The nuclear membrane in multidrug resistance: microinjection of epirubicin into bladder cancer cell lines

Objevtive: to assess whether microinjecting epirubicin into cells showing multidrug resistance (MDR, common to many cancers, including bladder cancer, with resistance to, e.g. anthracyclines and mitomycin C) spares the nucleus, as when these drugs accumulate, distribution in MDR cells characteristically spares the nucleus, suggesting that the nuclear membrane is responsible for excluding cytotoxic drugs from MDR nuclei.Materials and methods: nuclear exclusion of drugs is an important feature of resistance in MDR cells, as many MDR-susceptible drugs have cytotoxic actions within the nucleus. Drug accumulation in 'classical' P-glycoprotein-mediated MDR cells is greatly reduced by efflux. Microinjection of epirubicin into the cytoplasm of MDR cells bypasses the P-glycoprotein efflux pump on the plasma membrane. Nuclear sparing would directly implicate the nuclear membrane in this phenomenon. Because of their fluorescence properties, which allow study by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry, anthracyclines have also been used extensively to investigate MDR. Thus sensitive (MGH-U1 and RT112) and MDR (MGH-U1R and MGH-U1-MMC) bladder cancer cell lines were used. Adherent cells from each cell line were individually microinjected with epirubicin (0.5 mg/mL) and a 77 kDa fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran (0.5 mg/mL). The pattern of nuclear epirubicin uptake in injected cells was then evaluated by confocal microscopy. The 77 kDa FITC-dextran allowed easier identification of injected cells and was also excluded from their nuclei.Results: sensitive bladder cancer cell lines all showed a nuclear accumulation pattern of epirubicin, consistent with their normal uptake after exposure to epirubicin. The MDR cell lines showed the characteristic nuclear-sparing pattern of epirubicin uptake, similar to the normal uptake pattern after epirubicin exposure. The 77 kDa FITC-dextran showed clearly which cells had been microinjected, and was excluded from the nuclei of all injected cells. Cell viability was confirmed by acridine-orange staining after initial visualization of injected cells.Conclusion: the nuclear membrane is responsible for the nuclear exclusion of epirubicin in MDR cells. Further work is necessary to determine the mechanisms involved

Triterpene saponins from Antonia ovata leaves

Six pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins, named antoniosides E-J along with two known alkaloids, were isolated from the leaves of Antonia ovata. Their structures were determined by the extensive use of 1D and 2D-NMR experiments along with HRESIMS analysis and acid hydrolysis. All isolated saponins contained the same pentasaccharide chain: 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 2)]-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 4)]-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 3)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl(1 -> 6)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside, linked at C-3 of esterified derivatives of polyhydroxyoleanene triterpenoids (theasapogenol A and 15 alpha-hydroxy-theasapogenol A). Isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against KB cell line by a WST-1 assay, and the IC50 values ranged from 3.3 to 5.3 mu M

Cytotoxic triterpenoid saponins from the stem bark of Antonia ovata

Phytochemical investigation of the MeOH extract of the stem bark of Antonia ovata led to the isolation of four triterpenoid saponins, along with eleven known Compounds Their structures were established by extensive 1D and 2D NMR, as well as HR-MS analysis and acid hydrolysis All isolated saponins contained the same tetrasaccharide chain O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 -> 2)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 3)-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 2)]-beta-D-glucuropyranoside linked to C-3 of esterified derivatives of R-1-barrigenol. A(1)-barrigenol, barringtogenol C, or camelliagenin Biological evaluation of the Compounds against KB cell line revealed a potent cytotoxic activity with IC50 Values ranging from 3 1 to 6 6 mu M. The known compounds were found to be inactive at 10 mu g/ml concentration

Targeted nano analysis of water and ions using cryocorrelative light and scanning transmission electron microscopy

International audienc

Targeted nano analysis of water and ions using cryocorrelative light and scanning transmission electron microscopy

International audienc

Olmesartan-associated enteropathy: results of a national survey

BACKGROUND: Recently, a new enteropathy has been described: olmesartan-associated enteropathy. However, the association has been questioned: a phase 3 trial and a cohort study found no association between gastrointestinal events and olmesartan. AIM: To collect French cases of sartan-associated enteropathy to describe further this entity, confirm or refute causality, and determine if the association exists with other sartans. METHODS: French gastroenterologists were invited to report cases of sartan-associated enteropathy and collect clinical, biological and histological data. Patients with diarrhoea and histological duodenal abnormalities were included. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients with olmesartan-associated enteropathy were reported, including 32 with villous atrophy and four without. There was only one patient with irbesartan-associated enteropathy. None of the patients died. Patients with villous atrophy had diarrhoea, vomiting, renal failure, hypokalaemia, body weight loss and hypoalbuminaemia. Thirty-one patients were hospitalised; four required intensive care. Anti-transglutaminase and anti-enterocyte antibodies were negative; anti-nuclear antibodies were positive (9/11). Endoscopic duodenal biopsies showed villous atrophy (32/32) and polyclonal intra-epithelial CD3+CD8+ lymphocytosis (11/11). Exactly, 14/15 patients responded to steroids and/or immunosuppressants, prescribed because of suspected autoimmune enteropathy. Ten olmesartan interruptions were followed by reintroductions before steroids or immunosuppressants. Interruptions were followed by remissions (9/10), but reintroductions were followed by relapses (9/9). Twenty-nine patients were in remission since olmesartan interruption, including 26 without immunosuppressants. Patients with normal villi had similar clinical characteristics, but mild histological abnormalities (intra-epithelial lymphocytosis and lamina propria lymphocytic infiltration). CONCLUSIONS: Olmesartan causes a severe and immune-mediated enteropathy, with or without villous atrophy. Enteropathy associated with other sartans seems to be very rare