Licochalcone A induces apoptotic cell death via JNK/p38 activation in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

Licochalcone A: a review of its pharmacology activities and molecular mechanisms

Licorice, derived from the root of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, is a key Traditional Chinese Medicine known for its detoxifying, spleen-nourishing, and qi-replenishing properties. Licochalcone A (Lico A), a significant component of licorice, has garnered interest due to its molecular versatility and receptor-binding affinity. This review explores the specific roles of Lico A in various diseases, providing new insights into its characteristics and guiding the rational use of licorice. Comprehensive literature searches using terms such as "licorice application" and "pharmacological activity of Lico A" were conducted across databases including CNKI, PubMed, and Google Scholar to gather relevant studies on Lico A's pharmacological activities and mechanisms. Lico A, a representative chalcone in licorice, targets specific mechanisms in anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities. It also plays a role in post-transcriptional regulation. This review delineates the similarities and differences in the anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of Lico A, concluding that its effects on non-coding RNA through post-transcriptional mechanisms deserve further exploration.

Licochalcone A induces mitochondria-dependent apoptosis and interacts with venetoclax in acute myeloid leukemia

The management of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains a challenge because of the complexity and heterogeneity of this malignancy. Despite the recent approval of several novel targeted drugs, resistance seems inevitable, and clinical outcomes are still suboptimal. Increasing evidence supports the use of natural plants as an important source of anti-leukemic therapeutics. Licochalcone A (LCA) is an active flavonoid isolated from the roots of licorice, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., possessing extensive anti-tumor activities. However, its effects on AML and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we showed that LCA decreased the viability of established human AML cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner. LCA significantly induced mitochondrial apoptotic cell death, accompanied by the downregulation of MCL-1, upregulation of BIM, truncation of BID, and cleavage of PARP. A prominent decline in the phosphorylation of multiple critical molecules, including AKT, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β), ERK, and P38 was observed upon LCA treatment, indicating PI3K and MAPK signals were suppressed. Both transcription and translation of c-Myc were also inhibited by LCA. In addition, LCA enhanced the cytotoxicity of the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax. Furthermore, the anti-survival and pro-apoptotic effects were confirmed in primary blasts from 10 patients with de novo AML. Thus, our results expand the applications of LCA, which can be regarded as a valuable agent in treating AML.

Investigating the prognostic role of lncRNAs associated with disulfidptosis-related genes in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a grave malignancy that poses a significant global health burden with over 400,000 new cases annually. Disulfidptosis, a newly discovered programmed cell death process, is linked to the actin cytoskeleton, which plays a vital role in maintaining cell shape and survival. The role of disulfidptosis is poorly depicted in the clear cell histologic variant of RCC (ccRCC).

METHODS

Three sets of ccRCC cohorts, ICGC_RECA-EU (n = 91), GSE76207 (n = 32) and TCGA-KIRC (n = 607), were included in our study, the batch effect of which was removed using the "combat" function. Correlation was calculated using the "rcorr" function of the "Hmisc" package for Pearson analysis, which was visualized using the "pheatmap" package. Principal component analysis was performed by the "vegan" package, visualized using the "scatterplot3d" package. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) associated with disulfidptosis were screened out using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and COX analysis. Tumor mutation, immune landscaping and immunotherapy prediction were performed for further characterization of two risk groups.

RESULTS

A total of 1822 disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs was selected, among which 308 lncRNAs were found to be significantly associated with the clinical outcome of ccRCC patients. We retained 11 disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs, namely, AP000439.3, RP11-417E7.1, RP11-119D9.1, LINC01510, SNHG3, AC156455.1, RP11-291B21.2, EMX2OS, AC093850.2, HAGLR and RP11-389C8.2, through LASSO and COX analysis for prognosis model construction, which displayed satisfactory accuracy (area under the curve, AUC, values all above 0.6 in multiple cohorts) in stratification of ccRCC prognosis. A nomogram model was constructed by integrating clinical factors with risk score, which further enhanced the prediction efficacy (AUC values all above 0.7 in multiple cohorts). We found that patients of male gender, higher clinical stages and advanced pathological T stage were inclined to have higher risk score values. Dactinomycin_1911, Vinblastine_1004, Daporinad_1248 and Vinorelbine_2048 were identified as promising candidate drugs for treating ccRCC patients of higher risk score value. Moreover, patients of higher risk value were prone to be resistant to immunotherapy.

