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Tao L, Jiang Z, Xu M, Xu T, Liu Y. Induction of APOBEC3C Facilitates the Genotoxic Stress-Mediated Cytotoxicity of Artesunate. Chem Res Toxicol 2019; 32:2526-2537. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.9b00358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Li Tao
- College of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225001, China
- The State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Toxic Pathogens-Based Therapeutic Approaches of Gastric Cancer, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Zhuangzhuang Jiang
- College of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225001, China
- The State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Toxic Pathogens-Based Therapeutic Approaches of Gastric Cancer, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Min Xu
- College of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225001, China
- The State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Toxic Pathogens-Based Therapeutic Approaches of Gastric Cancer, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Tingting Xu
- College of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225001, China
- The State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Toxic Pathogens-Based Therapeutic Approaches of Gastric Cancer, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Yanqing Liu
- College of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225001, China
- The State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Toxic Pathogens-Based Therapeutic Approaches of Gastric Cancer, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
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Mota TC, Garcia TB, Bonfim LT, Portilho AJS, Pinto CA, Burbano RMR, Bahia M. Markers of oxidative‐nitrosative stress induced by artesunate are followed by clastogenic and aneugenic effects and apoptosis in human lymphocytes. J Appl Toxicol 2019; 39:1405-1412. [DOI: 10.1002/jat.3826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tatiane C. Mota
- Laboratory of Human Cytogenetic and Genetic Toxicology, Institute of Biological SciencesFederal University of Pará (UFPA) Belém‐ Pará Brazil
| | - Tarcyane B. Garcia
- Laboratory of Human Cytogenetic and Genetic Toxicology, Institute of Biological SciencesFederal University of Pará (UFPA) Belém‐ Pará Brazil
| | - Laís T. Bonfim
- Laboratory of Human Cytogenetic and Genetic Toxicology, Institute of Biological SciencesFederal University of Pará (UFPA) Belém‐ Pará Brazil
| | - Adrhyann J. S. Portilho
- Laboratory of Human Cytogenetic and Genetic Toxicology, Institute of Biological SciencesFederal University of Pará (UFPA) Belém‐ Pará Brazil
| | - Camila A. Pinto
- Laboratory of Human Cytogenetic and Genetic Toxicology, Institute of Biological SciencesFederal University of Pará (UFPA) Belém‐ Pará Brazil
| | - Rommel M. R. Burbano
- Laboratory of Human Cytogenetic and Genetic Toxicology, Institute of Biological SciencesFederal University of Pará (UFPA) Belém‐ Pará Brazil
| | - Marcelo Bahia
- Laboratory of Human Cytogenetic and Genetic Toxicology, Institute of Biological SciencesFederal University of Pará (UFPA) Belém‐ Pará Brazil
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Wang Y, Li Y, Shang D, Efferth T. Interactions between artemisinin derivatives and P-glycoprotein. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2019; 60:152998. [PMID: 31301971 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2019.152998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Artemisinin was isolated and identified in 1972, which was the starting point for a new era in antimalarial drug therapy. Furthermore, numerous studies have demonstrated that artemisinin and its derivatives exhibit considerable anticancer activity both in vitro, in vivo, and even in clinical Phase I/II trials. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) mediated multi-drug resistance (MDR) is one of the most serious causes of chemotherapy failure in cancer treatment. Interestingly, many artemisinin derivatives exhibit excellent ability to overcome P-gp mediated MDR and even show collateral sensitivity against MDR cancer cells. Furthermore, some artemisinin derivatives show P-gp-mediated MDR reversal activity. Therefore, the interaction between P-gp and artemisinin derivatives is important to develop novel combination treatment protocols with artemisinin derivatives and established anticancer drugs that are P-gp substrates. PURPOSE This systematic review provides an updated overview on the interaction between artemisinin derivatives and P-gp and the effect of artemisinin derivatives on the P-gp expression level. RESULTS Artemisinin derivatives exhibit multi-specific interactions with P-gp. The currently used artemisinin derivatives are not transported by P-gp. However, some of novel synthetized artemisinin derivatives exhibit P-gp substrate properties. Furthermore, many artemisinin derivatives act as P-gp inhibitors, which exhibit the potential to reverse MDR towards clinically used anticancer drugs. CONCLUSION Therefore, studies on the interaction between artemisinin derivatives and P-gp provide important information for the development of novel anti-cancer artemisinin derivatives to reverse P-gp mediated MDR and for the design of rational artemisinin-based combination therapies against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulin Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Yongjie Li
- Department of Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116011, China
| | - Dong Shang
- Clinical Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian China; College of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
| | - Thomas Efferth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy, Johannes Gutenberg University 55128 Mainz, Germany.
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Chen YX, Zhang XQ, Yu CG, Huang SL, Xie Y, Dou XT, Liu WJ, Zou XP. Artesunate exerts protective effects against ulcerative colitis via suppressing Toll‑like receptor 4 and its downstream nuclear factor‑κB signaling pathways. Mol Med Rep 2019; 20:1321-1332. [PMID: 31173225 PMCID: PMC6625425 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Artesunate (ART) is a semi-synthetic derivative of artemisinin used in the treatment of patients with malaria, which has also been reported to have immunoregulatory, anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible beneficial effects of ART on ulcerative colitis (UC) rats and to detect the possible mechanisms underlying these effects. A UC rat model was established using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Rats were randomly divided into the following groups: Normal control, UC model group, UC rats treated with a low, medium or high dose of ART (10, 30 and 50 mg/kg/day, respectively), and the positive control group (50 mg/kg/day 5-aminosalicylic acid). The damage status of colonic mucosal epithelial tissue was investigated by hematoxylin and eosin staining, and then the weight, colon length and disease activity index (DAI) were measured. Western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis were used to detect the levels of cytokines associated with UC and proteins associated with Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway. ELISA was also performed to measure the levels of inflammatory cytokines. In addition, the viability and infiltration of RAW264.7 cells were examined using Cell Counting Kit-8 and Transwell assays. The results demonstrated that treatment with ART significantly alleviated the UC symptoms induced by DSS in the rat model, lowered the DAI, ameliorated pathological changes, attenuated colon shortening, inhibited the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and myeloperoxidase activity, and increased hemoglobin expression. Additionally, inflammatory and apoptotic markers were found to be significantly downregulated following treatment with ART in UC rats and RAW264.7 cells. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to demonstrate that ART exerts anti-inflammatory effects via regulating the TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway in UC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Xuan Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210000, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Qi Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210000, P.R. China
| | - Cheng-Gong Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210000, P.R. China
| | - Shu-Ling Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210000, P.R. China
| | - Ying Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210000, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Tan Dou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210000, P.R. China
| | - Wen-Jia Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210000, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Ping Zou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210000, P.R. China
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Fereja TH, Kitte SA, Gao W, Yuan F, Snizhko D, Qi L, Nsabimana A, Liu Z, Xu G. Artesunate-luminol chemiluminescence system for the detection of hemin. Talanta 2019; 204:379-385. [PMID: 31357309 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2019.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fabricating simple, accurate and user-friendly diagnostic device for "point of care testing" (POCT) applications is one of the most challenging objectives in the analytical field. Hemin detection is important for drugs monitoring, diagnosis, and forensic latent bloodstain imaging. Herein is developed, luminol chemiluminescence biosensor for hemin detection using artesunate as coreactant. A possible mechanism to account for the chemiluminescence reaction is discussed. Hemin was detected using both photomultiplier tube (PMT) and smartphone as detector. The detection limit for hemin using smartphone as detector is 20 nM, enabling the visual detection of hemin in blood sample with a dilution factor of blood up to 120,000. While PMT detector is used, the system is able to detect hemin down to 0.22 nM. In addition to high sensitivity, this sensing system exhibit high selectivity. It can successfully distinguish bloodstain from other stains while applying the system for point of care testing using smart phone as detector. Moreover, the system can detect artesunate with a linear range from 0.1 nM to 1.0 μM with a limit of detection of 0.078 nM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadesse Haile Fereja
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China; Ambo University, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, P.O.Box 19, Ambo, Ethiopia
| | - Shimeles Addisu Kitte
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Wenyue Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Fan Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, PR China; University of Science and Technology of China. Anhui, 230026, PR China
| | - Dmytro Snizhko
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, PR China; Laboratory of Analytical Optochemotronics, Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics, 14 Nauka Ave., Kharkiv, 61166, Ukraine
| | - Liming Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Anaclet Nsabimana
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Zhongyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, PR China.
| | - Guobao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, PR China; University of Science and Technology of China. Anhui, 230026, PR China.
