Proliferation Of A375 Research Articles

Local Anesthetic Bupivacaine Inhibits Melanoma Proliferation and Metastasis by Targeting PAPSS2.

Melanoma is a highly invasive skin cancer with limited treatment strategies. Bupivacaine, a commonly used local anesthetic recognized for its safety, has shown promise in combating tumors. 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate synthase 2 (PAPSS2) is a key enzyme in the sulfation process and is associated with the development and metastasis of various tumors. This study aimed to explore the mechanism by which bupivacaine inhibits melanoma proliferation and metastasis by targeting PAPSS2. The effects of bupivacaine on the proliferation of A375 and A2058 melanoma cells were evaluated using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) labeling, and clonogenic assays. Cell migration, invasion, and PAPSS2 expression were evaluated using Transwell experiments and Quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. Additionally, an in vivo melanoma tumor model in nude mice was constructed to evaluate the impact of bupivacaine on melanoma growth and metastasis. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess tumor metastasis and PAPSS2 expression levels in the nude mouse model. Experimental results demonstrated that bupivacaine significantly inhibited melanoma proliferation and invasion compared to the control group. Notably, this inhibitory effect was partially reversed by PAPSS2 overexpression. In vivo experiments demonstrated that bupivacaine-treated nude mice exhibited reduced tumor volumes, weights, and fewer lung metastatic foci. Molecular analysis via qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry analysis further indicated that bupivacaine significantly reduced PAPSS2 in tumor tissues. This study confirms that bupivacaine, a local anesthetic, can inhibit melanoma proliferation and metastasis by targeting the PAPSS2 signaling pathway. These findings suggest its potential as an anti-tumor medication and present new treatment strategies for melanoma.

Nitidine Chloride Inhibits Proliferation and Induces Mitochondrial-Mediated Apoptosis of Human Melanoma A375 and A2058 Cells In Vitro

Melanoma is a malignant tumor transforming from normal melanocytes, with strong invasion and low survival rate. Nitidine chloride (NC) is a natural benzophenidine alkaloid extracted from the roots of traditional Chinese medicine zanthoxylum nitidum. In recent years, many studies have found that NC may have strong anti-tumor activity. However, the efficacy of NC against melanoma has rarely been reported, and the potential molecular mechanism remains unknown. Our study explored the effects of NC on the proliferation and apoptosis of human melanoma A375 and A2058 cells. CCK-8 was utilized to detect the effects of different concentrations of NC on the proliferation of A375 and A2058 cells. Within a certain concentration and time range, NC can inhibit the viability of A375 and A2058 cells significantly in a time-dose-dependent manner. In addition, NC-induced apoptosis was confirmed by DAPI staining and flow cytometry analysis of Annexin V-FITC/PI. Moreover, we observed that the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in the cytoplasm increases, activating Caspase-3/-9 and ultimately inducing apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway. Our study indicated that NC has anti-tumor properties against human melanoma cells through inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis. Therefore, the results provide new insights for future work on the utilization of NC in malignant melanoma treatment.

Inhibition of TAZ impairs the migration ability of melanoma cells.

Malignant melanoma (MM) is characterized by rapid growth, frequent metastasis, and high mortality. Targeted therapy for MM is still a research hotspot due to the increasing understanding of the hippo pathway. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) in MM tumorigenesis. Based on the database analysis, we found that the median mRNA expression of TAZ (5.4) was found to be similar to that of YAP (5.5) in 473 human melanoma specimens. However, in 63 MM cell lines, the median expression of TAZ (10.8) was expressed at a higher level than that of YAP (9.5), which was then validated in A375. TAZ down-regulation by siRNA decreased the migration (72%) and invasion (74%) abilities of A375. Furthermore, the down-regulation of TAZ inhibited the proliferation of A375 without affecting apoptosis. We subsequently blocked hippo signaling with verteporfin and found that verteporfin application decreased the number of migrating (63%) and invading (69%) cells, respectively. We further found that Cyr61 declined following TAZ down-regulation. Moreover, TAZ negatively correlates with melanoma patient's overall survival. Our data proved that TAZ contributed to MM metastasis, which might be a potential therapeutic target in the future.

