Proportion Of Cells In G1 Research Articles

Synthesis, characterization, anticancer activity, molecular docking and DFT calculation of 3-acetylcoumarin thiosemicarbazones and Schiff’s bases

The new thiosemicarbazones (3a-d) of 3-acetylumbelliferone and Schiff’s bases (4a-b) of 3-acetylcoumarin were synthesized, characterized by elemental analysis, UV–Vis, FT-IR, NMR, and ESI-HR MS, and evaluated for their anticancer potency against the human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell line. All the tested compounds exhibited good to moderate anticancer efficacy in a dose-dependent manner. The synthesized compounds exhibited potent preferential inhibition effects against the MCF-7 cell line, with IC50 range of 147.8–505.1 µg/mL. The most potent compound, (E)-N-(1-(7-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl) ethylidine)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbothiohydrazide (3c), showed significant cytotoxicity with an IC50 value of 147.8 µg/mL against the tested cell line. It showed a higher proportion of cells in G1 (37.21 %) and S (26.86 %) phases and a lower proportion of cells in G2 phase (26.37 %), with respect to control. Molecular docking of all the synthesized compounds with target proteins VEGFR2 and EGFR demonstrated their significant binding affinity and interactions with key residues compared to the reference drug (erlotinib). DFT-based analysis showed that all the compounds have effective reactivity due to the low band gap energy of HOMO and LUMO relative to the reference drug, erlotinib (4.26 eV). The reactivity-related quantum mechanical parameters η, S, χ, μ, and ω indicated that these compounds have a high efficacy towards the target enzymes VEGFR2 and EGFR. All of the synthesized compounds had drug-like action, according to ADMET predictions.

Pseudogene OCT4-pg5 upregulates OCT4B expression to promote bladder cancer progression by competing with miR-145-5p

ABSTRACT Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignant neoplasms worldwide. Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks may identify potential biomarkers associated with the progression and prognosis of BC. The OCT4-pg5/miR-145-5p/OCT4B ceRNA network was found to be related to the progression and prognosis of BC. OCT4-pg5 expression was significantly higher in BC cell lines than in normal bladder cells, with OCT4-pg5 expression correlating with OCT4B expression and advanced tumor grade. Overexpression of OCT4-pg5 and OCT4B promoted the proliferation and invasion of BC cells, whereas miR-145-5p suppressed these activities. The 3’ untranslated region (3’UTR) of OCT4-pg5 competed for miR-145-5p, thereby increasing OCT4B expression. In addition, OCT4-pg5 promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and upregulating the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2 and 9 as well as the transcription factors zinc finger E-box binding homeobox (ZEB) 1 and 2. Elevated expression of OCT4-pg5 and OCT4B reduced the sensitivity of BC cells to cisplatin by reducing apoptosis and increasing the proportion of cells in G1. The OCT4-pg5/miR-145-5p/OCT4B axis promotes the progression of BC by inducing EMT via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and enhances cisplatin resistance. This axis may represent a therapeutic target in patients with BC.

Raf/MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway Is Involved in the Inhibition of Glioma Cell Proliferation and Invasion in the Ketogenic Microenvironment.

A high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet has been used to treat malignant glioma, in which the Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway is overactivated. However, whether the Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway is involved in the therapeutic effect of ketone bodies remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of a major ketone body, 3-hydroxybutyric acid (3-HBA), on the proliferation and metastasis of malignant glioblastoma cells and the underlying mechanism. Two human malignant glioblastoma cell lines (U87 and U251) were treated with different concentrations of 3-HBA with or without the Raf inhibitor PAF C-16 for 24 h. Cell proliferation, cell cycle, cell invasion, and phospholipase D1 (PLD1) activity were determined. Protein and gene expression levels of Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway members were examined. 3-HBA significantly decreased cell proliferation, invasion, and intracellular PLD1 activity in both U87 and U251 glioblastoma cell lines. 3-HBA treatment significantly increased the proportion of cells in the G1 phase and decreased the proportion of cells in S phase in U87 cells. In the U251 line, the proportion of treated cells in S phase was increased and proportion of cells in G2 was decreased. 3-HBA treatment also significantly decreased the protein expression levels of Raf, MEK, p-MEK, ERK, p-ERK, and PLD1 while increasing p53 expression; an effect that was similar to treatment with the Raf inhibitor. Co-treatment of 3-HBA with the Raf inhibitor further enhanced the effects of the 3-HBA in both cell lines. We confirmed that a ketogenic microenvironment can inhibit glioma cell proliferation and invasion by downregulating the expression of PLD1 through the Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway.

