MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretion is elevated in several types of human cancers and their elevated expression has been associated with poor prognosis. Expression of MMPs is highly regulated by cytokines and ...signal transducation pathways, including those activated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). The aim of this study was to examine the effect of PMA on MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretion in 42 different human cancer cell lines, selected on the basis of their organ malignancies. They were cultured in the recommended media supplemented with 10% FBS and antibiotics in 24-well tissue culture plates. At near confluence, the cells were washed with PBS, 0.5 ml of medium was added, and the cultures were incubated. Parallel sets of cultures were also treated with PMA for induction of enzymes. After 24 h the media were collected and MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels were assayed by gelatinase zymography. Based on MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretion without and with PMA treatment, the various human cancer cell lines fell into one of two major groups. The first group characterized by low basal MMP-9 secretion fell into three different categories of susceptibility to PMA induction of MMP-9 expression: resistant, moderately susceptible and highly susceptible. High basal MMP-9 levels responsive to PMA induction characterized the second group. Most cancer cell lines examined exhibited basal levels of MMP-2, MMP-9 or both. MMP-2 secretion was not induced by PMA in any of the cancer cells examined.
The highly aggressive adult sarcomas are characterized by high levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9, which play crucial roles in tumor invasion and metastasis by degradation of the ...extracellular membrane leading to cancer cell spread to distal organs. We examined the effect of cytokines, mitogens, inducers and inhibitors on MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretion in chondrosarcoma (SW-1353), fibrosarcoma (HT-1080), liposarcoma (SW-872) and synovial sarcoma (SW-982) cell lines. The selected compounds included natural cytokines and growth factors, as well as chemical compounds applied in therapy of sarcoma and natural compounds that have demonstrated anticancer therapeutic potential. MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretions were analyzed by gelatinase zymography following 24-h exposure to the tested agents and quantitated by densitometry. Fibrosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, liposarcoma and synovial sarcoma showed bands corresponding to MMP-2 and MMP-9 with dose-dependent enhancement of MMP-9 with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) treatment. In chondrosarcoma cells, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α had a stimulatory effect on MMP-9 and insignificant effect on MMP-2 and interleukin (IL)-1β stimulated MMP-9 and MMP-2. In fibrosarcoma and liposarcoma cells, TNF-α had a profound stimulatory effect on MMP-9, but no effect on MMP-2 and in synovial sarcoma an inhibitory effect on MMP-2 and no effect on MMP-9. IL-1β had a slight inhibitory effect on fibrosarcoma, liposarcoma and synovial sarcoma MMP-2 and MMP-9 except for MMP-9 in synovial sarcoma which showed slight stimulation. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated expression of MMP-2 in fibrosarcoma and chondrosarcoma while inhibited it in liposarcoma. Doxycycline, epigallocatechin gallate and the nutrient mixture inhibited MMP-2 and MMP-9 in all cell lines. Actinomycin-D, cyclohexamide, retinoic acid, and dexamethasone inhibited MMP-2 and -9 in chondrosarcoma and fibrosarcoma cells. Our results show that cytokines, mitogens, inducers and inhibitors have an up or down regulatory effect on MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in adult sarcoma cell lines, suggesting these agents may be effective strategies to treat these cancers.
AIMS: Little is known about the effects of phytochemicals against Borrelia sp. causing Lyme disease. Current therapeutic approach to this disease is limited to antibiotics. This study examined the ...anti‐borreliae efficacy of several plant‐derived compounds and micronutrients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We tested the efficacy of 15 phytochemicals and micronutrients against three morphological forms of Borrelia burgdoferi and Borrelia garinii: spirochetes, latent rounded forms and biofilm. The results showed that the most potent substances against the spirochete and rounded forms of B. burgdorferi and B. garinii were cis‐2‐decenoic acid, baicalein, monolaurin and kelp (iodine); whereas, only baicalein and monolaurin revealed significant activity against the biofilm. Moreover, cis‐2‐decenoic acid, baicalein and monolaurin did not cause statistically significant cytotoxicity to human HepG2 cells up to 125 μg ml⁻¹ and kelp up to 20 μg ml⁻¹. CONCLUSIONS: The most effective antimicrobial compounds against all morphological forms of the two tested Borrelia sp. were baicalein and monolaurin. This might indicate that the presence of fatty acid and phenyl groups is important for comprehensive antibacterial activity. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study reveals the potential of phytochemicals as an important tool in the fight against the species of Borrelia causing Lyme disease.