CONCLUSION

We developed a prognosis predicting model based on 11 selected disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs, the efficacy of which was verified in different cohorts. Furthermore, we delineated an intricate portrait of tumor mutation, immune topography and pharmacosensitivity evaluations within disparate risk stratifications.

Natural and Synthetic Chalcones: Potential Impact on Breast Cancer

Chalcones are small molecules, naturally found in fruits and vegetables, and exhibit diverse pharmacological activities. They also possess anticancer activity against different tumors. They can be converted into numerous derivatives by modifying hydrogen moieties, enabling the exploration of their diverse anticancer potentials. The main aims are to provide valuable insights into the recent progress made in utilizing chalcones and their derivatives as agents against breast cancer while delivering their underlying molecular mechanisms of action. This review presents anticancer molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways modulated by chalcones. Furthermore, it helps in the understating of the precise mechanisms of action and specific molecular targets of chalcones and their synthetic derivatives for breast cancer treatment.

Role of Licochalcone A in Potential Pharmacological Therapy: A Review

Licochalcone A (LA), a useful and valuable flavonoid, is isolated from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. ex DC. and widely used clinically in traditional Chinese medicine. We systematically updated the latest information on the pharmacology of LA over the past decade from several authoritative internet databases, including Web of Science, Elsevier, Europe PMC, Wiley Online Library, and PubMed. A combination of keywords containing “Licochalcone A,” “Flavonoid,” and “Pharmacological Therapy” was used to help ensure a comprehensive review. Collected information demonstrates a wide range of pharmacological properties for LA, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-parasitic, bone protection, blood glucose and lipid regulation, neuroprotection, and skin protection. LA activity is mediated through several signaling pathways, such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR, P53, NF-κB, and P38. Caspase-3 apoptosis, MAPK inflammatory, and Nrf2 oxidative stress signaling pathways are also involved with multiple therapeutic targets, such as TNF-α, VEGF, Fas, FasL, PI3K, AKT, and caspases. Recent studies mainly focus on the anticancer properties of LA, which suggests that the pharmacology of other aspects of LA will need additional study. At the end of this review, current challenges and future research directions on LA are discussed. This review is divided into three parts based on the pharmacological effects of LA for the convenience of readers. We anticipate that this review will inspire further research.

Prolonged treatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG-132 induces apoptosis in PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells

Rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells were treated with the proteasome inhibitor MG-132 and morphological changes were recorded. Initially, neuronal differentiation was induced but after 24 h signs of morphological deterioration became apparent. We performed nuclear staining, flow cytometry and WST-1 assay then analyzed signal transduction pathways involving Akt, p38 MAPK (Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase), JNK (c-Jun N-terminal Kinase), c-Jun and caspase-3. Stress signaling via p38, JNK and c-Jun was active even after 24 h of MG-132 treatment, while the survival-mediating Akt phosphorylation declined and the executor of apoptosis (caspase-3) was activated by that time and apoptosis was also observable. We examined subcellular localization of stress signaling components, applied kinase inhibitors and dominant negative H-Ras mutant-expressing PC12 cells in order to decipher connections of stress-mediating pathways. Our results are suggestive of that treatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG-132 has a biphasic nature in PC12 cells. Initially, it induces neuronal differentiation but prolonged treatments lead to apoptosis.