Effects of transcription factor SIX2 gene on the proliferation of bovine skeletal muscle satellite cells

Objective: To investigate the effect of SIX2 gene on the proliferation of bovine skeletal muscle satellite cells. Methods: Bovine skeletal muscle satellite cells were used as experimental materials, and the expression of SIX2 gene in bovine skeletal muscle satellite cells was detected by real-time quantitative PCR at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h of proliferation. The SIX2 gene overexpression vector was constructed by homologous recombination. The SIX2 gene overexpression plasmid and the control empty plasmid were transfected into bovine skeletal muscle satellite cells, and each group had three complex Wells. The cell viability was detected by MTT assay at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after transfection. At 48 h after transfection, the cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry, and the expressions of cell proliferation marker genes were detected by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot. Results: With the proliferation of bovine skeletal muscle satellite cells, the expression of SIX2 mRNA was increased. Compared with the control group, the expressions of SIX2 mRNA and protein in the SIX2 gene overexpression plasmid group were increased by 18 and 2.6 times, respectively (P＜0.01). The cell viability of the SIX2 gene overexpression plasmid group was increased (P＜0.01), the proportion of G1 cells was decreased by 24.6%, and the proportion of S phase and G2 phase cells was increased by 20.3% and 4.31%, respectively (P＜0.01). The mRNA and protein expressions of Pax7 gene were increased by 15.84 and 1.22 times, respectively, and the mRNA and protein expressions of proliferation marker genes PCNA and CCNB1 were increased by 4.82, 2.23,1.55 and 1.46 times, respectively (P＜0.01). Conclusion: Overexpression of SIX2 gene promotes the proliferation of bovine skeletal muscle satellite cells.

Effects of mir-195 Targeted Regulation of JAK2 on Proliferation, Invasion, and Apoptosis of Gastric Cancer Cells.

Background Overexpression of miR-195 can make gastric cancer cells stay in G1/G2 phase. miR-195 has been shown to inhibit gastric cancer cell replication and accelerate cell death by targeting JAK2. However, the relationship between miR-195, JAK2, and gastric cancer is not clear. Objective To observe the effect of mir-195 regulated by JAK2 on the growth, invasion, and death of gastric cancer cells. Methods MGC803 and NCI gastric N87 cells were introduced into the negative control sequences of miR-195 and RNA, respectively. To detect the expression of miR-195 in cells, to detect the effect of miR-195 on mitosis and proliferation of tumor cells, to analyze the effect of miR-195 on cell invasion and metastasis, and to detect the regulation of miR-195 on JAK2 expression. Results The level of miR-195 in miR-195-MIMICS group was significantly higher than that in miR-NC group. The cell survival rate of miR-195 mimic group was lower than that of miR-NC group (P < 0.05). Compared with miR-NC group, the number of cells in G1 phase increased, the cells in G2 phase and S phase decreased, and the proportion of cells in G2 and S phase decreased in miR-195 mimic group. The scratch distance of miR-195 simulator group was larger than that of control group. The number of invasive cells in the miR-195 mimic group was significantly lower than that in the control group. The expression of JAK2 protein in miR-195 mimic group was lower than that in miR-NC group. There was a significant negative correlation between the expression level of miR-195 and JAK2 (rhabdomile 0.326 and record 0.00). There are continuous interaction fragments between JAK2 and miR-195. The luciferase activity of miR-195 mimic and wild type JAK2 sequence expression vector was significantly lower than that of wild type JAK2 sequence expression vector. Conclusion miR-195 may inhibit the occurrence, metastasis, and invasion of gastric tumor by downregulating the expression of JAK2. miR-195/JAK2 may be a new molecular target for the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors.

Main Active Components and Cell Cycle Regulation Mechanism of Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix in the Treatment of Ox-LDL-Induced HUVECs Injury and Inhibition of Their Cell Cycle.

To explore the main active components and effects of cell cycle regulation mechanism of Astragali radix (AR) and Angelicae sinensis radix (ASR) on oxidative damage in vascular endothelial cells, a model of oxidative damage in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) treatment was developed. Based on the “knock-out/knock-in” model of the target component, cell viability, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage were assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, fluorescent probe 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA), and colorimetric assay, respectively, to evaluate the protective effect of the active components of AR and ASR (astragaloside IV (AS IV), astragaloside I (AS I), formononetin (FRM), calycosin (CAL), calycosin-7-O-β-D glucoside (CLG), and ferulic acid (FRA)) against oxidative damage. The cell cycle and expression of genes encoding cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) were observed using flow cytometry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that the combination of active components (ACC) significantly inhibited the decrease in cell viability as well as the increase in ROS and LDH release in HUVECs induced by ox-LDL treatment. AS IV and FRM promoted the proliferation of HUVECs but the proliferation index was decreased in the AS I and FRA groups; this inhibitory effect was counteracted by the ACC. The ACC reduced and increased the proportion of positive cells in G1 and S phases, respectively, followed by the upregulation of cyclin A (CCNA), cyclin E (CCNE), and CDK2 mRNA expression and downregulation of cyclin B (CCNB), cyclin D1 (CCND1), CDK1, CDK4, and CDK6 mRNA expression, which significantly mitigated inhibition of HUVECs proliferation induced by ox-LDL treatment. Taken together, AS IV, AS I, FRM, CAL, CLG, and FRA were the primary pharmacodynamic substances of AR and ASR that alleviated oxidative injury in HUVECs. ACC mitigated the upregulation of intracellular ROS levels and LDH release induced by ox-LDL treatment, which promoted the cell cycle procession of HUVECs by regulating the expression of genes encoding cyclins and CDKs and thus preventing oxidative damage in HUVECs.

