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Long F, Wang P, Ma Y, Zhang X, Wang T. Chemopreventive effects of atractylenolide-III on mammary tumorigenesis via activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway through autophagic degradation of Keap1. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 176:116852. [PMID: 38834007 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116852] [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: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The incidence of breast cancer is increasing annually, making it a major health threat for women. Chemoprevention using natural, dietary, or synthetic products has emerged as a promising approach to address this growing burden. Atractylenolide-III (AT-III), a sesquiterpenoid present in various medicinal herbs, has demonstrated potential therapeutic effects against several diseases, including tumors, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and cerebral ischemic injury. However, its impact on breast cancer chemoprevention remains unexplored. In this study, we used an N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (NMU)-induced rat breast cancer model and 17β-estradiol (E2)-treated MCF-10A cells to evaluate the chemopreventive potential of AT-III on mammary tumorigenesis. AT-III inhibited mammary tumor progression, evidenced by reduced tumor volume and multiplicity, prolonged tumor latency, and the reversal of NMU-induced weight loss. Furthermore, AT-III suppressed NMU-induced inflammation and oxidative stress through the Nrf2/ARE pathway in breast cancer tissues. In vitro, AT-III effectively suppressed E2-induced anchorage-independent growth and cell migration in MCF-10A cells. Nrf2 knockdown attenuated the protective effects of AT-III, highlighting the pivotal role of Nrf2 in AT-III-mediated suppression of tumorigenesis. The mechanism involves the induction of Nrf2 expression by AT-III through the autophagic degradation of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1). Overall, the results of this study indicate that AT-III is a promising candidate for breast cancer chemoprevention and provide valuable insights into its molecular interactions and signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangyi Long
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Affiliated Women's and Children's Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610032, China
| | - Pinghan Wang
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Affiliated Women's and Children's Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu 610032, China
| | - Yu Ma
- Department of Clinical Research, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610042, China
| | - Xudong Zhang
- Department of Clinical Research, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610042, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Clinical Research, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610042, China.
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Madej M, Gola J, Chrobak E. Synthesis, Pharmacological Properties, and Potential Molecular Mechanisms of Antitumor Activity of Betulin and Its Derivatives in Gastrointestinal Cancers. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2768. [PMID: 38140110 PMCID: PMC10748330 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15122768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are an increasingly common type of malignancy, caused by the unhealthy lifestyles of people worldwide. Limited methods of treatment have prompted the search for new compounds with antitumor activity, in which betulin (BE) is leading the way. BE as a compound is classified as a pentacyclic triterpene of the lupane type, having three highly reactive moieties in its structure. Its mechanism of action is based on the inhibition of key components of signaling pathways associated with proliferation, migration, interleukins, and others. BE also has a number of biological properties, i.e., anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, as well as antitumor. Due to its poor bioavailability, betulin is subjected to chemical modifications, obtaining derivatives with proven enhanced pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties as a result. The method of synthesis and substituents significantly influence the effect on cells and GI cancers. Moreover, the cytotoxic effect is highly dependent on the derivative as well as the individual cell line. The aim of this study is to review the methods of synthesis of BE and its derivatives, as well as its pharmacological properties and molecular mechanisms of action in colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric cancer, and esophageal cancer neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Madej
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, Poland;
- Silesia LabMed, Centre for Research and Implementation, Medical University of Silesia, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
| | - Joanna Gola
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, Poland;
| | - Elwira Chrobak
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, Poland;
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Adepoju FO, Duru KC, Li E, Kovaleva EG, Tsurkan MV. Pharmacological Potential of Betulin as a Multitarget Compound. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1105. [PMID: 37509141 PMCID: PMC10377123 DOI: 10.3390/biom13071105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Betulin is a natural triterpene, usually from birch bark, known for its potential wound-healing properties. Despite having a wide range of pharmacological targets, no studies have proposed betulin as a multitarget compound. Betulin has protective effects against cardiovascular and liver diseases, cancer, diabetes, oxidative stress, and inflammation. It reduces postprandial hyperglycemia by inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity, combats tumor cells by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting metastatic proteins, and modulates chronic inflammation by blocking the expression of proinflammatory cytokines via modulation of the NFκB and MAPKs pathways. Given its potential to influence diverse biological networks with high target specificity, it can be hypothesized that betulin may eventually become a new lead for drug development because it can modify a variety of pharmacological targets. The summarized research revealed that the diverse beneficial effects of betulin in various diseases can be attributed, at least in part, to its multitarget anti-inflammatory activity. This review focuses on the natural sources, pharmacokinetics, pharmacological activity of betulin, and the multi-target effects of betulin on signaling pathways such as MAPK, NF-κB, and Nrf2, which are important regulators of the response to oxidative stress and inflammation in the body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feyisayo O Adepoju
