Inhibited A549 Cell Growth Research Articles

MiR-3074-5p suppresses non-small cell lung cancer progression by targeting the YWHAZ/Hsp27 axis

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for more than 80% of lung cancer cases, and the 5-year survival rate of patients remains unsatisfactory. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous noncoding RNAs that are considered essential posttranscriptional regulators of tumorigenesis, including NSCLC. In this study, we aimed to investigate the biological role of miR-3074-5p in NSCLC cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms. We showed that miR-3074-5p expression was decreased in human NSCLC specimens and cell lines. Moreover, miR-3074-5p overexpression inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion and induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. In addition, miR-3074-5p overexpression not only suppressed tumor growth but also enhanced the antitumor effect of paclitaxel (PTX) on NSCLC cells in vitro and in vivo. A transcriptome sequencing assay revealed genes that were differentially expressed after miR-3074-5p overexpression, and among the genes whose expression levels were most significantly decreased, tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein zeta (YWHAZ) was a target of miR-3074-5p. The regulatory effect of miR‐3074-5p on YWHAZ expression was verified by Western blotting and dual‐luciferase reporter assays. The inhibition of A549 cell growth, migration and invasion was reversed by YWHAZ overexpression. Furthermore, we showed that PTX stimulated the expression of the YWHAZ and Hsp27 proteins and promoted the phosphorylation of Hsp27 (at S15 and S78). YWHAZ was confirmed to interact with Hsp27 in A549 cells, and downregulating YWHAZ expression promoted the degradation of the Hsp27 protein. Taken together, these results suggest that the miR‐3074-5p/YWHAZ/Hsp27 axis may be a novel therapeutic target for NSCLC treatment.

Blueberry extract and its bioactive compounds mitigate oxidative stress and suppress human lung cancer cell (A549) growth by modulating the expression of p53/EGFR/STAT3/IL6-mediated signaling molecules.

Bioactive phytocompounds are crucial components in all plants. Since the time of traditional medicine, the utilization of plants has been grounded in the potential of these bioactive compounds to treat or manage specific illnesses. These natural bioactive compounds have sparked growing interest in employing medicinal plants for addressing various conditions, such as inflammatory diseases, diabetes, and cancer. This study focuses on assessing the qualitative phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, and cytotoxic effects of blueberry (Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus) extract using three different solvents, namely water, ethanol, and methanol. The extract exhibited notable antioxidant activities, as evidenced by DPPH and H2O2 free radical scavenging assays. The cell viability assay also demonstrated cell growth inhibition in A549 cells. Furthermore, nine specific phytocompounds sourced from existing literature were selected for molecular docking studies against CDK6 and, AMPK key protein kinases which enhance the cancer progression. The molecular docking results also revealed favorable binding scores, with a high score of -9.5 kcal/mol in CDK6 protein and a maximum score of AMPK with targets of -8.8 kcal/mol. The selected phytocompounds' pharmacodynamic properties such as ADMET also supported the study. Furthermore, rutin stated that pre-dominantly present in blueberry plants shows a potent cytotoxicity effect in A549 cells. Functional annotations by bioinformatic analysis for rutin also revealed the strong enrichment in the involvement of PI3K/AKT1/STAT, and p53 signaling pathways. Based on this analysis, the identified rutin and other compounds hold a promising anticancer activity. Overall, the comprehensive evaluation of both in vitro and in silico data suggests that the Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus extract could serve as a valuable source of pharmaceutical agents and may prove effective in future therapeutic applications.

Tetrahydrobiopterin from cyanide-degrading bacterium Bacillus pumilus strain SVD06 induces apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma cell (A549).

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential biological cofactor and a derivative of pterin which is considered potent anticancer agents. In continuation of our previous study on the identification of BH4 from cyanide-degrading Bacillus pumilus, the present study focuses on evaluating the anticancer properties of BH4 on A549, a human lung adenocarcinoma. Anticancer activity analysis shows that BH4 inhibited A549 cell growth after 24h of incubation with 0.02mg/mL. In acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, BH4-treated A549 cells showed apoptotic morphology. BH4 treatment caused cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase compared to control cells. BH4 augmented p53 expression in alveolar cancer cells by downregulating MDM2 levels. There was downregulation of casp-3 and upregulation of iNOS gene in BH4-treated A549 cells. Further, docking studies indicated that BH4 had significant interactions with the above proteins affirming the apoptosis mechanism. Thus, BH4 could be considered a potential anticancer drug.

