New insights into the role of nuclear factor-kappaB in cell growth regulation

Prunus serrulata var. spontanea inhibits mast cell activation and mast cell-mediated anaphylaxis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

A promising approach to treat a variety of diseases are considered as complementary and alternative herbal medicines. Prunus serrulata var. spontanea L. (Rosaceae) is used as herbal medicine to treat allergic diseases according to the Donguibogam, a tradition medical book of the Joseon Dynasty in Korea.

AIM OF THE STUDY

We prepared the aqueous extract of the bark of P. serrulata (AEBPS) and aimed to investigate the effects in mouse anaphylaxis models and various types of mast cells, including RBL-2H3, primary cultured peritoneal and bone marrow-derived mast cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used ovalbumin (OVA)-induced active systemic anaphylaxis (ASA) and immunoglobulin (Ig) E-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) models, in vivo. The control drug dexamethasone (10 mg/kg) was used to compare the effectiveness of AEBPS (1-100 mg/kg). In vitro, IgE-stimulated mast cells were used to confirm the role of AEBPS (1-100 μg/mL). For statistical analyses, p values less than 0.05 were considered to be significant.

RESULTS

In ASA model, oral administration of AEBPS suppressed the hypothermia and increased level of serum histamine in a dose-dependent manner. AEBPS attenuated the serum IgE, OVA-specific IgE, and interleukin (IL)-4. Oral administration of AEBPS also blocked mast cell-dependent PCA. AEBPS suppressed degranulation of mast cells by reducing intracellular calcium level in mast cells. AEBPS inhibited tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-4 expression and secretion in a concentration-dependent manner through the reduction of nuclear factor-κB.

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of these findings, AEBPS could serve as a potential therapeutic target for the management of mast cell-mediated allergic inflammation and as a regulator of mast cell activation.

Involvement of the TNF-α Pathway in TKI Resistance and Suggestion of TNFR1 as a Predictive Biomarker for TKI Responsiveness in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Mechanism and predictive biomarkers for tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance of advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) have not been fully evaluated.

METHODS

We performed gene expression profiling on samples from an acquired TKI resistance cohort that consisted of 10 cases of TKI-treated ccRCC patients with matched tumor tissues harvested at pre-treatment and TKI-resistant post-treatment periods. In addition, a public microarray dataset from patient-derived xenograft model for TKI-treated ccRCC (GSE76068) was retrieved. Commonly altered pathways between the datasets were investigated by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis using commonly regulated differently expressed genes (DEGs). The significance of candidate DEG on intrinsic TKI resistance was assessed through immunohistochemistry in a separate cohort of 101 TKI-treated ccRCC cases.

RESULTS

TNFRSF1A gene expression and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α pathway were upregulated in ccRCCs with acquired TKI resistance in both microarray datasets. Also, high expression (> 10% of labeled tumor cells) of TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1), the protein product of TNFRSF1A gene, was correlated with sarcomatoid dedifferentiation and was an independent predictive factor of clinically unfavorable response and shorter survivals in separated TKI-treated ccRCC cohort.

CONCLUSION

TNF-α signaling may play a role in TKI resistance, and TNFR1 expression may serve as a predictive biomarker for clinically unfavorable TKI responses in ccRCC.

Quercetin improves immune function in Arbor Acre broilers through activation of NF-κB signaling pathway

Quercetin, the main component of flavonoids, has a wide range of biological actions. Quercetin can be made into a variety of additives for practice, because of the stable chemical structure and water-soluble derivatives. This study was intended to explore the effects of quercetin on immune function and its regulatory mechanism in Arbor Acre broiler to provide a practical basis for improving poultry immune function and figure out the optimum supplementation as functional feed additives. A total of 240 one-day-old healthy Arbor Acre broilers, similar in body weight, were randomly allotted to 4 treatments with 6 replicates, 10 broilers in each replicate and fed with diets containing quercetin at 0, 0.02, 0.04, and 0.06% for 6 wk. Blood and immune organs (spleen, thymus, and bursa) were collected from chickens at the end of the experiment. Growth performance, immune organs indexes, contents of serum immune molecules, splenic T lymphocyte proliferative responses, and expression of immune related genes were evaluated. The results showed that dietary quercetin had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on growth performance of broilers. Compared with control, 0.06% quercetin supplementation in diet significantly increased spleen index and thymus index (P < 0.05). It also increased the secretion of immune molecules including immunoglobulin A (IgA), interleukin-4 (IL-4) (P < 0.001), immunoglobulin M (IgM) (P = 0.007), complement component 4 (C4) (P = 0.001), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (P < 0.05). On the other hand, 0.02% quercetin supplementation significantly increased complement component 3 (C3) (P < 0.05). Additionally, both 0.04 and 0.06% quercetin supplementation significantly increased expression of TNF-α, TNF receptor associated factor-2 (TRAF-2), TNF receptor superfamily member 1B (TNFRSF1B), nuclear factor kappa-B p65 subunit (NF-κBp65), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) mRNA (P < 0.05), and expression of NF-κB inhibitor-alpha (IκB-α) mRNA were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Thus, quercetin improved immune function via NF-κB signaling pathway triggered by TNF-α.

Immunomodulatory role of recombinant human erythropoietin in acute kidney injury induced by crush syndrome via inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in macrophages

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate whether recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) plays an immunomodulatory function by regulating the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.Materials and methods: C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with rHuEPO and, half an hour later, with 50% glycerol at the dose of 7.5 ml/kg to induce crush syndrome (CS)-acute kidney injury (AKI). The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, serum creatinine (Scr), and creatine kinase (CK) were measured. The kidney tissues were analyzed by HE staining, and macrophage infiltration was detected by immunohistochemistry. Double immunofluorescence staining, RT-qPCR, and western blotting were conducted to analyze TLR4/NF-κB p65 expression. Ferrous myoglobin was co-cultured with RAW264.7 cells to mimic crush injury and the production of proinflammatory cytokines. The expression levels of TLR4 and NF-κB p65 were measured.Results: In vivo study results revealed that rHuEPO ameliorated renal function, tissue damage, production of proinflammatory cytokines, and macrophage infiltration in the kidneys. The protein and mRNA expression levels of genes involved in the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in CS-induced AKI mice were upregulated (p < .05). Meanwhile, the expression levels of TLR4, NF-κB p65, and proinflammatory cytokines in RAW264.7 cells were downregulated in CS-AKI mice injected with rHuEPO (p < .05).Conclusions: Our results demonstrated the immunomodulatory capacity of rHuEPO and confirmed that rHuEPO exerts protective effects against CS-induced AKI by regulating the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in macrophages. Therefore, our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of rHuEPO in improving the prognosis of CS-AKI patients.

Mesenchymal stromal cells induce inhibitory effects on hepatocellular carcinoma through various signaling pathways

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent type of malignant liver disease worldwide. Molecular changes in HCC collectively contribute to Wnt/β-catenin, as a tumor proliferative signaling pathway, toll-like receptors (TLRs), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), as well as the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), predominant signaling pathways linked to the release of tumor-promoting cytokines. It should also be noted that the Hippo signaling pathway plays an important role in organ size control, particularly in promoting tumorigenesis and HCC development. Nowadays, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs)-based therapies have been the subject of in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies for liver such as cirrhosis, liver failure, and HCC. At present, despite the importance of basic molecular pathways of malignancies, limited information has been obtained on this background. Therefore, it can be difficult to determine the true concept of interactions between MSCs and tumor cells. What is known, these cells could migrate toward tumor sites so apply effects via paracrine interaction on HCC cells. For example, one of the inhibitory effects of MSCs is the overexpression of dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK-1) as an important antagonist of the Wnt signaling pathway. A growing body of research challenging the therapeutic roles of MSCs through the secretion of various trophic factors in HCC. This review illustrates the complex behavior of MSCs and precisely how their inhibitory signals interface with HCC tumor cells.

