In vitro: |
Anticancer Drugs. 2010 Aug;21(7):678-86. | Activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase is required for mevastatin-induced apoptosis of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma cells.[Pubmed: 20629200] | Statins are inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, originally developed for lowering cholesterol. Statins also have pleiotropic effects, independent of cholesterol-lowering effects, including induction of apoptosis in various cell lines. However, the mechanism underlying statin-induced apoptosis is still not fully understood. This study aims to explore the proapoptotic effects and underlying mechanisms of statins on human salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC). METHODS AND RESULTS: Exposure of SACC cells to mevastatin resulted in cell growth inhibition and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, accompanied by the release of cytochrome c and cleavage of caspase-3. A remarkable decrease in phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and increase in phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated kinase were observed. Furthermore, the JNK-specific inhibitor SP600125, but not the p38-specific inhibitor SB203580, abolished mevastatin-induced cell growth inhibition and apoptosis in SACC cells. This was supported by results in which the JNK inhibitor efficiently blocked mevastatin-induced JNK phosphorylation, but not p38 phosphorylation, and further decreased mevastatin-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the results suggest that the JNK pathway was required for mevastatin-induced cell growth inhibition and apoptosis in SACC cells. Statins could be potential anticancer agents for SACC chemotherapy. | Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2010 May;35(5):511-7. | Mevastatin inhibits the differentiation of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy derived orbital preadipocytes.[Pubmed: 20543477] | To investigate the effect of mevastatin (Mev) on the expression of peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) mRNA and differentiation of Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) derived orbital preadipocytes in vitro.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Orbital adipose tissues were obtained from TAO patients undergoing orbital decompression surgery. The orbital preadipocytes cultured from the orbital adipose tissues were divided into Group A (a control group) and Group B (an intervention group). Group B was subdivided into Group B1-B5, all groups were stimulated to differentiate into mature adipocytes with cocktail differentiation medium.The entire course of differentiation was 10 d. The differentiation of orbital preadipocytes in Group A was induced with routine inducer,while at in Group B1,B2, and B3 was interfered with 5 micromol/L (B1), 10 micromol/L(B2),20 micromol/L (B3) mevastatin respectively during the whole process of differentiation. The differentiation of orbital preadipocytes in Group B4 and B5 was interfered with 10 micromol/L mevastatin day 4 (B4) or day 8 (B5) of the differentiation process until the entire course was over. Intracellular fat accumulation in differentiated adipocytes was determined by oil red O staining. The value of optical absorption was measured at 492 nm with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of PPAR-gamma mRNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.
The light absorption value (A) and PPAR-gamma mRNA expression of differentiated cells in Group A,B1,B2,and B3 decreased successively,and there was significant difference in any of the 2 groups among Group A, B1 and B2, and B3 (P<0.05). The value A and PPAR-gamma mRNA expression of differentiated cells in Group A, B4, and B2 decreased successively, and the difference in any of the 2 groups among these 3 groups was significant. However, there were no significant difference between Group A and B5.
CONCLUSIONS:
Mevastatin inhibits the differentiation of TAO derived orbital preadipocytes by blocking PPAR-gamma mRNA expression. The degree of inhibition is not only concentration-dependent but also associated with the stage of differentiation. The earlier the differentiation, the stronger the inhibition. |
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