Inhibition of arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase triggers massive apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells

Evidence of 5-lipoxygenase overexpression in the skin of patients with systemic sclerosis: a newly identified pathway to skin inflammation in systemic sclerosis

OBJECTIVE

Leukotrienes are a family of arachidonic acid derivatives with potent proinflammatory and profibrotic properties, and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) catalyzes two key steps in the leukotriene biosynthetic pathway. Since inflammatory cell infiltrates and excessive fibrosis are hallmarks of systemic sclerosis (SSc) skin lesions, we undertook the present study to investigate the expression of 5-LOX in skin biopsy specimens from patients with SSc.

METHODS

Expression of 5-LOX in skin sections from 10 SSc patients and 8 healthy controls was examined by in situ hybridization with specific riboprobes and by immunohistochemistry analysis with 5-LOX monoclonal antibodies. Synthesis of 5-LOX by cultured dermal fibroblasts from 7 patients with SSc and 4 controls was measured by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. In addition, concentrations of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and LTE4 in fibroblast supernatants after stimulation were determined using enzyme immunoassays.

RESULTS

Expression of 5-LOX was found in all skin sections from SSc patients as well as from controls. However, the number and percentage of 5-LOX-positive cells were significantly higher in SSc skin sections compared with control sections. Expression of 5-LOX was seen in cells within perivascular inflammatory infiltrates as well as in fibroblasts throughout the skin. The experiments with cultured skin fibroblasts revealed that 5-LOX was constitutively expressed in these cells, which resulted in the production of leukotrienes after cell stimulation. Whereas no difference was found for LTE4, SSc fibroblasts produced significantly higher amounts of LTB4 after stimulation, compared with healthy control fibroblasts.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that the 5-LOX pathway may be of significance in the pathogenesis of SSc and may represent a target for new treatment strategies.

Androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer chemoprevention: current status and future directions for agent development

Prostate cancer chemoprevention is defined as the administration of natural and synthetic agents that inhibit >/=1 steps in the natural history of prostate carcinogenesis. The goal is to find agents that modulate the progression from normal epithelium to dysplasia to high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) to locally invasive cancer and systemic disease. Another important goal for chemoprevention is the maintenance of an androgen-sensitive clinical state and delay of the emergence of androgen independence. There is a strong rationale for androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) as a chemoprevention strategy for prostate cancer based on evidence from epidemiologic, experimental, molecular pathophysiologic, and randomized, controlled clinical trials. This includes the fact that HGPIN, the most likely precursor of invasive cancer, is androgen dependent and responds to ADT. Although the large, phase-3 Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT) of finasteride versus placebo has established the feasibility and role of ADT for primary prevention, nevertheless, limitations of the anticipated treatment-effect size (eg, 25% reduction) and the potential for selection of androgen resistance provide incentive for finding other effective chemopreventive agents. The availability of novel noncytotoxic pharmaceutical and natural products in clinical development create opportunities for improving the therapeutic index through the principles of combination therapy. The emergence of new powerful tools, such as gene chip complementary DNA microarrays for multiplex gene expression profiling, will accelerate the identification of new molecular targets and the design of rational combinations. Several agent classes have a strong basis for combination with ADT, including antiproliferatives, antioxidant micronutrients (selenium), antiestrogens, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors).

Inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism potentiate tumour necrosis factor-alpha-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells

We investigated whether and how could various modulators of arachidonic acid metabolism affect apoptosis induced by tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in human myeloid leukaemia HL-60 cells. These included arachinonyltrifluoromethyl ketone (AACOCF3; cytosolic phospholipase A2 inhibitor), indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor), MK-886 (3-[1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-3-t-butyl-thio-5-isopropylindol-2-yl]-2,2-dimethyl propanoic acid; 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein inhibitor), nordihydroguaiaretic acid (general lipoxygenase inhibitor), and arachidonic acid itself. Incubation of HL-60 cells with nordihydroguaiaretic acid resulted in apoptosis and it was characterised by mitochondria membrane depolarisation, release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into cytosol and activation of caspase-3. Indomethacin and nordihydroguaiaretic acid synergistically potentiated TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis, while arachidonic acid, AACOCF3 and MK-886 did not modulate its effects. Furthermore, indomethacin potentiated apoptosis in cells treated with a differentiating agent, all-trans retinoic acid, which induces resistance to TNF-alpha. However, the observed effects were probably not associated either with the cyclooxygenase- or lipoxygenase-dependent activities of indomethacin and nordihydroguaiaretic acid, respectively. Since indomethacin may reportedly activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), the effects of specific ligands of PPARs on apoptosis were studied as well. It was found that selective PPARs ligands had no effects on TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis. The findings suggest that arachidonic acid metabolism does not play a key role in regulation of apoptosis induced by TNF-alpha in the present model. Nevertheless, our data raise the possibility that indomethacin could potentially be used to improve the treatment of human myeloid leukaemia.

Alterations in lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase-2 catalytic activity and mRNA expression in prostate carcinoma

Recent studies in prostate tissues and especially cell lines have suggested roles for arachidonic acid (AA) metabolizing enzymes in prostate adenocarcinoma (Pca) development or progression. The goal of this study was to more fully characterize lipoxygenase (LOX) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene expression and AA metabolism in benign and malignant prostate using snap-frozen tissues obtained intraoperatively and mRNA analyses and enzyme assays. Formation of 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) was detected in 23/29 benign samples and 15-LOX-2 mRNA was detected in 21/25 benign samples. In pairs of pure benign and Pca from the same patients, 15-HETE production and 15-LOX-2 mRNA were reduced in Pca versus benign in 9/14 (P=.04) and 14/17 (P=.002), respectively. Under the same conditions, neither 5-HETE nor 12-HETE formation was detectable in 29 benign and 24 tumor samples; with a more sensitive assay, traces were detected in some samples, but there was no clear association with tumor tissue. COX-2 mRNA was detected by nuclease protection assay in 7/16 benign samples and 5/16 tumors. In benign and tumor pairs from 10 patients, COX-2 was higher in tumor versus benign in only 2, with similar results by in situ hybridization. Paraffin immunoperoxidase for COX-2 was performed in whole mount sections from 87 additional radical prostatectomy specimens, with strong expression in ejaculatory duct as a positive control and corroboration with in situ hybridization. No immunostaining was detected in benign prostate or tumor in 45% of cases. Greater immunostaining in tumor versus benign was present in only 17% of cases, and correlated with high tumor grade (Gleason score 8 and 9 vs. 5 to 7). In conclusion, reduced 15-LOX-2 expression and 15-HETE formation is the most characteristic alteration of AA metabolism in Pca. Increased 12-HETE and 5-HETE formation in Pca were not discernible. Increased COX-2 expression is not a typical abnormality in Pca in general, but occurs in high-grade tumors.

