Dracorhodin perchlorate inhibits PI3K/Akt and NF-κB activation, up-regulates the expression of p53, and enhances apoptosis

Fighting eimeriosis by using the anti-eimerial and anti-apoptotic properties of rhatany root extract

Background

Over the last decade, extensive use of coccidiostats to treat and control Eimeria infection has developed drug resistance, prompting the search for new alternative therapies. Rhatany is proven to have various pharmacological properties.

Objective

The present study aimed to in vitro and in vivo evaluate the effect of Rhatany roots extract (RRE) as an anti-eimerial and anti-apoptotic agent against murine eimeriosis induced by Eimeria papillata.

Methods

Phytochemical screening by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS) was used to detect active compounds in RRE. In vitro anti-eimerial activity of RRE (200, 100, 50 mg/ml), amprolium, phenol, Dettol™, and formalin were studied after incubation with non-sporulated Eimeria oocysts. For the in vivo study, twenty-five male C57BL/6 mice were randomly allocated into five groups. Animals in the first group were just given distilled H2O, while those in the second group were given 200 mg/kg RRE for 5 days. The Eimeria parasite's oocysts were infected into the third, fourth, and fifth groups. For treatment, RRE (200 mg/kg) and amprolium (120 mg/kg) were orally given to the 4th and 5th groups for five days, respectively. All mice were euthanized, on day 5 post-infection, to collect the jejunal tissues under study. Investigations were undertaken into the oocyst output in feces and goblet cells in mice jejuna. Assays for glutathione peroxidase (GPx), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were also performed. In jejunal tissue, cysteine aspartic acid protease-3 (Caspase-3) was counted using immunohistochemistry, while BCL2-associated X protein (Bax) and B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) were assayed using ELISA. In addition, mRNA expression of the goblet cell response gene (MUC2) was detected using real-time PCR.

Results

Phytochemical screening by GC-MS demonstrated the presence of 22 compounds in the RRE. The in vitro study revealed that RRE significantly inhabited the oocyst sporulation in a dose-dependent manner. By day 5 after infection with the Eimeria parasite, the number of oocysts in mice feces was significantly reduced after RRE treatment (1.308 × 106 ± 1.36 × 105 oocysts/g feces) compared to the infected group (5.387 × 106 ± 4.29 × 105 oocysts/g feces). Moreover, the Eimeria infection reduced the number of goblet cells of mice jejuna and its specific gene, MUC2. The treatment with RRE increased the number of goblet cells/villus from 3.45 ± 0.17 to 6.04 ± 0.23, associated with upregulation for MUC2 from 0.26 to 2.39-fold. Also, the Eimeria experimental infection lowered the activity of the antioxidant enzyme represented by GPx (23.99 ± 3.68 mg/g tissue), while increasing the stress parameters of hydrogen peroxide (0.07 ± 0.01 mM/g) as well as the activity of MPO (66.30 ± 3.74 U/mg). The production of apoptotic markers including Caspase-3 (68.89 ± 2.67 U/g) and Bax (159.05 ± 6.50 pg/ml) was significantly elevated while decreasing the anti-apoptotic marker of BCL2 (0.42 ± 0.07 pg/ml). Our study proved that RRE significantly reduced oxidative stress, and apoptotic markers as well as the inflammatory activity of MPO. Also, antioxidant enzyme and anti-apoptotic activity in the jejunum of E. papillata-infected mice were enhanced after RRE treatment.

Conclusion

Our study highlights the potential of RRE as a natural solution for coccidiosis management by modulating apoptosis in E. papillata host cells. However, further research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms and enhance our understanding of its therapeutic efficacy.

Metabolic Reprogramming and Potential Therapeutic Targets in Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a heterogeneous group of diseases that often require their metabolism program to fulfill the demand of cell proliferation. Features of metabolism in lymphoma cells include high glucose uptake, deregulated expression of enzymes related to glycolysis, dual capacity for glycolytic and oxidative metabolism, elevated glutamine metabolism, and fatty acid synthesis. These aberrant metabolic changes lead to tumorigenesis, disease progression, and resistance to lymphoma chemotherapy. This metabolic reprogramming, including glucose, nucleic acid, fatty acid, and amino acid metabolism, is a dynamic process caused not only by genetic and epigenetic changes, but also by changes in the microenvironment affected by viral infections. Notably, some critical metabolic enzymes and metabolites may play vital roles in lymphomagenesis and progression. Recent studies have uncovered that metabolic pathways might have clinical impacts on the diagnosis, characterization, and treatment of lymphoma subtypes. However, determining the clinical relevance of biomarkers and therapeutic targets related to lymphoma metabolism is still challenging. In this review, we systematically summarize current studies on metabolism reprogramming in lymphoma, and we mainly focus on disorders of glucose, amino acids, and lipid metabolisms, as well as dysregulation of molecules in metabolic pathways, oncometabolites, and potential metabolic biomarkers. We then discuss strategies directly or indirectly for those potential therapeutic targets. Finally, we prospect the future directions of lymphoma treatment on metabolic reprogramming.

Evaluating the Magnolol Anticancer Potential in MKN-45 Gastric Cancer Cells

Background and Objectives: Combination therapy improves the effect of chemotherapy on tumor cells. Magnolol, used in treating gastrointestinal disorders, has been shown to have anti-cancer properties. We investigated the synergistic effect of cisplatin and magnolol on the viability and maintenance of MKN-45 gastric cancer cells. Materials and Methods: The toxicity of magnolol and/or cisplatin was determined using the MTT technique. The trypan blue method was used to test magnolol and/or cisplatin's effect on MKN-45 cell growth. Crystal violet staining was used to assess the treated cells' tendency for colony formation. The expression of genes linked to apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and cell migration was examined using the qPCR method. Results: According to MTT data, using magnolol and/or cisplatin significantly reduced cell viability. The ability of the treated cells to proliferate and form colonies was also reduced considerably. Magnolol and/or cisplatin treatment resulted in a considerable elevation in Bax expression. However, the level of Bcl2 expression was dramatically reduced. p21 and p53 expression levels were significantly increased in the treated cells, while MMP-9 expression was significantly reduced. Conclusions: These findings show that magnolol has a remarkable anti-tumor effect on MKN-45 cells. In combination with cisplatin, magnolol may be utilized to overcome cisplatin resistance in gastric cancer cells.

Aronia melanocarpa polysaccharide ameliorates liver fibrosis through TGF-β1-mediated the activation of PI3K/AKT pathway and modulating gut microbiota

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the anti-hepatic fibrosis effect of Aronia melanocarpa polysaccharide (AMP) on TAA-induced liver fibrosis mice and its mechanism, as well as the changes in intestinal flora in vivo. This was established with a dose of 200 mg/kg TAA (i.p) once every three days, lasting for eight weeks. Colchicine with 0.4 mg/kg, and AMP (200 and 400 mg/kg) were given by intragastric administration (i.g) after 28 days of intraperitoneal injection of TAA. AMP treatment significantly inhibited the activities of liver injury markers ALT and AST in serum. Histopathological staining demonstrated that AMP significantly reversed TAA-induced hepatocyte necrosis and collagen deposition. In addition, AMP treatment block TGF- β1/Smads pathway inhibited the production of ECM and alleviates liver fibrosis. Furthermore, AMP treatment enhanced the phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT and decreased the expression of its downstream apoptosis-related proteins in liver, thus effectively alleviating TAA-induced liver fibrosis. In addition, 16S rDNA gene sequencing analysis showed that AMP treatment helped restore the imbalanced ecosystem of gut microbes, increased the proportion of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria, and increased species richness. Above findings clearly show that AMP is an effective method for treating liver fibrosis, possibly by improving the gut microbiota.

