Matrine promotes liver cancer cell apoptosis by inhibiting mitophagy and PINK1/Parkin pathways

Sophorae tonkinensis radix et rhizoma: A comprehensive review of the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicology and detoxification strategy

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Sophorae tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma (STR), the dried root and rhizome of Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep., is commonly used in the treatment of tonsillitis and pharyngitis, throat soreness and throat obstruction, swelling and aching of gum, etc. in China or other Asian countries. STR is usually used as the core herb in traditional Chinese medicine preparations, such as "Biyanling Tablets", "Fufang Muji Granules" and "Ganyanling Injections", etc. AIM OF THE REVIEW: This review aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of STR in terms of botany, traditional use, phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicology and detoxification strategy, to provide a rational application in future research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The information involved in the study was gathered from a variety of electronic resources, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), SciFinder, Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Chinese Masters and Doctoral Dissertations.

RESULTS

Till now, a total of 333 chemical components have been identified in STR, including 85 alkaloids, 124 flavonoids, 24 triterpenes, 27 triterpene saponins, 34 organic acids, 8 polysaccharides, etc. STR and its main active constituents have cardiovascular protection, anti-tumor activity, anti-inflammatory activity, antipyretic activity, analgesic activity, antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, antiviral activity, and hepatoprotective activity, etc. However, toxic effects of STR on the liver, nerves, heart, and gastrointestinal tract have also been observed. To mitigate these risks, STR needs attenuation before use, with the most common detoxification methods being processing and combined use with other drugs. The pharmacokinetics of STR in vivo and traditional and clinical prescriptions containing STR have been sorted out. Despite the potential therapeutic benefits of STR, further research is warranted to elucidate its hepatotoxicity, particularly in vivo, exploring aspects such as in vivo metabolism, distribution, and mechanisms.

CONCLUSION

This review serves to emphasize the therapeutic potential of STR and highlights the crucial need to address its toxicity concerns before considering clinical application. Further research is required to comprehensively investigate the toxicological properties of STR, with particular emphasis on its hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Such research endeavors have the potential to standardize the rational application of STR for optimal therapeutic outcomes.

Investigating the interplay between mitophagy and diabetic neuropathy: Uncovering the hidden secrets of the disease pathology

Mitophagy, the cellular process of selectively eliminating damaged mitochondria, plays a crucial role in maintaining metabolic balance and preventing insulin resistance, both key factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) development. When mitophagy malfunctions in diabetic neuropathy, it triggers a cascade of metabolic disruptions, including reduced energy production, increased oxidative stress, and cell death, ultimately leading to various complications. Thus, targeting mitophagy to enhance the process may have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for T2DM and its complications. Notably, plant-derived compounds with β-cell protective and mitophagy-stimulating properties offer potential as novel therapeutic agents. This review highlights the intricate mechanisms linking mitophagy dysfunction to T2DM and its complications, particularly neuropathy, elucidating potential therapeutic interventions for this debilitating disease.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae-induced Kawasaki disease via PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis with an unknown cause that primarily affects children. The objective of this study was to explore the function and underlying mechanism of mitophagy in Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP)-induced KD. To create MP-induced KD models, Human coronary endothelial cells (HCAECs) and DBA/2 mice were employed and treated with Mp-Lipid-associated membrane proteins （LAMPs）. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were tested to determine cellular damage or death. The inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)--α and interleukin (IL)-6 were measured using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. RT-qPCR and Western blotting were used to determine the expression of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule(ICAM)-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), LC3, p62, PINK1(a mitochondrial serine/threonine-protein kinase), and PARKIN(a cytosolic E3-ubiquitin ligase). The adenosine triphosphate （ATP）, reactive oxygen species （ROS）, and mitochondrial membrane potential（MMP） levels were measured to determine mitochondrial function. Mitophagy was investigated using immunofluorescence and a mitophagy detection test. Autophagosome and mitochondrial morphology were examined using transmission electron microscopy. To identify inflammatory cell infiltration, hematoxylin and eosin staining was utilized. Mp-LAMPs increased the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and iNOS in an HCAEC cell model, along with LDH release. After Mp-LAMPs exposure, there was a rise in LC3 and a reduction in p62. Meanwhile, the expression of PINK1 and Parkin was increased. Cyclosporin A dramatically increased ATP synthesis and MMP in HCAEC cells treated with Mp-LAMPs, while suppressing ROS generation, demonstrating excessive mitophagy-related mitochondrial dysfunction. Additionally, neither body weight nor artery tissue were affected due to PINK1 and Parkin suppression Cyclosporin A in Mp-LAMPs-treated mice. These findings indicated that PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy inhibition may be a therapeutic target for MP-induced KD.