Inhibition of peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)alpha by MK886

Although MK886 was originally identified as an inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase activating protein (FLAP), recent data demonstrate that this activity does not underlie its ability to induce apoptosis [Datta, Biswal and Kehrer (1999) Biochem. J. 340, 371--375]. Since FLAP is a fatty-acid binding protein, it is conceivable that MK886 may affect other such proteins. A family of nuclear receptors that are activated by fatty acids and their metabolites, the peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), have been implicated in apoptosis and may represent a target for MK886. The ability of MK886 to inhibit PPAR-alpha, -beta and -gamma activity was assessed using reporter assay systems (peroxisome-proliferator response element--luciferase). Using a transient transfection system in monkey kidney fibroblast CV-1 cells, mouse keratinocyte 308 cells and human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells, 10--20 microM MK886 inhibited Wy14,643 activation of PPAR alpha by approximately 80%. Similar inhibition of PPAR alpha by MK886 was observed with a stable transfection reporter system in CV-1 cells. Only minimal inhibitory effects were seen on PPAR beta and PPAR gamma. MK886 inhibited PPAR alpha by a non-competitive mechanism as shown by its effects on the binding of arachidonic acid to PPAR alpha protein, and a dose-response study using a transient transfection reporter assay in COS-1 cells. An assay assessing PPAR ligand-receptor interactions showed that MK886 prevents the conformational change necessary for active-complex formation. The expression of keratin-1, a protein encoded by a PPAR alpha-responsive gene, was reduced by MK886 in a culture of mouse primary keratinocytes, suggesting that PPAR inhibition has functional consequences in normal cells. Although Jurkat cells express all PPAR isoforms, various PPAR alpha and PPAR gamma agonists were unable to prevent MK886-induced apoptosis. This is consistent with MK886 functioning as a non-competitive inhibitor of PPAR alpha, but may also indicate that PPAR alpha is not directly involved in MK886-induced apoptosis. Although numerous PPAR activators have been identified, the results show that MK886 can inhibit PPAR alpha, making it the first compound identified to have such an effect.

Lipoxygenase-5 is overexpressed in prostate adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Epidemiologic studies suggest that populations that consume large amounts of dietary fat are at greater risk for prostate carcinoma. Arachidonic acid and its precursor, linoleic acid, are major ingredients of animal fats and many vegetable oils that are used in the regions where prostate carcinoma is prevalent. The metabolism of arachidonic acid by either the cyclooxygenase pathway or the lipoxygenase pathway generates eicosanoids, which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of human diseases, including cancer, and are now believed to play important roles in tumor promotion, progression, and metastasis. Studying these pathways in specimens from patients with prostate carcinoma, the authors recently demonstrated the overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 in prostate adenocarcinoma. In the current study, the authors report the overexpression of lipoxygenase-5 (5-LO) in samples from patients with prostate adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

Employing 22 pair-matched benign and malignant tissue samples that were obtained from the same patients with prostate carcinoma, the expression of 5-LO was determined using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry and by measuring the levels of 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTS

The mean level of 5-LO mRNA was six-fold greater (P < 0.001) in malignant tissue compared with benign tissue. The immunoblot analysis demonstrated that, compared with benign tissue, 5-LO protein was overexpressed in 16 of 22 samples examined and was 2.6 fold greater (P < 0.001) in malignant tissue. Immunohistochemical studies further verified 5-LO up-regulation in malignant tissue that was not present in benign tissue. The levels of 5-HETE, which is a metabolic product of arachidonic acid, was found to be 2.2-fold greater (P < 0.001) in malignant tumor tissue compared with benign tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first in vivo study showing overexpression of 5-LO in patients with prostate carcinoma. This study suggests that inhibitors of arachidonic acid pathway in general and selective 5-LO inhibitors in particular may be useful for prevention or therapy in patients with prostate carcinoma.

Prostate cancer prevention agent development: Criteria and pipeline for candidate chemoprevention agents

Epidemiologic data suggest that prostate cancer morbidity and mortality ought to be preventable. New insights into the molecular pathogenesis of prostate cancer offer new opportunities for the discovery of prostate cancer chemoprevention drugs and new challenges for their development. Established pathways that lead to US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of drugs for advanced prostate cancer may not be appropriate for the development of drugs for prostate cancer chemoprevention. For example, large randomized clinical trials designed to test the efficacy of new chemoprevention drugs on prostate cancer survival in the general population are likely to be conducted at great expense and take many years, threatening to increase commercial development risks while decreasing exclusive marketing revenues. As a consequence, to accelerate progress in research, new validated surrogate and strategic clinical trial endpoints, and new clinical trial designs featuring more precisely defined high-risk clinical trial cohorts, are needed. In this review, 10 criteria for prostate cancer chemoprevention agent development are offered and the pipeline of new prostate cancer chemoprevention drug candidates is considered.

Myristoleic acid, a cytotoxic component in the extract from Serenoa repens, induces apoptosis and necrosis in human prostatic LNCaP cells

BACKGROUND

Prostatic tumors are well known to progress to hormonal therapy-resistant terminal states. At this stage, there are no chemotherapeutic agents to affect clinical outcome. An effective cell death inducer for these prostate cells may be a candidate as an attractive antitumor agent. The extracts from S. repens have been used to improve the state of prostatic diseases and we have attempted to identify the effective component from the extract.

METHODS

Cell viability was examined in LNCaP cells, an in vitro model for hormonal therapy-resistant prostatic tumor.

RESULTS

We found that exposure of the extract from S. repens resulted in cell death of LNCaP cells. We also identified myristoleic acid as one of the cytotoxic components in the extract. The cell death exhibited both apoptotic and necrotic nuclear morphology as determined by Hoechst 33342 staining. Cell death was also partially associated with caspase activation.