Targeting MAPKs, NF-κB, and PI3K/AKT pathways by methyl palmitate ameliorates ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats

Excessive drinking of alcohol has been frequently associated with gastric injury; however, its underlying molecular mechanisms have been inadequately investigated. Methyl palmitate (MP) has demonstrated marked hepato-, cardio- and pulmonary protective features; however, its effects on ethanol-induced gastric injury have not been studied. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential gastroprotective activity of MP against ethanol-evoked gastric mucosal damage in rats and associated molecular mechanisms, for example, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), and phosphoinositide 3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathways. The rat stomachs were examined in terms of the inflammatory, oxidative, and apoptotic perturbations. Current data demonstrated that pretreatment with MP attenuated the gross gastric damage, scores of ulcer index, area of mucosal lesions and histopathology outcomes; actions which were similar to the reference antiulcer omeprazole. MP inhibited NF-κB expression, its nuclear translocation, and the expression of its downstream signals, for example, tumor necrosis factor-α and myeloperoxidase besides restoration of interleukin-10 levels. Western blot analysis revealed that MP counteracted the disruption of MAPKs signaling via lowering p-c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1/2 (p-JNK1/2) expression and restoring the phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2) levels without affecting p-p38MAPK levels. Additionally, MP improved the antioxidant milieu via diminishing lipid peroxides and enhancing glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant capacity and mucosal nitric oxide. In the context of apoptosis, MP inhibited the cleavage of caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) and Bax protein expression with upregulating B cell lymphoma-2 expression (Bcl-2), thus, promoting gastric cellular survival. This was confirmed by MP activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway manifested by enhanced expression of PI3K p110α and p-AKT. Together, the present findings report the gastroprotective actions of MP mediated via its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic actions. The underlying molecular mechanisms involve, at least partly, the modulation of MAPKs, NF-κB and PI3K/AKT transduction.

Long Noncoding RNA HOXA-AS3 Integrates NF-κB Signaling To Regulate Endothelium Inflammation

The long noncoding RNA HOXA-AS3 has recently been reported to act as a critical regulator in inflammation-linked lung adenocarcinoma. However, the roles of HOXA-AS3 in endothelium inflammation and related vascular disorders remain poorly defined. In the current study, we identified HOXA-AS3 to be a critical activator to promote NF-κB-mediated endothelium inflammation. HOXA-AS3, a chromatin-associated regulator which colocalizes with NF-κB at specific gene promoters, was found to interact with NF-κB and positively regulate its activity through control of the expression of the NF-κB inhibitor protein IκBα and the acetylation status at the K310 site of p65. More importantly, clinicopathological analysis showed that HOXA-AS3 expression has a significant positive correlation with atherosclerosis. Thus, we conclude that HOXA-AS3 may serve as a crucial biomarker for the clinical diagnosis of atherosclerosis, as well as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of multiple inflammatory vascular diseases. In addition, this study suggests the functional importance of HOXA-AS3 in the regulation of inflammatory disorders.

In vitro evaluation of anti-epidermoid cancer activity of Acanthus ebracteatus protein hydrolysate and their effects on apoptosis and cellular proteins

Acanthus ebracteatus Vahl. is commonly consumed with the aim of curing cancer, inflammatory conditions and skin diseases in traditional Thai medicine. It is known to contain various phytochemicals; however, very little is known about the effects of A. ebracteatus protein hydrolysate on cancer cells, including its molecular mechanisms. The present study therefore investigated the anti-cancer activity of A. ebracteatus protein hydrolysates against epidermoid cancer of the skin cell line A431. Their effects on the apoptosis pathway and expression of proteins involved in the regulation of apoptosis, cell proliferation or cell cycle were also investigated. Crude extract of protein hydrolysate, partially purified peptides and purified peptides extracted from the aerial part of A. ebracteatus were administered to the A431 cells. The cytotoxicity effects were then determined using an MTT assay. As a result, A. ebracteatus protein hydrolysate significantly inhibited A431 cells with half inhibitory concentration equals to 425.9 ng protein/ml. By performing Annexin V assay, the partially purified peptides of A. ebracteatus were demonstrated to enhance the apoptosis pathway. Furthermore, western blot analysis revealed that the partially purified peptides of A. ebracteatus increased protein expression levels of RelA (p65) and Cyclin D1 proteins. However, A. ebracteatus did not increase the expression levels of p53-serine 15 phosphorylation (Ser15P).

Association of Vitamin B12, Lactate Dehydrogenase, and Regulation of NF-κB in the Mitigation of Sodium Arsenite-Induced ROS Generation in Uterine Tissue by Commercially Available Probiotics

Managing arsenic intoxication with conventional metal chelators is a global challenge. The present study demonstrated the therapeutic role of probiotics against arsenic-induced oxidative stress and female reproductive dysfunction. Sodium arsenite-treated (1.0 mg/100 g body weight) Wistar female rats were followed up by a post-treatment of commercially available probiotic mixture in powder form (0.25 mg/100 g body weight) orally. Rats that experienced arsenic ingestion showed a significant lessening in the activities of uterine superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase activities, and the level of non-protein soluble thiol (NPSH) with a concomitant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and conjugated dienes (CD). Exposure to arsenic significantly lowered the levels of vitamin B₁₂ and estradiol. Exposure to arsenic highly expressed the inflammatory marker and transcription factor NF-κB. Arsenic-mediated instability of these above parameters was controlled by the probiotics with a rebuilding of better function of anti-oxidant components. Besides its function in regulating endogenous anti-oxidant system, probiotics were able to augment the protection against mutagenic uterine DNA-breakage, necrosis, and ovarian-uterine tissue damages in arsenicated rats.

Investigation of the variants at the binding site of inflammatory transcription factor NF-κB in patients with end-stage renal disease

Background

A chronic inflammatory state is a prominent feature in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of genes involved in inflammation. Some genetic studies have demonstrated that the NF-κB genetic mutation could cause kidney injury and kidney disease progression. However, the association of a gene polymorphism in the transcription factor binding site of NF-κB with kidney disease is not clear.

Methods

We used the Taiwan Biobank database, the University of California, Santa Cruz, reference genome, and a chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing database to find single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at potential binding sites of NF-κB. In addition, we performed a case–control study and genotyped 847 patients with ESRD and 846 healthy controls at Tri-Service General Hospital from 2015 to 2016. Furthermore, we used the ChIP assay to identify the binding activity of different genotypes and used Luciferase reporter assay to examine the function of the rs9395890 polymorphism.

Result

The results of biometric screening in the databases revealed 15 SNPs with the potential binding site of NF-κB. Genotype distributions of rs9395890 were significantly different in ESRD cases and healthy controls (P = 0.049). The ChIP assay revealed an approximately 1.49-fold enrichment of NF-κB of the variant type TT when compared to that of the wild-type GG in rs9395890 (P = 0.027; TT = 3.20 ± 0.16, GT = 2.81 ± 0.20, GG = 1.71 ± 0.18). The luciferase reporter assay showed that the NF-κB binding site activity in T allele was slightly higher than that in G allele, though it is not significant.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that rs9395890 is associated with susceptibility to ESRD in Taiwan population.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12882-019-1471-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

LPS-induced Acute Lung Injury Involves NF-κB-mediated Downregulation of SOX18

One of the early events in the progression of LPS-mediated acute lung injury in mice is the disruption of the pulmonary endothelial barrier resulting in lung edema. However, the molecular mechanisms by which the endothelial barrier becomes compromised remain unresolved. The SRY (sex-determining region on the Y chromosome)-related high-mobility group box (Sox) group F family member, SOX18, is a barrier-protective protein through its ability to increase the expression of the tight junction protein CLDN5. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine if downregulation of the SOX18-CLDN5 axis plays a role in the pulmonary endothelial barrier disruption associated with LPS exposure. Our data indicate that both SOX18 and CLDN5 expression is decreased in two models of in vivo LPS exposure (intraperitoneal, intratracheal). A similar downregulation was observed in cultured human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMVECs) exposed to LPS. SOX18 overexpression in HLMVECs or in the mouse lung attenuated the LPS-mediated vascular barrier disruption. Conversely, reduced CLDN5 expression (siRNA) reduced the HLMVEC barrier-protective effects of SOX18 overexpression. The mechanism by which LPS decreases SOX18 expression was identified as transcriptional repression through binding of NF-κB (p65) to a SOX18 promoter sequence located between -1,082 and -1,073 bp with peroxynitrite contributing to LPS-mediated NF-κB activation. We conclude that NF-κB-dependent decreases in the SOX18-CLDN5 axis are essentially involved in the disruption of human endothelial cell barrier integrity associated with LPS-mediated acute lung injury.