Vandetanib drives growth arrest and promotes sensitivity to imatinib in chronic myeloid leukemia by targeting ephrin type-B receptor 4

The oncogenic role of ephrin type‐B receptor 4 (EPHB4) has been reported in many types of tumors, including chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Here, we found that CML patients have a higher EPHB4 expression level than healthy subjects. EPHB4 knockdown inhibited growth of K562 cells (a human immortalized myelogenous leukemia cell line). In addition, transient transfection of EPHB4 siRNA led to sensitization to imatinib. These growth defects could be fully rescued by EPHB4 transfection. To identify an EPHB4‐specific inhibitor with the potential of rapid translation into the clinic, a pool of clinical compounds was screened and vandetanib was found to be most sensitive to K562 cells, which express a high level of EPHB4. Vandetanib mainly acts on the intracellular tyrosine kinase domain and interacts stably with a hydrophobic pocket. Furthermore, vandetanib downregulated EPHB4 protein via the ubiquitin‐proteasome pathway and inhibited PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways in K562 cells. Vandetanib alone significantly inhibited tumor growth in a K562 xenograft model. Furthermore, the combination of vandetanib and imatinib exhibited enhanced and synergistic growth inhibition against imatinib‐resistant K562 cells in vitro and in vivo. These findings suggest that vandetanib drives growth arrest and overcomes the resistance to imatinib in CML via targeting EPHB4.

Proapoptotic Effect of Icariin on Human Ovarian Cancer Cells via the NF-[Formula: see text]B/PI3K-AKT Signaling Pathway: A Network Pharmacology-Directed Experimental Investigation

Based on network pharmacology tools and public bioinformatics databases, the pharmacodynamic target and key mechanism of icariin (ICA) in the treatment of ovarian cancer (OC) were identified and experimentally verified. Our previous research showed that TNF, MMP9, STAT3, PIK3CA, ERBB2, MTOR, IL2, PTGS2, KDR and F2 are important targets of ICA in the treatment of OC. TNF, as a hub gene in tumor tissues, was associated with poor prognosis. ICA acted on OC mainly through the biological functions of various kinases, and the pathway with the highest accuracy ([Formula: see text]-value) was PI3K. Meanwhile, we observed a close upstream and downstream relationship between NF-[Formula: see text]B and the Pl3K-AKT pathway. This study further verified the mechanism of ICA in promoting apoptosis of SKOV3 cells through the NF-[Formula: see text]B signaling pathway and the tandem relationship between NF-[Formula: see text]B and the Pl3K-AKT pathway. The assay results demonstrated that ICA can promote the apoptosis of SKOV3 cells as indicated by the proapoptotic markers Bax, Bcl-xl and Caspase-3 and the key factors of the NF-[Formula: see text]B signaling pathway (NF-[Formula: see text]Bp65, p-NF-[Formula: see text]Bp65, p-I[Formula: see text]B[Formula: see text] and I[Formula: see text]B[Formula: see text]. ICA can block the classical NF-[Formula: see text]B pathway by inhibiting I[Formula: see text]B[Formula: see text] phosphorylation and consequently blocking the activation of the NF-[Formula: see text]B pathway in SKOV3 cells. ICA can also promote apoptosis by blocking the activation of the NF-[Formula: see text]B pathway in SKOV3 cells via inhibition of NF-[Formula: see text]Bp65 nuclear translocation. After using a PI3K pathway inhibitor, we further discovered that ICA may reduce AKT signal transduction by inhibiting the level of Akt phosphorylation, resulting in a loss of PI3K/Akt-dependent activation of the NF-[Formula: see text]B pathway.

Molecular Studies on the Nephroprotective Potential of Celastrus paniculatus against Lead-Acetate-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Experimental Rats: Role of the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

Chemicals can induce nephrotoxicity, with damage to different segments of the nephron and deterioration of renal function. Nephrotoxicity due to exposure to a toxin such as carbon tetrachloride, sodium oxalate, or heavy metals is the most common cause of kidney injury. The current study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of Celastrus paniculatus seed extract against lead-acetate-induced nephrotoxicity by evaluating the histopathology, immunohistochemistry, ultrastructure, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway. Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups (n = 6 per group): group 1 contained normal animals and served as the control; group 2 received lead acetate (30 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)/day, oral); group 3 received lead acetate and the standard drug N-acetylcysteine (NAC, 200 mg/kg b.w./day, oral); and group 4 received lead acetate and the ethanolic extract of C. paniculatus seed (EECP; 800 mg/kg b.w./day, oral). Treatment was given for 28 consecutive days. The data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance with SIGMA PLOT 13 using SYSTAT software followed by Newman–Keul’s test for comparison between the groups. EECP ameliorated the adverse changes caused by lead acetate. PI3K and AKT messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were diminished in lead-acetate-treated rats. Treatment with EECP inhibited the occurrence of shrunken cells, the atrophy of glomeruli, and degenerative changes in renal tubules caused by lead acetate. Interestingly, the PI3K and AKT mRNA levels were significantly increased in EECP-treated animals. Our results clearly evidence for the first time that C. paniculatus seed extract inhibits lead-acetate-induced detrimental changes in kidneys by regulating PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.

Dracorhodin perchlorate enhances wound healing via β-catenin, ERK/p38, and AKT signaling in human HaCaT keratinocytes

Dracorhodin can be isolated from the exudates of the fruit of Daemonorops draco. Previous studies suggested that dracorhodin perchlorate can promote fibroblast proliferation and enhance angiogenesis during wound healing. In the present study, the potential bioactivity of dracorhodin perchlorate in human HaCaT keratinocytes, were investigated in vitro, with specific focus on HaCaT wound healing. The results of in vitro scratch assay demonstrated the progressive closure of the wound after treatment with dracorhodin perchlorate in a time-dependent manner. An MTT assay and propidium iodide exclusion detected using flow cytometry were used to detect cell viability of HaCaT cells. Potential signaling pathways underlying the effects mediated by dracorhodin perchlorate in HaCaT cells were clarified by western blot analysis and kinase activity assays. Dracorhodin perchlorate significantly increased the protein expression levels of β-catenin and activation of AKT, ERK and p38 in HaCaT cells. In addition, dracorhodin perchlorate did not induce HaCaT cell proliferation but promoted cell migration. Other mechanisms may yet be involved in the dracorhodin perchlorate-induced wound healing process of human keratinocytes. In summary, dracorhodin perchlorate may serve to be a potential molecularly-targeted phytochemical that can improve skin wound healing.