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Zhu H, Ji W. Dihydroartemisinin Ameliorated Ovalbumin-Induced Asthma in Mice via Regulation of MiR-183C. Med Sci Monit 2019; 25:3804-3814. [PMID: 31115390 PMCID: PMC6542303 DOI: 10.12659/msm.915399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of the present study was to investigate the function and mechanism of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) in treating ovalbumin-induced asthma in BALB/c mice. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty female BALB/c mice were randomly separated into 3 groups: the control group, the asthma model group stimulated by ovalbumin (OVA group), and the DHA treatment group (DHA group). The therapeutic effects and potential pharmacological mechanisms of DHA were specifically clarified by examining its effects on asthma-related phenomena, such as body weight, lung function, cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and hemotoxin and eosin staining. In addition, the expression of inflammatory factors was checked by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits, and fractions of Th17 cells were detected by FACS analysis. Moreover, the downstream molecular pathway of IL-6/Stat3 (interleukin-6/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) and expression of miR-183C was investigated by western blot and/or quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Luciferase assay was used to reveal the function of miR-183C on the transcriptional regulation of Foxo1 (forkhead box O). RESULTS DHA administration significantly relieved the severity of the asthma through its effect on body weight, survival rate, and airway pressure. DHA was able to ameliorate lung damage in terms of pathological morphology and it reduced the percentage of helper T 17 (Th17) cells and the secretion of cytokines. As a result, the activity of the IL-6/Stat3 pathway was inhibited by DHA. In addition, the adoption of DHA decreased the expression of miR-183C but increased the expression of the transcription factor Foxo1. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the therapeutic effects of DHA on asthma are partially realized via the regulation of miR-183C and IL-6/Stat3 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhu
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China (mainland).,Department of Paediatric, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Wei Ji
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
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Diana T, Daiber A, Oelze M, Neumann S, Olivo PD, Kanitz M, Stamm P, Kahaly GJ. Stimulatory TSH-Receptor Antibodies and Oxidative Stress in Graves Disease. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2018; 103:3668-3677. [PMID: 30099546 PMCID: PMC6179174 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2018-00509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT We hypothesized that TSH-receptor (TSHR) stimulating antibodies (TSAbs) are involved in oxidative stress mechanisms in patients with Graves disease (GD). METHODS Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, isoform 2 (NOX2); oxidative parameters; and oxidative burst were measured in serum, urine, and whole blood from patients with GD and control subjects. Superoxide production was investigated in human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells stably overexpressing the TSHR. Lipid peroxidation was determined by immunodot-blot analysis for protein-bound 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) in human primary thyrocytes and HEK-293-TSHR cells. RESULTS Serum NOX2 levels were markedly higher in hyperthyroid untreated vs euthyroid treated patients with GD, hyperthyroid patients with toxic nodular goiter, and euthyroid healthy control subjects (all P < 0.0001). Urine oxidative parameters were increased in patients with GD vs patients with toxic goiter (P < 0.01) and/or control subjects (P < 0.001). The maximum of the zymosan A- and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate-induced respiratory burst of leukocytes was 1.5-fold higher in whole blood from hyperthyroid patients with GD compared with control subjects (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05). Monoclonal M22 TSAbs stimulated cAMP (HEK cells) in a dose-dependent manner. M22 (P = 0.0082), bovine TSH (P = 0.0028), and sera of hyperthyroid patients with GD (P < 0.05) increased superoxide-specific 2-hydroxyethidium levels in HEK-293 TSHR cells after 48-hour incubation vs control subjects. In contrast, triiodothyronine (T3) did not affect reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In primary thyrocytes, the 4-HNE marker was higher in patients with GD vs control subjects at 6 and 48 hours (P = 0.02 and P = 0.04, respectively). Further, after 48-hour incubation of HEK-293 TSHR cells with patient sera, 4-HNE was higher in patients with untreated GD compared with control subjects (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Monoclonal M22 and polyclonal serum TSAbs augment ROS generation and/or induce lipid peroxidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Diana
- Molecular Thyroid Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine I, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz Germany
| | - Andreas Daiber
- Molecular Cardiology, Center for Cardiology 1, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz Germany
| | - Matthias Oelze
- Molecular Cardiology, Center for Cardiology 1, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz Germany
| | - Susanne Neumann
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Paul D Olivo
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Michael Kanitz
- Molecular Thyroid Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine I, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz Germany
| | - Paul Stamm
- Molecular Cardiology, Center for Cardiology 1, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz Germany
| | - George J Kahaly
- Molecular Thyroid Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine I, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz Germany
- Correspondence and Reprint Requests: George J. Kahaly, MD, PhD, JGU Medical Center, Langenbeckstreet 1, Mainz 55131, Germany. E-mail:
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Fei Z, Gu W, Xie R, Su H, Jiang Y. Artesunate enhances radiosensitivity of esophageal cancer cells by inhibiting the repair of DNA damage. J Pharmacol Sci 2018; 138:131-137. [PMID: 30337244 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphs.2018.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2018] [Revised: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Radiotherapy plays an important therapeutic role in esophageal cancer (EC). However, acquired radioresistance impairs the efficacy of radiotherapy, often leading to treatment failure. Therefore, it is important to develop novel radiosensitizers to enhance the clinical treatment of EC. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of artesunate (ART) on radiosensitivity of human EC cell line TE-1. We found that ART inhibited the proliferation of EC cells and enhanced the radiosensitivity of TE-1 cells (SER = 1.24). In vivo tumor growth of xenografts was inhibited markedly by irradiation (IR) combined with ART, with a tumor inhibition rate of 53.76% in IR + ART group vs. 41.13% in IR-alone group. Pretreatment with ART significantly prompted cell apoptosis and reversed the IR-induced G2/M arrest. ART treatment could aggravate DNA damage of EC cells and prolong the formation of γ-H2AX foci induced by IR. ART up-regulated P21 and down-regulated the expression of cyclin D1, RAD51, RAD54, Ku70 and Ku86 protein of irradiated TE-1 cells. These findings support that ART induce radiosensitivity of TE-1 cells in vitro and in vivo, and may prove to be a promising radiosensitizer for EC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhua Fei
- Department of Oncology, The 1st Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No.2 Fuxue Lane, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, PR China
| | - Wenyue Gu
- Department of Pathology, Yancheng Hospital Affiliated Southeast University, No.2 Xingdu Road, Yancheng, Jiangsu, 224000, PR China
| | - Raoying Xie
- Department of Oncology, The 1st Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No.2 Fuxue Lane, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, PR China
| | - Huafang Su
- Department of Oncology, The 1st Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No.2 Fuxue Lane, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, PR China
| | - Yiyan Jiang
- Department of Tumor Rehabilitation, The 1st Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No.2 Fuxue Lane, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325000, China.
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Tsuda K, Miyamoto L, Hamano S, Morimoto Y, Kangawa Y, Fukue C, Kagawa Y, Horinouchi Y, Xu W, Ikeda Y, Tamaki T, Tsuchiya K. Mechanisms of the pH- and Oxygen-Dependent Oxidation Activities of Artesunate. Biol Pharm Bull 2018; 41:555-563. [PMID: 29607928 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b17-00855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Artemisinin was discovered in 1971 as a constituent of the wormwood genus plant (Artemisia annua). This plant has been used as an herbal medicine to treat malaria since ancient times. The compound artemisinin has a sesquiterpene lactone bearing a peroxide group that offers its biological activity. In addition to anti-malarial activity, artemisinin derivatives have been reported to exert antitumor activity in cancer cells, and have attracted attention as potential anti-cancer drugs. Mechanisms that might explain the antitumor activities of artemisinin derivatives reportedly induction of apoptosis, angiogenesis inhibitory effects, inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) activation, and direct DNA injury. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation is involved in many cases. However, little is known about the mechanism of ROS formation from artemisinin derivatives and what types of ROS are produced. Therefore, we investigated the iron-induced ROS formation mechanism by using artesunate, a water-soluble artemisinin derivative, which is thought to be the underlying mechanism involved in artesunate-mediated cell death. The ROS generated by the coexistence of iron(II), artesunate, and molecular oxygen was a hydroxyl radical or hydroxyl radical-like ROS. Artesunate can reduce iron(III) to iron(II), which enables generation of ROS irrespective of the iron valence. We found that reduction from iron(III) to iron(II) was activated in the acidic rather than the neutral region and was proportional to the hydrogen ion concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsunori Tsuda
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School
| | - Licht Miyamoto
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School
| | - Shuichi Hamano
- Department of Cell and Immunity Analytics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School
| | - Yuri Morimoto
- Major in Laboratory Science, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tokushima University
| | - Yumi Kangawa
- Major in Laboratory Science, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tokushima University
| | - Chika Fukue
- Major in Laboratory Science, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tokushima University
| | - Yoko Kagawa
- Major in Laboratory Science, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tokushima University
| | - Yuya Horinouchi
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School
| | - Wenting Xu
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School
| | - Yasumasa Ikeda
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School
| | - Toshiaki Tamaki
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School
| | - Koichiro Tsuchiya
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School
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Zhang Y, Xu G, Zhang S, Wang D, Saravana Prabha P, Zuo Z. Antitumor Research on Artemisinin and Its Bioactive Derivatives. NATURAL PRODUCTS AND BIOPROSPECTING 2018; 8:303-319. [PMID: 29633188 PMCID: PMC6102173 DOI: 10.1007/s13659-018-0162-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is the leading cause of human death which seriously threatens human life. The antimalarial drug artemisinin and its derivatives have been discovered with considerable anticancer properties. Simultaneously, a variety of target-selective artemisinin-related compounds with high efficiency have been discovered. Many researches indicated that artemisinin-related compounds have cytotoxic effects against a variety of cancer cells through pleiotropic effects, including inhibiting the proliferation of tumor cells, promoting apoptosis, inducing cell cycle arrest, disrupting cancer invasion and metastasis, preventing angiogenesis, mediating the tumor-related signaling pathways, and regulating tumor microenvironment. More importantly, artemisinins demonstrated minor side effects to normal cells and manifested the ability to overcome multidrug-resistance which is widely observed in cancer patients. Therefore, we concentrated on the new advances and development of artemisinin and its derivatives as potential antitumor agents in recent 5 years. It is our hope that this review could be helpful for further exploration of novel artemisinin-related antitumor agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunqin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Guowei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shuqun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Dong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - P Saravana Prabha
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Zhili Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China.
