Latest Publications

@article{jendzelovsky_drug_2009,

title = {Drug efflux transporters, MRP1 and BCRP, affect the outcome of hypericin-mediated photodynamic therapy in HT-29 adenocarcinoma cells.},

author = {Rastislav Jendzelovský and Jaromír Mikes and Ján Koval' and Karel Soucek and Jirina Procházková and Martin Kello and Veronika Sacková and Jirina Hofmanová and Alois Kozubík and Peter Fedorocko},

doi = {10.1039/b9pp00086k},

issn = {1474-9092 1474-905X},

year  = {2009},

date = {2009-12-01},

journal = {Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology},

volume = {8},

number = {12},

pages = {1716–1723},

abstract = {Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a flexible multi-target therapeutic approach. One of the main requirements of successful PDT is sufficient intracellular concentration of an applicable photosensitizer. Mechanisms of anticancer drug elimination by tumour cells are mostly linked to the elevated expression and activity of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and P450 monooxygenases. The interaction of hypericin with this cell drug-defence system is still unclear. We report here for the first time increased activity of MRP1 and BCRP in HT-29 colon cancer cells treated with hypericin per se. On the contrary, pre-treatment with proadifen (SKF525A) affected the function of MRP1 and BCRP leading to increased hypericin content, which might indicate a possible link between proadifen and these ABC transporter proteins. Subsequent enhanced intracellular oxidative stress was accompanied by loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspase-9 and -3, PARP cleavage and onset of apoptosis. In conclusion, our study suggests that drug efflux transporters MRP1 and BCRP affect the pharmacokinetics of hypericin in HT-29 colon adenocarcinoma cells, and the action of hypericin-mediated PDT (HY-PDT) should be modulated by pre-treatment with their specific inhibitors.},

note = {Place: England},

keywords = {Adenocarcinoma/*drug therapy/secondary, Anthracenes, ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/*metabolism, Caspase 3/metabolism, Caspase 9/metabolism, Colonic Neoplasms/*drug therapy, Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology, HT29 Cells, Humans, Light, Member 1/metabolism, Member 2, Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial/drug effects, Mixed Function Oxygenases/metabolism, Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins/*metabolism, Neoplasm Proteins/*metabolism, Perylene/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology, Photochemotherapy, Photosensitizing Agents/*pharmacology, Proadifen/pharmacology, Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism, Subfamily B, Subfamily G},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{gavelova_reduction_2008,

title = {Reduction of doxorubicin and oracin and induction of carbonyl reductase in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells.},

author = {Martina Gavelová and Jana Hladíková and Lenka Vildová and Romana Novotná and Jan Vondrácek and Pavel Krcmár and Miroslav Machala and Lenka Skálová},

doi = {10.1016/j.cbi.2008.07.011},

issn = {0009-2797},

year  = {2008},

date = {2008-10-01},

journal = {Chemico-biological interactions},

volume = {176},

number = {1},

pages = {9–18},

abstract = {In cancer cells, the drug-metabolizing enzymes may deactivate cytostatics, thus contributing to their survival. Moreover, the induction of these enzymes may also contribute to development of drug-resistance through acceleration of cytostatics deactivation. However, the principal metabolic pathways contributing to deactivation of many cytostatics still remain poorly defined. The main aims of the present study were: (i) to compare the reductive deactivation of cytostatic drugs doxorubicin (DOX) and oracin (ORC) in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells; (ii) to identify major enzyme(s) involved in the carbonyl reduction; and iii) to evaluate the activities and expression of selected carbonyl reducing enzymes in MCF-7 cells upon a short-term (48 h) exposure to either DOX or ORC. We found that MCF-7 cells were able to effectively metabolize both DOX and ORC through reduction of their carbonyl groups. The reduction of ORC was stereospecific, with a preferential formation of + enantiomer of dihydrooracin (DHO). The cytosolic carbonyl reductase CBR1 seemed to be a principal enzyme reducing both drugs, while cytosolic aldo-keto reductase AKR1C3 or microsomal reductases probably did not play important role in metabolism of either DOX or ORC. The exposure of MCF-7 cells to low (nanomolar) concentrations of DOX or ORC caused a significant elevation of reduction rates of both cytostatics, accompanied with an increase of CBR1 protein levels. Taken together, the present results seem to suggest that the accelerated metabolic deactivation of ORC or DOX might contribute to the survival of breast cancer cells during exposure to these cytostatics.},

