Diabetes is a pro-inflammatory state. We have previously shown increased monocyte proinflammatory cytokines in patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. High glucose induces proinflammatory cytokines via epigenetic changes. Curcumin, a polyphenol responsible for the yellow color of the spice turmeric, is known to exert potent anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. Recent studies indicate that it may regulate chromatin remodeling by inhibiting histone acetylation. In this study, we aimed to test the effect of curcumin on histone acetylation and proinflammatory cytokine secretion under high-glucose conditions in human monocytes. Human monocytic (THP-1) cells were cultured in presence of mannitol (osmolar control, mannitol) or normoglycemic (NG, 5.5 mmol/L glucose) or hyperglycemic (HG, 25 mmol/L glucose) conditions in absence or presence of curcumin (1.5-12.5μM) for 72 h. Cytokine level, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) transactivation, histone deacetylases (HDACs) activity, histone acetylases (HATs) activity were measured by western blots, qRT-PCR, ELISA, Immunofluorescence (IF) staining. HG significantly induced histone acetylation, NF-κB activity and pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-6, TNF-α and MCP-1) release from THP-1 cells. Curcumin suppressed NF-κB binding and cytokine release in THP-1 cells. Also, since p300 histone acetyltransferase is a coactivator of NF-κB, we examined its acetylation. Curcumin treatment also significantly reduced HAT activity, level of p300 and acetylated CBP/p300 gene expression, and induced histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) expression by curcumin. These results indicate that curcumin decreases HG-induced cytokine production in monocytes via epigenetic changes involving NF-κB. In conclusion, curcumin supplementation by reducing vascular inflammation may prevent diabetic complications.

In prostate cancer, a fine balance between cell proliferation and apoptotic death is lost, resulting in increased cellular mass and tumor progression. One approach to redress this imbalance and control this malignancy is its preventive intervention through the use of dietary natural agents. Here, we investigated the growth-inhibitory effect and associated mechanisms of Lupeol, a triterpene present in fruits and vegetables, in androgen-sensitive human prostate cancer cells. Lupeol treatment resulted in significant inhibition of cell viability in a dose-dependent manner and caused apoptotic death of prostate cancer cells. Lupeol was found to induce the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase protein and degradation of acinus protein with a significant increase in the expression of FADD protein. Among all death receptor targets examined, Lupeol specifically caused a significant increase in the expression of Fas receptor. The small interfering RNAmediated silencing of the Fas gene and inhibition of caspase-6, caspase-8, and caspase-9 by their specific inhibitors confirmed that Lupeol specifically activates the Fas receptor-mediated apoptotic pathway in androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cells. The treatment of cells with a combination of anti-Fas monoclonal antibody and Lupeol resulted in higher cell death compared with the additive effect of the two compounds alone, suggesting a synergistic effect. Lupeol treatment resulted in a significant inhibition in growth of tumors with concomitant reduction in prostate-specific antigen secretion in athymic nude mice implanted with CWR22RN1 cells. Because early clinical prostate cancer growth is an androgendependent response, the results of the present study suggest that Lupeol may have a potential to be an effective agent against prostate cancer.

Purpose: Poor prognosis of metastatic melanoma mandates the development of novel strategies for its treatment and prevention. In this study, the effect of lupeol, a diet-based triterpene, was determined on the growth and tumorigenicity of human melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Experimental Design: Normal human melanocytes, and human metastatic (451Lu) and nonmetastatic (WM35) cells were treated with lupeol; its effect on growth, proliferation, and apoptosis were evaluated. Further athymic nude mice bearing 451Lu cell^originated tumors were administered with lupeol thrice a week, and its effect on tumor growth and surrogate biomarkers was evaluated. Results: Lupeol significantly decreased the viability of 451Lu and WM35 melanoma cells but had only a marginal effect on normal human melanocyte cells at similar doses. Lupeol treatment of 451Lu cells caused (a) G 1 -S phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis; (b) down-regulation of Bcl2 and up-regulation of Bax; (c) activation of caspase-3 and induction of poly(ADP)ribose polymerase cleavage; (d) decreased expression of cyclin D1, cyclin D2, and cdk2; and (e) increased expression of p21 protein. Next, lupeol significantly reduced 451Lu tumor growth in athymic nude mice and modulated the expression of proliferation markers, apoptotic markers, and cell cycle regulatory molecules in tumor xenografts. Conclusion: Our findings showed the anticancer efficacy of lupeol with mechanistic rationale against metastatic human melanoma cells. We suggest that lupeol, alone or as an adjuvant to current therapies, could be useful for the management of human melanoma.