Identification of potential prognostic markers for lung adenocarcinoma using comprehensive analysis.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a common malignancy throughout the world with high levels of mortality and morbidity. In the present study, potential biomarkers and treatment targets for LUAD were investigated using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Overall, 4,485 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified (1,857 upregulated and 2,628 downregulated) between tumor and adjacent control tissues. Functional analysis with Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, Gene Set Variation Analysis and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis revealed significant enrichment of the DEGs in pathways related to system development, cell cycle and cell adhesion. Weighted gene co‑expression network analysis distinguished ten co‑expression modules on inclusion of the clinical profiles of patients with LUAD. Of these, the blue/turquoise modules showed peak association with tumor onset. Analysis of hub modules identified five hub genes, namely ANGPTL7, SLC6A4, PTPRQ, KCNA4 and TEDC2 (also known as C16orf59). Survival analysis revealed associations between hub‑gene expression profiles and patient prognosis. Downregulation of SLC6A4 in LUAD tumor tissues was confirmed using immunohistochemistry. Additional assays (Cell Counting Kit‑8, colony formation, scratch assay, cell cycle, Transwell invasion assay and cell adhesion assay) revealed that SLC6A4 overexpression inhibited A549 cell growth, invasion and migration. The findings demonstrated that the hub genes could act as treatment targets or new biomarkers for LUAD.

Impacts of androgen pathway manipulation on patients with lung cancer.

e21010 Background: Sex hormone may play a role in lung cancer pathophysiology. We aimed to evaluate if androgen pathway manipulation (APM) is associated with better survival in patients with lung cancer, and how finasteride, a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, impacts androgen receptor (AR) activation and growth of lung cancer cells. Methods: In this retrospective hospital-based cohort study, we screened all men with lung cancer diagnosed during the period from January 2006 to December 2021. APM exposure was defined as using antiandrogens, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, or gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists for > 30 days after lung cancer diagnosis. The in vitro study was conducted on A549 lung cancer cells; while the tumor xenograft model was conducted on BALB/c nude mice. Results: Among 4744 men with lung cancer, 98 (2.1%) were identified as having APM exposure. The majority of patients (73.5%) received 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. The patients with APM exposure were older (71.5 vs. 67.0, p < 0.001), had a higher proportion of having prostate cancer (27.6% vs. 1.4%, p < 0.001), and had a smaller proportion of having metastatic lung cancer (41.8% vs. 54.0%, p = 0.003), compared to those without APM exposure. In multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis, patients with APM exposure experienced better OS compared to those without exposure (Hazard ratio 0.57; 95% CI, 0.44–0.73, p < 0.001). In in vitro study, we illustrated that AR protein stimulated the cell proliferation of A549 cells. Finasteride reduced the AR protein expression and inhibited A549 cell growth. Finasteride promoted ubiquitination and degradation of AR protein and therefore interfered the stability of AR protein. Furthermore, finasteride inhibited cell cycle progression and promoted apoptosis of A549 cells. The in vivo results also supported the inhibition effect of finasteride on lung cancer growth. Conclusions: APM was associated with better OS in male patients with lung cancer. Finasteride interfered with the stability of AR and inhibited A549 lung cancer cell growth. Our findings indicated an oncogenic role of AR on lung cancer which may provide potential therapeutic and targets for lung cancer. The inhibition effect of finasteride on lung cancer might be of benefit for future treatment strategies, prevention and control.[Table: see text]

Artesunate Suppresses the Growth of Lung Cancer Cells by Downregulating the AKT/Survivin Signaling Pathway.

NSCLC (non-small-cell lung cancer) is the deadliest cancer in the world. Artesunate is one of the most potent and rapidly acting antimalarial agents. Recently, emerging evidence has suggested the anticancer function of artesunate. In our work, we aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of artesunate-induced growth inhibition in human lung adenocarcinoma cells and reported that the anticancer effects of artesunate is related to its ability in downregulating AKT/Survivin signaling in A549 cells. The effect of artesunate on the proliferation of A549 cells was determined by CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay; its effect on A549 cell apoptosis was evaluated by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. The role of artesunate on the activation of AKT/Survivin signaling was analyzed by western blot and quantitative QPCR. Finally, we used two mouse tumor models to investigate the function of artesunate on the in vivo growth of lung cancer cells. Artesunate treatment caused significant growth inhibition and apoptosis in A549 cells. Mechanistically, artesunate downregulated the activation of AKT/Survivin signaling. In agreement, hyperactivation of AKT signaling restored artesunate-induced growth inhibition in A549 cells. In mouse lung cancer models, artesunate administration significantly reduced the growth of A549 cells and LLC cells in nude mice and immunocompetent mice, respectively. Our findings suggest that artesunate serves as a potential tumor suppressor in lung cancer and hopefully can provide new insight into the development of therapeutic strategies in the clinical lung cancer treatment.