- Department of Technology for Organic Synthesis, Chemical Technology Institute, Ural Federal University, Mira 19, 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Kingsley C Duru
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8021, USA
| | - Erguang Li
- Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 22 Hankou Road, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Elena G Kovaleva
- Department of Technology for Organic Synthesis, Chemical Technology Institute, Ural Federal University, Mira 19, 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
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Silva J, Faustino-Rocha AI, Duarte JA, Oliveira PA. Realistic aspects behind the application of the rat model of chemically-induced mammary cancer: Practical guidelines to obtain the best results. Vet World 2023; 16:1222-1230. [PMID: 37577198 PMCID: PMC10421542 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.1222-1230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the most important public health problems worldwide. Despite the great contribution of in-vitro studies for biomedical research, animals are essential to study diseases' biopathology and diagnosis, and searching for new preventive and therapeutic strategies. Breast cancer is currently the most common cancer globally, accounting for 12.5% of all new annual cancer cases worldwide. Although the rat model of mammary cancer chemically-induced is widely used to study this disease, there is a lack of standardization in procedures for cancer induction, sample collection, and analysis. Therefore, it is important to provide a practical guide for researchers aiming to work with this model to make the analysis of results more uniform. Thus, in this review, we provide the researchers with a detailed step-by-step guide to implement a rat model of mammary cancer, based on our wide experience in this field, to obtain the best results, maximum throughput of each experiment, and easy comparison among researches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Silva
- Center for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Vila Real, Portugal
- Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-food Production (Inov4Agro), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Ana I. Faustino-Rocha
- Center for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Vila Real, Portugal
- Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-food Production (Inov4Agro), Vila Real, Portugal
- Department of Zootechnics, School of Sciences and Technology, University of Évora, Portugal
- Comprehensive Health Research Center, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal
| | - José Alberto Duarte
- Research Center for Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Toxicology Research Unit (TOXRUN), Advanced Polytechnic and University Cooperative (CESPU), Gandra, Portugal
| | - Paula A. Oliveira
- Center for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Vila Real, Portugal
- Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-food Production (Inov4Agro), Vila Real, Portugal
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
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Mi P, Li N, Ai K, Li L, Yuan D. AhR-mediated lipid peroxidation contributes to TCDD-induced cardiac defects in zebrafish. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 317:137942. [PMID: 36702031 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), a persistent environmental contaminant that activates the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway, has been reported to cause cardiac damage. However, the mechanism underlying AhR-induced cardiac defects in response to TCDD exposure remains unclear. In this study, we characterized the impacts of TCDD exposure on heart morphology and cardiac function in zebrafish. TCDD exposure in the early developmental stage of zebrafish embryos led to morphological heart malformation and pericardial edema, concomitant with reduced cardiac function. These cardiac defects were attenuated by inhibiting AhR activity with CH223191. Transcriptome profiling showed that, along with an upregulation of the AhR signaling pathway by TCDD treatment, the expression of pro-ferroptotic genes was upregulated, while that of genes implicated in glutathione metabolism were downregulated. Moreover, lipid peroxidation, as indicated by malonaldehyde (MDA) production, was increased in TCDD-exposed cardiac tissue. Accordingly, inhibiting lipid peroxidation with liproxstatin-1 reversed the adverse cardiac effects induced by TCDD treatment. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that AhR-mediated lipid peroxidation contributes to cardiac defects in the early developmental stage in zebrafish embryos exposed to TCDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Mi
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China; Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Na Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China; Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Kang Ai
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China; Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China; Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.
| | - Detian Yuan
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.
