Xiao-yan Fu

Strategy to Suppress Oxidative Damage-Induced Neurotoxicity in PC12 Cells by Curcumin: the Role of ROS-Mediated DNA Damage and the MAPK and AKT Pathways

Oxidative damage plays a key role in causation and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Inhibition of oxidative stress represents one of the most effective ways in treating human neurologic diseases. Herein, we evaluated the protective effect of curcumin on PC12 cells against H2O2-induced neurotoxicity and investigated its underlying mechanism. The results indicated that curcumin pre-treatment significantly suppressed H2O2-induced cytotoxicity, inhibited the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) through regulation of Bcl-2 family expression, and ultimately reversed H2O2-induced apoptotic cell death in PC12 cells. Attenuation of caspase activation, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, DNA damage, and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) all confirmed its protective effects. Moreover, curcumin markedly alleviated the dysregulation of the MAPK and AKT pathways induced by H2O2. Taken together, our findings suggest that the strategy of using curcumin could be a highly effective way in combating oxidative damage-mediated human neurodegenerative diseases.

Caudatin induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in human glioma cells with involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species generation

Caudatin as one species of C-21 steroidal from Cynanchum bungei decne displays potential anticancer activity. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In the present study, the growth suppressive effect and mechanism of caudatin on human glioma U251 and U87 cells were evaluated in vitro. The results indicated that caudatin significantly inhibited U251 and U87 cell growth in both a time- and dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that caudatin-induced cell growth inhibition was achieved by induction of cell apoptosis, as convinced by the increase of Sub-G1 peak, PARP cleavage and activation of caspase-3, caspase-7 and caspase-9. Caudatin treatment also resulted in mitochondrial dysfunction which correlated with an imbalance of Bcl-2 family members. Further investigation revealed that caudatin triggered U251 cell apoptosis by inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation through disturbing the redox homeostasis. Moreover, pretreatment of caspase inhibitors apparently weakens caudatin-induced cell killing, PARP cleavage and caspase activation and eventually reverses caudatin-mediated apoptosis. Importantly, caudatin significantly inhibited U251 tumour xenografts in vivo through induction of cell apoptosis involving the inhibition of cell proliferation and angiogenesis, which further validate its value in combating human glioma in vivo. Taken together, the results described above all suggest that caudatin inhibited human glioma cell growth by induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis with involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS generation.

Enhanced Therapeutic Potential of Nano-Curcumin Against Subarachnoid Hemorrhage-Induced Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption Through Inhibition of Inflammatory Response and Oxidative Stress

Curcumin and nano-curcumin both exhibit neuroprotective effects in early brain injury (EBI) after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). However, the mechanism that whether curcumin and its nanoparticles affect the blood–brain barrier (BBB) following SAH remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of curcumin and the poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)-encapsulated curcumin nanoparticles (Cur-NPs) on BBB disruption and evaluated the possible mechanism underlying BBB dysfunction in EBI using the endovascular perforation rat SAH model. The results indicated that Cur-NPs showed enhanced therapeutic effects than that of curcumin in improving neurological function, reducing brain water content, and Evans blue dye extravasation after SAH. Mechanically, Cur-NPs attenuated BBB dysfunction after SAH by preventing the disruption of tight junction protein (ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-5). Cur-NPs also up-regulated glutamate transporter-1 and attenuated glutamate concentration of cerebrospinal fluid following SAH. Moreover, inhibition of inflammatory response and microglia activation both contributed to Cur-NPs’ protective effects. Additionally, Cur-NPs markedly suppressed SAH-mediated oxidative stress and eventually reversed SAH-induced cell apoptosis in rats. Our findings revealed that the strategy of using Cur-NPs could be a promising way in improving neurological function in EBI after experimental rat SAH.

Caudatin Inhibits Human Glioma Cells Growth Through Triggering DNA Damage-Mediated Cell Cycle Arrest.

