Carbon monoxide releasing molecule-2 suppresses proliferation, migration, invasion, and promotes apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer Calu-3 cells

OBJECTIVE

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. The carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CO-RMs) are transition metal carbonyls with the capacity to release carbon monoxide (CO). The aims of our study were to assess the effects and underlying mechanisms of CO-releasing molecules-2 (CORM-2) on proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis in NSCLC cells, and to evaluate its potential application for lung cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

NSCLC cells Calu-3 were treated with CORM-2, negative control and blank control. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were assessed by cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), scratch assay and matrigel invasion chamber experiment, respectively. Apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. Real-time PCR and Western blot were applied to examine the expression of apoptosis-related molecules on mRNA and protein levels.

RESULTS

CORM-2 markedly attenuated proliferation, migration and invasion of Calu-3 cells. CORM-2 treatment also significantly reduced the ratio of B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)/B cell lymphoma 2 associated X protein (Bax) while increased expression of caspase-3 and cytochrome c. The optimal dose of CORM-2 for Calu-3 cells was 100 µM.

CONCLUSIONS

CORM-2 modulates biological functions of NSCLC cells and may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for lung cancer.

Redefining the functions of nanocapsule materials

Nanocapsules are key components in new technologies related to biomedicine and materials science. However, their long-term fate after use is still largely ignored. We discuss here a sustainable approach where the products of degradation of the nanoparticles play a significant role in their application because they are also functional molecules. The polymer shell of the nanocapsules is chemically engineered so that the degradation products formed upon chemical damage are useful after their normal use.

Hepatocytes transduced with human TERT gene acquire a prolonged lifespan in culture and retain permissiveness to hepatitis B virus

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be propagated in vitro in primary cultures of human hepatocytes and some stable hepatoma cell lines maintained under specific conditions. The lack of simple and non-neoplastic cell culture systems for HBV has hampered the analysis of virus life cycle and development of antiviral compounds. In this study, we succeeded in prolonging the lifespan of human hepatocytes in primary culture by transducing them with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene. The transgenic cells expressed hTERT constitutively and propagated HBV up to 5x105 DNA copies/ml for 28 days.

Hepatitis C virus infection of mouse hepatoma cell expressing human CD81 or LDLR

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents a serious public health problem worldwide. Development of new therapeutics against HCV has been hampered by the lack of a small-animal model. Until now, it has been unclear which host factors influence the HCV infection. It was known that human CD81 (hCD81) or low-density lipoprotein receptor (hLDLR), the putative HCV receptors, induce concentration of viral particles on the cell surface. In this study, recombinant plasmids containing hCD81 or hLDLR genes were transfected to mouse hepatoma Hepa 1-6 cells and transgenic cell lines expressing hCD81 (hCD81/1-6 cell line) or hLDLR (hLDLR/1-6 cell line) on their surface have been established. HCV infection of these cell lines showed that the virus was bound, entered the cell, and replicated inside the cell. This finding is essential for the development of mouse model for the study of HCV replication in vivo.