Sanguinarine inhibits melanoma invasion and migration by targeting the FAK/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway

Context Sanguinarine (SAG) is the most abundant constituent of Macleaya cordata (Willd.) R. Br. (Popaceae). SAG has shown antimammary and colorectal metastatic effects in mice in vivo, suggesting its potential for cancer chemotherapy. Objective To determine the antimetastatic effect and underlying molecular mechanisms of SAG on melanoma. Materials and methods CCK8 assay was used to determine the inhibition of SAG on the proliferation of A375 and A2058 cells. Network pharmacology analysis was applied to construct a compound-target network and select potential therapeutic targets of SAG against melanoma. Molecular docking simulation was conducted for further analysis of the selected targets. In vitro migration/invasion/western blot assay with 1, 1.5, 2 μM SAG and in vivo effect of 2, 4, 8 mg/kg SAG in xenotransplantation model in nude mice. Results The key targets of SAG treatment for melanoma were mainly enriched in PI3K-AKT pathway, and the binding energy of SAG to PI3K, AKT, and mTOR were −6.33, −6.31, and −6.07 kcal/mol, respectively. SAG treatment inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of A375 and A2058 cells (p < 0.05) with IC50 values of 2.378 μM and 2.719 μM, respectively. It also decreased the phosphorylation levels of FAK, PI3K, AKT, mTOR and protein expression levels of MMP2 and ICAM-2. In the nude mouse xenograft model, 2, 4, 8 mg/kg SAG was shown to be effective in inhibiting tumour growth. Conclusions Our research offered a theoretical foundation for the clinical antitumor properties of SAG, further suggesting its potential application in the clinic.

Low Expression of CLEC2B Indicates Poor Prognosis in Melanoma.

Melanoma is a highly malignant skin tumor with a poor prognosis. Identification of novel biomarkers might potentially reveal the underlying mechanisms of melanoma progression. We demonstrated the relationship between pan-cancer CLEC2B expression and melanoma samples in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Next, the Kaplan-Meier plot and Cox regression analysis determined the prognostic value of CLEC2B in melanoma. Biological pathway enrichment was screened by Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), enabling the correlation analysis between the immune infiltration level and CLEC2B expression in melanoma. Our final claim was validated using qPCR, immunohistochemistry, Western blot, cell colony formation assays, ethynyldeoxyuridine (Edu) analysis, and cell Invasion assays. Our study revealed that the high CLEC2B expression correlates with poor overall survival of melanoma patients. Moreover, a low expression of CLEC2B was found in the A375 cell line. In addition, CLEC2B has significant prognostic value in melanoma diagnosis, with an AUC of 0.896. Prognostic analysis showed the low expression of CLEC2B to be independently associated with melanoma patients. Moreover, the expression of CLEC2B was significantly correlated with B cells, eosinophils, macrophages, neutrophils, NK cells, T helper cells, Tregs, Th1 cells, Th17 cells, and Th2 cells. PCR and immunohistochemistry indicated CLEC2B to be significantly downregulated in melanoma. The cell colony formation assay showed CLEC2B knockout increased the proliferation of A375 cells. Our study established low levels of CLEC2B to be poor prognostic markers, enabling immunosuppressive cell infiltration in melanoma.

Investigation into the Use of Encorafenib to Develop Potential PROTACs Directed against BRAFV600E Protein

BRAF is a serine/threonine kinase frequently mutated in human cancers. BRAFV600E mutated protein is targeted through the use of kinase inhibitors which are approved for the treatment of melanoma; however, their long-term efficacy is hampered by resistance mechanisms. The PROTAC-induced degradation of BRAFV600E has been proposed as an alternative strategy to avoid the onset of resistance. In this study, we designed a series of compounds where the BRAF kinase inhibitor encorafenib was conjugated to pomalidomide through different linkers. The synthesized compounds maintained their ability to inhibit the kinase activity of mutated BRAF with IC50 values in the 40-88 nM range. Selected compounds inhibited BRAFV600E signaling and cellular proliferation of A375 and Colo205 tumor cell lines. Compounds 10 and 11, the most active of the series, were not able to induce degradation of mutated BRAF. Docking and molecular dynamic studies, conducted in comparison with the efficient BRAF degrader P5B, suggest that a different orientation of the linker bearing the pomalidomide substructure, together with a decreased mobility of the solvent-exposed part of the conjugates, could explain this behavior.