The highly aggressive pediatric sarcomas are characterized by high levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, which play crucial roles in tumor invasion and metastasis by degradation of ...the extracellular membrane leading to cancer cell spread to distal organs. We examined the effects of cytokines, mitogens, inducers and inhibitors on MMP-2 and -9 expression in osteosarcoma (U2OS) and rhabdomyosarcoma (RD). The selected compounds included natural cytokines and growth factors, as well as chemical compounds applied in therapy of sarcoma and natural compounds that have demonstrated anticancer therapeutic potential. These cell lines were cultured in their respective media to near confluence and the cells were washed with PBS and incubated in serum-free medium with various concentrations of several cytokines, mitogens and inhibitors. After 24 h the media were removed and analyzed for MMP-2 and -9 by gelatinase zymography and quantitated by densitometry. Osteosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma showed bands corresponding to MMP-2 and -9 with dose-dependent enhancement of MMP-9 with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) treatment. Tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β and LPS enhanced osteosarcoma U2OS MMP-9 secretion but had no effect on MMP-2 secretion. Tumor necrosis factor-α stimulated rhabdomyosarcoma MMP-2 expression, but had no effect on MMP-9 secretion. Doxycycline, epigallocatechin gallate, nutrient mixture (NM), actinomycin-D, cyclohexamide, retinoic acid and dexamethasone inhibited MMP-2 and -9 in U2OS osteosarcoma cells. PMA-treated RD cells showed dose-response inhibition of MMP-9 by doxycycline and epigallocatechin gallate and both MMPs by NM. Dexamethasone and actinomycin-D showed inhibition of MMP-2 secretion of RD cells. Our results show that cytokines, mitogens and inducers show variable upregulation of U2OS osteosarcoma and RD rhabdomyosarcoma MMP-2 and -9 secretion, and inhibitors demonstrate downregulation under stimulatory conditions, suggesting the application of these agents for the development of effective therapies in pediatric sarcomas.
Aims
Borrelia sp., a causative pathogenic factor of Lyme disease (LD), has become a major public health threat. Current treatments based on antibiotics often lead to relapse after their withdrawal. ...Naturally derived substances that could work synergistically to display higher efficacy compared with the individual components may serve as a resource for the development of novel approaches to combat both active and latent forms of Borrelia sp.
Methods and Results
Using checkerboard assay, we investigated the anti‐borreliae reciprocal cooperation of phytochemicals and micronutrients against two species of Borrelia selected as prevalent causes of LD in the United States and Europe. We tested 28 combinations of phytochemicals such as polyphenols (baicalein, luteolin, rosmarinic acids), fatty acids (monolaurin, cis‐2‐decenoic acid) and micronutrients (ascorbic acid, cholecalciferol and iodine). The results showed that the combinations of baicalein with luteolin as well as monolaurin with cis‐2‐decenoic acid expressed synergistic anti‐spirochetal effects. Moreover, baicalein and luteolin, when combined with rosmarinic acid or iodine, produced additive bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects against typical corkscrew motile spirochaetes and persistent knob/round‐shaped forms, respectively. An additive anti‐biofilm effect was noticed between baicalein with luteolin and monolaurin with cis‐2‐decenoic acid. Finally, application of the combination of baicalein with luteolin increased cytoplasmic permeability of Borrelia sp. but did not cause DNA damage.
Conclusions
These results show that a specific combination of flavones might play a supporting role in combating Borrelia sp. through either synergistic or additive anti‐borreliae effects.
Significance and Impact of the Study
Presented here in vitro results might help advancing our knowledge and improving the approach to target Borrelia sp.
Uterine leiomyosarcoma is a rare malignant smooth muscle tumor originating in the uterine wall that generally responds poorly to chemotherapy and radiation.
