Human Endometrial Cancer Ishikawa Cells Research Articles

Exploring etofenamate hydrazide-hydrazone/copper(II) complexes: Synthesis, anticancer activity, carbonic anhydrase IX inhibition and docking studies

Hydrazide-hydrazone derivatives have garnered significant interest from researchers globally due to their wide range of biological activities, including antiviral, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, a novel series of etofenamate hydrazide-hydrazone compounds (2a-2s) and their Cu(II) complexes (3a-3s) were designed and synthesized. The compounds were characterized using various analytical techniques such as FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS, and elemental analysis. Additionally, the compound 2c and Cu(II) hydrazone complex 3a were further characterized using single X-ray crystallography. The anti-proliferative activity of the compounds was evaluated against Ishikawa human endometrial cancer cell line and non-tumour L929 cells using MTT assay. Additionally, the apoptotic potential of the compounds was investigated through caspase-3 activity, Bax and Bcl-2 gene expression analysis, and annexin-V binding. Furthermore, carbonic anhydrase IX activity and in silico studies were conducted to elucidate the mechanism of action. Overall, compound 3s demonstrated significant antiproliferative effects with an IC50 value of 0.27±0.01 µM against Ishikawa cells.

Leukaemia-related protein 16 is highly expressed in oestrogen-dependent endometrial carcinoma and potentially promotes Ishikawa human endometrial cancer cells growth – a histopathological study

Leukaemia-related protein 16 is highly expressed in oestrogen-dependent endometrial carcinoma and potentially promotes Ishikawa human endometrial cancer cells growth – a histopathological study

Estrogen promotes the proliferation and migration of endometrial cancer cells by upregulating the expression of lncRNA HOTAIR

Objective Estrogen (E2) is the main contributor to the progression of endometrial cancer (EC). The long noncoding RNA HOX antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) is emerging as a new regulator in several cancer types. This study aimed to investigate the role of HOTAIR in EC development and identify the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods HOTAIR expression levels in human EC tissues and the corresponding adjacent tissues and human EC Ishikawa cells were determined by quantitative PCR. Ishikawa cells were treated with E2 or estrogen receptor (ER) inhibitor ICI182780, transfected with siHOTAIR oligo, or infected with lentivirus expressing shHOTAIR/shNC, alone or in combinations. The protein expression of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) was evaluated by western blotting, and cell migration was measured by transwell assays. A xenograft tumorigenic model was established by inoculating control or stable shHOTAIR-infected Ishikawa cells into nude mice and implanting 17β-estradiol release pellets. Results HOTAIR expression was significantly elevated in human EC tissues. E2 exposure markedly increased HOTAIR levels in Ishikawa cells. Notably, E2 increased the protein expression of PRC2 and promoted EC cell migration, which were dependent on HOTAIR expression, as HOTAIR knockdown abolished these effects of E2. Similarly, E2 promoted the in vivo proliferation of grafted Ishikawa cells via upregulated HOTAIR expression in nude mice. Conclusions Human EC tissues highly express HOTAIR, and E2-induced EC progression depends on HOTAIR expression. This work suggests that the E2-HOTAIR axis is a potential therapeutic target in EC therapy.

Boric Acid Exhibits Anticancer Properties in Human Endometrial Cancer Ishikawa Cells.

Objective This study aims to explore the potential anti-cancer properties of boric acid (BA) in human endometrial cancer Ishikawa cells by assessing its influence on cell viability, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses. Methods The impact of BA at concentrations ranging from 2.5 to 100 mM on cell viability was assessed in Ishikawa cells and normal fibroblast L929 cells (used as the control) through the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Spectrophotometric measurements were performed to determine the total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) in BA-treated cells, and the oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the levels of cytochrome c and caspase 3, both of which are constituents of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Furthermore, changes in the concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) in the cells were analyzed using ELISA and immunofluorescence staining. Results The exposure of Ishikawa cells to BA for 24 hours led to a dose-dependent decline in cell viability, with an IC50 value of 40 mM. BA dose-dependently increased cytochrome c and caspase 3 levels in cancer cells. In Ishikawa cells, BA treatment led to a significant elevation in OSI. Moreover, the concentrations of TNF-α and IL-1β exhibited a dose-dependent decrease in BA-treated cells. On the other hand, in L929 cells, BA decreased OSI in a dose-dependent manner but did not change TNF-α and IL-1β levels. Concentrations up to 80 mM had no effect on cell viability and apoptosis, but BA at 80 mM concentration decreased viability and increased cytochrome c and caspase 3 levels in L929 cells. Conclusion BA inhibited cell viability, triggered apoptosis, induced oxidative stress, and suppressed inflammatory responses in endometrial cancer cells. Notably, at its IC50 concentration, BA had no cytotoxic effect on normal fibroblasts. Given its favorable properties, BA may provide a valuable therapeutic option to impede the development and progression of endometrial cancer.