I-BET151 suppresses osteoclast formation and inflammatory cytokines secretion by targetting BRD4 in multiple myeloma

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable hematologic cancer, accompanied by excessive osteoclast formation and inflammatory cytokine secretion. The mechanisms by which bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) protein inhibitor I-BET151 regulates osteoclast differentiation and inflammatory cytokine secretion in MM are largely unknown. Methods: The isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from normal or patients with MM were treated with receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and M-CSF to induce osteoclast differentiation. RAW 264.7 cells were treated with RANKL. I-BET151 was applied to investigate the effects of BRD4 inhibition on osteoclast formation and inflammatory cytokine secretion. Osteoclast formation was determined by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) staining. The expression of osteoclast-specific genes TRACP, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), cathepsin K (Ctsk), and c-Src was tested using quantitative real-time PCR. And the level of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 was assessed by ELISA. Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), BRD4, nuclear and cytoplasm p65, IκB-α, nuclear factor of activated T cells cytoplasmic (NFATc1), and osteoprotegerin (OPG) expression were measured by Western blotting. RNAi technology was applied to knock down BET family member BRD4. Results: I-BET151 dose-dependently suppressed osteoclast formation, inhibited the levels of osteoclast-specific genes TRACP, MMP-9, Ctsk, and c-Src and inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 secretion in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and RAW 264.7. I-BET151 inhibited the protein levels of BRD4 and NFATc1, increased OPG expression, and suppressed IκB-α degradation and p65 nuclear translocation. Further, the effects of I-BET151 on osteoclast formation, osteoclast-specific genes expression, inflammatory cytokine secretion, and NF-κB inhibition were promoted by BRD4 knockdown. Conclusion: I-BET151 inhibits osteoclast formation and inflammatory cytokine secretion by targetting BRD4-mediated RANKL-NF-κB signal pathway and BRD4 inhibition might be beneficial for MM treatment.

[The role of modification of innate immunity in development of premature labore]

To clarify the role of the infectious factor in the development of premature birth (PB) in women in serum, the content of TLR-4, the p65 subunit of the nuclear factor NF-kB, the cytokine TNF-a and the activity of PLA2 (phospholipase A2) were determinated by the enzyme immunoassay was studied. The profile of bioregulators in women with premature births was characterized by a high content of TLR-4, TNF-a and an increase in PLA2 activity and a decrease in the activity of the p65 subunit of NF-kB. 89 women aged 20-39 years were examined at 34-40 weeks gestation. They were divided into two groups: 42 women with preterm birth at 34-36.6 weeks, the control group is represented by 47 patients. The risk factors for PB are the presence of PB in history, endocervicitis, colpitis, dysbiosis, diseases of the urinary system (chronic pyelonephritis, chronic cystitis), aggravated obstetric and gynecological history (the threat of abortion during gestation, moderate preeclampsia, anemia of the pregnant woman). The obtained data of the studied bioregulators testify to the role of the infectious inflammatory process in the development of PB, which is evidenced by the high level of TLR-4, a component of innate immunity leading to the activation of the TLR-4 signaling pathway, which increases the activity of PLA2-factor of premature contractile activity of the uterus.

Novel function of PiT1/SLC20A1 in LPS-related inflammation and wound healing

PiT1/SLC20A1 is an inorganic phosphate transporter with additional functions including the regulation of TNFα-induced apoptosis, erythropoiesis, cell proliferation and insulin signaling. Recent data suggest a relationship between PiT1 and NF-κB-dependent inflammation: (i) Pit1 mRNA is up-regulated in the context of NF-κB pathway activation; (ii) NF-κB target gene transcription is decreased in PiT1-deficient conditions. This led us to investigate the role of PiT1 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation. MCP-1 and IL-6 concentrations were impaired in PiT1-deficient bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) upon LPS stimulation. Lower MCP-1 and IL-6 serum levels were observed in Mx1-Cre; Pit1^lox/lox mice dosed intraperitoneally with LPS. Lower PiT1 expression correlated with decreased in vitro wound healing and lower reactive oxygen species levels. Reduced IκB degradation and lower p65 nuclear translocation were observed in PiT1-deficient cells stimulated with LPS. Conversely, PiT1 expression was induced in vitro upon LPS stimulation. Addition of an NF-κB inhibitor abolished LPS-induced PiT1 expression. Furthermore, we showed that p65 expression activated Pit1 promoter activity. Finally, ChIP assays demonstrated that p65 directly binds to the mPit1 promoter in response to LPS. These data demonstrate a completely novel function of PiT1 in the response to LPS and provide mechanistic insights into the regulation of PiT1 expression by NF-κB.

Regulation of Protein Degradation by Proteasomes in Cancer

Imbalance of protein homeostasis (proteostasis) is known to cause cellular malfunction, cell death, and diseases. Elaborate regulation of protein synthesis and degradation is one of the important processes in maintaining normal cellular functions. Protein degradation pathways in eukaryotes are largely divided into proteasome-mediated degradation and lysosome-mediated degradation. Proteasome is a multisubunit complex that selectively degrades 80% to 90% of cellular proteins. Proteasome-mediated degradation can be divided into 26S proteasome (20S proteasome + 19S regulatory particle) and free 20S proteasome degradation. In 1980, it was discovered that during ubiquitination process, wherein ubiquitin binds to a substrate protein in an ATP-dependent manner, ubiquitin acts as a degrading signal to degrade the substrate protein via proteasome. Conversely, 20S proteasome degrades the substrate protein without using ATP or ubiquitin because it recognizes the oxidized and structurally modified hydrophobic patch of the substrate protein. To date, most studies have focused on protein degradation via 26S proteasome. This review describes the 26S/20S proteasomal pathway of protein degradation and discusses the potential of proteasome as therapeutic targets for cancer treatment as well as against diseases caused by abnormalities in the proteolytic system.

A systematic review and meta-analysis study of salivary and serum interleukin-8 levels in oral lichen planus

Introduction

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is an important mediator of the host response to injury and inflammation that the clinical severity of oral lichen planus (OLP) is associated with elevated serum IL-8 levels.

Aim

To evaluate serum and salivary IL-8 levels of the OLP patients compared with the healthy controls and measurement of IL-8 level in which sample is more valuable.

Material and methods

Five databases including PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Science Direct, Cochrane Library and Scopus were searched for the evaluation of serum and salivary IL-8 levels of the OLP patients compared with the healthy controls in the English abstract. The Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS) was used for checking the quality of the studies. A random-effect model was used for calculating the mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Nine studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled estimate showed a significant difference between two groups that the salivary IL-8 level in the OLP patients was higher than the healthy controls (MD = 766.32 pg/ml, 95% CI: 394.90-1137.75; p < 0.0001) and also the serum IL-8 level in the OLP patients was higher than the healthy controls (MD = 8.38 pg/ml, 95% CI: 3.32-13.44; p = 0.001).

