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Peng H, He Y, Hu Y, Sheng S, Maitiyasen M, Li J, Liu Y, Hou X, Song H, Yi J. Berbamine promotes ferroptosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by facilitating USP51-mediated GPX4 ubiquitination and degradation. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 179:117309. [PMID: 39151312 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2024] [Revised: 08/11/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer ranks among the most prevalent malignant tumors globally. The prognosis for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma remains poor, with a 5-year survival rate below 20 % due to limited advances in therapy. Ferroptosis, a novel form of iron-dependent lipid peroxidation-driven regulated cell death (RCD), shows significant promise in cancer treatment. Berbamine (BBM), a natural bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid derived from Berberis amurensis, exhibits anti-tumor effects against various cancers, yet its impact on esophageal cancer remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to explore the role of BBM in inducing ferroptosis in the treatment of esophageal cancer, focusing on its molecular mechanisms. Gene set enrichment analysis(GSEA) analysis highlighted the potential of BBM as an anti-cancer agent through ferroptosis induction. We found that BBM inhibited growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in esophageal cancer cell lines, promoting Fe accumulation, ROS, and malondialdehyde (MDA) production, thereby triggering cell death. These suppressive effects were successfully reversed by Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1). Mechanistically, BBM decreased deubiquitination enzyme USP51 levels, leading to ubiquitin degradation and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4) instability, and it stimulated ferroptosis. The Overexpression of USP51 mitigated the downregulation of GPX4 induced by BBM.BBM significantly inhibited tumor xenograft growth in nude mice. This discovery positions BBM as a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of esophageal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Peng
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery,Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - YuanPeng He
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery,Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuepeng Hu
- Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Siqi Sheng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Maierhaba Maitiyasen
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery,Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jingfeng Li
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery,Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yvxuan Liu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery,Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinyu Hou
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery,Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Haizhu Song
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Jun Yi
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery,Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
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Hu B, Yang Y, Tu J, Cai H, Yang S, Chen X, Chen G. Berbamine Exerts an Anti-oncogenic Effect on Pancreatic Cancer by Regulating Wnt and DNA Damage-related Pathways. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2023; 23:201-209. [PMID: 35579129 DOI: 10.2174/1871520622666220509174306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the effects of berbamine on pancreatic cancer as well as the underlying mechanisms. METHODS The pancreatic cancer cells were treated with different concentrations of berbamine and then subjected to cell viability assay, colony formation assay, cell cycle analysis, and apoptosis detection. Western blotting and immunofluorescence analyses were performed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the biological effects of berbamine on the pancreatic cancer cells. Furthermore, the in vivo anti-pancreatic cancer effect of berbamine was examined using a mouse xenograft model. RESULTS Berbamine significantly inhibited the proliferation and colony-forming ability of BxPC3 and PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells while inducing a cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Moreover, berbamine decreased the expression of β- catenin and phosphorylation of GSK3β but increased the expression of γ-H2AX and 53BP1. Meanwhile, in vivo studies revealed that berbamine attenuated the growth of xenograft tumors derived from PANC-1 cells. Notably, berbamine treatment led to an increase in the expression of Cleaved Caspase 3 and γ-H2AX, as well as a decrease in the expression of Ki-67 and β-catenin in the tumor xenografts. CONCLUSION Berbamine exerts an anti-pancreatic cancer effect, possibly by regulating Wnt and DNA damage-related pathways, suggestive of its therapeutic potential for pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingren Hu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Yingnan Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Jinfu Tu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Huajie Cai
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Shouzhang Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Xinwei Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou 325000, China
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Han JM, Jung HJ. Synergistic Anticancer Effect of a Combination of Berbamine and Arcyriaflavin A against Glioblastoma Stem-like Cells. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27227968. [PMID: 36432068 PMCID: PMC9699626 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27227968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive form of brain tumor. Relapse is frequent and rapid due to glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs) that induce tumor initiation, drug resistance, high cancer invasion, immune evasion, and recurrence. Therefore, suppression of GSCs is a powerful therapeutic approach for GBM treatment. Natural compounds berbamine and arcyriaflavin A (ArcA) are known to possess anticancer activity by targeting calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II gamma (CaMKIIγ) and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), respectively. In this study, we evaluated the effects of concurrent treatment with both compounds on GSCs. Combined treatment with berbamine and ArcA synergistically inhibited cell viability and tumorsphere formation in U87MG- and C6-drived GSCs. Furthermore, simultaneous administration of both compounds potently inhibited tumor growth in a U87MG GSC-grafted chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. Notably, the synergistic anticancer effect of berbamine and ArcA on GSC growth is associated with the promotion of reactive oxygen species (ROS)- and calcium-dependent apoptosis via strong activation of the p53-mediated caspase cascade. Moreover, co-treatment with both compounds significantly reduced the expression levels of key GSC markers, including CD133, integrin α6, aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (ALDH1A1), Nanog, Sox2, and Oct4. The combined effect of berbamine and ArcA on GSC growth also resulted in downregulation of cell cycle regulatory proteins, such as cyclins and CDKs, by potent inactivation of the CaMKIIγ-mediated STAT3/AKT/ERK1/2 signaling pathway. In addition, a genetic knockdown study using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting either CaMKIIγ or CDK4 demonstrated that the synergistic anticancer effect of the two compounds on GSCs resulted from dual inhibition of CaMKIIγ and CDK4. Collectively, our findings suggest that a novel combination therapy involving berbamine and ArcA could effectively eradicate GSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jang Mi Han
