Quinocetone, a new quinoxaline 1, 4-dioxide derivative, has been widely used as an animal feed additive in China. This study was conducted to explore the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis induced by quinocetone in HepG2 cells. MTT assay revealed that the viability of HepG2 cells was significantly inhibited by quinocetone in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Quinocetone-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells was characterized by cell and nuclei morphology change, cell membrane phosphatidylserine translocation, DNA fragmentation, cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and a cascade activation of caspase-8, caspase-9 and caspase-3. Simultaneously, quinocetone induced HepG2 cell cycle arrest, which was supported by overexpression of p21. Cytochrome c release was caused by the mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation, a process related to quinocetone-induced Bid cleavage and elevated Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Moreover, quinocetone treatment caused the up-regulation of TNF-α and TNFR1 in HepG2 cells. Both soluble TNFR1 receptors and caspase inhibitors suppressed quinocetone-induced apoptosis. In addition, the protein levels of p53, p-p38 and p-JNK were increased in quinocetone-treated cells. Taken together, quinocetone induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells via activation of caspase, interaction of TNF-α and TNFR1 and modulation of the protein levels of Bid, Bax and Bcl-2, involving the participation of p53, p38 and JNK.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2013.10.022 | DOI Listing |
Biol Pharm Bull
January 2025
Department of Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan.
A 3-dimensional (3D) cell culture is now being actively pursued to accomplish the in vivo-like cellular morphology and biological functions in cell culture. We recently obtained nano-fibrillated bacterial cellulose (NFBC). In this study, we developed a novel NFBC-based 3D cell-culture system, the OnGel method, and the Suspension method.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiol Pharm Bull
January 2025
Division of Bio-Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Medical Technology, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Medical and Life Sciences, 265-1 Higashijima, Akiha-ku, Niigata 956-8603, Japan.
Postmenopausal women are at a higher risk of developing dyslipidemia and osteoporosis due to estrogen deficiency, necessitating regular vitamin D supplementation and the use of cholesterol inhibitors, respectively, to prevent these conditions. Despite current treatments, alternatives are needed to address both conditions simultaneously. Ergosterol, a precursor of vitamin D, is a fungal sterol converted to brassicasterol by 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase, a cholesterol biosynthesis enzyme that converts 7-dehydrocholesterol (a precursor of vitamin D) into cholesterol.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBioorg Chem
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Computational Chemistry-Based Natural Antitumor Drug Research & Development, Liaoning Province, Engineering Research Center of Natural Medicine Active Molecule Research & Development, Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Natural Bioactive Compounds Discovery & Modification, Shenyang, School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, China. Electronic address:
The C-3 and C-5 substituted 20-deoxyingenol monoesters are important active components in Euphorbiaceae plants. Nonetheless, their similar physical properties make them difficult to distinguish. The present study developed fast and efficient rules for identifying the esterification sites of 20-deoxyingenol based on a series of chemical syntheses of monoesters and literature research, utilizing NMR spectroscopy, optical rotation analysis, and chromatographic retention behavior.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAmino Acids
January 2025
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
In recent years, the use of cationic peptides as alternative drugs with anticancer activity has received attention. In this study, the targeted release of curcumin (Cur) and CM11 peptide alone and together against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was evaluated using chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs) coated with Pres1 that target the SB3 antigen of HCC cells (PreS1-Cur-CM11-CS NPs). SB3 protein is the specific antigen of HCC and the PreS1 peptide is a part of the hepatitis B antigen, which can specifically bind to the SB3 protein.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPharmaceutics
January 2025
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Pesquisa Translacional em Fármacos e Medicamentos (PPG-PTFM), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil.
Amphotericin B (AmB) is a commonly utilized antifungal agent, which is also recommended for the treatment of certain neglected tropical diseases, including leishmaniasis. However, its clinical application is constrained because of its poor oral bioavailability and adverse effects, prompting the investigation of alternative drug delivery systems. Polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) have gained attention as a potential drug delivery vehicle, providing advantages such as sustained release and enhanced bioavailability, and could have potential as AmB carriers.
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