Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) secreted by ovarian cancer play essential roles in tumor invasion and metastasis. In this study, we investigated the effect of baicalein, which is isolated from the traditional Chinese herbal medicine Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, on human ovarian cancer cell lines by measuring MMP-2 expression, invasive potential, and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Analysis of MMP-2 was carried out by western blots and RT-PCR. The invasion ability of ovarian cancer cells was determined using a Transwell invasion assay. Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and p38 MAPK activation was assessed by western blots. The results of the present study showed that baicalein reduced the expression of MMP-2 in a dose-dependent manner and the invasion of ovarian cancer cells was also significantly suppressed by baicalein. We also found that baicalein reduced the activation of NF-κB signaling molecules; in addition, the MMP-2 expression and invasion ability of ovarian cancer cells were abolished with the treatment of the NF-κB inhibitor, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate. However, the addition of p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 significantly reduced the activation of NF-κB; meanwhile, baicalein was shown to exert an inhibitory effect on p38 activation. Furthermore, the MMP-2 expression and invasion ability of ovarian cancer cells were significantly inhibited by SB203580. In conclusion, baicalein inhibits the MMP-2 expression and invasion ability of ovarian cancer cells, possibly by the p38 MAPK-dependent NF-κB signaling pathway; these findings may provide insights into the potential of using baicalein as a therapeutic strategy against ovarian cancer.

BackgroundSepsis can cause serious acute kidney injury in bacterium-infected patients, especially in intensive care patients. Luteolin, a bioactive flavonoid, has renal protection and anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed to investigate the effect and underlying mechanism of luteolin in attenuating lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced renal injury.Material/MethodsICR mice were treated with LPS (25 mg/kg) with or without luteolin pre-treatment (40 mg/kg for three days). The renal function, histological changes, degree of oxidative stress, and tubular apoptosis in these mice were examined. The effects of luteolin on LPS-induced expression of renal tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), NF-κB, MCP-1, ICAM-1, and cleaved caspase-3 were evaluated.ResultsLPS resulted in rapid renal damage of mice, increased level of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (Scr), tubular necrosis, and increased oxidative stress, whereas luteolin pre-treatment could attenuate this renal damage and improve the renal functions significantly. Treatment with LPS increased TNF-α, NF-κB, IL-1β, cleaved caspase-3, MCP-1, and ICAM-1 expression, while these disturbed expressions were reversed by luteolin pre-treatment.ConclusionsThese results indicate that luteolin ameliorates LPS-mediated nephrotoxicity via improving renal oxidant status, decreasing NF-κB activation and inflammatory and apoptosis factors, and then disturbing the expression of apoptosis-related proteins.

Background Small‐cell lung cancer (SCLC) is one of the most aggressive cancers with mechanisms far from understood. Objective We proposed to identify valuable prognostic signature for SCLC prognosis prediction. Methods microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles of 42 SCLC patients were acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus. miRNAs that significantly associated with SCLC overall survival (OS‐relevant) were identified through univariate Cox regression analysis followed by random survival forest analysis for identification of more reliable miRNA signature. Results Eleven OS‐relevant miRNAs were obtained, and hsa‐miR‐194, hsa‐miR‐608, and hsa‐miR‐9 were further refined through RFS. A formula composed of the three miRNAs’ expression values weighted by their multivariate Cox regression coefficients was constructed, and based on which, SCLC patients with longer OS could be well distinguished from those with shorter OS. Conclusions This study should provide a valuable clue for SCLC prognosis evaluation.

No abstract