6-o-carboxypropyl-alpha-tocotrienol and Mesothelioma

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Line, Tumor; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mesothelioma; Mesothelioma, Malignant; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred ICR; Mice, Nude; Oxidation-Reduction; Tocotrienols; Tumor Burden

Wnt signaling plays an essential role in tumor cell growth, including the development of malignant mesothelioma (MM). Epigenetic silencing of negative Wnt regulators leading to constitutive Wnt signaling has been observed in various cancers and warrants further attention. We have reported that a succinate ether derivative of α-tocotrienol (T3E) has potent cytotoxic effects in MM cells. Thus, in this study, we investigated whether the anti-MM effect of T3E could be mediated via the epigenetic alteration of the Wnt antagonist gene, Dickkopf-1 (DKK1).. WST-1 and cell analyzers were employed to analyze the effects of T3E on cell viability and apoptosis of human MM cell lines (H2452, H28). Real-time PCR and Western blot were performed to evaluate the expression at mRNA and protein levels. Methylation status and epigenetic modifications of DKK1's promoter regions after T3E treatment in MM cells were studied using methylation-specific PCR and Chromatin immunoprecipitation. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown -(siRNA), and specific inhibitors, were used to validate DKK1 as a target of T3E.. T3E markedly impaired MM cell viability, increased the expression of phosphorylated-JNK and DKK1 and suppressed cyclin D, a downstream target gene of Wnt signaling. Knockdown of DKK1 expression by siRNA or a specific JNK inhibitor confirmed the contribution of DKK1 and JNK to T3E-induced cytotoxicity in MM cells. On the other hand, cytoskeleton-associated protein 4 (CKAP4) expression, which promotes cell proliferation as a Wnt-independent DKK1 receptor was inhibited by T3E. Silencing CKAP4 by -siRNA did not appear to directly affect MM cell viability, thereby indicating that expression of both DKK1 and CKAP4 is required. Furthermore, T3E-mediated inhibition of both DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1, 3A, and 3B) and histone deacetylases (HDAC1, 2, 3, and 8) in MM cells leads to increased DKK1 expression, thereby promoting tumor growth inhibition. MM cells treated with Zebularine (a DNMT inhibitor) and sodium butyrate (an HDAC inhibitor) exhibited cytotoxic effects, which may explain the inhibitory action of T3E on MM cells. In addition, an enhanced expression of DKK1 in MM cells following T3E treatment is positively correlated with the methylation status of its promoter; T3E decreased DNA methylation and increased histone acetylation. Moreover, T3E specifically increased histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) methylation activity, whereas no effects were observed on histone H3K9 and H3K27.. Targeting the epigenetic induction of DKK1 may lead to effective treatment of MM, and T3E has great potential to induce anti-MM activity.

Topics: Apoptosis; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Cyclin D; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases; DNA Methylation; Epigenesis, Genetic; Gene Expression; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; Humans; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Lung Neoplasms; Membrane Proteins; Mesothelioma; Mesothelioma, Malignant; RNA, Small Interfering; Tocotrienols

De novo synthesis of proteins is regulated by cap-dependent protein translation. Aberrant activation of the translation is a hallmark of many cancer types including malignant mesothelioma (MM). We previously reported that a redox-silent analog of α-tocotrienol, 6-O-carboxypropyl-α-tocotrienol (T3E) induces potent cytotoxicity against human MM cells. However, the detailed mechanism of cytotoxicity of T3E remains unclear. In this study, we investigated if T3E induced potent cytotoxicity aganist MM cells. T3E reduced the formation of the cap-dependent translation complex and induced inactivation of oncogene from rat sarcoma virus (RAS). These events were associated with T3E cytotoxicity in MM cells. Furthermore, atorvastatin, an inhibitor of RAS function, had similar effects on MM cells. Moreover, 4EGI-1, a specific inhibitor of the cap-dependent translation complex, induced severe cytotoxicity in MM cells. Overall, T3E had a cytotoxic effect on MM cells via disruption of the activated cap-dependent translation complex through inactivation of RAS.

Topics: Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Humans; Mesothelioma; Oxidation-Reduction; Protein Biosynthesis; ras Proteins; Tocotrienols

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a crucial role in tumor angiogenesis and represents an attractive anticancer target. We have previously demonstrated that a redox-silent analogue of α-tocotrienol, 6-O-carboxypropyl-α-tocotrienol (T3E) exhibits potent anti-carcinogenic property in human malignant mesothelioma (MM) cells. However, inhibition of tumor growth by targeting VEGF pathway remains undetermined. In this study, we explored the inhibitory effect of T3E on the paracrine secretion of VEGF in MM cells under mimicked hypoxia by cobalt chloride (CoCl2). In this study we examine whether T3E can suppress the secretion of VEGF in MM cells exposed to mimic hypoxia by cobalt chloride (CoCl2). We found that CoCl2-induced hypoxia treatment leads to increased up-regulated hypoxia-inducible factor-2α (HIF-2α) and subsequently induced the secretion of VEGF in MM cells. This up-regulation activation mainly depended on the activation of Yes, a member of the Src family of kinases. Treatment of hypoxic MM cells with T3E effectively inhibited the secretion of VEGF, On the other hand, T3E inhibited CoCl2-induced gene expression of VEGF due to the inactivation of Yes/HIF-2α signaling. These data suggest that Yes/HIF2-α/VEGF could be a promising therapeutic target of T3E in MM cells.

Topics: Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Cobalt; Gene Expression; Humans; Hypoxia; Mesothelioma; Oxidation-Reduction; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-yes; Signal Transduction; Tocotrienols; Up-Regulation; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer with no effective treatment options. A redox-silent analogue of alpha-tocotrienol, 6-O-carboxypropyl-alpha-tocotrienol (T3E) is a new potential anti-carcinogenic agent with less toxic effect on non-tumorigenic cells. Here, we evaluated the effect of T3E on killing of chemoresistant mesothelioma cell (H28).. The cytotoxic effect of T3E was evaluated by a WST-1 assay, and cell cycle and apoptosis analysis were done by FACS. Each signal molecule's activity was determined by protein array and immunoblot analysis.. T3E effectively inhibited H28 cell growth at practical pharmacological concentrations (10-20 muM) without any effect on non-tumorigenic mesothelial cell (Met-5A). Inhibition of H28 cell growth by T3E mediated through G2/M arrest in cell cycle and induction of apoptosis. Protein array and immunoblot analyses revealed that T3E inhibited the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) via the inactivation of the Src family of protein tyrosine kinases (Src). However, the blockade of the EGFR signaling was not associated with the T3E-dependent H28 cell growth control. In addition to Src inactivation, T3E inhibited signal transduction and activation of transcription Stat3. A combination of an Src inhibitor, PP2, and a Stat3 inhibitor, AG490, induced G2/M arrest and enhanced apoptosis compared with PP2 alone. These results suggest that T3E suppresses H28 cell growth via the inhibition of Src activation and Src-independent Stat3 activation.. T3E can be a new effective therapeutic agent against chemoresistant mesothelioma cells.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Cell Cycle; Cell Line, Tumor; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Enzyme Activation; Humans; Mesothelioma; Oxidation-Reduction; Protein Array Analysis; src-Family Kinases; STAT3 Transcription Factor; Tocotrienols