CONCLUSIONS

It was demonstrated that the extract from S. repens and myristoleic acid induces mixed cell death of apoptosis and necrosis in LNCaP cells. These results suggest that the extract and myristoleic acid may develop attractive new tools for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Proapoptotic anti-inflammatory drugs

The very fact that apoptosis and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be linked in the same title should tell you that something unusual is happening. The image of NSAIDs among physicians is certainly discordant with that associated with cancer treatment, which usually involves administration of drugs with serious or even life-threatening toxicity. In contrast, the drugs discussed in this review, including selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, lipoxygenase inhibitors, and novel NSAID derivatives (eg, sulindac sulfone and R-flurbiprofen), offer the promise of oral, nontoxic agents able to control the progression of established prostate cancer and possibly to prevent the development of prostate cancer de novo. NSAIDs were initially developed to suppress inflammation and pain by inhibiting the production of prostaglandin E2 and its metabolites. At first glance, the fact that NSAIDs are active against prostate cancer in laboratory and clinical studies might suggest that prostaglandins play a pivotal role in prostate cancer biology. However, the story is much more complex than that. Although cyclooxygenase-mediated production of prostaglandins appears to play an important role in the biology of prostate cancer, the NSAIDs and derivatives with promising activity against prostate cancer manifest several mechanisms of action that can include direct inhibition of eicosanoid formation, indirect inhibition of eicosanoid formation by inhibiting expression of enzymes involved in eicosanoid synthesis, or by interfering with the function of cyclic guanosine monophosphate.

Cancer chemoprevention and apoptosis mechanisms induced by dietary polyphenolics

This review summarises current knowledge on the various molecular chemopreventive or therapeutic mechanisms that may be involved when the administration of flavonoids or polyphenols prevented chemical carcinogenesis in animal models. These mechanisms can be subdivided into the following: 1) the molecular mechanisms involved in preventing carcinogen metabolic activation, 2) the molecular mechanisms for preventing tumour cell proliferation by inactivation or downregulation of prooxidant enzymes or signal transduction enzymes, 3) the molecular cell death mechanisms for the induction of tumour cell death (apoptosis) and the molecular mechanisms for the inhibition of isolated mitochondria functions. Many of the flavonoids and polyphenols found in diets, supplements or herbal medicine were also ranked using "accelerated cytotoxic mechanism screening" by a combinatorial approach utilising isolated rat hepatocytes. A strong correlation of an early collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential and cell death was found for most of the cytotoxic polyphenols but did not occur with non-toxic polyphenols. This screening could prove useful for eliminating polyphenols that have the potential for adverse health effects and for selecting safe and effective polyphenolic candidates for further development as supplements for preventing cancer or cardiovascular disease. Safety concerns of flavonoid/polyphenol supplements are also reviewed.

The role of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase in cancer chemoprevention

The involvement of prostaglandins (PGs) and other eicosanoids in the development of human cancer has been known for over two decades. Importantly, an increase in PG synthesis may influence tumor growth in human beings and experimental animals, and numerous studies have illustrated the effect of PG synthesis on carcinogen metabolism, tumor cell proliferation and metastatic potential. PGs produced by cyclooxygenases (COXs) are represented by a large series of compounds that mainly enhance cancer development and progression, acting as carcinogens or tumor promoters, with profound effects on carcinogenesis. Further investigations suggest that arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites derived from lipoxygenase (LOX) pathways play an important role in growth-related signal transduction, implying that intervention through these pathways should be useful for arresting cancer progression. We discuss here the implications of COX and LOX in colon, pancreatic, breast, prostate, lung, skin, urinary bladder and liver cancers. Select inhibitors of COX and LOX are described, including nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), selective COX-2 inhibitors, curcumin, tea, silymarin and resveratrol, as well as a method useful for evaluating inhibitors of COX. Although a substantial amount of additional work is required to yield a better understanding of the role of COX and LOX in cancer chemoprevention, it is clear that beneficial therapeutic effects can be realized through drug-mediated modulation of these metabolic pathways.

Association between bcl-x(L) and 5-lipoxygenase activating protein (FLAP) levels in IL-3-dependent FL5.12 cells

The expression of 5-lipoxygenase activating protein (FLAP) in murine hematopoietic FL5.12 cells that are transfected to overexpress bcl-x(L) is less than in control cells. In addition, the withdrawal of IL-3 from the bcl-x(L) overexpressing cells, but not control cells, leads to the rapid loss of FLAP even though these cells, in contrast to control cells, do not undergo apoptosis (Datta et al., J. Biol. Chem. 273, 28163-28169 [1998]). The mechanism(s) underlying these observations is not known. Basal FLAP mRNA levels were actually 2.8-fold higher in bcl-x(L) than control cells indicating that this difference does not have a transcription basis. In addition, an examination of FLAP mRNA levels in response to withdrawal of IL-3 revealed a 2-3-fold increase after 4 and 8 h relative to time-matched samples in both control and bcl-x(L) overexpressing cells. This further indicates that the decrease in FLAP levels in bcl-x(L) overexpressing cells is not related to transcription and suggests an attempt at compensation perhaps in response to increased FLAP degradation/turnover. A proteolytic mechanism was explored by examining the effect of the general caspase inhibitor Boc-D-FMK, and the non-caspase protease inhibitors phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), pepstatin and leupeptin, on the loss of FLAP in bcl-x(L) overexpressing cells subsequent to IL-3 withdrawal. All inhibitors provided some protection from the loss of FLAP, with PMSF being the most effective, actually increasing FLAP levels above those seen in untreated cells. Given the absence of apoptosis in bcl-x(L) cells, it appears that protease activation is an effect that can accompany a variety of cellular perturbations. The functional consequences of a loss of FLAP in growth-factor deprived cells overexpressing bcl-x(L) is not known. However, these data continue to suggest some link between bcl-x(L) and FLAP.

