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Farrash WF, Aslam A, Almaimani R, Minshawi F, Almasmoum H, Alsaegh A, Iqbal MS, Tabassum A, Elzubier ME, El-Readi MZ, Mahbub AA, Idris S, Refaat B. Metformin and thymoquinone co-treatment enhance 5-fluorouracil cytotoxicity by suppressing the PI3K/mTOR/HIF1α pathway and increasing oxidative stress in colon cancer cells. Biofactors 2023; 49:831-848. [PMID: 36929658 DOI: 10.1002/biof.1947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the chemotherapeutic effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), metformin (Met), and/or thymoquinone (TQ) single/dual/triple therapies in the HT29, SW480 and SW620 colon cancer (CRC) cell lines. Cell cycle/apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. The gene and protein expression of apoptosis (PCNA/survivin/BAX/Cytochrome-C/Caspase-3) and cell cycle (CCND1/CCND3/p21/p27) molecules, the PI3K/mTOR/HIF1α oncogenic pathway, and glycolysis regulatory enzymes were measured by quantitative-PCR and Western blot. Markers of oxidative stress were also measured by colorimetric assays. Although all treatments induced anti-cancer effects related to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, the triple therapy showed the highest pro-apoptotic actions that coincided with the lowest expression of CCND1/CCND3/PCNA/survivin and the maximal increases in p21/p27/BAX/Cytochrome-C/Caspase-3 in all cell lines. The triple therapy also revealed the best suppression of the PI3K/mTOR/HIF1α pathway by increasing its endogenous inhibitors (PTEN/AMPKα) in all cell lines. Moreover, the lowest expression of lactate dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase-1 with the highest expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase were seen with the triple therapy, which also showed the highest increases in oxidative stress markers (ROS/RNS/MDA/protein carbonyl groups) alongside the lowest antioxidant levels (GSH/CAT) in all cell lines. In conclusion, this is the first study to reveal enhanced anti-cancer effects for metformin/thymoquinone in CRC that were superior to all monotherapies and the other dual therapies. However, the triple therapy approach showed the best tumoricidal actions related to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in all cell lines, possibly by enhancing oxidative glycolysis and augmenting oxidative stress through stronger modulation of the PI3K/mTOR/HIF1α oncogenic network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesam F Farrash
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Akhmed Aslam
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Riyad Almaimani
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faisal Minshawi
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hussain Almasmoum
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aiman Alsaegh
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad S Iqbal
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aisha Tabassum
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed E Elzubier
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmoud Z El-Readi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assuit, Egypt
| | - Amani A Mahbub
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shakir Idris
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bassem Refaat
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
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El-Boshy M, Alsaegh A, Qasem AH, Sindi RA, Abdelghany AH, Gadalla H, Reda D, Azzeh F, Idris S, Ahmad J, Refaat B. Enhanced renoprotective actions of Paricalcitol and omega-3 fatty acids co-therapy against diabetic nephropathy in rat. J Adv Res 2022; 38:119-129. [PMID: 35572411 PMCID: PMC9091913 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2021.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Pcal and ω-3 monotherapies moderately attenuated hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia. Pcal and ω-3 monotherapies equally reduced renal oxidative stress and inflammation. Pcal/ω-3 co-therapy showed enhanced anti-diabetic and renoprotection effects. Co-therapy may induce boosted metabolic, anti-oxidative & anti-inflammatory actions.