Saikosaponin D exerts cytotoxicity on human endometrial cancer ishikawa cells by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting metastasis through MAPK pathways.

Saikosaponin D (SSD) is one of plant secondary metabolic active substance with effective anti-tumor ability; however, the toxicity of Saikosaponin D on human endometrial cancer Ishikawa cells is still unclear. Our results revealed that SSD displayed cytotoxicity on the Ishikawa cell with an IC50 = 15.69 μM, but was non-toxic to the human normal cell line HEK293. SSD could upregulate p21 and Cyclin B to keep cells in the G2/M stage. In addition, it activated the death receptor and mitochondrion routes to induce apoptosis in Ishikawa cells. The transwell chamber and wound healing results showed that SSD inhibited the cell migration and invasion. In addition, we found that it was closely related to the MAPK cascade pathway, and it could mediate the three classical MAPK pathways to block cell metastasis. In conclusion, SSD could be potentially beneficial as a natural secondary metabolite in preventing and treating endometrial carcinoma.

Long Non-Coding RNA Small Nucleolar RNA Host Gene 1 and MicroRNA-100-3p Expression in Endometrial Carcinoma and Its Effect on the Proliferation and Apoptosis of Ishikawa Cells

The aim of this study was to explore LncRNA SNHG1 and miRNA-100-3p expression in endometrial carcinoma and its effect on the proliferation and apoptosis of Ishikawa cells. A qRT-PCR assay was conducted to determine SNHG1 and miRNA-100-3p expression in endometrial cancer tissues and paracancerous tissues. Human endometrial cancer Ishikawa cells were cultured in vitro. Si-NC, si-SNHG1, si-SNHG1, anti-miRNA-NC, and si-SNHG1 were transfected into Ishikawa cells with anti-miRNA-519b-3p. A qRT-PCR assay was performed to determine SNHG1 and miRNA-100-3p expression, and the CCK-8 method was used to determine cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was conducted to determine cell cycle and apoptosis rate and a dualluciferase reporter experiment was carried out to test the targeting association between SNHG1 and miRNA-100-3p. Cleave Caspase-3, CHOP, and ATF4 expression were determined with the Western Blot method. SNHG1 expression level and miRNA-519b-3p expression level were much higher and much lower, respectively, in endometrial cancer tissues than in paracancerous tissues (P < 0.05). Transfection of si-SNHG1 can greatly attenuate cell viability and S cell ratio (P < 0.05), and increase G0/G1 cell ratio, apoptosis rate, Cleaved Caspase-3, CHOP, and ATF4 protein level (P < 0.05) compared to the si-NC group. Furthermore, the double luciferase reporter experiment confirmed that SNHG1 can competitively combine withmiRNA-100-3p. Also, co-transfection of si-SNHG1 and anti-miRNA-100-3p could significantly increase cell viability and S cell ratio (P < 0.05), and decrease G0/G1 cell ratio and apoptosis rate, and Cleaved Caspase-3, CHOP, and ATF4 protein levels compared to si-SNHG1+anti-miRNA-NC (P < 0.05). Interfering with SNHG1 could inhibit the proliferation of Ishikawa cells and promote apoptosis by upregulating miRNA-100-3p expression.

Dioscin inhibits human endometrial carcinoma proliferation via G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and mitochondrial-dependent signaling pathway

The present study emphasized on the anti-cancerous effects of dioscin and its underlying molecular mechanism in human endometrial cancer Ishikawa cells. Dioscin significantly suppressed the proliferation of Ishikawa cells at IC50 of 2.37 μM. Besides, dioscin could inhibit the proliferation of Ishikawa cells by blocking the G0/G1 cell cycle through up-regulation of p16, p21, and p27 and down-regulation of cycle-cellular protein (Cyclin A/D/E) and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK2/4/6). Also, it promoted apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway, including the regulation of Bcl family proteins, the increase of ROS levels, the activation of caspases (Caspase 9/3), and the decrease of mitochondrial membrane permeability. Whereas dioscin also effectively activated the marker genes and proteins (Fas, TNF-R1, and Caspase 8) related to the death receptor-mediated pathway which confirmed the involvement of both the pathways for dioscin-induced apoptosis. The current results demonstrated that dioscin possessed potential health benefits with respect to endometrial cancer prevention and treatment.