Licochalcone A inhibits cell growth through the downregulation of the Hippo pathway via PES1 in cholangiocarcinoma cells

Overexpression or activation of Yes-associated protein (YAP) is common in cancer cells. Thus, targeting YAP may be a strategy for cancer therapy. Licochalcone A (LicA) is a primary active compound of licorice root and is known to have medicinal effects, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, and anticancer effects. However, the anticancer pharmacological mechanism of LicA has not been investigated in cholangiocarcinoma. In this study, we investigated the antiproliferative effect of LicA and the underlying molecular mechanism in HCCC-9810 and RBE human cholangiocarcinoma cells. Our experiments indicated that LicA suppressed the growth of cholangiocarcinoma cells through inactivation of the Hippo pathway. Pescadillo ribosomal biogenesis factor 1 (PES1) was notably upregulated and related to carcinogenesis. We also found that LicA suppressed the expression and nuclear localization of PES1, which was associated with the inhibition of YAP expression and transcriptional activity.

Functional Roles of JNK and p38 MAPK Signaling in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family members integrate signals that affect proliferation, differentiation, survival, and migration in a cell context- and cell type-specific way. JNK and p38 MAPK activities are found upregulated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Studies have shown that activation of JNK and p38 MAPK signaling can promote NPC oncogenesis by mechanisms within the cancer cells and interactions with the tumor microenvironment. They regulate multiple transcription activities and contribute to tumor-promoting processes, ranging from cell proliferation to apoptosis, inflammation, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Current literature suggests that JNK and p38 MAPK activation may exert pro-tumorigenic functions in NPC, though the underlying mechanisms are not well documented and have yet to be fully explored. Here, we aim to provide a narrative review of JNK and p38 MAPK pathways in human cancers with a primary focus on NPC. We also discuss the potential therapeutic agents that could be used to target JNK and p38 MAPK signaling in NPC, along with perspectives for future works. We aim to inspire future studies further delineating JNK and p38 MAPK signaling in NPC oncogenesis which might offer important insights for better strategies in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment decision-making in NPC patients.

Anticancer Activity of Natural and Synthetic Chalcones

Cancer is a condition caused by many mechanisms (genetic, immune, oxidation, and inflammatory). Anticancer therapy aims to destroy or stop the growth of cancer cells. Resistance to treatment is theleading cause of the inefficiency of current standard therapies. Targeted therapies are the most effective due to the low number of side effects and low resistance. Among the small molecule natural compounds, flavonoids are of particular interest for theidentification of new anticancer agents. Chalcones are precursors to all flavonoids and have many biological activities. The anticancer activity of chalcones is due to the ability of these compounds to act on many targets. Natural chalcones, such as licochalcones, xanthohumol (XN), panduretin (PA), and loncocarpine, have been extensively studied and modulated. Modification of the basic structure of chalcones in order to obtain compounds with superior cytotoxic properties has been performed by modulating the aromatic residues, replacing aromatic residues with heterocycles, and obtaining hybrid molecules. A huge number of chalcone derivatives with residues such as diaryl ether, sulfonamide, and amine have been obtained, their presence being favorable for anticancer activity. Modification of the amino group in the structure of aminochalconesis always favorable for antitumor activity. This is why hybrid molecules of chalcones with different nitrogen hetercycles in the molecule have been obtained. From these, azoles (imidazole, oxazoles, tetrazoles, thiazoles, 1,2,3-triazoles, and 1,2,4-triazoles) are of particular importance for the identification of new anticancer agents.

ERK Activation-Mediated Autophagy Induction Resists Licochalcone A-Induced Anticancer Activities in Lung Cancer Cells in vitro

Introduction

The incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer rank top in the different types of cancers in China. Licochalcone A (LA) is a flavonoid extracted from the roots of licorice with antitumor effects in various cancers in vitro and in vivo. However, the role of LA in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains largely unclear.

Methods

The cell viability was measured by MTT assay, Edu staining and colony formation assay. Apoptosis was investigated using Annexin V/PI double-stained assays with flow cytometry. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR was carried out to investigate the expression of mRNA of related proteins. Western blotting was used to investigate the expression of related proteins.