Effect of naturally derived surgical hemostatic materials on the proliferation of A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Hemostatic materials are generally applied in surgical operations for cancer, but their effects on the growth and recurrence of tumors are unclear. Herein, three commonly used naturally derived hemostatic materials, gelatin sponge, Surgicel (oxidized regenerated cellulose), and biopaper (mixture of sodium hyaluronate and carboxymethyl chitosan), were cocultured with A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells in vitro. Furthermore, the performance of hemostatic materials and the tumorigenicity of the materials with A549 ​cells were observed after subcutaneous implantation into BALB/c mice. The in vitro results showed that biopaper was dissolved quickly, with the highest cell numbers at 2 and 4 days of culture. Gelatin sponges retained their structure and elicited the least cell infiltration during the 2- to 10-day culture. Surgicel partially dissolved and supported cell growth over time. The in vivo results showed that biopaper degraded rapidly and elicited an acute Th1 lymphocyte reaction at 3 days after implantation, which was decreased at 7 days after implantation. The gelatin sponge resisted degradation and evoked a hybrid M1/M2 macrophage reaction at 7–21 days after implantation, and a protumor M2d subset was confirmed. Surgicel resisted early degradation and caused obvious antitumor M2a macrophage reactions. Mice subjected to subcutaneous implantation of A549 ​cells and hemostatic materials in the gelatin sponge group had the largest tumor volumes and the shortest overall survival (OS), while the Surgicel and the biopaper group had the smallest volumes and the longest OS. Therefore, although gelatin sponges exhibited cytotoxicity to A549 ​cells in vitro, they promoted the growth of A549 ​cells in vivo, which was related to chronic M2d macrophage reaction. Surgicel and biopaper inhibited A549 ​cell growth in vivo, which is associated with chronic M2a macrophage reaction or acute Th1 lymphocyte reaction.

Acriflavine-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles: preparation, physicochemical characterization, and anti-proliferative properties

Acriflavine (ACF) is an antiseptic compound with the potential antitumor activity which is used for the fluorescent staining of RNA due to its dominant fluorescent emission at ∼515 nm. Here, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) containing ACF (ACF-SLNs) were prepared and their physicochemical properties, potential geno/cytotoxicity, as well as the fluorescent properties were investigated. FITC-annexin V/PI staining and cell cycle assays were carried out to find the type of cellular death caused. Particle size analysis and SEM images revealed that spherical ACF-SLNs had a homogeneous dispersion with a mean diameter of 106 ± 5.7 nm. Drug loading (DL) of 31.25 ± 4.21 mg/mL and high encapsulation efficiency (EE%) (89.75 ± 5.44) were found. ACF-SLNs physically were relatively stable in terms of dispersion, size, and EE. The uptake study demonstrated the potential use of fluorescent ACF-SLNs in bio-distribution studies. MTT assay showed that plain ACF could induce growth inhibition of A549 cells with of 8.5, 6, and 4.5 after 24, 48, and 72 hours, respectively, while ACF-SLNs had stable cytotoxic effects after 48 hours. ACF-SLNs induced remarkable apoptosis and even necrosis after 48 h. Conclusively, ACF-SLNs with acceptable physicochemical features showed increased bioimpacts after 48 h compared to plain ACF.