Cullin4B Induces Autophagy Participating the Tumorigenesis of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Background: Cullin 4B(CUL4B) is a member of cullin family, which is a scaffold protein of Cullin-Ring ligase complexes. CUL4B has been reported to be overexpressed in many solid cancers. And evidence supporting the oncogenic role of CUL4B is accumulating, which includes cell proliferation regulation, signal transduction and transcriptional regulation. However, none of them has been reported regarding the expression and biological role of CUL4B in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We hypothesized that CUL4B could promote tumorigenesis and reduce chemosensitivity by activating autophagy. In this current study, we evaluated the expression and function of CUL4B in DLBCL tissues and cell lines. We also assessed the proliferation and apoptosis of DLBCL cells when treated with a proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib (BZ). The aim of this study is to investigate the functional significance of CUL4B and its therapeutic potential in DLBCL.Methods: Immunohistochemistry staining (IHC) for CUL4B expression was performed on tissues of 48 newly diagnosed DLBCL and 30 reactive hyperplasia cases (controls) with informed contents. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from healthy volunteers. Expression levels of CUL4B mRNA and protein in DLBCL cells and PBMCs (controls) were detected by RT-PCR and western blotting. Stable knockdown cell lines were generated by lentiviral infection. Effects of cell viability, cycle and apoptosis were assessed by cell counting kit-8 assay, propidium iodide and Annexin V-PE/7AAD staining, respectively. Invasion ability was analyzed by transwell assay. Autophagosomes were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. ShCUL4B cells and empty lentiviral vectors (shcontrol) cells were subcutaneously injected to SCID-Beige mice to establish enograft models. Animal experiments were performed in accordance with the principles of the Institutional Animal Care.Results: The positivity of CUL4B was statistically more frequent in DBLCL tissues compared with reactive hyperplasia of lymph nodes tissues (Fig. 1A). Expression of CUL4B was positively correlated with the B symptoms (p=0.043) and Ann Arbor stage of DLBCL patients (p=0.049). CUL4B was also overexpressed in DLBCL cell lines (LY1 and LY8) at both mRNA and protein level (Fig. 1B and C). CUL4B-deletion caused substantial growth suppression in DLBCL cells (Fig.1D). CUL4B interference resulted in an increased accumulation of cells in G1 phase of the cell cycle, with concomitant decreases in the proportion of cells in G2 and S phases compared to control cells (Fig.1E). Moreover, we also found that CUL4B knockdown induced striking reduction in invasion cells (Fig.1F). Furthermore, tumor formation was assessed in xenograft models with CUL4B downregulation. We found that tumor growth was significantly suppressed by CUL4B knockdown (Fig.1G). IHC for CUL4B on xenograft tumor sections showed that tumors derived from shCUL4B cells exhibited significantly lower levels of CUL4B compared to control group (Fig.1H).To investigate the mechanism of CUL4B promoting tumorigenesis, we further examined whether CUL4B was associated with autophagy. Our data showed that CUL4B silence could significantly reduce autophagy in DLBCL cells (Fig.1I and J). CUL4B silence or JNK inhibitor (Sp600125) caused significantly inhibition of the conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II and reductive phosphorylation of JNK (Fig.1K and L). Our data also demonstrated that the decreased level of autophagy was due to CUL4B modulating in the JNK signaling pathway.Flow cytometry was performed to evaluate the ability of CUL4B enhancing the drug resistance of BZ in DLBCL cells. No obvious apoptosis occurred with CUL4B-silence (Fig.1M). Interestingly, co-treatment with BZ significantly induced cell apoptosis and inhibited autophagy in the CUL4B-deletion cells (Fig.1N and O). Therefore, we were highly skeptical of the view that CUL4B might suppress the sensitivity of BZ by promoting autophagy in DLBCL.Conclusions: We confirmed that overexpression of CUL4B contributed to the tumorigenesis and chemo-resistance via activating autophagy in DLBCL. These results have provided a novel biomarker for the pathogenesis and progression of DLBCL. It supports the pursuit of CUL4B as a novel potential target for DLBCL therapy and prevention for chemotherapy resistance. [Display omitted] DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

In vitro induction of quiescence in isolated primary human myoblasts.

