Jon Holy

Curcumin disrupts mitotic spindle structure and induces micronucleation in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

The dietary phytochemical curcumin possesses anti-inflammatory, -oxidant, and cytostatic properties, and exhibits significant potential as a chemopreventative agent in humans. Although many cell types are arrested in the G2/M-phase of the cell cycle after curcumin treatment, the mechanisms by which this occurs are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of curcumin on the cell cycle of MCF-7 breast cancer cells to determine whether growth arrest is associated with structural changes in cellular organization during mitosis. For this purpose, MCF-7 breast cancer cells were treated with 10-20 microM curcumin, and the effects on cell proliferation and mitosis studied. Structural changes were monitored by immunolabeling cells with antibodies to a number of cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins, including beta-tubulin, NuMA, lamins A/C and B1, lamin B receptor, and centromere antigens. At the concentrations used, a single dose of curcumin does not induce significant apoptosis, but is highly effective in inhibiting cell proliferation for over 6 days. During the first 24-48 h of treatment, many cells are arrested in M-phase, and DNA synthesis is almost completely inhibited. Remarkably, arrested mitotic cells exhibit monopolar spindles, and chromosomes do not undergo normal anaphase movements. After 48 h, most cells eventually leave M-phase, and many form multiple micronuclei instead of individual daughter nuclei. These observations indicate that the curcumin-induced G2/M arrest previously described for MCF-7 cells is due to the assembly of aberrant, monopolar mitotic spindles that are impaired in their ability to segregate chromosomes. The production of cells with extensive micronucleation after curcumin treatment suggests that at least some of the cytostatic effects of this phytochemical are due to its ability to disrupt normal mitosis, and raises the possibility that curcumin may promote genetic instability under some circumstances.

Mitochondrially Targeted Effects of Berberine [Natural Yellow 18, 5,6-dihydro-9,10-dimethoxybenzo(g)-1,3-benzodioxolo(5,6-a) quinolizinium] on K1735-M2 Mouse Melanoma Cells: Comparison with Direct Effects on Isolated Mitochondrial Fractions

Berberine [Natural Yellow 18, 5,6-dihydro-9,10-dimethoxybenzo(g)-1,3-benzodioxolo(5,6-a)quinolizinium] is an alkaloid present in plant extracts and has a history of use in traditional Chinese and Native American medicine. Because of its ability to arrest the cell cycle and cause apoptosis of several malignant cell lines, it has received attention as a potential anticancer therapeutic agent. Previous studies suggest that mitochondria may be an important target of berberine, but relatively little is known about the extent or molecular mechanisms of berberine-mitochondrial interactions. The objective of the present work was to investigate the interaction of berberine with mitochondria, both in situ and in isolated mitochondrial fractions. The data show that berberine is selectively accumulated by mitochondria, which is accompanied by arrest of cell proliferation, mitochondrial fragmentation and depolarization, oxidative stress, and a decrease in ATP levels. Electron microscopy of berberine-treated cells shows a reduction in mitochondria-like structures, accompanied by a decrease in mitochondrial DNA copy number. Isolated mitochondrial fractions treated with berberine had slower mitochondrial respiration, especially when complex I substrates were used, and increased complex I-dependent oxidative stress. It is also demonstrated for the first time that berberine stimulates the mitochondrial permeability transition. Direct effects on ATPase activity were not detected. The present work demonstrates a number of previously unknown alterations of mitochondrial physiology induced by berberine, a potential chemotherapeutic agent, although it also suggests that high doses of berberine should not be used without a proper toxicology assessment.

