Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is an attractive target for cancer therapy due to its ability to selectively induce apoptosis in cancer cells, without causing significant toxicity in normal tissues. We previously reported that galactoxyloglucan (PST001) possesses significant antitumor and immunomodulatory properties. However, the exact mechanism in mediating this anticancer effect is unknown. This study, for the first time, indicated that PST001 sensitizes non-small cell lung cancer (A549) and nasopharyngeal (KB) cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. In vitro studies suggested that PST001 induced apoptosis primarily via death receptors and predominantly activated caspases belonging to the extrinsic apoptotic cascade. Microarray profiling of PST001 treated A549 and KB cells showed the suppression of survivin (BIRC5) and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, as well as increased cytochrome C. TaqMan low density array analysis of A549 cells also confirmed that the induction of apoptosis by the polysaccharide occurred through the TRAIL-DR4/DR5 pathways. This was finally confirmed by in silico analysis, which revealed that PST001 binds to TRAIL-DR4/DR5 complexes more strongly than TNF and Fas ligand-receptor complexes. In summary, our results suggest the potential of PST001 to be developed as an anticancer agent that not only preserves innate biological activity of TRAIL, but also sensitizes cancer cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis.
Glycyrrhizic acid (GA) has been reported to inhibit postprandial blood glucose rise and 11 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11 βHSD1) activity. As not much work has been done on GA effects on 11 βHSD1 and 2 and HOMA-IR at different treatment periods, this work was conducted. 60 male Sprague Dawley rats fed AD LIBITUM were assigned into six groups of control and treated that were given GA at different duration namely 12, 24 and 48 h. Treated and control groups were intraperitoneally administered with GA (50 mgkg (-1)) and saline respectively. Blood and subcutaneous (ATS) and visceral adipose tissue (ATV), abdominal (MA) and quadriceps femoris muscle (MT), liver (L) and kidney (K) were examined. HOMA-IR in GA-treated rats decreased in all groups (P<0.05). In the 12-h and 24-h treated rats, 11 βHSD1 activities decreased in all tissues (P<0.05) except MA and MT (P>0.05) in the former and ATV (P>0.05) in the latter. However, 11 βHSD1 activities decreased significantly in all tissues ( P<0.05) in the 48-h treated rats. Significant decrease in 11 βHSD2 (P>0.05) activities were observed in the L of all treatment groups and K in the 24-h and 48-h treated rats (P<0.05). Histological analysis on ATS showed increase in the number of small-size adipocytes while ATV adipocytes showed shrinkage after GA administration. Increased glycogen deposition in the L was observed in the GA-administered rats in all the treatment periods. In conclusion, GA treatment showed a decrease in the HOMA-IR and both 11 βHSD1 and 2 activities in all tissues, with more profound decrease in the 48-h treated rats.
The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities comprising visceral obesity, dyslipidaemia and insulin resistance (IR). With the onset of IR, the expression of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), a key regulator of lipoprotein metabolism, is reduced. Increased activation of glucocorticoid receptors results in MetS symptoms and is thus speculated to have a role in the pathophysiology of the MetS. Glycyrrhizic acid (GA), the bioactive constituent of licorice roots (Glycyrrhiza glabra) inhibits 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 that catalyzes the activation of glucocorticoids. Thus, oral administration of GA is postulated to ameliorate the MetS.