Novel RAS Inhibitors Poricoic Acid ZG and Poricoic Acid ZH Attenuate Renal Fibrosis via a Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway and Targeted Phosphorylation of smad3 Signaling

Hirsutella sinensis Inhibits Lewis Lung Cancer via Tumor Microenvironment Effector T Cells in Mice

Hirsutella sinensis fungus (HSF) is an artificial substitute of the well-known medicine Cordyceps sinensis with similar beneficial effects in humans. We previously found that HSF can regulate immune function and inhibit tumor growth; however, the mechanisms involved in these effects were still unclear. Accordingly, in this study, we investigated the effects of HSF on immune cell subsets in the tumor microenvironment in mice. The results showed that HSF inhibited Lewis lung cancer growth, alleviated abnormalities in routine blood tests, and enhanced tumor-infiltrating T cells, particularly the proportion of effector CD8[Formula: see text] T cells. In addition, HSF also ameliorated the immune-suppressive microenvironment and decreased the proportions of regulatory T cell and myeloid-derived suppressor cell populations. To confirm the effects of HSF on promotion of effector CD8[Formula: see text] T-cell production, we further evaluated changes in postoperative metastasis following treatment with HSF. Indeed, orthotopic lung metastasis was significantly suppressed, and survival times were increased in HSF-treated mice. Taken together, our findings suggested that HSF inhibited Lewis lung cancer by enhancing the population of effective CD8[Formula: see text] T cells.

Evodiamine, a Novel NOTCH3 Methylation Stimulator, Significantly Suppresses Lung Carcinogenesis in Vitro and in Vivo

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. NOTCH3 signaling is mainly expressed in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), and has been proposed as a therapeutic target of NSCLC. While, few agents for preventing or treating NSCLC via targeting NOTCH3 signaling are used in modern clinical practice. Evodiamine (EVO), an alkaloid derived from Euodiae Fructus, possesses low toxicity and has long been shown to exert anti-lung cancer activity. However, the underlying anti-lung cancer mechanisms of EVO are not yet fully understood. In this study, we explored the involvement of NOTCH3 signaling in the anti-lung cancer effects of EVO. Urethane-induced lung cancer mouse model and two NSCLC cell models, A549 and H1299, were used to evaluate the in vivo and in vitro anti-lung cancer action of EVO. A DNA methyltransferase inhibitor was employed to investigate the role of NOTCH3 signaling in the anti-lung cancer effects of EVO. Results showed that EVO potently reduced tumor size and tumor numbers in mice, and inhibited NOTCH3 in the tumors. EVO also dramatically reduced cell viability, induced G2/M cell cycle arrest, inhibited cell migration and reduced stemness in cultured NSCLC cells. Mechanistic studies showed that EVO potently inhibited NOTCH3 signaling by activation of DNMTs-induced NOTCH3 methylation. Importantly, inhibition of NOTCH3 methylation in NSCLC cells diminished EVO's anti-NSCLC effects. Collectively, EVO, a novel NOTCH3 methylation stimulator, exerted potent anti-lung cancer effects partially by inhibiting NOTCH3 signaling. These findings provide new insight into the EVO's anti-NSCLC action, and suggest a potential role of EVO in lung cancer prevention and treatment.

1H NMR based metabolite profiling for optimizing the ethanol extraction of Wolfiporia cocos

Metabolite profiling of Wolfiporia cocos (family: Polyporaceae) had been much advancement in recent days, and its analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has become well established. However, the highly important trait of W. cocos still needs advanced protocols despite some standardization. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was used as the multivariate statistical analysis of the ¹H NMR data set. The PLS-DA model was validated, and the key metabolites contributing to the separation in the score plots of different ethanol W. cocos extract. ¹H NMR spectroscopy of W. cocos identified 33 chemically diverse metabolites in D₂O, consisting of 13 amino acids, 11 organic acids 2 sugars, 3 sugar alcohols, 1 nucleoside, and 3 others. Among these metabolites, the levels of tyrosine, proline, methionine, sarcosine, choline, acetoacetate, citrate, 4-aminobutyrate, aspartate, maltose, malate, lysine, xylitol, lactate threonine, leucine, valine, isoleucine, uridine, guanidoacetate, arabitol, mannitol, glucose, and betaine were increased in the 95% ethanol extraction sample compared with the levels in other samples, whereas level of acetate, phenylalanine, alanine, succinate, and fumarate were significantly increased in the 0% ethanol extraction sample. A biological triterpenoid, namely pachymic acid, was detected from different ethanol P. cocos extract using ¹H-NMR spectra were found in CDCl₃. This is the first report to perform the metabolomics profiling of different ethanol W. cocos extract. These researches suggest that W. cocos can be used to obtain substantial amounts of bioactive ingredients for use as potential pharmacological and nutraceuticals agents.

Molecular mechanism of Poria cocos combined with oxaliplatin on the inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in gastric cancer cells

PURPOSE

Natural product Poria cocos possesses antitumor effect. This study will explore the molecular mechanism of Poria cocos combined with chemotherapy in the inhibition of gastric cancer cell EMT process.

METHODS

The experiment was divided into blank control group, Poria cocos group, oxaliplatin group and Poria cocos combined with oxaliplatin group. Scratch and Transwell assay were used to detect cell migration and invasion respectively. RT-qPCR and Western Blot analyses were used to detect mRNA and protein expression of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related factors including Snail, Twist, Vimentin, E-cadherin and N-cadherin respectively. Morphologic assessment was performed with HPIAS-1000 automated image analysis system.

RESULTS

The migration and invasion abilities of gastric cancer cells in the Poria cocos combined with oxaliplatin group were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). The mRNA and protein expression of Snail, Twist, Vimentin and N-cadherin were significantly decreased while the mRNA and protein expression of E-cadherin were significantly increased (P < 0.01) compared with blank control group. Nude mice model of gastric cancer was successfully established. Poria cocos combined with oxaliplatin could significantly inhibit gastric tumor progression. The expression of EMT related factors were consistent with in vitro study. Morphologic assessment showed that the nucleus area, perimeter, mean diameter, volume, long diameter and shape factor in the Poria cocos combined with oxaliplatin group were significantly different compared with the blank control group (P < 0.01) but not significantly different compared with the normal control.

CONCLUSIONS

Poria cocos combined with oxaliplatin could significantly inhibit the migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells. Through both in vitro and in vivo studies, it is confirmed that Poria cocos combined with oxaliplatin could significantly inhibit the EMT process of gastric cancer. Poria cocos combined with oxaliplatin could significantly affect the morphology changes of gastric cancer cells. These findings may provide a theoretical guidance for the clinical treatment of gastric cancer.