Adult skeletal muscle stem cells, satellite cells, remain in an inactive or quiescent state in vivo under physiological conditions. Progression through the cell cycle, including activation of quiescent cells, is a tightly regulated process. Studies employing in vitro culture of satellite cells, primary human myoblasts (PHMs), necessitate isolation myoblasts from muscle biopsies. Further studies utilizing these cells should endeavour to represent their native in vivo characteristics as closely as possible, also considering variability between individual donors. This study demonstrates the approach of utilizing KnockOut™ Serum Replacement (KOSR)-supplemented culture media as a quiescence-induction media for 10days in PHMs isolated and expanded from three different donors. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that treatment resulted in an increase in G1 phase and decreased S phase proportions in all donors (p < 0.005). The proportions of cells in G1 and G2 phases differed in proliferating myoblasts when comparing donors (p < 0.05 to p < 0.005), but following KOSR treatment, the proportion of cells in G1 (p = 0.558), S (p = 0.606) and G2 phases (p = 0.884) were equivalent between donors. When cultured in the quiescence-induction media, expression of CD34 and Myf5 remained constant above > 98% over time from day 0 to day 10. In contrast activation (CD56), proliferation (Ki67) and myogenic marker MyoD decreased, indicated de-differentiation. Induction of quiescence was accompanied in all three clones by fold change in p21 mRNA greater than 3.5 and up to tenfold. After induction of quiescence, differentiation into myotubes was not affected. In conclusion, we describe a method to induce quiescence in PHMs from different donors.

Комбинация низких доз глюкозамина и 2-DG усиливает цитотоксический эффект в опухолевых клетках человека в культуре

Химиотерапия опухолей традиционно направлена на ингибирование пролиферации раковых клеток и активацию апоптоза. В данной работе на клетках карциномы (линия HeLaG63) и эндотелиоцитах (линия ECV304) человека проведено сравнительное исследование эффектов низких концентраций (1,5-10мМ) двух аналогов глюкозы: 2-DG и глюкозамина D. Оценка эффективности действия этих агентов проводилась по следующим параметрам: снижение жизнеспособности по МТТ-тесту, изменение проницаемости клеточной мембраны, изменение прогрессии по клеточному циклу, выраженность апоптотической гибели при культивировании клеток в питательной среде с различным содержанием глюкозы. Показано, что 48 часовая обработка 2-DG в исследованных концентрациях приводила к снижению доли клеток в G1 и S-фазах и аккумуляции их в G2\M фазах. Глюкозамин D, в отличие от 2-DG при тех же концентрациях блокировал эти же клетки в G1\S фазе клеточного цикла. При обработке клеток HeLaG63 глюкозамин D оказывал более токсичное действие, чем 2-DG. При сочетанном воздействии 2-DG и глюкозамина D регистрировали существенное увеличение суб- G1-популяции по сравнению с раздельным воздействием. Эффективность обработки увеличивалась при снижении концентрации глюкозы в питательной среде и/или с увеличением дозы агентов. Эндотелиоциты (ECV304) были менее чувствительны, как к действию глюкозамина D, так и 2-DG, и сочетанное воздействие даже при концентрациях 10мМ не отличалось от раздельного воздействия. Обработка клеток 10мМ 2-DG и глюкозамина D приводила к увеличению проницаемости клеточных мембран для флуоресцентного красителя пропидиум йодида, при этом наибольшую эффективность регистрировали для клеток HeLaG63. Chemotherapy for tumors has traditionally been aimed at inhibiting proliferation and activating apoptosis of cancer cells. Aim. To perform a comparative study of effects of two glucose analogues, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) and glucosamine D, at low concentrations (1.5-10 mM) on carcinoma cells (HeLaG63 line) and endotheliocytes (ECV304 line). Methods. Efficacy of these agents was evaluated by decreased cell viability (MTT test), permeability of the cell membrane, changes in progression by the cell cycle, and apoptosis (cytometric method) of cells cultured in mediums with different glucose concentrations. Results. The 48-h 2-DG treatment of cells in the studied concentrations reduced the proportion of cells in G1 and S-phases and their accumulation in G2\M phases. The same concentrations of glucosamine D, as distinct from 2-D, blocked the same cells in the G1\S phase of the cell cycle. The same concentrations of glucosamine D were more toxic to carcinoma cells than 2-DG. A combination of 2-DG and glucosamine D significantly greater increased the sub-G1 population of HeLaG63 cells than either agent alone. The treatment effectiveness increased with a decrease in the glucose concentration in the medium and/or with an increase in the agent dose. Endotheliocytes (ECV304) were less sensitive to both glucosamine D and 2-DG, and the effect of their combination did not differ from the effect of either agent alone, even at concentrations of 10 mM. Treatment of cells with 10 mM 2-DG and glucosamine D increased the cell membrane permeability for the fluorescent dye, propidium iodide, with the greatest effect recorded for HeLaG63 cells. Conclusion. Therefore, the anticarcinogenic efficacy of glycolysis inhibitors can be enhanced, which would allow to considerably reduce their doses and avoid potential side effects induced by therapeutically effective drug concentrations.

