Hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether combined with He-Ne laser irradiation-induced apoptosis in canine breast cancer cells through the mitochondrial pathway

Effect of photodynamic therapy on peripheral immune system for unresectable cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been emerging as a promising treatment for unresectable cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). A number of experiments have demonstrated that PDT could enhance antitumor immunity significantly. However, the impact of PDT on peripheral immune system for unresectable CCA remains unclear.

METHODS

In a clinical trial comparing the perioperative and long-term outcomes of PDT+stent treatment and stent alone treatment for unresectable CCA, we tested the levels of lymphocytes (CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, NK cells, B cells and Treg cells) and immune-related cytokines (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, TGF-β, perforin, GM-CSF and IFN-γ) in peripheral blood before and after PDT+stent treatment or stent alone treatment and analyzed the influence of PDT on peripheral immune system for unresectable CCA.

RESULTS

Before treatment, the levels of all the immune cells and immune-related cytokines did not show significant differences between the PDT+stent group and stent alone group. The ratio of CD8+ T cells increased significantly after PDT treatment, but other kinds of lymphocytes did not show significant difference. Increased level of IL-6 and decreased level of perforin and TGF-β after PDT treatment were demonstrated, whereas no significant changes were found for other immune-related cytokines.

CONCLUSION

PDT altered the levels of immune cells and immune-related cytokines in the peripheral blood of unresectable CCA patients, potentially correlating with the therapeutic efficacy of PDT in unresectable CCA treatment. Future studies could delve deeper into this aspect to explore how PDT can be more effectively utilized in the management of unresectable CCA.

Comparison of the anti-cancer activity of 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy after continuous wave and pulse irradiation in different histological types of canine mammary sarcoma tumors

Canine mammary sarcoma tumors (CMST) are the most aggressive tumors with poor prognosis in dogs. Due to inadequate treatment options for CMST, recent studies have focused on alternative treatment strategies. We previously determined the optimized protocol of 5-ALA-based photodynamic therapy (PDT) in canine liposarcoma. However, its molecular mechanisms in the treatment of different histological types of CMST remain unclear.In this context, we, for the first time, assessed 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)-PDT-mediated anti-cancer activity and its molecular mechanism after continuous wave (CW) and pulse radiation (PR) on three different histological types (liposarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and osteosarcoma) of CMST cells by WST-1, Annexin V, ROS, acridine orange/propidium iodide staining, RT-PCR, and western blot analysis.Our findings showed that 5-ALA/PDT significantly suppressed the proliferation of CMST cells (p < 0.01) and induced apoptosis via increased ROS level and overexpression of Caspase-9 and Caspase-3 mRNA and cleaved protein levels in especially liposarcoma and chondrosarcoma cells following CW and PR irradiation at 9 J/cm2. However, the response of CMST cells to 5-ALA was different upon CW and PR irradiation due to differences in their origin.Collectively, our findings provided the first evidence that 5-ALA-based PDT could be used as an alternative treatment strategy, especially liposarcoma and chondrosarcoma. However, further in vitro and in vivo studies are required to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism of the efficacy of 5-ALA in CMST cells at the molecular level.

The response of the canine mammary simple carcinoma and carcinosarcoma cells to 5-aminolaevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy: An in vitro study

BACKGROUNDS

Canine mammary gland tumors (CMGTs) are heterogeneous tumors and share many similar features with human breast cancer. Despite the improvement of current treatment options, new treatment modalities are required to effectively kill tumor cells without general toxicity in the treatment of CMGTs. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising method for cancer treatment. However, there is a limited study evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of PDT in the treatment of CMGTs.

METHODS

In this context, we, for the first time, investigated the therapeutic potential of 5-aminolaevulinic acid (5-ALA) mediated PDT at 6 and 12 J/cm² in two different subtypes [Tubulopapillary carcinoma (TPC) and carcinosarcoma (CS)] cells via different molecular analysis. The cytotoxic effects of 5-ALA/PDT on these cells were analyzed by intracellular PpIX level, WST-1 and ROS analysis. Furthermore, the underlying moleculer mechanism of 5-ALA/PDT mediated apoptotic effects on TPC and CS cells were evaluated Annexin V, AO/PI, RT-PCR and western blot analysis.

RESULTS

The 5-ALA/PDT treatment upon irradiation considerably inhibited the viability of both TPC and CS cells (p<0.01) and caused apoptotic death through elevated ROS levels, the activation of Caspase-9, and Caspase-3, and the overexpression of Bax. However, the response of TPC and CS cells to 5-ALA/PDT was different.

CONCLUSIONS

Our preliminary in vitro findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying 5-ALA/PDT mediated apoptosis in both TPC and CS cells. However, the therapeutic response of CMGT cells to 5-ALA/PDT is limited.

Hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether mediated photodynamic therapy inhibits oral squamous cell carcinoma by regulating the P53-miR-21-PDCD4 axis via singlet oxygen

The objective of this study was to determine the mechanism and effect of hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether mediated photodynamic therapy (HMME-PDT) on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Human OSCC CAL-27 cells were randomly divided into four groups: control group, HMME group, laser group, and HMME-PDT group. Cell viability was detected by the CCK-8 method. Cell cycle distribution was evaluated by flow cytometry. GEO database was used to screen differentially expressed microRNAs (DEMs), and TCGA database was performed to verify DEM expression in OSCC and normal tissues. The effects of HMME-PDT on DEM expression were assayed by real-time PCR, and the expressions of miRNAs target genes were measured by western blot. Fluorescence probes were used to determine the production of singlet oxygen (¹O₂). Compared with the other three groups, HMME-PDT dramatically inhibited CAL-27 cell proliferation and induced G0/G1 cycle arrest. The expressions of miR-21 and miR-155 were significantly upregulated in OSCC. HMME-PDT downregulated the expression of miR-21 but had no obvious effect on miR-155. HMME-PDT remarkably upregulated the levels of P53 and miR-21 target proteins, such as PDCD4, RECK, and SPRY2. ¹O₂ was generated during HMME-PDT, and inhibition of ¹O₂ production could reverse the regulation of HMME-PDT on P53, miR-21, and its target proteins, thus restoring cell viability. HMME-PDT can significantly inhibit the growth of OSCC cells, and the mechanism of this effect is related to the regulation of the P53-miR-21-PDCD4 axis via ¹O₂ induced by HMME-PDT.

