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Taking advantage of isomeric form of vitamin E in the supplement, adherence to supplement could be evaluated by changes in circulating α- and γ-tocopherol concentrations. Accordingly, effects of supplementation on postoperative nutrition and bone metabolism were studied in terms of adherence. Thirty-eight SG patients were all prescribed a postoperative nutritional supplement containing a low dose of vitamin D (600 IU) and calcium (200 mg). Blood samples were collected prior to (M0) and 6 months after (M6) surgery and concentrations of nutrients and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collage (CTX), a marker of bone resorption, were measured. Adherence and non-adherence were stratified according to change (△, M6-M0) in serum α-tocopherol concentrations (> 0 vs. ≤ 0, respectively). When M0 and M6 were compared, there were significant increases in serum concentrations of 25(OH)D, α-tocopherol and selenium, whereas there were reductions in parathyroid hormone, ferritin, and γ-tocopherol. At M6, the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (25(OH)D < 30 ng/mL) and high CTX were 72 and 26%, respectively. When comparison was made between adherence and non-adherence, only △25(OH)D concentrations, but no other nutrients nor postoperative CTX differed. Multiple linear regression demonstrated that postoperative vitamin D status was independently associated with its preoperative concentrations (β = 0.85, p < 0.001) and adherence (β = 0.52, p < 0.05). SG patients’ adherence to supplementation, even with a low dose of vitamin D and calcium, determined vitamin D status but not bone resorption marker concentrations, at least within 6 months after surgery.

The p85α subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) acts as a key regulator of cell proliferation and motility, which mediates signals that confer chemoresistance to many human cancer cells. Using small interfering RNAs against matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and the MMP-2 promoter-driven luciferase assay, we showed that the new synthetic bichalcone analog TSWU-CD4 inhibits the invasion of human cancer cells by down-regulating MMP-2 expression. Treatment with TSWU-CD4 inhibited MMP-2 expression and cell invasion, which were restored by ectopic wild type (wt) p85α or a constitutively active form of MAPK kinase 3 (CA MKK3), CA MKK6, or CA p38α mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). The attenuated formation of lipid raft-associated phospho (p)-p85α-GTP-Rac1 complexes, protein kinase B (Akt) Ser 473 phosphorylation, and cell invasion by TSWU-CD4 was reversed by overexpression of wt p85α or the p85α Brc-homology (BH) domain. The ectopic expression of CA Rac1L61 (but not wt Rac1) could overcome the suppression of Ser 473 phosphorylation, lipid raft association of Akt, the interaction between GTP-bound Rac1 and p85α in lipid rafts, and cell invasion by TSWU-CD4. The involvement of Akt activity in the functions of NF-κB-mediated MMP-2 was further confirmed through the attenuation of Akt phosphorylation signaling using the Akt-specific inhibitor MK-2206 and ectopic expression of NF-κB p65. Collectively, the inhibitory effect of TSWU-CD4 on cancer cell invasion was likely to suppress the p-p85α-GTP-Rac1 interaction in lipid rafts by targeting the p85α BH domain, which resulted in the suppression of MMP-2 expression via the PI3K-Akt-mediated ERK-MKK3/MKK6-p38 MAPK-NF-κB signaling pathway. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Suppression of the activity of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-family proteins frequently confers chemoresistance to many human cancer cells. Using subcellular fractionation, the ER calcium (Ca(++)) channel inhibitor dantrolene and small interfering RNA (siRNA) against Bax or Bak, we show that the new synthetic bichalcone analog TSWU-CD4 induces apoptosis in human cancer cells by releasing endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stored Ca(++) through ER/mitochondrial oligomerization of Bax/Bak. Blockade of the protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase or the unfolded protein response regulator glucose-regulated protein 78 expression by siRNA not only suppressed oligomeric Bax/Bak-mediated pro-caspase-12 cleavage and apoptosis but also resulted in an inhibition of Bcl-2 downregulation induced by TSWU-CD4. Induction of the ER oligomerization of Bax/Bak and apoptosis by TSWU-CD4 were suppressed by Bcl-2 overexpression. Inhibition of lipid raft-associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling by TSWU-CD4 induced ER stress- and oligomeric Bax/Bak-mediated apoptosis, which were substantially reversed by overexpression of the wt PI3K p85α subunit. Taken together, these results suggest that suppression of lipid raft-associated PI3K/Akt signaling is required for the ER stress-mediated apoptotic activity of Bax/Bak, which is responsible for the ability of TSWU-CD4-treated cancer cells to exit the ER-mitochondrial apoptotic cell death pathway.

Stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) is a ligand for C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), which contributes to the metastasis of cancer cells by promoting cell migration. Here, we show that the SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis can significantly increase invasion of esophageal carcinoma (EC) cells. We accomplished this by examining the effects of CXCR4 knockdown as well as treatment with a CXCR4-neutralizing antibody and the CXCR4-specific inhibitor AMD3100. Curcumin suppressed SDF-1α-induced cell invasion and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) promoter activity, cell surface localization of CXCR4 at lipid rafts, and lipid raft-associated ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) p85α/Akt signaling. Curcumin inhibited SDF-1α-induced cell invasion by suppressing the Rac1-PI3K signaling complex at lipid rafts but did not abrogate lipid raft formation. We further demonstrate that the attenuation of lipid raft-associated Rac1 activity by curcumin was critical for the inhibition of SDF-1α-induced PI3K/Akt/NF-κB activation, cell surface localization of CXCR4 at lipid rafts, MMP-2 promoter activity, and cell invasion. Collectively, our results indicate that curcumin inhibits SDF-1α-induced EC cell invasion by suppressing the formation of the lipid raft-associated Rac1-PI3K-Akt signaling complex, the localization of CXCR4 with lipid rafts at the cell surface, and MMP-2 promoter activity, likely through the inhibition of Rac1 activity.

Aloe-emodin (AE), extracted from the rhizome of Rheum palmatum, has an anti-proliferative effect on different human cancer cell lines. Nonetheless, the underlying mechanism by which AE inhibits nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell invasion is still unclear. The results of this study show that treatment of NPC cells with growth suppressive concentrations of AE caused cell cycle arrest at the S-G(2)/M phase. Coimmunoprecipitation and small interfering RNA (siRNA) studies demonstrated that AE-induced cell cycle arrest in NPC cells was associated with increasing levels of cyclin B1 bound to cyclin-dependent kinase 1. The inhibition of NPC cell invasion by AE was evidenced through the suppression of matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) expression. MMP-2 promoter activity and cell invasion were inhibited by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) siRNA, inhibitor 4-(4-Fluorophenyl)-2-[4-(methylsulfinyl)phenyl]-5-(4-pyridyl)-1H-imidazole (SB203580), and AE, but not by JNK siRNA and inhibitor 1,9-pyrazoloanthrone. Treatment with AE, SB203580, NF-kappaB inhibitors N-p-tosyl-(L)-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK) and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) or transfection with p38 MAPK siRNA significantly inhibited NF-kappaB transcriptional activity. In addition, TPCK and PDTC treatment inhibited the expression and promoter activity of MMP-2 and thereby significantly inhibited cell invasion activity. The involvement of p38 MAPK activity in NF-kappaB-mediated MMP-2 function was further confirmed through the attenuation of p38 MAPK by SB203580 and NF-kappaB ectopic expression. Collectively, our results indicate that AE inhibits invasion of NPC cells by suppressing the expression of MMP-2 via the p38 MAPK-NF-kappaB signaling pathway.