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China.
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Abstract
Inflammation is recently recognized as one of the hallmarks of human cancer. Chronic inflammatory response plays a critical role in cancer development, progression, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy. Conversely, the oncogenic aberrations also generate an inflammatory microenvironment, enabling the development and progression of cancer. The molecular mechanisms of action that are responsible for inflammatory cancer and cancer-associated inflammation are not fully understood due to the complex crosstalk between oncogenic and pro-inflammatory genes. However, molecular mediators that regulate both inflammation and cancer, such as NF-κB and STAT have been considered as promising targets for preventing and treating these diseases. Recent works have further demonstrated an important role of oncogenes (e.g., NFAT1, MDM2) and tumor suppressor genes (e.g., p53) in cancer-related inflammation. Natural products that target these molecular mediators have shown anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities in preclinical and clinical studies. Sesquiterpenoids (STs), a class of novel plant-derived secondary metabolites have attracted great interest in recent years because of their diversity in chemical structures and pharmacological activities. At present, we and other investigators have found that dimeric sesquiterpenoids (DSTs) may exert enhanced activity and binding affinity to molecular targets due to the increased number of alkylating centers and improved conformational flexibility and lipophilicity. Here, we focus our discussion on the activities and mechanisms of action of STs and DSTs in treating inflammation and cancer as well as their structure-activity relationships.
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Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Leukemia Cells by Novel Artemisinin-, Egonol-, and Thymoquinone-Derived Hybrid Compounds. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23040841. [PMID: 29642419 PMCID: PMC6017613 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23040841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Two major obstacles for successful cancer treatment are the toxicity of cytostatics and the development of drug resistance in cancer cells during chemotherapy. Acquired or intrinsic drug resistance is responsible for almost 90% of treatment failure. For this reason, there is an urgent need for new anticancer drugs with improved efficacy against cancer cells, and with less toxicity on normal cells. There are impressive examples demonstrating the success of natural plant compounds to fight cancer, such as Vinca alkaloids, taxanes, and anthracyclines. Artesunic acid (ARTA), a drug for malaria treatment, also exerts cytotoxic activity towards cancer cells. Multidrug resistance often results from drug efflux pumps (ABC-transporters) that reduce intracellular drug levels. Hence, it would be interesting to know, whether ARTA could overcome drug resistance of tumor cells, and in what way ABC-transporters are involved. Different derivatives showing improved features concerning cytotoxicity and pharmacokinetic behavior have been developed. Considering both drug sensitivity and resistance, we chose a sensitive and a doxorubicin-resistant leukemia cell line and determined the killing effect of ARTA on these cells. Molecular docking and doxorubicin efflux assays were performed to investigate the interaction of the derivatives with P-glycoprotein. Using single-cell gel electrophoresis (alkaline comet assay), we showed that the derivatives of ARTA induce DNA breakage and accordingly programmed cell death, which represents a promising strategy in cancer treatment. ARTA activated apoptosis in cancer cells by the iron-mediated generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In conclusion, ARTA derivatives may bear the potential to be further developed as anticancer drugs.
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Chen J, Zhang L, Hao M. Effect of artemisinin on proliferation and apoptosis-related protein expression in vivo and in vitro. Saudi J Biol Sci 2018; 25:1488-1493. [PMID: 30505200 PMCID: PMC6252041 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Artemisinin is the first-line drugs for the treatment of malaria. In recent years, a large number of reports showed that artemisinin exhibit anti-tumor activity. In this study, we used C6 glioma cells and rat C6 brain-glioma model to study anti-tumor activity of artemisinin in vivo and in vitro. We found that artemisinin inhibited the proliferation in C6 cells and induced cell cycle arrest and a caspase-3-dependent cell apoptosis. It also inhibited the growth of C6 brain-glioma in vivo and enhanced living state of rat brain-glioma model. These results suggested that artemisinin had significant anti-tumor activities on C6 cells both in vitro and in vivo. Artemisinin might be exploited as a promising clinical anti-cancer drug in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajun Chen
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, China
| | - Miao Hao
- Science Research Center, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, China
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Synthesis of novel ring-contracted artemisinin dimers with potent anticancer activities. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 150:829-840. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Artesunate enhances the therapeutic response of glioma cells to temozolomide by inhibition of homologous recombination and senescence. Oncotarget 2018; 7:67235-67250. [PMID: 27626497 PMCID: PMC5341871 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.11972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a malignant brain tumor with a dismal prognosis, shows a high level of chemo- and radioresistance and, therefore, attempts to sensitize glioma cells are highly desired. Here, we addressed the question of whether artesunate (ART), a drug currently used in the treatment of malaria, enhances the killing response of glioblastoma cells to temozolomide (TMZ), which is the first-line therapeutic for GBM. We measured apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy and senescence, and the extent of DNA damage in glioblastoma cells. Further, we determined the tumor growth in nude mice. We show that ART enhances the killing effect of TMZ in glioblastoma cell lines and in glioblastoma stem-like cells. The DNA double-strand break level induced by TMZ was not clearly enhanced in the combined treatment regime. Also, we did not observe an attenuation of TMZ-induced autophagy, which is considered a survival mechanism. However, we observed a significant effect of ART on homologous recombination (HR) with downregulation of RAD51 protein expression and HR activity. Further, we found that ART is able to inhibit senescence induced by TMZ. Since HR and senescence are pro-survival mechanisms, its inhibition by ART appears to be a key node in enhancing the TMZ-induced killing response. Enhancement of the antitumor effect of TMZ by co-administration of ART was also observed in a mouse tumor model. In conclusion, the amelioration of TMZ-induced cell death upon ART co-treatment provides a rational basis for a combination regime of TMZ and ART in glioblastoma therapy.
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Tan M, Rong Y, Su Q, Chen Y. Artesunate induces apoptosis via inhibition of STAT3 in THP-1 cells. Leuk Res 2017; 62:98-103. [PMID: 29031126 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2017.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Revised: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Our objective was to explore STAT3 expression in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), assess the anti-proliferative effects of artesunate (ART) on THP-1 cells in vivo and in vitro, and investigate the underlying mechanisms. METHODS In this study, we examined 30 patients with acute myeloid leukaemia diagnosed in our hospital from January 2015 to January 2016. The 20 control group patients had non-haematological diseases and were hospitalized for the same period. We extracted 2ml bone marrow, separated the mononuclear cells, obtained total proteins, and detected STAT3 protein levels with Western blot analyses. The THP-1 cells were treated with different concentrations of ART(0, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200μM). Then, THP-1 cell viability was detected with CCK-8 assays, apoptosis was measured with flow cytometry, and the STAT3, caspase-3 and caspase-8 protein levels were assessed using Western blot analyses. THP-1 cells in logarithmic growth phase were subcutaneously injected into the necks of 5-week-old nude mice. The control group was subcutaneously injected with 0.1ml PBS. After the nude mouse tumours grew, the mice were divided into the control group and drug intervention groups (ART 100μM group, ART 200μM group). The mice in the intervention groups were intraperitoneally injected with ART, and the control group was injected with the same amount of normal saline. Then, changes in the tumours were observed. After the drug intervention, the total protein was extracted, and STAT3 expression was detected by Western blot analysis. RESULTS Compared with the control group, the AML patients had significantly increased STAT3 protein levels (P<0.01). ART significantly inhibited the proliferation of THP-1 cells in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. ART also increased THP-1cell apoptosis. After treatment with ART, STAT3 protein was significantly down-regulated, and apoptosis of the cells was induced by the activation of caspase-3 and caspse-8. CONCLUSION AML patients had higher expression of STAT3 than that of the controls. ART induced apoptosis in THP-1 cells and inhibited the growth of xenografts in nude mice, and we also observed that ART down-regulated the expression of STAT3 and activated the caspase-3 and caspase-8. We speculated that the effect of ART on THP-1 cells may be related to inhibition of STAT3 and activation of caspase3 and caspase-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Tan
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical College, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Ying Rong
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical College, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Qiong Su
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical College, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical College, Zunyi, Guizhou, China.