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Tuli HS, Sak K, Gupta DS, Kaur G, Aggarwal D, Chaturvedi Parashar N, Choudhary R, Yerer MB, Kaur J, Kumar M, Garg VK, Sethi G. Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Properties of Birch Bark-Derived Betulin: Recent Developments. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:plants10122663. [PMID: 34961132 PMCID: PMC8705846 DOI: 10.3390/plants10122663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Birch tree bark-derived betulin has attracted scientific interest already for several centuries, being one of the first natural products identified from plants. However, the cellular events regulated by betulin and precise molecular mechanisms under these processes have been begun to be understood only recently. Today, we know that betulin can exert important anticancer activities through modulation of diverse cellular pathways. In this review article, betulin-regulated molecular signaling is unraveled and presented with a special focus on its participation in anti-inflammatory processes, especially by modulating nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), prostaglandin/COX, and nuclear factor erythroid2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-mediated cascades. By regulating these diverse pathways, betulin can not only affect the development and progression of different cancers, but also enhance the antitumor action of traditional therapeutic modalities. It is expected that by overcoming the low bioavailability of betulin by encapsulating it into nanocarriers, this promising natural compound may provide novel possibilities for targeting inflammation-related cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hardeep Singh Tuli
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala 133207, Haryana, India; (D.A.); (N.C.P.); (R.C.)
- Correspondence: (H.S.T.); (G.S.)
| | | | - Dhruv Sanjay Gupta
- Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy and Technology Management, SVKM’s NMIMS, Mumbai 40056, Maharashtra, India; (D.S.G.); (G.K.)
| | - Ginpreet Kaur
- Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy and Technology Management, SVKM’s NMIMS, Mumbai 40056, Maharashtra, India; (D.S.G.); (G.K.)
| | - Diwakar Aggarwal
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala 133207, Haryana, India; (D.A.); (N.C.P.); (R.C.)
| | - Nidarshana Chaturvedi Parashar
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala 133207, Haryana, India; (D.A.); (N.C.P.); (R.C.)
| | - Renuka Choudhary
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala 133207, Haryana, India; (D.A.); (N.C.P.); (R.C.)
| | - Mukerrem Betul Yerer
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38039, Turkey;
| | - Jagjit Kaur
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Nanoscale Biophotonics (CNBP), Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia;
| | - Manoj Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Sadopur 134007, Haryana, India;
| | - Vivek Kumar Garg
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, University Institute of Applied Health Sciences, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali 140413, Punjab, India;
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117600, Singapore
- Correspondence: (H.S.T.); (G.S.)
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Cancer Chemopreventive Role of Dietary Terpenoids by Modulating Keap1-Nrf2-ARE Signaling System—A Comprehensive Update. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app112210806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
ROS, RNS, and carcinogenic metabolites generate excessive oxidative stress, which changes the basal cellular status and leads to epigenetic modification, genomic instability, and initiation of cancer. Epigenetic modification may inhibit tumor-suppressor genes and activate oncogenes, enabling cells to have cancer promoting properties. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that in humans is encoded by the NFE2L2 gene, and is activated in response to cellular stress. It can regulate redox homoeostasis by expressing several cytoprotective enzymes, including NADPH quinine oxidoreductase, heme oxygenase-1, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, etc. There is accumulating evidence supporting the idea that dietary nutraceuticals derived from commonly used fruits, vegetables, and spices have the ability to produce cancer chemopreventive activity by inducing Nrf2-mediated detoxifying enzymes. In this review, we discuss the importance of these nutraceuticals in cancer chemoprevention and summarize the role of dietary terpenoids in this respect. This approach was taken to accumulate the mechanistic function of these terpenoids to develop a comprehensive understanding of their direct and indirect roles in modulating the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signaling system.
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Ursolic Acid and Related Analogues: Triterpenoids with Broad Health Benefits. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10081161. [PMID: 34439409 PMCID: PMC8388988 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10081161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ursolic acid (UA) is a well-studied natural pentacyclic triterpenoid found in herbs, fruit and a number of traditional Chinese medicinal plants. UA has a broad range of biological activities and numerous potential health benefits. In this review, we summarize the current data on the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of UA and review the literature on the biological activities of UA and its closest analogues in the context of inflammation, metabolic diseases, including liver and kidney diseases, obesity and diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and neurological disorders. We end with a brief overview of UA’s main analogues with a special focus on a newly discovered naturally occurring analogue with intriguing biological properties and potential health benefits, 23-hydroxy ursolic acid.
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