- Department of Life Science and Biochemical Engineering, Graduate School, Sun Moon University, Asan 31460, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Jin Jung
- Department of Life Science and Biochemical Engineering, Graduate School, Sun Moon University, Asan 31460, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Biotechnology, Sun Moon University, Asan 31460, Republic of Korea
- Genome-Based BioIT Convergence Institute, Sun Moon University, Asan 31460, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-41-530-2354; Fax: +82-41-530-2939
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Li H, Luo K, Yang Z, Chen M, Yang X, Wang J, Ying Y, Wu D, Wang Q. Berbamine Suppresses the Growth of Gastric Cancer Cells by Inactivating the BRD4/c-MYC Signaling Pathway. Drug Des Devel Ther 2022; 16:129-141. [PMID: 35046638 PMCID: PMC8762520 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s338881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Berbamine (Ber), a bioactive constituent extracted from a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, has been shown to exhibit broad inhibitory activity on a panel of cancer cell types. However, its effects and the underlying molecular mechanisms on gastric cancer (GC) remain poorly understood. METHODS The anti-growth activity of Ber on two GC cell lines and normal gastric epithelial cell line were evaluated using MTS and clone formation assay. Flow cytometry analysis was employed to evaluate the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis of GC cells. Western blot and quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis were employed to investigate the anti-GC mechanism of Ber. The inhibitory activity and binding affinity of Ber against BRD4 were evaluated by homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay, respectively. Molecular docking and molecular simulations were conducted to predict the interaction mode between BRD4 and Ber. RESULTS The results demonstrated that Ber reduced the proliferation of GC cell lines SGC-7901 and BGC-823 and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Mechanistically, Ber was identified as a novel natural-derived BRD4 inhibitor through multiple experimental assay, and its anti-GC activity was probably mediated by BRD4 inhibition. Molecular modeling studies suggested that Ber might bind to BRD4 primarily through hydrophobic interactions. CONCLUSION Our study uncovered the underlying anti-GC activity of Ber in vitro and suggested that Ber holds promise as a potential lead compound in the discovery of novel BRD4 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongchun Li
- Department of Cadre Health, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310012, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Kexue Luo
- Department of Cadre Health, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310012, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhuying Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310012, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Miao Chen
- Department of Oncology, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310012, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiuyun Yang
- Department of Cadre Health, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310012, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiesheng Wang
- Department of Cadre Health, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310012, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yin Ying
- Department of Pharmacy, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310012, People's Republic of China
| | - Dengxuan Wu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310012, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinxian Wang
- Department of Cadre Health, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310012, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
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Farooqi AA, Wen R, Attar R, Taverna S, Butt G, Xu B. Regulation of Cell-Signaling Pathways by Berbamine in Different Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052758. [PMID: 35269900 PMCID: PMC8911410 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural product research is a cornerstone of the architectural framework of clinical medicine. Berbamine is a natural, potent, pharmacologically active biomolecule isolated from Berberis amurensis. Berbamine has been shown to modulate different oncogenic cell-signaling pathways in different cancers. In this review, we comprehensively analyze how berbamine modulates deregulated pathways (JAK/STAT, CAMKII/c-Myc) in various cancers. We systematically analyze how berbamine induces activation of the TGF/SMAD pathway for the effective inhibition of cancer progression. We also summarize different nanotechnological strategies currently being used for proficient delivery of berbamine to the target sites. Berbamine has also been reported to demonstrate potent anti-cancer and anti-metastatic effects in tumor-bearing mice. The regulation of non-coding RNAs by berbamine is insufficiently studied, and future studies must converge on the identification of target non-coding RNAs. A better understanding of the regulatory role of berbamine in the modulation of non-coding RNAs and cell-signaling pathways will be advantageous in the effective translation of laboratory findings to clinically effective therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ammad Ahmad Farooqi
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Institute of Biomedical and Genetic Engineering (IBGE), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan;
| | - Ru Wen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA;
| | - Rukset Attar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yeditepe University, Istanbul 34755, Turkey;
| | - Simona Taverna
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council of Italy, 90146 Palermo, Italy;
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT-CNR), National Research Council of Italy, 90146 Palermo, Italy
| | - Ghazala Butt
- Institute of Botany, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan;
