MiR-320a upregulation contributes to the effectiveness of pemetrexed by inhibiting the growth and invasion of human lung cancer cell line (Calu-6)

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is a common and deadly disease. Chemotherapy is the most common treatment, which inhibits cancer cell growth. Pemetrexed (PMX) is often used with other drugs. Environmental stress can affect regulatory non-coding RNAs such as MicroRNAs that modify gene expression. This study investigates the effect of PMX on the hsa-miR-320a-3p expression in the Calu-6 lung cancer cell line.

METHODS AND RESULT

Calu-6 cells were cultured in an incubator with 37 °C, 5% CO2, and 98% humidity. The MTT test was performed to determine the concentration of PMX required to inhibit 50% of cell growth. To examine growth inhibition and apoptosis, release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), cell assays and caspase 3 and 7 enzyme activity were used. Finally, molecular studies were conducted to compare the expression of hsa-miR-320a-3p and genes including VDAC1, DHFR, STAT3, BAX and BCL2 before and after therapy.

RESULTS

According to a study, it has been observed that PMX therapy significantly increases LDH release after 24 h. The study found that PMX's IC50 on Calu-6 is 8.870 µM. In addition, the treated sample showed higher expression of hsa-miR-320a-3p and BAX, while the expression of VDAC1, STAT3, DHFR and BCL2 decreased compared to the control sample.

CONCLUSION

According to the findings of the current research, hsa-miR-320a-3p seems to have the potential to play an important role in the development of novel approaches to the treatment of lung cancer.

S100A6 represses Calu-6 lung cancer cells growth via inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, invasion and enhancing apoptosis

S100 calcium binding protein A6 (S100A6) has been reported to involve in many kinds of cancers through regulating intracellular calcium homeostasis. Previous studies found that S100A6 increased in lung cancer patients' plasma and pleural effusion. This study focused on its function in Calu-6 lung cancer cells. S100A6 gene was transferred into Calu-6 lung cancer cell line by lentivirus vector, the empty vector transfected cells and the blank cells were set as control groups. MTT was evaluating cell proliferation. The transwell assay was reflecting cell migration and cell invasion. The flow cytometric analysis was detecting cell apoptosis and cell cycle of three groups (Calu-6, Calu-6/neo, Calu-6/S100A6). Nude mouse tumorigenicity was then applied to evaluate S100A6's effect on cellular tumorigenicity. Compared with control groups, Calu-6/S100A6 cells showed a weakening trend in the cell behaviours of proliferation, migration and invasiveness, while had an enhancement of cell apoptosis, with all P < .05. The cell cycle of Calu-6/S100A6 cells had a reduction of S phase and an increase of G1 phase (P < .05). In animal study, after 5 weeks of cell injection, the tumour bulk of Calu-6/S100A6 group was smaller than controls, with P < .05. Our results demonstrate S100A6 inhibits the growth of Calu-6 lung cancer cells, as well as impairs Calu-6's ability in tumorigenesis. At cellular level, S100A6 is supposed to act as a tumour suppressor gene in lung cancer.

Cytotoxic, Antimitotic, and Antiproliferation Studies on Rasam: A South Indian Traditional Functional Food

Background

Rasam is a traditional South Indian food, prepared using tamarind juice as a base, with a variety of spices. Rasam, with all its ingredients medicinally claimed for various ailments, is a functional food. Systematic consumption of traditional functional food provides an excellent preventive measure to ward off many diseases.

Objective

To study rasam for cytotoxic, antimitotic, and antiproliferation potential beyond its culinary and nutritional effect.

Materials and Methods

Brine shrimp lethality assay, onion root tip inhibition assay, and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay in Calu-6, HeLa, MCF-7 cell lines for four stage-wise samples in the preparation of rasam (RS1, RS2, RS3, and RS4) were studied.

Results

RS4, the end product of rasam showed high lethality with an LC₅₀ value of 38.7 μL/mL. It showed maximum antimitotic activity in a dose-dependent manner compared to other samples with an IC₅₀ value of 189.86 μL/mL. RS4 also showed an IC₅₀ value of 350.22 and 410.15 μL/mL in MCF-7 and Calu-6 cell lines, respectively.

Conclusion

From this study, we suggest that rasam is a classic example of traditional functional food and it can treat breast and lung cancer on chronic use.

SUMMARY

Rasam, a South Indian traditional functional food, showed high lethality (LC₅₀ = 38.7 mL/mL) against brine shrimpsRasam also showed potential antimitotic activity (IC₅₀ = 189.86 mL/mL) by inhibiting the onion root tipsRasam showed an IC₅₀ value of 350.22 and 410.15 mL/mL against MCF-7 and Calu-6 cell lines respectivelyRasam, when consumed on daily dietary basis, can treat breast and lung cancer. Abbreviations used: SS 316: Stainless Steel 316 grade; MTT: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide; DMEM: Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium; FBS: Fetal bovine serum media; TPVG: Trypsin phosphate versene glucose; EDTA: Ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid; PBS: Phosphate buffered saline; DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide.