Allyl-isatin suppresses cell viability, induces cell cycle arrest, and promotes cell apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells

PbO nanoparticles increase the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 by increasing reactive oxygen species production in choroid plexus

PbO nanoparticles (nano-PbO) are widely used in the production of electrode materials, but exposure to them can cause brain damage. The first barrier preventing nano-PbO from entering the brain is the choroid plexus. However, the effect of nano-PbO on the choroid plexus remains unclear. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of nano-PbO exposure on lymphocyte cells infiltration, the adhesion protein of the choroid plexus as well as the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the process. Results showed that nano-PbO exposure increased the percentage of lymphocyte cells in the brain and upregulated the expression of surface adhesion proteins, including intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in choroid plexus. Meanwhile, nano-PbO treatment also resulted in the increase of intercellular ROS production, and significantly decrease glutathione (GSH) content, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in Z310 cells beside the increase of ICAM and VCAM-1 expression. Treatment with ROS inhibitor N-acetylcysteine (NAC) significantly downregulated the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1expression. In conclusion, exposure to nano-PbO increases the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 through oxidative stress, which may contribute to peripheral lymphocyte cells infiltration into the brain.

Sinomenine Relieves Airway Remodeling By Inhibiting Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Through Downregulating TGF-β1 and Smad3 Expression In Vitro and In Vivo

Airway remodeling is associated with dysregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in patients with asthma. Sinomenine (Sin) is an effective, biologically active alkaloid that has been reported to suppress airway remodeling in mice with asthma. However, the molecular mechanisms behind this effect remain unclear. We aimed to explore the potential relationship between Sin and EMT in respiratory epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo. First, 16HBE cells were exposed to 100 μg/mL LPS and treated with 200 μg/mL Sin. Cell proliferation, migration, and wound healing assays were performed to evaluate EMT, and EMT-related markers were detected using Western blotting. Mice with OVA-induced asthma were administered 35 mg/kg or 75 mg/kg Sin. Airway inflammation and remodeling detection experiments were performed, and EMT-related factors and proteins in the TGF-β1 pathway were detected using IHC and Western blotting. We found that Sin suppressed cell migration but not proliferation in LPS-exposed 16HBE cells. Sin also inhibited MMP7, MMP9, and vimentin expression in 16HBE cells and respiratory epithelial cells from mice with asthma. Furthermore, it decreased OVA-specific IgE and IL-4 levels in serum, relieved airway remodeling, attenuated subepithelial collagen deposition, and downregulating TGF-β1and Smad3 expression in mice with asthma. Our results suggest that Sin suppresses EMT by inhibiting IL-4 and downregulating TGF-β1 and Smad3 expression.

Antioxidative effects of polypyrimidine tract-binding protein-associated splicing factor against pathological retinal angiogenesis through promotion of mitochondrial function

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), a by-product of oxygen metabolism mainly originating from mitochondria, participate in many pathological processes related to ophthalmopathy. Excessive production of ROS leads to oxidative stress, which influences the permeability, proliferation, migration, and tube formation of human retinal microcapillary endothelial cells (HRMECs). The molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of ROS are not clear. In Vldlr-/- mice, we used fundus fluorescein angiography and retinal flat mount staining to observe the effect of polypyrimidine tract-binding protein-associated splicing factor (PSF) on pathological retinal neovascularization in vivo. Additionally, in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells treated with 4-HNE, cell viability, tube formation, wound healing, and Transwell assays were performed to study the effect of PSF on the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of retinal vascular endothelial cells in vitro. Moreover, reactive oxygen species assay, real-time PCR, and Western blot were included to analyze the potential mechanism of PSF in the above series of effects. PSF ameliorated intraretinal neovascularization (IRNV) in vivo in Vldlr-/- mice. Under 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) conditions in vitro, PSF reprogrammed mitochondrial bioenergetic and glycolytic profiles. It also reduced ROS levels and inhibited 4-HNE-induced angiogenesis, which involves the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HRMECs. These results suggest that PSF participates in the regulation of HRMECs proliferation and migration during the development of pathological angiogenesis. We demonstrated that PSF enhanced Nrf2 activation and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression via extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt signaling in HRMECs, which subsequently resulted in intracellular ROS scavenging. PSF restored endoplasmic reticulum (ER) redox homeostasis, which was indicated by an increase in protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and Ero-1α and a reduction in GRP78 and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). PSF also attenuated ER stress via regulation of the protein kinase R (PKR)-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase PERK/eukaryotic translation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α)/activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) pathway in 4-HNE-treated HRMECs. Our research shows that PSF may be a potential antioxidant that regulates pathological angiogenesis through ERK-AKT/Nrf2/HO-1 and PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 signal regulation. KEY MESSAGES: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) mainly originating from mitochondria is a by-product of oxygen metabolism in the body and participates in the pathological process related to multiple blindness-related ophthalmopathy. Moreover , excessive production of ROS will lead to oxidative stress. Consequently, oxidative stress influences the permeability, proliferation, migration, and tube formation of human retinal microcapillary endothelial cells (HRMECs). The molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of ROS remain unclear. Here, we reveal that Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein-associated splicing factor (PSF) ameliorates intraretinal neovascularization (IRNV) in vivo in Vldlr-/- mice. Furthermore, under 4-HNE conditions in vitro, PSF reprograms mitochondrial bioenergetic and glycolytic profiles, reduces ROS levels, and inhibits 4-HNE-induced angiogenesis, which involves the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HRMECs, suggesting that it participates in regulating the proliferation and migration of HRMECs during the development of pathological angiogenesis. Furthermore, PSF enhances Nrf2 activation and HO-1 expression through ERK and AKT signaling in HRMECs, resulting in intracellular ROS scavenging. PSF restores endoplasmic reticulum (ER) redox homeostasis, as indicated by an increase in PDI and Ero-1α and a reduction in GRP78 and CHOP. PSF also attenuates ER stress by regulating the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 pathway in 4-HNE-treated HRMECs.

Geniposide exhibits anticancer activity to medulloblastoma cells by downregulating microRNA-373

BACKGROUND

Medulloblastoma is a common tumor originates from central nervous system in children with metastatic potential. Geniposide is the major active ingredient separated from the fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis. Herein, we tested the possible anticancer activity of geniposide on human medulloblastoma cells, as well as the potential underlying molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

Firstly, followed by geniposide incubation, cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of medulloblastoma Daoy cells, along with microRNA-373 (miR-373) expression were tested, respectively. Then, the influences of miR-373 overexpression in the reduction of medulloblastoma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and the elevation of apoptosis, triggered by geniposide treatment, were re-investigated. Finally, the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway activity was analyzed.

RESULTS

Geniposide treatment inhibited medulloblastoma cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion, but promoted cell apoptosis. Surprisingly, miR-373 expression in medulloblastoma cells was obviously downregulated by geniposide treatment. miR-373 overexpression reversed the effects of geniposide on Daoy cells. Furthermore, geniposide hindered the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway by downregulating miR-373 expression.

CONCLUSION

Geniposide exhibited anticancer activity on human medulloblastoma cells and blocked Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway by downregulating miR-373 expression.

Systematic Review on Cytotoxic and Anticancer Potential of N-Substituted Isatins as Novel Class of Compounds Useful in Multidrug-Resistant Cancer Therapy: In Silico and In Vitro Analysis

As the emergence of resistance to clinical cancer treatments poses a significant problem in cancer management, there is a constant need to explore novel anticancer agents which have the ability to overcome multidrug resistance (MDR) mechanisms. The search for the development of novel isatin-based antitumor agents accelerated after the approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of sunitinib malate, a C-3 isatin derivative, as a multitargeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor. However, it is interesting to note that, over the last decade, various N-substituted analogs of isatin with intact carbonyl functionalities have been found to show more promising anticancer potential than its C-3 derivatives. Microtubule-targeting agents are a class of anticancer drugs which affect mitosis by targeting microtubules and suppressing their dynamic behavior. This review presents a systematic compilation of the in vitro cytotoxic and anticancer properties of various N-substituted isatins and illustrates their mechanism of action to overcome MDR by acting as microtubule-destabilizing agents. Predictions of the biological activities and cytotoxic effects of potential N-substituted isatins against various cancer cell lines have also been performed using the PASS computer-aided drug discovery program. Findings from such in vitro and in silico studies will act as a guide for the development of structure-activity relationship and will facilitate the design and exploration of more potent analogs of isatin with high potency and lower side effects for treatment of drug-resistant cancer. Mechanism of action of N-substituted isatin as microtubule-destabilizing agent on tumor cells. N-Substituted isatins bind to colchicine binding site on β-tubulin, which inhibits microtubule polymerization and thereby destabilizes microtubule dynamics, resulting in mitotic arrest leading to tumor cell growth suppression.