Adrenomedullin Secreted by Melanoma Cells Promotes Melanoma Tumor Growth through Angiogenesis and Lymphangiogenesis

Metastatic melanoma is an aggressive tumor and can constitute a real therapeutic challenge despite the significant progress achieved with targeted therapies and immunotherapies, thus highlighting the need for the identification of new therapeutic targets. Adrenomedullin (AM) is a peptide with significant expression in multiple types of tumors and is multifunctional. AM impacts angiogenesis and tumor growth and binds to calcitonin receptor-like receptor/receptor activity-modifying protein 2 or 3 (CLR/RAMP2; CLR/RAMP3). In vitro and in vivo studies were performed to determine the functional role of AM in melanoma growth and tumor-associated angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. In this study, AM and AM receptors were immunohistochemically localized in the tumoral compartment of melanoma tissue, suggesting that the AM system plays a role in melanoma growth. We used A375, SK-MEL-28, and MeWo cells, for which we demonstrate an expression of AM and its receptors; hypoxia induces the expression of AM in melanoma cells. The proliferation of A375 and SK-MEL-28 cells is decreased by anti-AM antibody (αAM) and anti-AMR antibodies (αAMR), supporting the fact that AM may function as a potent autocrine/paracrine growth factor for melanoma cells. Furthermore, migration and invasion of melanoma cells increased after treatment with AM and decreased after treatment with αAMR, thus indicating that melanoma cells are regulated by AM. Systemic administration of αAMR reduced neovascularization of in vivo Matrigel plugs containing melanoma cells, as demonstrated by reduced numbers of vessel structures, which suggests that AM is one of the melanoma cells-derived factors responsible for endothelial cell-like and pericyte recruitment in the construction of neovascularization. In vivo, αAMR therapy blocked angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis and decreased proliferation in MeWo xenografts, thereby resulting in tumor regression. Histological examination of αAMR-treated tumors showed evidence of the disruption of tumor vascularity, with depletion of vascular endothelial cells and a significant decrease in lymphatic endothelial cells. The expression of AM by melanoma cells promotes tumor growth and neovascularization by supplying/amplifying signals for neoangiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.

Anticancer Effects of the Corchorus olitorius Aqueous Extract and Its Bioactive Compounds on Human Cancer Cell Lines.

Corchorus olitorius is a common, leafy vegetable locally known as “Saluyot” in the Philippines. Several studies have reported on its various pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anticancer properties. However, little is known about its effects on angiogenesis. This study aimed to evaluate the anticancer properties, such as the antiproliferative, anti-angiogenic, and antitumor activities, of the C. olitorius aqueous extract (CO) and its bioactive compounds, chlorogenic acid (CGA) and isoquercetin (IQ), against human melanoma (A-375), gastric cancer (AGS), and pancreatic cancer (SUIT-2), using in vitro and in ovo biological assays. The detection and quantification of CGA and IQ in CO were achieved using LC-MS/MS analysis. The antiproliferative, anti-angiogenic, and antitumor activities of CO, CGA, and IQ against A-375, AGS, and SUIT-2 cancer cell lines were evaluated using MTT and CAM assays. CGA and IQ were confirmed to be present in CO. CO, CGA, and IQ significantly inhibited the proliferation of A-375, AGS, and SUIT-2 cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner after 48 h of treatment. Tumor angiogenesis (hemoglobin levels) of A-375 and AGS tumors was significantly inhibited by CO, CGA, IQ, and a CGA–IQ combination. The growth of implanted A-375 and AGS tumors was significantly reduced by CO, CGA, IQ, and a CGA–IQ combination, as measured in tumor weight. Our investigation provides new evidence to show that CO has promising anticancer effects on various types of human cancer cells. CO and its compounds are potential nutraceutical products that could be used for cancer treatment.

Dauricine inhibits proliferation and promotes death of melanoma cells via inhibition of Src/STAT3 signaling.

Melanoma is the most common type of skin cancer. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling has been demonstrated to be a therapeutic target for melanoma. Dauricine (Dau), an alkaloid compound isolated from the root of Menispermum dauricum DC., has shown tumor-suppressing effects in multiple human cancers, but its potential in melanoma remains unexplored. In this study, we demonstrated that Dau significantly inhibited the viability and proliferation of A375 and A2058 melanoma cells. Death of melanoma cells was also markedly promoted by Dau. Moreover, Dau inhibited phosphorylation-mediated activation of STAT3 and Src in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, constitutive activation of Src partially abolished the antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities of Dau on melanoma cells. Molecular docking showed that Dau could dock on the kinase domain of Src with a binding energy of -10.42 kcal/mol. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that Src-Dau binding was stable. Surface plasmon resonance imaging analysis also showed that Dau has a strong binding affinity to Src. In addition, Dau suppressed the growth of melanoma cells and downregulated the activation of Src/STAT3 in a xenograft model in vivo. These data demonstrated that Dau inhibits proliferation and promotes cell death in melanoma cells by inhibiting the Src/STAT3 pathways.