Results

The results show that LA inhibits the proliferation of NSCLC cells in a dose-dependent manner and induces apoptotic cell death. Moreover, LA significantly suppresses the expression of c-IAP1, c-IAP2, XIAP, Survivin, c-FLIP_L and RIP1 without influencing the level of mRNA. Cycloheximide chase assay demonstrates that LA greatly decreases the stability of Survivin, XIAP and RIP1. Mechanistic studies indicate that LA induces cytoprotective autophagy since block of autophagy with CQ greatly enhances LA-induced anticancer activities. Furthermore, LA rapidly induces ERK and p38 activation in a time-dependent manner in both A549 and H460 cells, but suppresses the activities of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK); suppression of ERK not p38 with inhibitor attenuates LA-induced autophagy, while it remarkably enhances LA-induced cytotoxicity in lung cancer cells and further promotes the degradation of apoptosis-related proteins.

Discussion

The results of this study provide novel insights on the role of apoptosis-related proteins and the MAPKs pathway in the anticancer activities of LA.

Gossypol Reduces Metastasis and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition by Targeting Protease in Human Cervical Cancer

Metastasis is the most prevalent cause of cancer-associated deaths amongst patients with cervical cancer. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is essential for carcinogenesis, and it confers metastatic properties to cancer cells. Gossypol is a natural polyphenolic compound with anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant, and anticancer activities. In this study, we investigated the antimetastatic and antitumour effects of gossypol on human cervical cancer cells (HeLa and SiHa cells). Gossypol exerted a strong inhibition effect on the migration and invasion of human cervical cancer cells. It reduced the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) pathway-mediated expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and urokinase-type plasminogen activator, subsequently inhibiting the invasion of SiHa cells. In addition, gossypol reversed EMT induced by transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-[Formula: see text]1) and up-regulated epithelial markers, such as E-cadherin but significantly suppressed Ras homolog family member (Rho)A, RhoB, and p-Samd3. The tail vein injection model showed that gossypol treatment via oral gavage reduced lung metastasis. Gossypol also decreased tumour growth in vivo in the nude mouse xenograft model. All these findings suggest that gossypol suppressed the invasion and migration of human cervical cancer cells by targeting the FAK signaling pathway and reversing TGF-[Formula: see text]1-induced EMT. Hence, gossypol warrants further attention for basic mechanistic studies and drug development.

Licochalcone a Induces ROS-Mediated Apoptosis through TrxR1 Inactivation in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Licochalcone A (LCA) exhibited anticancer activity through modulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in some cancer cells and has been evidenced to suppress colorectal cancer (CRC) formation and progression. However, whether LCA mediates the progression of CRC by regulating ROS production remains unclear. To address this, HCT-116 cells were treated with LCA, resulting in G0/G1 phase arrest, apoptosis, and high ROS generation, which were attenuated by N-acetyl-L-cysteine, a ROS inhibitor. In addition, LCA suppressed the expression of thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) in HCT-116 cells, leading to high ROS levels and apoptosis. Moreover, LCA administration combined with TrxR1 inhibition further enhanced the production of ROS and apoptosis in HCT-116 cells compared to LCA administration or TrxR1 inhibition alone. These results demonstrated that LCA might enhance the production of ROS by targeting TrxR1, leading to apoptosis in HCT-116 cells, which provides potential insight for the interventional treatment of CRC.

Cantharidic acid induces apoptosis in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells through p38-mediated upregulation of caspase activation

Cantharidic acid (CA) is the hydrolysis product of the acid anhydride cantharidin, which is a natural toxin secreted by several species of blister beetles. Several studies have indicated that as an inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2 (PP2A), CA induces apoptosis in various human cancer cells. However, the effect of CA on human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells and the underlying pathways have not been addressed. In our current study, we tested the hypothesis that CA treatment reduces the viability of human NPC cells (HONE-1, NPC-39, and NPC-BM) by inducing apoptosis. Results indicated that CA markedly reduced cell viability, which was revealed by the upregulation of caspase activation in extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways as well as the upregulation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1/2 (JNK1/2) pathways. Coadministration of a p38 inhibitor (SB203580) with CA abolished the activation of caspase proteins. These findings indicated that CA treatment leads to apoptosis in human NPC cells through the upregulation of caspase activation, mediated particularly by the p38 pathway. Hence, CA is a promising therapeutic agent for human NPC.

