Protection of peroxiredoxin II on oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocyte death and apoptosis

Peroxiredoxin II, a cytosolic isoform of the antioxidant enzyme family, has been implicated in cancer-associated cell death and apoptosis, but its functional role in the heart remains to be elucidated. Interestingly, the expression levels of peroxiredoxin II were decreased in mouse hearts upon ischemia-reperfusion, while they were elevated in two genetically modified hyperdynamic hearts with phospholamban ablation or protein phosphatase 1 inhibitor 1 overexpression. To delineate the functional significance of altered peroxiredoxin II expression, adenoviruses encoding sense or antisense peroxiredoxin II were generated; cardiomyocytes were infected, and then subjected to H₂O₂ treatment to mimic oxidative stress-induced cell death and apoptosis. H₂O₂ stimulation resulted in a significant decrease of endogenous peroxiredoxin II expression, along with reduced cell viability in control cells. However, overexpression of peroxiredoxin II significantly protected from H₂O₂-induced apoptosis and necrosis, while downregulation of this enzyme promoted the detrimental effects of oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes. The beneficial effects of peroxiredoxin II were associated with increased Bcl-2 expression, decreased expression of Bax and attenuated activity of caspases 3, 9 and 12. Furthermore, there were no significant alterations in the expression levels of the other five isoforms of peroxiredoxin, as well as active catalase or glutathione peroxidase-1 after ischemia-reperfusion or H₂O₂ treatment. These findings suggest that peroxiredoxin II may be a unique antioxidant in the cardiac system and may represent a potential target for cardiac protection from oxidative stress-induced injury. Returned for 1. Revision: 14 April 2008 1. Revision received: 25 September 2008     

Pro-apoptotic effects of tectorigenin on human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells

AIM: To investigate the effects of tectorigenin on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) HepG2 cells.METHODS: Tectorigenin, one of the main components of rhizome of Iris tectorum, was prepared by simple methods, such as extraction, filtration, concentration, precipitation and recrystallization. HepG2 cells were incubated with tectorigenin at different concentrations, and their viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Apoptosis was detected by morphological observation of nuclear change, agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA ladder, and flow cytometry with Hoechst 33342, Annexin V-EGFP and propidium iodide staining. Generation of reactive oxygen species was quantified using DCFH-DA. Intracellular Ca²⁺ was monitored by Fura 2-AM. Mitochondrial membrane potential was monitored using Rhodamine 123. Release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol was detected by Western blotting. Activities of caspase-3, -8 and -9 were investigated by Caspase Activity Assay Kit.RESULTS: The viability of HepG2 cells treated by tectorigenin decreased in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The concentration that reduced the number of viable HepG2 cells by 50% (IC₅₀) after 12, 24 and 48 h of incubation was 35.72 mg/L, 21.19 mg/L and 11.06 mg/L, respectively. However, treatment with tectorigenin at 20 mg/L resulted in a very slight cytotoxicity to L02 cells after incubation for 12, 24 or 48 h. Tectorigenin at a concentration of 20 mg/L greatly inhibited the viability of HepG2 cells and induced the condensation of chromatin and fragmentation of nuclei. Tectorigenin induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Compared with the viability rate, induction of apoptosis was the main mechanism of the anti-proliferation effect of tectorigenin in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, tectorigenin-induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells was associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species, increased intracellular [Ca²⁺]_i, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, translocation of cytochrome c, and activation of caspase-9 and -3.CONCLUSION: Tectorigenin induces apoptosis of HepG2 cells mainly via mitochondrial-mediated pathway, and produces a slight cytotoxicity to L02 cells.     

Upregulated Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibits Apoptosis of Human Gastric Epithelial Cells Infected with Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori induces apoptosis and alters the proliferation of gastric mucosal epithelial cells. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the inducible form of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis, is known to cause alteration in epithelial cell growth. The goal of this study was to determine whether COX-2 gene expression by H. pylori infection could influence gastric epithelial cell apoptosis. Expression of COX-2 mRNA and proteins was up-regulated in Hs746T gastric epithelial cell lines infected with H. pylori, when assessed by quantitative RT-PCR and western blot. Inhibition of COX-2 expression using NS-398, a specific COX-2 inhibitor, showed a significant increase of gastric epithelial cell apoptosis and caspase-3 activation in Hs746T cells infected with H. pylori. Moreover, the effect of NS-398 on H. pylori-induced apoptosis was reversed by the addition of PGE₂. These results suggest that up-regulated COX-2 expression by H. pylori infection can inhibit apoptosis of gastric epithelial cells.     