Computational high-throughput screening and in vitro approaches identify CB-006-3; A novel PI3K-BRAFV600E dual targeted inhibitor against melanoma.

Malignant melanoma is characterized by both genetic and molecular alterations that activate phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and RAS/BRAF pathways. In this work, through diversity-based high-throughput virtual screening we identified a lead molecule that selectively targets PI3K and BRAFV600E kinases. Computational screening, Molecular dynamics simulation and MMPBSA calculations were performed. PI3K and BRAFV600E kinase inhibition was done. A375 and G-361 cells were used for in vitro cellular analysis to determine antiproliferative effects, annexin V binding, nuclear fragmentation and cell cycle analysis. Computational screening of small molecules indicates compound CB-006-3 selectively targets PI3KCG (gamma subunit), PI3KCD (delta subunit) and BRAFV600E. Molecular dynamics simulation and MMPBSA bases binding free energy calculations predict a stable binding of CB-006-3 to the active sites of PI3K and BRAFV600E. The compound effectively inhibited PI3KCG, PI3KCD and BRAFV600E kinases with respective IC50 values of 75.80, 160.10 and 70.84 nM. CB-006-3 controlled the proliferation of A375 and G-361 cells with GI50 values of 223.3 and 143.6 nM, respectively. A dose dependent increase in apoptotic cell population and sub G0/G1 phase of cell cycle were also observed with the compound treatment in addition to observed nuclear fragmentation in these cells. Furthermore, CB-006-3 inhibited BRAFV600E, PI3KCD and PI3KCG in both melanoma cells. Collectively, based on the computational modeling and in vitro validations, we propose CB-006-3 as a lead candidate for selectively targeting PI3K and mutant BRAFV600E to inhibit melanoma cell proliferation. Further experimental validations, including pharmacokinetic evaluations in mouse models will identify the druggability of the proposed lead candidate for further development as a therapeutic agent for treating melanoma.

The Anti-tumor Effects of p-Coumaric Acid on Melanoma A375 and B16 Cells.

Background: Existing research shows that p-coumaric acid (p-CA) can inhibit the proliferation of a variety of tumor cells in vitro. However, there are no reports on the anti-tumor effects of p-CA on melanoma cells. In this study, the inhibitory effects of p-CA on mouse melanoma B16 and human melanoma A375 cells are reported, and the related mechanisms are investigated.Methods: CCK-8 assay was used to detect the effects of p-CA on cell vitality, colony formation assay was used to observe the effects on cell proliferation, Hoechst 33,258 staining was used to observe the morphology of apoptotic cells, flow cytometry was used to detect the effects on apoptosis and the cell cycle, and western blot was used to measure the levels of cell cycle- and apoptosis-related signaling pathway proteins.Results: p-CA significantly inhibits cell proliferation of A375 and B16 cells in a dose-dependent manner and obviously induced cell morphological changes. p-CA arrested A375 cells in the S phase by downregulating the cell cycle-related proteins Cyclin A and CDK2, and arrested B16 cells in the G0–G1 phase through downregulating the cell cycle-related proteins Cyclin E and CDK2. In addition, p-CA significantly promoted apoptosis of A375 and B16 cells. Furthermore, p-CA significantly upregulated the levels of Apaf1 and Bax and downregulated the levels of Bcl-2, and subsequently increased the levels of cytoplasmic cytochrome c (Cyto-c), cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-9, leading to apoptosis in A375 and B16 cells.Conclusion: p-CA can significantly inhibit the proliferation of human and mouse melanoma cells in vitro. Our research is a step in the development of anti-melanoma drugs.