Introduction Although the synthetic vitamin D analogue, Paricalcitol, and omega-3 Fatty acids (ω-3) alleviated diabetic nephropathy (DN), their combination was not previously explored. Objectives This study measured the potential ameliorative effects of single and dual therapies of Paricalcitol and/or ω-3 against DN. Methods Forty rats were assigned as follow: negative (NC) and positive (PC) controls, Paricalcitol, ω-3 and Paricalcitol + ω-3 groups. Diabetes was generated by high-fat/high-fructose diet and a single streptozotocin injection (40 mg/kg). DN was confirmed by raised fasting blood glucose (FBG), polyuria, proteinuria, and decreased urine creatinine levels. Paricalcitol intraperitoneal injections (0.25 µg/Kg/day; 5 times/week) and oral ω-3 (415 mg/kg/day; 5 times/week) started at week-9 and for eight weeks. Results The PC group showed hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, abnormal renal biochemical parameters, elevated caspase-3 expression, and increased apoptosis by TUNEL technique. The mRNAs and proteins of the pathogenic molecules (TGF-β1/iNOS) and markers of tissue damage (NGAL/KIM-1) augmented substantially in the PC renal tissues relative to the NC group. The oxidative stress (MDA/H2O2/protein carbonyl groups) and pro-inflammatory (IL1β/IL6/TNF-α) markers increased, whereas the anti-inflammatory (IL10) and anti-oxidative (GSH/GPx1/GR/SOD1/CAT) declined, in the PC renal tissues. The monotherapy groups were associated with ameliorated FBG, lipid profile and renal functions, and diminished TGF-β1/iNOS/NGAL/KIM-1/Caspase-3 alongside the apoptotic index than the PC group. The oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory markers decreased, whilst the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory molecules escalated, in the monotherapy groups than the PC group. Although the Paricalcitol renoprotective actions were better than ω-3, all the biomarkers were abnormal than the NC group. Alternatively, the Paricalcitol + ω-3 protocol exhibited the best improvements in metabolic control, renal functions, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. However, FBG and tissue damage were persistently higher in the co-therapy group than controls. Conclusions Both monotherapies showed modest efficacy against DN, whereas their combination displayed boosted renoprotection, possibly by enhancing renal anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed El-Boshy
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Aiman Alsaegh
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed H. Qasem
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ramya A. Sindi
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdelghany H. Abdelghany
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Hossam Gadalla
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Doha Reda
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Firas Azzeh
- Clinical Nutrition Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shakir Idris
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jawwad Ahmad
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bassem Refaat
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
- Corresponding author at: Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Holy Makkah, PO Box 7607, Saudi Arabia.
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Mahbub AA, Aslam A, Elzubier ME, El-Boshy M, Abdelghany AH, Ahmad J, Idris S, Almaimani R, Alsaegh A, El-Readi MZ, Baghdadi MA, Refaat B. Enhanced anti-cancer effects of oestrogen and progesterone co-therapy against colorectal cancer in males. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:941834. [PMID: 36263327 PMCID: PMC9574067 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.941834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Although ovarian sex steroids could have protective roles against colorectal cancer (CRC) in women, little is currently known about their potential anti-tumorigenic effects in men. Hence, this study measured the therapeutic effects of 17β-oestradiol (E2) and/or progesterone (P4) against azoxymethane-induced CRC in male mice that were divided into (n = 10 mice/group): negative (NC) and positive (PC) controls, E2 (580 µg/Kg/day; five times/week) and P4 (2.9 mg/Kg/day; five times/week) monotherapies, and concurrent (EP) and sequential (E/P) co-therapy groups. Both hormones were injected intraperitoneally to the designated groups for four consecutive weeks. Similar treatment protocols with E2 (10 nM) and/or P4 (20 nM) were also used in the SW480 and SW620 human male CRC cell lines. The PC group showed abundant colonic tumours alongside increased colonic tissue testosterone levels and androgen (AR) and oestrogen (ERα) receptors, whereas E2 and P4 levels with ERβ and progesterone receptor (PGR) decreased significantly compared with the NC group. E2 and P4 monotherapies equally increased ERβ/PGR with p21/Cytochrome-C/Caspase-3, reduced testosterone levels, inhibited ERα/AR and CCND1/survivin and promoted apoptosis relative to the PC group. Both co-therapy protocols also revealed better anti-cancer effects with enhanced modulation of colonic sex steroid hormones and their receptors, with E/P the most prominent protocol. In vitro, E/P regimen showed the highest increases in the numbers of SW480 (2.1-fold) and SW620 (3.5-fold) cells in Sub-G1 phase of cell cycle. The E/P co-therapy also disclosed the lowest percentages of viable SW480 cells (2.8-fold), whilst both co-therapy protocols equally showed the greatest SW620 apoptotic cell numbers (5.2-fold) relative to untreated cells. Moreover, both co-therapy regimens revealed maximal inhibitions of cell cycle inducers, cell survival markers, and AR/ERα alongside the highest expression of cell cycle suppressors, pro-apoptotic molecules, and ERβ/PGR in both cell lines. In conclusion, CRC was associated with abnormal levels of colonic sex steroid hormones alongside aberrant protein expression of their receptors. While the anti-cancer effects of E2 and P4 monotherapies were equal, their combination protocols showed boosted tumoricidal actions against CRC in males, possibly by promoting ERβ and PGR-mediated androgen deprivation together with inhibition of ERα-regulated oncogenic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amani A. Mahbub
