Modulation of intracellular signaling pathways to induce apoptosis in prostate cancer cells

TRAF2 Controls Death Receptor-Induced Caspase-8 Processing and Facilitates Proinflammatory Signaling

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor associated factor-2 (TRAF2) knockout (KO) cells were generated to investigate the role of TRAF2 in signaling by TNFR1 and the CD95-type death receptors (DRs) TRAILR1/2 and CD95. To prevent negative selection effects arising from the increased cell death sensitivity of TRAF2-deficient cells, cell lines were used for the generation of the TRAF2 KO variants that were protected from DR-induced apoptosis downstream of caspase-8 activation. As already described in the literature, TRAF2 KO cells displayed enhanced constitutive alternative NFκB signaling and reduced TNFR1-induced activation of the classical NFκB pathway. There was furthermore a significant but only partial reduction in CD95-type DR-induced upregulation of the proinflammatory NFκB-regulated cytokine interleukin-8 (IL8), which could be reversed by reexpression of TRAF2. In contrast, expression of the TRAF2-related TRAF1 protein failed to functionally restore TRAF2 deficiency. TRAF2 deficiency resulted furthermore in enhanced procaspase-8 processing by DRs, but this surprisingly came along with a reduction in net caspase-8 activity. In sum, our data argue for (i) a non-obligate promoting function of TRAF2 in proinflammatory DR signaling and (ii) a yet unrecognized stabilizing effect of TRAF2 on caspase-8 activity.

Life or death: neuroprotective and anticancer effects of quercetin

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Quercetin is a ubiquitous flavonoid that is present in numerous plants that are utilized in many different cultures for their nervous system and anticancer effects. To better understand the neuroprotective and antiproliferative activities of quercetin, we present a comprehensive review of the divergent actions that contribute to the ethnopharmacological profile of these plants.

RESULTS

The pharmacological activities of quercetin that modulate antioxidation/oxidation/kinase-signaling pathways might be differentially elicited in neurons compared with malignant cells, ultimately promoting cell survival or death in a cell type- and metabolism-specific manner. Whereas the broad antioxidation and anti-inflammatory activities of quercetin are important for neuronal survival, the oxidative, kinase- and cell cycle-inhibitory, apoptosis-inducing effects of quercetin are essential for its anticancer effects. The diverse mechanistic interactions and activities of quercetin that modulate the phosphorylation state of molecules as well as gene expression would alter the interconnected and concerted intracellular signaling equilibrium, either inhibiting or strengthening survival signals. These mechanisms, which have been mainly observed in in vitro studies, cannot be easily translated into an explanation of the divergent simultaneous neuroprotective and anticancer effects observed in vivo. This is in part due to low bioavailability in plasma and in the brain, as well as the nature of the actual active molecules.

CONCLUSIONS

Numerous studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of chronic quercetin intake, which is ethnopharmacologically meaningful, as many plants that are chronically ingested by people contain quercetin. Although quercetin and quercetin-containing plants exhibit potential as therapeutic modalities in neuropathology and in cancer, the data collectively highlight the need to elucidate issues such as bioavailability as well as its correlation with effectiveness at biomarkers in vivo. There would be an increased potentential of these plants for chemoprevention and neuropathology prevention.

Up-regulation of BLT2 is critical for the survival of bladder cancer cells

The incidence rates of urinary bladder cancer continue to rise yearly, and thus new therapeutic approaches and early diagnostic markers for bladder cancer are urgently needed. Thus, identifying the key mediators and molecular mechanisms responsible for the survival of bladder cancer has valuable implications for the development of therapy. In this study, the role of BLT2, a receptor for leukotriene B((4)) (LTB((4))) and 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE), in the survival of bladder cancer 253J-BV cells was investigated. We found that the expression of BLT2 is highly elevated in bladder cancer cells. Also, we observed that blockade of BLT2 with an antagonist or BLT2 siRNA resulted in cell cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death, suggesting a role of BLT2 in the survival of human bladder cancer 253J-BV cells. Further experiments aimed at elucidating the mechanism by which BLT2 mediates survival revealed that enhanced level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated via a BLT2-dependent up-regulation of NADPH oxidase members NOX1 and NOX4. Additionally, we observed that inhibition of ROS generation by either NOX1/4 siRNAs or treatment with an ROS-scavenging agent results in apoptotic cell death in 253J-BV bladder cancer cells. These results demonstrated that a 'BLT2-NOX1/4-ROS' cascade plays a role in the survival of this aggressive bladder cancer cells, thus pointing to BLT2 as a potential target for anti-bladder cancer therapy.