Mitochondrial Ca2+ flux and respiratory enzyme activity decline are early events in cardiomyocyte response to H2O2

Oxidative stress is involved in mitochondrial apoptosis, and plays a critical role in ischemic heart disease and cardiac failure. Exposure of cardiomyocytes to H₂O₂ leads to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. In this study, we investigated the temporal order of mitochondrial-related events in the neonatal rat cardiomyocyte response to H₂O₂ treatment. At times ranging from 10 to 90 min after H₂O₂ treatment, levels were determined for respiratory complexes I, II, IV and V, and citrate synthase activities, mitochondrial Ca²⁺ flux, intracellular oxidation, mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptotic progression. Complexes II and IV activity levels were significantly reduced within 20 min of H₂O₂ exposure while complexes I and V, and citrate synthase were unaffected. Mitochondrial membrane potential declined after 20 and 60 min of H₂O₂ exposure while intracellular oxidation, declining complex I activity and apoptotic progression were detectable only after 60 min. Measurement of mitochondrial Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_m) using rhodamine 2 detected an early accumulation of [Ca²⁺]_m occurring between 5 and 10 min. Pretreatment of cardiomyocytes with either ruthenium red or cyclosporin A abrogated the H₂O₂-induced decline in complexes II and IV activities, indicating that [Ca²⁺]_m flux and onset of mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening likely precede the observed early enzymatic decline. Our findings suggest that [Ca²⁺]_m flux represents an early pivotal event in H₂O₂-induced cardiomyocyte damage, preceding and presumably leading to reduced mitochondrial respiratory activity levels followed by accumulation of intracellular oxidation, mitochondrial membrane depolarization and apoptotic progression concomitant with declining complex I activity.     

Induction of apoptosis in PA-1 ovarian cancer cells by vitamin K2 is associated with an increase in the level of TR3/Nur77 and its accumulation in mitochondria and nuclei

Purpose We examined the growth-inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing effects of vitamin K₂ (VK₂; menaquinone-4) on various lines of human ovarian cancer cells to study the mechanism of induction of apoptosis by VK₂. Methods Cell proliferation was determined by XTT method, and apoptotic cells were detected by Hoechst staining. TR3, also known as Nur77 and NGFI-B, was detected by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence analysis. Role of TR3 on induction of apoptosis was examined by a siRNA experiment. Results and conclusions We found that PA-1 cells were the most sensitive to VK₂ (IC₅₀ = 5.0 ± 0.7 μM), while SK-OV-3 cells were resistant to VK₂. Immunoblotting and immunofluorescence analyses indicated that levels of TR3 were elevated in cell lysates 48 h after the start of treatment with 30 μM VK₂. In the VK₂-treated cells, TR3 accumulated at significant levels in mitochondria, as well as in the nuclei of PA-1 cells. No similar changes were observed in SK-OV-3 cells under the same conditions. Treatment of PA-1 cells with small interfering RNA (siRNA) directed against TR3, and with cycloheximide or SP600125 (an inhibitor of c-jun N-terminal kinase; JNK), separately, inhibited the VK₂-induced synthesis of TR3 and apoptosis. From these results, we can conclude that an increase in the synthesis of TR3 and the accumulation of TR3 in mitochondria and in nuclei might be involved in the induction of apoptosis by VK₂ and that the synthesis of TR3 might be regulated through a JNK signaling pathway.     

Lentivirus mediated shRNA interference targeting MAT2B induces growth-inhibition and apoptosis in hepatocelluar carcinoma

AIM： To investigate the effects of lentivirus vector mediated short hairpin RNA interference targeting methionine adenosyltransferase 2β gene （LV-shMAT2B） on hepatocelluar carcinoma （HCC） cells. METHODS： We constructed four plasmids of RNA interference targeting the MAT2B gene. After LV-shMAT2B was transfected with L-02 cells and two kinds of HCC cells, cell viability and proliferation were measured with MTT and [3H]thymidine assays respectively. Flow cytometry was used to assess cell apoptosis. The level of S-adenosyl methionine （SAMe） in HepG2 cells was evaluated. The expressions of cyclin D1, cyclin D2, bcl-xL and bcl-xS were detected with western blot. RESULTS： We constructed LV-shMAT2B successfully. LV-shMAT2B was safe for human normal liver cells. LV-shMAT2B caused dramatic reduction in proliferation compared with controls in HCC cells Bel-7402 （P = 0.054） and HepG2 （P = 0.031）. Flow cytometry analysis showed that cell apoptosis caused by LV-shMAT2B was greater in HCC cells Bel-7402 and HepG2 than in control induced by scrambled siRNA （P = 0.047）, but apoptosis rates in L-02 induced by LV-shMAT2B and scrambled siRNA respectively had no significant difference. Moreover, LV-shMAT2B significantly suppressed expression of MAT2B leading to growth-inhibition effect on HCC cells by down-regulating cyclin D1. Apoptosis induced by LV-shMAT2B was involved indown-regulating bcl-xL and up-regulating bcl-xS. CONCLUSION： LV-shMAT2B can induce cell apoptosis and growth-inhibition in HCC cells. MAT2B may be a therapy target in HCC in the future.     