Morphological alterations induced by doxorubicin on H9c2 myoblasts: nuclear, mitochondrial, and cytoskeletal targets

Doxorubicin (Dox) is a very potent antineoplastic agent used against several types of cancer, despite a cumulative cardiomyopathy that reduces the therapeutic index for treatment. H9c2 myoblast cells have been used as an in vitro model to study biochemical alterations induced by Dox treatment on cardiomyocyte cells. Despite the extensive work already published, few data are available regarding morphological alterations of H9c2 cells during Dox treatment. The purpose of the present work was to evaluate Dox-induced morphological alterations in H9c2 myoblasts, focusing especially on the nuclei, mitochondria, and structural fibrous proteins. Treatment of H9c2 cell with low concentrations of Dox causes alterations in fibrous structural proteins including the nuclear lamina and sarcomeric cardiac myosin, as well as mitochondrial depolarization and fragmentation, membrane blebbing with cell shape changes, and phosphatidylserine externalization. For higher Dox concentrations, more profound alterations are evident, including nuclear swelling with disruption of nuclear membrane structure, mitochondrial swelling, and extensive cytoplasm vacuolization. The results obtained indicate that Dox causes morphological alterations in mitochondrial, nuclear, and fibrous protein structures in H9c2 cells, which are dependent on the drug concentration. Data obtained with the present study allow for a better characterization of the effects of Dox on H9c2 myoblasts, used as a model to study Dox-induced cardiotoxicity. The results obtained also provide new and previously unknown targets that can contribute to understand the mechanisms involved in the cardiotoxicity of Dox.

Lipophilic Caffeic and Ferulic Acid Derivatives Presenting Cytotoxicity against Human Breast Cancer Cells

In the present work, lipophilic caffeic and ferulic acid derivatives were synthesized, and their cytotoxicity on cultured breast cancer cells was compared. A total of six compounds were initially evaluated: caffeic acid (CA), hexyl caffeate (HC), caffeoylhexylamide (HCA), ferulic acid (FA), hexyl ferulate (HF), and feruloylhexylamide (HFA). Cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and apoptotic signaling were investigated in three human breast cancer cell lines, including estrogen-sensitive (MCF-7) and insensitive (MDA-MB-231 and HS578T). Furthermore, direct mitochondrial effects of parent and modified compounds were investigated by using isolated liver mitochondria. The results indicated that although the parent compounds presented no cytotoxicity, the new compounds inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell cycle alterations and cell death, with a predominant effect on MCF-7 cells. Interestingly, cell cycle data indicates that effects on nontumor BJ fibroblasts were predominantly cytostatic and not cytotoxic. The parent compounds and derivatives also promoted direct alterations on hepatic mitochondrial bioenergetics, although the most unexpected and never before reported one was that FA induces the mitochondrial permeability transition. The results show that the new caffeic and ferulic acid lipophilic derivatives show increased cytotoxicity toward human breast cancer cell lines, although the magnitude and type of effects appear to be dependent on the cell type. Mitochondrial data had no direct correspondence with effects on intact cells suggesting that this organelle may not be a critical component of the cellular effects observed. The data provide a rational approach to the design of effective cytotoxic lipophilic hydroxycinnamic derivatives that in the future could be profitably applied for chemopreventive and/or chemotherapeutic purposes.

Vital imaging of H9c2 myoblasts exposed to tert-butylhydroperoxide – characterization of morphological features of cell death

BackgroundWhen exposed to oxidative conditions, cells suffer not only biochemical alterations, but also morphologic changes. Oxidative stress is a condition induced by some pro-oxidant compounds, such as by tert-butylhydroperoxide (tBHP) and can also be induced in vivo by ischemia/reperfusion conditions, which is very common in cardiac tissue. The cell line H9c2 has been used as an in vitro cellular model for both skeletal and cardiac muscle. Understanding how these cells respond to oxidative agents may furnish novel insights into how cardiac and skeletal tissues respond to oxidative stress conditions. The objective of this work was to characterize, through vital imaging, morphological alterations and the appearance of apoptotic hallmarks, with a special focus on mitochondrial changes, upon exposure of H9c2 cells to tBHP.ResultsWhen exposed to tBHP, an increase in intracellular oxidative stress was detected in H9c2 cells by epifluorescence microscopy, which was accompanied by an increase in cell death that was prevented by the antioxidants Trolox and N-acetylcysteine. Several morphological alterations characteristic of apoptosis were noted, including changes in nuclear morphology, translocation of phosphatidylserine to the outer leaflet of the cell membrane, and cell blebbing. An increase in the exposure period or in tBHP concentration resulted in a clear loss of membrane integrity, which is characteristic of necrosis. Changes in mitochondrial morphology, consisting of a transition from long filaments to small and round fragments, were also detected in H9c2 cells after treatment with tBHP. Bax aggregates near mitochondrial networks were formed after short periods of incubation.ConclusionVital imaging of alterations in cell morphology is a useful method to characterize cellular responses to oxidative stress. In the present work, we report two distinct patterns of morphological alterations in H9c2 cells exposed to tBHP, a pro-oxidant agent frequently used as model to induce oxidative stress. In particular, dynamic changes in mitochondrial networks could be visualized, which appear to be centrally involved in how these cells respond to oxidative stress. The data also indicate that the cause of H9c2 cell death following tBHP exposure is increased intracellular oxidative stress.

