Impacts of survivin and caspase-3 on apoptosis and angiogenesis in oral cancer

Significance of salivary poly (ADP-ribose)-polymerase in the assessment of age-dependent pathological processes in the oral cavity

Age-related changes in the oral cavity are accompanied by the development of age-related pathology, such as chronic periodontitis (CP). Although apoptosis plays a certain role in its pathogenesis, this fact, however, has not been evaluated clinically, and the diagnostic information content of biomarkers of apoptosis and aging has not been determined. The aim of the study was to evaluate the content of cleaved poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase (cPARP) and caspase-3 (Casp3) in mixed saliva of elderly patients with age-related dental diseases and in mature patients with mild to moderate CP. The study included 69 people. The control group included 22 healthy young volunteers aged 18 to 44 years. The main group included 22 elderly patients aged 60 to 74 years. They were divided into subgroups according to clinical manifestations: occlusion (comparison group), periodontal, and dystrophic syndromes. Additionally, a group of 25 patients of mature age from 45 to 59 years old with mild to moderate CP was analyzed. The content of salivary Casp3 in patients with occlusion syndrome was lower than in healthy young people (p=0.014). In patients with the periodontal syndrome, the content of cPARP was higher than in the comparison group (p=0.031). The group with dystrophic syndrome had the highest level of Casp3 in comparison with the control group and the comparison group (p=0.012, p=0.004, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences between patients of different age groups with mild to moderate CP. Evaluation of the correlation between cPARP and Casp3 levels revealed a direct relationship in the group of elderly patients and in patients with mild CP (r=0.69, r=0.81, respectively). We assessed the effect of Casp3 levels on changes in the cPARP levels by means of a simple linear regression analysis. The cPARP level correlated with the content of Casp3 (r²=0.555). According to the results of the ROC analysis, it was found that using the cPARP indicator it would be possible to distinguish between groups of elderly patients with periodontal and occlusion syndromes (AUC=0.71), while using Casp3 it would be possible to distinguish patients with the occlusion syndrome and the control group (AUC=0.78). Since the level of Casp3 in young people is significantly higher than in the elderly patients, its decrease can be considered as a potential salivary biomarker of aging. The level of studied cPARP in the elderly has clinical value in periodontal syndrome and low age dependence.

Pathogenetic model of survivin-dependent molecular signalling pathways in tumorigenesis of oral cancer and precursor lesions

Background

p53 tumour suppressor gene limits unchecked cellular growth in response to DNA damage, by causing G1 arrest and the activation of apoptosis. Inhibitors of apoptosis include survivin which acts by inhibition of caspases. Survivin has a significant role as a cell cycle modulator and is only minimally present in mature tissues. Aberrant expression of p53 and survivin has been evaluated in various carcinomas. Thus, the objective of this research was to elucidate the co-expression of p53 and survivin in tissue samples of Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMDs) and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCCs).

Method

Thirty tissue samples of OPMDs and 30 tissue samples of OSCCs taken from department archives were used in the study. Expression of p53 and survivin was analyzed in the study groups by the help of immunohistochemistry. Also, co-expression of both the markers was evaluated.

Results

The expression of p53 and survivin in the oral epithelium of patients with OSCCs was significantly higher than that in patients with OPMDs (P value ≤0.05).

Conclusion

Our results provide insights into the altered survivin and p53 co-expression with significant immunoexpression within the study groups. Therefore, survivin and p53 could be better markers for identifying cell proliferation and apoptotic pathway. Also, malignant transformation rate of OPMD increases with increased expression of these markers.

Ethacridine Regulation of JAK/STAT/ERK Signaling Pathway in Colon Cancer Cells SW620: In Vitro Approach

Background

Ethacridine have anticancer effects by inhibiting regulatory transcription factors and cell viability in various cancer cells. To investigate the effect of ethacridine on colorectal cancer cell lines, SW620 was studied via regulation of JAK/STAT/ERK signaling pathway.

Materials and Methods

Different doses of ethacridine (5–35 µM) expressed antiproliferative effects by decreasing the viability in a dose-dependent manner and the IC50 value was found to be 10 µM.

Results

Subsequent treatment with 10 µM of ethacridine showed that it induced mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species generation. DAPI and PI staining assays revealed prominent apoptotic cells under the microscope when treated with 10 µM of ethacridine. In the mRNA expression study performing RT-PCR of apoptotic markers, cyclin-D1, Bax, Bcl-2, caspase 3, C-Myc, and surviving, enhanced levels of these markers were suppressed, which was inversely proportional to the levels of apoptotic enhancers namely Bax and caspase-3. It was also observed that increased NF-κB, IL-6, TNF-α, and COX-2 in colorectal cancer are suppressed by ethacridine. The expressions of JAK/STAT/ERK were also significantly suppressed after ethacridine treatment in SW620 cell lines.