Aloe-emodin (AE), a natural, biologically active compound from the rhizome of Rheum palmatum, has been shown to induce apoptosis in several cancer cell lines in vitro. However, its molecular mechanism of action in the apoptosis induction of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells has not been explored. This study shows that AE induced G(2)/M phase arrest by increasing levels of cyclin B1 bound to Cdc2, and also caused an increase in apoptosis of NPC cells, which was characterized by morphological changes, nuclear condensation, DNA fragmentation, caspase-3 activation, cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and increased sub-G(1) population. Treatment of NPC cells with AE also resulted in a decrease in Bcl-X(L) and an increase in Bax expression. Ectopic expression of Bcl-X(L) but not Bcl-2 or small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated attenuation of Bax suppressed AE-induced apoptotic cell death. AE-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and increase in cellular Ca(++) content, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptotic cell death were suppressed by the treatment of cyclosporin A (CsA) or caspase-8 inhibitor Z-IETD-FMK. Co-treatment with caspase-9 inhibitor Z-LEHD-FMK could inhibit AE-induced cell death and the activation of caspase-3 and -9. In addition, suppression of caspase-8 with the specific inhibitor Z-IETD-FMK inhibited AE-induced the activation of Bax, the cleavage of Bid, the translocation of tBid to the mitochondria and the release of cytochrome c, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and Endo G from the mitochondria and subsequent apoptosis. Taken together, these results indicate that the caspase-8-mediated activation of the mitochondrial death pathway plays a critical role in AE-induced apoptosis of NPC cells.

Progression of cancer invasion is believed to be dependent on the remodeling of extracellular matrix induced by tumor cells. Rhein has been shown to inhibit the growth and proliferation of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells. However, the molecular mechanism underlying rhein-induced inhibition of cancer invasion has not been explored. Herein, we show that rhein could inhibit the invasion and migration of NPC cells in vitro. Rhein inhibits invasion by reducing the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Moreover, we demonstrate that the pathway involved in rhein-inhibited invasion is presumably through the growth factor receptor bound protein 2/son of sevenless-Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase (GRB2/SOS-Ras-MAPK) pathway, as shown by an decrease in the expression levels of GRB2, SOS-1 and Ras as well as led to suppression of the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 MAPK. Further study has shown that rhein also inhibited activation of transcription factor nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), which is known to implicate the regulation of MMP-9 and VEGF gene expression in cancer invasion. Our findings suggest that rhein inhibits the invasion of NPC cells may be mediated in part through the suppression of MMP-9 and VEGF expression via the modulation of NF-kappaB signaling pathway.

In the present study, we report the development of a sensitive and selective assay based on LC (liquid chromatography)–MS/MS (tandem MS) to simultaneously measure N7-MeG (N7-methylguanine) and N7-EtG (N7-ethylguanine) in DNA hydrolysates. With the use of isotope internal standards (15N5-N7-MeG and 15N5-N7-EtG) and on-line SPE (solid-phase extraction), the detection limit of this method was estimated as 0.42 fmol and 0.17 fmol for N7-MeG and N7-EtG respectively. The high sensitivity achieved here makes this method applicable to small experimental animals. This method was applied to measure N7-alkylguanines in liver DNA from mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis) that were exposed to NDMA (N-nitrosodimethylamine) and NDEA (N-nitrosodiethylamine) alone or their combination over a wide range of concentrations (1–100 mg/l). Results showed that the background level of N7-MeG in liver of control fish was 7.89±1.38 μmol/mol of guanine, while N7-EtG was detectable in most of the control fish with a range of 0.05–0.19 μmol/mol of guanine. N7-MeG and N7-EtG were significantly induced by NDMA and NDEA respectively, at a concentration as low as 1 mg/l and increased in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, this LC-MS/MS assay provides the sensitivity and high throughput required to evaluate the extent of alkylated DNA lesions in small animal models of cancer induced by alkylating agents.

The p85α subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) acts as a key regulator of cell proliferation and motility, which mediates signals that confer chemoresistance to many human cancer cells. Using small interfering RNAs against matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and the MMP-2 promoter-driven luciferase assay, we showed that the new synthetic bichalcone analog TSWU-CD4 inhibits the invasion of human cancer cells by down-regulating MMP-2 expression. Treatment with TSWU-CD4 inhibited MMP-2 expression and cell invasion, which were restored by ectopic wild type (wt) p85α or a constitutively active form of MAPK kinase 3 (CA MKK3), CA MKK6, or CA p38α mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). The attenuated formation of lipid raft-associated phospho (p)-p85α-GTP-Rac1 complexes, protein kinase B (Akt) Ser 473 phosphorylation, and cell invasion by TSWU-CD4 was reversed by overexpression of wt p85α or the p85α Brc-homology (BH) domain. The ectopic expression of CA Rac1

Glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) is a tumor suppressor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). High rates of Gnmt knockout mice developed HCC. Epigenetic alteration and dysregulation of several pathways including wingless-type MMTV integration site (Wnt), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Janus kinase and signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) are associated with HCC development in Gnmt knockout mice. We hypothesized that GNMT may regulate signal transduction through interacting with other proteins directly. In this report, we identified a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor (DEP domain containing MTOR-interacting protein [DEPDC6/DEPTOR]) as a GNMT-binding protein by using yeast two-hybrid screening. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay demonstrated that the C-terminal half of GNMT interact with the PSD-95/Dlg1/ZO-1 (PDZ) domain of DEPDC6/DEPTOR. Immunohistochemical staining showed that 27.5% (14/51) of HCC patients had higher expression levels of DEPDC6/DEPTOR in the tumorous tissues than in tumor-adjacent tissues, especially among HCC patients with hepatitis B viral infection (odds ratio 10.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05–11.3) or patients with poor prognosis (death hazard ratio 4.51, 95% CI 1.60–12.7). In terms of molecular mechanism, knockdown of DEPDC6/DEPTOR expression in HuH-7 cells caused S6K and 4E-BP activation, but suppressed Akt. Overexpression of DEPDC6/DEPTOR activated Akt and increased survival of HCC cells. Overexpression of GNMT caused activation of mTOR/raptor downstream signaling and delayed G2/M cell cycle progression, which altogether resulted in cellular senescence. Furthermore, GNMT reduced proliferation of HuH-7 cells and sensitized them to rapamycin treatment both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, GNMT regulates HCC growth in part through interacting with DEPDC6/DEPTOR and modulating mTOR/raptor signaling pathway. Both GNMT and DEPDC6/DEPTOR are potential targets for developing therapeutics for HCC.

Using short hairpin RNA against p53, transient ectopic expression of wild-type p53 or mutant p53 (R248W or R175H), and a p53- and p21-dependent luciferase reporter assay, we demonstrated that growth arrest and apoptosis of FaDu (human pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma), Hep3B (hepatoma), and MG-63 (osteosarcoma) cells induced by aloe-emodin (AE) are p53-independent. Co-immunoprecipitation and small interfering RNA (siRNA) studies demonstrated that AE caused S-phase cell cycle arrest by inducing the formation of cyclin A-Cdk2-p21 complexes through extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation. Ectopic expression of Bcl-X(L) and siRNA-mediated Bax attenuation significantly inhibited apoptosis induced by AE. Cyclosporin A or the caspase-8 inhibitor Z-IETD-FMK blocked AE-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and prevented increases in reactive oxygen species and Ca(++). Z-IETD-FMK inhibited AE-induced apoptosis, Bax expression, Bid cleavage, translocation of tBid to mitochondria, ERK phosphorylation, caspase-9 activation, and the release of cytochrome c, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), and endonuclease G from mitochondria. The stability of the mRNAs encoding caspase-8 and -10-associated RING proteins (CARPs) 1 and 2 was affected by AE, whereas CARP1 or 2 overexpression inhibited caspase-8 activation and apoptosis induced by AE. Collectively, our data indicate AE induces caspase-8-mediated activation of mitochondrial death pathways by decreasing the stability of CARP mRNAs in a p53-independent manner.

Aloe-emodin (AE), extracted from the rhizome of Rheum palmatum, has an anti-proliferative effect on different human cancer cell lines. Nonetheless, the underlying mechanism by which AE inhibits nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell invasion is still unclear. The results of this study show that treatment of NPC cells with growth suppressive concentrations of AE caused cell cycle arrest at the S-G(2)/M phase. Coimmunoprecipitation and small interfering RNA (siRNA) studies demonstrated that AE-induced cell cycle arrest in NPC cells was associated with increasing levels of cyclin B1 bound to cyclin-dependent kinase 1. The inhibition of NPC cell invasion by AE was evidenced through the suppression of matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) expression. MMP-2 promoter activity and cell invasion were inhibited by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) siRNA, inhibitor 4-(4-Fluorophenyl)-2-[4-(methylsulfinyl)phenyl]-5-(4-pyridyl)-1H-imidazole (SB203580), and AE, but not by JNK siRNA and inhibitor 1,9-pyrazoloanthrone. Treatment with AE, SB203580, NF-kappaB inhibitors N-p-tosyl-(L)-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK) and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) or transfection with p38 MAPK siRNA significantly inhibited NF-kappaB transcriptional activity. In addition, TPCK and PDTC treatment inhibited the expression and promoter activity of MMP-2 and thereby significantly inhibited cell invasion activity. The involvement of p38 MAPK activity in NF-kappaB-mediated MMP-2 function was further confirmed through the attenuation of p38 MAPK by SB203580 and NF-kappaB ectopic expression. Collectively, our results indicate that AE inhibits invasion of NPC cells by suppressing the expression of MMP-2 via the p38 MAPK-NF-kappaB signaling pathway.

