cytochrome-c-t and andrographolide

The nephrotoxic mechanisms of andrographolide sodium bisulfate (ASB) remain largely unknown. This study attempted to explore the mechanism of ASB-induced nephrotoxicity using human proximal tubular endothelial cells (HK-2).. For this study HK-2 cells were treated with rising concentrations of ASB. Their survival rate was detected using MTT assay and ultrastructure was observed with electron microscopy. L-Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay was followed by examination of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected using different methods and apoptosis/autophage related proteins were detected using immunoblotting.. We found that ASB inhibited HK-2 cell proliferation and decreased cell survival rate in a time and dose-dependent manner (P<0.05, P<0.01, respectively). With increasing ASB concentration, cell structure was variably damaged and evidence of apoptosis and autophagy were observed. MMP gradually decreased and ROS was induced. The expression of JNK and Beclin-1 increased and activation of the JNK signaling pathway were seen. Apoptosis was induced via the mitochondrial-dependent caspase-3 and caspase-9 pathway, and autophagy related protein Beclin-1 was enhanced by ASB.. The data show that ASB induces high levels of ROS generation in HK-2 cells and activates JNK signaling. Furthermore, ASB induces cell apoptosis via the caspase-dependent mitochondrial pathway, and induces cellular autophagy, in part by enhancing Beclin-1 protein expression.

Topics: Apoptosis; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; Autophagy; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; Beclin-1; Caspase 3; Caspase 9; Cell Line; Cytochromes c; Diterpenes; Endothelial Cells; Glutathione; Humans; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Kidney Tubules, Proximal; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Membrane Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Reactive Oxygen Species; Sulfates; Superoxide Dismutase

Gemcitabine is a first-line drug utilised in the chemotherapy of pancreatic cancer; however, this drug induces chemo-resistance and toxicity to normal tissue during treatment. Here, we firstly report that andrographolide (ANDRO) alone not only has anti-pancreatic cancer activity, but it also potentiates the anti-tumour activity of gemcitabine. Treatment with ANDRO alone inhibits proliferation of the pancreatic cancer cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner in vitro. Interestingly, ANDRO induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells by inhibiting STAT3 and Akt activation, upregulating the expression of p21(WAF1) and Bax, and downregulating the expression of cyclinD1, cyclinE, survivin, X-IAP and Bcl-2. Additionally, ANDRO combined with gemcitabine significantly induce stronger cell cycle arrest and more obvious apoptosis than each single treatment. The mechanistic study demonstrates that this synergistic effect is also dependent on the inhibition of STAT3 and Akt activations which subsequently regulates the pathways involved in the apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, both ANDRO alone and the combination treatments exhibit efficacious anti-tumour activity in vivo. Overall, our results provide solid evidence supporting that ANDRO alone or its combination with gemcitabine is a potential chemotherapeutic approach for treating human pancreatic cancer in clinical practice.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; Apoptosis; Blotting, Western; Cell Count; Cell Cycle; Cell Line, Tumor; Coloring Agents; Cytochromes c; Deoxycytidine; Diterpenes; Drug Synergism; Flow Cytometry; Gemcitabine; Gentian Violet; Humans; Ki-67 Antigen; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; STAT3 Transcription Factor; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

The pseudo-tumoral expansion of fibroblast-like synoviocytes is a hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and targeting rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RAFLSs) may have therapeutic potentials in this disease. Andrographolide, a diterpenoid compound isolated from the herb Andrographis paniculata, has been reported to have potent anti-inflammatory activity. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of andrographolide on human RAFLSs and the underlying molecular mechanism(s). RAFLSs were isolated from patients with RA and treated with or without various concentrations (i.e., 10, 20, and 30 μM) of andrographolide for 48 h. 3-[4,5-Dimethyl-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay revealed that andrographolide treatment decreased the proliferation of RAFLSs in a dose-dependent manner. Cell cycle analysis using propidium iodide (PI) staining showed a G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in andrographolide-treated RAFLSs. Immunoblotting analysis of key cell cycle regulators demonstrated that andrographolide treatment caused a dose-dependent increase in the expression of cell-cycle inhibitors p21 and p27 and a concomitant reduction of cyclin-dependent kinase 4. Exposure to andrographolide-induced apoptosis of RAFLSs measured by annexin V/PI double staining, which was coupled with promotion of cytochrome C release from mitochondria and activation of caspase-3. Moreover, andrographolide-treated RAFLSs displayed a significant decrease in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio compared to untreated cells. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that andrographolide exerts anti-growth and pro-apoptotic effects on RAFLSs, thus may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of RA.

Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Apoptosis; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; Caspase 3; Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; Cytochromes c; Diterpenes; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fibroblasts; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Synovial Fluid

Despite recent significant advances in the treatment of human carcinoma (HCC), the results of chemotherapy to date remain unsatisfactory. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) still represents the cornerstone of treatment of carcinoma, and resistance to the actions of 5-FU is a major obstacle to successful chemotherapy. More effective treatment strategies may involve combinations of agents with activity against HCC. Andrographolide (ANDRO), a natural bicyclic diterpenoid lactone isolated from Andrographis paniculata, has been shown to suppress the growth of HCC cells and trigger apoptosis in vitro. To assess the suitability of ANDRO as a chemotherapeutic agent in HCC, its cytotoxic effects have been evaluated both as a single agent and in combination with 5-FU. ANDRO potentiates the cytotoxic effect of 5-FU in HCC cell line SMMC-7721 through apoptosis. ANDRO alone induces SMMC-7721 apoptosis with p53 expression, Bax conformation and caspase-3,8,9 activation. Surprisingly, the addition of ANDRO to 5-FU induces synergistic apoptosis, which could be corroborated to the increased caspase-8, p53 activity and the significant changes of Bax conformation in these cells, resulting in increased losses of mitochondrial membrane potential, increased release of cytochrome c, and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3. Suppression of caspase-8 with the specific inhibitor z-IETD-fmk abrogates largely ANDRO/5-FU biological activity by preventing mitochondrial membrane potential disappearance, caspase-3,9 activation and subsequent apoptosis. The results suggest that ANDRO may be effective in combination with 5-FU for the treatment of HCC cells SMMC-7721.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Caspase 8; Caspase 9; Cell Line, Tumor; Cytochromes c; Diterpenes; Drug Synergism; Fluorouracil; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

Andrographolide (Andro), a diterpenoid lactone isolated from a traditional herbal medicine Andrographis paniculata, is known to possess potent anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, Andro induced apoptosis in human cancer cells via activation of caspase 8 in the extrinsic death receptor pathway and subsequently with the participation of mitochondria. Andro triggered a caspase 8-dependent Bid cleavage, followed by a series of sequential events including Bax conformational change and mitochondrial translocation, cytochrome c release from mitochondria, and activation of caspase 9 and 3. Inhibition of caspase 8 blocked Bid cleavage and Bax conformational change. Consistently, knockdown of Bid protein using small interfering RNA (siRNA) technique suppressed Andro-induced Bax conformational change and apoptosis. In conclusion, the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members (Bid and Bax) are the key mediators in relaying the cell death signaling initiated by Andro from caspase 8 to mitochondria and then to downstream effector caspases, and eventually leading to apoptotic cell death.

Topics: Apoptosis; Caspases; Cell Line, Tumor; Cytochromes c; Diterpenes; Humans; Protein Conformation; Protein Transport; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; RNA, Small Interfering; Tumor Cells, Cultured