A systematic assessment of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles used in the treatment of melanoma

Melanoma is a highly malignant skin tumor which is prone to recurrence and metastasis. Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nHAPs) were reported to possess a suppressive effect on proliferation of various tumor cells in vitro. This study aimed to assess in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor ability and biosafety of the nHAPs used in the treatment of melanoma. Three types of nHAPs with different morphology and crystallinity were synthesized. In vitro cell viability and proliferation studies demonstrated that all three types of nHAPs can inhibit viability and proliferation of A375 and SK-MEL-28 melanoma cells in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the rod-shape nHAPs with a crystallinity of 45.60% had the most prominent suppressive effect on the two melanoma cells tested. An important positive regulator of G1/S phase transition in cell cycle, Cyclin D1 protein, was reduced by nHAPs treatment in vivo. We further discovered that the migration ability of the nHAPs treated melanoma cells was greatly decreased. RNA sequencing result revealed that melanoma metastasis related genes were down-regulated by nHAPs, including MMP2, MMP14, ITGA9, ITGB3, ITGB4 and S100B. High concentration of nHAPs treatment in melanoma-bearing nude mice showed a strong inhibitory effect on tumor size and weight. Most importantly, hemolysis, electrolyte disturbance or inflammation response was not discovered in the experimental animals from nHAPs treated groups. We proved that the nHAPs synthesized in the current study has a selective effect to suppress melanoma tumor proliferation and was safe with regard to normal cells and tissue.

精胺氧化酶抑制剂SI-4650抑制人恶性黑素瘤A375细胞增殖的分子机制研究

Objective To evaluate the effect of spermine oxidase (SMO) inhibitor SI-4650 on the proliferation of a human malignant melanoma cell line A375, and to explore its molecular mechanism. Methods Some cultured A375 cells were divided into 6 groups to be treated with SI-4650 at concentrations of 0, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 μmol/L respectively for 24, 48 and 72 hours, and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was performed to evaluate changes in cellular proliferative activity. According to the cellular proliferative activity, 3 concentrations (0, 40, 80 μmol/L) were screened out. Some A375 cells were divided into 3 groups to be treated with 0 (control group) , 40 and 80 μmol/L SI-4650 for 48 hours. Chemiluminescence assay was conducted to detect the SMO activity in A375 cells, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis to determine the polyamine content in A375 cells, flow cytometry to analyze the cell cycle and detect the apoptosis, and Western blot analysis to determine the protein expression of apoptotic marker proteins Bax and c-PARP, inhibitor of apoptosis protein Bcl-2, and autophagy marker proteins Beclin-1 and LC3-Ⅱ. Statistical analysis was carried out by using one-way analysis of variance for comparison of means among several groups, and by using Student-Newman-Keuls (SNK) -q test for multiple comparisons. Results MTT assay showed that there was a significant difference in the proliferative activity of A375 cells after the treatment with different concentrations of SI-4650 for different durations (F = 977.23, 5.16 respectively, both P < 0.001) . Significant differences were observed in the SMO activity in A375 cells (F = 242.58, P < 0.001) , spermine and the total polyamine content (F = 338.02, 2 931.07 respectively, both P < 0.001) , proportion of S-phase cells (F = 31.66, P < 0.001) , proportion of apoptotic cells (F = 100.68, P < 0.001) , expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bax, c-PARP and Bcl-2 (F = 35.51, 730.11, 27.54 respectively, all P < 0.001) , and expression of autophagy marker proteins Beclin-1 and LC3-Ⅱ (F = 35.87, 425.04 respectively, P < 0.001) among the control group, 40- and 80-μmol/L SI-4650 groups. Compared with the control group, the 40- and 80-μmol/L SI-4650 groups showed significantly lower SMO activity (luminous intensity: 61 432.85 ± 2 620.92, 43 337.35 ± 1 221.25 respectively, both P < 0.05) , lower spermine (1.97 ± 0.007, 1.88 ± 0.006 respectively, both P < 0.05) and total polyamine content (3.18 ± 0.03, 2.81 ± 0.01 respectively, both P < 0.05) , higher proportions of S-phase cells (27.61% ± 2.05%, 31.58% ± 1.45% respectively, both P < 0.05) and apoptotic cells (27.61% ± 2.05%, 31.58% ± 1.45% respectively, both P < 0.05) , higher expression of apoptotic marker proteins Bax (0.83 ± 0.12, 1.18 ± 0.16 respectively, both P < 0.05) and c-PARP (0.32 ± 0.002, 0.79 ± 0.035 respectively, both P < 0.05) and autophagy marker proteins Beclin-1 (1.00 ± 0.007, 1.14 ± 0.003 respectively, both P < 0.05) and LC3-Ⅱ (0.31 ± 0.001, 0.98 ± 0.003 respectively, both P < 0.05) , and lower expression of inhibitor of apoptosis protein Bcl-2 (0.65 ± 0.09, 0.12 ± 0.002 respectively, both P < 0.05) . Conclusion SI-4650 can inhibit the proliferation of A375 cells, likely by interfering with polyamine metabolism and inducing cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and autophagy. Key words: Melanoma; Spermine; Spermidine; Cell proliferation; Apoptosis; Autophagy; Cell line, tumor; Spermine oxidase inhibitor

