1.
Activation of microbubbles by low-intensity pulsed ultrasound enhances the cytotoxicity of curcumin involving apoptosis induction and cell motility inhibition in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells.
Li, Y, Wang, P, Chen, X, Hu, J, Liu, Y, Wang, X, Liu, Q
Ultrasonics sonochemistry. 2016;:26-36
Abstract
Ultrasound and microbubbles-mediated drug delivery has become a promising strategy to promote drug delivery and its therapeutic efficacy. The aim of this research was to assess the effects of microbubbles (MBs)-combined low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LPUS) on the delivery and cytotoxicity of curcumin (Cur) to human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. Under the experimental condition, MBs raised the level of acoustic cavitation and enhanced plasma membrane permeability; and cellular uptake of Cur was notably improved by LPUS-MBs treatment, aggravating Cur-induced MDA-MB-231 cells death. The combined treatment markedly caused more obvious changes of cell morphology, F-actin cytoskeleton damage and cell migration inhibition. Our results demonstrated that combination of MBs and LPUS may be an efficient strategy for improving anti-tumor effect of Cur, suggesting a potential effective method for antineoplastic therapy.
2.
Downregulation of the c-MYC target gene, peroxiredoxin III, contributes to arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis in acute promyelocytic leukemia.
Vivas-Mejía, PE, Ozpolat, B, Chen, X, Lopez-Berestein, G
International journal of cancer. 2009;(2):264-75
Abstract
Arsenic trioxide (ATO) induces differentiation and apoptosis in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Several reports indicate that in APL cells apoptosis occurs mainly by a mechanism that involves the inhibition of glutathione peroxidase, one of the enzymes that regulates mitochondrial levels of H(2)O(2). Peroxiredoxin (Prx) III, a c-MYC target gene, is also a mitochondria-specific H(2)O(2)-scavenger enzyme. We studied here the role of Prx III during ATO-induced apoptosis in APL-derived NB4 cells, since these cells express high levels of Prx III. The protein and mRNA levels of Prx III decreased during ATO-induced apoptosis of NB4 cells. The downregulation of Prx III occurred before reactive oxygen species accumulation, reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis. Depletion of Prx III enhanced mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis events. In contrast, overexpression of Prx III led to reduced levels of ATO-induced apoptosis. c-MYC was also downregulated in ATO-treated NB4 cells. Furthermore, depletion of c-MYC also reduced the Prx-III expression levels. Finally chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays confirmed that downregulation of Prx-III was caused by the reduction of c-MYC levels during ATO-induced apoptosis of NB4 cells. These findings demonstrate a novel apoptotic-response pathway whereby downregulation of Prx-III potentiates ATO-induced apoptosis in APL cells.
3.
Chrysin and its phosphate ester inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in Hela cells.
Zhang, T, Chen, X, Qu, L, Wu, J, Cui, R, Zhao, Y
Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry. 2004;(23):6097-105
Abstract
To improve the biological activities of chrysin (CR), we synthesize Diethyl Chysin-7-yl phosphate (CPE: C(19)H(19)O(7)P) and tetraethyl bis-phosphoric ester of chrysin (CP: C(23)H(28)O(10)P(2)) through a simplified Atheron-Todd reaction. The interactions of the CR and CPE with lysozyme were explored by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI) and fluorescence spectrometry method. Experimental results indicate that CPE could form the noncovalent compound with lysozyme, while the interaction of the CR with lysozyme was not detected. In addition, whether and how the compounds CPE and CP affect proliferation and apoptosis in human cervical cancer Hela cells were investigated. Moreover, the effects of CPE and CP in Hela cells were compared with that of the nonmodified CR compound. The Hela cells were co-cultured with CR, CP, and CPE as experimental groups, respectively, and corresponding control groups treated without CR, CP, and CPE. The proliferation and apoptosis were detected using MTT assay, HCl denatured-methyl green-pyronin staining, PCNA immunohistochemistry and TUNEL techniques. The cell growth IC(50), relative absorbance (RA), proliferating index (PI), PCNA-IR (immunoreactivity IR) integration value (IV), and apoptosis index (AI) were calculated and their correlation was analyzed in each group. The results show that all CR, CP, and CPE could inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in Hela cells. Moreover, the effects of CP and CPE were more potent than that of CR. The CP and CPE were proved to be a kind of stronger apoptosis inducers than nonphosphated CR. There was a negative correlation between proliferation and apoptosis. In conclusion, the CR, CP, and CPE could effectively inhibit growth by down-regulated expression of PCNA, and induce apoptosis in Hela cells. The efficiency of the modified CP and CPE preceded nonmodified CR compounds. The CP and CPE may be a new potential anti-cancer drug for therapy of human cervical carcinoma.