Lipoxygenase-5 is overexpressed in prostate adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Epidemiologic studies suggest that populations that consume large amounts of dietary fat are at greater risk for prostate carcinoma. Arachidonic acid and its precursor, linoleic acid, are major ingredients of animal fats and many vegetable oils that are used in the regions where prostate carcinoma is prevalent. The metabolism of arachidonic acid by either the cyclooxygenase pathway or the lipoxygenase pathway generates eicosanoids, which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of human diseases, including cancer, and are now believed to play important roles in tumor promotion, progression, and metastasis. Studying these pathways in specimens from patients with prostate carcinoma, the authors recently demonstrated the overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 in prostate adenocarcinoma. In the current study, the authors report the overexpression of lipoxygenase-5 (5-LO) in samples from patients with prostate adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

Employing 22 pair-matched benign and malignant tissue samples that were obtained from the same patients with prostate carcinoma, the expression of 5-LO was determined using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry and by measuring the levels of 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTS

The mean level of 5-LO mRNA was six-fold greater (P < 0.001) in malignant tissue compared with benign tissue. The immunoblot analysis demonstrated that, compared with benign tissue, 5-LO protein was overexpressed in 16 of 22 samples examined and was 2.6 fold greater (P < 0.001) in malignant tissue. Immunohistochemical studies further verified 5-LO up-regulation in malignant tissue that was not present in benign tissue. The levels of 5-HETE, which is a metabolic product of arachidonic acid, was found to be 2.2-fold greater (P < 0.001) in malignant tumor tissue compared with benign tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first in vivo study showing overexpression of 5-LO in patients with prostate carcinoma. This study suggests that inhibitors of arachidonic acid pathway in general and selective 5-LO inhibitors in particular may be useful for prevention or therapy in patients with prostate carcinoma.

Antioxidative and 5-lipoxygenase inhibiting activities of novel bis(4-hydroxy-2,3,5-trimethylphenoxy)alkyl derivatives

Novel bis(4-hydroxy-2,3,5-trimethylphenoxy)alkyl derivatives were synthesized and evaluations were made of their inhibiting action on Fe3+-ADP induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsome and reducing action on alpha,alpha-diphenyl-beta-picrilhydrazyl (DPPH), a stable radical, in addition to their inhibiting action on 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), an enzyme that synthesizes leukotrienes. We performed a structure-activity correlation study on these derivatives. A strong Fe3+-ADP induced lipid peroxidation preventing activity was observed for the derivatives with an odd number of methylene groups including 1,3-bis(4-hydroxy-2,3,5-trimethylphenoxy)propane (3b) and 3a. No change in the DPPH reducing activity was found with change in the number of methylene groups. 5-LO inhibiting activity among the derivatives was the highest for 1,6-bis(4-hydroxy-2,3,5-trimethylphenoxy)hexane (3e). MM2 calculations were performed to find a stable steric structure for the derivatives, and 1,5-bis(4-hydroxy-2,3,5-trimethylphenoxy)pentane (3d) showed a strong activity in both antioxidative action and 5-LO inhibiting action.

Current prospects for controlling cancer growth with non-cytotoxic agents--nutrients, phytochemicals, herbal extracts, and available drugs

In animal or cell culture studies, the growth and spread of cancer can be slowed by many nutrients, food factors, herbal extracts, and well-tolerated, available drugs that are still rarely used in the clinical management of cancer, in part because they seem unlikely to constitute definitive therapies in themselves. However, it is reasonable to expect that mechanistically complementary combinations of these measures could have a worthwhile impact on survival times and, when used as adjuvants, could improve the cure rates achievable with standard therapies. The therapeutic options available in this regard include measures that: down-regulate serum free IGF-I; suppress the synthesis of mevalonic acid and/or certain derivatives thereof; modulate arachidonate metabolism by inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase, 12-lipoxygenase, or COX-2; antagonize the activation of AP-1 transcription factors; promote the activation of PPAR-gamma transcription factors; and that suppress angiogenesis by additional mechanisms. Many of these measures appear suitable for use in cancer prevention.

Molecular targets for selenium in cancer prevention

Mounting evidence reveals that selenium is a dietary constituent with anticarcinogenic and antitumorigenic properties. Various forms of selenium appear to be effective in bringing about these effects, although preclinical studies suggest that differences may arise as the quantity provided is reduced. The literature also documents the greater sensitivity of neoplastic cells to selenium than their nonneoplastic counterparts. Unfortunately, the minimal amount needed to bring about a positive effect in humans remains elusive. If there is a positive response to exaggerated intakes, it will likely be dependent on many factors, including the consumption of other dietary constituents, as well as variation in a host of genetic pathways involved with cancer. Although the biological basis of the reduction in cancer risk ascribed to selenium remains to be established, its consistency in retarding various experimentally induced tumors and suppressing the growth of various types of neoplasms in vitro and in vivo suggests that several mechanisms are involved. Depressed carcinogen bioactivation, reduced cell proliferation, and increased apoptosis raise the possibility that selenium works at a number of specific molecular targets involved with the cancer process. This review will focus on molecular targets involved with cell proliferation and apoptosis as possible mechanisms by which selenium might alter the cancer process.

Regulation of cellular differentiation and apoptosis by fatty acids and their metabolites

We have reviewed the literature regarding the effects of fatty acids and their metabolites on cellular differentiation and apoptosis. Results obtained in different studies have been variable, but some generalizations can be made. Differentiation was increased by incubation of cells with arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), or leukotriene D4 (LTD4). Effects of these agents on differentiation could be magnified with the simultaneous addition of other differentiation-inducing agents like dimethylsulfoxide or retinoic acid. AA and gamma-linolenic acid increased apoptosis while the effects of n-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) and of eicosanoids varied from stimulation to inhibition. These inconsistencies are attributed to the differences in methods used to evaluate differentiation and apoptosis, concentrations of fatty acids and serum, exposure time and the cell models used. Studies using the physiological concentrations of the fatty acids and standardized experimental conditions need to be conducted to establish effects of fatty acids and their metabolites on these cellular processes.