Conclusion

In summary, it was corroborated that ethacridine promoted apoptosis in colon cancer cells by inhibiting quite a few cell signaling factors.

Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1alpha (HIF-1A) plays different roles in Gallbladder Cancer and Normal Gallbladder Tissues

Purpose: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1A) is a transcription factor that plays an “angiogenic switch” role especially under hypoxia microenvironment in solid tumor. However, the functions and clinical significance of HIF-1A in gallbladder cancer (GBC) are still controversial, and it has not been studied in normal gallbladder tissues. In this study, we sought to clarify the role of sub-cellular localization of HIF-1A expression in GBC and normal gallbladder tissues.

Methods: The expressions of HIF-1A and CD34 in 127 GBC and 47 normal gallbladder tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Cox's proportional hazards model analysis and Kaplan-Meier method analysis were used to assess the correlations between these factors and clinicopathological features and prognosis.

Results: HIF-1A was expressed in both cytoplasm and nucleus of GBC and normal control tissues, and was significantly correlated with microvessel density (MVD). GBC tissues with positive nuclear HIF-1A expression had higher MVD compared to that with positive cytoplasmic HIF-1A expression; however, in normal gallbladder tissues, samples with positive cytoplasmic HIF-1A had higher MVD compared to that with positive nuclear HIF-1A expression. Moreover, GBC with nuclear HIF-1A expression tended to be more poorly differentiated and had larger tumor size compared to that with cytoplasm HIF-1A expression. Furthermore, GBC patients with nuclear HIF-1A positive were significantly correlated with worse overall survival (OS) compared with cytoplasmic HIF-1A positive. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified lymph node metastasis and nuclear HIF-1A expression to be independent prognostic parameter in GBC.

Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence for the first time that HIF-1A is expressed in normal gallbladder tissues. Nuclear HIF-1A and cytoplasm HIF-1A plays different roles in GBC and normal gallbladder tissues.

Effect of photodynamic therapy on expression of HRAS, NRAS and caspase 3 genes at mRNA levels, apoptosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell line

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on expression of CASP3, NRAS and HRAS genes at mRNA levels, and apoptosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell line.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In order to complete the present in vitro study, HNSCC cell line (NCBI C196 HN5) purchased from Pasteur Institute. Cells were divided into four groups; Group 1: photodynamic treatment (laser + methylene blue (MB) as photosensitizer), group 2: MB, group 3: laser (with 660 nm wavelength), and group 4: control (without any treatment). To determine the optimal concentration of MB, in a pilot study, toxicity of MB in different concentration was assessed using MTT assay. Cells in group 1, 2 and 3 was treated at optimal concentration of MB (1.6 μg/mL). Gene expression at mRNA levels was assessed after 24 h incubation, using real-time (qRT)-PCR. The expression of BAX and BCL2 genes at the mRNA levels was analyzed to evaluate apoptosis. 2^-ΔΔCt values of BCL2, BAX, CASP3, NRAS, and HRAS in groups was analyzed using ANOVA. Tukey's HSD and Games Howell test was used to compare between two groups.

RESULTS

Over-expression of BAX (p < 0.001), CASP3 (p < 0.001) and down-regulation of BCL2 (p = 0.004), HRAS (p = 0.023) and NRAS (p = 0.045) were noted in group 1 (PDT), compared with the control group. Treatment by laser alone induce down-regulation of CASP3 (p < 0.05), BAX (p < 0.05), BCL2 (p > 0.05), HRAS (p > 0.05) and NRAS (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

PDT caused down-regulation of NRAS, HRAS and BCL2 and over-expression of CASP3 and BAX genes at mRNA levels in HNSCC cell line. The present study raises the possibility that the role of MB on BCL2 down-regulation and BAX and CASP3 over-expression was higher than laser alone while it seems that laser alone was more effective than MB in HRAS and NRAS down-regulation.

Survivin Expression in Metastatic and Nonmetastatic Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Comparative Study

Aim:

Survivin is a multifunctional protein chiefly involved in apoptosis and cell cycle regulation. Increased expression of survivin in tumors and fetal tissue determines its antiapoptotic activity. The aim of the study is to identify the immunoexpression of survivin in metastatic and nonmetastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and also to evaluate and compare the expression of survivin in metastatic and nonmetastatic OSCC of buccal mucosa.

Materials and Methods:

In total, 40 histopathologically proven cases of OSCC, including 20 metastatic and 20 nonmetastatic cases, are selected. Among the 20 metastatic and nonmetastatic cases, 10 well-differentiated and 10 moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma cases were included and were subjected to immunohistochemical staining for survivin expression. The results were analyzed by SPSS version 11.5 using chi-square test.