We investigated the in vitro effects of a ...novel nutrient mixture containing lysine, proline, ascorbic acid, and green tea extract on the human leiomyosarcoma cell line SK-UT-1 by measuring cell proliferation, invasiveness, apoptosis, and expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). We also tested the effects of nutrient mixture in vivo using nude mice.
Human leiomyosarcoma SK-UT-1 cells were treated with different concentrations of nutrient mixture. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay; MMP expression by gelatinase zymography; invasion by Matrigel assay; migration by scratch test; apoptosis using Live Green caspase kit. In vivo studies were conducted on 5-6 weeks old female nude mice inoculated subcutaneously with 3 • 10
SK-UT-1 cells. The mice were fed a regular diet or a diet supplemented with 0.5% nutrient mixture. After four weeks, the mice were sacrificed and the tumors were weighed and processed for histology.
In vitro, nutrient mixture treatment was not toxic to SK-UT-1 cells at 250 µg/ml but exhibited 20% and 40% cytotoxicity at 500 and 1000 µg/ml respectively. Zymography did not show bands for either MMP-2 or MMP-9 in SK-UT-1 cells. However, treatment with phorbol myristate acetate stimulated the expression of MMP-9, both active and inactive forms in equal proportion. Nutrient mixture inhibited the secretion of both active and inactive forms in a dose dependent manner. Invasion through Matrigel and migration by scratch test were inhibited in a dose dependent fashion, with both invasion and migration inhibited at 250 µg/ml. Live Green Caspase apoptosis assay demonstrated slight apoptosis at 100 µg/ml and significant apoptosis at 250 to 1000 µg/ml. The results of in vitro studies were further confirmed in vivo by showing 50% decrease in tumor weight, 40% reduction in tumor burden compared to the tumors from mice fed regular diet.
The results suggest a therapeutic potential for nutrient mixture in uterine leiomyosarcoma treatment.
Consumption of a plant-based diet has been associated with prevention of the development and progression of cancer. We have developed strategies to inhibit cancer development and its spread by ...targeting common mechanisms used by all types of cancer cells that decrease stability and integrity of connective tissue. Strengthening of collagen and connective tissue can be achieved naturally through the synergistic effects of selected nutrients, such as lysine, proline, ascorbic acid and green tea extract (NM). This micronutrient mixture has exhibited a potent anticancer activity
in vivo
and
in vitro
in a few dozen cancer cell lines. Its anti-cancer effects include inhibition of metastasis, tumor growth, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) secretion, invasion, angiogenesis, and cell growth as well as induction of apoptosis. Many cancers are often diagnosed at later stages, when metastasis has occurred, which standard treatment has been unable to control. Our studies on NM effects on hepatic and pulmonary metastasis demonstrated profound, significant suppression of metastasis in a murine model. Evaluation of effects of NM on xenografts in murine models demonstrated significant reduction in tumor size and tumor burden in all human cancer cell lines tested.
In vitro
studies demonstrated that NM was very effective in inhibition of cell proliferation (by MTT assay), MMP secretion (by gelatinase zymography), cell invasion (through Matrigel), cell migration (by scratch test), induction of apoptosis (by live green caspase) and induction of pro-apoptotic genes in many diverse cancer cell lines. Furthermore,
in vivo
and
in vitro
studies of effects of individual micronutrients compared to their specific combination demonstrated synergistic effects resulting in improved anticancer potency.
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) secreted by cervical and ovarian cancer, especially MMP-2 and MMP-9, play crucial roles in tumor invasion and metastasis. We examined the effect of cytokines, ...mitogens, inducers and inhibitors on MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in cervical and ovarian cancer cell lines. Human cervical (HeLa and DoTc2-4510) and ovarian (SK-OV-3) cell lines were cultured in appropriate media. At near confluence, the cells were washed with PBS and incubated in serum-free medium with various concentrations of several cytokines, mitogens and inhibitors. After 24 h the media were removed and analyzed for MMP-2 and MMP-9 by gelatinase zymography and quantitated by densitometry. HeLa and SK-OV-3 cell lines expressed MMP-2 whereas DoTc2-4510 cells expressed MMP-9. Treatment of cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa and DoTc2-4510) with PMA had no effect on MMP-2 expression and a moderate stimulatory effect in ovarian cancer cell line SK-OV-3. MMP-9 was stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate in HeLa cells and enhanced in DoTc2-4510. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta, had slight inhibitory effect on HeLa cell expression of MMP-2 while lipopolysaccharide stimulated MMP-2 in HeLa cells. Doxycycline, epigallocatechin gallate, a nutrient mixture, actinomycin-D, cyclohexamide, retinoic acid and dexamethasone inhibited MMP-2 in HeLa and SK-OV-3 cell lines and inhibited MMP-9 in DoTc2-4510. Our results show that cytokines, mitogens, inducers and inhibitors have an up or down regulatory effect on MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in ovarian and cervical cancer cell lines, suggesting these agents may be effective strategies to treat these cancers.
