Identification and functional analysis of an iron-binding protein, ferritin heavy chain subunit, from the swallowtail butterfly, Papilio xuthus.

Ferritin, which is ubiquitous among all living organisms, plays a crucial role in maintaining iron homeostasis, immune response, and detoxification. In the present research, we identified an iron-binding protein, ferritin heavy chain subunit, from Papilio xuthus and named PxFerHCH. The complete complementary DNA of PxFerHCH was 1,252 bp encoding a sequence of 211 amino acids, which includes an iron-responsive element.

Synergy of enediyne antibiotic lidamycin and temozolomide in suppressing glioma growth with potentiated apoptosis induction.

The present work evaluated the synergistic efficacy of an enediyne antibiotic lidamycin (LDM) plus temozolomide (TMZ) against glioma in vitro and in vivo. LDM plus TMZ inhibited the proliferations of rat glioma C6 cells and human glioma U87 cells more efficiently than the single usage of LDM or TMZ. In addition, LDM also potentiated the apoptosis inductions by TMZ in rat C6 cells and human U87 cells.

Synergistic inhibition of angiogenesis and glioma cell-induced angiogenesis by the combination of temozolomide and enediyne antibiotic lidamycin.

Present work mainly evaluated the inhibitory effects of lidamycin (LDM), an enediyne antibiotic, on angiogenesis or glioma-induced angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo, especially its synergistic anti-angiogenesis with temozolomide (TMZ). LDM alone efficiently inhibited proliferations and induced apoptosis of rat brain microvessel endothelial cells (rBMEC). LDM also interrupted the tube formation of rat brain microvessel endothelial cells (rBMEC) and rat aortic ring spreading.

[Inhibitory effect of lidamycin upon vasculogenic mimicry and its induction of apoptosis in glioma cells].

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro effects of lidamycin upon vasculogenic mimicry and apoptosis induction in glioma cells.

Methods: Tube formation assay was performed to estimate the inhibitory effects of lidamycin upon vasculogenic mimicry in C6 and U87 glioma cells. The vasculogenic mimicry of glioma cells was photographed and enumerated.

Synergy of gemcitabine and lidamycin associated with NF-kappaB downregulation in pancreatic carcinoma cells.

Aim: To investigate the effects on human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 and SW1990 cells using a combination of lidamycin (LDM) and gemcitabine.

Methods: A 3- (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was used to determine the growth inhibition of drugs in PANC-1 and SW1990 cells. The effects on apoptosis were measured by terminal uridine deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay and flow cytometry combined with fluorescein- isothiocyanate-Annexin V/propidium iodide staining.

Generation and antitumor effects of an engineered and energized fusion protein VL-LDP-AE composed of single-domain antibody and lidamycin.

Type IV collagenase plays a pivotal role in invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis of tumor. Single domain antibodies are attractive as tumor-targeting vehicle because of their much smaller size compared with antibody molecules produced by conventional methods. Lidamycin (LDM) is a potent enediyne-containing antitumor antibiotic.

Down-regulation of the nuclear factor-kappaB by lidamycin in association with inducing apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells and inhibiting xenograft growth.

Pancreatic cancer is now one of the most common causes of cancer death worldwide. K-ras mutations are present in up to 90% of pancreatic cancer cases. The expression of mutant K-ras activates the Akt/protein kinase B pathway, resulting in the activation of the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) transcriptional factor.

An enediyne-energized single-domain antibody-containing fusion protein shows potent antitumor activity.

Single-domain antibodies are attractive as tumor-targeting vehicles because of their much smaller size than intact antibody molecules. Lidamycin is a macromolecular antitumor antibiotic, which consists of a labile enediyne chromophore (AE) and a noncovalently bound apoprotein (LDP). An enediyne-energized fusion protein VH-LDP-AE composed of single-domain antibody directed against type IV collagenase and lidamycin was prepared by a novel two-step method including DNA recombination and molecular reconstitution.

Sodium caffeate induces endothelial cell apoptosis and inhibits VEGF expression in cancer cells.

Aim: To investigate the induction of endothelial cell apoptosis and the suppression of VEGF expression in cancer cells by sodium caffeate (SCA).

Methods: Apoptosis of transformed human umbilical vein endothelial cells (ECV304 cell line) was detected by flow cytometry, DNA electrophoresis assay and morphological assessment. Western blotting analysis was applied for determination of VEGF expression in cancer cells.

[Inhibition of pulmonary fibrosis by doxycycline: an experiment with mice].

Objective: To investigate the effect of doxycycline, an antimicrobial antibiotic inhibiting type IV collagenase, on the development of pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin (BLM) in mice.

Methods: Gelatin zymography assay was used to detect the secretion of 72,000 and 92,000 type IV collagenase in HT-1080 cells and the activity of these enzymes in vitro. Experimental pulmonary fibrosis was induced by intra-tracheal administration of BLM in anesthetized mice.