Preparation, physicochemical characterization, and anti-proliferative properties of Lawsone-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles

Lawsone (LWS) is a naphthoquinone-type dye with potential antitumor activity. LWS is used in cosmetics for coloring hair, skin, and nails. In this study, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) containing LWS were prepared using a hot homogenization technique. Physicochemical properties of LWS-SLNs including encapsulation efficiency (EE), drug loading (DL), size, zeta potential, homogeneity, in vitro release, and kinetics of release were determined. The potential cytotoxic properties of LWS-SLNs were investigated. Comet assay was done to assess the genotoxicity of LWS-SLNs. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that LWS-SLNs were spherical and homogeneously dispersed. The average diameter of free SLNs and LWS-SLNs were 97 ± 1.4 and 127 ± 3.1 nm, respectively with high EE% (95.88 ± 3.29) and a DL of 22.72 ± 1.39 mg/mL of LWS-SLNs. The plain LWS could induce growth inhibition of A549 cells with IC50 of 17.99 ± 1.11, 13.37 ± 1.22, and 9.21 ± 1.15 μg/mL after 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively, while LWS-SLNs had more cytotoxic effects after 48 h (9.81 ± 1.3 μg/mL). Comet assay represented clear fragmentation in the chromatin of the treated cells. Besides, LWS-SLNs (13.37 ± 1.22 μg/mL) induced ∼52 % apoptosis and even necrosis after 48 h. The qPCR results showed an enhanced downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of Casp 9 due to the treatment of A549 cells with LSW-SLNs. In conclusion, a stable formulation of LWS-SLN was prepared with good physicochemical features and long-term biological effects that candidate it for in vivo trials.

Alopecuroidines A−C, three matrine-derived alkaloids from the seeds of Sophora alopecuroides

Three matrine-derived alkaloids, alopecuroidine A (1), alopecuroidine B (2a) and alopecuroidine C (2b) were isolated from the seeds of Sophora alopecuroides. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses and X-ray diffraction. Three compounds possess an unprecedented rearranged fused 7/6/5/6 tetracyclic skeleton with a diazacycloheptane structure. Their plausible biosynthetic pathway was also proposed. The anti-proliferative activities of compounds 1 and 2a were examined by the MTT assay. Compound 1 inhibited the viability of human lung cancer A549 cells, having a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 7.58 ± 2.47 µmol/L at 72 h. The flow cytometric analysis suggested that 1 inhibited A549 cell growth by inducing apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest. Additionally, 1 induced the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species, increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, stimulated cleaved-caspase-3 and P53 protein levels, and suppressed the pro-caspase-3 level. Thus, 1 appeared to induce A549 cells apoptosis through a mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway.

α-Hederin inhibits the growth of lung cancer A549 cells in vitro and in vivo by decreasing SIRT6 dependent glycolysis

Context α-Hederin, a potent bioactive compound of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel (Ranunculaceae), has many pharmacological uses, but its effect on cancer cell metabolism is still unclear. Objective To elucidate the role of α-hederin in the glucose metabolism of lung cancer cells. Materials and methods Cell Counting Kit 8 and colony formation assays were employed to assess the antiproliferative effects of α-hederin. Glucose uptake, ATP generation, and lactate production were measured. Glycolysis-related proteins were detected using western blotting, and a sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) inhibitor was used to verify A549 cell proliferation. Sixty male BALB/c nude mice were divided into normal control, 5-FU (25 mg/kg), and α-hederin (5 and 10 mg/kg) groups to assess the antitumor effect for 32 days. Glycolysis-related protein expression was evaluated using immunohistochemical analysis. Results α-Hederin inhibited A549 (IC50 = 13.75 μM), NCI-H460 (IC50 = 17.57 μM), and NCI-H292 (IC50 = 18.04 μM) proliferation; inhibited glucose uptake and ATP generation; and reduced lactate production. Furthermore, α-hederin (10 and 15 μM) markedly inhibited hexokinase 2, glucose transporter 1, pyruvate kinase M2, lactate dehydrogenase A, monocarboxylate transporter, c-Myc, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, and activated SIRT6 protein expression. Using a SIRT6 inhibitor, we demonstrated that α-hederin inhibits glycolysis by activating SIRT6. A tumour xenograft mouse model of lung cancer confirmed that α-hederin (5 and 10 mg/kg) inhibits lung cancer growth by inhibiting glycolysis in vivo. Discussion and conclusions α-Hederin inhibits A549 cell growth by inhibiting SIRT6-dependent glycolysis. α-Hederin might serve as a potential agent to suppress cancer.