BOP1 Silencing Suppresses Gastric Cancer Proliferation through p53 Modulation

Block of proliferation 1 (BOP1) is a key protein involved in ribosome maturation and affects cancer progression. However, its role in gastric cancer (GC) remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the expression of BOP1 in GC and its potential mechanisms in regulating GC growth, and the relationship between BOP1 level in cancer tissues and survival was also analyzed. The expression of BOP1 was examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in a cohort containing 387 patients with primary GC. Cultured GC cells were treated by siRNA to knock down the BOP1 expression, and examined by CCK-8 assay and plate clone formation to assess cell proliferation in vitro. Apoptotic rate of cultured GC cells was detected by flow cytometry with double staining of AnnxinV/PI. The xenografted mouse model was used to assess GC cell proliferation in vivo. Western blot and IHC were also performed to detect the expression levels of BOP1, p53 and p21. Patients with higher level of BOP1 in cancer tissues had significantly poorer survival. BOP1 silencing significantly suppressed GC cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. It blocked cell cycle at G0/G1 phase and led to apoptosis of GC cells via upregulating p53 and p21. BOP1 silencing-induced suppression of cell proliferation was partly reversed by pifithrin-α (a p53 inhibitor). Our study demonstrated that BOP1 up-regulation may be a hallmark of GC and it may regulate proliferation of GC cells by activating p53. BOP1 might be considered a novel biomarker of GC proliferation, and could be a potential indicator of prognosis of GC patients. BOP1 might also be a potential target for the treatment of GC patients if further researched.

Effects of TNF-α on autophagy of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes and regulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common chronic autoimmune disease, which seriously harms human health. The hyperplastic growth of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of RA. However, the pathogenesis of RA remains unclear. In this experiment, we confirmed that Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) could activate the autophagy of RA-FLSs. 3-Methyladenine (3-MA) and Chloroquine (CQ), two types of autophagy blocker, combined with TNF-α were used to treat FLSs. The results showed that this treatment caused a reduction in the level of autophagy-related protein, significant increases in the expression of apoptosis-related protein and the apoptosis rate, and significant inhibition of the proliferation-promoting ability of TNF-α. Ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC), a specific nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) activity blocker, significantly inhibited autophagy induced by TNF-α. Collectively, these findings showed, for the first time, that TNF-α can up-regulate autophagy activity and activate the NF-κB signal pathway. Inhibition of autophagy can improve the imbalance of proliferation/apoptosis of FLSs aggravated by TNF-α to some extent, thus delaying the progression of RA. The NF-κB signal pathway may be involved in the regulation of FLSs autophagy by TNF-α.

Adiponectin Reduces Embryonic Loss Rate and Ameliorates Trophoblast Apoptosis in Early Pregnancy of Mice with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome by Affecting the AMPK/PI3K/Akt/FoxO3a Signaling Pathway

Reports in recent years have suggested that adiponectin (APN) improves insulin resistance and inhibits apoptosis by activating the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway and the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway after binding to its receptor. This study aims to explore the mechanism by which APN reduces embryo loss rate and trophoblast apoptosis in early pregnancy of mice with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS mice were subcutaneously injected with APN (10 μg mg kg-1 day-1) on 11 consecutive days from the 3rd day of pregnancy onwards to observe the change of the embryo loss rate of PCOS mice induced by APN. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot were used to determine the relative expressions of mRNA and the proteins AMPK, PI3K, and Akt in mouse uterine tissue. At the same time, primary cultured mouse villous trophoblast cells were used to further explore the underlying mechanisms in vitro. APN significantly reduces the pregnancy loss rate of PCOS mice. At the same time, APN increases phosphorylation and mRNA expression levels of AMPK, PI3K, and Akt in PCOS mouse uterine tissue. In addition, trophoblast cells of model mice were treated with APN and inhibitors, and APN was found to reduce trophoblast cell apoptosis by affecting the phosphorylation levels of AMPK, PI3K, Akt, and FoxO3a proteins. APN reduces the embryo loss rate and ameliorates trophoblast apoptosis in PCOS mice by affecting the AMPK/PI3K/AKT/FoxO3a signaling pathway.

Adjuvant contributes Roundup's unexpected effects on A549 cells

Roundup® (RDP) is one of the most representative glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs), which extensive use increases pressure on environmental safety and potential human health risk. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the adjuvant polyethoxylated tallow amine (POEA) or the herbicidal active ingredient glyphosate isopropylamine salt (GP) in formulation confers RDP cytotoxicity. We demonstrated that RDP and POEA could inhibit the proliferation of human lung A549 cells. Intracellular biochemical assay indicated that collapse of mitochondrial membrane, release of cytochrome c into cytosol, activation of caspase-9/-3, cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), oxidative DNA damage, DNA single-strand breaks and double-strand breaks are occurred in RDP and POEA treated A549 cells, not occurred in GP treated A549 cells. We conclude that the RDP's effect of apoptosis and DNA damage on human A549 cells is related to the presence of adjuvant POEA in formulation, independent of the herbicidal active ingredient GP. This study would enrich the theoretical basis of the RDP toxicity effects and attract attention on potential human health and environmental safety threat caused by adjuvant.

Antagonistic effect of selenium on lead-induced neutrophil apoptosis in chickens via miR-16-5p targeting of PiK3R1 and IGF1R

Environmental contamination by heavy metals, such as lead (Pb), can lead to severe immune dysfunction. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in regulating immunity. Whether Pb can regulate neutrophil apoptosis through miRNA, and whether selenium (Se) can antagonize this response are still unknown. We treated neutrophils with 12.5 μM (CH₃OO)₂Pb and 1 μM Na₂SeO₃ for 3 h, after which apoptosis was evaluated using acrideine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) dual fluorescent staining and flow cytometry. The results showed that neutrophil apoptosis was significantly increased following Pb exposure, and that this response was prevented upon Se addition. Pb up-regulates miR-16-5p and leads to the subsequent down-regulation of the target genes phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 1 (PiK3R1), insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R), and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (Pi3K)-protein kinase B (AKT), followed by activation of the tumor protein P53 (P53)-B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)/Bcl-2-Associated X protein (Bax)-cytochrome c (Cytc)-Caspase 9 (mitochondrial apoptotic pathway) and the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 6 (Fas)-Fas-associated death domain protein (Fadd)-Caspase 8 (death receptor pathway). Pb also triggered oxidative stress and indirectly activated the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. We conclude that miR-16-5p plays a key role in the apoptosis of neutrophils exposed to Pb by down-regulating the expression of PiK3R1 and IGFR1, thereby activating the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and death receptor pathway. Se can prevent Pb-induced apoptosis.

Dracorhodin perchlorate inhibits osteoclastogenesis through repressing RANKL-stimulated NFATc1 activity

Osteolytic skeletal disorders are caused by an imbalance in the osteoclast and osteoblast function. Suppressing the differentiation and resorptive function of osteoclast is a key strategy for treating osteolytic diseases. Dracorhodin perchlorate (D.P), an active component from dragon blood resin, has been used for facilitating wound healing and anti‐cancer treatments. In this study, we determined the effect of D.P on osteoclast differentiation and function. We have found that D.P inhibited RANKL‐induced osteoclast formation and resorbed pits of hydroxyapatite‐coated plate in a dose‐dependent manner. D.P also disrupted the formation of intact actin‐rich podosome structures in mature osteoclasts and inhibited osteoclast‐specific gene and protein expressions. Further, D.P was able to suppress RANKL‐activated JNK, NF‐κB and Ca²⁺ signalling pathways and reduces the expression level of NFATc1 as well as the nucleus translocation of NFATc1. Overall, these results indicated a potential therapeutic effect of D.P on osteoclast‐related conditions.