Novel 2,6-disubstituted pyridine hydrazones: Synthesis, anticancer activity, docking studies and effects on caspase-3-mediated apoptosis

Novel pyridine-based dihydrazones (3a-l) were synthesized by the condensation of appropriate aldehydes and pyridine-2,6-dicarbohydrazide (2) which was obtained by the treatment of dimethyl pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate (1) with hydrazine hydrate. Structures of all the synthesized compounds were supported by their FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and microanalytical data. The compounds were screened primarily for their antibacterial activities as well as anticancer activities. None of the synthesized compounds had important antibacterial activity. Among the compounds which were tested against human colon cancer cell line (HT-29), compounds 3f and 3k showed significant activity (IC50=6.78 μM for compound 3f, IC50=8.88 μM for compound 3k). In addition, compound 3g exhibited promising activity against Ishikawa human endometrial cancer cell line (ISH) with an IC50 value of 8.26 μM. At 10 μM, compounds 3f, 3k and 3g caused morphological changes of HT-29 and ISH cells and caspase-3 activation. In addition, these compounds were evaluated against NIH 3T3 mouse embriyonic fibroblast cell line and all synthesized compounds (3a-l) were found to be less toxic than paclitaxel. Moreover, possible inhibition mechanism of compound 3g was evaluated in silico against BRAF kinase enzyme.

Fluorene-9-bisphenol inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition of human endometrial cancer Ishikawa cells by repressing TGF-β signaling pathway.

Fluorene-9-bisphenol (BHPF), a new derivative of bisphenol A (BPA), has been introduced for treatment with estrogen-related tumors, such as endometrial cancer. This study investigated the potential mechanism underlying the action of BHPF against endometrial cancer in vitro. We used the cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) method on Ishikawa cells to screen sub-lethal doses of BHPF and established the optimal concentration at which BHPF influenced the proliferation of Ishikawa cells. Effect of BHPF on cell migration and invasion was investigated by cell scratch assay and transwell assay, respectively. Expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins were detected by Western blot analysis. BHPF was found to inhibit the proliferation of Ishikawa cells, whose migration and invasion abilities were also reduced. Western blot indicated that BHPF can significantly inhibit the EMT process of Ishikawa cells by blocking transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway. This is the first report of the effect of BHPF on the biological behavior of endometrial cancer cells and its inhibition of endometrial cancer progression by repressing both endometrial cell proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, hence suggesting it as a novel anti-cancer drug. Graphical abstract Schematic representation of the molecular basis underlying BHPF treatment. BHPF repressed the EMT process by regulating EMT-related genes, such as E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin as well as the TGF-β signaling pathway-related genes, including p-Smad2/3 and slug, in a BHPF-dependent manner.

Mechanism of Juglone-Induced Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Ishikawa Human Endometrial Cancer Cells.

The molecular mechanism of Juglone-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human endometrial cancer cells was investigated. Juglone was purified from the green husk of Carya cathayensis Sarg and identified by HPLC, LC-MS/MS, and NMR. At an IC50 of 20.81 μM, juglone significantly inhibited Ishikawa cell proliferation, as shown by S phase arrest mediated by inactivation of cyclin A protein ( p < 0.05). The ROS levels increased significantly after exposure to juglone, which paralleled increases in the mRNA and protein expression of p21 and decreases in the levels of CDK2, cdc25A, CHK1, and cyclin A. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL was significantly down-regulated, whereas the expression of Bax, Bad and cyto c was up-regulated, and we later confirmed the involvement of the mitochondrial pathway in juglone-induced apoptosis. Our in vitro results stated that juglone can be studied further as an effective natural anticancer agent.

RG108 induces the apoptosis of endometrial cancer Ishikawa cell lines by inhibiting the expression of DNMT3B and demethylation of HMLH1.

