Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0345904 (liver cancer)
 15,188 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Type I interferon (IFN) receptor consists of two chains (Hu-IFN-alphaR1 and Hu-IFN-alphaR2), and Hu-IFN-alphaR2 takes a soluble (Hu-IFN-alphaR2a), short (Hu-IFN-alphaR2b), or long (Hu-IFN-alphaR2c) form. We examined the expression of type I IFN receptor, the growth-suppression effect of IFN-alpha, and their relationship in 13 liver cancer cell lines. With reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, the expressions of Hu-IFN-alphaR1, Hu-IFN-alphaR2a, and Hu-IFN-alphaR2c were confirmed in all cell lines, and that of Hu-IFN-alphaR2b in 12 cell lines. All cell lines expressed mRNAs of a transcriptional activator, interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-1, and its antagonistic repressor (IRF-2). Flow cytometry revealed weak expression of Hu-IFN-alphaR2 on the cell surface in 12 cell lines. The soluble-form protein of Hu-IFN-alphaR2 was detected at varying levels in culture supernatants of all cell lines with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cell proliferation was suppressed in proportion to the dose of human natural IFN-alpha at 96 hours of culture, but it was not clearly related to the expression of Hu-IFN-alphaR2 protein on the cell surface. Investigations on the morphology, DNA, and cell cycle presented four growth suppression patterns as a result of IFN-alpha: 1) induction of apoptosis and blockage of cell cycle at the S phase (9 cell lines); 2) blockage at the S phase (2 cell lines); 3) induction of apoptosis and blockage at the G2/M phase (1 cell line); and 4) blockage at the G1 phase (1 cell line). There was no evidence showing that changes in the expressions of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bak, and Bax lead directly to IFN-alpha-mediated apoptosis. Our findings demonstrated that IFN-alpha would express growth-suppression effects at varying degrees by inducing inhibition of cell-cycle progression with or without apoptosis, regardless of the expression level of Hu-IFN-alphaR2 protein on the cell surface.
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PMID:Interferon alfa receptor expression and growth inhibition by interferon alfa in human liver cancer cell lines. 1034 12

This study demonstrates that two anticancer drugs, taxol and doxorubicin (Dox), can kill human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner via the induction of apoptosis. Characteristic events, including externalization of phosphatidylserine, cytoplasmic shrinkage, chromatin condensation and DNA degradation, were observed in a large majority of the drug-treated cells. DNA fragmentation showed that a ladder of DNA fragments of approximately 200 bp multiples was observed in taxol-treated, but not in Dox-treated, cells. In addition, the expression patterns of Bcl-2 family members during taxol or Dox treatment were investigated. Results from Western blot analysis indicated that HepG2 cells did not express either the death repressor Bcl-2, or the death promoters Bcl-XS and Bax. However, during the apoptotic process one death repressor, Bcl-XL, and two death promoters, Bak and Bad, were expressed. The expression levels of Bcl-XL and Bak remained unchanged, whereas the level of Bad was down-regulated. As the ratio between death repressors and death promoters in the Bcl-2 family will determine the sensitivity of cells to apoptotic stimuli, the findings suggest that the changed expression patterns of Bcl-2 family proteins caused by anticancer drugs in liver cancer cells may be involved in chemoresistance.
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PMID:Expression of Bcl-2 family proteins during chemotherapeutic agents-induced apoptosis in the hepatoblastoma HepG2 cell line. 1069 52

AIM:We have previously reported that inducible over-expression of Bak may prolong cell cycle in G(1) phase and lead to apoptosis in HCC-9204 cells. This study is to investigate whether p27(KIP1) plays an important role in this process.METHODS:In order to elucidate the exact function of p27(KIP1) in this process, a zinc inducible p27(KIP1) stable transfectant and transient p27(KIP1)-GFP fusion transfectant were constructed. The effects of inducible p27(KIP1) on cell growth, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were examined in the mock, control pMD vector, and pMD-KIP1 transfected HCC-9204 cells.RESULTS:This p27(KIP1)-GFP transfectant may transiently express the fusion gene. The cell growth was reduced by 35% at 48 h of p27(KIP1) induction with zinc treatment as determined by trypan blue exclusion assay. These differences remained the same after 72h of p27(KIP1) expression. p27(KIP1) caused cell cycle arrest after 24 h of induction, with 40% increase in G(1) population. Prolonged p27(KIP1) expression in this cell line induced apoptotic cell death reflected by TUNEL assay. Fourty-eight h and 72 h of p27(KIP1) expression showed a characteristic DNA ladder on agarose gel electrophoresis.CONCLUSION:Bak may induce cell cycle arrest in G(1) phase through upregulating expression of p27(KIP1) and subsequently lead to apoptosis in HCC-9204 cells. The p27(KIP1) -GFP fusion protein can be transiently expre-ssed in HCC-9204 cells. The inducible p27(KIP1)-expressing cell line provides a model to assess p27(KIP1) function.
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PMID:Overexpression of p27(KIP1) induced cell cycle arrest in G(1) phase and subsequent apoptosis in HCC-9204 cell line. 1181 39

Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) and its related compounds are known to have anti-inflammatory activity and also to inhibit liver carcinogenesis and tumor growth. GA and related compounds inhibited cell proliferation of the human hepatoma cell line, HepG2. Among five compounds tested, ursolic acid and 18beta-olean-12-ene-3beta, 23, 28-triol (18beta-erythrotriol) were comparatively effective, where the 50% inhibitory dose was 20 microM and 25 microM, respectively. Flow-cytometric analysis showed that GA and the related compounds arrested the cell cycle in the G1-phase; in addition, GA-related compounds induced apoptosis at high dose. Western blot analysis indicated that the induction of apoptosis by GA and ursolic acid was accompanied with an activation of caspase-8 and a reduction in the anti-apoptotic proteins, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, although the pro-apoptotic proteins, Bax and Bak, remained unaffected. These results suggest that GA and its related compounds may be potent agents in liver cancer treatment.
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PMID:Glycyrrhetinic acid and related compounds induce G1 arrest and apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2. 1630 97

This study is the first to investigate the anticancer effect of dehydrocostuslactone [DHE (3aS,6aR,9aR,9bS)-decahydro-3,6,9-tris(methylene) azuleno[4,5-b]furan-2(3H)-one)], a medicinal plant-derived sesquiterpene lactone, on hepatocellular carcinoma. Our results showed that DHE inhibits the proliferation of HepG2 and PLC/PRF/5 cells by inducing apoptosis. DHE induces up-regulation of Bax and Bak, down-regulation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL, and nuclear relocation of the mitochondrial factors apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and endonuclease G (Endo G). DHE triggered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, as indicated by changes in cytosol-calcium levels, double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase phosphorylation, inositol-requiring protein 1 (IRE1) and CHOP/GADD153 up-regulation, X-box transcription factor-1 mRNA splicing, and caspase-4 activation. Enhancement of ER stress by DHE is through p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2-dependent manners and subsequently causes c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase activation, resulting in AIF and Endo G nuclear relocation. Both of IRE1 small interfering RNA transfection and 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid-acetoxymethyl ester pretreatment inhibit DHE-mediated apoptosis, supporting the hypothesis that DHE induces cell death through ER stress. It is noteworthy that animal studies have revealed a dramatic 50% reduction in tumor volume after 45 days of treatment. This study demonstrates that DHE may be a novel anticancer agent for the treatment of liver cancer.
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PMID:Dehydrocostuslactone, a medicinal plant-derived sesquiterpene lactone, induces apoptosis coupled to endoplasmic reticulum stress in liver cancer cells. 1918 81

We investigated the effects of antcin A, antcin C, and methyl antcinate A (MAA) isolated from Antrodia camphorata on the proliferation of human liver cancer cell lines Huh7, HepG2, and Hep3B and the normal cell rat hepatocytes. The three compounds selectively inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells rather than normal cells, with IC(50) values ranging from 30.2 to 286.4 microM. The compound MAA was a more potent cytotoxic agent than antcins A and C with IC(50) values of 52.2, 78.0, and 30.2 microM against HepG2, Hep3B, and Huh7 cells, respectively. To elucidate the molecular mechanism, treatment of Huh7 cells with 100 microM MAA induced an apoptotic cell death, which was characterized by the appearance of sub-G1 population, DNA fragmentation, TUNEL positive cells, and caspase activation. MAA triggered the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, as indicated by an increase in the protein expression of Bax, Bak, and PUMA, as well as a decrease in Bcl-(XL) and Bcl-2 and disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential and promotion of mitochondrial cytochrome c release, as well as activation of caspases-2, -3, and -9. We also found that pretreatment with inhibitors of caspases-2, -3, and -9 noticeably blocked MAA-triggered apoptosis. Furthermore, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and NADPH oxidase activation were observed in MAA-stimulated Huh7 cells. Mechanistic studies showed that MAA induces mitochondrial translocation of cofilin. When Huh7 cells were treated with cyclosporine A and bongkrekic acid, an inhibitor of the mitochondria permeability transition pore, the levels of cell death induced by MAA were significantly attenuated. Additionally, pretreatment of Huh7 cells with antioxidants ascorbic acid and N-acetyl cysteine markedly attenuated the MAA-induced apoptosis by upregulation of Bax, Bak, and PUMA, mitochondrial translocation of cofilin, activation of caspase-3, and cell death. Taken together, our results provide the first evidence of the activation of the ROS-dependent cofilin- and Bax-triggered mitochondrial pathway as a critical mechanism of MAA-induced cell death in liver cancer cells.
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PMID:Methyl antcinate A from Antrodia camphorata induces apoptosis in human liver cancer cells through oxidant-mediated cofilin- and Bax-triggered mitochondrial pathway. 2055 81