| | - Baojun Xu
- Food Science and Technology Program, BNU-HKBU United International College, Zhuhai 519087, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-756-2620636
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Tang Z, Niu Y, Xu Z, Shi Y, Liu Y, Fu W, Zheng M, He H, Wu T. Anti-Tumor and Anti-Metastasis Effects of Berbamine-Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles on Pancreatic Cancer. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2022; 22:3097-3106. [PMID: 35490430 DOI: 10.2174/1871520622666220501161636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of Berbamine-loaded lipid nanoparticles (BBM-NPs) in pancreatic cancer. METHODS Dopamine polymerization-polylactide-TPGS nanoparticles were synthesized to prepare BBM-NPs, and the change in particle size of BBM-NPs was measured. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay, plate cloning experiment, and apoptosis analysis were performed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of BBM-NPs against the pancreatic cancer cells (PANC-1 and AsPC-1). Migration and invasion abilities of the tumor cells were determined by Transwell and wound healing assays. The intracellular level of ROS and expression of tumor progression-related proteins were measured using ROS-kit and western blot assay. Besides, an in vivo study was performed in the Balb/c nude mice to analyze the function of BBM-NPs in tumor growth. RESULTS The in vitro studies showed that BBM-NPs with stable particle size and sustained drug release effectively inhibited the viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells, while promoting cell apoptosis. Moreover, the in vivo experiments revealed that compared to Free BBM, BBM-NPs exhibited a stronger inhibitory effect on the growth of xenograft tumors derived from PANC-1 cells in mice. In addition, increased expressions of ROS, Bax, Cleaved Caspase-3, and γ-H2AX, as well as decreased expressions of MMP2, MMP9 and Bcl-2 were identified in both Free BBM and BBM-NPs groups, while BBM-NPs exhibited a stronger effect on protein expression than Free BBM. CONCLUSION In summary, BBM-loaded lipid nanoparticles enhanced the therapeutic effects of BBM on pancreatic cancer, providing a promising strategy for targeted cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyi Tang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650101, China
| | - Yichun Niu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650101, China
| | - Zhiyuan Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650101, China
| | - Yanmei Shi
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650101, China
| | - Yaqiong Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650101, China
| | - Wen Fu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650101, China
| | - Mengyao Zheng
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650101, China
| | - Haiyu He
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650101, China
| | - Tao Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650101, China
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KalantarMotamedi Y, Choi RJ, Koh SB, Bramhall JL, Fan TP, Bender A. Prediction and identification of synergistic compound combinations against pancreatic cancer cells. iScience 2021; 24:103080. [PMID: 34585118 PMCID: PMC8456050 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance to current therapies is common for pancreatic cancer and hence novel treatment options are urgently needed. In this work, we developed and validated a computational method to select synergistic compound combinations based on transcriptomic profiles from both the disease and compound side, combined with a pathway scoring system, which was then validated prospectively by testing 30 compounds (and their combinations) on PANC-1 cells. Some compounds selected as single agents showed lower GI50 values than the standard of care, gemcitabine. Compounds suggested as combination agents with standard therapy gemcitabine based on the best performing scoring system showed on average 2.82-5.18 times higher synergies compared to compounds that were predicted to be active as single agents. Examples of highly synergistic in vitro validated compound pairs include gemcitabine combined with Entinostat, thioridazine, loperamide, scriptaid and Saracatinib. Hence, the computational approach presented here was able to identify synergistic compound combinations against pancreatic cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasaman KalantarMotamedi
- Centre for Molecular Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Ran Joo Choi
- Centre for Molecular Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Siang-Boon Koh
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Jo L. Bramhall
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Tai-Ping Fan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK
| | - Andreas Bender
- Centre for Molecular Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
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Berbamine Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Migration and Induces Cell Death of Lung Cancer Cells via Regulating c-Maf, PI3K/Akt, and MDM2-P53 Pathways. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2021; 2021:5517143. [PMID: 34306137 PMCID: PMC8285168 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5517143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Berbamine (BBM) is a natural product isolated from Berberis amurensis Rupr. We investigated the influence of BBM on the cell viability, proliferation, and migration of lung cancer cells and explored the possible mechanisms. The cell viability and proliferation of lung cancer cells were evaluated by MTT assay, EdU assay, and colony formation assay. Migration and invasion abilities of cancer cells were determined through wound scratch assay and Transwell assay. Cell death was evaluated by cell death staining assay and ELISA. The expressions of proteins were evaluated using western blot assay. A xenograft mouse model derived from non-small-cell lung cancer cells was used to detect the effect of BBM on tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Both colony formation and EdU assays results revealed that BBM (10 μM) significantly inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells (P < 0.001). BBM (10 μM) also significantly inhibited the migration and invasion ability of cancer cells in wound scratch and Transwell assays. Trypan blue assay and ELISA revealed that BBM (20 μM) significantly induced cell death of A549 cells. In xenograft mouse models, the tumor volume was significantly smaller in mice treated with BBM (20 mg/kg). The western blotting assay showed that BBM inhibited the PI3K/Akt and MDM2-p53 signaling pathways, and BBM downregulated the expression of c-Maf. Our results show that BBM inhibits proliferation and metastasis and induces cell death of lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. These effects may be achieved by BBM reducing the expression of c-Maf and regulating the PI3K/Akt and MDM2-p53 pathways.