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Akhmed Aslam
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed E. Elzubier
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, National University, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Mohamed El-Boshy
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Abdelghany H. Abdelghany
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Jawwad Ahmad
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shakir Idris
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Riyad Almaimani
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aiman Alsaegh
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmoud Zaki El-Readi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assuit, Egypt
| | - Mohammed A. Baghdadi
- Research Centre, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bassem Refaat
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
- *Correspondence: Bassem Refaat, ;
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Refaat B, Zekri J, Aslam A, Ahmad J, Baghdadi MA, Meliti A, Idris S, Sultan S, Alardati H, Saimeh HA, Alsaegh A, Alhadrami M, Hamid T, Naeem ME, Elsamany SA. Profiling Activins and Follistatin in Colorectal Cancer According to Clinical Stage, Tumour Sidedness and Smad4 Status. Pathol Oncol Res 2021; 27:1610032. [PMID: 34867090 PMCID: PMC8634429 DOI: 10.3389/pore.2021.1610032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
This study explored the roles of activins and follistatin in colorectal cancers. Paired malignant and normal colonic tissues were collected from archived paraffin-embedded (n = 90 patients) alongside fresh (n = 40 patients) specimen cohorts. Activin β-subunits, follistatin and Smad4 mRNAs and proteins were measured by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Mature activin-A, -B, -AB and follistatin proteins were measured by ELISA. Cancer tissues having ≤ the 20th percentile of the Smad4 IHC score were considered as low (L-S4) group. The Smad4-intact SW480 and Smad4-null HT29 colon cancer cell lines were treated with activins and follistatin, and cell cycle was analysed by flow cytometry. The cell cycle inducing (CCND1/CCND3) and inhibitory (p21/p27) proteins alongside the survival (survivin/BCL2) and pro-apoptosis (Casp-8/Casp-3) markers were measured by immunofluorescence. Thirty-nine patients had right-sided cancers (30%) and showed higher rates of L-S4 tumours (n = 17; 13.1%) alongside worse clinicopathological characteristics relative to left-sided cancers. The βA-subunit and activin-A increased, whilst βB-subunit and activin-AB decreased, in malignant sites and the late-stage cancers revealed the greatest abnormalities. Interestingly, follistatin declined markedly in early-stage malignant tissues, whilst increased significantly in the advanced stages. All activin molecules were comparable between the early stage right- and left-sided tumours, whereas the late-stage right-sided cancers and L-S4 tumours showed more profound deregulations. In vitro, activin-A increased the numbers of the SW480 cells in sub-G1 and G0/G1-phases, whereas reduced the HT29 cell numbers in the sub-G1 phase with simultaneous increases in the G0/G1 and S phases. The p21/p27/Casp-8/Casp-3 proteins escalated, whilst CCND1/CCND3/BCL2/survivin declined in the SW480 cells following activin-A, whereas activin-A only promoted p21 and p27 alongside reduced CCND3 in the HT29 cells. By contrast, activin-AB increased the numbers of SW480 and HT29 cells in Sub-G1 and G0/G1-phases and promoted the anti-cancer and reduced the oncogenic proteins in both cell lines. In conclusion, activins and follistatin displayed stage-dependent dysregulations and were markedly altered during the advanced stages of right-sided and L-S4 cancers. Moreover, the activin-A actions in CRC could be Smad4-dependent, whereas activin-AB may act as a Smad4-independent tumour suppressor protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bassem Refaat
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jamal Zekri
- Oncology Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Akhmed Aslam
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jawwad Ahmad
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed A Baghdadi
- Research Centre, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdelrazak Meliti
- Pathology Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Shakir Idris
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sufian Sultan
- Department of Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hosam Alardati
- Pathology Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haitham Akram Saimeh
- Department of Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aiman Alsaegh
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mai Alhadrami
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tahira Hamid
- Histopathology Department, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed E Naeem
- Histopathology Department, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shereef Ahmed Elsamany
- Medical Oncology Department, Oncology Centre, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.,Medical Oncology Department, Oncology Centre, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
