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Liver metastasis is one of the most important prognostic factors in lung cancer patients. However, current therapies are not sufficient. RNA interference provides us a powerful and promising approach for treating human diseases including cancers. Herein, we investigated the in vitro effects of PLK-1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) on human lung cancer cell lines and the in vivo usage of PLK-1 siRNA with atelocollagen as a drug delivery system in a murine liver metastasis model of lung cancer. PLK-1 was overexpressed in cell lines and in cancerous tissues from lung cancer patients. PLK-1 siRNA treatment inhibited growth and induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. To verify in vivo efficacy, we confirmed that atelocollagen was a useful drug delivery system in our model of implanted luciferase-labeled A549LUC cells by detecting reduced bioluminescence after an i.v. injection of luciferase GL3 siRNA/atelocollagen. PLK-1 siRNA/atelocollagen was also successfully transfected into cells and inhibited the progression of metastases. This study shows the efficacy of i.v. administration of PLK-1 siRNA/atelocollagen for liver metastases of lung cancer. We believe siRNA therapy will be a powerful and promising strategy against advanced lung cancer. [Mol Cancer Ther 2008;7(9):2904–12]

Supplementary Fig. S1 from Administration of PLK-1 small interfering RNA with atelocollagen prevents the growth of liver metastases of lung cancer

Supplementary Figure Legends from Administration of PLK-1 small interfering RNA with atelocollagen prevents the growth of liver metastases of lung cancer

Supplementary Methods and Figure Legends 1-5 from Baicalein Overcomes Tumor Necrosis Factor–Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand Resistance via Two Different Cell-Specific Pathways in Cancer Cells but not in Normal Cells

Supplementary Figure 2 from Baicalein Overcomes Tumor Necrosis Factor–Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand Resistance via Two Different Cell-Specific Pathways in Cancer Cells but not in Normal Cells

Supplementary Figure 1 from Baicalein Overcomes Tumor Necrosis Factor–Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand Resistance via Two Different Cell-Specific Pathways in Cancer Cells but not in Normal Cells

Supplementary Figure 3 from Baicalein Overcomes Tumor Necrosis Factor–Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand Resistance via Two Different Cell-Specific Pathways in Cancer Cells but not in Normal Cells

Tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is one of the most promising candidates for new cancer therapeutics. A current problem is that some cancers still remain resistant to TRAIL. We show for the first time that a naturally occurring flavonoid, baicalein, overcomes TRAIL resistance in cancer cells. The combination of baicalein and TRAIL effectively induced apoptosis in TRAIL-resistant colon cancer SW480 cells. Baicalein up-regulated the expression of death receptor 5 (DR5) among TRAIL receptors at the mRNA and protein levels. Suppression of this up-regulation with small interfering RNA (siRNA) efficiently reduced the apoptosis induced by TRAIL and baicalein, suggesting that the sensitization was mediated through DR5 induction. Moreover, baicalein also overcame TRAIL resistance with DR5 up-regulation in prostate cancer PC3 cells. Of note, the combination of TRAIL and baicalein hardly induced apoptosis in normal human cells, such as blood cells and hepatocytes. Baicalein increased DR5 promoter activity, and this enhanced activity was diminished by mutation of a CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP)–binding site in SW480 cells. In SW480 cells, CHOP siRNA blocked both functions of baicalein. CHOP expression was induced by baicalein in SW480 cells; however, in PC3 cells, baicalein scarcely induced CHOP and mutation of the CHOP-binding site did not abrogate the DR5 promoter activation by baicalein. Interestingly, baicalein induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a ROS scavenger prevented DR5 expression and TRAIL sensitization in PC3 but not SW480 cells. These results indicate that, using two different pathways, baicalein exposes cancer surveillance of TRAIL and overcomes TRAIL resistance in cancer cells. [Cancer Res 2008;68(21):8918–27]

Supplementary Figure 4 from Baicalein Overcomes Tumor Necrosis Factor–Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand Resistance via Two Different Cell-Specific Pathways in Cancer Cells but not in Normal Cells

Cumulative exposure to environmental factors and chemicals can be damaging to human health. A new concept called the exposome refers to the totality of exposures and their impact on health. Professor Yukiko Minamiyama, Food Hygiene and Environmental Health Division of Applied Life Science, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University, is exploring how lifestyle factors could reduce exposure and maintain human health and also how certain lifestyle changes could control or avoid chronic oxidative stress. She and her team are delving deeper into the concept of the exposome and chronic oxidative stress to enhance understanding and facilitate informed, beneficial changes for humankind. Minamiyama is collaborating with a leading researcher on oxidative stress Dr Toshikazu Yoshikawa, Dr Hiroshi Ichikawa of Doshisha University School of Life and Medical Sciences and Dr Shigekazu Takemura of Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine. Minamiyama and the team believe controlling free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) can prevent or improve diseases. Although food additives are unavoidable, Minamiyama believes that consuming antioxidants could help reduce oxidative stress and disease. In one study , the researchers investigated the in vitro and in vivo effects of food additives on the male rat brain and sperm/testes, with an emphasis on oxidative stress and found that the food additive stevioside induced ROS production in sperm and resulted in sperm dysfunction. They also discovered that treatment with the antioxidant alpha-tocopherol significantly improved oxidative stress.

Brown fats specialize in thermogenesis by increasing the utilization of circulating blood glucose and fatty acids. Emerging evidence suggests that brown adipose tissue (BAT) prevents the incidence of obesity-associated metabolic diseases and several types of cancers in humans. Mitochondrial energy metabolism in brown/beige adipocytes regulates both uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)-dependent and -independent thermogenesis for cold adaptation and the utilization of excess nutrients and energy. Many studies on the quantification of human BAT indicate that mass and activity are inversely correlated with the body mass index (BMI) and visceral adiposity. Repression is caused by obesity-associated positive and negative factors that control adipocyte browning, de novo adipogenesis, mitochondrial energy metabolism, UCP1 expression and activity, and noradrenergic response. Systemic and local factors whose levels vary between lean and obese conditions include growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, neurotransmitters, and metal ions such as selenium and iron. Modulation of obesity-associated repression in human brown fats is a promising strategy to counteract obesity and related metabolic diseases through the activation of thermogenic capacity. In this review, we highlight recent advances in mitochondrial metabolism, thermogenic regulation of brown fats, and human metabolic diseases.