Conclusions

The higher levels of IL-8 in saliva compared with serum suggest that measurement of this marker in saliva may be more useful than serum measurements for determining therapeutic and diagnostic aims.

Targeting DNA Binding for NF-κB as an Anticancer Approach in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Quinoline core has been shown to possess a promising role in the development of anticancer agents. However, the correlation between its broad spectrum of bioactivity and the underlying mechanism of actions is poorly understood. The present study, with the use of bioinformatics approaches, reported a series of designed molecules which integrated quinoline core and sulfonyl moiety, with the objective of evaluating the substituent and linker effects on anticancer activities and associated mechanistic targets. We identified potent compounds (1h, 2h, 5 and 8) exhibiting significant anticancer effects towards liver cancer cells (Hep3B) with the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) relative values of cytotoxicity below 0.40, a value in the range of doxorubicin positive control with the value of 0.12. Bulky substituents and the presence of bromine atom, as well as the presence of sulfonamide linkage, are likely the favorable structural components for molecules exerting a strong anticancer effect. To the best of our knowledge, our findings obtained from chemical synthesis, in vitro cytotoxicity, bioinformatics-based molecular docking analysis (similarity ensemble approach, SEA),and electrophoretic mobility shift assay provided the first evidence in correlation to the anticancer activities of the selected compound 5 with the modulation on the binding of transcription factor NF-κB to its target DNA. Accordingly, compound 5 represented a lead structure for the development of quinoline-based NF-κB inhibitors and this work added novel information on the understanding of the mechanism of action for bioactive sulfonyl-containing quinoline compounds against hepatocellular carcinoma.

The levels of NF-κB p50 and NF-κB p65 play a role in thyroid carcinoma malignancy in vivo

Background To investigate the relationship between the levels of nuclear factor (NF)-κB p50 and NF-κB p65 and tumour characteristics in patients with thyroid carcinoma. Methods This prospective study enrolled consecutive patients with thyroid carcinoma. Tumour samples were collected and the levels of NF-κB p50 and NF-κB p65 protein and mRNA were measured using immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results A total of 73 patients with thyroid carcinoma were included in the study (20 males; 53 females; mean ± SD age, 44.8 ± 12.7 years, range, 18-76 years). There were no significant differences in sex, age and pathological type between the NF-κB p50 positive group and the NF-κB p50 negative group, but tumour diameter and lymph node metastasis were significantly higher in the NF-κB p50 positive group compared with the NF-κB p50 negative group. Similar findings were observed for NF-κB p65. The levels of NF-κB p50 were positively correlated with NF-κB p65 in samples of thyroid carcinoma ( rs = 0.653). Conclusion The levels of NF-κB p50 and NF-κB p65 in samples of thyroid carcinoma were positively associated with tumour diameter and the presence of lymph node metastasis.

NFκB activation in differentiating glioblastoma stem-like cells is promoted by hyaluronic acid signaling through TLR4

We have previously described that the NFκB pathway is upregulated during differentiation of glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs) which keeps differentiating GSCs in a proliferative astrocytic precursor state. However, extracellular signals and cellular mediators of this pathway are not clear yet. Here, we show that TLR4 is a key factor to promote NFκB activation in differentiating GSCs. TLR4 is upregulated during differentiation of GSCs and promotes transcriptional activation of NFκB as determined by luciferase-reporter assays and expression of NFκB target genes. Downregulation of TLR4 by shRNAs or blockade with anti-TLR4 specific antibodies drastically inhibited NFκB activity which promoted further differentiation and reduced proliferation of GSCs. We found that hyaluronic acid (HA), a main component of brain extracellular matrix, triggers the TLR4-NFκB pathway in differentiating GSCs. Moreover, HA is synthesized and released by GSCs undergoing differentiation and leads to transcriptional activation of NFκB, which is inhibited following downregulation of TLR4 or blockade of HA synthesis. Thus, we have demonstrated that during the process of differentiation, GSCs upregulate TLR4 and release the TLR4 ligand HA, which activates the TLR4-NFκB signaling pathway. This strategy may efficiently be used by differentiating GSCs to maintain their proliferative potential and consequently their tumorigenic capacity.

Role of the NFκB-signaling pathway in cancer

Cancer is a group of cells that malignantly grow and proliferate uncontrollably. At present, treatment modes for cancer mainly comprise surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, molecularly targeted therapy, gene therapy, and immunotherapy. However, the curative effects of these treatments have been limited thus far by specific characteristics of tumors. Abnormal activation of signaling pathways is involved in tumor pathogenesis and plays critical roles in growth, progression, and relapse of cancers. Targeted therapies against effectors in oncogenic signaling have improved the outcomes of cancer patients. NFκB is an important signaling pathway involved in pathogenesis and treatment of cancers. Excessive activation of the NFκB-signaling pathway has been documented in various tumor tissues, and studies on this signaling pathway for targeted cancer therapy have become a hot topic. In this review, we update current understanding of the NFκB-signaling pathway in cancer.

Anti-inflammatory effect of 4-methylcyclopentadecanone in rats submitted to ischemic stroke

This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of 4-methylcyclopentadecanone (4-MCPC) in rats suffering from a cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. In this study, the focal cerebral ischemia in rats was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 2 h, and the rats were treated with 4-MCPC (8 mg/kg) just 0.5 h before reperfusion. The ischemic infarct volume was recorded 24 h after the MCAO. In addition, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and TNF-α and IL-1β levels in the ischemic cerebral cortex were determined by ELISA, while nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 subunit and expression of p-IκBα were investigated by Western blotting. Our results showed that 4-MCPC treatment decreased infarct volume significantly, compared with I/R group (16.8%±7.5% vs. 39.7%±10.9%); it reduced MPO activity (0.43 ± 0.10 vs. 1.00 ± 0.51 U/g) and expression levels of TNF-α (18.90 ± 3.65 vs. 35.87 ± 4.87 ng/g) and IL-1β (1.68 ± 0.23 vs. 2.67 ± 0.38 ng/g) in ischemic brain tissues of rats. Further study revealed that 4-MCPC treatment markedly reduced nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 subunit and expression of p-IκBα in ischemic cerebral cortex. Taken together, our results suggest that 4-MCPC protects against cerebral I/R injury and displays anti-inflammatory actions through inhibition of the NF-κB signal pathway.

Resveratrol Improves Neuroimmune Dysregulation Through the Inhibition of Neuronal Toll-Like Receptors and COX-2 Signaling in BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J Mice

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in qualitative impairments in communication, repetitive and social interaction, restricted, and stereotyped patterns of behavior. Resveratrol has been extensively studied pharmacologically and biologically and has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects on neuronal damage in neurodegenerative disorders. The BTBR T⁺ Itpr3^tf/J (BTBR) autistic mouse model has been explored for treatment of autism, which shows low reciprocal social interactions, impaired juvenile play, and decreased social approach. Here, we explored whether resveratrol treatment decreases neuroimmune dysregulation mediated through toll-like receptor (TLR4) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in BTBR mice. We investigated the effect of resveratrol treatment on TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, NF-κB, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS or NOS2) levels in CD4 spleen cells. We also assessed the effect of resveratrol treatment on TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, NF-κB, iNOS, and cyclooxygenase (COX-2) mRNA expression levels in the brain tissue. We further explored TLR2, TLR4, NF-κB, iNOS, and COX-2 protein expression levels in the brain tissue. Resveratrol treatment on BTBR mice significantly decreased CD4⁺TLR2⁺, CD4⁺TLR3⁺, CD4⁺TLR4⁺ CD4⁺NF-κB⁺, and CD4⁺iNOS⁺ levels in spleen cells. Resveratrol treatment on BTBR mice decreased TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, NF-κB, iNOS, and COX-2 mRNA expression levels in brain tissue. Moreover, resveratrol treatment resulted in decreased protein expression of TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, NF-κB, iNOS, and COX-2 in brain tissue. Taken together, these results indicate that resveratrol treatment improves neuroimmune dysregulation through the inhibition of proinflammatory mediators and TLRs/NF-κB transcription factor signaling, which might be help devise future therapies for neuroimmune disorders.