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Aslam A, Ahmad J, Baghdadi MA, Idris S, Almaimani R, Alsaegh A, Alhadrami M, Refaat B. Chemopreventive effects of vitamin D 3 and its analogue, paricalcitol, in combination with 5-fluorouracil against colorectal cancer: The role of calcium signalling molecules. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1867:166040. [PMID: 33338596 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.166040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although vitamin D (VD) is chemoprotective and enhances 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) cytotoxicity against colorectal cancer (CRC), little is known about its potential calcium (Ca2+)-mediated anti-tumorigenic actions. Therefore, this study compared between VD and its non-calcaemic analogue, Paricalcitol (Pcal), ± 5-FU in relation to chemoprevention and Ca2+-mediated apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. METHODS Seventy male mice were distributed to: negative controls, positive controls (PC), VD, Pcal, 5-FU, VD + 5-FU and Pcal+5-FU groups. All groups, except negative, received two consecutive azoxymethane (AOM)-injections (10 mg/Kg/week) for CRC induction. VD3 (1000 IU/kg; three times/week) and Pcal (1.25 μg/kg; three times/week) injections started week-16 post-AOM and for 10 weeks. Three successive 5-FU cycles began at week-21 (50 mg/Kg/week). Similar protocols with VD3, Pcal and/or 5-FU were applied in the HT29 colon cancer cells. RESULTS The PC group had abundant malignant tumours, markedly elevated proliferation markers (survivin/CCND1) and declines in cyclin-dependent kinase-inhibitor-1A, pro-apoptotic molecules (p53/BAX/cytochrome_C/caspase-3), tissue Ca2+ concentrations and Ca2+-dependent proteins (CaSR/CAM/CAMKIIA). All monotherapies equally reduced tumour numbers and proliferation markers whilst promoting the anti-tumorigenic molecules. VD and/or 5-FU, but not Pcal monotherapy, enhanced Ca2+ levels and Ca2+-related molecules (CaSR/CAM/CAMKIIA/BAX/cytochrome_C) in vivo and in vitro. However, VD + 5-FU co-therapy showed the lowest tumour numbers, the highest cell numbers in sub-G1 phase of cell cycle, alongside the most effective modulations of oncogenes, tumour suppressors and Ca2+-related molecules at the gene and protein levels in vivo and in vitro. CONCLUSIONS VD3 was superior than Paricalcitol in potentiating 5-FU cytotoxicity, possibly by upregulating several Ca2+-related molecules involved in tumour suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akhmed Aslam
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jawwad Ahmad
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Shakir Idris
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Riyad Almaimani
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aiman Alsaegh
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mai Alhadrami
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bassem Refaat
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
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Baghdadi MA, Ahmad J, Idris S, Zekri J, Meliti A, Alardati H, Alsaegh A, Aslam M, Refaat B. Abstract 3680: The expression profiles of activins and follistatin at the different stages of colorectal cancer. Cancer Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2020-3680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Activins belong to the family of transforming growth factor-β and the mature proteins (activin-A, -B and AB) are formed by the dimerization of two β-subunits (βA & βB). The biological activities of activins are tightly regulated by their binding protein, follistatin. Activin-A is the most studied isoform in the biology of colorectal cancer (CRC) and none of the earlier studies explored the expression profiles of the other activins as well as follistatin.
Objectives: This study measured the gene and protein expressions of activin βA- and βB-subunits together with follistatin in paired malignant and remote non-cancerous specimens that were obtained at the different stages of malignancy from patients diagnosed with primary sporadic CRC.
Materials and methods: Archived paired cancerous and non-cancerous colonic specimens were obtained from a total of 30 patients diagnosed with primary CRC. Following the identification of cancer stages by expert histopathologists, the genes and proteins of the targeted molecules were measured by quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively.
Results: The genes and proteins of both activin βA- and βB-subunits alongside follistatin were comparable between the non-cancerous specimens obtained at the different stages of cancer. Nevertheless, significant up-regulations in the genes and proteins of βA-subunit and follistatin simultaneously with a marked inhibition of the βB-subunit were detected in the malignant specimens compared with their counterpart non-malignant tissues. Additionally, the βA-subunit and follistatin showed substantial increases in the malignant sites as cancer progressed and the highest levels were detected in stage IV compared with the earlier stages.
Opposingly, the βB-subunit decreased gradually and significantly with cancer advancement and the protein expression was completely lost at stage IV.
Conclusions: This study suggests that the overexpression of activin βA-subunit and follistatin may contribute to colon carcinogenesis and tumor progression, whereas the βB-subunit could be associated with anti-tumorigenic activities. However, more studies are still needed to measure the levels of the activin mature proteins (e.g. activin-A, -B and -AB) together with follistatin to precisely characterize their roles in CRC tumorigenesis.
Acknowledgment: This project was funded by the DEANSHIP OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AT UMM AL-QURA UNIVERSITY; Project (17-MED-1-01-0068).