Licochalcone A-Induced Apoptosis Through the Activation of p38MAPK Pathway Mediated Mitochondrial Pathways of Apoptosis in Human Osteosarcoma Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

BACKGROUND

Licochalcone A (LicA) is isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra and possesses antitumor and anti-invasive activities against several tumor cells. However, the antitumor effects of LicA on human osteosarcoma cells have yet to be demonstrated either in vitro or in vivo.

METHODS

Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction were detected with Annexin V/PI staining and JC-1 staining by flow cytometry. The expressions of caspase- or mitochondrial-related proteins were demonstrated by western blotting. Antitumor effect of LicA on 143B xenograft mice in vivo.

RESULTS

LicA could inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in human osteosarcoma cells, as evidenced by a decrease in cell viability, loss of mitochondrial membrane potentials, and activation of caspases. LicA treatment substantially reduced the expression of Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 and increased the expression of cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-9, cleaved-PARP, and Bax in HOS and U2OS cells. Moreover, mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis suppression mediated by Z-VAD or tauroursodeoxycholic acid significantly reduced LicA-induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. The study also determined that LicA treatment induced p38MAPK phosphorylation, but siRNA-p38 or BIRB796 substantially reversed cell viability through the inhibition of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis pathways. Finally, an in vivo study revealed that LicA significantly inhibited 143B xenograft tumor growth.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrate that LicA has antitumor activities against human osteosarcoma cells through p38MAPK regulation of mitochondria-mediated intrinsic apoptotic pathways in vitro and in vivo.

Anti-Proliferative and Pro-Apoptotic Effects of Licochalcone A through ROS-Mediated Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Human Bladder Cancer Cells

Licochalcone A (LCA) is a chalcone that is predominantly found in the root of Glycyrrhiza species, which is widely used as an herbal medicine. Although previous studies have reported that LCA has a wide range of pharmacological effects, evidence for the underlying molecular mechanism of its anti-cancer efficacy is still lacking. In this study, we investigated the anti-proliferative effect of LCA on human bladder cancer cells, and found that LCA induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and apoptotic cell death. Our data showed that LCA inhibited the expression of cyclin A, cyclin B1, and Wee1, but increased the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p21WAF1/CIP1, and increased p21 was bound to Cdc2 and Cdk2. LCA activated caspase-8 and -9, which are involved in the initiation of extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways, respectively, and also increased caspase-3 activity, a typical effect caspase, subsequently leading to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Additionally, LCA increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and reduced the integrity of mitochondria, which contributed to the discharge of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm. Moreover, LCA enhanced the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS); however, the interruption of ROS generation using ROS scavenger led to escape from LCA-mediated G2/M arrest and apoptosis. Collectively, the present data indicate that LCA can inhibit the proliferation of human bladder cancer cells by inducing ROS-dependent G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis.

Licochalcone A Suppresses the Proliferation of Osteosarcoma Cells through Autophagy and ATM-Chk2 Activation

Licochalcone A, a flavonoid extracted from licorice root, has been shown to exhibit broad anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anticancer, and antioxidative bioactivity. In this study, we investigated the antitumor activity of Licochalcone A against human osteosarcoma cell lines. The data showed that Licochalcone A significantly suppressed cell viability in MTT assay and colony formation assay in osteosarcoma cell lines. Exposure to Licochalcone A blocked cell cycle progression at the G2/M transition and induced extrinsic apoptotic pathway in osteosarcoma cell lines. Furthermore, we found the Licochalcone A exposure resulted in rapid ATM and Chk2 activation, and high levels of nuclear foci of phosphorylated Chk2 at Thr 68 site in osteosarcoma cell lines. In addition, Licochalcone A exposure significantly induced autophagy in osteosarcoma cell lines. When Licochalcone A-induced autophagy was blocked by the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine, the expression of activated caspase-3 and Annexin V positive cells were reduced, and cell viability was rescued in Licochalcone A-treated osteosarcoma cell lines. These data indicate that the activation of ATM-Chk2 checkpoint pathway and autophagy may contribute to Licochalcone A-induced anti-proliferating effect in osteosarcoma cell lines. Our findings display the possibility that Licochalcone A may serve as a potential therapeutic agent against osteosarcoma.