Extracellular calcium sensing and extracellular calcium signaling

The cloning of a G protein-coupled extracellular Ca(2+) (Ca(o)(2+))-sensing receptor (CaR) has elucidated the molecular basis for many of the previously recognized effects of Ca(o)(2+) on tissues that maintain systemic Ca(o)(2+) homeostasis, especially parathyroid chief cells and several cells in the kidney. The availability of the cloned CaR enabled the development of DNA and antibody probes for identifying the CaR's mRNA and protein, respectively, within these and other tissues. It also permitted the identification of human diseases resulting from inactivating or activating mutations of the CaR gene and the subsequent generation of mice with targeted disruption of the CaR gene. The characteristic alterations in parathyroid and renal function in these patients and in the mice with "knockout" of the CaR gene have provided valuable information on the CaR's physiological roles in these tissues participating in mineral ion homeostasis. Nevertheless, relatively little is known about how the CaR regulates other tissues involved in systemic Ca(o)(2+) homeostasis, particularly bone and intestine. Moreover, there is evidence that additional Ca(o)(2+) sensors may exist in bone cells that mediate some or even all of the known effects of Ca(o)(2+) on these cells. Even more remains to be learned about the CaR's function in the rapidly growing list of cells that express it but are uninvolved in systemic Ca(o)(2+) metabolism. Available data suggest that the receptor serves numerous roles outside of systemic mineral ion homeostasis, ranging from the regulation of hormonal secretion and the activities of various ion channels to the longer term control of gene expression, programmed cell death (apoptosis), and cellular proliferation. In some cases, the CaR on these "nonhomeostatic" cells responds to local changes in Ca(o)(2+) taking place within compartments of the extracellular fluid (ECF) that communicate with the outside environment (e.g., the gastrointestinal tract). In others, localized changes in Ca(o)(2+) within the ECF can originate from several mechanisms, including fluxes of calcium ions into or out of cellular or extracellular stores or across epithelium that absorb or secrete Ca(2+). In any event, the CaR and other receptors/sensors for Ca(o)(2+) and probably for other extracellular ions represent versatile regulators of numerous cellular functions and may serve as important therapeutic targets.

Human prostate cancer cells lack feedback regulation of low-density lipoprotein receptor and its regulator, SREBP2

The low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) pathway provides cells with essential fatty acids for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis. Regulation of LDLR expression by LDL was compared between the human normal and cancer prostate cells using semi-quantitative RT-PCR and LDL uptake assays. LDLR mRNA expression and LDL uptake by LDLR were down-regulated in the presence of exogenous LDL or whole serum in the normal prostate cells, but not in the prostate cancer cells. Addition of exogenous cholesterol down-regulated both LDLR and a potent regulator of the ldlr promoter, sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP2), in normal cells but not in cancer cells. PGE2 synthesis in prostate cancer cells was significantly increased in response to LDL. Our study suggests that over-production of LDLR is an important mechanism in cancer cells for obtaining more essential fatty acids through LDLR endocytosis, allowing increased synthesis of prostaglandins, which subsequently stimulate cell growth. The data also suggest that the sterol regulatory element and SREBP2 play a role in the loss of sterol feedback regulation in cancer cells.

NO protects alveolar type II cells from stretch-induced apoptosis. A novel role for macrophages in the lung

We have previously shown that mechanical distortion or stretch of alveolar type II (ATII) cells induces both surfactant release and the induction of apoptosis. We hypothesize that nitric oxide (NO) secreted from alveolar macrophages (AMs) prevents cyclic stretch-induced apoptosis. We show that S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D, L-penicillamine (SNAP), a chemical donor of NO, protects cells against nuclear condensation and DNA fragmentation induced by stretch (30% at 60 cycles/min) as well as by sorbitol. SNAP depleted of NO had no protective effect, and the NO scavenger 2-phenyl-4,4,5, 5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide blocked the antiapoptotic effect of SNAP. We also show that AMs isolated from rat lung lavage fluid actively synthesize and secrete NO. Using a novel technique in which AMs were cocultured with ATII cells while adhered to floating membrane rafts, we found that NO released from AMs was effective in protecting ATII cells from undergoing apoptosis. We therefore propose that NO secreted by AMs may function as part of a physiological antiapoptotic mechanism that prevents ATII cells from undergoing stretch-induced cell death in the lung.

Induction of apoptosis in prostate cancer cell lines by a flavonoid, baicalin

The flavonoid baicalin (baicalein 7-D-beta-glucuronate), isolated from the dried root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Huang Qin), is widely used in the traditional Chinese herbal medicine for its anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic and anti-hypersensitivity effects. In the present study, we investigated the in vitro effects of baicalin on the growth, viability, and induction of apoptosis in several human prostate cancer cell lines, including DU145, PC-3, LNCaP and CA-HPV-10. The cell viability after treating with baicalin for 2-4 days was quantified by a colorimetric 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-s ulfophenyl)- 2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assay. The results showed that baicalin could inhibit the proliferation of prostate cancer cells. The responses to baicalin were different among different cell lines, with DU145 cells being the most sensitive and LNCaP cells the most resistant. Baicalin caused a 50% inhibition of DU145 cells at concentrations of 150 microM or above. The inhibition of proliferation of prostate cancer cells after a short period of exposure to baicalin was associated with induction by apoptosis, as evidenced by the typical nuclear fragmentation using Hoechst 33258 staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) labeling, DNA fragmentation, activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP). The results indicate that baicalin has direct anti-tumor effects on human prostate cancer cells.

Analysis of a nucleotide-binding site of 5-lipoxygenase by affinity labelling: binding characteristics and amino acid sequences

5-Lipoxygenase (5LO) catalyses the first two steps in the biosynthesis of leukotrienes, which are inflammatory mediators derived from arachidonic acid. 5LO activity is stimulated by ATP; however, a consensus ATP-binding site or nucleotide-binding site has not been found in its protein sequence. In the present study, affinity and photoaffinity labelling of 5LO with 5'-p-fluorosulphonylbenzoyladenosine (FSBA) and 2-azido-ATP showed that 5LO bound to the ATP analogues quantitatively and specifically and that the incorporation of either analogue inhibited ATP stimulation of 5LO activity. The stoichiometry of the labelling was 1.4 mol of FSBA/mol of 5LO (of which ATP competed with 1 mol/mol) or 0.94 mol of 2-azido-ATP/mol of 5LO (of which ATP competed with 0.77 mol/mol). Labelling with FSBA prevented further labelling with 2-azido-ATP, indicating that the same binding site was occupied by both analogues. Other nucleotides (ADP, AMP, GTP, CTP and UTP) also competed with 2-azido-ATP labelling, suggesting that the site was a general nucleotide-binding site rather than a strict ATP-binding site. Ca(2+), which also stimulates 5LO activity, had no effect on the labelling of the nucleotide-binding site. Digestion with trypsin and peptide sequencing showed that two fragments of 5LO were labelled by 2-azido-ATP. These fragments correspond to residues 73-83 (KYWLNDDWYLK, in single-letter amino acid code) and 193-209 (FMHMFQSSWNDFADFEK) in the 5LO sequence. Trp-75 and Trp-201 in these peptides were modified by the labelling, suggesting that they were immediately adjacent to the C-2 position of the adenine ring of ATP. Given the stoichiometry of the labelling, the two peptide sequences of 5LO were probably near each other in the enzyme's tertiary structure, composing or surrounding the ATP-binding site of 5LO.