Citation Format: Mohammed Abbas Baghdadi, Jawwad Ahmad, Shakir Idris, Jamal Zekri, Abdelrazak Meliti, Hosam Alardati, Aiman Alsaegh, Mohammed Aslam, Bassem Refaat. The expression profiles of activins and follistatin at the different stages of colorectal cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 3680.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jamal Zekri
- 1King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdelrazak Meliti
- 1King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hosam Alardati
- 1King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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El-Shemi AG, Kensara OA, Alsaegh A, Mukhtar MH. Pharmacotherapy with Thymoquinone Improved Pancreatic β-Cell Integrity and Functional Activity, Enhanced Islets Revascularization, and Alleviated Metabolic and Hepato-Renal Disturbances in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes in Rats. Pharmacology 2017; 101:9-21. [DOI: 10.1159/000480018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Aims: This study is aimed at evaluating the antidiabetic effects of thymoquinone (TQ) on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats, and exploring the possible underlying mechanisms. Methods: Diabetes was induced in adult male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared STZ (65 mg/kg). After disease induction, 42 rats were equally assigned to: controls, STZ-diabetic group, and STZ-diabetic group treated with oral TQ (35 mg/kg/day) for 5 weeks. Fasting blood glucose levels were determined weekly, and the animals were euthanized at day 38 post-STZ injection. Blood samples were assessed for glucose-insulin homeostasis parameters (plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, serum insulin, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, and insulin sensitivity index) and lipid profile. Resected pancreases were subjected to histological examination and immunohistochemical or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay assessment to determine the pancreatic expression of insulin sensitizing β-cells, anti-apoptotic protein “survivin,” apoptosis-inducer “caspase-3,” prototypic angiogenic factors (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] and endothelial cluster of differentiation 31 [CD31]), pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1beta [IL-1β] and interleukin-10 [IL-10], respectively), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The hepato-renal statuses were assessed biochemically and histologically. Results: Therapy with TQ markedly improved the integrity of pancreatic islets, glucose-insulin homeostasis-related parameters, lipid profile parameters, and hepato-renal functional and histomorphological statuses that collectively were severely deteriorated in untreated diabetic group. Mechanistically, TQ therapy efficiently increased insulin producing β-cells, upregulated survivin, VEGF, CD31, IL-10, GSH and SOD, and downregulated caspase-3, IL-1β, and TBARSs in the pancreatic tissues of STZ-diabetic rats. Conclusions: These findings prove the anti-diabetic potential of TQ and its efficacy in regenerating pancreatic β-cells and ameliorating pancreatic inflammation and oxidative stress, and highlight its novelty in repressing apoptosis of β-cells and enhancing islet revascularization in STZ-diabetic rats. Further studies are required to support these findings and realize their possible clinical significance.
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Chappell SL, Daly L, Lotya J, Alsaegh A, Guetta-Baranes T, Roca J, Rabinovich R, Morgan K, Millar AB, Donnelly SC, Keatings V, MacNee W, Stolk J, Hiemstra PS, Miniati M, Monti S, O'Connor CM, Kalsheker N. The role of IREB2 and transforming growth factor beta-1 genetic variants in COPD: a replication case-control study. BMC Med Genet 2011; 12:24. [PMID: 21320324 PMCID: PMC3047296 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2350-12-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2010] [Accepted: 02/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Background Genetic factors are known to contribute to COPD susceptibility and these factors are not fully understood. Conflicting results have been reported for many genetic studies of candidate genes based on their role in the disease. Genome-wide association studies in combination with expression profiling have identified a number of new candidates including IREB2. A meta-analysis has implicated transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFbeta1) as a contributor to disease susceptibility. Methods We have examined previously reported associations in both genes in a collection of 1017 white COPD patients and 912 non-diseased smoking controls. Genotype information was obtained for seven SNPs in the IREB2 gene, and for four SNPs in the TGFbeta1 gene. Allele and genotype frequencies were compared between COPD cases and controls, and odds ratios were calculated. The analysis was adjusted for age, sex, smoking and centre, including interactions of age, sex and smoking with centre. Results Our data replicate the association of IREB2 SNPs in association with COPD for SNP rs2568494, rs2656069 and rs12593229 with respective adjusted p-values of 0.0018, 0.0039 and 0.0053. No significant associations were identified for TGFbeta1. Conclusions These studies have therefore confirmed that the IREB2 locus is a contributor to COPD susceptibility and suggests a new pathway in COPD pathogenesis invoking iron homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally L Chappell
- The University of Nottingham, School of Molecular Medical Sciences, University Hospital, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
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