Zeynep Birsu Cincin

Anti-proliferative, apoptotic and signal transduction effects of hesperidin in non-small cell lung cancer cells

PurposeHesperidin, a glycoside flavonoid, is thought to act as an anti-cancer agent, since it has been found to exhibit both pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects in several cancer cell types. The mechanisms underlying hesperidin-induced growth arrest and apoptosis are, however, not well understood. Here, we aimed to investigate the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of hesperidin on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and to investigate the mechanisms involved.MethodsThe anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of hesperidin on two NSCLC-derived cell lines, A549 and NCI-H358, were determined using a WST-1 colorimetric assay, a LDH cytotoxicity assay, a Cell Death Detection assay, an AnnexinV-FITC assay, a caspase-3 assay and a JC-1 assay, respectively, all in a time- and dose-dependent manner. As a control, non-cancerous MRC-5 lung fibroblasts were included. Changes in whole genome gene expression profiles were assessed using an Illumina Human HT-12v4 beadchip microarray platform, and subsequent data analyses were performed using an Illumina Genome Studio and Ingenuity Pathway Analyser (IPA).ResultsWe found that after hesperidin treatment, A549 and NCI-H358 cells exhibited decreasing cell proliferation and increasing caspase-3 and other apoptosis-related activities, in conjunction with decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential activities, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Through a GO analysis, by which changes in gene expression profiles were compared, we found that the FGF and NF-κB signal transduction pathways were most significantly affected in the hesperidin treated NCI-H358 and A549 NSCLC cells.ConclusionsOur results indicate that hesperidin elicits an in vitro growth inhibitory effect on NSCLC cells by modulating immune response-related pathways that affect apoptosis. When confirmed in vivo, hesperidin may serve as a novel anti-proliferative agent for non-small cell lung cancer.

Apoptotic Effects of Quercitrin on DLD-1 Colon Cancer Cell Line

Quercetin, which is the most abundant bioflavonoid compound, is mainly present in the glycoside form of quercitrin. Although different studies indicated that quercitrin is a potent antioxidant, the action of this compound is not well understood. In this study, we investigated whether quercitrin has apoptotic and antiproliferative effects in DLD-1 colon cancer cell lines. Time and dose dependent antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of quercitrin were subsequently determined by WST-1 cell proliferation assay, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) cytotoxicity assay, detection of nucleosome enrichment factor, changes in caspase-3 activity, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and also the localization of phosphatidylserine (PS) in the plasma membrane. There were significant increases in caspase-3 activity, loss of MMP, and increases in the apoptotic cell population in response to quercitrin in DLD-1 colon cancer cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. These results revealed that quercitrin has antiproliferative and apoptotic effects on colon cancer cells. Quercitrin activity supported with in vivo analyses could be a biomarker candicate for early colorectal carcinoma.

The role of components of the extracellular matrix and inflammation on oral squamous cell carcinoma metastasis

OBJECTIVES Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for about 90% of malignant oral lesions, and is identified as the most frequently occurring malignant tumour of oral structures. We aimed to investigate the genes and pathways related with metastasis on Turkish OSCC patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed whole genome expression profiling array on an Illumina platform. A total of 24 samples with 12 OSCC and 12-paired controls that had no tumour were included in the study. Hierarchic clustering and heat map were used for data visualisation and p-values assessed to identify differentially expressed genes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Ingenuity Pathway Systems (IPA) analysis were performed to consider biologic meaning of differential expression of the genes between tumour and control groups. RESULTS We identified 790 probe sets, corresponding to 648 genes that were effective in separating invasive and metastatic OSCC. Consequently, we found statistically relevant expression results on extracellular matrix members on MMPs such as MMP3, MMP10, MMP1 and MMP9; on laminin such as LAMC2, LAMA3 and LAMB3; several genes in the collagen family; and also on chemokines from the inflammation process. CONCLUSION Statistically relevant expression changes for MMPs, laminins, collagens, and chemokines, which are components of the extracellular matrix and inflammation process, may be considered as a molecular biomarker for early prediction. Further studies are necessary to determine and understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie OSCC metastasis.

Identification of gene variants related to the nitric oxide pathway in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Dysfunction of vascular endothelium is known to have an essential role in the atherosclerotic process by releasing mediators including nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide maintains endothelial balance by controlling cellular processes of vascular smooth muscle cells. Evidence suggests that variations in the NO pathway could include atherosclerotic events. The objective of this study was to determine the possible effects of genes on the nitric oxide pathway in the development of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The blood samples of 100 patients with ACS and 100 controls were collected at Istanbul University, Department of Cardiology. DNA samples were genotyped by using Illumina Cyto-SNP-12 BeadChip. The additive model and Correlation/Trend Test were selected for association analysis. Afterwards, a Q-Q graphic was drawn to compare expected and obtained values. A Manhattan plot was produced to display p-values that were generated by -log10(P) function for each SNP. The p-values under 1×10(-4) were selected as statistically significant SNPs while p-values under 5×10(-2) were considered as suspicious biomarker candidates. Nitric oxide pathway analysis was then used to find the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to ACS. As a result, death-associated protein kinase 3 (DAPK) (rs10426955) was found to be most statistically significant SNP. The most suspicious biomarker candidates associated with the nitric oxide pathway analysis were vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), methionine sulfoxide reductase A (MSRA), nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1), and GTP cyclohydrolase I (GCH-1). Further studies with large sample groups are necessary to clarify the exact role of nitric oxide in the development of disease.