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Kim YJ, Han JM, Jung HJ. Antiangiogenic and antitumor potential of berbamine, a natural CaMKIIγ inhibitor, against glioblastoma. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 566:129-134. [PMID: 34119825 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most malignant brain tumors and requires the formation of new blood vessels, called angiogenesis, for its growth and metastasis. Several proangiogenic factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), stimulate GBM angiogenesis. Accordingly, blocking the angiogenesis induced by angiogenic factors represents a promising modality for the treatment of GBM. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of berbamine, a plant-derived compound, on the angiogenesis induced by VEGF and BDNF in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Berbamine effectively inhibited the angiogenic features stimulated by VEGF (such as proliferation, adhesion, invasion, tube formation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in HUVECs) as well as those by BDNF, at concentrations that do not affect endothelial cell viability. The antiangiogenic effects of berbamine were associated with the downregulation of VEGF/VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2)/Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIγ (CaMKIIγ) and BDNF/tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB)/CaMKIIγ signaling pathways. In addition, berbamine suppressed the expression of a key regulator of tumor angiogenesis, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), and its transcriptional target, VEGF, in U87MG GBM cells. Furthermore, berbamine significantly inhibited in vivo neovascularization as well as U87MG tumor growth in a chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. All these findings suggest that berbamine may be utilized as a new antiangiogenic agent for the treatment of malignant brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Jin Kim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Biotechnology, Sun Moon University, Asan, South Chungcheong, 31460, Republic of Korea
| | - Jang Mi Han
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Biotechnology, Sun Moon University, Asan, South Chungcheong, 31460, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Jin Jung
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Biotechnology, Sun Moon University, Asan, South Chungcheong, 31460, Republic of Korea.
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Liu L, Yan J, Cao Y, Yan Y, Shen X, Yu B, Tao L, Wang S. Proliferation, migration and invasion of triple negative breast cancer cells are suppressed by berbamine via the PI3K/Akt/MDM2/p53 and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways. Oncol Lett 2020; 21:70. [PMID: 33365081 PMCID: PMC7716707 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2020.12331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-associated mortality among women worldwide, and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer. Berbamine (BBM) is a traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of leukopenia without any obvious side effects. Recent reports found that BBM has anti-cancer effects. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of BBM on TNBC cell lines and the underlying molecular mechanism. MDA-MB-231 cells and MCF-7 cells, two TNBC cell lines, were treated with various concentrations of BBM. A series of bioassays including MTT, colony formation, EdU staining, apoptosis, trypan blue dye, wound healing, transwell, ELISA and western blotting assays were performed. The results showed that BBM significantly inhibited cell proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells (P<0.05; IC50=22.72 µM) and MCF-7 cells (P<0.05; IC50=20.92 µM). BBM (20 µM) decreased the apoptosis ratio (percentage of absorbance compared with the control group) by 28.4±3.3% (P<0.05) in MDA-MB-231 cells, and 62.4±24.6% (P<0.05) in MCF-7 cells. In addition, BBM inhibited cell migration and invasion of TNBC cells. Furthermore, the expression levels of PI3K, phosphorylated-Akt/Akt, COX-2, LOX, MDM2 and mTOR were downregulated by BBM, and the expression of p53 was upregulated by BBM. These results indicated that BBM may suppress the development of TNBC via regulation of the PI3K/Akt/MDM2/p53 and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signal pathways. Therefore, BBM might be used as a drug candidate for the treatment of TNBC in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Zhangjiagang Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215600, P.R. China
| | - Jiadong Yan
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Zhangjiagang Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215600, P.R. China
| | - Ying Cao
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Zhangjiagang Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215600, P.R. China
| | - Yan Yan
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Zhangjiagang Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215600, P.R. China
| | - Xiang Shen
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Zhangjiagang Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215600, P.R. China
| | - Binbin Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Zhangjiagang Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215600, P.R. China
| | - Li Tao
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Zhangjiagang Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215600, P.R. China
| | - Shusheng Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Zhangjiagang Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215600, P.R. China
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Zhao W, Bai B, Hong Z, Zhang X, Zhou B. Berbamine (BBM), a Natural STAT3 Inhibitor, Synergistically Enhances the Antigrowth and Proapoptotic Effects of Sorafenib on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:24838-24847. [PMID: 33015502 PMCID: PMC7528295 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c03527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Sorafenib (SORA), a multi kinase inhibitor, is the standard first-line targeted therapy approved by the Food and Drug Administration for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, emerging evidence from clinical practice indicates that SORA alone has only moderate antitumor effects and could not completely inhibit the progression of the disease. Therefore, it is very necessary and urgent to develop novel combination therapy to improve the clinical outcomes of SORA. The pharmacological study on the chemosensitizing effects of natural products has become a hotspot in recent years, which is commonly thought to be a potential way to improve the effectiveness of drugs in clinical use. Berbamine (BBM) has potential sensitizing effects in multiple chemotherapies and target therapy. However, it remains unclarified whether the combination of BBM and SORA as a treatment could exert a synergistic effect on HCC cell lines. In this study, we first investigated whether BBM can increase the sensitivity of HCC cell lines to SORA. The results revealed that the combination of BBM and SORA could synergistically inhibit the growth of two HCC cell lines and promoted their apoptosis. Mechanistically, our results showed that BBM exerted a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the basal and IL-6-induced STAT3 activation of HCC cell lines. In addition, the combined treatment of BBM and SORA synergistically suppressed STAT3 phosphorylation at Tyr705 and knockdown of STAT3 abolished the sensitization effect of BBM, indicating that BBM's sensitization effect is mainly mediated by its inhibition of STAT3. These findings identify a new type of natural STAT3 inhibitor and provide a novel approach to the enhancement of SORA efficacy by blocking the activation of STAT3.
