Effect of chloroform fraction of Tribulus terrestris (TT) fruit on proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of AGS cancer cell line

Background and purpose: Adenocarcinoma gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers of upper gastrointestinal tract. Many natural compounds are known to have anti-tumor activities through induction of tumor cell apoptosis. Tribulus terrestris is a plant with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that has been recommended in the world and Iranian traditional medicine. These effects have been proven in some recent studies. This study was performed to evaluate the anti-tumoral effect of chloroform fraction fruit of Tribulus terrestris (TT) on human adenocarcinoma gastric cancer. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, AGS cells were first cultured in standard conditions in plate and then incubated with different concentrations of chloroform fraction for 24, 48 and 72 hours. Cell viability was determined using MTT assay. Cell death induction and cell cycle arrest were determined using flow cytometry. Results: The results demonstrated that the chloroform fraction decreased AGS cell viability in a concentration and time-dependent manner. The data indicate that this fraction increased apoptosis effectively in AGS cell line and cell cycle was arrested at G0/G1 phase. Conclusion: The effective compounds of the chloroform fraction of the plant Tribulus terrestris (TT) fruit induced apoptotic cell death in human gastric cancer cells. These compounds could be of great benefit in prevention or treatment of human gastric cancer

Correlation of interleukin 6 and transforming growth factor β1 with peripheral blood regulatory T cells in rheumatoid arthritis patients: a potential biomarker

Introduction: Proinflammatory cytokines and regulatory T cells (Tregs) are considered as important factors involved in autoimmunity development especially in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Aim of the study: To investigate the frequency of peripheral blood Tregs and related cytokines in RA patients and to determine the possible correlation between Treg percentage and interleukin 6 (IL-6) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) as indicators in assessment of Treg function and mechanisms preceding autoimmunity in RA. Material and methods: Thirty-seven Iranian RA patients with a moderate (3.2-5.1) disease activity score (DAS) and the same number of healthy age- and sex-matched individuals were enrolled. Frequency of peripheral blood Tregs (CD4+FoxP3+CD25high) was determined by flow cytometry. Serum levels of IL-6 and TGF-β1 and their expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were evaluated by ELISA and Q-PCR, respectively. Results: Rheumatoid arthritis patients showed significantly lower peripheral blood Treg frequencies compared to healthy individuals. Additionally, Treg (%) showed a significant inverse correlation between serum concentrations of IL-6 and mRNA expression of PBMCs, whereas there was no significant correlation between Treg (%) and TGF-β1 levels. Conclusions: The current study revealed that Treg numbers were reduced in peripheral blood of RA patients. This reduction inversely correlated with IL-6 levels, which may lead to persistent autoimmune and inflammatory conditions in RA patients

Pterostilbene Enhances Anticancer Effects of L-asparaginase in Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Cell Line

Antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of pterostilbene were examined in combination with L-asparaginase in Jurkat cell line. Jurkat cells were incubated with different concentrations of pterostilbene alone or in combination with L-asparaginase for 24, 48 and 72 h. Cell viability was evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium assay. Induction of apoptosis was measured by annexin-V fluorescein isothiocyanate and the level of active caspase 3 positive cells by intracellular staining and flowcytometry. Decline of cell viability to 50 % was observed at 67.78 +/- 3.88, 60.97 +/- 3.36 and 52.11 +/- 2.50 mu M concentration after 24, 48 and 72 h incubation with pterostilbene, respectively. Pterostilbene at a concentration of 30, 50 and 70 mu M in combination with 0.5 and 0.7 IU/ml L-asparaginase reduced relative cell growth to a significant level. The rate of apoptosis was significantly higher than control at 80 mu M concentration of pterostilbene and a combination of 60 mu M pterostilbene with 0.5 and 0.7 IU/ml L-asparaginase, but not with L-asparaginase alone. The level of caspase 3 positive cells was significantly higher than control at 80 mu M concentration of pterostilbene. Pterostilbene increased antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of L-asparaginase in Jurkat cells. These results suggested that pterostilbene might be a potential anticancer agent in lymphoblastic leukaemia and potentiate the effect of L-asparaginase. Unravelling the mechanism of pterostilbene-induced cell apoptosis in this cell line could help in the development of a targeted therap