Guava Leaf Extract Diminishes Hyperglycemia and Oxidative Stress, Prevents β-Cell Death, Inhibits Inflammation, and Regulates NF-kB Signaling Pathway in STZ Induced Diabetic Rats

Traditional Chinese medication has been utilized by Chinese medical practitioners to treat the varied symptoms of diabetes mellitus (DM). Notably, guava leaf has been used to treat diabetes in Asia. Our present study has been designed to analyze the action of guava leaf extract (GLE) at the molecular level in treating DM. A low dose of streptozotocin (STZ) was used to induce experimental diabetes in animals. Rats were treated with GLE at different concentrations (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg b.w.). The standard drug glibenclamide (GB) (600 μg/kg b.w.) was used for comparison. The diabetic rats showed a reduced level of insulin, accompanied by exaggerated levels of blood glucose, lipid peroxidation product, and augmented expressions of inflammatory cytokines, and showed reduced levels of antioxidants compared to the control rats. Supplementation with GLE counteracted the consequences of STZ. It suppresses the oxidative stress and inhibits the state of inflammation and the results are almost similar to that of standard drug group (GB group 5). Our present research, therefore, provides useful data concerning guava leaf extract by a thorough assessment in diabetes management. Being a natural product, additional analysis on GLE can shed light on finding effective phytochemicals within the field of diabetes mellitus.

Pristimerin exhibits in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities through inhibition of nuclear factor-кB signaling pathway in colorectal cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies associated with high mortality rate worldwide. We previously reported that pristimerin inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in CRC cells.

HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE

To further understand the molecular mechanism by which pristimerin elicits its anticancer activities on colon cancer cells, we investigated its effect on nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway.

STUDY DESIGN

This study consisted of both in vitro and in vivo experiments involving HCT-116 cell line and xenograft mouse model. Molecular techniques such as qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to demonstrate pristimerin in vitro effect on NF-κB signaling pathway; whereas it's in vivo activity was analyzed by western blot and immunohistochemistry on tumor tissues.

RESULTS

Our in vitro results on HCT-116 cells showed that pristimerin inhibited IKK phosphorylation, IкB-α degradations and IкB-α phosphorylation in both dose- and time- dependent manners, which caused suppression of NF-кB p65 phosphorylation, nuclear translocation and accumulation of NF-кB. Moreover, pristimerin was found to inhibit both constitutive activated-NF-кB and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of NF-кB signaling pathway. Furthermore, our in vivo results on xenograft animal model revealed that pristimerin inhibited tumor growth mainly through suppressing NF-кB activity in tumor tissues.

CONCLUSION

Pristimerin antitumor activities were mainly mediated through inhibition of NF-кB signaling pathway in colon tumor cells. These findings further explain that pristimerin has the therapeutic potential for targeting colon cancer.

Asiaticoside Attenuates Cell Growth Inhibition and Apoptosis Induced by Aβ1-42 via Inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a very common progressive neurodegenerative disorder with the highest incidence in the world. Dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) may be responsible for the pathogenesis and pathology of AD for abnormally transporting amyloid-β (Aβ, the main component of the senile plaques) from the sera into the central nervous system. Aβ peptides induce apoptosis in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (hBMECs), the main component of BBB. Apoptosis in neuronal cells plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of AD. Asiaticoside, a natural glycoside extracted from Centella asiatica (L.) Urban, has an anti-apoptotic effect on hBMECs but the molecule mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, we investigate the protective effect of asiaticoside on Aβ_1-42-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis as well as associated mechanism in hBMECs with commonly used in vitro methods for clinical development of asiaticoside as a novel anti-AD agent. In the present study, we investigated the effects of asiaticoside on cytotoxicity by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, mitochondrial membrane potential by JC-1 fluorescence analysis, anti-apoptosis by Hoechst 33258 staining and Annexin V-FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate) and propidium iodide (PI) analyses, the expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and TLR4, MyD88, TRAF6, p-NF-κB p65, and total NF-κB p65 by Western blotting, and nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 by immunofluorescence analysis in hBMECs. The results showed that pretreatment of asiaticoside (25, 50, and 100 μM) for 12 h significantly attenuated cell growth inhibition and apoptosis, and restored declined mitochondrial membrane potential induced by Aβ_1-42 (50 μM) in hBMECs. Asiaticoside also significantly downregulated the elevated expressions of TNF-α, IL-6, TLR4, MyD88, TRAF6, and p-NF-κB p65, as well as inhibited NF-κB p65 translocation from cytoplasm to nucleus induced by Aβ_1-42 in hBMECs in a concentration-dependent manner. The possible underlying molecular mechanism of asiaticoside may be through inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Therefore, asiaticoside may be developed as a novel agent for the prevention and/or treatment of AD clinically.

Prophylactic efficacy of patchoulene epoxide against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in rats: Influence on oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis

Patchoulene epoxide (PAO), a tricyclic sesquiterpene isolated from the long-stored patchouli oil, has been demonstrated the anti-inflammatory activity in vivo based on our previous study. However, the gastric protective effect of PAO still remains unknown. Therefore, in the present study, ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model was carried out to evaluate the anti-ulcerogenic activity of PAO and to elucidate the potential mechanisms that involves. According to our results, macroscopic examination revealed that PAO could significantly reduce ethanol-induced gastric ulcer areas as compared with the vehicle group, which was also supported by the histological evaluation result. As for its potential mechanism, the anti-inflammatory activity of PAO contributed to gastric protection through reversing the imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and modulating the expressions of NF-κB pathway-related proteins including p-IκBα, IκBα, p-p65 and p65. Besides, PAO was able to enhance the expressions of antioxidant enzymes including glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and down-regulate malonaldehyde (MDA), an indicator of lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry analysis exhibited potent anti-apoptosis effect of PAO, as evidence by down-regulating the protein expression of caspase-3, Fas and Fasl. Additionally, we also demonstrated that PAO could replenish PGE₂ and NO mucosal defense. In conclusion, these findings suggested that PAO has gastric protective activity against ethanol and this might be related to its influence on inflammatory response, oxidative stress, apoptosis cascade and gastric mucosal defense.

New sulfurated derivatives of cinnamic acids and rosmaricine as inhibitors of STAT3 and NF-κB transcription factors

A set of new sulfurated drug hybrids, mainly derived from caffeic and ferulic acids and rosmaricine, has been synthesized and their ability to inhibit both STAT3 and NF-κB transcription factors have been evaluated. Results showed that most of the new hybrid compounds were able to strongly and selectively bind to STAT3, whereas the parent drugs were devoid of this ability at the tested concentrations. Some of them were also able to inhibit the NF-κB transcriptional activity in HCT-116 cell line and inhibited HCT-116 cell proliferation in vitro with IC50 in micromolar range, thus suggesting a potential anticancer activity. Taken together, our study described the identification of new derivatives with dual STAT3/NF-κB inhibitory activity, which may represent hit compounds for developing multi-target anticancer agents.

Reactive astrocytes increase the expression of P‑gp and Mrp1 via TNF‑α and NF‑κB signaling

To understand multidrug resistance gene expression in reactive astrocytes, the present study involved stimulated astrocytes with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‑α and determined gene expression by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. Stimulation induced P‑glycoprotein (gp) and multidrug resistance‑associated protein (MRP0) 1 expression, which peaked by 24 h. Interestingly, the expression of P‑gp and Mrp1 correlated with cell proliferation. Therefore, reactivation of astrocytes may increase P‑gp and Mrp1 expression through TNF‑α and nuclear factor (NF)‑κB signaling. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the present study is the first to demonstrate that in vitro activated astrocytes likely induced P‑gp and Mrp1 expression by increasing NF‑κB expression. The results of the present study provide a novel insight into the mechanism of refractory epilepsy and suggest inhibiting cytokine signaling may block multidrug resistance.