Eupatilin: a natural pharmacologically active flavone compound with its wide range applications

Eupatilin (5,7-dihydroxy-3',4',6-trimethoxyflavone) is a pharmacologically active flavone which has been isolated from a variety of medicinal plants. Eupatilin is known to possess various pharmacological properties such as anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory. It is speculated that eupatilin could be subjected to structural optimization for the synthesis of derivative analogs to reinforce its efficacy, to minimize toxicity, and to optimize absorption profiles, which will ultimately lead towards potent drug candidates. Although, reported data acclaim multiple pharmacological activities of eupatilin but further experimentations on its molecular mechanism of action are yet mandatory to elucidate full spectrum of its pharmacological activities.

Maltol Improves APAP-Induced Hepatotoxicity by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Response via NF-κB and PI3K/Akt Signal Pathways

Maltol, a food-flavoring agent and Maillard reaction product formed during the processing of red ginseng (Panax ginseng, C.A. Meyer), has been confirmed to exert a hepatoprotective effect in alcohol-induced oxidative damage in mice. However, its beneficial effects on acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity and the related molecular mechanisms remain unclear. The purpose of this article was to investigate the protective effect and elucidate the mechanisms of action of maltol on APAP-induced liver injury in vivo. Maltol was administered orally at 50 and 100 mg/kg daily for seven consecutive days, then a single intraperitoneal injection of APAP (250 mg/kg) was performed after the final maltol administration. Liver function, oxidative indices, inflammatory factors—including serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferases (ALT and AST), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), liver glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), cytochrome P450 E1 (CYP2E1) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) were measured. Results demonstrated that maltol possessed a protective effect on APAP-induced liver injury. Liver histological changes and Hoechst 33258 staining also provided strong evidence for the protective effect of maltol. Furthermore, a maltol supplement mitigated APAP-induced inflammatory responses by increasing phosphorylated nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), inhibitor kappa B kinase α/β (IKKα/β), and NF-kappa-B inhibitor alpha (IκBα) in NF-κB signal pathways. Immunoblotting results showed that maltol pretreatment downregulated the protein expression levels of the B-cell-lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) family and caspase and altered the phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, our findings clearly demonstrate that maltol exerts a significant liver protection effect, which may partly be ascribed to its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic action via regulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Dracorhodin perchlorate protects pancreatic β-cells against glucotoxicity- or lipotoxicity-induced dysfunction and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo

Glucotoxicity or lipotoxicity leads to hyperglycemia and insulin secretion deficiency, which are important causes for the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Thus, the restoration of β-cell function is a long-sought goal in diabetes research. Previous studies have implicated pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 gene (Pdx1) in β-cell function and insulin secretion. In this study, we established a Pdx1 promoter-dependent luciferase system and identified the natural compound dracorhodin perchlorate (DP) as an effective promotor of Pdx1 expression. We further demonstrated that DP could significantly inhibit β-cell apoptosis induced by 33 mm glucose or 200 μm palmitate by interfering with endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial pathways and enhance insulin secretion as well. These effects were associated with enhanced activities of Erk1/2, which in turn promoted Pdx1 expression and increased the ratio of Bcl2/Bax, since inhibition of the Erk1/2 pathway abolished the DP-induced expression of Pdx1 and suppression of apoptosis. In addition, our in vivo results in diabetic mice indicated that DP treatment lowered blood glucose, raised insulin levels, enhanced Pdx1 expression and increased islet size and number in the pancreas of diabetic mice. Our findings suggest that Pdx1 is a potential target molecule of DP in the treatment of T2DM via the inhibition of glucotoxicity- or lipotoxicity- induced β-cell apoptosis and the attenuation of insulin secretion dysfunction.

Potential Anticancer Properties and Mechanisms of Action of Formononetin

Nature, a vast reservoir of pharmacologically active molecules, has been most promising source of drug leads for the cure of various pathological conditions. Formononetin is one of the bioactive isoflavones isolated from different plants mainly from Trifolium pratense, Glycine max, Sophora flavescens, Pycnanthus angolensis, and Astragalus membranaceus. Formononetin has been well-documented for its anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. Recently anticancer activity of formononetin is widely studied. This review aims to highlight the pharmacological potential of formononetin, thus providing an insight of its status in cancer therapeutics. Formononetin fights progression of cancer via inducing apoptosis, arresting cell cycle, and halting metastasis via targeting various pathways which are generally modulated in several cancers. Although reported data acclaims various biological properties of formononetin, further experimentation on mechanism of its action, medicinal chemistry studies, and preclinical investigations are surely needed to figure out full array of its pharmacological and biological potential.

Dracorhodin perchlorate induces apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 and AKT/FOXO3a pathways

Dracorhodin perchlorate (DP), a synthetic analogue of the anthocyanin red pigment dracorhodin, has been shown to exert various pharmacological effects, including anticancer activity. However, its effects on human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells have not been previously investigated, and the molecular mechanisms underlying its anticancer activity remain unclear. In the present study, it was demonstrated that DP significantly reduced the viability of ESCC cells compared with that noted in normal human liver LO2 cells. Treatment with DP induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest through upregulation of p21 and p27, and downregulation of cyclin B1 and Cdc2. Furthermore, DP treatment induced caspase-dependent apoptosis, which could be reversed by exposure to Z-VAD-FMK, a caspase inhibitor. Western blotting demonstrated that DP induced apoptosis through extrinsic and intrinsic pathways by upregulating death receptor 4 (DR4), DR5, cleaved caspase-3/-7/-9 and cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and by decreasing total PARP, total caspase-3/7, Bcl-2 and caspase-9/-10. Moreover, DP treatment decreased the phosphorylation of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), AKT, and forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a) in ESCC cells, indicating that the activity of the JAK2/STAT3 and AKT/FOXO3a signaling pathways was inhibited. Therefore, DP is a promising therapeutic agent for ESCC.

β-Cryptoxanthin induced anti-proliferation and apoptosis by G0/G1 arrest and AMPK signal inactivation in gastric cancer

β-Cryptoxanthin has been associated with reduced-risk of some cancers. However, the mechanisms of β-cryptoxanthin still remain unclearly understood in gastric cancer (GC). In this study, we examined the effect of β-cryptoxanthin on AMPK signal in human gastric cancer cells. AGS and SGC-7901 cells were treated with β-cryptoxanthin (0-40 μM) and AGS cells were injected in BALB/c (nu/nu) mice to analyze the effect of β-cryptoxanthin on GC. We found that β-cryptoxanthin induced inhibitory effect on the cell viability in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The number of migrated cells and protein levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) -2 and MMP-9 were obviously decreased. β-Cryptoxanthin treatment induced G0/G1 arrest, and reduced the expression of Cyclin E, Cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) of CDK4 and CDK6, and increased the expression of p53 and p21 in the two GC cells. Additionally, β-cryptoxanthin induced apoptosis and increased the expression of cleaved caspase-3, -8, -9 as well as cytochrome C (cyt C). β-Cryptoxanthin induced AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signal inactivation by the down-regulation of protein kinase A (PKA), p-AMPK, eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2k). Furthermore, β-cryptoxanthin inhibited tumor growth through suppressing the tumor volume and weight, inducing apoptotic cells. Besides, β-cryptoxanthin induced significant reductions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9). In conclusion, our data provide the novel evidence to understand the mechanism of anti-pcancer of β-cryptoxanthin and indicate that β-cryptoxanthin can serve as a promising chemopreventive agent against gastric cancer.