Because of unsatisfactory treatment options for colon cancer, there is a need to develop novel preventive approaches for this malignancy. One such strategy is through chemoprevention by the use of non-toxic dietary substances and botanical products. Delphinidin, an anthocyanidin in pigmented fruits and vegetables, possesses strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, we investigated the antiproliferative and proapoptotic properties of delphinidin in human colon cancer HCT116 cells. We found that treatment of cells with delphinidin (30-240 μM; 48 h) resulted in (i) decrease in cell viability (ii) induction of apoptosis, (iii) cleavage of PARP, (iv) activation of caspases-3, -8, and -9, (v) increase in Bax with a concomitant decrease in Bcl-2 protein, and (vi) G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. NF-κB provides a mechanistic link between inflammation and cancer, and is a major factor controlling the ability of both pre-neoplastic and malignant cells to resist apoptosis-based tumor surveillance mechanisms. We therefore, determined the effect of delphinidin on NF-κB signaling pathway. The immunoblot, ELISA and EMSA analysis demonstrated that the treatment of HCT116 cells with delphinidin resulted in the inhibition of (i) IKKα, (ii) phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα, (iii) phosphorylation of NF-κB/p65 at Ser 536 , (iv) nuclear translocation of NF-κB/p65, (v) NF-κB/p65 DNA binding activity, and (vi) transcriptional activation of NF-κB. Our results suggest that delphinidin treatment of HCT116 cells suppressed NF-κB pathway, resulting in G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis. We suggest that delphinidin could have potential in inhibiting colon cancer growth.

Several lines of evidence support a role for oxidative stress in diabetic complications Diabetic patients have increased O2− production in monocytes. Loss of SIRT1 activity may be associated with metabolic diseases such as diabetes. Several studies have shown that SIRT1 can regulate mammalian FOXO transcription factors through direct binding and/or deacetylation. However, interactions between SIRT1 and FOXO under diabetic conditions are unclear. The phytochemical resveratrol, has recently gained attention for its protection against metabolic disease. Resveratrol has been shown to increase mitochondrial function by activating SIRT1. In this study, we tested the protective effect of resveratrol on cellular oxidative stress through the SIRT1-FOXO pathway under high-glucose conditions. Human monocytic (THP-1) cells were cultured in presence of mannitol (osmolar control) or normoglycemic (NG, 5.5 mmol/L glucose) or hyperglycemic (HG, 25 mmol/L glucose) conditions in absence or presence of resveratrol (3 and 6 µmol/L) for 48 h. We first examined SIRT1 activity and oxidative stress in monocytes of T1DM patients compared to healthy controls. In T1DM patients, monocytic SIRT1 expression was significantly decreased and p47phox expression was increased compared to controls. Under HG in vitro, SIRT1 and FOXO3a were significantly decreased compared to NG, this was reversed by resveratrol treatment, concomitant with reduction in HG-induced superoxide production and p47phox. Under HG, SIRT1 small interfering RNA (siRNA), inhibited FOXO3a and there was no beneficial effect of resveratrol in siRNA treated HG-induced cells. Thus, resveratrol decreases HG-induced superoxide production via upregulation of SIRT1, induction of FOXO3a and inhibition of p47phox in monocytes.