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From ancient herb to modern drug: Artemisia annua and artemisinin for cancer therapy. Semin Cancer Biol 2017; 46:65-83. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2017.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 341] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Revised: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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68
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Cancer combination therapies with artemisinin-type drugs. Biochem Pharmacol 2017; 139:56-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2017.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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69
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Raza A, Ghoshal A, Chockalingam S, Ghosh SS. Connexin-43 enhances tumor suppressing activity of artesunate via gap junction-dependent as well as independent pathways in human breast cancer cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7580. [PMID: 28790385 PMCID: PMC5548912 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08058-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The gap junction (GJ) protein connexin-43 (Cx43) is considered as a tumour suppressor protein for its role in reversing the phenotype of the cancer cells. In this study, we exploited the antitumor property of Cx43 in conjunction with the artesunate (ART), a plant-based active anti-malarial compound. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by ART resulted in DNA damage, which in turn led to DNA damage response by activation of DNA damage repair proteins. GJ deficient MCF-7 cells transfected with Cx43 gene showed an increased sensitivity towards dose-dependent ART treatment and required a significantly lower dose of ART to attain its IC50, as compared to parental cells. This would ultimately result in reduced dose-dependent side effects of ART. The Co-culture experiments involving GJ intercellular communication (GJIC) deficient and GJIC enabled cells, established the transfer of ROS to the neighbouring cancer cells not exposed to ART. The ROS accumulated in the ART-treated cells induced the oxidative damage in neighbouring cells, leading to bystander cell death and inhibition of bystander cell proliferation. Thus, our study revealed that expression of Cx43 helped in reducing the dose-dependent cytotoxicity of ART as well as enhanced the bystander apoptosis of the neighbouring cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asif Raza
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati-39, Assam, India
| | - Archita Ghoshal
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati-39, Assam, India
| | - S Chockalingam
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati-39, Assam, India
| | - Siddhartha Sankar Ghosh
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati-39, Assam, India.
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati-39, Assam, India.
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Nikolova T, Marini F, Kaina B. Genotoxicity testing: Comparison of the γH2AX focus assay with the alkaline and neutral comet assays. MUTATION RESEARCH-GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS 2017; 822:10-18. [PMID: 28844237 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2017.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Revised: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Genotoxicity testing relies on the quantitative measurement of adverse effects, such as chromosome aberrations, micronuclei, and mutations, resulting from primary DNA damage. Ideally, assays will detect DNA damage and cellular responses with high sensitivity, reliability, and throughput. Several novel genotoxicity assays may fulfill these requirements, including the comet assay and the more recently developed γH2AX assay. Although they are thought to be specific for genotoxicants, a systematic comparison of the assays has not yet been undertaken. In the present study, we compare the γH2AX focus assay with the alkaline and neutral versions of the comet assay, as to their sensitivities and limitations for detection of genetic damage. We investigated the dose-response relationships of γH2AX foci and comet tail intensities at various times following treatment with four prototypical genotoxicants, methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), mitomycin C, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and we tested whether there is a correlation between the endpoints, i.e., alkali-labile sites and DNA strand breaks on the one hand and the cell's response to DNA double-strand breaks and blocked replication forks on the other. Induction of γH2AX foci gave a linear dose response and all agents tested were positive in the assay. The increase in comet tail intensity was also a function of dose; however, mitomycin C was almost completely ineffective in the comet assay, and the doses needed to achieve a significant effect were somewhat higher for some treatments in the comet assay than in the γH2AX foci assay, which was confirmed by threshold analysis. There was high correlation between tail intensity and γH2AX foci for MMS and H2O2, less for MNNG, and none for mitomycin C. From this we infer that the γH2AX foci assay is more reliable, sensitive, and robust than the comet assay for detecting genotoxicant-induced DNA damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teodora Nikolova
- Institute of Toxicology, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Federico Marini
- Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Bernd Kaina
- Institute of Toxicology, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany.
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Wong YK, Xu C, Kalesh KA, He Y, Lin Q, Wong WSF, Shen HM, Wang J. Artemisinin as an anticancer drug: Recent advances in target profiling and mechanisms of action. Med Res Rev 2017. [PMID: 28643446 DOI: 10.1002/med.21446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Artemisinin and its derivatives (collectively termed as artemisinins) are among the most important and effective antimalarial drugs, with proven safety and efficacy in clinical use. Beyond their antimalarial effects, artemisinins have also been shown to possess selective anticancer properties, demonstrating cytotoxic effects against a wide range of cancer types both in vitro and in vivo. These effects appear to be mediated by artemisinin-induced changes in multiple signaling pathways, interfering simultaneously with multiple hallmarks of cancer. Great strides have been taken to characterize these pathways and to reveal their anticancer mechanisms of action of artemisinin. Moreover, encouraging data have also been obtained from a limited number of clinical trials to support their anticancer property. However, there are several key gaps in knowledge that continue to serve as significant barriers to the repurposing of artemisinins as effective anticancer agents. This review focuses on important and emerging aspects of this field, highlighting breakthroughs in unresolved questions as well as novel techniques and approaches that have been taken in recent studies. We discuss the mechanism of artemisinin activation in cancer, novel and significant findings with regards to artemisinin target proteins and pathways, new understandings in artemisinin-induced cell death mechanisms, as well as the practical issues of repurposing artemisinin. We believe these will be important topics in realizing the potential of artemisinin and its derivatives as safe and potent anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Kwan Wong
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chengchao Xu
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Karunakaran A Kalesh
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yingke He
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Qingsong Lin
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - W S Fred Wong
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Han-Ming Shen
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jigang Wang
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Ren Y, Yu J, Kinghorn AD. Development of Anticancer Agents from Plant-Derived Sesquiterpene Lactones. Curr Med Chem 2017; 23:2397-420. [PMID: 27160533 DOI: 10.2174/0929867323666160510123255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Revised: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Sesquiterpene lactones are of considerable interest due to their potent bioactivities, including cancer cell cytotoxicity and antineoplastic efficacy in in vivo studies. Among these compounds, artesunate, dimethylaminoparthenolide, and L12ADT peptide prodrug, a derivative of thapsigargin, are being evaluated in the current cancer clinical or preclinical trials. Based on the structures of several antitumor sesquiterpene lactones, a number of analogues showing greater potency have been either isolated as natural products or partially synthesized, and some potential anticancer agents that have emerged from this group of lead compounds have been investigated extensively. The present review focuses on artemisinin, parthenolide, thapsigargin, and their naturally occurring or synthetic analogues showing potential anticancer activity. This provides an overview of the advances in the development of these types of sesquiterpene lactones as potential anticancer agents, including their structural characterization, synthesis and synthetic modification, and antitumor potential, with the mechanism of action and structure-activity relationships also discussed. It is hoped that this will be helpful in stimulating the further interest in developing sesquiterpene lactones and their derivatives as new anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - A Douglas Kinghorn
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
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73
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Que Z, Wang P, Hu Y, Xue Y, Liu X, Qu C, Ma J, Liu Y. Dihydroartemisin inhibits glioma invasiveness via a ROS to P53 to β-catenin signaling. Pharmacol Res 2017; 119:72-88. [PMID: 28111262 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2017.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2016] [Revised: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Dihydroartemisinin(DHA) is the active metabolic derivative of artemisinin. DHA has potential therapeutic effects on glioma but the detailed mechanism is unclear. In this study, we investigated the role and the underlying mechanisms of DHA in its inhibition of glioma cells. U87 cells are wild-type p53 glioblastoma cells and U251 cells contain mutant p53. DHA inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma cells in a dose-dependent manner. DHA promoted reactive oxygen species production and activated p53 in two glioma cell lines, U87 and U251. In U87 cells, DHA significantly up-regulated the expression of p-β-catenin (S45) and inhibited EGFR, β-catenin, p-β-catenin (Y333) and matrix metalloprotease7/9 activity. In U251 cells, DHA significantly up-regulated p-β-catenin (S45), p-β-catenin (Y333) and EGFR, but the expression of β-cateninwas unchanged. We also found that DHA and sh-β-catenin prevented the proliferation of U87 and U251 cells in vivo. In conclusion, DHA inhibited the migration and invasion of human glioma cells with different types of p53 via different pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongyou Que
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China; Liaoning Research Center for Translational Medicine in Nervous System Disease, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China; Liaoning Research Center for Translational Medicine in Nervous System Disease, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China
| | - Yixue Xue
- Department of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaobai Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China; Liaoning Research Center for Translational Medicine in Nervous System Disease, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China
| | - Chengbin Qu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China; Liaoning Research Center for Translational Medicine in Nervous System Disease, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Ma
- Department of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunhui Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China; Liaoning Research Center for Translational Medicine in Nervous System Disease, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China.