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Koutova D, Kulhava M, Havelek R, Majorosova M, Královec K, Habartova K, Hošťálková A, Opletal L, Cahlikova L, Řezáčová M. Bersavine: A Novel Bisbenzylisoquinoline Alkaloidwith Cytotoxic, Antiproliferative and Apoptosis-Inducing Effects on Human Leukemic Cells. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25040964. [PMID: 32093423 PMCID: PMC7071104 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25040964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bersavine is the new bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from the Berberis vulgaris L. (Berberidaceae) plant. The results of cytotoxicity screening 48 h post-treatment showed that bersavine considerably inhibits the proliferation and viability of leukemic (Jurkat, MOLT-4), colon (HT-29), cervix (HeLa) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cells with IC50 values ranging from 8.1 to 11 µM. The viability and proliferation of leukemic Jurkat and MOLT-4 cells were decreased after bersavine treatment in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Bersavine manifested concentration-dependent antiproliferative activity in human lung, breast, ovarian and hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines using a xCELLigence assay. Significantly higher percentages of MOLT-4 cells exposed to bersavine at 20 µM for 24 h were arrested in the G1 phase of the cell cycle using the flow cytometry method. The higher percentage of apoptotic cells was measured after 24 h of bersavine treatment. The upregulation of p53 phosphorylated on Ser392 was detected during the progression of MOLT-4 cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, bersavine-induced apoptosis is an effect of increased activity of caspases, while reduced proliferation seems dependent on increased Chk1 Ser345 phosphorylation and decreased Rb Ser807/811 phosphorylation in human leukemic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darja Koutova
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Simkova 870, 500 03 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic; (D.K.); (M.K.); (M.M.); (K.H.); (M.Ř.)
| | - Monika Kulhava
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Simkova 870, 500 03 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic; (D.K.); (M.K.); (M.M.); (K.H.); (M.Ř.)
| | - Radim Havelek
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Simkova 870, 500 03 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic; (D.K.); (M.K.); (M.M.); (K.H.); (M.Ř.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Martina Majorosova
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Simkova 870, 500 03 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic; (D.K.); (M.K.); (M.M.); (K.H.); (M.Ř.)
| | - Karel Královec
- Department of Biological and Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Studentska 573, 532 10 Pardubice, Czech Republic;
| | - Klara Habartova
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Simkova 870, 500 03 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic; (D.K.); (M.K.); (M.M.); (K.H.); (M.Ř.)
| | - Anna Hošťálková
- ADINACO Research Group, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovskeho 1203, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic; (A.H.); (L.O.); (L.C.)
| | - Lubomír Opletal
- ADINACO Research Group, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovskeho 1203, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic; (A.H.); (L.O.); (L.C.)
| | - Lucie Cahlikova
- ADINACO Research Group, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovskeho 1203, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic; (A.H.); (L.O.); (L.C.)
| | - Martina Řezáčová
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Simkova 870, 500 03 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic; (D.K.); (M.K.); (M.M.); (K.H.); (M.Ř.)
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13
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Xu H, Kong Y, Chen Y, Li N, Zhang S, Lu H. Natural Plant Extract Berbamine Is a Potent Inhibitor of Cell Growth and Survival of Human Tenon's Fibroblasts. Ophthalmic Res 2020; 63:555-563. [PMID: 32079013 DOI: 10.1159/000506644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Post-trabeculectomy scarring due to excessive proliferation of human Tenon's fibroblasts (HTFs) often led to operation failure. Developing a new anti-fibrosis drug with high efficacy to inhibit HTF cell growth will greatly improve the effectiveness of trabeculectomy. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the effect of berbamine (BBM) treatment on the cell growth and survival of HTFs. METHODS Cultured human fetal Tenon's fibroblasts (HFTFs) were treated with or without different concentrations of BBM. Cell morphology was observed with a phase contrast microscope. A CCK-8 method and Ki67 immunofluorescence were used to determine cell viability and cell proliferation. A scratch test was used to study cell migration. Flow cytometry and TUNEL staining were performed to detect cell apoptosis. The expression of BAX/BCL-2, ERK, and AKT/mTOR pathway components was determined by Western blotting. RESULTS BBM treatment disrupted HFTF normal morphology and inhibited its cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Ki67 immunofluorescence and scratch assay showed BBM suppressed HFTF cell proliferation and migration. Importantly, BBM dose-dependently increased the BAX/BCL-2 ratio and induced apoptosis in HFTF cells. Western blotting showed BBM significantly inhibited the ERK and AKT/mTOR pathway, and PTEN inhibition ameliorated the inhibitory effect of BBM on cell viability and survival in HFTFs. CONCLUSIONS BBM potently inhibits the cell growth and survival of HTFs through AKT/mTOR and has the potential to serve as an anti-fibrosis drug after trabeculectomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Xu
- Key Lab of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China,
| | - Yanan Kong
- Eye Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Ying Chen
- Eye Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Na Li
- Eye Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Shuqiang Zhang
- Key Lab of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Hong Lu
- Eye Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