Cardiac glycosides from the roots of Streblus asper Lour. and their apoptosis-inducing activities in A549 cells

Phytochemical investigation of the roots of Streblus asper Lour. resulted in the isolation of six previously undescribed cardiac glycosides, designated 2′-de-O-methylstrebloside (1), cannogenol-3α-O-β-D-gluopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-6-deoxy −2,3-dimethoxyl-β-D-fucopyranoside (2), periplogenin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl -(1 → 4)-6-deoxy-β-D-allopyranoside (3), 5-de-O-hydroxylstrebloside (4), 5βH-16β-hydroxylkamaloside (5), and 17S, 21R-21-hydroxylstrebloside (6), and three known analogues (7–9). The structures were elucidated using NMR spectroscopic techniques, mass spectrometry, and comparison of the spectroscopic data with previously reported data. Compound 6 is a novel C-21 hydroxyl cardiac glycoside, its absolute configuration was established from the analysis of computational ECD calculations and NMR spectroscopic data. The effects of the cardiac glycosides on apoptosis and cytotoxicity were examined in human A549 lung cancer cells. All the compounds showed remarkable inhibitory activities, with IC50 values in the range of 0.01–6.08 μM. Furthermore, compound 3 was able to significantly inhibit A549 cell growth proliferation via the induction of apoptosis, due to the activation of caspases-3, -8 and -9 in A549 cells, as revealed by Western blot analysis.

Artesunate exhibits synergistic anti-cancer effects with cisplatin on lung cancer A549 cells by inhibiting MAPK pathway

BackgroundArtesunate (ART) has been used extensively as anti-malarial drugs worldwide. Besides, it has also been reported to have anti-cancer activities. This study was aimed to explore the anti-cancer activity of ART in combination with cisplatin (CIS) on A549 cells. MethodsCells were cultured with different concentrations of ART and/or CIS for 24, 48, or 72 h to test the anti-proliferative effects by CCK-8 assay. Colony formation assay and EdU staining were also performed. TUNEL staining was used to illustrate the morphologic changes. Cell cycle and apoptosis were determined by flow cytometry assay, and Western blot analysis was conducted to detect the expression of apoptosis- and proliferation-related proteins. Caspase activities were determined by colorimetric assay kit. Moreover, the synergistic effect of ART with CIS in A549 cell xenograft model was also determined. ResultsART significantly inhibited cell proliferation in dose- and time-dependent manners. Collectively, the combination treatment remarkably decreased colony formation rates and increased the rates of TUNEL-positive cells compared with mono-treatment. Mechanistically, the combination treatment influenced the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, p-P53, Caspase-3/7, Caspase-9, CyclinB1, P34, P21, and synergistically regulated the activity of P38/JNK/ERK1/2 MAPK pathway. In mice A549 xenograft tumors, the combination strategy significantly increased the anti-cancer efficacy of ART and CIS alone, consistent with the in vitro observations. ConclusionsART exhibited significant anti-tumor effect on A549 cells and this efficiency could be enhanced by combination with CIS.

Myricanol 5-fluorobenzyloxy ether regulation of survivin pathway inhibits human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells growth in vitro

BackgroundThis study aimed to explore the growth inhibitory effect of myricanol 5-fluorobenzyloxy ether (5FEM) and its underlying mechanisms in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells in vitro.Methods5FEM was obtained by the chemical modification of myricanol with fluorobenzyloxy ether at the OH(5) position. The cytotoxicity, cell apoptosis, cell cycle, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), scratch test, colony formation, and the expression levels of the key survivin pathway-related genes in A549 were evaluated.Results5FEM could significantly inhibit A549 cell growth; induce cell apoptosis; increase G0/G1 population; reduce ΔΨm; inhibit cell migration and colony formation; upregulate caspase-9, P21, and Bax expression levels; and downregulate PARP, survivin, and Bcl-2 expression level.ConclusionThese results enhanced our understanding of 5FEM and aid the discovery of novel myricanol derivatives as potential antitumor agents.

Propofol Affects Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cell Biology By Regulating the miR-21/PTEN/AKT Pathway In Vitro and In Vivo.

