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Li Z, Hu F, Xiong L, Zhou X, Dong C, Zheng Y. Underlying mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of diabetic retinopathy: Evidences from molecular and clinical studies. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 335:118641. [PMID: 39084273 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
As one of the most serious microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), diabetic retinopathy (DR) can cause visual impairment and even blindness. With the rapid increase in the prevalence of DM, the incidence of DR is also rising year by year. Preventing and effectively treating DR has become a major focus in the medical field. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a wealth of experience in treating DR and has achieved significant results with various herbs and TCM prescriptions. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides a comprehensive therapeutic strategy for diabetic retinopathy (DR), encompassing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions, anti-neovascularization, neuroprotection, regulation of glucose metabolism, and inhibition of apoptosis. This review provides an overview of the current status of TCM treatment for DR in recent years, including experimental studies and clinical researches, to explore the clinical efficacy and the underlying modern mechanisms of herbs and TCM prescriptions. Besides, we also discussed the challenges TCM faces in treating DR, such as drug-drug interactions among TCM components and the lack of high-quality evidence-based medicine practice, which pose significant obstacles to TCM's application in DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengpin Li
- Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Faquan Hu
- Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Liyuan Xiong
- Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Xuemei Zhou
- Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Changwu Dong
- The Second Clinical Medical School, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Yujiao Zheng
- Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.
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Yang Y, Liu Y, Tang H, Zhou Q, Li H, Song E. FTY720 Suppresses Pathogenic Retinal Müller Cell Activation and Chronic Progression by Inhibiting the mTOR/NF-κB Signaling Pathway and Regulating Autophagy. Curr Eye Res 2024; 49:862-871. [PMID: 38577836 DOI: 10.1080/02713683.2024.2337301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE FTY720 is an agonist of the Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor 1, 3, 4, and 5 and a functional antagonist of the S1P1 receptor; it can inhibit the activation of mTOR/NF-κB and has therapeutic potential in inflammatory disease. This study was designed to determine the role of the inflammatory process in diabetic retinopathy and investigate the effect of FTY720 on high glucose (HG)-induced rat retinal Müller cells (rMC-1 cells). METHODS In the present study, the role of FTY720 in inhibiting inflammation and its underlying mechanism were investigated. rMC-1 cells were treated without or with HG, FTY720, CQ, or RAP. Cell viability was examined by CCK-8 assay; cell activation was assessed by western blot analysis and IF staining; and cell migration was evaluated by a scratch wound healing assay. The expression of inflammation-associated proteins and autophagy-related proteins was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy, AO staining, MDC-labeled autophagic vacuoles, western blot analysis and ELISA. RESULTS Western blot analysis and IF staining showed that the level of the rMC-1 cell marker GFAP was decreased, while GS was increased in FTY720 groups compared to that in the HG group. The healing assay results showed that compared with HG treatment, FTY720 treatment significantly reduced cell migration. Western blot analysis, ELISA and IF staining showed that compared with HG, FTY720 reduced proinflammatory proteins by inhibiting the mechanistic target of the mTOR/NF-κB signaling pathway and regulating autophagy. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that in an HG-induced rMC-1 cell model, FTY720 significantly inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines by inhibiting mTOR/NF-κB signaling and regulating autophagy. These findings were associated with a decrease in rMC-1 cell injury, suggesting that FTY720 or related compounds may be valuable modulators of HG-induced retinal injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanting Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Lixiang Eye Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Huan Tang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Changzhou Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changzhou, China
| | - Qing Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Changzhou Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changzhou, China
| | - Huanhuan Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - E Song