Results:

The expression of survivin in metastatic and nonmetastatic tumors is 15%–70% and 15%–60%, respectively. When comparing the cases of moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma in metastatic and nonmetastatic tumors, 70% cases show moderate staining intensity.

Conclusion:

The survivin expression was comparatively high in metastatic OSCC. Also based on the aforementioned results, survivin expression was high in increasing grades of OSCC.

Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Oral Carcinogenesis

Oral carcinogenesis is a complex and multifactorial process that involves cumulative genetic and molecular alterations, leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation, impaired DNA repair and defective cell death. At the early stages, the onset of potentially malignant lesions in the oral mucosa, or oral dysplasia, is associated with higher rates of malignant progression towards carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma. Efforts have been made to get insights about signaling pathways that are deregulated in oral dysplasia, as these could be translated into novel markers and might represent promising therapeutic targets. In this context, recent evidence underscored the relevance of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in oral dysplasia, as this pathway is progressively "switched on" through the different grades of dysplasia (mild, moderate and severe dysplasia), with the consequent nuclear translocation of β-catenin and expression of target genes associated with the maintenance of representative traits of oral dysplasia, namely cell proliferation and viability. Intriguingly, recent studies provide an unanticipated connection between active β-catenin signaling and deregulated endosome trafficking in oral dysplasia, highlighting the relevance of endocytic components in oral carcinogenesis. This review summarizes evidence about the role of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and the underlying mechanisms that account for its aberrant activation in oral carcinogenesis.

High-Risk Multiple Myeloma: Integrated Clinical and Omics Approach Dissects the Neoplastic Clone and the Tumor Microenvironment

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a genetically heterogeneous disease that includes a subgroup of 10–15% of patients facing dismal survival despite the most intensive treatment. Despite improvements in biological knowledge, MM is still an incurable neoplasia, and therapeutic options able to overcome the relapsing/refractory behavior represent an unmet clinical need. The aim of this review is to provide an integrated clinical and biological overview of high-risk MM, discussing novel therapeutic perspectives, targeting the neoplastic clone and its microenvironment. The dissection of the molecular determinants of the aggressive phenotypes and drug-resistance can foster a better tailored clinical management of the high-risk profile and therapy-refractoriness. Among the current clinical difficulties in MM, patients’ management by manipulating the tumor niche represents a major challenge. The angiogenesis and the stromal infiltrate constitute pivotal mechanisms of a mutual collaboration between MM and the non-tumoral counterpart. Immuno-modulatory and anti-angiogenic therapy hold great efficacy, but variable and unpredictable responses in high-risk MM. The comprehensive understanding of the genetic heterogeneity and MM high-risk ecosystem enforce a systematic bench-to-bedside approach. Here, we provide a broad outlook of novel druggable targets. We also summarize the existing multi-omics-based risk profiling tools, in order to better select candidates for dual immune/vasculogenesis targeting.

Isorhamnetin in Tsoong blocks Hsp70 expression to promote apoptosis of colon cancer cells

The roots of Codonopis bulleynana Forest ex diels (cbFed), locally known as Tsoong, have been used as a tonic food. Tsoong has wide range of pharmacological effects, including anticancer efficacy. In the present study, the anticancer activity of Tsoong and its potential molecular mechanisms were investigated. Isorhamnetin, a flavonol aglycone, is important compound and metabolite in Tsoong. It can promote apoptosis of colon cancer cells through up-regulating apoptosis-related genes (Apaf1, Casp3 and Casp9) because it blocks Hsp70 genes (Hspa1a, Hspa1b and Hspa8). These were verified by in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vitro, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays and flow cytometry in HCT116 and SW480 colon cancer cell were used to assess the anti-proliferation and apoptosis-promoting activities of Tsoong. In vivo, the antitumor effect of Tsoong was assessed in colon cancer-bearing nude mice as a xenograft model. These results show that Isorhamnetin is very critical in Tsoong because Tsoong can down-regulate Hsp70 genes and promote apoptosis of colon cancer cells by inhibiting Hsp70 largely due to the efficacy of Isorhamnetin. Our results may ultimately help in the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to control this devastating disease.