Propofol is a common sedative-hypnotic drug traditionally used for inducing and maintaining general anesthesia. Recent studies have drawn attention to the nonanesthetic effects of propofol, but the potential mechanism by which propofol suppresses non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression has not been fully elucidated. For the in vitro experiments, we used propofol (0, 2, 5, and 10 µg/mL) to treat A549 cells for 1, 4, and 12 hours and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) to detect proliferation. Apoptosis was measured with flow cytometry. We also transfected A549 cells with an microribonucleic acid-21 (miR-21) mimic or negative control ribonucleic acid (RNA) duplex and phosphatase and tensin homolog, deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) or negative control. PTEN, phosphorylated protein kinase B (pAKT), and protein kinase B (AKT) expression were detected using Western blotting, whereas miR-21 expression was examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In vivo, nude mice were given injections of A549 cells to grow xenograft tumors; 8 days later, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with propofol (35 mg/kg) or soybean oil. Tumors were then collected from mice and analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Propofol inhibited growth (1 hour, P = .001; 4 hours, P ≤ .0001; 12 hours, P = .0004) and miR-21 expression (P ≤ .0001) and induced apoptosis (1 hour, P = .0022; 4 hours, P = .0005; 12 hours, P ≤ .0001) in A549 cells in a time and concentration-dependent manner. MiR-21 mimic and PTEN siRNA transfection antagonized the suppressive effects of propofol on A549 cells by decreasing PTEN protein expression (mean differences [MD] [95% confidence interval {CI}], -0.51 [-0.86 to 0.16], P = .0058; MD [95% CI], 0.81 [0.07-1.55], P = .0349, respectively), resulting in an increase in pAKT levels (MD [95% CI] = -0.82 [-1.46 to -0.18], P = .0133) following propofol exposure. In vivo, propofol treatment reduced NSCLC tumor growth (MD [95% CI] = -109.47 [-167.03 to -51.91], P ≤ .0001) and promoted apoptosis (MD [95% CI] = 38.53 [11.69-65.36], P = .0093). Our study indicated that propofol inhibited A549 cell growth, accelerated apoptosis via the miR-21/PTEN/AKT pathway in vitro, suppressed NSCLC tumor cell growth, and promoted apoptosis in vivo. Our findings provide new implications for propofol in cancer therapy and indicate that propofol is extremely advantageous in surgical treatment.

Metformin mediated microRNA-7 upregulation inhibits growth, migration, and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells.

Metformin, a medication widely used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, has a possible antitumor effect in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. MicroRNA-7 is a significant microRNA in non-small cell lung cancer. Metformin has an inhibitory effect on lung cancer and regulates the expression of certain microRNAs, but there is no report connecting metformin with microRNA-7 in lung cancer. Thus, we used qPCR to measure microRNA-7 expression in A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells treated with metformin. We used CCK8, cell scratch, and Transwell assays to test the growth, migration, and invasion of A549 cells. Western blotting was used to measure the expression level of relevant proteins in A549 cells. We found that microRNA-7 was dramatically upregulated by metformin via AMPK in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Both metformin and microRNA-7 mimic reduced A549 cell growth, migration, and invasion. Metformin downregulated the levels of p-NF-κB p65, p-Erk1/2, p-AKT, and p-mTOR proteins. The treatment with the microRNA-7 mimic had the same result. The decrease of these proteins caused the inhibition of A549 cell growth, migration, and invasion. Our discovery revealed that metformin, via increasing the expression of microRNA-7 mediated by AMPK, regulates the AKT/mTOR, MAPK/Erk, and NF-κB signaling pathways, thereby suppressing A549 cell growth, migration, and invasion.

Bone morphogenetic protein-9 promotes the proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer cells by activating PI3K/Akt and Smad1/5 pathways.

Non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is any type of epithelial lung cancer other than small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), which accounts for about 85% of all lung cancers. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-9 in humans is encoded by the growth differentiation factor 2 gene, which belongs to the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily. In the present study, we explored the role of BMP-9 in A549 and NCI-H1650 cell proliferation and its possible molecular mechanisms. 25 NSCLC patients were recruited to evaluate mRNA expression of BMP-9 to determine its clinicopathologic significance. We found that recombinant protein BMP-9 and overexpression of BMP-9 promoted A549 and NCI-H1650 cell proliferation in vitro, which was abolished by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor (LY294002). Western blot results revealed that BMP-9 significantly activated the PI3K/Akt and Smad1/5 pathway signaling. In vivo, BMP-9 promoted tumor growth and PI3K/Akt and Smad1/5 signaling pathways in an A549 or NCI-H1650 cell line-derived xenograft model. Knockdown BMP-9 or BMP-9 receptor ALK1 inhibited A549 cell growth in vitro and in vivo, which was associated with regulating the PI3K/Akt and Smad1/5 signaling pathways. These results demonstrated that BMP-9 promoted A549 and NCI-H1650 cell proliferation via PI3K/Akt and Smad1/5 signaling pathways.