note = {Place: Ireland},

keywords = {3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/metabolism, Alcohol Oxidoreductases/antagonists & inhibitors/*biosynthesis/genetics/metabolism, Aldehyde Reductase, Aldo-Keto Reductase Family 1 Member C3, Aldo-Keto Reductases, Biotransformation/drug effects, Blotting, Breast Neoplasms/*enzymology/genetics, Cell Line, Dose-Response Relationship, Doxorubicin/analogs & derivatives/chemistry/*metabolism/pharmacology, Drug, Enzyme Induction/drug effects, Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology, Ethanolamines/chemistry/*metabolism/pharmacology, Gene Expression Regulation, Humans, Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenases/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/metabolism, Isoquinolines/chemistry/*metabolism/pharmacology, Kinetics, Messenger/genetics/metabolism, Methacrylates/pharmacology, Neoplastic/drug effects, Oxidation-Reduction/drug effects, Phenylpropionates/pharmacology, Quercetin/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology, RNA, Subcellular Fractions/drug effects/metabolism, Tumor, Western},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{upham_tumor_2008,

title = {Tumor promoting properties of a cigarette smoke prevalent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon as indicated by the inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication via phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C.},

author = {Brad L. Upham and Ludek Bláha and Pavel Babica and Joon-Suk Park and Iva Sovadinova and Charles Pudrith and Alisa M. Rummel and Liliane M. Weis and Kimie Sai and Patti K. Tithof and Miodrag Guzvić and Jan Vondrácek and Miroslav Machala and James E. Trosko},

doi = {10.1111/j.1349-7006.2008.00752.x},

issn = {1349-7006 1347-9032},

year  = {2008},

date = {2008-04-01},

journal = {Cancer science},

volume = {99},

number = {4},

pages = {696–705},

abstract = {Inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and the activation of intracellular mitogenic pathways are common hallmarks of epithelial derived cancer cells. We previously determined that the 1-methyl and not the 2-methyl isomer of anthracene, which are prominent cigarette smoke components, activated extracellular receptor kinase, and inhibited GJIC in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells. Using these same cells, we show that an immediate upstream response to 1-methylanthracene was a rapid (<1 min) release of arachidonic acid. Inhibition of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C prevented the inhibition of GJIC by 1-methylanthracene. In contrast, inhibition of phosphatidylinositol specific phospholipase C, phospholipase A(2), diacylglycerol lipase, phospholipase D, protein kinase C, and tyrosine protein kinases had no effect on 1-methylanthracene-induced inhibition of GJIC. Inhibition of protein kinase A also prevented inhibition of GJIC by 1-methylanthracene. Direct measurement of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C and sphingomyelinase indicated that only phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C was activated in response to 1-methylanthracene, while 2-methylanthracene had no effect. 1-methylanthracene also activated p38-mitogen activated protein kinase; however, like extracellular kinase, its activation was not involved in 1-methylanthracene-induced regulation of GJIC, and this activation was independent of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C. Although mitogen activated protein kinases were activated, Western blot analyzes indicated no change in connexin43 phosphorylation status. Our results indicate that phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C is an important enzyme in the induction of a tumorigenic phenotype, namely the inhibition of GJIC; whereas mitogen activated protein kinases triggered in response to 1-methylanthracene, were not involved in the deregulation of GJIC.},

note = {Place: England},

keywords = {Animals, Anthracenes/chemistry/*toxicity, Carcinogens, Cell Communication/drug effects, Cell Line, Connexin 43/analysis/metabolism, Connexins/metabolism, Environmental/*toxicity, Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology, Gap Junctions/chemistry/*drug effects/metabolism, Neoplasms/chemically induced/enzymology, Nicotiana/toxicity, p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism, Phosphorylation, Rats, Smoke, Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase/analysis/metabolism, Type C Phospholipases/antagonists & inhibitors/*metabolism},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{vaculova_different_2006,

title = {Different modulation of TRAIL-induced apoptosis by inhibition of pro-survival pathways in TRAIL-sensitive and TRAIL-resistant colon cancer cells.},

author = {Alena Vaculová and Jirina Hofmanová and Karel Soucek and Alois Kozubík},

doi = {10.1016/j.febslet.2006.11.004},

issn = {0014-5793},

year  = {2006},

date = {2006-12-01},

journal = {FEBS letters},

volume = {580},

number = {28-29},

pages = {6565–6569},

abstract = {Epithelial cells can be manipulated to undergo apoptosis depending on the balance between pro-survival and apoptotic signals. We showed that TRAIL-induced apoptosis may be differentially regulated by inhibitors of MEK ERK (U0126) or PI3K/Akt (LY294002) pathway in TRAIL-sensitive (HT-29) and TRAIL-resistant (SW620) human epithelial colon cancer cells. U0126 or LY294002 significantly enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells, but not in SW620 cells. We report a different regulation of the level of an anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 protein under MEK/ERK or PI3K/Akt pathway inhibition and suggest the mechanisms involved. A special attention was paid to the role of the ERK1/2, Akt, and glycogen synthase kinase 3beta.},

