Elm tree bark extract inhibits HepG2 hepatic cancer cell growth via pro-apoptotic activity

Therapeutic effect of uridine phosphorylase 1 (UPP1) inhibitor on liver fibrosis in vitro and in vivo

Potassium 5-cyano-4-methyl-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridine-2-olate (CPBMF65) is a potent inhibitor of the uridine phosphorylase 1 (UPP1) enzyme. Its non-ionized analog has already demonstrated biological properties by reducing adverse effects caused by the chemotherapeutic 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). In addition, it has been demonstrated that uridine inhibits inflammation and fibrosis in bleomycin lung injury, decreasing collagen production. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo effects of CPBMF65 on activated hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in mice. After incubation with CPBMF65, decreased cell proliferation and phenotype reversion were observed in vitro. In addition, CPBMF65 promoted a protective effect on tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in mice, demonstrated by its antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory actions. The results of the present study indicate that the UPP1 inhibitor (CPBMF65) may have potential as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of liver fibrosis.

Ulmus davidiana Nakai induces apoptosis and autophagy on non-small cell lung cancer cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ulmus davidiana Nakai (UDN) is frequently used in the treatment of cancer in traditional oriental medicine. Although several reports indicate that UDN has inhibitory effects in some cancers, there has been no report on the inhibitory effects of UDN via both autophagy and apoptosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cytotoxicity induced by UDN in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) H-1299 and H-460 cell lines was evaluated using the 2, 3-Bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide inner salt (XTT) assay and trypan blue exclusion assay. Induction of apoptosis was also investigated using Hoechst staining and annexin-V binding assay and was confirmed with western blot analysis. Induction of autophagy was investigated through observation of autophagy vacuoles under inverted phase-contrast microscopy and was confirmed by observing the formation of autophagy vacuoles under a fluorescence microscope using monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining and western blot analysis. The in vivo anti-tumorigenic effect of UDN was investigated in an athymic nude mouse xenograft model using H-1299 NSCLC cells.

RESULTS

UDN exhibited a marked inhibitory effect on cell growth in H-1299 and H-460 human NSCLC cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner in vitro and in vivo. It induced not only apoptosis, but also autophagy in both H-1299 and H-460 cells in a dose-dependent manner. UDN-mediated autophagy led to the accumulation of autophagosome, resulting in apoptosis induction and cell death.

CONCLUSIONS

From our current knowledge, we are the first to demonstrate that UDN has the potential to induce both autophagy and apoptosis in H-1299 and H-460 human NSCLC cell lines. We suggest that UDN can be considered a potential candidate for lung cancer-specific chemotherapy with efficacy as a cytotoxic agent.

Rapamycin and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate reduce the HEPG2 cell proliferation via increase of free radicals and apoptosis

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most prevalent type of tumor among primary tumors affecting the liver. Rapamycin is currently used as a basis for chemotherapy in the treatment of cancers, including the liver. Because it shows several adverse effects, minimizing these effects without compromising efficacy is important. In this sense other drugs may be used concomitantly. One of these drugs is fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP), which has shown therapeutic effect in various pathological situations, having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory proprieties. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the activity of rapamycin in combination with the FBP in HepG2 cell proliferation and the mechanisms involved. HepG2 cells were analyzed after 72 h of treatment with both drugs. Cell proliferation, cytotoxicity, cytokines, apoptosis, senescence, autophagy and oxidative stress were accessed. Ιt was demonstrated that the combination is more efficient than the single use of substances, because subtherapeutic doses of rapamycin, when associated to FBP become effective, reducing cell proliferation, through a significant increase in the production of tiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), suggesting that this might be the cause of death by apoptosis. According to these results, we believe that the association of both drugs may be a promising choice for the treatment of hepatocarcinoma.

Mechanism of apoptosis induction in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells following treatment with a gecko peptides mixture

The aim of the present study was to investigate the apoptotic effect and molecular mechanisms of gecko peptides mixture (GPM) on the human liver carcinoma HepG2 cell line in vitro. The methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed to identify the dose- (0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25 and 0.30 mg/ml) and time-dependent (24, 48 and 72 h) inhibitory effect of GPM on HepG2 cells and their proliferation. Hoechst 33258 staining was carried out to detect the nuclear change coupled with apoptosis induced by GPM. Western blotting was used to evaluate apoptosis-related protein expression changes induced by GPM, including caspase, cytochrome c (Cyt c) and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). MTT results showed that GPM significantly inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Hoechst 33258 staining demonstrated that GPM induced typical apoptotic morphological changes, while western blotting analysis revealed that GPM increased caspase-3, caspase-9, Cyt c and AIF protein expression levels in HepG2 cells treated with 0.06 or 0.08 mg/ml for 24 h. In conclusion, GPM could induce apoptosis by activating the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptotic pathways.