Caudatin, one of the species of C-21 steroidal glycosides mainly isolated from the root of Cynanchum bungei Decne, exhibits potent anticancer activities. However, the mechanism remains poorly defined. In the present study, the growth inhibitory effect and mechanism of caudatin on human glioma cells were evaluated in vitro. The results revealed that caudatin time- and dose-dependently inhibited U251 and U87 cells growth. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that caudatin-induced growth inhibition against U251 and U87 cells was mainly achieved by the induction of G0/G1 and S-phase cell cycle arrest through triggering DNA damage, as convinced by the up-regulation of p53, p21, and histone phosphorylation, as well as the down-regulation of cyclin D1. Moreover, caudatin treatment also triggered the activation of ERK and inactivation of AKT pathway. LY294002 (an AKT inhibitor) addition enhanced caudation-induced AKT inhibition, indicating that caudatin inhibited U251 cells growth in an AKT-dependent manner. Taken together, these results indicate that caudatin may act as a novel cytostatic reagent against human glioma cells through the induction of DNA damage-mediated cell cycle arrest with the involvement of modulating MAPK and AKT pathways.

Reversal of Beta-Amyloid-Induced Neurotoxicity in PC12 Cells by Curcumin, the Important Role of ROS-Mediated Signaling and ERK Pathway

Progressive accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) will form the senile plaques and cause oxidative damage and neuronal cell death, which was accepted as the major pathological mechanism to the Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Hence, inhibition of Aβ-induced oxidative damage and neuronal cell apoptosis by agents with potential antioxidant properties represents one of the most effective strategies in combating human AD. Curcumin (Cur) a natural extraction from curcuma longa has potential of pharmacological efficacy, including the benefit to antagonize Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. However, the molecular mechanism remains elusive. The present study evaluated the protective effect of Cur against Aβ-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in PC12 cells and investigated the underlying mechanism. The results showed that Cur markedly reduced Aβ-induced cytotoxicity by inhibition of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis through regulation of Bcl-2 family. The PARP cleavage, caspases activation, and ROS-mediated DNA damage induced by Aβ were all significantly blocked by Cur. Moreover, regulation of p38 MAPK and AKT pathways both contributed to this protective potency. Our findings suggested that Cur could effectively suppress Aβ-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis by inhibition of ROS-mediated oxidative damage and regulation of ERK pathway, which validated its therapeutic potential in chemoprevention and chemotherapy of Aβ-induced neurotoxicity.

Attenuation of Cisplatin-Induced Neurotoxicity by Cyanidin, a Natural Inhibitor of ROS-Mediated Apoptosis in PC12 Cells

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy in clinic is severely limited by its adverse effect, including neurotoxicity. Oxidative damage contributes to cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity, but the mechanism remains unclearly. Cyanidin, a natural flavonoid compound, exhibits powerful antioxidant activity. Hence, we investigated the protective effects of cyanidin on PC12 cells against cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity and explored the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity was completely reversed by cyanidin through inhibition of PC12 cell apoptosis, as proved by the attenuation of Sub-G1 peak, PARP cleavage, and caspases-3 activation. Mechanistically, cyanidin significantly inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced DNA damage in cisplatin-treated PC12 cells. Our findings revealed that cyanidin as an apoptotic inhibitor effectively blocked cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity through inhibition of ROS-mediated DNA damage and apoptosis, predicating its therapeutic potential in prevention of chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity.Graphical AbstractCisplatin caused DNA damage, activated p53, and subsequently induced PC12 cells apoptosis by triggering ROS overproduction. However, cyanidin administration effectively inhibited DNA damage, attenuated p53 phosphorylation, and eventually reversed cisplatin-induced PC12 cell apoptosis through inhibition ROS accumulation.

Induction of S-Phase Arrest in Human Glioma Cells by Selenocysteine, a Natural Selenium-Containing Agent Via Triggering Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated DNA Damage and Modulating MAPKs and AKT Pathways.

Selenocysteine (SeC) a natural available selenoamino acid exhibits novel anticancer activities against human cancer cell lines. However, the growth inhibitory effect and mechanism of SeC in human glioma cells remain unclear. The present study reveals that SeC time- and dose-dependently inhibited U251 and U87 human glioma cells growth by induction of S-phase cell cycle arrest, followed by the marked decrease of cyclin A. SeC-induced S-phase arrest was achieved by inducing DNA damage through triggering generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and superoxide anion, with concomitant increase of TUNEL-positive cells and induction of p21waf1/Cip1 and p53. SeC treatment also caused the activation of p38MAPK, JNK and ERK, and inactivation of AKT. Four inhibitors of MAPKs and AKT pathways further confirmed their roles in SeC-induced S-phase arrest in human glioma cells. Our findings advance the understanding on the molecular mechanisms of SeC in human glioma management.