A 60-Hz sinusoidal magnetic field induces apoptosis of prostate cancer cells through reactive oxygen species

PURPOSE

To explore the effects of power frequency magnetic fields (MF) on cell growth in prostate cancer, DU145, PC3, and LNCaP cells were examined in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cells were exposed to various intensities and durations of 60-Hz sinusoidal MF in combination with various serum concentrations in the media. To analyze MF effects on cell growth, cell counting, trypan blue exclusion assay, Western blot analysis, flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), fluorescence microscopy, and spectrofluorometry were used.

RESULTS

MF exposure induced significant cell growth inhibition and apoptosis in an intensity- and time-dependent manner, in which cell cycle arrest, cleaved Caspase-3, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased. Pretreatment with a Caspase-3 inhibitor or antioxidant, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), significantly attenuated MF-induced cell growth inhibition and cell death. Media replacement experiments failed to show any notable change in the MF effects.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate 60-Hz sinusoidal MF-activated cell growth inhibition of prostate cancer in vitro. Apoptosis together with cell cycle arrest were the dominant causes of the MF-elicited cell growth inhibition, mediated by MF-induced ROS. These results suggest that a possibility of using 60-Hz MF in radiation therapy of prostate cancer could usefully be investigated.

Exploitation of protein kinase C: a useful target for cancer therapy

Protein kinase C is a family of serine/threonine kinases. The PKC family is made up of at least 12 isozymes, which have a role in cell proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. Activation of PKC isozyme is dependent on tyrosine-kinase receptors and G-protein-coupled receptors. PKC isozymes regulate multiple signaling pathways including PI3-K/Akt, MAPK, and GSK-3beta. PKC isozymes have variable roles in tumor biology which in part depend on the cell type and intracellular localization. PKC isozymes are commonly dysregulated in the cancer of the prostate, breast, colon, pancreatic, liver, and kidney. Currently, several classes of PKC inhibitors are being evaluated in clinical trials and several challenges in targeting PKC isozymes have been recently identified. In conclusion, PKC remains a promising target for cancer prevention and therapy.

Redox regulation of cell survival

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) play important roles in regulation of cell survival. In general, moderate levels of ROS/RNS may function as signals to promote cell proliferation and survival, whereas severe increase of ROS/RNS can induce cell death. Under physiologic conditions, the balance between generation and elimination of ROS/RNS maintains the proper function of redox-sensitive signaling proteins. Normally, the redox homeostasis ensures that the cells respond properly to endogenous and exogenous stimuli. However, when the redox homeostasis is disturbed, oxidative stress may lead to aberrant cell death and contribute to disease development. This review focuses on the roles of key transcription factors, signal-transduction pathways, and cell-death regulators in affecting cell survival, and how the redox systems regulate the functions of these molecules. The current understanding of how disturbance in redox homeostasis may affect cell death and contribute to the development of diseases such as cancer and degenerative disorders is reviewed. We also discuss how the basic knowledge on redox regulation of cell survival can be used to develop strategies for the treatment or prevention of those diseases.

Intracellular redox status and oxidative stress: implications for cell proliferation, apoptosis, and carcinogenesis

Oxidative stress can be defined as the imbalance between cellular oxidant species production and antioxidant capability. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in a variety of different cellular processes ranging from apoptosis and necrosis to cell proliferation and carcinogenesis. In fact, molecular events, such as induction of cell proliferation, decreased apoptosis, and oxidative DNA damage have been proposed to be critically involved in carcinogenesis. Carcinogenicity and aging are characterized by a set of complex endpoints, which appear as a series of molecular reactions. ROS can modify many intracellular signaling pathways including protein phosphatases, protein kinases, and transcription factors, suggesting that the majority of the effects of ROS are through their actions on signaling pathways rather than via non-specific damage of macromolecules; however, exact mechanisms by which redox status induces cells to proliferate or to die, and how oxidative stress can lead to processes evoking tumor formation are still under investigation.