LncRNA FOXD3-AS1 promotes proliferation, invasion and migration of cutaneous malignant melanoma via regulating miR-325/MAP3K2

PurposeThe aim was to study the mechanism of LncRNA FOXD3-AS1 in cutaneous melanoma. MethodsFOXD3-AS1 levels in 47 pairs of melanoma samples were detected. We used qRT-PCR to detect FOXD3-AS1, miR-325 and MAP3K2 expression in different staging samples and cutaneous melanoma cell lines. We used Kaplan-Meier curve to analyze survival rate in patients with FOXD3-AS1 high and low expression. Sh-FOXD3-AS1, miR-325, miR-325 inhibitor and oeMAP3K2 were transfected. The proliferation of A375 and SK-MEL-1 was detected by CCK8 and EdU labeling assay and cell clone formation assay. Dual luciferase reporter assay and pull down assay was used to confirm the binding site of FOXD3-AS1, miR-325 and MAP3K2. Flow cytometry was applied to detect the effect of lncRNA on cell cycle. The migration and invasion ability were detected by transwell assay. ResultsLncRNA FOXD3-AS1 highly expressed in cutaneous melanoma cells and tissues. Patients with highly expressed LncRNA FOXD3-AS1 were always with shorter overall survival time. When LncRNA FOXD3-AS1 was knockdown, proliferation, invasion and migration of cutaneous malignant melanoma, and tumor weight was inhibited, and cell cycle was arrested. LncRNA FOXD3-AS1 negatively regulated the expression of miR-325, and then improved the level of MAP3K2. MiR-325 was with similarly effects on above biological process, and MAP3K2 overexpression could rescue the influence of sh-FOXD3-AS1. Tumor volume and weight were measured to confirm the effect of sh-FOXD3-AS1 in vivo. ConclusionLncRNA FOXD3-AS1 could promote proliferation, invasion and migration of cutaneous malignant melanoma via regulating miR-325/MAP3K2 axis.

Carbidopa Alters Tryptophan Metabolism in Breast Cancer and Melanoma Cells Leading to the Formation of Indole-3-Acetonitrile, a Pro-Proliferative Metabolite

Carbidopa is used for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) as an inhibitor of DOPA decarboxylase, and PD patients taking carbidopa have a lower incidence of various tumors, except for breast cancer and melanoma. Recently, it was shown that carbidopa inhibits tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) and kynureninase enzymes. In the present study, the effect of carbidopa on the viability and metabolic profile of breast cancer MCF-7 and melanoma A375 cells was investigated. Carbidopa was not effective in inhibiting MCF-7 and A375 proliferation. Liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry revealed a new compound, identified as indole-3-acetonitrile (IAN), which promoted a concentration-dependent increase in the viability of both cell lines. The results suggest that treatment with carbidopa may alter tryptophan (Trp) metabolism in breast cancer and melanoma leading to the formation of a pro-proliferative Trp metabolite, which may contribute to its failure in reducing breast cancers and melanoma incidence in PD patients taking carbidopa.

Resveratrol inhibits the proliferation of melanoma cells by modulating cell cycle

The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effects of resveratrol (RSV) in A375 and A431 melanoma cells, by assessing cell viability (CCK-8 assay), apoptosis through flow cytometer and cell morphology, cell cycle assay by flow cytometer and western blot (Cyclin D1, Rac1 and PCDH9). Our results demonstrated that RSV strongly inhibited A375 cells proliferation, by decreasing cell viability, promoting apoptosis and arresting cell cycle. Besides, to clarify the main factor – duration or concentration of RSV, the double variance analysis of independent factors was operated after Bartlett’s test for homogeneity by R project. According to the outcomes obtained from statistical analyses, Cyclin D1 and PCDH9 were strongly affected by RSV duration while Rac1 was not influenced. In conclusion, RSV can inhibit A375 proliferation and trigger apoptosis by influencing cell cycle proteins; for these effects, treatment duration of RSV played more important role than concentration.