Apoptosis is a physiological mechanism for eliminating malignant cells, including cancer cells, without eliciting damage to normal cells or surrounding tissues. Here, we report that rhein (4,5-dihydroxyanthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid), a major constituent in the rhizome of rhubarb, induced apoptosis of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells. Rhein induced apoptosis in NPC cells as demonstrated by increased nuclear condensation and DNA fragmentation. Moreover, for the first time in NPC cells it was demonstrated that the pathway involved in rhein-induced apoptosis is caspase-dependent, presumably through the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway, as shown by an increase in the levels of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP 78), PKR-like ER kinase (PERK), activating transcription factor 6 (A TF6) and CCAA TIenhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) as well as the activation of caspase-3, -8, -9 and -12. This increased susceptibility to ER stress-induced apoptosis may be due to an increased accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Rapid accumulation of calcium (Ca2+) and a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were also observed. Cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) were released upon treatment with rhein. Taken together, these results suggest that ER stress and Ca2+-dependent mitochondrial death pathway may be involved in rhein-induced apoptosis in NPC cells.

GNMT is a tumor suppressor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We found that DEPTOR, a novel mTOR binding protein, interacts with GNMT through its PDZ domain. DEPTOR expression is significantly increased in HCC, especially among patients with HCV infection. Loss of DEPTOR in HuH-7 cells activates S6K but reduces Akt activation and cell growth. DEPTOR overexpression activates Akt and extends survival of HCC cells. Overexpression of GNMT counteracts DEPTOR induced Akt activation and activates mTORC1 downstream signaling via disruption of the DEPTOR-mTOR interaction. Moreover, GNMT overexpression delays G2/M progression, which causes senescence and slows proliferation of HuH-7 cells, sensitizing them to rapamycin. We suggest that GNMT by interacting with DEPTOR regulates the cellular homeostasis of hepatocytes through modulation of Akt/mTORC1 signaling. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1990. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1990

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Glycine-N-methyltransferase (GNMT) is a protein with multiple functions. It can affect genetic stability by (1) regulating the ratio of S-adenosylmethionine to S-adenosylhomocystine and (2) binding to folate. In addition to act as a tumor suppressor for liver cancer, GNMT participated in the detoxification pathway by interacting with environmental carcinogens [such as benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)] and decreasing subsequent DNA adducts formation and cytotoxicity. GNMT was primarily expressed in cytoplasm and partially translocated to cell nuclei after BaP treatment. Despite the mechanism of GNMT nuclear translocation remains unclear, it has been shown that the phosphorylation modification is important for GNMT nuclear translocation. The results from LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) analysis showed that serine 9 of GNMT was phosphorylated after BaP treatment. The GNMTS9A mutant did not undergo nuclear translocation after BaP treatment by using indirect immunofluorescence assay. GNMT serine 9 was identified within an Akt1 consensus site by Scansite program. The co-immunoprecipitaion assay demonstrated that GNMT interacts with Akt. Akt phosphorylated GNMT only on serine 9 in vitro. Furthermore, BaP induced GNMT nuclear translocation was blocked by [LY294002][1] treatment. In conclusion, the results suggested that the Serine 9, can be phosphorylated by Akt1, is an important phosphorylation site responsible for GNMT nuclear translocation after BaP treatment. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1335. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1335 [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=GEN&access_num=LY294002&atom=%2Fcanres%2F71%2F8_Supplement%2F1335.atom