pregna-4-17-diene-3-16-dione and Adenocarcinoma

Induction by bile acid of caudal type homeobox 2 (CDX2) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression via nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation is a critical event in the development of Barrett's esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Guggulsterone (GS) is a plant sterol that inhibits NF-κB activity. Here, we evaluated whether GS has either or both chemopreventive or therapeutic effects against EAC.. Two EAC cells lines were treated with deoxycholic acid (DCA) in the presence of GS or vehicle. The levels of transcription and translation of IκBα, CDX2, and COX-2 were determined. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels, cell viability, and cell cycle distribution were assessed as well.. GS inhibited DCA-induced IκBα phosphorylation. GS and the NF-κB inhibitor BAY11-7085 suppressed DCA-induced CDX2 and COX-2 expression in EAC cells. GS also suppressed basal transcription levels of CDX2 and COX-2 and reduced constitutive synthesis of COX-2 and PGE2. Further, GS reduced the viability of EAC cells, increased their numbers in the apoptotic sub-G1 fraction.. GS suppressed DCA-induced and NF-κB-dependent activation of CDX2 and COX-2 expression. Further, GS also reduced the viability of EAC cells. GS may serve as candidate for preventing and treating EAC and BE.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Anticarcinogenic Agents; Apoptosis; Barrett Esophagus; CDX2 Transcription Factor; Cell Line; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Cholagogues and Choleretics; Cyclooxygenase 2; Deoxycholic Acid; Dinoprostone; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Esophageal Neoplasms; Homeodomain Proteins; Humans; I-kappa B Proteins; Neoplasm Proteins; NF-kappa B; Phosphorylation; Pregnenediones

Gastroesophageal reflux is a risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma, and bile acid and its farnesoid X receptor (FXR) have been implicated in esophageal tumorigenesis. The authors investigated the role of FXR expression and activity in esophageal cancer initiation and growth.. FXR expression in esophageal adenocarcinoma tissues was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Knockdown of FXR expression in esophageal cancer cells in vitro and in nude mice xenografts was suppressed by FXR small hairpin RNA (shRNA) and guggulsterone (a natural FXR inhibitor). Esophageal cancer cells were treated with bile acids to demonstrate their effects on growth-promoting genes.. FXR was expressed in 48 of 59 esophageal adenocarcinoma tissues (81.3%), and this overexpression was associated with higher tumor grade, larger tumor size, and lymph node metastasis; however, was inversely associated with retinoic acid receptor-β2 (RAR-β2 ) expression. Knockdown of FXR expression suppressed tumor cell growth in vitro and in nude mouse xenografts. Guggulsterone reduced the viability of esophageal cancer cells in a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner, whereas this effect was diminished after knockdown of FXR expression. Guggulsterone induced apoptosis through activation of caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-3 in tumor cells. FXR mediated bile acid-induced alterations of gene expression, eg, RAR-β2 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2).. Inhibition of FXR by FXR shRNA or guggulsterone suppressed tumor cell viability and induced apoptosis in vitro, and it reduced tumor formation and growth in nude mouse xenografts. FXR also mediated bile acid-induced alterations of cell growth-related genes in esophageal cancer cells.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Animals; Bile Acids and Salts; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cyclooxygenase 2; Esophageal Neoplasms; Female; Gene Knockdown Techniques; Humans; Male; Mice; Mice, Nude; Pregnenediones; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; Receptors, Retinoic Acid; Transfection; Transplantation, Heterologous; Up-Regulation

Guggulsterone, a plant polyphenol guggulipid, has several antitumour effects and acts as an antagonist for the farnesoid X receptor. Although bile acids induce caudal-related homeobox 2 (CdX2), a transcription factor essential for intestinal development and gut tumourigenesis, the effects of guggulsterone on regulation of CdX2 in the gut are unknown.. Regulation of CdX2 expression by treatment with bile acids and/or guggulsterone was analysed by immunoblot analysis in human gut-derived adenocarcinoma, Bic-1 cells. Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity and the cell cycle distribution were also examined.. Chenodeoxycholic acid and deoxycholic acid increased CdX2 expression in Bic-1 cells. Guggulsterone reduced bile acid-induced and constitutive CdX2 expression at 5 microM. Guggulsterone (up to 5 microM) did not affect cell viability or the cell cycle and did not attenuate bile acid-induced or constitutive NF-kappaB activation.. Guggulsterone may be used as a novel drug to target CdX2 expression in certain gut adenocarcinomas.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Apoptosis; Bile Acids and Salts; CDX2 Transcription Factor; Cell Cycle; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Homeodomain Proteins; Humans; Intestinal Neoplasms; NF-kappa B; Pregnenediones; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear

Barrett's esophagus, a risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma, is associated with reflux disease. The aim of this study was to assess the expression of bile acid receptors in the esophagus (normal, esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma) and to investigate their possible function.. the expression of the bile acid receptors FXR and VDR in esophageal biopsies from patients with a normal mucosa, esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus or adenocarcinoma (n = 6 per group) and in cell lines derived from Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma, was assessed by real time Q-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The effect of guggulsterone, an antagonist of bile acid receptors, on apoptosis of Barrett's esophagus-derived cells was assessed morphologically, by flow cytometry and by measuring caspase 3 activity. The expression of FXR was increased in esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma compared to normal mucosa by a mean of 44, 84 and 16, respectively. Immunohistochemistry showed a weak expression in normal esophagus, a strong focal reactivity in Barrett's esophagus, and was negative in adenocarcinoma. VDR expression did not significantly differ between groups. In cell cultures, the expression of FXR was high in Barrett's esophagus-derived cells and almost undetectable in adenocarcinoma-derived cells, whereas VDR expression in these cell lines was not significantly different. In vitro treatment with guggulsterone was associated with a significant increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells and of the caspase 3 activity.. the bile acid receptor FXR is significantly overexpressed in Barrett's esophagus compared to normal mucosa, esophagitis and esophageal adenocarcinoma. The induction of apoptosis by guggulsterone in a Barrett's esophagus-derived cell line suggests that FXR may contribute to the regulation of apoptosis.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Apoptosis; Barrett Esophagus; Biopsy; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Line, Tumor; DNA-Binding Proteins; Esophageal Neoplasms; Esophagitis, Peptic; Female; Gene Expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; HT29 Cells; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Middle Aged; Precancerous Conditions; Pregnenediones; Receptors, Calcitriol; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; Transcription Factors