Comparative DNA cytometry of primary and recurrent soft tissue sarcomas.

e22516 Background: Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are aggressive tumors with a high degree of recurrence. Radical resection within healthy tissues allows to reduce the recurrence percentage to 25-30% without subsequent therapy. The literary analysis has shown that the study of various biological properties of primary and recurrentsoft tissue tumorsis being conducted. However, currently there is a lack of information to understand the reasons for STS recurrence. The goal of investigation was to reveal the distinctive features of the DNA content and cell distribution in the phases of the cell cycle of recurrent STS. Methods: DNA cytometry in the tumor tissue of 30 primary soft tissue sarcomas and 30 STS recurrences was carried out using the method of flow cytofluorometry. The tumor ploidy and cell distribution in the cell cycle phases were analyzed. Results: A number of differences in the DNA cytometric parameters of primary and recurrent STS have been revealed, they include: an increase in the proportion of aneuploid tumors in case of recurrence, the number of tumors with DNA index within the mitotic cycle, an increase in the proportion of cells in G2+M- phase of diploid and aneuploid tumors and a decrease in S- phase of aneuploid ones. It has been shown that with a G2 differentiation degree, the proportion of cells in G2+M, S- and proliferation index of recurrent STS is significantly lower than the primary parameters. An increase in the proportion of cells in G2+M- phase and a decrease in the rate of proliferation of recurrent STS, depending on the stage, are shown only in case of stage III. Conclusions: The revealed features of DNA content and cell cycle of tumor cells of soft tissue sarcomas will allow to approach to understanding of biological bases of recurrence of this malignant disease.

Apatinib affects the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of esophageal cancer cells both in vitro and in xenografts by regulating Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways.

e15501 Background: To investigate the effects of apatinib on esophageal cancer cells in vitro and xenograft models, and discuss the mechanisms of its actions. Methods: Used various assays to measure the different biological processes of esophageal cancer cells: used MTT assay to measure the proliferation rate; used transwell assay to determine the migration capacity and used colony formation assay to assess the clone formation rate. The effect of apatinib on cell cycle and apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression levels of VEGF and VEGFR2 were measured by qRT-PCR. The concentration of VEGF in the supernatant of cancer cell was assessed by ELISA. The expression levels of MEK, ERK, p-MEK, p-ERK, STAT3, p-STAT3, CHK2 and CDC2 after VEGF stimulation were detected by western blot. We also established human esophageal squamous carcinoma xenograft model in nude mice. The mice were randomly divided into healthy control group, low dose group (250mg) and high dose group (500mg), with 6 mice in each group. The tumor growth rate of each group was calculated, and the expression levels of VEGF and VEGFR2 in tumor tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: Apatinib inhibited the proliferation of esophageal cancer cell in a time-dependent (P &lt; 0.05) and concentration-dependent (P &lt; 0.05) manner; it also inhibited the cell migration capacity (P &lt; 0.05) and colony formation rate (P &lt; 0. 05). In addition, apatinib induced apoptosis in esophageal cancer cells and increased the proportion of cells in G2 / M phase (P &lt; 0.05). The mRNA levels of VEGF (P &lt; 0.05) and VEGFR2 (P &lt; 0.05) and the protein levels of VEGF (P &lt; 0.05) were also suppressed by apatinib. Western blot showed that apatinib could down-regulate the expression of p-MEK, p-ERK, STAT3, p-STAT3, CHK2 and CDC2 (P &lt; 0.05). The inhibition rates of apatinib in esophageal carcinoma xenograft model was 29.25% and 19.96% for 250mg and 500mg drug treatment groups. Compared with healthy control group, the VEGF levels in drug treatment groups were not significantly different (P &gt; 0.05), but the VEGFR2 levels were significantly decreased (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: Apatinib can induce apoptosis of esophageal cancer cell KYSE-150 and ECA-109, and inhibit the cell proliferation, migration and colony formation. Moreover, apatinib can inhibit the tumor growth in esophageal carcinoma xenograft models. This inhibitory action of apatinib is related to the alterations in VEGF-related pathways such as Ras / Raf / MEK / ERK and JAK2 / STAT3 pathways.

Ethanol Exposure Increases miR-140 in Extracellular Vesicles: Implications for Fetal Neural Stem Cell Proliferation and Maturation.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) generate most of the neurons of the adult brain in humans, during the mid-first through second-trimester period. This critical neurogenic window is particularly vulnerable to prenatal alcohol exposure, which can result in diminished brain growth. Previous studies showed that ethanol (EtOH) exposure does not kill NSCs, but, rather, results in their depletion by influencing cell cycle kinetics and promoting aberrant maturation, in part, by altering NSC expression of key neurogenic miRNAs. NSCs reside in a complex microenvironment rich in extracellular vesicles, shown to traffic miRNA cargo between cells. We profiled the miRNA content of extracellular vesicles from control and EtOH-exposed ex vivo neurosphere cultures of fetal NSCs. We subsequently examined the effects of one EtOH-sensitive miRNA, miR-140-3p, on NSC growth, survival, and maturation. EtOH exposure significantly elevates levels of a subset of miRNAs in secreted extracellular vesicles. Overexpression of one of these elevated miRNAs, miR-140-3p, and its passenger strand relative, miR-140-5p, significantly increased the proportion of S-phase cells while decreasing the proportion of G0 /G1 cells compared to controls. In contrast, while miR-140-3p knockdown had minimal effects on the proportion of cells in each phase of the cell cycle, knockdown of miR-140-5p significantly decreased the proportion of cells in G2 /M phase. Furthermore, miR-140-3p overexpression, during mitogen-withdrawal-induced NSC differentiation, favors astroglial maturation at the expense of neural and oligodendrocyte differentiation. Collectively, the dysregulated miRNA content of extracellular vesicles following EtOH exposure may result in aberrant neural progenitor cell growth and maturation, explaining brain growth deficits associated with prenatal alcohol exposure.