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The Potential Therapeutic Effects of Artesunate on Stroke and Other Central Nervous System Diseases. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 2016:1489050. [PMID: 28116289 PMCID: PMC5223005 DOI: 10.1155/2016/1489050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Artesunate is an important agent for cerebral malaria and all kinds of other severe malaria because it is highly efficient, lowly toxic, and well-tolerated. Loads of research pointed out that it had widespread pharmacological activities such as antiparasites, antitumor, anti-inflammation, antimicrobes activities. As we know, the occurrence and development of neurological disorders usually refer to intricate pathophysiologic mechanisms and multiple etiopathogenesis. Recent progress has also demonstrated that drugs with single mechanism and serious side-effects are not likely the candidates for treatment of the neurological disorders. Therefore, the pluripotent action of artesunate may result in it playing an important role in the prevention and treatment of these neurological disorders. This review provides an overview of primary pharmacological mechanism of artesunate and its potential therapeutic effects on neurological disorders. Meanwhile, we also briefly summarize the primary mechanisms of artemisinin and its derivatives. We hope that, with the evidence presented in this review, the effect of artesunate in prevention and curing for neurological disorders can be further explored and studied in the foreseeable future.
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75
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Fox JM, Moynihan JR, Mott BT, Mazzone JR, Anders NM, Brown PA, Rudek MA, Liu JO, Arav-Boger R, Posner GH, Civin CI, Chen X. Artemisinin-derived dimer ART-838 potently inhibited human acute leukemias, persisted in vivo, and synergized with antileukemic drugs. Oncotarget 2016; 7:7268-79. [PMID: 26771236 PMCID: PMC4872784 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Artemisinins, endoperoxide-containing molecules, best known as antimalarials, have potent antineoplastic activity. The established antimalarial, artesunate (AS), and the novel artemisinin-derived trioxane diphenylphosphate dimer 838 (ART-838) inhibited growth of all 23 tested acute leukemia cell lines, reduced cell proliferation and clonogenicity, induced apoptosis, and increased intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ART-838 was 88-fold more potent that AS in vitro, inhibiting all leukemia cell lines at submicromolar concentrations. Both ART-838 and AS cooperated with several established antileukemic drugs and newer kinase inhibitors to inhibit leukemia cell growth. ART-838 had a longer plasma half-life than AS in immunodeficient NOD-SCID-IL2Rgnull (NSG) mice, remaining at effective antileukemic concentrations for >8h. Intermittent cycles of ART-838 inhibited growth of acute leukemia xenografts and primagrafts in NSG mice, at higher potency than AS. Based on these preclinical data, we propose that AS, with its established low toxicity and low cost, and ART-838, with its higher potency and longer persistence in vivo, should be further developed toward integration into antileukemic regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Fox
- Center for Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics and Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - James R Moynihan
- Center for Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics and Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Bryan T Mott
- Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Jennifer R Mazzone
- Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Nicole M Anders
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Patrick A Brown
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Michelle A Rudek
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Jun O Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ravit Arav-Boger
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA
| | - Gary H Posner
- Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.,Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Curt I Civin
- Center for Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics and Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Xiaochun Chen
- Center for Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics and Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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Roh JL, Kim EH, Jang H, Shin D. Nrf2 inhibition reverses the resistance of cisplatin-resistant head and neck cancer cells to artesunate-induced ferroptosis. Redox Biol 2016; 11:254-262. [PMID: 28012440 PMCID: PMC5198738 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2016.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 418] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Artesunate, an anti-malarial drug, has been repurposed as an anticancer drug due to its induction of cell death via reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating cancer cell death and the resistance of cells to artesunate remain unclear. We investigated the molecular mechanisms behind the antitumor effects of artesunate and an approach to overcome artesunate resistance in head and neck cancer (HNC). The effects of artesunate and trigonelline were tested in different HNC cell lines, including three cisplatin-resistant HNC cell lines. The effects of these drugs as well as the inhibition of Keap1, Nrf2, and HO-1 were assessed by cell viability, cell death, glutathione (GSH) and ROS production, protein expression, and mouse tumor xenograft models. Artesunate selectively killed HNC cells but not normal cells. The artesunate sensitivity was relatively low in cisplatin-resistant HNC cells. Artesunate induced ferroptosis in HNC cells by decreasing cellular GSH levels and increasing lipid ROS levels. This effect was blocked by co-incubation with ferrostatin-1 and a trolox pretreatment. Artesunate activated the Nrf2-antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway in HNC cells, which contributed to ferroptosis resistance. The silencing of Keap1, a negative regulator of Nrf2, decreased artesunate sensitivity in HNC cells. Nrf2 genetic silencing or trigonelline reversed the ferroptosis resistance of Keap1-silenced and cisplatin-resistant HNC cells to artesunate in vitro and in vivo. Nrf2-ARE pathway activation contributes to the artesunate resistance of HNC cells, and inhibition of this pathway abolishes ferroptosis-resistant HNC. CONDENSED ABSTRACT Our results show the effectiveness and molecular mechanism of artesunate treatment on head and neck cancer (HNC). Artesunate selectively killed HNC cells but not normal cells by inducing an iron-dependent, ROS-accumulated ferroptosis. However, this effect may be suboptimal in some cisplatin-resistant HNCs because of Nrf2-antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway activation. Inhibition of the Nrf2-ARE pathway increased artesunate sensitivity and reversed the ferroptosis resistance in resistant HNC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong-Lyel Roh
- Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Eun Hye Kim
- Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyejin Jang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Daiha Shin
- Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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77
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Artemisinin and Its Derivatives as a Repurposing Anticancer Agent: What Else Do We Need to Do? Molecules 2016; 21:molecules21101331. [PMID: 27739410 PMCID: PMC6272993 DOI: 10.3390/molecules21101331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Preclinical investigation and clinical experience have provided evidence on the potential anticancer effect of artemisinin and its derivatives (ARTs) in the recent two decades. The major mechanisms of action of ARTs may be due to toxic-free radicals generated by an endoperoxide moiety, cell cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis, and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis. It is very promising that ARTs are expected to be a new class of antitumor drugs of wide spectrum due to their detailed information regarding efficacy and safety. For developing repurposed drugs, many other characteristics of ARTs should be studied, including through further investigations on possible new pathways of anticancer effects, exploration on efficient and specific drug delivery systems-especially crossing biological barriers, and obtaining sufficient data in clinical trials. The aim of this review is to highlight these achievements and propose the potential strategies to develop ARTs as a new class of cancer therapeutic agents.