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Hu B, Cai H, Yang S, Tu J, Huang X, Chen G. Berbamine Enhances the Efficacy of Gefitinib by Suppressing STAT3 Signaling in Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Onco Targets Ther 2019; 12:11437-11451. [PMID: 31920333 PMCID: PMC6935307 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s223242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Small molecular inhibitors such as gefitinib (Gefi), which target EGF receptor (EGFR), are considered to be a viable pathway for the selective inhibition of pancreatic cancer (PC) development. However, the large difference in Gefi response between PC patient individuals and PC cell lines severely limits the clinical efficacy of Gefi. Berbamine (BBM) is a well-known natural-derived antitumor agent. However, no study yet exists on whether BBM can enhance the sensitivity of PC cells to Gefi or its underlying mechanisms. Methods MTS assay and clonogenic assay were used to determine whether BBM could enhance the anti-PC activity of Gefi by. Flow cytometric analysis was performed to study the cell cycle progression and rate of apoptosis after combined treatment with BBM and Gefi. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and Western blot experiments were carried out to detect the STAT3 binding affinity and the STAT3 inhibitory effect of BBM. Molecular docking and Molecular dynamic simulation were used to predicting the dominant interaction between BBM and STAT3. Results This study found that BBM synergizes with Gefi to inhibit cell growth and induce cell cycle arrest and PC cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, our results showed that BBM and Gefi have synergistic inhibitory effects on STAT3 phosphorylation, but have little effect on other EGFR downstream pathways, suggesting that BBM may exert sensitization through the inhibition of STAT3. Besides, BBM has a high affinity for STAT3 and a good inhibitory effect on STAT3 activation, further indicating that BBM was a potent direct STAT3 inhibitor. Molecular modeling between STAT3 and BBM suggested that BBM formed several key hydrophilic interactions with STAT3. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the combination of BBM and Gefi could be further developed as a potential PC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingren Hu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, People's Republic of China
| | - Huajie Cai
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, People's Republic of China
| | - Shouzhang Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinfu Tu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaming Huang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, People's Republic of China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, People's Republic of China
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Zhu H, Ruan S, Jia F, Chu J, Zhu Y, Huang Y, Liu G. In vitro and in vivo superior radiosensitizing effect of berbamine for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Onco Targets Ther 2018; 11:8117-8125. [PMID: 30532553 PMCID: PMC6241700 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s171212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Berbamine (BBM), one of the bis-benzylisoquinoline products isolated from Berberis amurensis, has been demonstrated for its anticancer effect against leukemia, breast cancer, liver cancer, etc. There are some studies focusing on the chemosensitization effect of BBM. However, there is no report about whether BBM could enhance the anticancer effect of radiation, which made us to explore the possible radiosensitization effect of BBM. Materials and methods Here, in vitro cytotoxicity of BBM was evaluated on two kinds of head and neck squamous cancer cell lines. Clonogenic assay was performed to study the radiosensitization effect of BBM. Western blot was utilized to elucidate the possible mechanism underlying the radiosensitization effect. Results BBM effectively inhibited the growth of two kinds of cancer cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Radiation plus BBM led to significantly more reduction of the colony-forming ability of cancer cells when compared with radiation alone. BBM plus radiation led to the most reduction of STAT3 phosphorylation, followed by the significant decrease of the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2. In vivo study demonstrated that the combinational administration of BBM and radiation generated the most significant tumor-delaying effect among all of the treatment regimens. Conclusion We reported, in the current study, the potential role of BBM in not only treating cancer by itself but also offering a promising way to improve the efficacy of radiotherapy by inhibiting the activation of STAT3 and subsequently inducing the apoptosis of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Zhu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Jiangsu Taizhou People's Hospital, Taizhou 225300, Jiangsu Province, China,
| | - Shu Ruan
- Department of Endocrinology, Yancheng Third Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Southeast University Medical College, Yancheng 224001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Feng Jia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yancheng City No 1 People's Hospital, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nantong Medical College, Yancheng 224005, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jiusheng Chu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Jiangsu Taizhou People's Hospital, Taizhou 225300, Jiangsu Province, China,
| | - Yong Zhu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Jiangsu Taizhou People's Hospital, Taizhou 225300, Jiangsu Province, China,
| | - Yongjiu Huang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Jiangsu Taizhou People's Hospital, Taizhou 225300, Jiangsu Province, China,
| | - Guan Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou 310022, Zhejiang Province, China,
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Cao Y, Cao J, Yu B, Wang S, Liu L, Tao L, Sun W. Berbamine induces SMMC-7721 cell apoptosis via upregulating p53, downregulating survivin expression and activating mitochondria signaling pathway. Exp Ther Med 2017; 15:1894-1901. [PMID: 29434780 PMCID: PMC5776608 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2017.5637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary malignancy in the liver, which is a global health problem. The present study aimed to observe the apoptotic effects of berbamine on SMMC-7721 cell lines and to investigate the effects of berbamine on induction of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. The human HCC SMMC-7721 cells were cultured and cell morphology observed using a phase contrast microscope. SMMC-7721 cell apoptosis was examined by employing a flow cytometry assay. The nuclei of SMMC-7721 cells were stained with DAPI and observed by utilizing a laser fluorescence microscope. Cytochrome c (Cyto c) levels were evaluated by using immunofluorescence staining. The