Cytotoxic effects of mono- and di-rhamnolipids from Pseudomonas aeruginosa MR01 on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

Rhamnolipids produced by P. aeruginosa MR01 were fractionated into mono- and di-rhamnolipids, and their dominant congeners, Rha-C₁₀-C₁₀ and Rha-Rha-C₁₀-C₁₀, were shown by mass spectrometry. Minimum surface tensions and critical micelle concentrations (CMC) were determined as "≃34 mN/m; ≃26.17 mg/l;" and "≃29 mN/m; ≃29.63 mg/l" for mono- and di-rhamnolipids, respectively. Spectrophotometry measurements provided a close approximation of CMC. Contact angle and diameter of wet area were determined for rhamnolipid-containing drops on hydrophobic paper to display their capability for alteration of surface wettability. Wet area measurement is a simple, reliable method not requiring a Drop Shape Analyzer. Cell viabilities determined by MTT assay showed a decline in a dose-dependent manner and estimated IC₅₀ values were 25.87 μg/ml and 31.00 μg/ml for mono- and di-rhamnolipids treating MCF-7 cells for 48 h. Morphological observations using the inverted phase-contrast microscopy and fluorescence microscopy via Hoechst staining revealed the apoptotic characteristics in treated MCF-7 cells. The semi-quantitative RT-PCR method demonstrated that expression of the p53 gene in mRNA levels significantly (P < 0.05) increased when treated with 30 μg/ml of each rhamnolipid compound for 12 h. It can be concluded that rhamnolipids derived from MR01 show significant anticancer potential against MCF-7 cell line and should be further investigated as natural, therapeutic anti-tumor agents.

Neuroprotective Influence of miR-301a Inhibition in Experimental Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Rat Models Through Targeting NDRG2

The objective of this study is to find out the potential influence of miR-301a in an experimental cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) rat model through targeting NDRG2. Rats with cerebral I/R injury were constructed and classified into model, miR-301a inhibitor, miR-301a mimic, NC (negative control), siNDRG2, NDRG2, and miR-301a inhibitor + si-NDRG2 groups, as well as another sham group. Cerebral infarct volume and cell apoptosis were observed by TTC staining and TUNEL staining. The targeting relationship between miR-301a and NDRG2 was verified by luciferase assay. ELISA, qRT-PCR, and Western blot were used to detect the expressions of related molecules. Compared with sham group, rats in the model group had elevated neurological function score and infarct volume; meanwhile, the cell apoptosis rate and inflammatory response were also increased with enhanced expression of miR-301a and NDRG2 (all P < 0.05). These changes were worsened in the miR-301a mimic and si-NDRG2 groups. Conversely, those rats in the miR-301a inhibitor and NDRG2 groups presented increased NDRG2, and at the same time, other above concerning factors also exhibited opposite tendencies (all P < 0.05). Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed that NDRG2 was a target gene of miR-301a, and si-NDRG2 could reverse the neuroprotective effect of miR-301a inhibitor in rats with cerebral I/R injury. Inhibiting miR-301a has a neuroprotective effect on rats with cerebral I/R injury to ameliorate cell apoptosis and inflammatory response through possibly targeting NDRG2.

Crosstalk between Phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway with DNA damage response and oxidative stress in cancer

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway is one of the well-characterized and most important signaling pathways activated in response to DNA damage. This review discusses the most recent discoveries on the involvement of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in cancer development, as well as stimulation of some important signaling networks involved in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis upon DNA damage, with an exploration of how PI3K/Akt signaling pathway contributes to the regulation of modulators and effectors underlying DNA damage response, the intricate, protein-based signal transduction network, which decides between cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, and apoptosis, the elimination of irreparably damaged cells to maintain homeostasis. The review continues by looking at the interplay between cell cycle checkpoints, checking the repair of damage inflicted to the DNA before entering DNA replication to facilitate DNA synthesis, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. We then investigate the challenges the cells overcome to ameliorate damages induced by oxidative activities, for example, the recruitment of many pathways and factors to maintain integrity and hemostasis. Finally, the review provides a discussion of how cells use the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to regulate the balance between these networks.

MCL1 gene silencing promotes senescence and apoptosis of glioma cells via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Glioma is known to be the most prevalent primary brain tumor. In recent years, there has been evidence indicating myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL1) plays a role in brain glioblastoma. Therefore, the present study was conducted with aims of exploring the ability of MCL1 silencing to influence glioma cell senescence and apoptosis through the mediation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway. Glioma and tumor-adjacent tissues were collected in order to detect the presence of higher levels of MCL1 protein expression. Next, the mRNA and protein expression of MCL1, PI3K, Akt, B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), Bcl2-associated X (Bax), B lymphoma Mo-MLV insertion region 1 homolog (Bmi-1), and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) were determined. Cell counting kit-8 assay was applied to detect cell proliferation, β-galactosidase staining for cell senescence, and flow cytometry for cell cycle entry and apoptosis. Initially, the results revealed higher positive expression rate of MCL1 protein, increased mRNA and protein expression of MCL1, PI3K, Akt, Bmi-1, and Bcl-2 and decreased that of Bax and PTEN in human glioma tissues. The silencing of MCL1 resulted in a decrease in mRNA and protein expression of PI3K, Akt, Bmi-1, and Bcl-2 and an increase in Bax and PTEN expressions in glioma cells. Moreover, silencing of MCL1 also inhibited cell proliferation and cell cycle entry in glioma cells, and promoted glioma cell senescence and apoptosis. In conclusion, the aforementioned results collectively suggested that the silencing of MCL1 promotes senescence and apoptosis in glioma cells through inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Thus, decreasing the expression of MCL1 might have therapeutic functions in glioma. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 71(1):81-92, 2019.

The Flavonoid Jaceosidin from Artemisia princeps Induces Apoptotic Cell Death and Inhibits the Akt Pathway in Oral Cancer Cells

Jaceosidin is a single compound from the Japanese mugwort Artemisia princeps, which is used as a food and a traditional medicinal herb. A. princeps extracts and flavonoid components have been shown to have antihyperglycaemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Although the anticancer properties of these extracts were recently demonstrated, the related mechanisms have not been characterised. In this study, we investigated the effects of jaceosidin in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells and initially showed selective suppression of proliferation (IC₅₀ = 82.1 μM in HSC-3 cells and 97.5 μM in Ca9.22 cells) and accumulation of cells at the sub-G1 stage of the cell cycle. In addition, jaceosidin increased cleavage of caspase-9 and caspase-3 in OSCC cells, although caspase-8 was not detected. In further experiments, jaceosidin downregulated Akt phosphorylation and ectopic activation of Akt blocked the antiproliferative effects of jaceosidin. Finally, we showed that jaceosidin has no effects on HaCaT normal epithelial cell viability, indicating selective chemotherapeutic potential of jaceosidin and that tumour-specific downregulation of Akt increases apoptosis and inhibits growth in OSCC cells.