The effects of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitor RG108 on the proliferation and apoptosis of endometrial cancer was investigated, and whether its mechanism was related to the inhibition of DNMT3B, thereby affecting the human mutL homolog 1 (hMLH1) methylation status and its expression, was further studied. Culture of human endometrial cancer Ishikawa cell lines: cells grew adhering to the wall in Roswell Park Memorial Institute-1640 (RPMI-1640) medium (supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 2 mM L-glutamic acid). After the cells were treated with RG108, the changes in cell viability were detected via methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The effect of RG108 on cell cycle was detected via flow cytometry, and its effect on cell apoptosis was detected via flow cytometry and TUNEL. Moreover, the methylation status of hMLH1gene in endometrial cancer cells was detected via methylation specific-PCR (MSP), and the changes in DNMT3Band hMLH1 expressions were detected via RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. MTT results showed that RG108 inhibited the cell viability in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometry revealed that RG108 blocked the cell cycle in G2/M phase and promoted the apoptosis, and TUNEL assay further proved that RG108 promoted the apoptosis. It was found in the detection via MSP that the methylated hMLH1 gene was significantly reduced after 72 h of treatment with RG108. Besides, RT-PCR and Western blotting showed that RG108 inhibited the DNMT3B expression and activated the hMLH1 expression. The demethylation drug RG108 can significantly inhibit the proliferation of endometrial cancer cells, block the cell cycle in the G2/M phase and induce the cell apoptosis, which is a new candidate drug in the treatment of endometrial cancer. RG108 realizes the hMLH1 demethylation and increases the hMLH1 expression through inhibiting the expression of DNMT3B.

Pseudolaric acid B induces endometrial cancer Ishikawa cell apoptosis and inhibits metastasis through AKT-GSK-3β and ERK1/2 signaling pathways.

Pseudolaric acid B (PAB) is the most active constituent extracted from the bark of Pseudolarix kaempferi, which has been used as an antifungal remedy in traditional Chinese medicine. It is reported to have cytotoxicity to many tumor cell lines. In this study, we investigated the effects of PAB against human endometrial cancer Ishikawa cells. We found that PAB inhibited Ishikawa cell proliferation, and induced cell apoptosis and G2/M phase arrest through a mechanism involving AKT-GSK-3β and ERK1/2 signaling pathways. PAB also suppressed the Ishikawa cell adhesion, invasion, migration, and colony formation ability by increasing the expression of E-cadherin, Ezrin, and Kiss-1, and decreasing the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor. Taken together, these data indicated that PAB can be expected to be a novel treatment agent for endometrial cancer therapy.

Centchroman induces redox-dependent apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest in human endometrial cancer cells.

Centchroman (CC) or Ormeloxifene has been shown to induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in various types of cancer cells. This has, however, not been addressed for endometrial cancer cells where its (CC) mechanism of action remains unclear. This study focuses on the basis of antineoplasticity of CC by blocking the targets involved in the cell cycle, survival and apoptosis in endometrial cancer cells. Ishikawa Human Endometrial Cancer Cells were cultured under estrogen deprived medium, exposed to CC and analyzed for proliferation and apoptosis. Additionally, we also analyzed oxidative stress induced by CC. Cell viability studies confirmed the IC50 of CC in Ishikawa cells to be 20µM after 48h treatment. CC arrests the cells in G0/G1 phase through cyclin D1 and cyclin E mediated pathways. Phosphatidylserine externalization, nuclear morphology changes, DNA fragmentation, PARP cleavage, and alteration of Bcl-2 family protein expression clearly suggest ongoing apoptosis in the CC treated cells. Activation of caspase 3 & 9, up-regulation of AIF and inhibition of apoptosis by z-VAD-fmk clearly explains the participation of the intrinsic pathway of programmed cell death. Further, the increase of ROS, loss of MMP, inhibition of antioxidant (MnSOD, Cu/Zn-SOD and GST) and inhibition of apoptosis with L-NAC suggests CC induced oxidative stress leading to apoptosis via mitochondria mediated pathway. Therefore, CC could be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of Endometrial Cancer adjunct to its utility as a contraceptive and an anti-breast cancer agent.