reverse transcription-semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-sqPCR) and western blot analysis were used to examine the mRNA and protein levels of B-cell lymphoma 2, (Bcl-2), Bax, Bcl-2-associated X, apoptosis regulator, p53 and survivin, respectively. Berbamine inhibited SMMC-7721 cell growth at 20 and 0 µmol/l, compared with control group (0 µmol/l berbamine). DAPI results demonstrated that berbamine affected the nucleus morphology of SMMC-7721 cells. Berbamine at a concentration of 20 µmol/l (P<0.05) and 40 µmol/l (P<0.01) significantly enhanced apoptosis rate compared with control group. Berbamine triggered Cyto c release from SMMC-7721 cell nuclei to the cytoplasm. Berbamine (10, 20, 40 µmol/l) significantly enhanced Bax and p53 levels and decreased Bcl-2 and survivin levels compared with control group, according to RT-sqPCR and western blot assay findings. In conclusion, berbamine induced SMMC-7721 cell apoptosis, through upregulating p53 expression and downregulating survivin expression, which further triggered mitochondria signaling pathway-mediated apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Cao
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhangjiagang Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu 215600, P.R. China
| | - Jianbo Cao
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhangjiagang Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu 215600, P.R. China
| | - Binbin Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhangjiagang Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu 215600, P.R. China
| | - Shusheng Wang
- Department of Surgery, Zhangjiagang Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu 215600, P.R. China
| | - Lili Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhangjiagang Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu 215600, P.R. China
| | - Li Tao
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhangjiagang Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu 215600, P.R. China
| | - Wanping Sun
- Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, P.R. China
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Zhang H, Jiao Y, Shi C, Song X, Chang Y, Ren Y, Shi X. Berbamine suppresses cell viability and induces apoptosis in colorectal cancer via activating p53-dependent apoptotic signaling pathway. Cytotechnology 2017; 70:321-329. [PMID: 28965196 DOI: 10.1007/s10616-017-0146-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Berbamine has been shown to exhibit anti-cancer activities in various types of cancers. The effects of berbamine on colorectal colon cancer (CRC) have not been examined, and the present study aimed to investigate the anti-cancer effects of berbamine in CRC and explore its underlying molecular mechanisms. The effect of berbamine on the CRC cells was determined by MTT assay. Flow cytometry was performed to examine the effect of berbamine on cell apoptosis and cell cycle as well as mitochondrial membrane potential in CRC cell lines. The specific apoptosis-related factors were evaluated by western blot assay. In vivo anti-cancer effect of berbamine was assessed in SW480 xenografts. Berbamine suppressed the cell viability of CRC cells in concentration-dependent and time-dependent manners. Flow cytometry experiments showed that berbamine increased cell apoptotic rate and induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase. Berbamine treatment also decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential in CRC cells. Western blot assay showed that berbamine increased the protein levels of p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, Bax and poly ADP ribose polymerase, and decreased the protein levels of Bcl-2 in CRC cells. Berbamine failed to increase the cell apoptotic rate in p53 mutant CRC cell lines. Tumor growth by grafted SW480 cells were significantly suppressed in berbamine group. Expression of p53, caspase-3 and -9 in tumor tissues was significantly up-regulated by berbamine. Berbamine exerts anti-cancer effects in vitro and in vivo via induction of apoptosis, partially associated with the activation of p53-dependent apoptosis signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, the Northwest Women and Children's Hospital, Xi'an, 710065, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Yunping Jiao
- Department of Pharmacy, Shaanxi No. 2 People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Chunyang Shi
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Xiao Song
- Department of Pharmacy, the Northwest Women and Children's Hospital, Xi'an, 710065, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Ying Chang
- Department of Pharmacy, the Northwest Women and Children's Hospital, Xi'an, 710065, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Yong Ren
- Department of Pharmacy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Xiaolin Shi
- Department of Pharmacy, the Northwest Women and Children's Hospital, Xi'an, 710065, Shaanxi Province, China.
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Synergistic Antitumor Effects of Berbamine and Paclitaxel through ROS/Akt Pathway in Glioma Cells. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2017; 2017:8152526. [PMID: 28883885 PMCID: PMC5572090 DOI: 10.1155/2017/8152526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In our preliminary study, Berbamine (BA), one of the most commonly used traditional Chinese medicines, was effective in inducing the intracellular ROS levels. Since the regulation of cellular antioxidant capacity is crucial to the sensitivity of Ptx, it is feasible to propose that sensitizing cells to Ptx can be achieved through increasing the antioxidant capacity by codelivering BA. Cytotoxicity test demonstrates that either single or combinational treatment of BA and Ptx dose-dependently inhibits the proliferation of U-87 cells. Median-effect analysis clearly proves the synergistic anticancer effect between BA and Ptx. Combinational treatment of both drugs induced more intracellular ROS generation than either of the drugs did. Cotreatment of NAC could partially reverse the ROS generation and ameliorate the cytotoxicity induced by BA plus Ptx. Moreover, sequential activation of ROS-dependent phosphor-Akt expression was dose-dependently inhibited by the combinational application of BA and Ptx, which was more significantly effective than the single treatment of either BA or Ptx. Additionally, the coadministration of BA and Ptx shows the strongest tumor delaying effect in a U87 xenograft model, demonstrating the synergism between two drugs. Therefore, BA is a promising adjuvant to traditional chemotherapy, especially in combination with Ptx, to treat malignant glioma.