Herbal therapy PC-SPES: in vitro effects and evaluation of its efficacy in 69 patients with prostate cancer

PURPOSE

We investigate the potential use of the phytotherapeutic PC-SPES to treat human prostate cancer, and evaluate its in vivo and in vitro activity, and clinical efficacy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PC-SPES was evaluated for its ability to induce apoptosis on prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP, PC3 and DU145. The effect of oral PC-SPES on growth of PC3 tumors present in male immunodeficient mice was studied. A total of 30 male nude mice were divided in 5 groups. In groups 1 control and 2 full dose therapy was started the same day of the tumor injection. In groups 3 control, 4 half dose and 5 full dose PC-SPES therapy was initiated 1 week after tumor injection. A total of 69 patients with prostate cancer were treated with 3 capsules of 320 mg. PC-SPES daily. Serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) responses and side effects were evaluated.

RESULTS

All of the cultured prostate cancer cell lines had a significant dose dependent induction of apoptosis following exposure to an alcoholic PC-SPES extract. Immunodeficient mice xenografted with the PC3 cell line had reduced tumor volume compared with sham treated controls when they were treated with a PC-SPES extract from the time of tumor cell implantation (931 +/- 89 versus 1,424 +/- 685 mm.3, p not significant) but not when the treatment was begun 1 week after tumor cell implantation. The testis, prostate, bladder and seminal vesicles of the treated mice were significantly reduced in weight compared with the sham treated animals. Of the patients with prostate cancer 82% had decreased serum PSA 2 months, 78% 6 months and 88% 12 months after treatment with PC-SPES. Side effects in the treated patient population included nipple tenderness in 42% and phlebitis requiring heparinization in 2%.

CONCLUSIONS

An extract of the phytotherapeutic agent PC-SPES proved to be active in inducing apoptosis of hormone sensitive and insensitive prostate cancer cells in vitro, and in suppressing the growth rate of a hormone insensitive prostate cancer cell line in vivo. The overwhelming majority of patients with prostate cancer treated with the agent experienced a decrease in serum PSA but also demonstrated a side effect profile comparable to estrogen treatment.

Potential use of lipoxygenase inhibitors for cancer chemoprevention

Increasing evidence suggests that lipoxygenase (LO)-catalysed metabolites have a profound influence on the development and progression of human cancers. Compared with normal tissues, significantly elevated levels of LO products have been found in breast tumours, colon cancers, lung, skin and prostate cancers, as well as in cells from patients with both acute and chronic leukaemias. LO-mediated products elicit diverse biological activities needed for neoplastic cell growth, influencing growth factor and transcription factor activation, oncogene induction, stimulation of tumour cell adhesion and regulation of apoptotic cell death. Agents that block LO catalytic activity may be effective in preventing cancer by interfering with signalling events needed for tumour growth. In the past ten years, pharmaceuticals agents that specifically inhibit the 5-LO metabolic pathway have been developed to treat inflammatory diseases such as asthma, arthritis and psoriasis. Some of these compounds possess anti-oxidant properties and may be effective in preventing cancer by blocking free radical-induced genetic damage or by preventing the metabolic activation of carcinogens. Other compounds may work by negatively modulating DNA synthesis. Pharmacological profiles of potential chemopreventive agents are compiled from enzyme assays, in vitro testing (e.g., cell proliferation inhibition in human cancer cells) and in vivo animal carcinogenesis models (e.g., N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced rat mammary cancer, benzo(a)pyrene-induced lung tumours in strain A/J mice and hormone-induced prostate tumours in rats). In this way, compounds are identified for chemoprevention trials in human subjects. Based on currently available data, it is expected that the prevention of lung and prostate cancer will be initially studied in human trials of LO inhibitors.

Activation of different lipoxygenase isozymes induces apoptosis in human erythroleukemia and neuroblastoma cells

We investigated the ability of different hydroperoxides generated by lipoxygenase isozymes to induce programmed cell death (PCD) in human cells. Erythroleukemia K562 and neuroblastoma CHP100 cells were used, because they showed high basal activity of lipoxygenase. The hydroperoxides generated by 5-, 12-, or 15-lipoxygenases from linoleate, linolenate, or arachidonate, and the corresponding hydroxides, were able to induce PCD in both cell types, in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. After 24 h, K562 and CHP100 cells showed 2.5- to 3.5-fold more apoptotic bodies than the untreated controls. PCD elicited by lipoxygenase products was independent of intracellular glutathione concentration, and did not require mRNA transcription or protein synthesis. On the other hand, lipoxygenase products evoked an immediate and sustained rise in cytoplasmic calcium (within seconds), followed by mitochondrial uncoupling (within hours). Unlike the hydro(pero)xides, the terminal products of the arachidonate cascade (i.e., leukotrienes, prostaglandins and thromboxane) were not cytotoxic.

Heterogeneous apoptotic responses of prostate cancer cell lines identify an association between sensitivity to staurosporine-induced apoptosis, expression of Bcl-2 family members, and caspase activation

BACKGROUND

The goal of this work was to identify mechanisms for the inability of metastatic prostate cancer cells to engage the apoptotic pathway following hormonal or cytotoxic therapy.

METHODS

Genotypically diverse cell lines isolated from patients with metastatic disease were used.

RESULTS

The LNCaP and TsuPr(1) lines exhibited quintessential apoptotic features in response to the pleiotropic apoptotic inducer staurosporine (STS): rapid cytochrome c translocation to the cytosol, proteolytic processing and catalytic activation of caspase-3 and -7, proteolytic inactivation of the death substrates DNA fragmentation factor (DFF) and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), and TUNEL-positive polyfragmented nuclei. In contrast, DU-145 and PC-3 cells exhibited few, if any, of these features, while appearing necrotic by confocal microscopy. The presence of caspase-3 and -7 without proteolytic processing suggested that the apoptotic blockade was upstream of executioner caspases in these resistant cell lines. To identify the locus of this block, Western blot analysis of cytochrome c subcellular localization and of pro- and antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family members was performed, and suggested that heterogeneous expression of these proteins might be the underlying mechanism for apoptotic resistance to STS in these cell lines. Thus, the absence of the proapoptotic Bax in DU-145 cells indicated a mechanism for apoptotic resistance of these cells. Similarly, decreased Bax expression during STS treatment, coupled with overexpression of the antiapoptotic Bcl-x(L) and inability to translocate cytochrome c to the cytosol, provided a mechanism for the insensitivity of PC-3 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These observations suggest that activation of the apoptotic machinery in metastatic prostate cancer cell lines may be determined by expression levels of Bcl-2 family members, by the ability of cytochrome c to translocate to the cytosol, and by the ability of the caspase pathway to react in response to activation of the mitochondrial phase.