GABA stimulates human hepatocellular carcinoma growth through overexpressed GABAA receptor theta subunit

AIM: To investigate the function of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor θ subunit (GABRQ) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODS: Semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction was used for detecting the expression of GABRQ receptor among HCC cell line HepG2, normal liver cell line L-02, non-malignant Chang’s liver cells, 8 samples of HCC tissues and paired non-cancerous tissues. HepG2 cells were treated with GABA at serial concentrations (0, 1, 10, 20, 40 and 60 μmol/L), and their proliferating abilities were analyzed with the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay, cell cycle analysis and tumor implanted in nude mice. Small interfering RNA was used for knocking down the endogenous GABRQ in HepG2. Proliferating abilities of these cells treated with or without GABA were analyzed.RESULTS: We identified the overexpression of GABRQ in HCC cell lines and half of the tested HCC tissues. Knockdown of endogenous GABRQ expression in HepG2 attenuated HCC cell growth, suggesting its role in HCC cell viability. We studied the effect of GABA in the proliferation of GABRQ-positive cell lines in vitro and in vivo, and found that GABA increased HCC growth in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, the addition of GABA into the cell culture medium promoted the proliferation of GABRQ-expressing HepG2 cells, but not GABRQ-knockdown HepG2 cells, which means that GABA stimulates HepG2 cell growth through GABRQ.CONCLUSION: GABRQ play important roles in HCC development and progression and could be a promising molecular target for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies of HCC.     

氯通道ClC-3反义寡核苷酸对过氧化氢诱导的大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞凋亡的影响

目的研究ClC3反义寡核苷酸对H2O2诱导的大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞凋亡的影响。方法蛋白免疫印迹法检测ClC3蛋白表达;形态学方法、DNA琼脂糖电泳、MTT法和流式细胞仪观察和分析H2O2诱导的大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞形态学改变、DNA断裂、细胞存活率和凋亡率及ClC3反义寡核苷酸转染对其影响。结果ClC3反义寡核苷酸转染抑制内源性ClC3蛋白表达后,可加重H2O2诱导大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞形态学改变及DNA断裂,细胞凋亡率由52.8%±13.6%增至75.7%±5.8%(n=6,P<0.01),而细胞存活率由48.9%±4.3%进一步降低为31.3%±4.3%(n=6,P<0.01)。结论ClC3反义寡核苷酸转染促进H2O2诱导的大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞凋亡。     

A Novel Exploration of a Combination of Gambogic Acid with TiO2 Nanofibers: The Photodynamic Effect for HepG2 Cell Proliferation

As a good photosensitizer, TiO₂ nanomaterials show potential biomedical applications, such as drug carriers or enhancers in photodynamic therapy. In this contribution, novel nanocomposites through the blending of TiO₂ nanofibers with the active compound, gambogic acid (GA), were explored, and the results showed that GA could inhibit cancer cell proliferation in a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner, inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase in HepG2 cells. It is evident that after the GA-TiO₂ nanocomposites were cultured with the cancer cells, the cooperation effect could effectively enhance the cytotoxicity of GA for HepG2 cells. Meanwhile, if activated by UV irradiation, under the presence of GA-TiO₂ nanocomposites, this would lead to significant apoptosis and necrosis for HepG2 cells with a photodynamic therapy (PDT) effect. Associated with the controlled drug-release from these nanocomposites, TiO₂ nanofibers could readily cut down the drug consumption in HepG2 cells and reduce the side-effect for the normal cells and tissue, which may be further utilized in the therapeutic alliance for cancer therapy.     