Scorpion Venom Peptide Effects on Inhibiting Proliferation and Inducing Apoptosis in Canine Mammary Gland Tumor Cell Lines

The most common neoplasms in intact female dogs are CMGTs. BmKn-2, an antimicrobial peptide, is derived from scorpion venom and has published anticancer effects in oral and colon human cancer cell lines. Thus, it is highly likely that BmKn-2 could inhibit CMGT cell lines which has not been previously reported. This study investigated the proliferation and apoptotic properties of BmKn-2 via Bax and Bcl-2 relative gene expression in two CMGT cell lines, metastatic (CHMp-5b) and non-metastatic (CHMp-13a). The results showed that BmKn-2 inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in the CMGT cell lines. The cell morphology clearly changed and increased apoptosis in a dose dependent of manner. The half maximum inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) was 30 µg/mL for CHMp-5b cell line and 54 µg/mL for CHMp-13a cell line. The induction of apoptosis was mediated through Bcl-2 and Bax expression after BmKn-2 treatment. In conclusion, BmKn-2 inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in both CHMp-5b and CHMp-13a cell lines via down-regulation of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of Bax relative mRNA expression. Therefore, BmKn-2 could be feasible as candidate treatment for CMGTs.

Efficacy of 5-aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy in different subtypes of canine mammary gland cancer cells

Canine mammary gland tumors (CMGTs) are heterogeneous disease and subclassified [sarcomas (S), carcinomas (C), and carcinosarcomas (CS)] according to histopathological differentiation. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising treatment strategy based on the use of a photosensitizer (PS) activated by light. However, the therapeutic potential of PDT in the treatment of CMGTs has not been investigated, yet. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the in vitro protocol of 5-ALA-based-PDT for the treatment of three subtypes of CMGTs, for the first time. The intracellular PpIX florescence intensity was measured for 5-ALA (0.5 and 1 mM). After irradiation with different light doses (6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 J/cm²) for two different modes [continuous wave (CW) and pulse radiation (PR)], the cytotoxic effects of 5-ALA (0.5 and 1 mM) on the subtypes (C, S, and CS) of CMGTs were analyzed by WST-1. Finally, the optimal PDT treatment protocol was validated through Annexin V and AO/EtBr staining. Our results showed that 1 mM 5-ALA for 4-h incubation was the best treatment condition in all subtypes of CMGTs due to higher intracellular PpIX level. After irradiation with different light doses, PR mode was more effective in S primary cells at 9 J/cm². However, a significant decrease in the viability of C and CS cells was detected at 12 /cm² in CW mode (p < 0.05). Additionally, 1 mM 5-ALA induced apoptotic cell death in each subtype of CMGTs. Our preliminary findings suggest that (i) each subtype of CMGTs differentially responds to PDT and (ii) the light dose and mode could play an important role in the effective PDT treatment. However, further studies are needed to investigate the role of the different light sources and PDT-based apoptotic cell death in CMGTs cells.

Tricholoma matsutake Aqueous Extract Induces Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Apoptosis via Caspase-Dependent Mitochondrial Pathway

Tricholoma matsutake, one of widely accepted functional mushrooms, possesses various pharmacological activities, and its antitumor effect has become an important research point. Our study aims to evaluate the cytotoxicity activities of T. matsutake aqueous extract (TM) in HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells. In in vitro experiments, TM strikingly reduced cell viability, promoted cell apoptosis, inhibited cell migration ability, induced excessive generation of ROS, and caused caspases cascade and mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. In in vivo experiments, 14-day TM treatment strongly suppressed tumor growth in HepG2 and SMMC-7721-xenografted nude mice without influence on their body weights and liver function. Furthermore, TM increased the levels of cleaved poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), Bad, and Bax and reduced the expressions of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) in treated cells and tumor tissues. All aforementioned results suggest that caspase-dependent mitochondrial apoptotic pathways are involved in TM-mediated antihepatocellular carcinoma.

Tricholoma matsutake Aqueous Extract Induces Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Apoptosis via Caspase-Dependent Mitochondrial Pathway

Tricholoma matsutake, one of widely accepted functional mushrooms, possesses various pharmacological activities, and its antitumor effect has become an important research point. Our study aims to evaluate the cytotoxicity activities of T. matsutake aqueous extract (TM) in HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells. In in vitro experiments, TM strikingly reduced cell viability, promoted cell apoptosis, inhibited cell migration ability, induced excessive generation of ROS, and caused caspases cascade and mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. In in vivo experiments, 14-day TM treatment strongly suppressed tumor growth in HepG2 and SMMC-7721-xenografted nude mice without influence on their body weights and liver function. Furthermore, TM increased the levels of cleaved poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), Bad, and Bax and reduced the expressions of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) in treated cells and tumor tissues. All aforementioned results suggest that caspase-dependent mitochondrial apoptotic pathways are involved in TM-mediated antihepatocellular carcinoma.