Disruption of nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of cyclin D1 and topoisomerase II by sanguinarine

BackgroundThe quaternary isoquinoline alkaloid sanguinarine is receiving increasing attention as a potential chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of cancer. Previous studies have shown that this DNA-binding phytochemical can arrest a number of different types of transformed cells in G0/G1, and upregulate the CKIs p21 and p27 while downregulating multiple cyclins and CDKs. To more closely examine the responses of some of these cell cycle regulatory molecules to sanguinarine, we used immunocytochemical methods to visualize cyclin D1 and topoisomerase II behavior in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.Results5 – 10 μM sanguinarine effectively inhibits MCF-7 proliferation after a single application of drug. This growth inhibition is accompanied by a striking relocalization of cyclin D1 and topoisomerase II from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and this effect persists for at least three days after drug addition. DNA synthesis is transiently inhibited by sanguinarine, but cells recover their ability to synthesize DNA within 24 hours. Taking advantage of the fluorescence characteristics of sanguinarine to follow its uptake and distribution suggests that these effects arise from a window of activity of a few hours immediately after drug addition, when sanguinarine is concentrated in the nucleus. These effects occur in morphologically healthy-looking cells, and thus do not simply represent part of an apoptotic response.ConclusionIt appears that sub-apoptotic concentrations of sanguinarine can suppress breast cancer cell proliferation for extended lengths of time, and that this effect results from a relatively brief period of activity when the drug is concentrated in the nucleus. Sanguinarine transiently inhibits DNA synthesis, but a novel mechanism of action appears to involve disrupting the trafficking of a number of molecules involved in cell cycle regulation and progression. The ability of sub-apoptotic concentrations of sanguinarine to inhibit cell growth may be a useful feature for potential chemotherapeutic applications; however, a narrow effective range for these effects may exist.

Mitochondrial metabolism directs stemness and differentiation in P19 embryonal carcinoma stem cells

The relationship between mitochondrial metabolism and cell viability and differentiation in stem cells (SCs) remains poorly understood. In the present study, we compared mitochondrial physiology and metabolism between P19SCs before/after differentiation and present a unique fingerprint of the association between mitochondrial activity, cell differentiation and stemness. In comparison with their differentiated counterparts, pluripotency of P19SCs was correlated with a strong glycolytic profile and decreased mitochondrial biogenesis and complexity: round, low-polarized and inactive mitochondria with a closed permeability transition pore. This decreased mitochondrial capacity increased their resistance against dichloroacetate. Thus, stimulation of mitochondrial function by growing P19SCs in glutamine/pyruvate-containing medium reduced their glycolytic phenotype, induced loss of pluripotent potential, compromised differentiation and became P19SCs sensitive to dichloroacetate. Because of the central role of this type of SCs in teratocarcinoma development, our findings highlight the importance of mitochondrial metabolism in stemness, proliferation, differentiation and chemoresistance. In addition, the present work suggests the regulation of mitochondrial metabolism as a tool for inducing cell differentiation in stem line therapies.