Utilisation of Rhododendron luteum Sweet bioactive compounds as valuable source of enzymes inhibitors, antioxidant, and anticancer agents

Ethnobotanical evidences report the use of Rhododendron luteum Sweet (Ericaceae) in traditional medicinal systems. However, R. luteum has been associated to the occurrence of ‘mad honey’ poisoning. In the present study, the ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts of R. luteum were investigated for their in vitro antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, and cytotoxic properties. The cytotoxicity of R. luteum extracts on A549 lung cancer cell line was evaluated using MTT cell viability assay. Besides, HPLC-ESI-MSn approach was employed to elucidate the secondary metabolite profiles of R. luteum in order to establish any structure-activity relationship. Methanol and water extracts of R. luteum possessed highest radical scavenging and reducing properties while the ethyl acetate extract showed highest metal chelating properties. In terms of enzyme inhibition, the methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of R. luteum, possessing epigallocatechin, were active inhibitors of cholinesterase enzymes, α-glucosidase, and tyrosinase. Water extract caused growth inhibition of A549 cells with 207.2 μg/ml IC50 value. Though R. luteum has received little scientific attention due to the occurrence of grayanotoxins in the plant, however, data presented in this work shows promising biological activity of R. luteum and highlighted its role as a potential source of antioxidant and key enzyme inhibitors.

Antiproliferative Activity of Carnosic Acid is Mediated via Inhibition of Cell Migration and Invasion, and Suppression of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases (PI3K)/AKT/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) Signaling Pathway.

BackgroundLung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortalities worldwide and majority of these deaths result from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The primary objective of this research was to determine the anticancer potential of carnosic acid, a plant derived abietane diterpene, against human lung cancer cells, as well as to determine its effects on cell migration and invasion, apoptosis, and the PI3K/AKT/m-TOR signaling pathway.Material/MethodsCell viability was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay; fluorescence microscopy using acridine orange/ethidium bromide stain and Comet assay were used to study cellular apoptosis. In vitro wound healing assay was used to study effects on cell migration; Transwell assay was used to study cell invasion after drug treatment. Western blot assay was used to study effects of carnosic acid on the PI3K/AKT/m-TOR signaling pathway.ResultsIt was shown that carnosic acid could inhibit the growth of A-549 human non-small cell lung carcinoma cells dose-dependently showing an IC50 value of 12.5 μM. This growth inhibition of A-549 cells was mediated via apoptotic cell death as observed by fluorescence microscopy showing nuclear fragmentation and chromatin condensation. Carnosic acid, dose-dependently, also inhibited cell migration and invasion. Finally, western blot assay revealed that carnosic acid also led to inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/m-TOR signaling pathway.ConclusionsIn conclusion, our results showed that Carnosic acid has the potential to inhibit cancer cell growth in A-549 lung cancer cells by activating apoptotic death, inhibiting cell migration and invasion and suppressing PI3K/AKT/m-TOR signaling pathway.

HSP90 inhibitor DPB induces autophagy and more effectively apoptosis in A549 cells combined with autophagy inhibitors.

In our previous study, we proved that a novel Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibitor 4-(3-(7-(diethylamino)-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl) benzoic acid (DPB) could inhibit A549 lung cancer cell growth via inducing apoptosis. However, whether DPB affects autophagy is still unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of DPB on autophagy and the improved anti-cancer activity in A549 lung cancer cells. Aggregation of LC3-II was observed using laser scanning confocal microscopy in GFP-LC3 stably transfected U87 cells. Autophagy and apoptosis-related protein levels were examined by Western blot analysis. It is suggested that treatment with DPB (5-20μmol/L) induced mTOR-independent autophagy in dose- and time-dependent manners. Pre-treatment A549 cells with autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA, 5mmol/L) enhanced DPB-induced apoptosis. And, DPB inhibited A549 cell growth more effectively in combination with autophagy inhibitors 3-MA (5mmol/L) or 3-benzyl-5-((2-nitrophenoxy) methyl)-dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (3BDO, 30μmol/L). These results illustrated that as a potential and promising HSP90 inhibitor, DPB could be utilized in the treatment of cancer combined with the autophagy inhibitor.