18F-FDG and 11C-choline uptake in proliferating tumor cells is dependent on the cell cycle in vitro

ObjectiveAmong different PET tracers, 18F-fludeoxyglucose (FDG) and 11C-choline are known to have a high tumor uptake correlated with a high mitotic index of tumor cells. Thus, the uptake of 18F-FDG and 11C-choline may be dependent on the cell cycle. In the present study, we examined the uptake of 18F-FDG and 11C-choline in cancer cell lines by cell cycle synchronization to clarify the biological properties of cancer cells with respect to each tracer.MethodsHeLa S3 Cells were synchronized by the double thymidine (TdR) block methods. 18F-FDG and 11C-choline were administered to synchronized cells, and the radioactivity per cell was measured to compare the cellular uptake of the tracers during S, G2/M, and G1 phases. Flow cytometry (FCM) was performed to measure the proportion of cells in G1, S, and G2/M phases. Furthermore, the levels of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and choline transporter-like protein 1 (CTL1) in the cell were evaluated by FCM.ResultsThe uptake of 18F-FDG was the highest in S to G2/M phases, and markedly decreased in G1 phase. The uptake of 11C-choline reached its peak in G2/M, and decreased in G1 phase. The level of GLUT1 expression was similar to that of 18F-FDG uptake during the cell cycle, and the level of CTL1 expression was similar to that of 11C-choline uptake throughout the cell cycle.ConclusionsIn this in vitro study, we demonstrated that 18F-FDG and 11C-choline had the highest uptake in S to G2/M phases and in G2/M phase, respectively, with a rapid decrease in G1 phase. These findings suggest that 18F-FDG and 11C-choline have a high accumulation in tumor cells with a high mitotic index. Furthermore, our study suggests that the expression of GLUT1 and CTL1 has cell cycle dependence, and the changes of 18F-FDG and 11C-choline accumulation seem to be caused by the above properties of these transporters.

The in vitro growth of a cord blood–derived cell population enriched for CD34+ cells is influenced by its cell cycle status and treatment with hydroxyurea

ObjectiveCell cycle plays a fundamental role in the physiology of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. In the present study we used a negative selection system to obtain an immature cell population—enriched for cord blood–derived CD34+ cells—and we determined its proliferation, expansion and differentiation patterns as a function of the cell cycle status. The effects of hydroxyurea (HU) were also assessed. ResultsAs compared with cells in synthesis (S)/Gap2 (G2)/mitosis (M), cells in quiescent state (G0)/Gap1 (G1) showed a higher proliferation potential in vitro. At culture onset, G0, G1 and S/G2/M cells corresponded with 63%, 33% and 4%, respectively. Treatment with HU before culture resulted in an increase in the proportion of cells in G1 with a concomitant decrease in S/G2/M cells, without affecting the proportion of cells in G0. After 3 days of culture in the presence of recombinant cytokines, the vast majority of the cells (90%) were in G1, and by day 8, G0, G1 and S/G2/M cells corresponded with 18%, 67% and 15%, respectively. HU also induced an increase in colony-forming cell (CFC) frequency, in the proliferation and expansion capacities of cultured cells under myeloid conditions, and favored the development of the erythroid lineage. ConclusionOur results show that the in vitro proliferation, expansion and differentiation potentials of immature hematopoietic cells are determined, at least in part, by their cell cycle status and that the cell cycle modifier HU significantly influences the growth of human hematopoietic cells. These results are of potential relevance for the development of ex vivo expansion protocols.

DNA-cytometric characteristics of recurrent soft tissue sarcomas

Aim. To determine the content of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and distribution of cells in mitotic phases in patients with recurrent soft tissue sarcomas for the assessment of malignancy of the process. Methods. Tumor tissues of patients with recurrent soft tissue sarcomas were studied. Research methods included histological, DNA-cytometric and statistical methods. Results. Proliferative activity and proliferative index of recurrent sarcomas differed depending on the tumor grade and stage. Differences in the number of diploid, aneuploid and polyploid cells were determined in each group and between the groups depending on the cell cycle phases. Cell cycle parameters were as following: 100% of G1 (well-differentiated) cancer were diploid, as well as 33.3% of G2 (moderately differentiated) and 15% of G3 (poorly differentiated) tumors. Aneuploid tumors prevailed in G2 and G3, the ratio of which was 66.7 and 85%, respectively. The analysis of kinetic parameters of the cell cycle allowed establishing a decrease in the number of cells in G1/G0 phase of the cell cycle from G1 to G3, which was accompanied by a statistically significant increase in the proportion of cells in S-phase (p ˂0.05). Conclusion. The DNA-cytometric study of cell cycle parameters showed high biological potential of recurrent soft tissue sarcomas, which was determined by two indices - the proportion of cells in G2+M-phase and the cell loss factor; 100% of well-differentiated (G1) tumors, 33.3% of moderately differentiated (G2) and 15% of poorly differentiated (G3) tumors were diploid; aneuploid tumors prevailed in G2 and G3.