Nuclear localization of β-catenin and expression of target genes are associated with increased Wnt secretion in oral dysplasia

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the localization of β-catenin in oral dysplastic cells, the expression of target genes upregulated in oral dysplasia, and the role of Wnt ligands in these events.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Subcellular localization of total and non-phosphorylated (transcriptionally active) β-catenin was evaluated by immunofluorescence and biochemical fractionation in dysplastic oral keratinocytes (DOK), non-dysplastic oral keratinocytes (OKF6), oral squamous carcinoma cells (CAL27) and primary oral keratinocytes. Tcf/Lef-dependent transcription was measured by luciferase reporter assays. Expression of target genes, survivin and cyclin D1, was evaluated by RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Wnt secretion was inhibited with the inhibitor of porcupine, C59. Wnt3a and β-catenin were evaluated in biopsies by tissue immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

Immunofluorescence and fractionation experiments showed augmented nuclear β-catenin (total and transcriptionally active) in DOK, when compared with OKF6 and CAL27 cells. Intriguingly, conditioned medium from DOK promoted nuclear accumulation of β-catenin and Tcf/Lef-dependent transcription in OKF6 and primary oral keratinocytes, suggesting the participation of secreted factors. Treatment of DOK with C59 decreased Wnt3a secretion, nuclear β-catenin and the expression of survivin and cyclin D1 at both mRNA and protein levels. Accordingly, DOK secreted higher Wnt3a levels than OKF6, and inhibition of Wnt3a secretion prevented DOK-induced Tcf/Lef-dependent transcription in OKF6. These observations were confirmed in clinical samples, since tissue immunofluorescence analysis showed simultaneous expression of Wnt3a and nuclear β-catenin in oral dysplasia, but not in healthy mucosa biopsies.

CONCLUSION

These data indicate that secretion of Wnt ligands is critical for β-catenin nuclear localization and expression of target genes in oral dysplasia.

The research on the mechanism of Tsoong inhibiting for colon cancer

The roots of Codonopis bulleynana Forest ex diels (cbFed), locally known as Tsoong, have been used as a tonic food. Tsoong has wide range of pharmacological effects, including anticancer effects. In the present study, the anticancer activity of Tsoong and its potential molecular mechanisms were investigated. Using high throughput sequencing the apoptotic pathway was ranked as one of the most important pathways and the differential expressions of apoptosis-related genes such as Casp3, Casp6 and Apaf1 were identified. The following experiments were qRT-PCR which were used to verify the genes. In vitro, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays and flow cytometry in HCT116 and SW480 colon cancer cell were used to assess the anti-proliferation and apoptosis-promoting activities of Tsoong. In vivo, the antitumor effect of Tsoong was assessed in colon cancer-bearing nude mice as a xenograft model. H&E staining was performed with oxaliplatin set as a positive control. The results showed that Tsoong up-regulated apoptosis-related genes, inhibited tumor cell proliferation, promoted tumor cellapoptosis in a dose-dependent manner and restrained the growth of colon neoplasm. The effects of a high dose of Tsoong on colon cancer cells were similar to those of oxaliplatin. Our results may ultimately help in the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to control this devastating disease. Therefore, Tsoong may be a promising Chinese herbal compound for development for use in cancer therapy.

The feline calicivirus leader of the capsid protein causes survivin and XIAP downregulation and apoptosis

Calicivirus infection causes intrinsic apoptosis, leading to viral propagation in the host. During murine norovirus infection, a reduction in the anti-apoptotic protein survivin has been documented. Here we report that in feline calicivirus infection, a downregulation of the anti-apoptotic proteins survivin and XIAP occur, which correlates with the translocation of the pro-apoptotic protein Smac/DIABLO from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm and the activation of caspase-3. Inhibition of survivin degradation by lactacystin treatment caused a delay in apoptosis progression, reducing virus release, without affecting virus production. However, the overexpression of survivin caused a negative effect in viral progeny production. Overexpression of the leader of the capsid protein (LC), but not of the protease-polymerase NS6/7, results in the downregulation of survivin and XIAP, caspase activation and mitochondrial damage. These results indicate that LC is responsible for the induction of apoptosis in transfected cells and most probably in FCV infection.

[Expressions of survivin, PI3K and AKT in keratinocytes in skin lesions and their pathogenic role in psoriasis vulgaris]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the role of survivin and PI3K/AKT pathway in the pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris (PV).

METHODS

Plaque-like lesions collected from 22 patients with PV in progressive stage and 18 normal control skin specimens were examined using immunohistochemical staining, Western blotting and real-time quantitative PCR for expressions of survivin, PI3K and AKT in the keratinocytes, and their correlation was analyzed. A small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to knock down AKT in cultured HaCaT cells, and Western blotting was used to detect the changes in the expression of survivin. RESULTS Compared with normal skin, PV lesions showed obviously up-regulated expressions of survivin, PI3K and AKT in the keratinocytes. Survivin expression was positively correlated with PI3K (r=0.4510, P=0.0351) and AKT (r=0.4423, P=0.0393) in the keratinocytes in PV lesions. In cultured HaCaT cells, siRNA-mediated knockdown of AKT caused down-regulation of survivin expression.

CONCLUSION

Survivin and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway may participate in the occurrence and progression of PV.