Arsenic trioxide induces apoptosis of human gastrointestinal cancer cells

AIM:To investigate the changes in apoptosis in gastrointestinal cancer cells from patients with gastrointestinal cancers treated with arsenic trioxide(As2O3);and to study the possible molecular mechanisms of such changes by detecting the expression levels of p53and Bcl-2.METHODS:Twenty patients with gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma based on endoscopic and biopsy findings(ten patients with gastric cancer and ten patients with colorectal cancer)who received treatment in our hospital between August 2007 and December 2008were included in this study.None of the patients had received anti-tumour agents prior to As2O3 treatment.As2O3 was administered intravenously at a dose of 0.01g/d diluted with 5%glucose in normal saline for 2-3h for 3 consecutive days before surgery.Morphological changes associated with apoptosis of gastrointestinal cancer cells were observed by light microscopy.Changes in the apoptotic index induced by As2O3 were investigated using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling method.Expression levels of p53 and Bcl-2 proteins in gastrointestinal cancer tissues were determined by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS:The apoptotic index of human gastrointestinal cancer cells was higher in cells from patients treated with As2O3 than in those not treated(P<0.05).p53 protein expression in gastrointestinal tissues was unchanged by As2O3(P>0.05).However,Bcl-2 protein expression in gastrointestinal tissues was downregulated by As2O3(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:These results demonstrate that As2O3treatment in patients with gastrointestinal cancers can induce apoptosis in gastrointestinal cancer cells and down-regulate Bcl-2 protein expression.     

H(2)O(2)-induced left ventricular dysfunction in isolated working rat hearts is independent of calcium accumulation

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and intracellular Ca²⁺ overload play key roles in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury but the relationships among ROS, Ca²⁺ overload and LV mechanical dysfunction remain unclear. We tested the hypothesis that H₂O₂ impairs LV function by causing Ca²⁺ overload by increasing late sodium current (I_Na), similar to Sea Anemone Toxin II (ATX-II). Diastolic and systolic Ca²⁺ concentrations (d[Ca²⁺]_i and s[Ca²⁺]_i) were measured by indo-1 fluorescence simultaneously with LV work in isolated working rat hearts. H₂O₂ (100 μM, 30 min) increased d[Ca²⁺]_i and s[Ca²⁺]_i. LV work increased transiently then declined to 32% of baseline before recovering to 70%. ATX-II (12 nM, 30 min) caused greater increases in d[Ca²⁺]_i and s[Ca²⁺]_i. LV work increased transiently before declining gradually to 17%. Ouabain (80 μM) exerted similar effects to ATX-II. Late I_Na inhibitors, lidocaine (10 μM) or R56865 (2 μM), reduced effects of ATX-II on [Ca²⁺]_i and LV function, but did not alter effects of H₂O₂. The antioxidant, N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)glycine (MPG, 1 mM) prevented H₂O₂-induced LV dysfunction, but did not alter [Ca²⁺]_i. Paradoxically, further increases in [Ca²⁺]_i by ATX-II or ouabain, given 10 min after H₂O₂, improved function. The failure of late I_Na inhibitors to prevent H₂O₂-induced LV dysfunction, and the ability of MPG to prevent H₂O₂-induced LV dysfunction independent of changes in [Ca²⁺]_i indicate that impaired contractility is not due to Ca²⁺ overload. The ability of further increases in [Ca²⁺]_i to reverse H₂O₂-induced LV dysfunction suggests that Ca²⁺ desensitization is the predominant mechanism of ROS-induced contractile dysfunction.     

Serum albumin protects from cytokine-induced pancreatic β cell death by a phosphoinositide 3-kinase-dependent mechanism

The present study was undertaken to investigate the biological activity of serum albumin when pancreatic β cells were challenged by cytokines and pro-apoptotic reactive oxygen species like H₂O₂. Culture of mouse islets or INS-1E β cells for 24 h in the presence of H₂O₂ (25 μmol/l) increased cell death. This demise was prevented by serum albumin, dependent on its free sulfhydryl group, emphasizing that albumin may scavenge H₂O₂ due to its antioxidant properties. Culture for 48 h with a cytokine mixture of IL-1β (160 pg/ml), IFN-γ (200 ng/ml), and TNF-α (2 ng/ml) revealed that albumin, also protected against cytokine-induced death of both mouse islets and INS-1E β cells. This protective effect against cytokine-induced β cell death was, however, not dependent on albumins free sulfhydryl group, but was inhibited by the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors LY294002 (25 μmol/l) and wortmannin (1 μmol/l), suggesting that albumin may rescue β cells from cytokine-induced cell death by activation of PI3K. In accordance, albumin stimulated phosphorylation of Akt, a down-stream target for PI3K. In conclusion, it is suggested that albumin may be a survival factor for pancreatic β cells through scavenging of reactive oxygen species and by PI3K-dependent activation of Akt.     