ZBP-89 can enhance tumor cells to death stimuli. However, the molecular mechanism leading to the inhibitory effect of ZBP-89 is unknown. In this study, 4 liver cell lines were used to screen for the target of ZBP-89 on cell death pathway. The identified Bak was further analyzed for its role in ZBP-89-mediated apoptosis. The result showed that ZBP-89 significantly and time-dependently induced apoptosis. It significantly upregulated the level of pro-apoptotic Bak. ZBP-89 targeted a region between -457 and -407 of human Bak promoter to stimulate Bak expression based on the findings of Bak promoter luciferase report gene assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. ZBP-89-induced Bak increase and ZBP-89-mediated apoptosis were markedly suppressed by Bak siRNA, confirming that Bak was specifically targeted by ZBP-89 to facilitate apoptosis. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that ZBP-89 significantly induced apoptosis of HCC cells via promoting Bak level.
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PMID:ZBP-89 enhances Bak expression and causes apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. 2085 Apr 81

ZNF689, a C2H2-type of zinc finger transcription factor, was suggested to play a key role in hepatocarcinogenesis. However, none of the target genes or potential roles of ZNF689 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been elucidated. Here, we investigated the role of ZNF689 in HCC cell lines focusing on cell viability and apoptosis.We found that the knockdown of ZNF689 by its specific siRNA decreased cell viability of Huh7. Cell cycle analysis revealed that the ZNF689 knockdown increased the proportion of the sub-G1 population, accompanied by an increase of annexin V- and TUNEL-positive cells.Western blot analysis revealed that ZNF689 knockdown induced the expression of pro-apoptotic factors of Bcl-2 family, Bax, Bak and jBid. There was a correlation between the expression of ZNF689 and an anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) resistance of HCC cells. In vivo, ZNF689 siRNA reduced tumor viability in HepG2-bearing mice with statistical significance. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that nuclei of a significant portion of human HCC surgical specimens were positive for ZNF689. Taken together, our results indicate that ZNF689 blocks pro-apoptotic signaling by suppressing the Bak/Bax/Bid pathway, resulting in the progression of liver cancer and resistance to 5-FU. ZNF689 may be a promising chemotherapeutic target against liver cancer.
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PMID:ZNF689 suppresses apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through the down-regulation of Bcl-2 family members. 2162 62

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) constitutes a predominant part of primary liver cancer which ranks as the fifth most common cancer as well as the third most common cause of cancer mortality. In view of the poor prognosis of unresectable liver cancers, it is of pivotal importance to develop novel chemotherapeutical regimens. RNase MC2 is a 14-kDa ribonuclease isolated from dietary bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) that manifested antitumor potential against breast cancers. In this study, we investigated the potential application of RNase MC2 on Hep G2 cells. We showed that RNase MC2 inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis in both in vitro and in vivo studies. RNase MC2 treatment caused cell cycle arrest predominantly at the S-phase and apoptosis, which is associated with the activation of both caspase-8 and caspase-9 regulated caspase pathways. Our further investigation disclosed that RNase MC2 down-regulated the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and increased the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bak. Moreover, the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK was involved in the apoptosis process. Importantly, RNase MC2 significantly suppressed the growth of Hep G2 xenograft-bearing nude mice by inducing apoptosis. This notion is supported by data indicating an increased number of caspase-3- and PARP-positive cells, and TUNEL-positive cells in RNase MC2-treated tumor tissues. In summary, we have revealed the antitumor potential of RNase MC2 toward Hep G2 cells. Considering that bitter gourd is a common dietary component in many countries, this study may help to prompt the clinical application of RNase MC2.
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PMID:In vitro and in vivo anticarcinogenic effects of RNase MC2, a ribonuclease isolated from dietary bitter gourd, toward human liver cancer cells. 2255 86

Liver cancer ranks in prevalence and mortality among top five cancers worldwide. Accumulating interests have been focused in developing new strategies for liver cancer treatment. We have previously showed that dihydroartemisinin (DHA) exhibited antitumor activity towards liver cancer. In this study, we demonstrated that histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) significantly augmented the antineoplastic effect of DHA via increasing apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of ERK phosphorylation contributed to DHA-induced apoptosis, due to the fact that inhibitor of ERK phosphorylation (PD98059) increased DHA-induced apoptosis. Compared with DHA alone, the combined treatment with DHA and HDACi reduced mitochondria membrane potential, released cytochrome c into cytoplasm, increased p53 and Bak, decreased Mcl-1 and p-ERK, activated caspase 3 and PARP, and induced apoptotic cells. Furthermore, we showed that HDACi pretreatment facilitated DHA-induced apoptosis. In Hep G2-xenograft carrying nude mice, the intraperitoneal injection of DHA and SAHA resulted in significant inhibition of xenograft tumors. Results of TUNEL and H&E staining showed more apoptosis induced by combined treatment. Immunohistochemistry data revealed the activation of PARP, and the decrease of Ki-67, p-ERK and Mcl-1. Taken together, our data suggest that the combination of HDACi and DHA offers an antitumor effect on liver cancer, and this combination treatment should be considered as a promising strategy for chemotherapy.
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PMID:Histone deacetylase inhibitors facilitate dihydroartemisinin-induced apoptosis in liver cancer in vitro and in vivo. 2276 17


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