Artesunate enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human cervical carcinoma cells through inhibition of the NF-κB and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways.

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) selectively induces apoptosis and kills cancer cells with little or no adverse effects on normal cells. TRAIL is relatively safe for clinical applications. However, TRAIL resistance is widely found in cancer cells leading to limitations in utilizing TRAIL as a therapeutic agent for cancer treatment.

Insertion of nuclear factor-kappaB binding sequence into plasmid DNA for increased transgene expression in colon carcinoma cells.

To increase plasmid DNA (pDNA)-based transgene expression, 5, 10 or 20 repeats of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) binding sequences were inserted upstream of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter region of a conventional pDNA encoding firefly luciferase (pCMV-Luc) to obtain pCMV-kappaB5-Luc, pCMV-kappaB10-Luc and pCMV-kappaB20-Luc. Murine carcinoma colon 26 cells, in which NF-kappaB was constitutively activated, were co-transfected with a firefly luciferase-expressing pDNA and a renilla luciferase-expressing pDNA having no NF-kappaB binding sequences using cationic liposomes. The expression efficiency of pCMV-kappaB(n)-Luc was evaluated using the ratio of the luciferase activities.

Use of lipoplex-induced nuclear factor-kappaB activation to enhance transgene expression by lipoplex in mouse lung.

Background: Although lipofection-induced TNF-alpha can activate nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), which, in turn, increases the transgene expression from plasmid DNA in which any NF-kappaB responsive element is incorporated, no attempts have been made to use such biological responses as NF-kappaB activation against a vector to enhance vector-mediated gene transfer.

Methods: A lipoplex composed of N-[1-(2,3-dioleyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium and cholesterol liposome and plasmid DNA encoding firefly luciferase under the control of the cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter (pCMV-Luc) was intravenously injected into mice. Luciferase activity as well as NF-kappaB activation in the lung were evaluated.

Tissue-specific characteristics of in vivo electric gene: transfer by tissue and intravenous injection of plasmid DNA.

Purpose: To evaluate the tissue-specific characteristics of electric gene transfer after tissue and intravenous injection of naked plasmid DNA (pDNA).

Methods: pDNA encoding firefly luciferase was injected directly into the liver, kidney, spleen, skin and muscle, or into the tail vein of mice, and electric pulses were then applied to one of these organs. The distribution of transgene expressing cells was evaluated using pDNA encoding beta-galactosidase.