RY10-4, a novel anti-tumor compound, exhibited its anti-angiogenesis activity by down-regulation of the HIF-1α and inhibition phosphorylation of AKT and mTOR

RY10-4 Inhibits the Proliferation of Human Hepatocellular Cancer HepG2 Cells by Inducing Apoptosis In Vitro and In Vivo

This study aimed to investigate the anti-tumor activity of RY10-4, a small molecular that was designed and synthesized based on the structure of protoapigenone. A previous screening study showed that RY10-4 possessed anti-proliferative effects against HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. However, the full range of RY10-4 anti-cancer effects on liver tumors and the underlying mechanisms have not been identified. Herein, employing flow cytometry, and Western blot analysis, we demonstrate that RY10-4 can induce cell cycle arrest, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and apoptosis in HepG2 cells. In HepG2 cell xenograft tumor model, RY10-4 significantly inhibited the growth of tumors and induced apoptosis in tumor cells, with little side effects. Moreover, RY10-4 caused the suppression of STAT3 activation, which may be involved the apoptosis induction. In addition, RY10-4 inhibited the proliferation of Hep3B and HuH-7 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Taken together, our results suggest that RY10-4 has a great potential to develop as chemotherapeutic agent for liver cancer.

The HIF-1 transcription complex is essential for translational control of myeloid hematopoietic cell function by maintaining mTOR phosphorylation

Mammalian myeloid cells are crucial effectors of host innate immune defense. Normal and pathological responses of these cells require adaptation to signaling stress through the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) transcription complex. Adapted cells activate the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), via S2448 phosphorylation, which induces de novo translation of vital signaling proteins. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this signaling dogma remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that inactivation of HIF-1, by silencing its inducible alpha subunit, significantly decreases mTOR S2448 phosphorylation caused by ligand-dependent activation of human myeloid leukemia cells. This shows that HIF-1 is essential for the activation of mTOR and serves at a crucial juncture of myeloid cell function in both in vitro and in vivo systems.

Minocycline accelerates hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha degradation and inhibits hypoxia-induced neovasculogenesis through prolyl hydroxylase, von Hippel-Lindau-dependent pathway

Hypoxia-mediated stress responses are important in tumor progression, especially when tumor growth causes the tumor to become deprived of its blood supply. The oxygen-labile transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) plays a critical role in regulating hypoxia stress-related gene expression and is considered a novel therapeutic target. Lung adenocarcinoma cell lines were exposed to minocycline, followed by incubation at hypoxic condition for 3-6 h. Here, we show that minocycline, a second-generation tetracycline, can induce HIF-1α proteasomal degradation under hypoxia by increasing the expression prolyl hydroxylase-2 and HIF-1α/von Hippel-Lindau protein interaction, thereby overcoming hypoxia-induced HIF-1α stabilization. Neither repression of hypoxia-induced phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway nor inhibition of Hsp90 was required for minocycline-induced HIF-1α degradation. The HIF-1α degradation-enhancing effect of minocycline was evident in both cancerous and primary cells. Minocycline-pretreated, hypoxia-conditioned cells showed a clear reduction in hypoxia response element reporter expression and amelioration of vascular endothelial growth factor C/D (VEGF-C/D), matrix metalloproteinase 2, and glucose transporter 1 expression. By decreasing VEGF secretion of cancerous cells, minocycline could suppress endothelial cell neovasculogenesis. These findings suggest a novel application of minocycline in the treatment of tumor angiogenesis as well as hypoxia-related diseases.