Clomiphene citrate down-regulates estrogen receptor-α through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in a human endometrial cancer cell line

We examined how clomiphene citrate (CC) reduces estrogen receptor-α (ERα) in a human endometrial cancer cell line. Ishikawa human endometrial cancer cells were treated with ERα ligands such as 17β-estradiol (E2), CC, and the pure antiestrogen, ICI 182,780 (ICI). Thereafter, the expression levels of ERα protein and mRNA were analyzed by western blot and real-time quantitative PCR, respectively, and those of ubiquitinated ERα were analyzed by immunoprecipitation of ERα followed by immunoblotting with an anti-ubiquitin antibody. The expression levels of ERα protein after treatment with E2, CC, and ICI were significantly decreased compared to pre-treatment levels without a corresponding decrease in ERα mRNA. These ligands significantly increased the levels of ubiquitinated ERα compared to vehicle treatment. Co-treatment with the proteasome inhibitor, MG132, abrogated the decrease in ERα levels caused by treatment with the ligands only. We demonstrated, for the first time, a CC-induced decrease in ERα mediated by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in human endometrial cancer cells.

LeftyA sensitive cytosolic pH regulation and glycolytic flux in Ishikawa human endometrial cancer cells

ObjectiveLeftyA, a powerful regulator of stemness, embryonic differentiation, and reprogramming of cancer cells, counteracts cell proliferation and tumor growth. Key properties of tumor cells include enhanced glycolytic flux, which is highly sensitive to cytosolic pH and thus requires export of H+ and lactate. H+ extrusion is in part accomplished by Na+/H+ exchangers, such as NHE1. An effect of LeftyA on transport processes has, however, never been reported. The present study thus explored whether LeftyA modifies regulation of cytosolic pH (pHi) in Ishikawa cells, a well differentiated endometrial carcinoma cell model. MethodsNHE1 transcript levels were determined by qRT-PCR, NHE1 protein abundance quantified by Western blotting, pHi estimated utilizing (2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein [BCECF] fluorescence, Na+/H+ exchanger activity from Na+ dependent realkalinization after an ammonium pulse, and lactate concentration in the supernatant utilizing an enzymatic assay and subsequent colorimetry. ResultsA 2 h treatment with LeftyA (8 ng/ml) significantly decreased NHE1 transcript levels (by 99.6%), NHE1 protein abundance (by 71%), Na+/H+ exchanger activity (by 55%), pHi (from 7.22 ± 0.02 to 7.05 ± 0.02), and lactate release (by 41%). ConclusionsLeftyA markedly down-regulates NHE1 expression, Na+/H+ exchanger activity, pHi, and lactate release in Ishikawa cells. Those effects presumably contribute to cellular reprogramming and growth inhibition.

AT1R Blockade and Treatment for Endometrial Cancer

Copyright: © 2012 Bi FF, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. We were interested in the recent article entitled “Effect of AT1R knockdown on Ishikawa cell proliferation induced by estrogen [1]”. In that research, it is tempting to assume that Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor (AT1R) can promote the proliferation of estrogen-induced Ishikawa human endometrial cancer cell line.

The soluble EP2 receptor FuEP2/Ex2 suppresses endometrial cancer cell growth in an orthotopic xenograft model in nude mice

Endometrial cancer is one of the most common gynecologic malignancies and many factors influence in its growth and development. As in many other types of cancer, prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2) is thought to be an accelerator of cell proliferation and endometrial cancer progression. In this study, we examined the effect of FuEP2/Ex2, a soluble decoy receptor for PGE 2 on growth of endometrial cancer cells. A stable transfectant expressing FuEP2/Ex2 was established from human endometrial cancer Ishikawa cells (Ish-FuEP2/Ex2). Ish-FuEP2/Ex2 cells expressed FuEP2/Ex2 mRNA and protein. Expression levels of E-prostanoid receptor 1 (EP1), EP2, EP3, EP4, and F-prostanoid receptor (FP) were almost the same in Ish-FuEP2/Ex2 and vector control cells. Growth rates of Ish-FuEP2/Ex2 under normal culture conditions were also similar to vector control cells, although PGE 2-induced growth stimulation was completely inhibited in Ish-FuEP2/Ex2 or by Ish-FuEP2/Ex2 culture medium. Moreover, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cyclin D1, and c-fos mRNA by PGE 2 were not observed in Ish-FuEP2/Ex2 and Ish-FuEP2/Ex2 culture medium-treated vector control cells, although they were found when treated with prostaglandin F 2α. An orthotopic xenograft model in athymic nude mice revealed that Ish-FuEP2/Ex2-injected mice had significantly decreased mean tumor area. The proportion of Ki-67-positive cells in the tumor lesion was also significantly lower in Ish-FuEP2/Ex2-injected mice. These findings suggest that an EP-targeting strategy using FuEP2/Ex2 may be of use in the treatment of endometrial cancer.