Selenocysteine induces apoptosis in human glioma cells: evidence for TrxR1-targeted inhibition and signaling crosstalk

Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) as a selenium (Se)-containing antioxidase plays key role in regulating intracellular redox status. Selenocystine (SeC) a natural available Se-containing amino acid showed novel anticancer potential through triggering oxidative damage-mediated apoptosis. However, whether TrxR-mediated oxidative damage was involved in SeC-induced apoptosis in human glioma cells has not been elucidated yet. Herein, SeC-induced human glioma cell apoptosis was detected in vitro, accompanied by PARP cleavage, caspases activation and DNA fragmentation. Mechanically, SeC caused mitochondrial dysfunction and imbalance of Bcl-2 family expression. SeC treatment also triggered ROS-mediated DNA damage and disturbed the MAPKs and AKT pathways. However, inhibition of ROS overproduction effectively attenuated SeC-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis, and normalized the expression of MAPKs and AKT pathways, indicating the significance of ROS in SeC-induced apoptosis. Importantly, U251 human glioma xenograft growth in nude mice was significantly inhibited in vivo. Further investigation revealed that SeC-induced oxidative damage was achieved by TrxR1-targeted inhibition in vitro and in vivo. Our findings validated the potential of SeC to inhibit human glioma growth by oxidative damage-mediated apoptosis through triggering TrxR1-targeted inhibition.

Astaxanthin Attenuates Homocysteine-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Vitro and in Vivo by Inhibiting Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Damage

Homocysteine (Hcy) as an independent risk factor contributes to the occurrence and development of human cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Induction of oxidative stress and apoptosis was commonly accepted as the major mechanism in Hcy-induced cardiotoxicity. Astaxanthin (ATX) as one of the most powerful antioxidants exhibits novel cardioprotective potential against Hcy-induced endothelial dysfunction. However, the protective effect and mechanism of ATX against Hcy-induced cardiotoxicity in cardiomyocytes have not been elucidated yet. Herein, H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes and Hcy-injured animal model were employed in the present study. The MTT, flow cytometry analysis (FCM), TUNEL-DAPI and western blotting results all demonstrated that ATX significantly alleviated Hcy-induced cytotoxicity in H9c2 cells through inhibition of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. The JC-1 and Mito-tracker staining both revealed that ATX pre-treatment blocked Hcy-induced mitochondrial dysfunction by regulating Bcl-2 family expression. Moreover, DCFH-DA and Mito-SOX staining showed that ATX effectively attenuated Hcy-induced oxidative damage via scavenging intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Importantly, the ELISA and immunohistochemical results indicated that Hcy-induced cardiotoxicity in vivo was also significantly inhibited by ATX through inhibition of oxidative damage and apoptosis, and improvement of the angiogenesis. Taken together, our results demonstrated that ATX suppressed Hcy-induced cardiotoxicity in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage. Our findings validated the strategy of using ATX may be a highly efficient way to combat Hcy-mediated human CVD.

Antiangiogenic properties of caudatin in vitro and in vivo by suppression of VEGF‑VEGFR2‑AKT/FAK signal axis

Tumor angiogenesis provides essential nutrients and oxygen to the tumor microenvironment, which is important in tumor growth, progression and metastasis. Inhibition of tumor angiogenesis represents one of the most promising strategies in tumor therapy. The authors previously demonstrated that caudatin, one species of C-21 steroidal from Cynanchum auriculatum (C. auriculatum), effectively inhibits human glioma growth in vitro and in vivo through triggering cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. However, little information regarding the antiangiogenic properties of caudatin in human glioma is available. Based on the authors previous study, the antiangiogenic effect of caudatin against human glioma was explored, and the underlying mechanism was investigated. The results suggested that caudatin treatment significantly inhibited HUVEC human umbilical vein endothelial cell proliferation, blocked the HUVECs migration, invasion and capillary-like tube formation by disturbing the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-VEGFR2-protein kinase B (AKT)/focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signal axis. Notably, caudatin treatment abolished the glioma cell growth by suppression of the in vivo angiogenesis, which involved FAK and AKT dephosphorylation and inhibition of VEGF expression. The findings validated the antiangiogenic potential of caudatin in hunting human glioma.