note = {Place: England},

keywords = {Apoptosis/*drug effects, Caspase 8/metabolism, Cell Survival/drug effects, Colonic Neoplasms/*pathology, Enzyme Activation/drug effects, Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology, Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors, Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta, Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3/metabolism, HT29 Cells, Humans, Keratin-18/metabolism, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1/antagonists & inhibitors, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3/antagonists & inhibitors, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors, Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein, Neoplasm Proteins/metabolism, Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors, Phosphorylation/drug effects, Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases/metabolism, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/antagonists & inhibitors, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand/*pharmacology},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{andrysik_activation_2006,

title = {Activation of ERK1/2 and p38 kinases by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rat liver epithelial cells is associated with induction of apoptosis.},

author = {Zdenek Andrysík and Miroslav Machala and Katerina Chramostová and Jirina Hofmanová and Alois Kozubík and Jan Vondrácek},

doi = {10.1016/j.taap.2005.06.007},

issn = {0041-008X},

year  = {2006},

date = {2006-03-01},

journal = {Toxicology and applied pharmacology},

volume = {211},

number = {3},

pages = {198–208},

abstract = {Deregulation of various signaling pathways, linked either to induction of cell proliferation or to modulation of cellular differentiation and apoptosis, has been proposed to contribute to carcinogenicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In the present study, we investigated effects of the PAHs previously shown to induce cell proliferation and/or apoptosis in contact-inhibited rat liver epithelial WB-F344 cells, with an aim to define the role of mitogen-activated protein kinases in both events. We found that only strong genotoxin dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DBalP) activated extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and p38 kinase, but not c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), at concentrations inducing both apoptosis and phosphorylation of p53 tumor suppressor at serine 15 residue. In contrast, the PAHs stimulating cell proliferation in WB-F344 cell line had no effect on activation of ERK1/2, p38 or JNKs. Synthetic inhibitors of ERK1/2 activation (U0126) or p38 kinase activity (SB203580) prevented both apoptosis and induction of p53 phosphorylation by DBalP. Pifithrin-alpha, inhibitor of p53 transcriptional activity, prevented induction of apoptosis and activation of ERK1/2 and p38. Taken together, our data suggest that both ERK1/2 and p38 are activated in response to DBalP and that they might be involved in regulation of cellular response to DNA damage induced by DBalP, while neither kinase is involved in the release from contact inhibition induced by PAHs.},

note = {Place: United States},

keywords = {*Epithelial Cells/cytology/drug effects/enzymology, *Liver/cytology/drug effects/enzymology, Animals, Apoptosis/*drug effects, Cell Cycle/drug effects, Cell Line, Cell Proliferation/drug effects, Enzyme Activation/drug effects, Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology, Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/*metabolism, JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism, p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/*metabolism, Phosphorylation, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/*toxicity, Rats},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{hoferova_vitro_2004,

title = {In vitro proliferation of fibrosarcoma cells depends on intact functions of lipoxygenases and cytochrome P-450-monooxygenase.},

author = {Zuzana Hoferová and Karel Soucek and Jirina Hofmanová and Michael Hofer and Katerina Chramostová and Peter Fedorocko and Alois Kozubik},

doi = {10.1081/cnv-120030212},

issn = {0735-7907},

year  = {2004},

date = {2004-01-01},

journal = {Cancer investigation},

volume = {22},

number = {2},

pages = {234–247},

abstract = {Proliferation of mouse fibrosarcoma cells G:5:113 was studied in vitro after affecting particular pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism by selected inhibitors. After 48 hours of cultivation with nonspecific lipoxygenase inhibitors, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) and esculetin; a specific 12-lipoxygenase inhibitor, baicalein; and inhibitor of five-lipoxygenase activating protein, MK-886, markedly suppressed the number of cells and induced significant changes in cell cycle distribution in a dose-dependent manner. While proadifen, an inhibitor of cytochrome P-450-monooxygenase, applied in low concentrations, increased the cell number, at higher concentrations, it inhibited cell proliferation and significantly changed the cell cycle. Cyclooxygenase inhibitors, ibuprofen, flurbiprofen, and diclofenac suppressed cell numbers only moderately without any changes in the cell cycle. The occurrence of apoptosis was not significant for any of the selected drugs in comparison with untreated control cells. Moreover, not even one of the drugs caused the specific cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase to the 89-kDa fragment, however, a decrease in total amount of this protein was observed after treatment with NDGA and esculetin. We conclude that the proliferation ability of fibrosarcoma cells G:5:113 in vitro depends on intact functions of 5-lipoxygenase, 12-lipoxygenase, and cytochrome P-450-monooxygenases, and that the effects of inhibitors do not include regulation of apoptosis.},

note = {Place: England},

keywords = {Animals, Apoptosis, Arachidonic Acid/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism/*pharmacology, Cell Cycle/*physiology, Cultured, Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/*pharmacology, Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology, Fibrosarcoma/*pathology/veterinary, Lipoxygenase/*pharmacology, Mice, Tumor Cells},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}