Confocal microscopic observation of cytoskeletal reorganizations in cultured shark rectal gland cells following treatment with hypotonic shock and high external K

The dogfish shark (Squalus acanthias) rectal gland (SRG) cell has served as a model experimental system for investigating the relationship between the actin cytoskeleton and cell volume regulation. Previous reports employing conventional fluorescence microscopy of tissue slices have shown that cells exposed to high external K+ and hypotonically-induced cell swelling displayed a fading of F-actin staining intensity, particularly at the basolateral cell borders. However, spectroscopic measurement of the F-actin present in similarly treated rectal gland slices failed to demonstrate a net change in F-actin amount. In an effort to resolve the structural reorganizations of F-actin which may be occurring during high K+ and hypotonic shock treatments, we have used cultured SRG cells in conjunction with confocal microscopic immunocytochemical localization techniques to examine actin filament, microtubule, and cytokeratin filament dynamics under these two experimental conditions. The results reveal that F-actin in control cells exists in an array of parallel linear bundles (which do not appear to be stress fiber-like given their lack of staining for myosin II or alpha-actinin) that is reorganized to a punctate pattern in hypotonic shock and a dense meshwork in high K+. The linear bundle pattern of F-actin returns in cells undergoing regulatory volume decrease. Quantitative western blotting of F-actin in SRG cell detergent extracted cytoskeletons indicates no significant difference in the relative amounts of F-actin present in control, hypotonic shocked, or high K+ cells. Anti-tubulin and anti-cytokeratin labeling of the treated SRG cells suggest that these other major cytoskeletal elements are not significantly altered by the treatments. Taken together, our results reinforce the concept that there is an association between the structural organization of the actin cytoskeleton and cell volume regulation in the SRG epithelial cells.

Isoproterenol Cytotoxicity is Dependent on the Differentiation State of the Cardiomyoblast H9c2 Cell Line

H9c2 cells are used as a surrogate for cardiac cells in several toxicological studies, which are usually performed with cells in their undifferentiated state, raising questions on the applicability of the results to adult cardiomyocytes. Since H9c2 myoblasts have the capacity to differentiate into skeletal and cardiac muscle cells under different conditions, the hypothesis of the present work was that cells in different differentiation states differ in their susceptibility to toxicants. In order to test the hypothesis, the effects of the cardiotoxicant isoproterenol (ISO) were investigated. The present work demonstrates that differentiated H9c2 cells are more susceptible to ISO toxicity. Cellular content of beta1-adrenergic receptors (AR), beta3-AR, and calcineurin is decreased as cells differentiate, as opposed to the content on the mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) and phosphorylated p38-MAPK, which increase. After ISO treatment, the pro-apoptotic protein Bax increases in all experimental groups, although only undifferentiated myoblasts up-regulate the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. Calcineurin is decreased in differentiated H9c2 cells, which suggests an important role against ISO-induced cell death. The results indicate that the differentiation state of H9c2 myoblasts influence ISO toxicity, which may involve calcineurin, p38-MAPK, and Bax/Bcl-2 alterations. The data also provide new insights into cardiovascular toxicology during early development.

Sanguinarine cytotoxicity on mouse melanoma K1735-M2 cells—Nuclear vs. mitochondrial effects

Sanguinarine (SANG) is an alkaloid recognized to have anti-proliferative activity against various human tumour cell lines. No data is available on the susceptibility of advanced malignant melanoma to SANG, although this disease has a very poor prognosis if not detected in time due to the resistance to conventional chemotherapy. The present work was designed to study the nuclear and mitochondrial involvement in the pro-apoptotic effect of SANG in an invasive mouse melanoma cell line. The results obtained show that SANG is primarily accumulated by the cell nuclei, causing inhibition of cell proliferation and inducing cell death, as confirmed by an increase in sub-G1 peaks. At low concentrations, SANG induces mitochondrial depolarization in a sub-population of melanoma cells, which also generally displayed strong nuclear labelling of phosphorylated histone H2AX. Western blotting revealed an increase in p53, but not Bax protein, in both whole-cell extracts and in mitochondrial fractions. Isolated hepatic mitochondrial fractions revealed that SANG affects the mitochondrial respiratory chain, and has dual effects on mitochondrial calcium loading capacity. We suggest that SANG is able to induce apoptosis in metastatic melanoma cells. The knowledge of mitochondrial vs. nuclear effects of SANG is important in the development of this promising compound for clinical use against aggressive melanoma.