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Background: Excision repair cross-complementary 1 (ERCC1) overexpression in lung cancer cells is strongly correlated with its resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy. Overexpression of thymidine phosphorylase (TP) reverts platinum-induced cancer cell death.Purpose: Curcumin has been reported to enhance antitumor properties through the suppression of TP and ERCC1 in non-small cell lung carcinoma cells (NSCLC). Nevertheless, whether two other curcuminoids, demethoxycurcumin (DMC) and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) from Curcuma longa demonstrate antitumor activity like that of curcumin remain unknown.Methods: MTT assay was conducted to determine the cell cytotoxicity. Western blotting was used to determine the protein expressions. Docking is the virtual screening of a database of compounds and predicting the strongest binders based on various scoring functions. BIOVIA Discovery Studio 4.5 (D.S. 4.5) were used for docking.Results: Firstly, when compared with curcumin and BDMC, DMC exhibited the most potent cytotoxic effect on NSCLC, most importantly, MRC-5, a lung fetal fibroblast, was insensitive to DMC (under 30 µM). Secondly, DMC alone significantly inhibited on-target cisplatin (CDDP) resistance protein, ERCC1, via PI3K-Akt-snail pathways, and TP protein expression in A549 cells. Thirdly, DMC treatment markedly increased post-target CDDP resistance pathway including Bax and cytochrome c. DMC significantly decreased Bcl-2 protein expressions. Finally, MTT assay indicated that DMC significantly increased CDDP-induced cytotoxicity and was confirmed with an increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, indicating upregulation of caspase-3.Conclusions: We concluded that enhancement of the cytotoxicity to CDDP by coadminstration with DMC was mediated by down-regulation of the expression of TP and ERCC1, regulated by PI3K-Akt-Snail pathway inactivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yan-Sheng-Yin (YSY), a Chinese natural dietary supplement that promotes good health, is entirely composed of natural foods. Whether YSY is a potential adjuvant intervention for reducing hyperlipidaemia, atherogenesis, or obesity is unclear. This study evaluated the inhibitory effects and mechanisms of YSY for hyperlipidaemia, atherogenesis, and obesity. Experimental results showed that YSY reduced body weight, hyperlipidaemia, fatty liver, and atherogenesis in hyperlipidaemic mice. In addition, YSY promoted lipid metabolism by inducing adiponectin secretion and activation (phosphorylation) of 5′ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and by suppressing the activation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR). Moreover, YSY inhibited adipocyte differentiation by suppressing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPs). Furthermore, the antihyperlipidaemic effect of YSY was observed in the clinical trial. Our findings suggest that YSY is an adjuvant intervention for treating and preventing hyperlipidaemia, atherogenesis, and obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The issue of multidrug resistance (MDR) cancer is one of the major barriers to successful chemotherapy treatment. The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) efflux transporters play an important role in the chemotherapeutic failure. Several generations of ABC efflux transporter inhibitors have been developed, however, none of them could provide better clinical outcome due to systemic toxicities and significant drug-drug interactions. Therefore, the present study focused on identifying the effect of the natural carotenoid on ABC transporters and may provide a safer choice to defeat MDR cancer. Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the inhibitory potency of β-carotene on the ABC efflux transporters, as well as the reversal effect of β-carotene toward MDR cancers. The underlying molecular mechanisms and inhibitory kinetics of β-carotene on the major ABC efflux transporter, P-glycoprotein, were further investigated. Methods: The human P-gp (ABCB1/Flp-In(TM)-293), MRP1 (ABCC1/Flp-In(TM)-293) and BCRP (ABCG2/Flp-In(TM)-293) stable expression cells were established by using the Flp-In(TM) system. The cytotoxicity of β-carotene was evaluated by MTT assay in the established cell lines, sensitive cancer cell lines (HeLaS3 and NCI-H460) and resistant cancer cell lines (KB-vin and NCI-H460/MX20). Surface protein detection assay and eFluxx-ID Green Dye assay were applied for confirmation of surface expression and function of the transporters. The transporter inhibition potency of β-carotene was evaluated by calcein-AM uptake assay and mitoxantrone accumulation assay. Further interaction kinetics between β-carotene and P-gp were analyzed by rhodamine123 and doxorubicin efflux assay. The influence of β-carotene on ATPase activity was evaluated by Pgp-Glo(TM) Assay System. Results: Among the tested ABC efflux transporters, β-carotene significantly inhibited human P-gp efflux function without altering ABCB1 mRNA expression. Furthermore, β-carotene stimulated both P-gp basal ATPase activity and the verapamil-stimulated P-gp ATPase activity. In addition, β-carotene exerted partially inhibitory effect on BCRP efflux function. The combination of β-carotene and chemotherapeutic agents significantly potentiated their cytotoxicity in both cell stably expressed human P-gp (ABCB1/Flp-In(TM)-293) and MDR cancer cells (KB-vin and NCI-H460/MX20). Conclusion: The present study indicated that β-carotene may be considered as a chemo-sensitizer and regarded as an adjuvant therapy in MDR cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to explore whether the ethanolic extract of Antrodia cinnamomea (EEAC), a medical mushroom form Taiwan, could affect the proliferation and migration of WEHI-3 cells in vitro and to explore the antitumor effects of EEAC in BALB/c mice engrafted with WEHI-3 cells. The results showed that EEAC inhibited the proliferation of WEHI-3 cells, resulting in the accumulation of cell in G0/G1 and G2/M phases, as determined by flow cytometry. Moreover, EEAC markedly reduced the migration of WEHI-3 cells, as determined by a transwell assay. Treatment of WEHI-3 cells with EEAC also decreased MMP-9 protein expression and enzyme activity. The protein levels of p-Akt, p-ERK1/2 were also decreased, whereas the expression of p21 and p27 was increased. Furthermore, in an in vivo model, EEAC treatment reduced the infiltration of WEHI-3 cells into the liver and spleens and decreased tumor growth. Other bioactive compounds, such as cordycepin and zhankuic acid A, have been demonstrated to reduce the expression of MMP-9, cyclin E, cyclin D1 and to increase the expression of p21, p27. This is the first study to investigate that the mechanisms by which EEAC reduce the proliferation and migration of WEHI-3 cells in vitro, as well as the ability of EEAC to reduced infiltration of WEHI-3 cells into the liver and spleen in vivo. The results suggest that EEAC may prove to be useful in future antileukemic therapies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cancer metastasis is a primary cause of cancer death. Antrodia cinnamomea (A. cinnamomea), a medicinal mushroom in Taiwan, has been shown antioxidant and anticancer activities. In this study, we first observed that ethanol extract of fruiting bodies of A. cinnamomea (EEAC) exerted a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on migration and motility of CL1-0 cells in the absence of cytotoxicity. The results of a gelatin zymography assay showed that A. cinnamomea suppressed the activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blot results demonstrated that treatment with A. cinnamomea decreased the expression of MMP-9 and MMP-2; while the expression of the endogenous inhibitors of these proteins, i.e., tissue inhibitors of MMP (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2) increased. Two major compounds from EEAC codycepin and zhankuic acid A alone and together inhibited MMP-9 and MMP-2 expressions. Further investigation revealed that A. cinnamomea suppressed the phosphorylation of p38, and JNK1/2. A. cinnamomea also suppressed the expressions of PI3K and phosphorylation of AKT. This is the first report confirming the anti-migration activity of this potentially beneficial mushroom against human lung adenocarcinoma CL1-0. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]