Apoptotic and genomic effects of corilagin on SKOV3 ovarian cancer cell line

Corilagin is a member of the tannin family and has been isolated from traditional Chinese medicinal plants, such as Phyllanthus spp. Corilagin has anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiatherogenic, and antihypertensive effects in various experimental models. In this research, we aimed to investigate for the first time whether corilagin had apoptotic and genomic effects in ovarian cancer treatment in the same study. The potential apoptotic of corilagin was investigated using a WST1 cell proliferation test, caspase 3, and mitochondrial membrane potential JC1 assays in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Genomic changes in expression levels against corilagin treatment were measured using an Illumina human HT-12V4 BeadChip microarray. Bioinformatic data analyses were performed using GenomeStudio and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software. The data of our study demonstrated that there were statistically significant time- and dose-dependent increases in caspase 3 enzymatic activity and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in line with decreases in cancer cell proliferation. According to gene-ontology analysis, we found that adherens junctions, antigen processing and presentation, and the phosphatidylinositol signaling system were the most statistically significant networks in response to corilagin treatment on SKOV3 cells, in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The apoptotic and genome-wide effects of corilagin on ovarian cancer cells were examined in detail for the first time in the literature. The results of our study suggest that corilagin might have the potential to be used as a new treatment option for epithelial ovarian cancer.

Effect of Oxidative Stress on DNA Repairing Genes

Oxidative DNA damage has been thought to contribute to the general decline in cellular functions that are associated with a variety of diseases including Alzheimer disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, atherosclerosis, ischemia/reperfusion neuronal injuries, degenerative disease of the human temporomandibular-joint, cataract formation, macular degeneration, degenerative retinal damage, rheumatoid arthritis , multiple sclerosis , muscular dystrophy, diabetes mellitus, human cancers as well as the aging process itself. Oxidative stress occurs when the production of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) exceeds natural antioxidant defence mechanisms. There are several sources that form the ROS. Most of ROS come from the endogenous sources as by-products of normal and essential metabolic reactions, such as energy generation from mitochondria or the detoxification reactions involving the liver cytochrome P-450 enzyme system. There are also exogenous ROS sources including exposure to cigarette smoke, environmental pollutants such as emission from automobiles and industries, consumption of alcohol in excess, asbestos, exposure to ionizing radiation, and bacterial, fungal or viral infections. ROS cause damage to biomolecules such as lipid, proteins and DNA by attaching. ROS may directly attack DNA, either the sugar, phosphate or purine and pyrimidine bases. On the other hand, oxidative damage may be indirect by rising of intracellular Ca+2 ions. Free radical-mediated reactions can cause structural alterations in DNA (e.g., nicking, base-pair mutations, rearrangement, deletions insertions and sequence amplification). Degradation of the bases will produce numerous products, including 8-OH-Gua, hydroxymethylurea, urea, thymine glycol; thymine and adenine ring opened and saturated products. Most oxidized bases in DNA are repaired by base excision repair (BER). BER consists of four main steps. The first step involves the removal of the oxidised base by a specific DNA glycosylase, yielding an apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) site. In the second step, an AP endonuclease removes the deoxyribose phosphate group from the AP site generating a single nucleotide gap. A DNA polymerase, thought to be predominantly DNA polymerase b, fills this gap. Finally, a DNA ligase, probably DNA ligase III, seals the stand break and completes the repair process. This chapter mainly deals with: (i) formation of ROS in physiological and pathological conditions, (ii ) ROS-mediated DNA damage, leading to cellular pathology and ultimately to cell death (iii) Oxidative DNA damage repair systems, (iv) The molecular mechanism of ROS-mediated diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, inflammatory disease, ischemia-reperfusion injury and aging.

Hesperidin promotes programmed cell death by downregulation of nongenomic estrogen receptor signalling pathway in endometrial cancer cells

Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is the most common malignant gynecologic tumor in women. EC is thought to be caused by increasing estrogen levels relative to progesterone in the body. Hesperidin (Hsd), a biologically active flavonoid, could be extracted from Citrus species. It has been recently shown that Hsd could exert anticarcinogenic properties in different cancer types. However, the effects of Hsd and its molecular mechanisms on EC remain unclear. In this study, the antiproliferative, apoptotic and genomic effects of Hsd in EC and its underlying mechanisms were identified. We found that Hsd significantly suppressed the proliferation of EC cells in dose and time dependent manner. Mechanistic studies showed that Hsd could contribute apoptosis by inducing externalization of phosphatidyl serine (PS), caspase-3 activity and loss of mitochondrial membrane (MMP). Furthermore, we examined that Hsd could also significantly upregulate the expression of proapoptotic Bax subgroup genes (Bax and Bik) while downregulating the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in EC cell lines. According to GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes in Hsd treated EC cells, we identified that Hsd could promote cell death via downregulation of estrogen receptor I (ESRI) that was directly related to ERK/MAPK pathway. Taken together, our study first showed that Hsd could be an antiestrogenic compound that could modulate nongenomic estrogen receptor signaling through inhibition of EC cell growth. Our findings may provide us a novel growth inhibitory agent for EC treatment after verifying its molecular mechanism with in vivo studies.