A small molecule, (E)-2-methoxy-4-(3-(4-methoxyphenyl) prop-1-en-1-yl) phenol suppresses tumor growth via inhibition of IkappaB kinase β in colorectal cancer in vivo and in vitro

Here we report that a novel synthesized compound (E)-2-methoxy-4-(3-(4-methoxyphenyl)prop-1-en-1-yl)phenol (MMPP) which exhibits better stability, drug-likeness and anti-cancer effect than (E)-2,4-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butenal (BHPB) that we previously reported. Of all newly synthesized BHPB analogues, MMPP showed the most significant inhibitory effect on colon cancer cell growth. Thus, we evaluated the anti-cancer effects and possible mechanisms of MMPP in vitro and in vivo. MMPP treatment (0-15 μg/mL) induced apoptotic cell death and enhanced the expression of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-8 in a concentration dependent manner. Notably, the expression of death receptor (DR)5 and DR6 was significantly increased by MMPP treatment. Moreover, DR5 siRNA or DR6 siRNA transfection partially abolished MMPP-induced cell growth inhibition. Pull down assay and docking experiment showed that MMPP bound directly to IkappaB kinase β (IKKβ). It was noteworthy that IKKβ mutant (C99S) partially abolished MMPP-induced cell growth inhibition and enhanced expression of DR5 and DR6. In addition, MMPP enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis, cell growth inhibition and expression of DRs. In xenograft mice model, MMPP (2.5-5 mg/kg) suppressed tumor growth in a dose dependent manner. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the expression levels of DR5 and DR6 and active caspase-3 were increased while the expression levels of PCNA and p-IKKβ were decreased in a dose dependent manner. Thus, MMPP may be a promising anti-cancer agent in colon cancer treatment.

H2S inhibits pulmonary arterial endothelial cell inflammation in rats with monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension

This study aimed to determine whether hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) inhibits pulmonary arterial endothelial inflammation in rats with monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension and its possible mechanisms. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided randomly into control, MCT, and MCT+H₂S treatment groups. Human pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (HPAEC) were cultured and divided into four groups: control, MCT, MCT+H₂S, and H₂S. Pulmonary artery pressure was determined using a right cardiac catheterization procedure 3 weeks after MCT administration. Pulmonary vascular morphological changes and inflammatory infiltration were measured. Endogenous H₂S levels, cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) expression, and inflammatory cytokines were determined both in vivo and in vitro. In addition, phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 and IκBα was detected by western blotting, and NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation, as well as its DNA-binding activity, was determined. Pulmonary hypertension and vascular remolding developed 3 wks after MCT administration, with elevated lung tissue inflammatory infiltration and cytokine level associated with activation of the NF-κB pathway, both in vivo and in vitro. However, the endogenous H₂S/CSE pathway was downregulated in MCT rats. By contrast, an H₂S donor markedly reduced pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular structural remolding, and increased lung inflammatory infiltration and cytokine levels of MCT-treated rats. Meanwhile, H₂S reversed the activation of the NF-κB pathway successfully. The downregulated pulmonary arterial endothelial H₂S/CSE pathway is involved in the pulmonary inflammatory response in MCT-treated pulmonary hypertensive rats. H₂S attenuated endothelial inflammation by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway.

Veronicastrum axillare Alleviates Ethanol-Induced Injury on Gastric Epithelial Cells via Downregulation of the NF-kB Signaling Pathway

We used human gastric epithelial cells (GES-1) line in an ethanol-induced cell damage model to study the protective effect of Veronicastrum axillare and its modulation to NF-κB signal pathway. The goal was to probe the molecular mechanism of V. axillare decoction in the prevention of gastric ulcer and therefore provide guidance in the clinical application of V. axillare on treating injuries from chronic nephritis, pleural effusion, gastric ulcer, and other ailments. The effects of V. axillare-loaded serums on cell viability were detected by MTT assays. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Real-Time PCR methods were used to analyze the protein and mRNA expression of TNF-α, NF-κB, IκBα, and IKKβ. The results showed that V. axillare-loaded serum partially reversed the damaging effects of ethanol and NF-κB activator (phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate: PMA) and increased cell viability. The protein and mRNA expressions of TNF-α, NF-κB, IκBα, and IKKβ were significantly upregulated by ethanol and PMA while they were downregulated by V. axillare-loaded serum. In summary, V. axillare-loaded serum has significantly protective effect on GES-1 against ethanol-induced injury. The protective effect was likely linked to downregulation of TNF-α based NF-κB signal pathway.

Dendrosomal nanocurcumin and p53 overexpression synergistically trigger apoptosis in glioblastoma cells

OBJECTIVES

Glioblastoma is the most lethal tumor of the central nervous system. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effects of exogenous delivery of p53 and a nanoformulation of curcumin called dendrosomal curcumin (DNC), alone and in combination, on glioblastoma tumor cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MTT assay was exploited to measure the viability of U87-MG cells against DNC treatment. Cells were separately subjected to DNC treatment and transfected with p53-containing vector and then were co-exposed to DNC and p53 overexpression[A GA1][B2]. Annexin-V-FLUOS staining followed by flow cytometry and real-time PCR were applied to examine apoptosis and analyze the expression levels of the genes involved in cell cycle and oncogenesis, respectively.

RESULTS

The results of cell viability assay through MTT indicated that DNC inhibits the proliferation of U87-MG cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Apoptosis evaluation revealed that p53 overexpression accompanied by DNC treatment can act in a synergistic manner to significantly enhance the number of apoptotic cells (90%) compared with their application alone (15% and 38% for p53 overexpression and DNC, respectively). Also, real-time PCR data showed that the concomitant exposure of cells to both DNC and p53 overexpression leads to an enhanced expression of GADD45 and a reduced expression of NF-κB and c-Myc.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the current study suggest that our combination strategy, which merges two detached gene (p53) and drug (curcumin) delivery systems into an integrated platform, may represent huge potential as a novel and efficient modality for glioblastoma treatment.

TNF-α-induced IL-6 and MMP-9 expression in immortalized ameloblastoma cell line established by hTERT

OBJECTIVE

Ameloblastoma (AM) shows locally invasive behaviour. However, biological investigations regarding regulation of gene expression associated with AM pathological features are difficult to perform, because AM cells can be passaged for a few generations due to senescence. We report a newly established immortalized AM cell line, AMB cells, by transfection with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). Furthermore, we examined whether TNF-α modulates bone resorption-related genes, IL-6 and MMP-9 in cooperation with TGF-β or IFN-γ.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Following transfection of an hTERT expression vector into AM cells using a non-viral method, the effects of cytokines on the expressions of IL-6 and MMP-9 mRNA were examined using real-time PCR. TNF-α-induced NF-κB activity was examined by western blotting and transcription factor assays.

RESULTS

AMB cells continued to grow for more than 100 population doublings. Stimulation with TNF-α increased IL-6 and MMP-9 mRNA expressions, as well as NF-κB activation. Furthermore, TGF-β and IFN-γ dramatically increased TNF-α-mediated expressions of MMP-9 and IL-6 mRNA, respectively, while those responses were suppressed by NF-κB inhibitor.

CONCLUSION

We established an immortalized AM cell line by hTERT transfection. TNF-α-mediated regulation of MMP-9 and IL-6 via NF-κB may play an important role in the pathological behaviour of AMs, such as bone resorption.