Paediatric hepatocellular carcinoma due to somatic CTNNB1 and NFE2L2 mutations in the setting of inherited bi-allelic ABCB11 mutations

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) rarely occurs in childhood. We describe a patient with new onset of pruritus at 8 months of age who at 17 months of age was found to have a 2.5 cm HCC. To delineate the possible genetic basis of this tumour, we performed whole exome sequencing (WES) of the germline DNA and identified two novel predictably deleterious missense mutations in ABCB11, encoding bile salt export pump (BSEP), confirmed in the parental DNA as bi-allelic and inherited. Although inherited ABCB11 mutations have previously been linked to HCC in a small number of cases, the molecular mechanisms of hepatocellular carcinogenesis in ABCB11 disease are unknown. WES of the HCC tissue uncovered somatic driver mutations in the beta-catenin (CTNNB1) and nuclear-factor-erythroid-2-related-factor-2 (NFE2L2) genes. Moreover, clonality analysis predicted that the CTNNB1 mutation was clonal and occurred earlier during carcinogenesis, whereas the NFE2L2 mutation was acquired later. Interestingly, background liver parenchyma showed no inflammation or fibrosis and BSEP expression was preserved. This is the first study to identify somatic CTNNB1 and NFE2L2 mutations in early childhood arisen in the setting of inherited bi-allelic ABCB11 mutations. Rapid WES analysis expedited this child’s diagnosis and treatment, and likely improved her prognosis.     

The CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores predict adverse vascular function,ischemic stroke and cardiovascular death in high-risk patients without atrial fibrillation: Role of incorporating PR prolongation

Objectives

To investigate whether the CHADS₂ and CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores have clinical utility for prediction of adverse vascular function and vascular dysfunction-mediated incident cardiovascular (CV) events among high-risk patients without atrial fibrillation (AF), and the additional value of incorporating PR prolongation to the scores.

Methods

We analyzed 579 high-risk CV outpatients without clinical AF in a prospective cohort for new-onset ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), congestive heart failure (CHF), and CV death. Brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and nitroglycerin-mediated dilatation (NMD), carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were determined.

Results

Baseline CHADS₂ score was associated with lower FMD (Pearson r = −0.16, P < 0.001) and NMD (r = −0.17, P < 0.001), higher carotid IMT (r = 0.30, P < 0.001) and PWV (r = 0.35, P < 0.001; similar for CHA₂DS₂-VASc score: All P < 0.05). After follow-up of 63 ± 11 months, 82 patients (14.2%) developed combined CV endpoint. ROC curve analysis showed that both CHADS₂ and CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores were predictors for ischemic stroke (C-Statistic: CHADS₂ 0.70, P = 0.004; CHA₂DS₂-VASc 0.68, P = 0.010), MI (CHADS₂ 0.63, P = 0.030; CHA₂DS₂-VASc 0.70, P = 0.001), and CV death (CHADS₂ 0.63, P = 0.022; CHA₂DS₂-VASc 0.65, P = 0.011). Higher CHADS₂ score was associated with reduced event-free survival from combined CV endpoints (log-rank = 16.7, P < 0.001) with differences potentiated if stratified by CHA₂DS₂-VASc score (log-rank = 29.2, P < 0.001). Incorporating PR prolongation, the CHA₂DS₂-VASc-PR score achieved the highest C-Statistic for CV death prediction (0.70, P < 0.001) superior to the CHADS₂ score (chi-square: 12.1, P = 0.0005).

Conclusions

The CHADS₂ and CHA₂DS₂-VASc predict vascular dysfunction and cardiovascular events in high-risk CV patients without clinical AF, with further improved performance incorporating PR prolongation.     

Identification of side population cells in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines with stepwise metastatic potentials

Purpose  To identify the side population (SP) cells from four hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines with stepwise metastatic potentials. Methods  SP cells were sorted from HCCLM3, MHCC97-H, MHCC97-L and Hep3B by flow cytometry, and then analyzed by differentiation study, clonogenic assay, chemoresistance study and tumorigenicity assay in vivo. The expression of ABCG₂ in SP cells was detected by immunocytochemistry, western blotting and real-time quantitative PCR, respectively. Results  There was significant difference in SP proportion among HCCLM3, MHCC97-H, MHCC97-L and Hep3B (28.7 ± 1.6%, 14.5 ± 0.6%, 4.2 ± 0.4%, 0.9 ± 0.1%, respectively, P < 0.01). All the SP cells showed similar characteristics of self-renewal, high clonogenicity, remarkable chemo-resistance and high expression of ABCG₂. As low as 2,000 SP cells could initiate tumors in non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency mice successfully. Conclusions  SP cells purified from HCC cell lines harbors cancer stem cell-like properties, and may be related to the metastatic potentials and therapeutic-resistance of HCC. Guo-Ming Shi and Yang Xu contributed equally to this work. This is an original work by all the authors and no previous presentations, reports, or publications contain any material that appears in the article.