Lipoxygenase inhibition induced apoptosis, morphological changes, and carbonic anhydrase expression in human pancreatic cancer cells

Epidemiologic and animal studies have linked pancreatic cancer growth with fat intake, especially unsaturated fats. Arachidonic acid release from membrane phospholipids is essential for tumor cell proliferation. Lipoxygenases (LOX) constitute one pathway for arachidonate metabolism. We previously reported that 5-LOX and 12-LOX are upregulated in human pancreatic cancer cells and that blockade of these enzymes abolishes pancreatic cancer cell growth. The present study was aimed at evaluating the effect of LOX inhibition on differentiation and apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells in parallel with growth inhibition. Four human pancreatic cancer cell lines, PANC-1, MiaPaca2, Capan2, and HPAF, were used. Apoptosis was evaluated by three separate methods, including DNA propidium iodide staining, DNA fragmentation, and the TUNEL assay. Morphological changes and carbonic anhydrase activity were used to determine the effect of LOX inhibitors on differentiation. The general LOX inhibitor NDGA, the 5-LOX inhibitor Rev5901, and the 12-LOX inhibitor baicalein all induced apoptosis in all four pancreatic cancer cell lines, as confirmed by all three methods, suggesting that both the 5-LOX and 12-LOX pathways are important for survival of these cells. Furthermore, NDGA, Rev5901, or baicalein resulted in marked cellular morphological changes in parallel with increased intracellular carbonic anhydrase activity, indicating that LOX blockade induced a more differentiated phenotype in human pancreatic cancer cells. Together with our previous findings, this study suggests that perturbations of LOX activity affect pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and survival. Blockade of LOX enzymes may be valuable for the treatment of human pancreatic cancer.

The early phase of apoptosis in human neuroblastoma CHP100 cells is characterized by lipoxygenase-dependent ultraweak light emission

Human neuroblastoma CHP100 cells were forced into apoptosis (programmed cell death, PCD) or necrosis by treatment with calcium chloride or sodium nitroprusside (a nitric oxide donor), respectively. Cellular luminescence, a marker of membrane lipid peroxidation, was increased by calcium but not by nitroprusside, and reached a maximum of 4-fold the control value 2 hours after treatment. The increase in luminescence was paralleled by increased 5-lipoxygenase (up to 250% of the control value) and decreased catalase (down to 50%) activity within the same time window. Consistently, incubation of CHP100 cells with inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase (5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid and MK886) reduced light emission and PCD, whereas inhibition of catalase by 3-amino-1, 2,4-triazole enhanced both processes. Treatment of CHP100 cells with retinoic acid or cisplatin, unrelated PCD inducers reported to activate the lipoxygenase pathway, also gave enhanced light emission parallel to PCD increase. Altogether, these results suggest that cellular luminescence is an early marker of apoptotic, but not necrotic, program(s) involving generation of hydrogen peroxide and activation of 5-lipoxygenase.

Antioxidant enzymes and human diseases

OBJECTIVES

To describe the importance of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase working together in human cells against toxic reactive oxygen species, their relationship with several pathophysiologic processes and their possible therapeutic implications.

CONCLUSIONS

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the cell growth, differentiation, progression, and death. Low concentrations of ROS may be beneficial or even indispensable in processes such as intracellular signaling and defense against micro-organisms. Nevertheless, higher amounts of ROS play a role in the aging process as well as in a number of human disease states, including cancer, ischemia, and failures in immunity and endocrine functions. As a safeguard against the accumulation of ROS, several nonenzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant activities exist. Therefore, when oxidative stress arises as a consequence of a pathologic event, a defense system promotes the regulation and expression of these enzymes.

15-lipoxygenase-2 (15-LOX-2) is expressed in benign prostatic epithelium and reduced in prostate adenocarcinoma

Human 15S-lipoxygenase-2 (15-LOX-2) is a recently identified lipoxygenase that has approximately 40% sequence identity to the known human 5S-, 12S-, and 15S-lipoxygenases. 15-LOX-2 has a limited tissue distribution, with mRNA detected in prostate, lung, skin, and cornea, but not in numerous other tissues, including peripheral blood leukocytes. In the current study, we have characterized the distribution of 15-LOX-2 in the human prostate by immunohistochemistry, demonstrated the ability of benign prostate tissue to form 15S-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15S-HETE) from exogenous arachidonic acid (AA), and begun characterizing possible alterations in 15-LOX-2 in prostate adenocarcinoma. Incubation of benign prostate tissue with [14C]AA resulted in formation of [14C]15-HETE, as determined by reverse- and straight-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. 15-HETE was the major AA metabolite formed. By immunohistochemistry, 15-LOX-2 is located in secretory cells of peripheral zone glands and large prostatic ducts and somewhat less uniformly in apical cells of transition and central zone glands. 15-LOX-2 was not detected in the basal cell layer, stroma, ejaculatory ducts, seminal vesicles, or transitional epithelium. Immunostaining of 18 radical prostatectomy specimens showed a loss of 15-LOX-2 in the majority of prostate adenocarcinomas; 14 of 18 cases showed loss of 15-LOX-2 in >25% of the tumor (mean, 74.9% negative for 15-LOX-2; range, 38.9% to 100%). Incubation of paired pure benign and pure malignant prostate tissue from the same radical prostatectomies showed that 15-HETE formation was markedly reduced (>90%) or undetectable in incubations of prostate adenocarcinoma. 15-LOX-2 is a novel human lipoxygenase with a limited tissue distribution that is strongly expressed in benign prostate glandular epithelium and lost to a variable degree in the majority of prostate adenocarcinomas.