Establishment of multidrug resistance cell line of cisplatin and gemcitabine in bladder cancer cell line T24 and its biological characteristics

Objective To establish a human bladder cancer cisplatin (DDP) and gemcitabine (GEM) resistant cell line (T24/DDP&GEM) by concentration gradient method, and to observe its biological characteristics. Methods DDP and GEM were used as inducers to establish human bladder cancer cisplatin and gemcitabine resistant model T24/DDP&GEM in vitro. The morphology of T24 and T24/DDP&GEM cells was observed by the inverted microscope. The drug resistance and the growth curve of cells were detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). The P-glycoprotein (P-gP) expression was detected by Western blotting. Results After the induction of DDP and GEM for 12 months, T24/DDP&GEM was successfully established. Under the inverted phase contrast microscopy, as compared with T24 cells, the morphology of T24DDP/GEM cells was irregular, the volume became larger, and vacuoles and granules were formed in the cytoplasm. The proliferation ability of T24/DDP&GEM cells was significantly lower than that of T24 cells. The doubling time of T24/DDP&GEM cells was (39.51±0.36) h, and that of T24 was (28.06±0.76) h. The doubling time was extended for (11.45±0.41) h. The drug resistance of T24/DDP&GEM was significantly improved, and the drug resistance index was 4.25 for DDP and 62.97 for GEM. As compared with T24 cells, the proportion of S and G2 phase cells in T24/DDP&GEM cells decreased, the proportion of G1 cells increased significantly, and the cell cycle slowed down. The results of Western blotting showed that the expression level of P-gp in T24/DDP&GEM cells was significantly higher than that in T24 cells. Conclusion The artificial induced DDP and GEM resistant bladder cancer cell line T24/DDP&GEM has the characteristics of multi drug resistant tumor cells. Key words: Bladder cancer; Chemotherapy; Cisplatin; Gemcitabine; Multidrug resistance

Inhibitory effect of puerarin on proliferation of retinoblastoma cells: An &lt;i&gt;in-vitro&lt;/i&gt; study

Purpose: To investigate the anti-proliferative effect of puerarin on retinoblastoma cells. Methods: The effect of puerarin was examined on human retinoblastoma Y79 cells using cell proliferation assays and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The effect of puerarin on the cell cycle was also investigated. Western blot and RT-PCR analyses were also performed to identify the putative mechanism of action. Results: The results showed that cell viability was suppressed by puerarin in a concentrationdependent manner with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) of 0.184 ± 0.034 μmol/L. Moreover, puerarin increased the proportion of cells in G1 phase from 42.6 ± 3.1 to 62.83 ± 4.1, 75.76 ± 3.4 and 91.33 ± 5.1 % in a concentration-dependent manner at concentrations of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 μmol/L, respectively. The results also indicate that Bmi-1 mRNA and protein levels decreased after puerarin treatment. Additionally, flow cytometry data showed that Bmi-1 knock-down through siRNA resulted in G1-cell cycle arrest. The proportion of cells in G1 were 51.2 ± 2.5 and 71.4 ± 4.5 % for control and Bmi-1 siRNA-treated groups, respectively. Conclusions: The results show that puerarin exert suppressive effects on human retinoblastoma Y79 cells and therefore may find application in the treatment of intraocular tumor. Keywords: Cancer, Puerarin, Retinoblastoma Y79 cells, mTOR inhibition, Intraocular tumor

Abstract 4178: The novel PLK1 inhibitor, CYC140: Identification of pharmacodynamic markers, sensitive target indications and potential combinations