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78
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Uhl M, Schwab S, Efferth T. Fatal Liver and Bone Marrow Toxicity by Combination Treatment of Dichloroacetate and Artesunate in a Glioblastoma Multiforme Patient: Case Report and Review of the Literature. Front Oncol 2016; 6:204. [PMID: 27774434 PMCID: PMC5053977 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2016.00204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A 52-year-old male patient was treated with standard radiochemotherapy with temozolomide for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). After worsening of his clinical condition, further tumor-specific treatment was unlikely to be successful, and the patient seeked help from an alternative practitioner, who administered a combination of dichloroacetate (DCA) and artesunate (ART). A few days later, the patient showed clinical and laboratory signs of liver damage and bone marrow toxicity (leukopenia, thrombocytopenia). Despite successful restoration of laboratory parameters upon symptomatic treatment, the patient died 10 days after the infusion. DCA bears a well-documented hepatotoxic risk, while ART can be considered as safe concerning hepatotoxicity. Bone marrow toxicity can appear upon ART application as reduced reticulocyte counts and disturbed erythropoiesis. It can be assumed that the simultaneous use of both drugs caused liver injury and bone marrow toxicity. The compassionate use of DCA/ART combination therapy outside of clinical trials cannot be recommended for GBM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Uhl
- Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg , Erlangen , Germany
| | - Stefan Schwab
- Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg , Erlangen , Germany
| | - Thomas Efferth
- Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University , Mainz , Germany
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79
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Colossolactone H, a new Ganoderma triterpenoid exhibits cytotoxicity and potentiates drug efficacy of gefitinib in lung cancer. Fitoterapia 2016; 114:81-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2016.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Revised: 08/20/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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80
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Pang Y, Qin G, Wu L, Wang X, Chen T. Artesunate induces ROS-dependent apoptosis via a Bax-mediated intrinsic pathway in Huh-7 and Hep3B cells. Exp Cell Res 2016; 347:251-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2016.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Revised: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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81
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Hepatotoxicity by combination treatment of temozolomide, artesunate and Chinese herbs in a glioblastoma multiforme patient: case report review of the literature. Arch Toxicol 2016; 91:1833-1846. [DOI: 10.1007/s00204-016-1810-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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82
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Antischistosomal activity of artemisinin derivatives in vivo and in patients. Pharmacol Res 2016; 110:216-226. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2016.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Revised: 02/07/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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83
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Abrams RP, Carroll WL, Woerpel KA. Five-Membered Ring Peroxide Selectively Initiates Ferroptosis in Cancer Cells. ACS Chem Biol 2016; 11:1305-12. [PMID: 26797166 PMCID: PMC5507670 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.5b00900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A 1,2-dioxolane (FINO2) was identified as a lead compound from a screen of organic peroxides. FINO2 does not induce apoptosis, but instead initiates ferroptosis, an iron-dependent, oxidative cell death pathway. Few compounds are known to induce primarily ferroptosis. In contrast to the perceived instability of peroxides, FINO2 was found to be thermally stable to at least 150 °C. FINO2 was more potent in cancer cells than nonmalignant cells of the same type. One of the enantiomers was found to be more responsible for the observed activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel P. Abrams
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, New York 10003, United States
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, 522 First Avenue, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - William L. Carroll
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, 522 First Avenue, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - K. A. Woerpel
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, New York 10003, United States
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84
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Fröhlich T, Çapcı Karagöz A, Reiter C, Tsogoeva SB. Artemisinin-Derived Dimers: Potent Antimalarial and Anticancer Agents. J Med Chem 2016; 59:7360-88. [PMID: 27010926 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The development of new efficient therapeutics for the treatment of malaria and cancer is an important endeavor. Over the past 15 years, much attention has been paid to the synthesis of dimeric structures, which combine two units of artemisinin, as lead compounds of interest. A wide variety of atemisinin-derived dimers containing different linkers demonstrate improved properties compared to their parent compounds (e.g., circumventing multidrug resistance), making the dimerization concept highly compelling for development of efficient antimalarial and anticancer drugs. The present Perspective highlights recent developments on different types of artemisinin-derived dimers and their structural and functional features. Particular emphasis is put on the respective in vitro and in vivo studies, exploring the role of the length and nature of linkers on the activities of the dimers, and considering the future prospects of the dimerization concept for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Fröhlich
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Organic Chemistry Chair I and Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials (ICMM), University of Erlangen-Nürnberg , Henkestrasse 42, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Aysun Çapcı Karagöz
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Organic Chemistry Chair I and Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials (ICMM), University of Erlangen-Nürnberg , Henkestrasse 42, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christoph Reiter
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Organic Chemistry Chair I and Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials (ICMM), University of Erlangen-Nürnberg , Henkestrasse 42, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Svetlana B Tsogoeva
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Organic Chemistry Chair I and Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials (ICMM), University of Erlangen-Nürnberg , Henkestrasse 42, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
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85
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DNA damage regulation and its role in drug-related phenotypes in the malaria parasites. Sci Rep 2016; 6:23603. [PMID: 27033103 PMCID: PMC4817041 DOI: 10.1038/srep23603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA of malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum, is subjected to extraordinary high levels of genotoxic insults during its complex life cycle within both the mosquito and human host. Accordingly, most of the components of DNA repair machinery are conserved in the parasite genome. Here, we investigated the genome-wide responses of P. falciparum to DNA damaging agents and provided transcriptional evidence of the existence of the double strand break and excision repair system. We also showed that acetylation at H3K9, H4K8, and H3K56 play a role in the direct and indirect response to DNA damage induced by an alkylating agent, methyl methanesulphonate (MMS). Artemisinin, the first line antimalarial chemotherapeutics elicits a similar response compared to MMS which suggests its activity as a DNA damaging agent. Moreover, in contrast to the wild-type P. falciparum, two strains (Dd2 and W2) previously shown to exhibit a mutator phenotype, fail to induce their DNA repair upon MMS-induced DNA damage. Genome sequencing of the two mutator strains identified point mutations in 18 DNA repair genes which may contribute to this phenomenon.
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86
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Greenshields AL, Shepherd TG, Hoskin DW. Contribution of reactive oxygen species to ovarian cancer cell growth arrest and killing by the anti-malarial drug artesunate. Mol Carcinog 2016; 56:75-93. [PMID: 26878598 DOI: 10.1002/mc.22474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2015] [Revised: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death in women and the most lethal gynecological malignancy in the developed world. The morbidity and mortality of ovarian cancer underscore the need for novel treatment options. Artesunate (ART) is a well-tolerated anti-malarial drug that also has anti-cancer activity. In this study, we show that ART inhibited the in vitro growth of a panel of ovarian cancer cell lines, as well as the growth of ovarian cancer cells isolated from patients. Moreover, ART decreased tumor growth in vivo in a mouse model of ovarian cancer. ART-treated ovarian cancer cells showed a strong induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced proliferation. ROS-dependent cell cycle arrest occurred in the G2/M phase whereas ROS-independent cell cycle arrest occurred in the G1 phase, depending on the concentration of ART to which ovarian cancer cells were exposed. The anti-proliferative effect of ART was associated with altered expression of several key cell cycle regulatory proteins, including cyclin D3, E2F-1, and p21, as well as inhibition of mechanistic target of rapamycin signaling. Exposure of ovarian cancer cells to higher concentrations of ART resulted in ROS-dependent DNA damage and cell death. Pretreatment of ovarian cancer cells with a pan-caspase inhibitor or ferroptosis inhibitor decreased but did not completely eliminate ART-mediated cytotoxicity, suggesting the involvement of both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent pathways of killing. These data show that ART has potent anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects on ovarian cancer cells, and may therefore be useful in the treatment of ovarian cancer. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Trevor G Shepherd
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Oncology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - David W Hoskin
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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87
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Qin G, Zhao C, Zhang L, Liu H, Quan Y, Chai L, Wu S, Wang X, Chen T. Dihydroartemisinin induces apoptosis preferentially via a Bim-mediated intrinsic pathway in hepatocarcinoma cells. Apoptosis 2016; 20:1072-86. [PMID: 25935454 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-015-1132-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
This report is designed to dissect the detail molecular mechanism by which dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a derivative of artemisinin, induces apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. DHA induced a loss of the mitochondrial transmemberane potential (ΔΨm), release of cytochrome c, activation of caspases, and externalization of phosphatidylserine indicative of apoptosis induction. Compared with the modest inhibitory effects of silencing Bax, silencing Bak largely prevented DHA-induced ΔΨm collapse and apoptosis though DHA induced a commensurable activation of Bax and Bak, demonstrating a key role of the Bak-mediated intrinsic apoptosis pathway. DHA did not induce Bid cleavage and translocation from cytoplasm to mitochondria and had little effects on the expressions of Puma and Noxa, but did increase Bim and Bak expressions and decrease Mcl-1 expression. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of DHA was remarkably reduced by silencing Bim, and modestly but significantly reduced by silencing Puma or Noxa. Silencing Bim or Noxa preferentially reduced DHA-induced Bak activation, while silencing Puma preferentially reduced DHA-induced Bax activation, demonstrating that Bim and to a lesser extent Noxa act as upstream mediators to trigger the Bak-mediated intrinsic apoptosis pathway. In addition, silencing Mcl-1 enhanced DHA-induced Bak activation and apoptosis. Taken together, our data demonstrate a crucial role of Bim in preferentially regulating the Bak/Mcl-1 rheostat to mediate DHA-induced apoptosis in HCC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiqi Qin
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
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88