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Liang Y, He X, Li X, Zhang X, Zhang X, Zhang L, Qiu X, Zhao X, Xu R. 4-Chlorbenzoyl Berbamine, a Novel Derivative of the Natural Product Berbamine, Potently Inhibits the Growth of Human Myeloma Cells by Modulating the NF-κB and JNK Signalling Pathways. Cancer Invest 2016; 34:496-505. [PMID: 27768381 DOI: 10.1080/07357907.2016.1235709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable despite the development and the use of new agents. In our studies, we found that 4-chlorbenzoyl berbamine (BBMD9), a novel synthetic derivative of berbamine, inhibited the proliferation of MM cells in dose- and time-dependent manners. Flow cytometric (FCM) analysis revealed that MM cells were arrested in the G1 phase and that apoptotic cells increased in a time-dependent manner. Moreover, the BBMD9 treatment downregulated IKKα and IKKβ, inhibited p-IκBα, and blocked p65 nuclear localization. Consistently, NF-κB downstream targets, such as cyclinD1 and survivin, were also reduced. In addition, BBMD9 phosphorylated the activity of JNK and c-Jun.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Liang
- a Department of Hematology , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University of Medicine , Hangzhou , Zhejiang , China
| | - Xin He
- a Department of Hematology , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University of Medicine , Hangzhou , Zhejiang , China
| | - Xian Li
- a Department of Hematology , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University of Medicine , Hangzhou , Zhejiang , China
| | - Xuzhao Zhang
- a Department of Hematology , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University of Medicine , Hangzhou , Zhejiang , China
| | - Xiaohong Zhang
- a Department of Hematology , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University of Medicine , Hangzhou , Zhejiang , China
| | - Lei Zhang
- a Department of Hematology , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University of Medicine , Hangzhou , Zhejiang , China
| | - Xi Qiu
- a Department of Hematology , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University of Medicine , Hangzhou , Zhejiang , China
| | - Xiaoying Zhao
- a Department of Hematology , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University of Medicine , Hangzhou , Zhejiang , China
| | - Rongzhen Xu
- a Department of Hematology , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University of Medicine , Hangzhou , Zhejiang , China
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Chen RY, Xu B, Chen SF, Chen SS, Zhang T, Ren J, Xu J. Effect of oridonin-mediated hallmark changes on inflammatory pathways in human pancreatic cancer (BxPC-3) cells. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20:14895-14903. [PMID: 25356049 PMCID: PMC4209552 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i40.14895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2014] [Revised: 06/29/2014] [Accepted: 07/16/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the effect of oridonin on nuclear transcription factors and to study the relationship between biological behavior and inflammatory factors in human pancreatic cancer (BxPC-3) cells.
METHODS: BxPC-3 cells were treated with various concentrations of oridonin, and viability curves were generated to test for inhibitory effects of the drug on cells. The expression of cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, or IL-33 was detected in BxPC-3 cell supernatants using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the protein expression of nuclear transcription factors including nuclear factor κB, activating protein-1, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, bone morphogenetic protein 2, transforming growth factor β1 and sma and mad homologues in BxPC-3 cells was detected using Western blot. Carcinoma hallmark-related proteins such as survivin, vascular endothelial growth factor, and matrix metallopeptidase 2 were also detected using immunoblotting, and intra-nuclear IL-33 expression was detected using immunofluorescent staining.
RESULTS: Treatment with oridonin reduced the viability of BxPC-3 cells in a dose dependent manner. The cells exhibited reduced growth following treatment with 8 μg/mL oridonin (13.05% ± 3.21%, P < 0.01), and the highest inhibitory ratio was 90.64% ± 0.70%, which was achieved with oridonin at a dose of 32 μg/mL. The IC50 value of oridonin in BxPC-3 cells was 19.32 μg/mL. ELISA analysis revealed that oridonin down-regulated the inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-33 in a dose-dependent manner. IL-1β expression was significantly reduced in the 16 and 32 μg/mL treatment groups compared to the control group (12.97 ± 0.45 pg/mL, 11.17 ± 0.63 pg/mL vs 14.40 ± 0.38 pg/mL, P < 0.01). Similar trends were observed for IL-6 expression, which was significantly reduced in the 16 and 32 μg/mL treatment groups compared to the control group (4.05 ± 0.14 pg/mL vs 4.45 ± 0.43 pg/mL, P < 0.05; 3.95 ± 0.13 pg/mL vs 4.45 ± 0.43 pg/mL, P < 0.01). IL-33 expression was significantly reduced in the 8, 16, and 32 μg/mL treatment groups compared to the control group (911.05 ± 14.18 pg/mL vs 945.25 ± 12.09 pg/mL, P < 0.05; 802.70 ± 11.88 pg/mL, 768.54 ± 10.98 pg/mL vs 945.25 ± 12.09 pg/mL, P < 0.01). Western blot and immunofluorescent staining analyses suggested that oridonin changed the hallmarks and regulated the expression of various nuclear transcription factors.
CONCLUSION: The results obtained suggest that oridonin alters the hallmarks of pancreatic cancer cells through the regulation of nuclear transcription factors.
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