and increased NDRG1 expression through phosphorylation of ERK1/2 to repress OSCC cells growth.

The B-cell translocation gene 1 (CgBTG1) identified in oyster Crassostrea gigas exhibit multiple functions in immune response

B-cell translocation gene 1 (BTG1) is a member of the anti-proliferative gene family, which plays important roles in regulation of cell cycle. In the present study, a B-cell translocation gene 1 molecule homologue (designed CgBTG1) are identified and characterized in oyster Crassostrea gigas. CgBTG1 contains a conserved BTG domain with Box A and Box B motifs, and it shares high similarities with both BTG1 and BTG2 proteins in vertebrates. CgBTG1 mRNA is predominantly expressed in hemocytes, and its expression level in hemocytes is significantly up-regulated at 6 h (5.40-fold, p < 0.01) post Vibrio splendidus stimulation. The apoptosis rate of oyster hemocytes is significantly decreased (p < 0.05) after CgBTG1 interfered by dsRNA (dsCgBTG1). This is indicated that CgBTG1 participated in the regulation of oyster hemocytes apoptosis. Furthermore, CgBTG1 could also induce the apoptosis of cancer cells (HeLa, A549 and BEL7402) in vitro. Compared with normal oysters, both vessel-like structures and muscle fibers in CgBTG1 interfered oysters are severely damaged after V. splendidus challenge in paraffin section, considering that CgBTG1 possessed an analogous feature of angiogenesis for maintenance of vessel-like structures in adductor muscle of oyster. The results suggests that CgBTG1 is a multi-functional molecule involved in the immune response of C. gigas against pathogen infection, which provides more clues for intensive studies of BTG family proteins in invertebrates.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate protects against hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion injury by reducing oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death

Objective

To investigate the protective effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major polyphenol source in green tea, against hepatic ischaemia–reperfusion injury in mice.

Methods

The partial hepatic ischaemia–reperfusion injury model was created by employing the hanging-weight method in C57BL/6 male mice. EGCG (50 mg/kg) was administered via an intraperitoneal injection 45 min before performing the reperfusion. A number of markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis and liver injury were measured after the ischaemia–reperfusion injury had been induced.

Results

The treatment groups were: sham-operated (Sham, n = 10), hepatic ischaemia–reperfusion injury (IR, n = 10), and EGCG with ischaemia–reperfusion injury (EGCG-treated IR, n = 10). Hepatic ischaemia–reperfusion injury increased the levels of biochemical and histological markers of liver injury, increased the levels of malondialdehyde, reduced the glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio, increased the levels of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation markers, decreased B-cell lymphoma 2 levels, and increased the levels of Bax, cytochrome c, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-9. Pretreatment with EGCG ameliorated all of these changes.

Conclusion

The antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects of EGCG protected against hepatic ischaemia–reperfusion injury in mice.

The Iron Chelator, Dp44mT, Effectively Inhibits Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Growth in Vitro and in Vivo

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common malignancy with a growing worldwide incidence and prevalence. The N-myc downstream regulated gene (NDRG) family of NDRG1, 2, 3, and mammary serine protease inhibitor (Maspin) gene are well-known modulators in the neoplasia process. Current research has considered iron chelators as new anti-cancer agents; however, the anticancer activities of iron chelators and their target genes in OSCC have not been well investigated. We showed that iron chelators (Dp44mT, desferrioxamine (DFO), and deferasirox) all significantly inhibit SAS cell growth. Flow cytometry further indicated that Dp44mT inhibition of SAS cells growth was partly due to induction of G1 cell cycle arrest. Iron chelators enhanced expressions of NDRG1 and NDRG3 while repressing cyclin D1 expression in OSCC cells. The in vivo antitumor effect on OSCC and safety of Dp44mT were further confirmed through a xenograft animal model. The Dp44mT treatment also increased Maspin protein levels in SAS and OECM-1 cells. NDRG3 knockdown enhanced the growth of OECM-1 cells in vitro and in vivo. Our results indicated that NDRG3 is a tumor suppressor gene in OSCC cells, and Dp44mT could be a promising therapeutic agent for OSCC treatment.

Prostate-derived ets factor represses tumorigenesis and modulates epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in bladder carcinoma cells

Prostate-derived Ets (E-twenty six) factor (PDEF), an epithelium-specific member of the Ets family of transcription factors, has been shown to play a role in suppressing the development of many epithelium-derived cancers such as prostate and breast cancer. It is not clear, however, whether PDEF is involved in the development or progression of bladder cancer. In a comparison between normal urothelium and bladder tumor tissue, we identified significant decreases of PDEF in the tumor tissue. Further, the immunohistochemistry assays indicated a significantly higher immunostaining of PDEF in low-grade bladder tumors. Additionally, the highly differentiated transitional-cell bladder carcinoma RT-4 cells expressed significantly more PDEF levels than the bladder carcinoma HT1376 and the T24 cells. Ectopic overexpression of PDEF attenuated proliferation, invasion, and tumorigenesis of bladder carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo. PDEF enhanced the expression levels of mammary serine protease inhibitor (MASPIN), N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1), KAI1, and B-cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2). PDEF modulated epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT) by upregulating E-cadherin expression and downregulating the expression of N-cadherin, SNAIL, SLUG, and vimentin, leading to lower migration and invasion abilities of bladder carcinoma cells. Filamentous actin (F-actin) polarization and remodeling were observed in PDEF-knockdown RT-4 cells. Our results suggest that PDEF gene expression is associated with the extent of bladder neoplasia and PDEF modulated the expressions of EMT-related genes. The induction of BTG2, NDRG1, MASPIN, and KAI1 gene expressions by PDEF may explain the inhibitory functions of PDEF on the proliferation, invasion, and tumorigenesis in bladder carcinoma cells.

Targeting of Topoisomerase I for Prognoses and Therapeutics of Camptothecin-Resistant Ovarian Cancer

DNA topoisomerase I (TOP1) levels of several human neoplasms are higher than those of normal tissues. TOP1 inhibitors are widely used in treating conventional therapy-resistant ovarian cancers. However, patients may develop resistance to TOP1 inhibitors, hampering chemotherapy success. In this study, we examined the mechanisms associated with the development of camptothecin (CPT) resistance in ovarian cancers and identified evodiamine (EVO), a natural product with TOP1 inhibiting activity that overcomes the resistance. The correlations among TOP1 levels, cancer staging, and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. The effect of EVO on CPT-resistant ovarian cancer was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. TOP1 was associated with poor prognosis in ovarian cancers (p = 0.024). EVO induced apoptosis that was detected using flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. The tumor size decreased significantly in the EVO treatment group compared with the control group (p < 0.01) in a xenograft mouse model. Effects of drugs targeting TOP1 for prognosis and therapy in CPT-resistant ovarian cancer are anticipated. EVO with TOP1 can be developed as an antiproliferative agent for overcoming CPT resistance in ovarian cancers.