Ovostatin 2 knockdown significantly inhibits the growth, migration, and tumorigenicity of cutaneous malignant melanoma cells

BackgroundWe previously identified ovostatin 2 (OVOS2) as a new candidate gene for cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) in a Chinese population. In this study, we aimed to investigate the exact role of OVOS2 in cell proliferation, invasion, and tumorigenesis of melanoma A375 cells.MethodsThe downregulation of OVOS2 expression was performed using lentiviral vectors with specific shRNA. The effects of OVOS2 expression on cell proliferation, cell cycle, cell migration, cell invasion, and potential of tumorigenesis were further investigated.ResultsThe downregulation of OVOS2 significantly suppressed the proliferation of A375 cells and led to a G2/M phase block. The transwell cell migration assay showed that the reduced expression of OVOS2 also significantly inhibited the transmigration of A375 cells. The western blot results showed downregulated expression of p-FAK, p-AKT, and p-ERK. This was accompanied by the upregulated epithelial phenotypes E-cadherin and β-catenin, and downregulated expression of mesenchymal phenotype N-cadherin after OVOS2 knockdown. The transplantation tumor experiment in BALB/C nude mouse showed that after an observation period of 32 days, the growth speed and weight of the transplanted tumors were significantly suppressed in the BALB/c nude mice subcutaneously injected with OVOS2 knocked-down A375 cells.ConclusionThe inhibition of OVOS2 had significant suppressive effects on the proliferation, motility, and migration capabilities of A375 cells, suggesting a crucial promotive role of OVOS2 in the pathogenesis and progression of CMM. The involved mechanisms are at least partly associated with the overactivation of FAK/MAPK/ERK and FAK/PI3K/AKT signals.

Volatile components, polar constituents and biological activity of tansy daisy (Tanacetum macrophyllum (Waldst. et Kit.) Schultz Bip.)

Tansy daisy (Tanacetum macrophyllum (Waldst. et Kit.) Schultz Bip., Asteraceae) is a perennial herb worldwide cultivated for ornamental and industrial purposes. Sometimes, this species is misidentified by herb collectors and botanists with its family mate Achillea grandifolia (white yarrow). In the present work, we have analysed the essential oil and ethanolic extract obtained from the aerial parts of tansy daisy cultivated in Italy and evaluated the biological activity in terms of cytotoxic, antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities. The essential oil was analysed by gas chromatographic and mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and showed oxygenated monoterpenes, namely camphor, linalool and 1,8-cineole, and sesquiterpenes, namely germacrene D and 10-epi-γ-eudesmol, as the major components. The ethanolic extract of aerial parts was subjected to chromatographic separation and this permitted the identification of 12 polar compounds belonging to five different classes of natural products, namely flavonoids (apigenin, cirsimaritin, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, apigenin-7-O-glucuronide, kaempferol-7-O-glucoside and kaempferol-7-O-glucuronide), dicaffeoylquinic derivatives (3,5-dicaffeoylquinic and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acids), caffeoylquinic acids (chlorogenic acid), free organic acids (shikimic and quinic acids) and glycosidic organic acids (4-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-vanillic acid); among them apigenin and kaempferol derivatives were the most abundant. Finally, the essential oil from the leaves, containing high levels of germacrene D and 10-epi-γ-eudesmol, was highly effective against the proliferation of A375 (melanoma) and HCT116 (colon carcinoma) human tumor cells, showing IC50 values of 9.2 and 8.5 μg/mL, respectively. On the other hand, the ethanolic extract scavenged the DPPH and ABTS+ radicals, showing IC50 of 32.7 and 37.2 μg/mL, respectively. The inhibitory properties of tansy daisy essential oils and ethanol extract on the acetylcholinesterase enzyme were also evaluated. These findings provided new insights into the phytochemistry of the species and its possible applications on an industrial level.