Selenium Antagonizes the Lead-Induced Apoptosis of Chicken Splenic Lymphocytes In Vitro by Activating the PI3K/Akt Pathway

Lead (Pb) pollution has become one of the most serious global ecological problems. In animals, Pb ingestion induces apoptosis in many tissues. However, the mechanisms by which Pb induces apoptosis in chicken splenic lymphocytes in vitro via the PI3K/Akt pathway and the antagonistic effect of selenium (Se) on Pb remain unclear. Therefore, we established the in vitro Se-Pb interaction model in chicken splenic lymphocytes and examined the frequency of apoptotic cells using acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining and the TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay and detected the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), as well as the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The expression of PI3K/Akt pathway-related genes was also examined by qRT-PCR and western blotting. MDA and ROS levels were markedly increased, whereas the activities of GPx, SOD, and CAT were significantly decreased; the levels of the PI3K, Akt, and Bcl-2 messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and proteins were decreased; and the levels of the p53, Bax, cytochrome c (Cyt-c), caspase 3, and caspase 9 mRNAs and proteins were increased in the Pb group. In addition, the frequency of apoptotic cells was also significantly increased by the Pb treatment. However, Se supplementation during Pb exposure observably attenuated Pb-induced apoptosis; increased the levels of the PI3K, Akt, and Bcl-2 mRNAs and proteins; and decrease the levels of the p53, Bax, Cyt-c, caspase 3, and caspase 9 mRNAs and proteins in the chicken spleen. In conclusion, Pb exposure causes oxidative stress, inhibits the PI3K/Akt pathway, and subsequently induces apoptosis in chicken splenic lymphocytes in vitro, and these effects are partially attenuated by Se supplementation. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to reveal the antagonistic effect of Se on Pb-induced apoptosis of chicken splenic lymphocytes in vitro via the activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Dracorhodin Perchlorate Accelerates Cutaneous Wound Healing in Wistar Rats

Dracorhodin perchlorate (DP) is extracted from Dragon's blood, which is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, especially in wound healing. The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of DP ointment, which contained DP dissolved in DMSO and mixed with Vaseline, on cutaneous wound healing in Wistar rats. Forty Wistar rats were divided into two groups: control and DP groups. The skin on the back of each rat was punched with two full-thickness wounds and then treated with the corresponding drug. After 3, 7, 10, 14, and 21 days, four rats were sacrificed for immunological, biochemical, and histological analyses. Compared with the control treatment, DP could significantly promote wound closure. Histological and biochemical analyses of the skin biopsies also showed that DP regulated the expression of inflammatory responses by TNF-α and IL-β and by supporting wound tissue growth and collagen deposition. Western blot revealed that DP could also facilitate the expression of EGF and VEGF proteins. In conclusion, DP promotes wound healing.

Fraxinus: A Plant with Versatile Pharmacological and Biological Activities

Fraxinus, a member of the Oleaceae family, commonly known as ash tree is found in northeast Asia, north America, east and western France, China, northern areas of Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan. Chemical constituents of Fraxinus plant include various secoiridoids, phenylethanoids, flavonoids, coumarins, and lignans; therefore, it is considered as a plant with versatile biological and pharmacological activities. Its tremendous range of pharmacotherapeutic properties has been well documented including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective. In addition, its bioactive phytochemicals and secondary metabolites can be effectively used in cosmetic industry and as a competent antiaging agent. Fraxinus presents pharmacological effectiveness by targeting the novel targets in several pathological conditions, which provide a spacious therapeutic time window. Our aim is to update the scientific research community with recent endeavors with specifically highlighting the mechanism of action in different diseases. This potentially efficacious pharmacological drug candidate should be used for new drug discovery in future. This review suggests that this plant has extremely important medicinal utilization but further supporting studies and scientific experimentations are mandatory to determine its specific intracellular targets and site of action to completely figure out its pharmacological applications.

Esculetin exerts antitumor effect on human gastric cancer cells through IGF-1/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

In this study, we aimed to investigate the antitumor effect of esculetin, a coumarin derivative extracted from natural plants, on human gastric cancer cells, and to illustrate the potential mechanisms. The results showed that esculetin exhibited anti-proliferative effects against gastric cancer cells and induced their apoptosis in a dose dependent manner with lower toxicity against normal gastric epithelial cells. Mechanism study indicated that esculetin induced gastric cancer MGC-803 cells apoptosis by triggering the activation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway through reducing the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), increasing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, activating caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity, and increasing cytochrome c release from mitochondria. Further study showed that the pro-apoptotic effects of esculetin were associated with down-regulation of insulin-like growth factor-1/ phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (IGF-1/PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway. Activation of IGF-1/PI3K/Akt pathway by IGF-1 abrogated the pro-apoptotic effects of esculetin, while inhibition of IGF-1/PI3K/Akt pathway by triciribine or LY294002 enhanced the pro-apoptotic effects of esculetin. In addition, esculetin inhibited in vivo tumor growth with no obvious toxicity following subcutaneous inoculation of MGC-803 cells in nude mice, and inhibited activation of IGF-1/PI3K/Akt pathway in tumor tissue.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that esculetin could inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis of gastric cancer cells through IGF-1/PI3K/Akt mediated mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, and may be a novel effective chemotherapeutic agent against gastric cancer.

Anti-inflammatory Flavan-3-ol-dihydroretrochalcones from Daemonorops draco

Four A-type flavan-3-ol-dihydroretrochalcone dimers, dragonins A-D (1-4), were characterized from the traditional Chinese medicine Sanguis Draconis. The structures of 1-4 were elucidated by spectroscopic and spectrometric analyses. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited significant inhibition of fMLP/CB-induced superoxide anion and elastase. The signaling pathways accounting for the inhibitory effects of compound 2 were also elucidated. These purified A-type flavan-3-ol-dihydroretrochalcones are new potential leads for the development of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Gene expression, oxidative stress and apoptotic changes in rabbit ileum experimentally infected with Eimeria intestinalis

Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease caused by protists (apicomplexans) of the genus Eimeria Schneider, 1875 and is considered to be the most important disease faced by rabbit breeders due to its high morbidity. In the present study, the antioxidant status and changes in apoptosis and in the expression of some genes were quantified in rabbits' ilea following infection with Eimeria intestinalis Cheissin, 1948. Rabbits, orally infected with 1 × 10⁵ sporulated oocysts of E. intestinalis, started to shed oocysts in their faeces on 8 days post infection (dpi) and reached maximum excretion on 10 dpi, with approximately 5 million oocysts. This was accompanied by a significant decrease in the live body weight of infected rabbits. Also, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide were significantly increased while catalase and glutathione were significantly decreased in the ileum tissues of the infected rabbits. In addition, a significant increase was observed in the percentages of apoptotic cells in the ilea of the infected rabbits. Furthermore, interleukin-1β and interleukin-2 mRNA levels were significantly down-regulated and mRNA levels of interleukin-6, interferon gamma and inducible nitric oxide synthase were significantly up-regulated, while those of C-reactive protein remained unchanged. We conclude that infection with E. intestinalis induces oxidative stress, a significant increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells and a diverse and robust Th1 and Th1-related cytokine response in the ileum tissues.

