We demonstrated that wogonin induced apoptosis by suppressing the expressions of the E6 and E7 viral oncogenes in HPV-infected cervical cancer CaSki and SiHa cells. The modulation of p53 and protein retinoblastoma (pRb) were also triggered by the suppression of E6 and E7

expressions. However, p53 was not altered in HPV-negative cervical cancer C33A cells. Moreover, wogonin modulated the mitochondrial membrane potential and the expression of pro- TH-302 and anti-apoptotic factors such as Bax and Bcl-2. Wogonin also provoked the cleavage of caspase-3, caspase-9, and poly ADP ribose polymerase. After transfection of siRNAs to target E6 and E7, SN-38 additional restoration of p53 and pRb was not induced, but processing of caspases and PARP was increased compared with wogonin treatment alone. Together, our findings demonstrated that wogonin effectively

promotes apoptosis by downregulating E6 and E7 expressions and promoting intrinsic apoptosis in human cervical cancer cells.”
“Cells are exposed to a large variety of cytokines that signal through corresponding cytokine receptors. In healthy tissues or tissues that respond properly to disturbed homeostasis, the cross-talk of a few conserved core signaling pathways downstream of the cytokine receptors is translated into an adequate cellular response. In chronic inflammatory diseases but also in cancer associated inflammation cytokine expression and the downstream signaling networks are dysregulated. Targeted therapies are aimed at the specific interference with dysregulated cytokine signaling. In this article some concepts of pharmacological intervention with cytokine signaling will be reviewed including biologics that target cytokines and cytokine receptors. Receptor fusion proteins consisting of the ligand-binding domains of cytokine receptors are highly specific and potent cytokine inhibitors and will be discussed in more detail.

(C) 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.”
“Side population (SP) cells are a subset of stem cells that have been isolated from several GW69A different gastrointestinal cancer cell lines. Using flow cytometry and the DNA-binding dye Hoechst 33342, we isolated SP cells from SGC-7901 human gastric tumor cell lines and found that they comprise 2.3+/-0.78% of the tumor cells. Using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, we demonstrated that SP cells have a stronger proliferative activity than non-SP cells. Additionally, we observed tumor mass formation following the cultivation of SP cells in serum-free medium, indicating the capability of these cells for self-renewal. SP cells were observed to undergo non-symmetrical division, which is characteristic of stem cells.