Radical Resection of a Primarily Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Using Gemcitabine, TS-1, and Nafamostat Mesilate; Report of a Case

A 58-year-old male visited his primary physician for epigastric and back pain. Abdominal-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed a hypovascular pancreatic tumor measuring 17 × 11 mm in the uncinate process of the pancreas extending into the superior mesenteric plexus for greater than 180°. With a diagnosis of unresectable pancreatic cancer, the patient received gemcitabine and TS-1 with arterial infusion of nafamostat mesilate. After 3 courses of chemotherapy, enhanced CT revealed a decrease in size of the pancreatic tumor with no lymph node and distant metastasis and improved invasion of the superior mesenteric plexus down to 120°. The patient underwent R0 pancreaticoduodenectomy. The patient made a satisfactory recovery without complications and was discharged on postoperative day 10. We herein report the first curative resected case of a primarily unresectable pancreatic cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy using gemcitabine, TS-1, and nafamostat mesilate.

Silencing MARCH1 suppresses proliferation, migration and invasion of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells via downregulation of NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin pathways

Membrane-associated RING-CH (MARCH) belongs to the family of RING-CH type E3 ubiquitin ligases. MARCH1 ubiquitinates and downregulates MHC class II expression in APCs and targets major players of the immune system. However, the role of MARCH1 in ovarian cancer has not been elucidated. The present study investigated the function of MARCH1 in ovarian cancer and the potential mechanisms involved. MARCH1 expression was examined in human ovarian cancer tissue specimens by immunohistochemistry. The role of MARCH1 in ovarian cancer cells was assessed by cell proliferation, migration and invasion assays with MARCH1 gene silencing. To investigate the mechanism by which MARCH1 functions, correlation between MARCH1 and the cell signaling pathways were analyzed using a luciferase reporter assay, real-time RT-PCR, western blot assay and immunofluorescence. MARCH1 was found to be overexpressed in ovarian cancer tissues when compared to adjacent non-tumor and normal ovarian tissues. Silencing MARCH1 inhibited SKOV3 cell proliferation, invasion and migration, as well as inhibiting the NF-κB and the Wnt/β‑catenin pathways. MARCH1 functions as a tumor promoter by upregulating the NF-κB and the Wnt/β-catenin pathways, indicating that MARCH1 may be a therapeutic target for patients with ovarian cancer.

Gene Expression Profiles of HIV/AIDS Patients with Qi-Yin Deficiency and Dampness-Heat Retention

Objectives: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) applied in the clinic as a complementary and alternative therapy has helped improve immunity and reduce side effects and symptomatic treatment in patients with HIV/AIDS. However, the mechanisms of TCM syndromes are not clear. Transcriptomics enables the study of such TCM syndromes.

Design: This study compared the messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of healthy persons and patients with HIV/AIDS who had two common TCM syndromes, qi-yin deficiency and dampness-heat retention, to find the difference in HIV/AIDS with TCM syndromes.

Results: Comparison with healthy persons identified 113 mRNAs—41 enhanced and 72 decreased—in the qi-yin deficiency group. Additionally, 76 mRNAs were found in the dampness-heat retention group: 14 increased and 62 decreased. Functional genetic analysis of the mRNAs indicated that two TCM syndromes were correlated with cell apoptosis, immunoinflammatory responses, and lymphocyte activation. Differentially expressed mRNAs in the qi-yin deficiency group were obviously associated with cellular activity, communication, protein localization, cellular ion homeostasis, and regulation of cell motion, whereas mRNAs in the dampness-heat retention group were associated with sequence-specific DNA binding, cellular response to stress, and hemopoietic or lymphoid organ development.

Conclusions: These results suggest that the formation of different TCM syndromes in patients with HIV/AIDS were founded on biological transcriptomics, which reveal mechanisms of the formation of these syndromes in HIV/AIDS. Differentially expressed mRNAs in two TCM syndrome groups tended to normalize after TCM intervention, which indicates that TCM might remit symptoms by changing genetic expression.

Piperlongumine inhibits lung tumor growth via inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway

Piperlongumine has anti-cancer activity in numerous cancer cell lines via various signaling pathways. But there has been no study regarding the mechanisms of PL on the lung cancer yet. Thus, we evaluated the anti-cancer effects and possible mechanisms of PL on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells in vivo and in vitro. Our findings showed that PL induced apoptotic cell death and suppressed the DNA binding activity of NF-κB in a concentration dependent manner (0-15 μM) in NSCLC cells. Docking model and pull down assay showed that PL directly binds to the DNA binding site of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p50 subunit, and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis showed that PL binds to p50 concentration-dependently. Moreover, co-treatment of PL with NF-κB inhibitor phenylarsine oxide (0.1 μM) or p50 siRNA (100 nM) augmented PL-induced inhibitory effect on cell growth and activation of Fas and DR4. Notably, co-treatment of PL with p50 mutant plasmid (C62S) partially abolished PL-induced cell growth inhibition and decreased the enhanced expression of Fas and DR4. In xenograft mice model, PL (2.5-5 mg/kg) suppressed tumor growth of NSCLC dose-dependently. Therefore, these results indicated that PL could inhibit lung cancer cell growth via inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo.

Recombinant adeno-associated virus-delivered anginex inhibits angiogenesis and growth of HUVECs by regulating the Akt, JNK and NF-κB signaling pathways

Anginex is an artificial synthetic small molecule β-sheet-forming peptide shown to have anti-angiogenesis and antitumor effects in various solid tumors. However, its molecular mechanism remains largely unclear and efficient delivery methods for anginex remains to be developed. We report on the development of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV2)-delivered anginex and the underlying mechanism of anti-angiogenesis and antitumor effects of anginex. We have successfully developed the rAAV2 vector to efficiently express anginex (rAAV2‑anginex). Transduction of rAAV2-anginex significantly induced apoptosis, and inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro. Western blot analysis revealed that rAAV2‑anginex inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt, while inducing the phosphorylation of JNK and activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. In an in vivo CAM assay and xenograft model of SKOV3, rAAV2-anginex significantly reduced microvessel density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF165), as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry analysis. Importantly, rAAV2-anginex inhibited tumor growth in an ovarian cancer SKOV3 cell nude mouse xenograft model. Our results suggest that rAAV2-anginex may inhibit tumor angiogenesis and growth through regulating Akt, JNK and NF-κB signaling pathways.

The Anti-Atherosclerotic Effect of Naringin Is Associated with Reduced Expressions of Cell Adhesion Molecules and Chemokines through NF-κB Pathway

Naringin has been reported to have an anti-atherosclerosis effect but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of naringin on the TNF-α-induced expressions of cell adhesion molecules, chemokines and NF-κB signaling pathway in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The experiments revealed that naringin, at concentrations without cytotoxicity, dose-dependently inhibited the adhesion of THP-1 monocytes to the TNF-α-stimulated HUVECs. The TNF-α-induced expressions of cell adhesion molecules, including VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin, at both the mRNA and protein levels, were significantly suppressed by naringin in a dose dependent manner. In addition, the TNF-α-induced mRNA and protein levels of chemokines, including fractalkine/CX3CL1, MCP-1 and RANTES, were also reduced by naringin. Naringin significantly inhibited TNF-α-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB, which resulted from the inhibited phosphorylation of IKKα/β, IκB-α and NF-κB. Altogether, we proposed that naringin modulated TNF-α-induced expressions of cell adhesion molecules and chemokines through the inhibition of TNF-α-induced activation of IKK/NF-κB signaling pathway to exert the anti-atherosclerotic effect.

miR-508-3p concordantly silences NFKB1 and RELA to inactivate canonical NF-κB signaling in gastric carcinogenesis

Background

NF-κB signaling pathway plays an important role in gastric carcinogenesis. The basic expression and functional role of NFKB1 and RELA (components of canonical NF-κB pathway) in gastric cancer (GC) have not been well elucidated. In this study, the role of NFKB1 and RELA in gastric tumorigenesis will be investigated and their regulation by microRNAs (miRNAs) will be deeply explored.