Altholactone Inhibits NF-κB and STAT3 Activation and Induces Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer DU145 Cells

Altholactone, a natural compound isolated from Goniothalamus spp., has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities, but its molecular mechanisms are still not fully defined. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) play pivotal roles in the cell survival of many human tumors. The objective of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of action of altholactone against prostate cancer DU145 cells and to evaluate whether its effects are mediated by inhibition of NF-κB and STAT3 activity. Altholactone inhibited proliferation of DU145 cells and induced cell cycle arrest in S phase and triggered apoptosis. Reporter assays revealed that altholactone repressed p65- and TNF-α-enhanced NF-κB transcriptional activity and also inhibited both constitutive and IL-6-induced transcriptional activity of STAT3. Consistent with this, altholactone down-regulated phosphorylation of STAT3 and moreover, decreased constitutively active mutant of STAT3 (STAT3C)-induced transcriptional activity. Altholactone treatment also results in down-regulation of STAT3 target genes such as survivin, and Bcl-2 followed by up regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax protein. However, pre-treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) significantly inhibited the activation of Bax and prevented down-regulation of STAT3 target genes. Collectively, our findings suggest that altholactone induces DU145 cells death through inhibition of NF-κB and STAT3 activity.

Effects of Sanguis Draconis on Perforator Flap Survival in Rats

Sanguis draconis, a resin known to improve blood circulation, relieve pain, stimulate tissue regeneration, and heal wounds, is widely used in clinical practice. In this study, we prepared an ethanol extract of sanguis draconis (EESD) containing 75.08 mg/g of dracorhodin. The experiment was carried out on 20 rats that were divided into two groups, a control group (n = 10) and an EESD group (n = 10). All the rats underwent a perforator flap surgery, after which post-operative abdominal compressions of EESD were given to the EESD group for seven days, while the control group received saline. Flap survival percentages were determined after seven days, and were found to be significantly higher in the EESD group than in the control group. Results of laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) showed that perforator flaps in the EESD group had higher perfusion values than those of the control group. The flap tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, followed by immunohistochemical evaluation. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression and micro-vessel development markedly increased in the EESD group, while malondialdehyde (MDA) levels decreased. This is the first study to investigate the effect of sanguis draconis on perforator flap survival. Our results demonstrate that sanguis draconis can improve perforator flap survival in rats by promoting microvessel regeneration and blood perfusion.

Cytotoxicity of withasteroids: withametelin induces cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells

Considerable interest has been gained by withasteroids because of their structural uniqueness and wide spectrum of biological activities. However, limited systematic studies for proving their cytotoxic potential have so far been reported. Hence, an attempt was made to test the cytotoxicity of six withasteroids viz., withametelin (WM), withaphysalin D, withaphysalin E, 12-deoxywithastramonolide, Withaperuvin B, and physalolactone against A549, HT-29, and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines. Significant cytotoxic effect of WM against A549 cells (IC₅₀ value of 6.0 μM), MDA-MB-231 cells (IC₅₀ value of 7.6 μM), and HT-29 cells (IC₅₀ value of 8.2 μM) was observed. Withaperuvin B and physalolactone were found to be effective against MDA-MB-231 cells. The significantly active WM arrested the A549 cells at G2/M phase and downregulated the expression of G2/M regulatory proteins such as cdc2, cyclin B1, and cdc25C. Apoptosis induced by WM in A549 cells was associated with the generation of ROS and depletion of MMP. Furthermore, WM treatment resulted in Bax upregulation, Bcl-2 downregulation, translocation of cytochrome c to mitochondria, activation of caspase-9 and -3, and PARP cleavage corroborating the apoptosis induction through intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Thus, WM possessing broader cytotoxic effect is a promising lead molecule which has the potential to be developed as a new therapeutic agent for NSCLC.

The angiogenic effect of dracorhodin perchlorate on human umbilical vein endothelial cells and its potential mechanism of action

Hyperglycemia is the key clinical feature of diabetes, and may induce refractory wound lesions and impaired angiogenesis. Dracorhodin perchlorate (Dra) is the major ingredient of dragon's blood and it has been used as a medicine to treat chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot, since ancient times in many cultures. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of Dra on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) under high‑glucose (HG) stimulation and its potential mechanism. Dra was observed to increase the multiplication capacity of HUVECs both under low glucose (LG) and HG concentrations. Additionally, migration and tube formation in HUVECs was facilitated by Dra. The expression levels of Ras, mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK) and vascular endothelial growth factor, which are key components of the Ras/MAPK pathway, were upregulated following Dra treatment. The present study is the first report, to the best of our knowledge, of the effects of Dra on wound healing, and the association with the Ras/MAPK signaling pathway.

Costunolide Induces Apoptosis through Generation of ROS and Activation of P53 in Human Esophageal Cancer Eca-109 Cells

Costunolide is a sesquiterpene lactone, which possesses potent anti-cancer properties. However, there is little report about its effects on esophageal cancer. In our study, we investigated the effects of costunolide on the cell viability, cell cycle, and apoptosis in human esophageal cancer Eca-109 cells. It was found that costunolide inhibited the growth of Eca-109 cells in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm ) and the production of ROS. Costunolide induced apoptosis of Eca-109 cells as well as cell cycle arrest in G1/S phase by upregulation of P53 and P21. Costunolide triggered apoptosis in esophageal cancer cells via the upregulation of Bax, downregulation of Bcl-2, and significant activation of caspase-3 and poly ADP-ribose polymerase. These effects were markedly abrogated when cells were pretreated with N-acetylcysteine, a specific reactive oxygen specie inhibitor. These results suggest that costunolide is a potential candidate for the treatment of esophageal cancer.

Costunolide induces G1/S phase arrest and activates mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic pathways in SK-MES 1 human lung squamous carcinoma cells

Despite the availability of several therapeutic options, a safer and more effective modality strategy is required for the treatment of lung cancer. Costunolide, a sesquiterpene lactone which isolated from the Saussurea lappa, has potent anticancer properties. In the present study, the effects of costunolide on cell viability, the cell cycle and apoptosis in SK-MES-1 human lung squamous carcinoma cells were investigated. Costunolide induced morphological changes and inhibited growth of SK-MES-1 cells growth. Flow cytometric analysis data demonstrated that costunolide significantly induced apoptosis of SK-MES-1 cells and induced cell cycle arrest at G1/S phase in a dose-dependent manner. Through upregulation in the expression of p53 and Bax, and downregulation in the expression of Bcl-2 and activation of caspase-3, costunolide-induced apoptosis was confirmed by western blot analysis. In addition, the significant loss of mitochondrial membrane potential indicated that costunolide may induce apoptosis via the mitochondria-dependent pathway in SK-MES-1 cells. These results highlight the potential effects of costunolide as an anti-cancer agent in a human lung squamous carcinoma cell line.

Dracorhodin perchlorate induces the apoptosis of glioma cells

Dracorhodin perchlorate (Dp), a synthetic analogue of the antimicrobial anthocyanin red pigment, has recently been shown to induce apoptotic cell death in various types of cancer cells. Yet, the inhibitory effect of Dp on human glioma cells remains uninvestigated. Therefore, in the present study, 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometry were used to detect cell viability and cell cycle progression in glioma U87MG and T98G cells, respectively. Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide double staining and JC-1 staining were separately applied to determine cellular apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential damage in the cells. The expression levels of associated proteins involved in cell cycle progression and apoptosis were measured by western blotting. The activities of caspase‑9/-3 were determined by Caspase-Glo-9/3 assay. The results indicated that Dp treatment significantly inhibited cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and blocked cell cycle progression at the G1/S phase in the U87MG and T98G cells via the upregulation of p53 and p21 protein expression, and simultaneous downregulation of Cdc25A, Cdc2 and P-Cdc2 protein expression. Additionally, Dp treatment led to the loss of cellular mitochondrial membrane potential, and the release of cytochrome c, and strongly induced the occurence of apoptosis. Increased expression levels of Bim and Bax protein and the downregulated expression of Bcl-2 protein were observed. Caspase-9/-3 were activated and their activities were elevated after Dp treatment. These findings indicate that Dp inhibits cell proliferation, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in glioma cells, and is a possible candidate for glioma treatment.