Anti-tumor effect of apicidin on Ishikawa human endometrial cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo by blocking histone deacetylase 3 and 4

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are a new class of anticancer agents that act by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. This study examined the anti-tumor effect of apicidin on human endometrial cancer Ishikawa cells in an animal model by inhibiting specific HDAC expression. Nude mice were injected subcutaneously (s.c.) with Ishikawa cells, and the levels of cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured in the tumor tissues after an apicidin treatment. The expression patterns of a specific HDAC class by apicidin were measured in Ishikawa endometrial cancer both in vitro and in vivo. The tumor volume and weight were measured after the apicidin treatment. Apicidin significantly increased the acetylated histone H3 levels in an Ishikawa cells in vitro culture but the levels of HDAC3 and HDAC4 expression were significantly decreased. Apicidin suppressed the tumor growth of transplanted Ishikawa cells, the expression of proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in tumor xenograft model, respectively. The inhibitory effect of apicidin on tumor growth was mediated in part through the down-regulation of HDAC3 and HDAC4. We suggest that apicidin is an effective anti-tumor agent on human endometrial cancer cells, and acts by regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis through the down-regulation of HDAC3 and HDAC4.

Mechanism of apicidin-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in Ishikawa human endometrial cancer cells

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are a promising new class of anticancer agents that act by inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells. Although apicidin acts as a potent HDAC inhibitor, the precise mechanism for its anti-tumor activity in human endometrial cancer cells is not completely understood. This study examined the anti-tumor effects of apicidin in Ishikawa cancer cells. The level of cell proliferation, the stage of the cell cycle, and apoptosis were measured after the apicidin treatment. Apicidin significantly inhibited the proliferation of Ishikawa cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, apicidin markedly up-regulated the p21 WAF1 and down-regulated the expression of cyclins (A, B1, D1, or E), and CDKs (2 or 4), which leading to cell cycle arrest. Cell cycle analysis showed that the apicidin treatment increased the proportion of cells in the G1 phase, and decreased the ratio of cells in the S phase in a dose-dependent manner. Apicidin significantly increased the sub-G1 population and the number of TUNEL positive apoptotic cells compared with the untreated control. These results were confirmed by poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), an 85-kDa fragment resulting from PARP cleavage, where apicidin increased the level of PARP cleavage and caspase-3 activity in 1.0 μM apicidin-treated cells. Apicidin-induced apoptosis through caspase-3 activation was confirmed by the increase in the release of cytochrome c and the decrease in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. These results suggest that apicidin has anti-tumor properties on endometrial cancer cells by inducing selectively the genes related to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

In vitro evaluation of the growth inhibition and apoptosis effect of mifepristone (RU486) in human Ishikawa and HEC1A endometrial cancer cell lines

To determine the growth inhibitory effects of mifepristone on endometrial cancer cell growth and evaluate its effect on apoptosis using HEC-1-A and Ishikawa human endometrial cancer cell lines. The human endometrial cancer cell lines, HEC-1-A and Ishikawa, were cultured in vitro. MTT assays were completed in order to estimate the IC(50) of mifepristone. Both cell lines were then treated with the respective IC(50) values. Immunohistochemistry assays were performed to investigate the expression of estrogen receptors alpha and beta (ERalpha/beta), progesterone receptor alpha and beta (PR alpha/beta), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), bax, p53, and bcl-2. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to study cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The estimated IC(50) of mifepristone for HEC-1-A and Ishikawa was found to be 16 and 19 mug/ml respectively. At this concentration, there was no change in either ERalpha/beta or PR alpha/beta in Ishikawa. However, PR beta expression increased with time of treatment in HEC-1-A. Expression of p53 was increased with duration of treatment in both cell lines. Consequently a decrease in bcl-2 and an increase in COX-2 expression were seen in HEC-1-A and Ishikawa cells, respectively. Lastly, flow cytometry analysis confirmed an accumulation of cells in G0 phase after 72 h of treatment in both cell lines. Mifepristone demonstrates activity in both HEC-1-A and Ishikawa cells at clinically relevant concentrations based on an oral human dose of about 200 mg/day. While its mechanism of action remains unknown, this data supports an increase in apoptosis that may be due to p53 activation rather than hormone receptor mediation. Additional studies are needed to help further identify mifepristone mechanism of action.