Methods

The mRNA and protein expression of NFKB1 and RELA were investigated by qRT-PCR and Western blot in GC cell lines and primary tumors. The functional roles of NFKB1 and RELA in GC were demonstrated by MTT proliferation assay, monolayer colony formation, cell invasion and migration, cell cycle analysis and in vivo study through siRNA mediated knockdown. Identification of NFKB1 as a direct target of tumor suppressor miRNA miR-508-3p was achieved by expression regulation assays together with dual luciferase activity experiments.

Results

NFKB1 and RELA were up-regulated in GC cell lines and primary tumors compared with normal gastric epithelium cells and their upregulation correlation with poor survival in GC. siRNA mediated knockdown of NFKB1 or RELA exhibited anti-oncogenic effect both in vitro and in vivo. NFKB1 was further revealed to be a direct target of miR-508-3p in gastric tumorigenesis and their expression showed negative correlation in primary GC samples. miR-508-3p was down-regulated in GC cells compared with normal gastric epithelium samples and its ectopic expression in GC cell lines also exerts tumor suppressor function. NFKB1 re-expression was found to partly abolish the tumor-suppressive effect of miR-508-3p in GC.

Conclusion

All these findings supports that canonical NF-κB signaling pathway is activated in GC at least by the inactivation of miR-508-3p and this might have therapeutic potential in GC treatment.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12943-016-0493-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Protective effects of Egyptian cloudy apple juice and apple peel extract on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes and inflammatory status in diabetic rat pancreas

Background

Apples possess rich content of varied polyphenolic compounds showing a variety of biological activities that may ascribe to worthy effects against some chronic diseases. The present study was designed to assess the protective effects of the cloudy apple juice (CAJ) and apple peel extract (APE) of Egyptian Anna apple on the complications in experimental diabetes.

Materials and methods

Four groups were studied. Diabetes was induced by a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ) to only three groups of albino Wistar rats. Two of the diabetic groups received either CAJ or APE for 21 days. At the end of the study, lipid profile parameters were measured in serum while lipid peroxidation (LPO) level, antioxidant enzyme activities and inflammatory markers were evaluated in pancreas tissue samples. The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of phenolic compounds found in CAJ and APE was carried out. Moreover, total phenolic content of CAJ and APE were measured.

Results

The significant increase of blood glucose level, serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low- density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels, in addition to tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8) levels, but a significant decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and the activity of pancreatic antioxidant enzymes were the remarkably parameters observed in diabetic control rats. Dissimilarly, oral supplementation of 15 ml/kg CAJ and 1 g/kg APE for 21 days resulted in a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose, serum TC, TG, LDL-C, VLDL-C and tissue MDA, NF-kB, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 levels coupled with a significant elevation of HDL-C and antioxidant enzymes’ activity when compared with diabetic control animals.

Conclusions

The results indicate that Egyptian CAJ and APE supplementation may have protective effects against deleterious complications of diabetes mellitus.

Progesterone amplifies oxidative stress signal and promotes NO production via H2O2 in mouse kidney arterial endothelial cells

The role of progesterone on the cardiovascular system is controversial. Our present research is to specify the effect of progesterone on arterial endothelial cells in response to oxidative stress. Our result showed that H2O2 (150 μM and 300 μM) induced cellular antioxidant response. Glutathione (GSH) production and the activity of Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were increased in H2O2-treated group. The expression of glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) and modifier subunit (GCLM) was induced in response to H2O2. However, progesterone absolutely abolished the antioxidant response through increasing ROS level, inhibiting the activity of Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), decreasing GSH level and reducing expression of GClC and GCLM. In our study, H2O2 induced nitrogen monoxide (NO) production and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression, and progesterone promoted H2O2-induced NO production. Progesterone increased H2O2-induced expression of hypoxia inducible factor-α (HIFα) which in turn regulated eNOS expression and NO synthesis. Further study demonstrated that progesterone increased H2O2 concentration of culture medium which may contribute to NO synthesis. Exogenous GSH decreased the content of H2O2 of culture medium pretreated by progesterone combined with H2O2 or progesterone alone. GSH also inhibited expression of HIFα and eNOS, and abolished NO synthesis. Collectively, our study demonstrated for the first time that progesterone inhibited cellular antioxidant effect and increased oxidative stress, promoted NO production of arterial endothelial cells, which may be due to the increasing H2O2 concentration and amplified oxidative stress signal.

The inhibition of PI3K and NFκB promoted curcumin-induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M via altering polyamine metabolism in Bcl-2 overexpressing MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Bcl-2 protein has been contributed with number of genes which are involved in oncogenesis. Among the many targets of Bcl-2, NFκB have potential role in induction of cell cycle arrest. Curcumin has potential therapeutic effects against breast cancer through multiple signaling pathways. In this study, we investigated the role of curcumin in induction of cell cycle arrest via regulating of NFκB and polyamine biosynthesis in wt and Bcl-2+ MCF-7 cells. To examine the effect of curcumin on cell cycle regulatory proteins, PI3K/Akt, NFκB pathways and polyamine catabolism, we performed immunoblotting assay. In addition, cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry. The results indicated that curcumin induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase by downregulation of cyclin B1 and Cdc2 and inhibited colony formation in MCF-7wt cells. However, Bcl-2 overexpression prevented the inhibition of cell cycle associated proteins after curcumin treatment. The combination of LY294002, PI3K inhibitor, and curcumin induced cell cycle arrest by decreasing CDK4, CDK2 and cyclin E2 in Bcl-2+ MCF-7 cells. Moreover, LY294002 further inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt in Bcl-2+ MCF-7 cells. Curcumin could suppress the nuclear transport of NFκB through decreasing the interaction of P-IκB-NFκB. The combination of wedelolactone, NFκB inhibitor, and curcumin acted different on SSAT expression in wt MCF-7 and Bcl-2+ MCF-7 cells. NFκB inhibition increased the SSAT after curcumin treatment in Bcl-2 overexpressed MCF-7 cells. Inhibition of NFκB activity as well as suppression of ROS generation with NAC resulted in the partial relief of cells from G2/M checkpoint after curcumin treatment in wt MCF-7 cells. In conclusion, the potential role of curcumin in induction of cell cycle arrest is related with NFκB-regulated polyamine biosynthesis.

Dopamine impairs functional integrity of rat hepatocytes through nuclear factor kappa B activity modulation: An in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro study

Dopamine (DA) is commonly used to maintain the hemodynamic stability of brain-dead donors despite its controversial effects on organ functions. This study aimed at examining the hemodynamic effect of DA in a rat brain-dead model in vivo, alteration of hepatocyte integrity in liver grafts after ex vivo preservation, and changes in cultured clone-9 hepatocytes including cellular viability, cell cycle, apoptotic regulators, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling machinery. Although in vivo findings demonstrated enhanced portal venous blood flow and hepatic microcirculatory perfusion after DA infusion, no apparent advantage was noted in preserving hepatocyte integrity ex vivo. In vitro, prolonged exposure to high-dose DA reduced proliferation and induced G1 growth arrest of clone-9 hepatocytes with concomitant decreases in B cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2)/B cell lymphoma 2-associated X protein (BAX) and heat shock protein 70/BAX protein ratios and intracellular NF-κB p65. Moreover, DA pretreatment suppressed LPS-elicited inhibitor of κBα phosphorylation and subsequent NF-κB nuclear translocation, suggesting that DA may down-regulate NF-κB signaling, thereby reducing expression of antiapoptotic regulators, such as BCL2. In conclusion, despite augmentation of hepatic perfusion, DA infusion failed to preserve hepatocyte integrity both in vivo and ex vivo. In vitro findings demonstrated that high-dose DA may hamper the function of NF-κB signaling machinery and eventually undermine functional integrity of hepatocytes in liver grafts.