Modern diets and diseases: NO-zinc balance. Under Th1, zinc and nitrogen monoxide (NO) collectively protect against viruses, AIDS, autoimmunity, diabetes, allergies, asthma, infectious diseases, atherosclerosis and cancer

Thanks to progress in zinc research, it is now possible to describe in more detail how zinc ions (Zn++) and nitrogen monoxide (NO), together with glutathione (GSH) and its oxidized form, GSSG, help to regulate immune responses to antigens. NO appears to be able to liberate Zn++ from metallothionein (MT), an intracellular storage molecule for metal ions such as zinc (Zn++) and copper (Cu++). Both Zn++ and Cu++ show a concentration-dependent inactivation of a protease essential for the proliferation of the AIDS virus HIV-1, while zinc can help prevent diabetes complications through its intracellular activation of the enzyme sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH). A Zn++ deficiency can lead to a premature transition from efficient Th1-dependent cellular antiviral immune functions to Th2-dependent humoral immune functions. Deficiencies of Zn++, NO and/or GSH shift the Th1/Th2 balance towards Th2, as do deficiencies of any of the essential nutrients (ENs) - a group that includes methionine, cysteine, arginine, vitamins A, B, C and E, zinc and selenium (Se) - because these are necessary for the synthesis and maintenance of sufficient amounts of GSH, MT and NO. Via the Th1/Th2 balance, Zn++, NO, MT and GSH collectively determine the progress and outcome of many diseases. Disregulation of the Th1/Th2 balance is responsible for autoimmune disorders such as diabetes mellitus. Under Th2, levels of interleukin-4 (II-4), II-6, II-10, leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) are raised, while levels of II-2, Zn++, NO and other substances are lowered. This makes things easier for viruses like HIV-1 which multiply in Th2 cells but rarely, if ever, in Th1 cells. AIDS viruses (HIVs) enter immune cells with the aid of the CD4 cell surface receptor in combination with a number of co-receptors which include CCR3, CCR5 and CXCR4. Remarkably, the cell surface receptor for LTB4 (BLTR) also seems to act as a co-receptor for CD4, which helps HIVs to infect immune cells. The Th2 cytokine II-4 increases the number of CXCR4 and BLTR co-receptors, as a result of which, under Th2, the HIV strains that infect immune cells are precisely those that are best able to accelerate the AIDS disease process. The II-4 released under Th2 therefore not only promotes the production of more HIVs and the rate at which they infect immune cells, it also stimulates selection for the more virulent strains. Zn++ inhibit LTB4 production and numbers of LTB4 receptors (BLTRs) in a concentration-dependent way. Zn++ help cells to keep their LTB4 'doors' shut against the more virulent strains of HIV. Moreover, a sufficiency of Zn++ and NO prevents a shift of the Th1/Th2 balance towards Th2 and thereby slows the proliferation of HIV, which it also does by inactivating the HIV protease. Research makes it look likely that deficiencies of ENs such as zinc promote the proliferation of Th2 cells at the expense of Th1 cells. Zinc deficiency also promotes cancer. Under the influence of Th1 cells, zinc inhibits the growth of tumours by activating the endogenous tumour-suppressor endostatin, which inhibits angiogenesis. The modern Western diet, with its excess of refined products such as sugar, alcohol and fats, often contains, per calorie, a deficiency of ENs such as zinc, selenium and vitamins A, B, C and E, which results in disturbed immune functions, a shifted Th1/Th2 balance, chronic (viral) infections, obesity, atherosclerosis, autoimmunity, allergies and cancer. In view of this, an optimization of dietary composition would seem to give the best chance of beating (viral) epidemics and common (chronic) diseases at a realistic price.

The 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP) inhibitor, MK886, induces apoptosis independently of FLAP

The ability of various inhibitors of lipoxygenase (LOX) enzymes and 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP) to induce apoptosis has implicated these pathways in the mechanism(s) of this form of cell death. Although FLAP plays an important role in 5-LOX activity, this protein is found at high levels in some cells lacking LOX, suggesting it might mediate other effects. Furthermore, the concentration of MK886, a FLAP inhibitor, required to induce apoptosis is approximately 100-fold more than that required to inhibit LOX, and this compound remains effective in cells lacking LOX. The present study examines the role of FLAP in MK886-induced apoptosis. MK886 induced apoptosis in WSU cells, a human chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cell line that lacks FLAP protein and mRNA, suggesting that this agent is acting independently of FLAP. This conclusion was further supported by the fact that a more specific FLAP inhibitor, MK591, induced only minimal apoptosis in FL5.12 cells, a murine prolymphoid cell line containing FLAP. The role of FLAP was examined more directly by decreasing its expression by more than 50% in FL5.12 cells treated with 10 microM of an antisense oligonucleotide for 48h. This change in FLAP was not accompanied by any increase in apoptosis. Furthermore, FLAP-depleted cells exhibited the same level of apoptosis 8 h after treatment with 10 microM MK886, as did control cells. The increased fluorescence seen in MK886-treated cells loaded with carboxydichlorofluorescein indicates that oxidative reactions are stimulated by this compound, possibly via the release of fatty acids from fatty acid-binding proteins and their subsequent oxidation.

Differentiating agents and nontoxic therapies

The discovery of the oncogene and the mechanism by which these genetic changes create malignant transformation has provided new opportunities for drug development. Suramin is the first drug shown to exert its anticancer activity by blocking autocrine loops involved in malignant transformation. Phenylacetate and related aromatic fatty acids are potent inducers of differentiation in normal and malignant cells. Arachidonate, a fatty acid, plays a role in prostate cancer survival, growth, invasiveness, and immunosuppression. The actions of arachidonic acid can be moderated by diet or blocked by pharmacologic agents. Other agents that promise low toxicity include vitamin D and its analogs, genistein and related isoflavones, green tea polyphonols, and retinoic acid analogs.

Cyclic stretch induces both apoptosis and secretion in rat alveolar type II cells

We examined the effects of short-term cyclic stretch on both phosphatidylcholine (PC) secretion and apoptosis in primary cultures of rat alveolar type II cells. A 22% cyclic stretch (3 cycles/min) was applied to type II cells cultured on silastic membranes using a Flexercell strain unit. This induced, after a lag period of about 1 h, a small, but significant release of [3H]PC from prelabelled cells. In addition, stretch increased nuclear condensation, the generation of oligosomal DNA fragments and the activation of caspases. Similar responses were triggered by sorbitol-induced osmotic shock, but not by the secretagogue ATP. We conclude that stretch can induce both apoptosis and PC secretion in alveolar type II cells and propose that these diverse responses occur within the lung as a consequence of normal respiratory distortion of the alveolar epithelium.