Abstract Introduction: CYC140 is a selective and potent ATP-competitive inhibitor of PLK1, which has completed IND-enabling studies. The aim of this translational project was to inform the clinical development path of CYC140. Esophageal cancer was investigated as a potential target indication based on unmet medical need and the observation that PLK1 is frequently overexpressed in esophageal tumors and carries a poor prognosis. Experimental procedures: The anticancer activity of CYC140 was examined across multiple tumor types to identify sensitive target indications or tumor subsets. 6 h pulse exposure to CYC140 was used to determine sensitivity in a panel of over 250 cancer cell lines, including 15 esophageal cancer cell lines, using CellTiter Glo and resazurin-based assays. Candidate pharmacodynamic markers were examined in malignant and non-malignant cells. Drug combination testing was undertaken in several esophageal cell lines using approved and targeted agents. Solid tumor and leukemia xenograft models were performed to assess CYC140 dosing schedules and efficacy. Summary: Inhibition of PLK1 by CYC140 perturbs the entry into and exit from mitosis. In malignant cells, CYC140 treatment leads to the appearance of mitotic cells with monopolar spindles and a persistent increase in the proportion of cells in G2 and M phase, resulting in complete growth inhibition and induction of cell death. In non-malignant cells, the growth arrest is transient, and cells resume cycling once compound is removed. Short (6 h) pulse treatments of CYC140 maximise the difference in cellular response between malignant esophageal cell lines and cells of a non-malignant origin. In the esophageal cell line panel, CYC140 cellular IC50 correlates with induction of apoptosis. The effect of CYC140 on pharmacodynamic markers of PLK-1 activity such as phospho-nucleophosmin and phospho-histone H3 was characterized in malignant and non-malignant cells. Several promising combinations of CYC140 with targeted agents were identified, including EGFR inhibitors, HDAC inhibitors and PI3K pathway inhibitors, and CYC140 can also be combined with cytotoxic agents approved for use in esophageal cancer, such as cisplatin or irinotecan. CYC140 anti-tumor efficacy was demonstrated in solid tumor and leukemic xenograft models with responses including tumor regression and tumor-free cures. Conclusions: CYC140 is a promising anti-cancer agent with potent anti-proliferative activity and therapeutic potential in a variety of cancers, including esophageal cancer and acute leukemia. The mode of action of CYC140 is consistent with PLK1 inhibition and cell death is preferentially triggered in sensitive malignant cells. Suitable pharmacodynamic markers and several promising combinations have been identified that could assist clinical development of CYC140. Citation Format: Sylvie Moureau, Craig MacKay, Chiara Saladino, Elizabeth Pohler, Karin Kroboth, Jonathan Hollick, Daniella Zheleva, Sheelagh Frame, David Blake. The novel PLK1 inhibitor, CYC140: Identification of pharmacodynamic markers, sensitive target indications and potential combinations [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4178. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4178

Dysregulated function of normal human epidermal keratinocytes in the absence of filaggrin.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of filaggrin knockdown on the function of normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs). Filaggrin expression levels in NHEKs were knocked down by lentivirus (LV) encoding small hairpin RNA (shRNA), with control cells infected with nonsense shRNA or not infected. Cell migration and invasion were assayed using Transwell inserts, cell adhesion and proliferation by the Cell Counting kit-8 assay, and apoptosis and cell cycle progression by flow cytometry. shRNA efficiently suppressed expression of filaggrin protein. The LV group had significantly decreased cell migration, adhesion and proliferation, and increased apoptosis compared with the control groups (P=0.027). In addition, the proportion of cells in G1 and G2 phases were significantly increased in the LV group compared with control groups (P=0.018). The results of the present study demonstrate that filaggrin knockdown inhibits NHEK migration, adhesion and proliferation, promotes apoptosis and disturbs cell cycle progression.

Lentivirus-Mediated RNAi silencing targeting ERCC1 reverses cisplatin resistance in cisplatin-resistant ovarian carcinoma cell line.

The aim of the study was to investigate the potential mechanisms that interferencing of excision repair cross-complementing gene 1 (ERCC1) mediated by lentiviral vector in cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer SKOV3/DDP cells. The human platinum-resistant ovarian carcinoma cell line SKOV3/DDP was transfected by pLVX-shRNA lentivirus. Interference efficiency for ERCC1 by lentiviruses transfection was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot assay. CCK-8 assay was used for cell proliferation on cell resistance after transfection with ERCC1. Effects of cell apoptosis and cell cycles were detected by flow cytometry. The expression levels of ERCC1 were significantly suppressed in SKOV3/DDP cells after stably transfecting with shERCC1-recombinant plasmid. The results of cell viability assay demonstrated that interference with ERCC1 gene increased the sensitivity of SKOV3/DDP cells to cisplatin (p<0.01). ERCC1 gene-specific silencing promoted cell apoptosis of SKOV3/DDP cells (p<0.01) detected by flow cytometry. Cell cycle analysis results showed that the proportion of cells in G1 and S phase decreased, while the proportion of G2 phase cells increased in ERCC1-silencing cells. The differences were statistically significant (p<0.01), which demonstrated that stable interferencing with ERCC1 induced the cells arrest in G2 phase after being treated by DDP and silencing the expression of ERCC1 inhibited cell proliferation by preventing the progression of cell mitosis. ERCC1 gene silencing effectively reversed SKOV3/DDP cell resistance to cisplatin and increased sensitivity to cisplatin resistance in cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells. Interference of ERCC1 promoted the apoptosis of SKOV3/DDP cells and prevented cell mitosis by inducing G0/G1 phase arrest. Thus, ERCC1 could be a potential therapeutic target for the therapy of cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer and it would provide new ideas for epigenetic therapy of drug-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer.