Celastrol Enhances the Anti-Liver Cancer Activity of Sorafenib

Background

Sorafenib, a multiple-target-point kinase inhibitor, has been used as a standard treatment for advanced liver cancer and has shown therapeutic benefits. However, resistance often occurs, prompting the need for identification of synergizing agents. Celastrol is a major active ingredient of Tripterygium wilfordii, which can increase the antitumor effect of traditional antitumor drugs. This work focused on the sensitization of liver cancers in use of celastrol combined with sorafenib.

Material/Methods

The IC50 values of sorafenib and celastrol on cancer cells were determined through MTT assays. The effects of sorafenib on AKT signaling and VEGF levels in sorafenib-treated cancer cells were analyzed by Western blotting and ELISA, respectively. After combined treatment with celastrol and sorafenib, the survival rate of tumor cells was determined by MTT and clonogenic assays, and the apoptosis rate was also determined by flow cytometry. In addition, the in vivo antitumor activity of celastrol combined with sorafenib was evaluated in Hepa1-6 tumor-bearing mice.

Results

Sorafenib treatment induced the compensatory activation of the AKT pathway and autocrine VEGF in hepatoma cells, which could be reversed by celastrol. Furthermore, celastrol enhanced the growth inhibition and apoptosis induction of cancer cells by sorafenib both in vitro and in vivo and reduced the dosage of sorafenib needed.

Conclusions

Celastrol enhances the antitumor activity of sorafenib in HCC tumor cells by suppressing the AKT pathway and VEGF autocrine system.

Dual-wavelength synchronous operation of a mode-locked 2-μm Tm:CaYAlO4 laser

We experimentally demonstrated dual-wavelength synchronous operation of a high-power passively mode-locked 2-μm Tm:CaYAlO4 (Tm:CYA) disordered crystal laser with semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) as mode locker. The mode-locked laser emitted an average output power as high as 830 mW with pulse duration of 35.3 ps and repetition rate of 145.4 MHz. The mode-locking dual wavelengths were centered at 1958.9 nm and 1960.6 nm, respectively. Autocorrelation trace clearly shows beating pulses with pulse width of 3.5 ps and repetition rate of 0.13 THz.

Gut microbiota after gastric bypass in human obesity: increased richness and associations of bacterial genera with adipose tissue genes

BACKGROUND

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery is one of the most efficient procedures for treating morbid obesity and results in weight-loss and improvements in metabolism and inflammation.

OBJECTIVE

We examined the impact of RYGB on modifications of gut microbiota and its potential associations with changes in gene expression in white adipose tissue (WAT).

DESIGN

Gut microbiota were profiled from fecal samples by using pyrosequencing in morbidly obese individuals, explored before (0 mo), 3 mo after, and 6 mo after RYGB. WAT gene expression was studied at 0 and 3 mo. We explored associations between microbial genera and differentially expressed genes in WAT and clinical markers.

RESULTS

The richness of gut microbiota increased after RYGB; 37% of increased bacteria belonged to Proteobacteria. The associations between gut microbiota composition and WAT gene expression increased after RYGB. Fourteen discriminant bacterial genera (7 were dominant and 7 were subdominant) and 202 WAT genes changed after RYGB. Variations in bacterial genera correlated with changes in both clinical phenotype and adipose tissue gene expression. Some genes encode metabolic and inflammatory genes. Almost half of the correlations were independent of the change in calorie intake.

CONCLUSION

These results show an increase in gut microbiota richness and in the number of associations between gut microbiota and WAT genes after RYGB in obesity. Variations of gut microbiota were associated with changes in WAT gene expression. These findings stimulate deeper explorations of the mechanisms linking gut microbiome and WAT pathological alterations in human obesity and its changes after weight loss.

Differential effects of macronutrient content in 2 energy-restricted diets on cardiovascular risk factors and adipose tissue cell size in moderately obese individuals: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The most effective and safe dietary approach for weight loss and its impact on the metabolic functions and morphology of adipose tissue remain unclear.

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated whether an energy-restricted high-protein diet with a low glycemic index and soluble fiber (LC-P-LGI) would be more effective than a low-calorie conventional diet (LC-CONV) on weight loss and related metabolic risk factors. We further determined factors that may influence adipocyte size during energy restriction.

DESIGN

Thirteen obese participants were randomly assigned in a crossover design to 2 periods of a 4-wk hypocaloric diet as either LC-P-LGI or LC-CONV, separated by 8-wk washout intervals.

RESULTS

In comparison with the LC-CONV diet, the main effect of the LC-P-LGI diet was a greater decrease in adipocyte diameter (P = 0.048), plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor protein-1 (P = 0.019), vascular endothelial growth factor (P = 0.032), and interferon-γ inducible protein 10 (P = 0.010). Whereas fasting plasma glucose and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein decreased only after the LC-P-LGI diet, with no differences between diets, fasting plasma insulin and insulin resistance were lower after the LC-CONV diet. The diet results did not differ for body composition and lipid variables. Kinetic modifications in adipocyte diameter were associated with metabolic variables and genes implicated in adipocyte proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis.

CONCLUSIONS

In comparison with the LC-CONV diet, the LC-P-LGI diet was associated with improvement in some cardiometabolic risk factors and greater reduction in adipocyte size. Profiles of genes involved in inhibiting adipogenesis and angiogenesis, but increasing apoptosis, were correlated with decreased adipocyte size. This study provides insight into the adipose tissue-remodeling changes that induce regulation of adipocyte size during dietary weight loss. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01312740.

Differential adaptation of human gut microbiota to bariatric surgery-induced weight loss: links with metabolic and low-grade inflammation markers

OBJECTIVE

Obesity alters gut microbiota ecology and associates with low-grade inflammation in humans. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery is one of the most efficient procedures for the treatment of morbid obesity resulting in drastic weight loss and improvement of metabolic and inflammatory status. We analyzed the impact of RYGB on the modifications of gut microbiota and examined links with adaptations associated with this procedure.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Gut microbiota was profiled from fecal samples by real-time quantitative PCR in 13 lean control subjects and in 30 obese individuals (with seven type 2 diabetics) explored before (M0), 3 months (M3), and 6 months (M6) after RYGB.

RESULTS

Four major findings are highlighted: 1) Bacteroides/Prevotella group was lower in obese subjects than in control subjects at M0 and increased at M3. It was negatively correlated with corpulence, but the correlation depended highly on caloric intake; 2) Escherichia coli species increased at M3 and inversely correlated with fat mass and leptin levels independently of changes in food intake; 3) lactic acid bacteria including Lactobacillus/Leuconostoc/Pediococcus group and Bifidobacterium genus decreased at M3; and 4) Faecalibacterium prausnitzii species was lower in subjects with diabetes and associated negatively with inflammatory markers at M0 and throughout the follow-up after surgery independently of changes in food intake.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that components of the dominant gut microbiota rapidly adapt in a starvation-like situation induced by RYGB while the F. prausnitzii species is directly linked to the reduction in low-grade inflammation state in obesity and diabetes independently of calorie intake.

Homozygous alpha-thalassemia associated with hypospadias in three survivors

We report three cases of homozygous alpha-thalassemia (alphaTH) who survived beyond the neonatal period, all with hypospadias. A review of literature identified two additional male cases of homozygous alphaTH who survived, and both had hypospadias. The simultaneous occurrence of the two conditions seems beyond coincidence and may be causally related. Possible pathogenesis for the association may be 1) homozygous alphaTH-induced in utero and/or edema secondary to hydrops fetalis, both leading to the failure of proper fusion of the urogenital folds, or 2) defect of another gene located at a chromosome 16p13.3 region. Thus, parents who request intrauterine therapy for a male fetus with homozygous alphaTH should be informed about this association and its prognosis.