Role of TLR4-Mediated PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β Signaling Pathway in Apoptosis of Rat Hepatocytes

We investigated the mechanism of the Toll-like receptor 4- (TLR4-) mediated PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway in rat hepatocytes apoptosis induced by LPS. The cultured rat hepatocytes were treated with LPS alone or first pretreated with TLR4 inhibitor, AKT inhibitor, and GSK-3β inhibitor, respectively, and then stimulated with the same dose of LPS. Cell viability, cell apoptotic rate, and apoptosis morphology were assessed; the level of P-AKT^Ser473, P-GSK-3β^Ser9, and active Caspase-3 and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 were evaluated. The results indicated that cell viability decreased, while cell apoptotic rate increased with time after LPS stimulation. The expression of P-AKT^Ser473 and P-GSK-3β^Ser9 in the LPS group decreased compared with the control, while the level of active Caspase-3 and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 were significantly increased. These effects were attenuated by pretreatment with CLI-095. In addition, the apoptotic ratio decreased after pretreatment with LiCl but increased following pretreatment with LY294002. The expression of P-AKT^Ser473 further decreased following pretreatment with LY294002 and the expression of P-GSK-3β^Ser9 increased following pretreatment with LiCl. Moreover, pretreatment with CLI-095 weakened LPS-induced nuclear translocation of GSK-3β. Our findings suggest that the TLR4-mediated PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway is present in rat hepatocytes and participates in apoptosis of BRL-3A cells.

Relationship between Eimeria tenella development and host cell apoptosis in chickens

Coccidiosis causes considerable economic losses in the poultry industry. At present, the pathology of coccidiosis is preventable with anticoccidials and vaccination, although at considerable cost to the international poultry industry. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the relationship between Eimeria tenella development and host cell apoptosis in chickens, which provides a theoretical basis for further study of the injury mechanism of E. tenella and the prevention and treatment of coccidiosis. Cecal epithelial cells from chick embryo were used as host cells in vitro. In addition, flow cytometry, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick-end labeling, and histopathological assays were used to detect the dynamic changes in E. tenella infection rates, DNA injury rates, and apoptosis rates in groups treated with and without the caspase-9 inhibitor Z-LEHD-FMK. Following E. tenella infection, we demonstrated that untreated cells had less apoptosis at 4 h and, inversely, more apoptosis at 24 to 120 h compared with control cells. Furthermore, after the application of Z-LEHD-FMK, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assays, and translation of phosphatidyl serines to the host cell plasma membrane surface, the treated group chick embryo cecal epithelial cells exhibited decreased apoptosis and DNA injuries (P<0.01) at 24 to 120 h. However, light microscopy showed that E. tenella infection rates of treated cells were higher (P<0.01) than untreated cells during the whole experimental period. Together, these observations suggest that E. tenella can protect host cells from apoptosis at early stages of development but can promote apoptosis during the middle to late stages. In addition, the inhibition of host cell apoptosis can be beneficial to the intracellular growth and development of E. tenella.

Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng. seed extract suppresses breast cancer growth by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

The herb Momordica cochinchinensis has been used for a variety of purposes, and been shown to have anti‑cancer properties. The present study assessed the potency and the underlying mechanisms of action of the ethyl acetate extract of seeds of Momordica cochinchinensis (ESMC2) on breast cancer cells. Therefore, the effects of ESMC2 on the cell viability, cell cycle and apoptosis of MDA‑MB‑231 cells were investigated. The results showed that ESMC2 exerted a marked growth inhibitory effect on the cells. Cell cycle arrest in G2 phase following treatment with ESMC2 was associated with a marked increase in the protein levels of cyclin B1, cyclin E and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 and a decrease in cyclin D1 expression. In addition, ESMC2 dose‑dependently induced cell apoptosis, which was mediated via upregulation of the apoptosis-associated proteins p53, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‑2)‑associated X protein, Bcl-2 homologous antagonist killer and Bcl-2-associated death promoter expression, as well as downregulation of nuclear factor kappa B, Bcl‑2 and myeloid cell leukemia‑1. Furthermore, the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and Akt phosphorylation were decreased by ESMC2 in a dose‑dependent manner, indicating that ESMC2 exerted its effects via the mitogen-activated protein kinase/JNK pathway. Furthermore, nude mouse xenotransplant models were used to evaluate the tumor growth inhibitory effects of ESMC2. The possible chemical components of ESMC2 were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and 12 compounds were detected from the major peaks based on the similarity index with entries of a compound database. The results of the present study may aid in the development of novel therapies for breast cancer.

Dracorhodin perchlorate induces G1/G0 phase arrest and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in SK-MES-1 human lung squamous carcinoma cells

Dracorhodin perchlorate (DP) has recently been revealed to induce apoptosis in various types of cancer. However, the antitumor potential and molecular mechanisms of DP in human lung cancer have not been previously reported. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of DP on cell viability, the cell cycle and apoptosis, using an MTT assay, flow cytometry and western blot studies. DP was identified to induce cellular and DNA morphological changes, and decreased the viability of SK-MES-1 human lung squamous carcinoma cells. DP significantly inhibited the growth of SK-MES-1 cells by inducing apoptosis and G₁/G₀ cell cycle arrest in a dose-dependent manner via activation of p53 (P<0.05). Furthermore, DP promoted the significant upregulation of B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)-activated X protein and significant downregulation of Bcl-2 (P<0.05), inducing dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). In addition, caspase-3 was activated by DP via the cleavage of its substrate, proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. DP also induced caspase-independent apoptosis by significantly increasing the protein expression of the apoptosis-inducing factor (P<0.05), which is localized in mitochondria under the physiological conditions and released into the cytoplasm when MMP is dissipated. Furthermore, the present study demonstrated that DP significantly increased the generation of reactive oxygen species (P<0.05). In conclusion, the current study revealed that DP is able to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in SK-MES-1 cells via activation of the mitochondrial pathway, indicating that DP may be a potential leading compound for the development of future lung cancer therapeutic regimes.

AKT mediates actinomycin D-induced p53 expression

At high cytotoxic concentrations, actinomycin D (ActD) blocks transcription, decreasing levels of MDM2 and thus causing p53 stabilization. At low cytostatic concentrations, ActD causes ribosomal stress, which decreases MDM2 activity, resulting in p53 stabilization and activation. ActD can thus be used for p53-based cyclotherapy. We analyzed pathways mediating ActD-induced p53 expression. Inhibitors (LY294002, wortmannin, and deguelin) of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K) and AKT, but not inhibitors of MEK1/2, JNK, and p38-MAPK abolished the ActD-induced p53 expression in diverse cell types. RNA interference further supported these results. When AKT was downregulated by small hairpin RNA-AKTs, ActD-induced p53 expression was significantly decreased. ActD caused AKT phosphorylation at Ser473, indicating full activation of AKT. The potential for cancer therapy is discussed.