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is accompanied by changes in arterial connective tissue. We evaluated the effects of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and E individually and in combinations on the ...composition of extracellular matrix produced and deposited by arterial wall cells, human aortic smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells. Individually, vitamins D and E stimulated collagen type I extracellular matrix deposition in human aortic smooth muscle cell cultures. However, vitamins A, D, and E reduced collagen type IV deposition by human aortic smooth muscle cell, counteracting the stimulatory effects of vitamin C. The extracellular matrix deposition of heparan sulfate by human aortic smooth muscle cells increased by vitamin C and its combination (C+D+E). beta-carotene + D + C induced the extracellular matrix deposition of collagen I by endothelial cells. Vitamin E with other vitamins resulted in either induction (E+C+A) or inhibition (E+D). The extracellular matrix deposition of type IV collagen and elastin by human aortic endothelial cells was not affected by test vitamins, except the extracellular matrix type IV collagen decrease by combinations (A+E), (A+D+E), and (C+D+E). The extracellular matrix deposition of all tested glycosaminoglycans was reduced by vitamin A and its combination (A+C+D+E). Therefore, the fatsoluble vitamins applied individually or in combination--both with each other or with ascorbic acid--can affect extracellular matrix deposition of type I and IV collagens, and key glycosaminoglycans by cultured human aortic arterial wall cells. Keywords: Aortic smooth muscle cells, Atherosclerosis, Collagen, Extracellular matrix, Fat-soluble vitamins
Acute myeloid leukemia and head and neck squamous cell carcinomas are the major causes of mortality and morbidity in Fanconi anemia (FA) patients. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), particularly MMP-2 ...and MMP-9, have been implicated in tumor invasion and metastasis. Various cytokines, mitogens, growth factors, inducers and inhibitors control MMP activities. We investigated the roles of these in the regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in human immortalized fibroblasts from FA. Human FA immortalized fibroblast cell lines FA-A:PD220 and FA-D2:PD20 were grown in minimum essential medium (MEM) supplemented with 15% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and antibiotics in 24-well tissue culture plates. At near confluence, the cells were washed with phosphate‑buffered saline (PBS) and incubated in serum-free media with the following: phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) at 10-100 ng/ml; tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) at 0.1-25 ng/ml; lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at 10-100 µg/ml; epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and doxycycline (Dox) at 10-100 µM without and with PMA; a nutrient mixture (NM) without and with PMA at 10-1,000 µg/ml; actinomycin-D and cyclohexamide at 2 and 4 µM; retinoic acid and dexamethasone at 50 µM. After 24 h, media were removed and analyzed for MMP-2 and MMP-9 by zymography. Both FA cell lines expressed only MMP-2 and responded similarly to cytokines, mitogens, inducers and inhibitors. PMA potently stimulated MMP-9 and had a moderate effect on MMP-2. TNF-α showed variable effects on MMP-2 and significantly enhanced MMP-9. IL-1β enhanced MMP-2 slightly and MMP-9 significantly. LPS had a moderate stimulatory effect on MMP-2 and no effect on MMP-9. EGCG, Dox and NM, without and with PMA, downregulated MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression. Actinomycin-D, retinoic acid and dexamethasone also had inhibitory effects on MMP-2. Our results showed that cytokines, mitogens and inhibitors modulated FA fibroblast MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression, suggesting the clinical use of MMP inhibitors, particularly such potent and non-toxic ones as the NM and its component EGCG in the management of FA cancers.
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