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Lee K, Jeong JE, Kim IH, Kim KS, Ju BG. Cyclo(phenylalanine-proline) induces DNA damage in mammalian cells via reactive oxygen species. J Cell Mol Med 2015; 19:2851-64. [PMID: 26416514 PMCID: PMC4687708 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.12678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclo(phenylalanine‐proline) is produced by various organisms such as animals, plants, bacteria and fungi. It has diverse biological functions including anti‐fungal activity, anti‐bacterial activity and molecular signalling. However, a few studies have demonstrated the effect of cyclo(phenylalanine‐proline) on the mammalian cellular processes, such as cell growth and apoptosis. In this study, we investigated whether cyclo(phenylalanine‐proline) affects cellular responses associated with DNA damage in mammalian cells. We found that treatment of 1 mM cyclo(phenylalanine‐proline) induces phosphorylation of H2AX (S139) through ATM‐CHK2 activation as well as DNA double strand breaks. Gene expression analysis revealed that a subset of genes related to regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and production is suppressed by the cyclo(phenylalanine‐proline) treatment. We also found that cyclo(phenylalanine‐proline) treatment induces perturbation of the mitochondrial membrane, resulting in increased ROS, especially superoxide, production. Collectively, our study suggests that cyclo(phenylalanine‐proline) treatment induces DNA damage via elevation of ROS in mammalian cells. Our findings may help explain the mechanism underlying the bacterial infection‐induced activation of DNA damage response in host mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwanghyun Lee
- Department of Life Science, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae Eun Jeong
- Department of Life Science, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - In Hwang Kim
- Department of Life Science, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kun-Soo Kim
- Department of Life Science, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Bong-Gun Ju
- Department of Life Science, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea
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89
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Wang B, Hou D, Liu Q, Wu T, Guo H, Zhang X, Zou Y, Liu Z, Liu J, Wei J, Gong Y, Shao C. Artesunate sensitizes ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin by downregulating RAD51. Cancer Biol Ther 2015; 16:1548-56. [PMID: 26176175 PMCID: PMC5391513 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2015.1071738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Artesunate, a semi-synthetic derivative of arteminisin originally developed for the treatment of malaria, has recently been shown to possess antitumor properties. One of the cytotoxic effects of artesunate on cancer cells is mediated by induction of oxidative stress and DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). We report here that in addition to inducing oxidative stress and DSBs, artesunate can also downregulate RAD51 and impair DSB repair in ovarian cancer cells. We observed that the formation of RAD51 foci and homologous recombination repair (HRR) were significantly reduced in artesunate-treated cells. As a consequence, artesunate and cisplatin synergistically induced DSBs and inhibited the clonogenic formation of ovarian cancer cells. Ectopic expression of RAD51 was able to rescue the increased chemosensitivity conferred by artesunate, confirming that the chemosensitizing effect of artesuante is at least partially mediated by the downregulation of RAD51. Our results indicated that artesunatecan compromise the repair of DSBs in ovarian cancer cells, and thus could be employed as a sensitizing agent in chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingliang Wang
- a Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology Ministry of Education ; Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Shandong University School of Medicine Jinan ; Shandong , China
| | - Dong Hou
- a Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology Ministry of Education ; Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Shandong University School of Medicine Jinan ; Shandong , China
| | - Qiao Liu
- a Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology Ministry of Education ; Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Shandong University School of Medicine Jinan ; Shandong , China
| | - Tingting Wu
- a Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology Ministry of Education ; Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Shandong University School of Medicine Jinan ; Shandong , China
| | - Haiyang Guo
- a Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology Ministry of Education ; Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Shandong University School of Medicine Jinan ; Shandong , China
| | - Xiyu Zhang
- a Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology Ministry of Education ; Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Shandong University School of Medicine Jinan ; Shandong , China
| | - Yongxin Zou
- a Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology Ministry of Education ; Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Shandong University School of Medicine Jinan ; Shandong , China
| | - Zhaojian Liu
- b Department of Cell Biology ; Shandong University School of Medicine Jinan ; Shandong , China
| | - Jinsong Liu
- c Department of Pathology ; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center , Houston , TX USA
| | - Jianjun Wei
- d Department of Pathology ; Northwestern University School of Medicine ; Chicago , IL USA
| | - Yaoqin Gong
- a Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology Ministry of Education ; Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Shandong University School of Medicine Jinan ; Shandong , China
| | - Changshun Shao
- a Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology Ministry of Education ; Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Shandong University School of Medicine Jinan ; Shandong , China.,e Department of Genetics/Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey ; Rutgers University ; Piscataway , NJ USA
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90
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Qin G, Wu L, Liu H, Pang Y, Zhao C, Wu S, Wang X, Chen T. Artesunate induces apoptosis via a ROS-independent and Bax-mediated intrinsic pathway in HepG2 cells. Exp Cell Res 2015; 336:308-17. [PMID: 26163896 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2015.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2015] [Revised: 06/13/2015] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to explore the detail molecular mechanism by which artesunate (ARS), an artemisinin derivative, induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells. ARS induced a loss of mitochondrial transmemberane potential (ΔΨm), phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization, as well as activations of Bax/Bak and caspases indicative of apoptosis induction. Silencing Bax but not Bak significantly inhibited ARS-induced apoptosis, demonstrating the key role of the Bax-mediated intrinsic pathway. Although ARS increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), ARS-induced apoptosis was neither prevented by pretreatment with ROS scavengers nor potentiated by pretreatment with l-buthionine-sulfoximine (BSO) that enhanced the ARS-induced intracellular ROS generation, demonstrating that ROS was not involved in ARS-induced apoptosis. In addition, ARS did not induce Bid translocation to mitochondria, and the cytotoxicity of ARS was not prevented by silencing Bim, Puma or Mcl-1, but was significantly enhanced by HA14-1 pretreatment, demonstrating that Bcl-2/-xl instead of Bid and Bim as well as Puma may be the upstream factor to regulate the Bax-mediated intrinsic pathway. Collectively, our data demonstrate that ARS induces ROS-independent apoptosis via the Bax-mediated intrinsic pathway in HepG2 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiqi Qin
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
| | - Liping Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
| | - Hongyu Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
| | - Yilin Pang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
| | - Chubiao Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
| | - Shengnan Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
| | - Xiaoping Wang
- Department of Pain Management, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, PR China.
| | - Tongsheng Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China.
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91
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Yadav R, Murthy RV, Kikkeri R. Sialic Acid Hydroxamate: A Potential Antioxidant and Inhibitor of Metal-Induced β-Amyloid Aggregates. Chembiochem 2015; 16:1448-53. [PMID: 25944626 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201500162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Current methods for Alzheimer's treatment require a three-component system: metal chelators, antioxidants, and amyloid β (Aβ)-peptide-binding scaffolds. We report sialic acid (Sia) hydroxamate as a potential radical scavenger and metal chelator to inhibit Aβ aggregation. A cell viability assay revealed that Sia hydroxamate can protect HeLa and glioblastoma (LN229) cells from oxidative damage induced by the Fenton reaction. Sedimentation and turbidity assays showed profound protection of neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells from metal-induced Aβ aggregation and neural toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohan Yadav
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune 411008 (India)
| | - Raghavendra Vasudeva Murthy
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune 411008 (India)
| | - Raghavendra Kikkeri
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune 411008 (India).
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92
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Desai KR, Rajput DK, Patel PB, Highland HN. Ameliorative Effects of Curcumin on Artesunate-Induced Subchronic Toxicity in Testis of Swiss Albino Male Mice. Dose Response 2015; 13:1559325815592393. [PMID: 26673878 PMCID: PMC4674183 DOI: 10.1177/1559325815592393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
India is one of the endemic areas where control of malaria has become a formidable task. Artesunate is the current antimalarial drug used to treat malaria, especially chloroquine resistant. The objective of the present study was to investigate the dose-dependent effect of oral administration of artesunate on the oxidative parameters in testes of adult male Swiss albino mice and ameliorative efficacy of curcumin, a widely used antioxidant. An oral dose of 150 mg/kg body weight (bwt; low dose) and 300 mg/kg bwt (high dose) of artesunate was administered for a period of 45 days to male mice, and ameliorative efficacy of curcumin was also assessed. The results revealed that artesunate caused significant alteration in oxidative parameters in dose-dependent manner. Administration of artesunate brought about significant decrease in activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase, whereas lipid peroxidation and glutathione-S-transferase activity were found to be significantly increased. The results obtained show that oxidative insult is incurred upon the intracellular antioxidant system of testis tissue by artesunate treatment. Further, administration of curcumin at the dose level of 80 mg/kg bwt along with both doses of artesunate attenuated adverse effects in male mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ketaki R Desai
- Department of Zoology and BMT, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | | | - Pragnesh B Patel
- Department of Zoology and BMT, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Hyacinth N Highland
- Department of Zoology and BMT, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
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93
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Alifieris C, Trafalis DT. Glioblastoma multiforme: Pathogenesis and treatment. Pharmacol Ther 2015; 152:63-82. [PMID: 25944528 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2015.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 487] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Each year, about 5-6 cases out of 100,000 people are diagnosed with primary malignant brain tumors, of which about 80% are malignant gliomas (MGs). Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) accounts for more than half of MG cases. They are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Despite current multimodality treatment efforts including maximal surgical resection if feasible, followed by a combination of radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, the median survival is short: only about 15months. A deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of these tumors has presented opportunities for newer therapies to evolve and an expectation of better control of this disease. Lately, efforts have been made to investigate tumor resistance, which results from complex alternate signaling pathways, the existence of glioma stem-cells, the influence of the blood-brain barrier as well as the expression of 0(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase. In this paper, we review up-to-date information on MGs treatment including current approaches, novel drug-delivering strategies, molecular targeted agents and immunomodulative treatments, and discuss future treatment perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dimitrios T Trafalis
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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94