- Department of Ophthalmology, Lixiang Eye Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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Marquez J, Dong J, Hayashi J, Serrero G. Prostaglandin F2 Receptor Negative Regulator (PTGFRN) Expression Correlates With a Metastatic-like Phenotype in Epidermoid Carcinoma, Pediatric Medulloblastoma, and Mesothelioma. J Cell Biochem 2024; 125:e30616. [PMID: 38924562 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Prostaglandin F2 receptor negative regulator (PTGFRN) is a transmembrane protein associated with metastatic characteristics of certain cancer types. However, it remains poorly characterized and its direct function in cancer remains unclear. The study presented here aims to further examine whether PTGFRN expression affects a cancer cell's phenotype, as well as metastatic-like characteristics. We used stable shRNA and cDNA transfections to respectively knockdown and overexpress PTGFRN in three different cancer cell lines, two of which are representative of rare and aggressive cancers (Mesothelioma and Pediatric Medulloblastoma). We then examined the characteristics of the resulting clones and showed a decrease in proliferation, migration, colony formation, and spheroid growth capabilities in cells where PTGFRN expression had been inhibited, while cells overexpressing PTGFRN showed the opposite. In addition, we showed that PTGFRN displayed direct binding to two protein partners, Integrin β1 and E. Cadherin, the latter of which is a novel direct binding partner to PTGFRN. Furthermore, silencing PTGFRN expression impacted the cellular process of autophagy, thereby providing another avenue by which PTGFRN potentially contributes to a cancer cell phenotype. Our findings demonstrate the potential role of PTGFRN in cancer metastasis and suggest PTGFRN as a future target for drug development in the treatment of metastatic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Marquez
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Baltimore School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Target Discovery Division, A&G Pharmaceutical Inc., Columbia, Maryland, USA
| | - Jianping Dong
- Target Discovery Division, A&G Pharmaceutical Inc., Columbia, Maryland, USA
| | - Jun Hayashi
- Precision Antibody Service, Columbia, Maryland, USA
| | - Ginette Serrero
- Target Discovery Division, A&G Pharmaceutical Inc., Columbia, Maryland, USA
- Precision Antibody Service, Columbia, Maryland, USA
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Lorrai R, Cavaterra D, Giammaria S, Sbardella D, Tundo GR, Boccaccini A. Eye Diseases: When the Solution Comes from Plant Alkaloids. PLANTA MEDICA 2024; 90:426-439. [PMID: 38452806 DOI: 10.1055/a-2283-2350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Plants are an incredible source of metabolites showing a wide range of biological activities. Among these, there are the alkaloids, which have been exploited for medical purposes since ancient times. Nowadays, many plant-derived alkaloids are the main components of drugs used as therapy for different human diseases. This review deals with providing an overview of the alkaloids used to treat eye diseases, describing the historical outline, the plants from which they are extracted, and the clinical and molecular data supporting their therapeutic activity. Among the different alkaloids that have found application in medicine so far, atropine and pilocarpine are the most characterized ones. Conversely, caffeine and berberine have been proposed for the treatment of different eye disorders, but further studies are still necessary to fully understand their clinical value. Lastly, the alkaloid used for managing hypertension, reserpine, has been recently identified as a potential drug for ameliorating retinal disorders. Other important aspects discussed in this review are different solutions for alkaloid production. Given that the industrial production of many of the plant-derived alkaloids still relies on extraction from plants, and the chemical synthesis can be highly expensive and poorly efficient, alternative methods need to be found. Biotechnologies offer a multitude of possibilities to overcome these issues, spanning from genetic engineering to synthetic biology for microorganisms and bioreactors for plant cell cultures. However, further efforts are needed to completely satisfy the pharmaceutical demand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Lorrai
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin", Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Dario Cavaterra
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Grazia Raffaella Tundo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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Benvenuto M, Angiolini V, Focaccetti C, Nardozi D, Palumbo C, Carrano R, Rufini A, Bei R, Miele MT, Mancini P, Barillari G, Cirone M, Ferretti E, Tundo GR, Mutti L, Masuelli L, Bei R. Antitumoral effects of Bortezomib in malignant mesothelioma: evidence of mild endoplasmic reticulum stress in vitro and activation of T cell response in vivo. Biol Direct 2023; 18:17. [PMID: 37069690 PMCID: PMC10111665 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-023-00374-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a rare tumor with a dismal prognosis. The low efficacy of current treatment options highlights the urge to identify more effective therapies aimed at improving MM patients' survival. Bortezomib (Bor) is a specific and reversible inhibitor of the chymotrypsin-like activity of the 20S core of the proteasome, currently approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. On the other hand, Bor appears to have limited clinical effects on solid tumors, because of its low penetration and accumulation into tumor tissues following intravenous administration. These limitations could be overcome in MM through intracavitary delivery, with the advantage of increasing local drug concentration and decreasing systemic toxicity. METHODS In this study, we investigated the effects of Bor on cell survival, cell cycle distribution and modulation of apoptotic and pro-survival pathways in human MM cell lines of different histotypes cultured in vitro. Further, using a mouse MM cell line that reproducibly forms ascites when intraperitoneally injected in syngeneic C57BL/6 mice, we investigated the effects of intraperitoneal Bor administration in vivo on both tumor growth and the modulation of the tumor immune microenvironment. RESULTS We demonstrate that Bor inhibited MM cell growth and induced apoptosis. Further, Bor activated the Unfolded Protein Response, which however appeared to participate in lowering cells' sensitivity to the drug's cytotoxic effects. Bor also affected the expression of EGFR and ErbB2 and the activation of downstream pro-survival signaling effectors, including ERK1/2 and AKT. In vivo, Bor was able to suppress MM growth and extend mice survival. The Bor-mediated delay of tumor progression was sustained by increased activation of T lymphocytes recruited to the tumor microenvironment. CONCLUSIONS The results presented herein support the use of Bor in MM and advocate future studies aimed at defining the therapeutic potential of Bor and Bor-based combination regimens for this treatment-resistant, aggressive tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Benvenuto
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
- Saint Camillus International, University of Health and Medical Sciences, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Angiolini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Focaccetti
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Nardozi
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Camilla Palumbo
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaele Carrano
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Rufini
- Saint Camillus International, University of Health and Medical Sciences, Rome, Italy
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Bei
- Medical School, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Martino Tony Miele
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Mancini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Barillari
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Ferretti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Grazia Raffaella Tundo
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Luciano Mutti
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
- Center for Biotechnology, Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Laura Masuelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Bei
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
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Yang X, Huang Z, Xu M, Chen Y, Cao M, Yi G, Fu M. Autophagy in the retinal neurovascular unit: New perspectives into diabetic retinopathy. J Diabetes 2023; 15:382-396. [PMID: 36864557 PMCID: PMC10172025 DOI: 10.1111/1753-0407.13373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most prevalent retinal disorders worldwide, and it is a major cause of vision impairment in individuals of productive age. Research has demonstrated the significance of autophagy in DR, which is a critical intracellular homeostasis mechanism required for the destruction and recovery of cytoplasmic components. Autophagy maintains the physiological function of senescent and impaired organelles under stress situations, thereby regulating cell fate via various signals. As the retina's functional and fundamental unit, the retinal neurovascular unit (NVU) is critical in keeping the retinal environment's stability and supporting the needs of retinal metabolism. However, autophagy is essential for the normal NVU structure and function. We discuss the strong association between DR and autophagy in this review, as well as the many kinds of autophagy and its crucial physiological activities in the retina. By evaluating the pathological changes of retinal NVU in DR and the latest advancements in the molecular mechanisms of autophagy that may be involved in the pathophysiology of DR in NVU, we seek to propose new ideas and methods for the prevention and treatment of DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiongyi Yang
- Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
- The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Zexin Huang
- Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
- The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Mei Xu
- The Second People's Hospital of Jingmen, Jingmen, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanxia Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Mingzhe Cao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, P. R. China
| | - Guoguo Yi
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Min Fu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
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