LicochalconeD induces apoptosis and inhibits migration and invasion in human melanoma A375 cells.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of Licochalcone D (LD) on the apoptosis and migration and invasion in human melanoma A375 cells. Cell proliferation was determined by sulforhodamine B assay. Apoptosis was assessed by Hoechst 33258 and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and JC-1 assay. Total intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was examined by DCFH-DA. Wound healing and Transwell assays were used to detect migration and invasion of the cells. The activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2 and MMP-9) were assessed via gelatin zymography. Tumor growth in vivo was evaluated in C57BL/6 mice. RT-PCR, qPCR, ELISA and western blot analysis were utilized to measure the mRNA and protein levels. Our results showed that LD inhibited the proliferation of A375 and SK-MEL-5 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. After treatment with LD, A375 cells displayed obvious apoptotic characteristics, and the number of apoptotic cells was significantly increased. Pro-apoptotic protein Bax, caspase-9 and caspase-3 were upregulated, while anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was downregulated in the LD-treated cells. Meanwhile, LD induced the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and increased the level of ROS. ROS production was inhibited by the co-treatment of LD and free radical scavenger N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC). Furthermore, LD also blocked A375 cell migration and invasion in vitro which was associated with the downregulation of MMP-9 and MMP-2. Finally, intragastric administration of LD suppressed tumor growth in the mouse xenograft model of murine melanoma B16F0 cells. These results suggest that LD may be a potential drug for human melanoma treatment by inhibiting proliferation, inducing apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway and blocking cell migration and invasion.

Effects of polyphyllinIon the proliferation and apoptosis of human melanoma cell line A375

Objective To investigate effects of polyphylin Ⅰon the proliferation and apoptosis of human melanoma cell line A375, and to explore their mechanisms. Methods Normal human melanocytes isolated from healthy human foreskin were divided into 6 groups to be treated with 0, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 9.0, 12.0 mg/L polyphyllinⅠrespectively. A375 melanoma cells were divided into 4 groups, i.e., control group, 1.5-, 3.0-, 6.0- mg/L polyphyllin Ⅰ groups, to be treated with 0, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0 mg/L polyphyllin Ⅰ, respectively. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay was performed to evaluate the effect of polyphyllinⅠ on the proliferation of normal human melanocytes and A375 cells. Hoechst 33258 fluorescent staining was conducted to observe the morphology of apoptotic cells, flow cytometry to estimate cell cycle phase distribution and apoptosis rate, dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) fluorescent probe assay to detect the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) , rhodamine - 123 staining to evaluate changes of mitochondrial membrane potential, spectrophotography to detect the level of ATP in A375 cells, as well as levels of lactic acid and glucose in the culture supernatant of A375 cells, and Western blot analysis to determine the protein expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-2-related X protein (Bax) , cleaved-caspase-3, cyclin D1 and pyruvate kinase isozyme type M2 (PKM2) . Statistical analysis was carried out by using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for comparisons among groups and Student-Newman-Keuls-q (SNK-q) test for multiple comparisons. Results CCK8 assay showed that the treatment with polyphyllin Ⅰat concentrations of 1.5, 3.0, 6.0 mg/L for 48 hours had no effects on the proliferation of normal human melanocytes, but significantly inhibited the proliferation of A375 cells. The survival rate of A375 cells was significantly lower in the 1.5-, 3.0-, 6.0-mg/L polyphyllinⅠgroups than in the control group (P < 0.01) . After the treatment with polyphyllin Ⅰ, distinct apoptotic morphology of A375 cells was observed under fluorescence microscope. Additionally, along with the increase of polyphyllin Ⅰconcentrations (0, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0 mg/L) , there were gradual increasing trends in the apoptosis rate of A375 cells (4.25% ± 1.27%, 10.03% ± 1.49%, 36.62% ± 1.97%, 44.11% ± 2.47% respectively, F = 665.7, P < 0.01) , the percentage of A375 cells at G0/G1 phase (54.13% ± 2.57%, 67.35% ± 3.79%, 74.39% ± 3.29%, 82.29% ± 3.99% respectively, F= 71.81, P < 0.01) , the level of ROS in A375 cells (P < 0.01) , the level of glucose in the culture supernatant (P < 0.01) , and the protein expression of Bax and cleaved-caspase-3 (both P < 0.01) , while gradual decreasing trends were found in the levels of mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP in A375 cells (both P < 0.01) , the level of lactic acid in the culture supernatant (P < 0.01) , and the protein expression of Cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and PKM2 (all P < 0.01) . Conclusion PolyphyllinⅠcan effectively induce A375 cell apoptosis by promoting the production of ROS in A375 cells and decreasing the mitochondrial membrane potential, and arrest A375 cells at G0/G1 phase by inhibiting the expression of PKM2 and Cyclin D1. Key words: Melanoma; Cell line, tumor; Apoptosis; Reactive oxygen species; Cell proliferation; Polyphyllin Ⅰ