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Eling N, Reuter L, Hazin J, Hamacher-Brady A, Brady NR. Identification of artesunate as a specific activator of ferroptosis in pancreatic cancer cells. Oncoscience 2015; 2:517-32. [PMID: 26097885 PMCID: PMC4468338 DOI: 10.18632/oncoscience.160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 369] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncogenic KRas reprograms pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells to states which are highly resistant to apoptosis. Thus, a major preclinical goal is to identify effective strategies for killing PDAC cells. Artesunate (ART) is an anti-malarial that specifically induces programmed cell death in different cancer cell types, in a manner initiated by reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generation. In this study we demonstrate that ART specifically induced ROS- and lysosomal iron-dependent cell death in PDAC cell lines. Highest cytotoxicity was obtained in PDAC cell lines with constitutively-active KRas, and ART did not affect non-neoplastic human pancreatic ductal epithelial (HPDE) cells. We determined that ART did not induce apoptosis or necroptosis. Instead, ART induced ferroptosis, a recently described mode of ROS- and iron-dependent programmed necrosis which can be activated in Ras-transformed cells. Co-treatment with the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 blocked ART-induced lipid peroxidation and cell death, and increased long-term cell survival and proliferation. Importantly, analysis of PDAC patient mRNA expression indicates a dependency on antioxidant homeostasis and increased sensitivity to free intracellular iron, both of which correlate with Ras-driven sensitivity to ferroptosis. Overall, our findings suggest that ART activation of ferroptosis is an effective, novel pathway for killing PDAC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils Eling
- Lysosomal Systems Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany ; Systems Biology of Cell Death Mechanisms, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany ; BioQuant, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lukas Reuter
- Lysosomal Systems Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany ; Systems Biology of Cell Death Mechanisms, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany ; BioQuant, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - John Hazin
- Systems Biology of Cell Death Mechanisms, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany ; Department of Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany ; BioQuant, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anne Hamacher-Brady
- Lysosomal Systems Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany ; BioQuant, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nathan R Brady
- Systems Biology of Cell Death Mechanisms, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany ; Department of Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany ; BioQuant, University of Heidelberg, Germany
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95
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Zhang P, Luo HS, Li M, Tan SY. Artesunate inhibits the growth and induces apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells by downregulating COX-2. Onco Targets Ther 2015; 8:845-54. [PMID: 25945055 PMCID: PMC4406257 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s81041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Artesunate, a derivative of artemisinin isolated from Artemisia annua L., has been traditionally used to treat malaria, and artesunate has demonstrated cytotoxic effects against a variety of cancer cells. However, there is little available information about the antitumor effects of artesunate on human gastric cancer cells. In the present study, we investigated the antitumor effect of artesunate on human gastric cancer cells and whether its antitumor effect is associated with reduction in COX-2 expression. The effects of artesunate on the growth and apoptosis of gastric cancer cells were investigated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, flow cytometric analysis of annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide staining, rhodamine 123 staining, and Western blot analysis. Results indicate that artesunate exhibits antiproliferative effects and apoptosis-inducing activities. Artesunate markedly inhibited gastric cancer cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner and induced apoptosis in gastric cancer cells a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with a reduction in COX-2 expression. Treatment with the selective COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib, or transient transfection of gastric cancer cells with COX-2 siRNA, also inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, the treatment with artesunate promoted the expression of proapoptotic factor Bax and suppressed the expression of antiapoptotic factor Bcl-2. In addition, caspase-3 and caspase-9 were activated, and artesunate induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, suggesting that the apoptosis is mediated by mitochondrial pathways. These results demonstrate that artesunate has an effect on anti-gastric cancer cells. One of the antitumor mechanisms of artesunate may be that its inhibition of COX-2 led to reduced proliferation and induction of apoptosis, connected with mitochondrial dysfunction. Artesunate might be a potential therapeutic agent for gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - He-Sheng Luo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Shi-Yun Tan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
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96
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DNA repair mechanisms and their biological roles in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2015; 78:469-86. [PMID: 25184562 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00059-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Research into the complex genetic underpinnings of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is entering a new era with the arrival of site-specific genome engineering. Previously restricted only to model systems but now expanded to most laboratory organisms, and even to humans for experimental gene therapy studies, this technology allows researchers to rapidly generate previously unattainable genetic modifications. This technological advance is dependent on DNA double-strand break repair (DSBR), specifically homologous recombination in the case of Plasmodium. Our understanding of DSBR in malaria parasites, however, is based largely on assumptions and knowledge taken from other model systems, which do not always hold true in Plasmodium. Here we describe the causes of double-strand breaks, the mechanisms of DSBR, and the differences between model systems and P. falciparum. These mechanisms drive basic parasite functions, such as meiosis, antigen diversification, and copy number variation, and allow the parasite to continually evolve in the contexts of host immune pressure and drug selection. Finally, we discuss the new technologies that leverage DSBR mechanisms to accelerate genetic investigations into this global infectious pathogen.
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97
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Deng S, Yan T, Nikolova T, Fuhrmann D, Nemecek A, Gödtel-Armbrust U, Kaina B, Wojnowski L. The catalytic topoisomerase II inhibitor dexrazoxane induces DNA breaks, ATF3 and the DNA damage response in cancer cells. Br J Pharmacol 2015; 172:2246-57. [PMID: 25521189 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2014] [Revised: 11/21/2014] [Accepted: 12/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The catalytic topoisomerase II inhibitor dexrazoxane has been associated not only with improved cancer patient survival but also with secondary malignancies and reduced tumour response. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We investigated the DNA damage response and the role of the activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) accumulation in tumour cells exposed to dexrazoxane. KEY RESULTS Dexrazoxane exposure induced topoisomerase IIα (TOP2A)-dependent cell death, γ-H2AX accumulation and increased tail moment in neutral comet assays. Dexrazoxane induced DNA damage responses, shown by enhanced levels of γ-H2AX/53BP1 foci, ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated), ATR (ATM and Rad3-related), Chk1 and Chk2 phosphorylation, and by p53 accumulation. Dexrazoxane-induced γ-H2AX accumulation was dependent on ATM. ATF3 protein was induced by dexrazoxane in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, which was abolished in TOP2A-depleted cells and in cells pre-incubated with ATM inhibitor. Knockdown of ATF3 gene expression by siRNA triggered apoptosis in control cells and diminished the p53 protein level in both control and dexrazoxane -treated cells. This was accompanied by increased γ-H2AX accumulation. ATF3 knockdown also delayed the repair of dexrazoxane -induced DNA double-strand breaks. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS As with other TOP2A poisons, dexrazoxane induced DNA double-strand breaks followed by activation of the DNA damage response. The DNA damage-triggered ATF3 controlled p53 accumulation and generation of double-strand breaks and is proposed to serve as a switch between DNA damage and cell death following dexrazoxane treatment. These findings suggest a mechanistic explanation for the diverse clinical observations associated with dexrazoxane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiwei Deng
- Institute of Pharmacology, Medical Center of the University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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98
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Abstract
This report is designed to study the ability of the combined treatment with gemcitabine (Gem) and dihydroartemisinin (DHA) to induce apoptosis in a non-small-cell lung cancer cell line (A549 cells). This combination treatment synergistically inhibited cell growth by inducing apoptosis, and this synergistic action was not associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although either Gem or DHA induced a significant increase in ROS generation, the combination treatment did not further enhance ROS level. Compared with single drugs, the combination treatment significantly potentiated Bak activation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, caspase-9 and -3 activation, indicating the important role of the Bak-mediated intrinsic apoptosis pathway in the synergistic action, which was further verified by the significant prevention of the cytotoxicity of the combination treatment by inhibiting one of caspase-9, -3 and Bcl-xL or silencing Bak. In addition, the combination treatment also synergistically activated caspase-8, and inhibition of Fas and caspase-8 presented significant prevention on the cytotoxicity of the combination treatment, indicating that the Fas-caspase-8-mediated extrinsic apoptosis pathway partially participated in the synergistic action. Collectively, the present study demonstrates a strong synergistic action of the combined treatment with Gem and DHA in inducing apoptosis of A549 cells via both the Bak-mediated intrinsic pathway and the Fas-caspase-8-mediated extrinsic pathway.
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99
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Singh S, Giri A, Giri S. The antimalarial agent artesunate causes sperm DNA damage and hepatic antioxidant defense in mice. MUTATION RESEARCH-GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS 2015; 777:1-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2014.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2014] [Revised: 11/04/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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100
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Antimalarial action of artesunate involves DNA damage mediated by reactive oxygen species. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2014; 59:317-25. [PMID: 25348537 DOI: 10.1128/aac.03663-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is the recommended first-line treatment for Plasmodium falciparum malaria. It has been suggested that the cytotoxic effect of artemisinin is mediated by free radicals followed by the alkylation of P. falciparum proteins. The endoperoxide bridge, the active moiety of artemisinin derivatives, is cleaved in the presence of ferrous iron, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other free radicals. However, the emergence of resistance to artemisinin in P. falciparum underscores the need for new insights into the molecular mechanisms of antimalarial activity of artemisinin. Here we show that artesunate (ART) induces DNA double-strand breaks in P. falciparum in a physiologically relevant dose- and time-dependent manner. DNA damage induced by ART was accompanied by an increase in the intracellular ROS level in the parasites. Mannitol, a ROS scavenger, reversed the cytotoxic effect of ART and reduced DNA damage, and modulation of glutathione (GSH) levels was found to impact ROS and DNA damage induced by ART. Accumulation of ROS, increased DNA damage, and the resulting antiparasite effect suggest a causal relationship between ROS, DNA damage, and parasite death. Finally, we also show that ART-induced ROS production involves a potential role for NADPH oxidase, an enzyme involved in the production of superoxide anions. Our results with P. falciparum provide novel insights into previously unknown molecular mechanisms underlying the antimalarial activity of artemisinin derivatives and may help in the design of next-generation antimalarial drugs against the most virulent Plasmodium species.
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