Predicting mitophagy-related genes and unveiling liver endothelial cell heterogeneity in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury

Background

Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury (HIRI) is a major complication in liver transplants and surgeries, significantly affecting postoperative outcomes. The role of mitophagy, essential for removing dysfunctional mitochondria and maintaining cellular balance, remains unclear in HIRI.

Methods

To unravel the role of mitophagy-related genes (MRGs) in HIRI, we assembled a comprehensive dataset comprising 44 HIRI samples alongside 44 normal control samples from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database for this analysis. Using Random Forests and Support Vector Machines - Recursive Feature Elimination (SVM-RFE), we pinpointed eight pivotal genes and developed a logistic regression model based on these findings. Further, we employed consensus cluster analysis for classifying HIRI patients according to their MRG expression profiles and conducted weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify clusters of genes that exhibit high correlation within different modules. Additionally, we conducted single-cell RNA sequencing data analysis to explore insights into the behavior of MRGs within the HIRI.

Results

We identified eight key genes (FUNDC1, VDAC1, MFN2, PINK1, CSNK2A2, ULK1, UBC, MAP1LC3B) with distinct expressions between HIRI and controls, confirmed by PCR validation. Our diagnostic model, based on these genes, accurately predicted HIRI outcomes. Analysis revealed a strong positive correlation of these genes with monocytic lineage and a negative correlation with B and T cells. HIRI patients were divided into three subclusters based on MRG profiles, with WGCNA uncovering highly correlated gene modules. Single-cell analysis identified two types of endothelial cells with different MRG scores, indicating their varied roles in HIRI.

Conclusions

Our study highlights the critical role of MRGs in HIRI and the heterogeneity of endothelial cells. We identified the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and cGAS-STING (GAS) pathways as regulators of mitophagy's impact on HIRI. These findings advance our understanding of mitophagy in HIRI and set the stage for future research and therapeutic developments.

Natural products targeting macroautophagy signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma therapy: Recent evidence and perspectives

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), presently the second leading cause of global cancer-related mortality, continues to pose significant challenges in the realm of medical oncology, impacting both clinical drug selection and mechanistic research. Recent investigations have unveiled autophagy-related signaling as a promising avenue for HCC treatment. A growing body of research has highlighted the pivotal role of autophagy-modulating natural products in inhibiting HCC progression. In this context, we provide a concise overview of the fundamental autophagy mechanism and delineate the involvement of autophagic signaling pathways in HCC development. Additionally, we review pertinent studies demonstrating how natural products regulate autophagy to mitigate HCC. Our findings indicate that natural products exhibit cytotoxic effects through the induction of excessive autophagy, simultaneously impeding HCC cell proliferation by autophagy inhibition, thereby depriving HCC cells of essential energy. These effects have been associated with various signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT, MAPK, AMPK, Wnt/β-catenin, Beclin-1, and ferroautophagy. These results underscore the considerable therapeutic potential of natural products in HCC treatment. However, it is important to note that the present study did not establish definitive thresholds for autophagy induction or inhibition by natural products. Further research in this domain is imperative to gain comprehensive insights into the dual role of autophagy, equipping us with a better understanding of this double-edged sword in HCC management.

Integrating network pharmacology and Mendelian randomization to explore potential targets of matrine against ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

Matrine has been reported inhibitory effects on ovarian cancer (OC) cell progression, development, and apoptosis. However, the molecular targets of matrine against OC and the underlying mechanisms of action remain elusive.

OBJECTIVE

This study endeavors to unveil the potential targets of matrine against OC and to explore the intricate relationships between these targets and the pathogenesis of OC.

METHODS

The effects of matrine on the OC cells (A2780 and AKOV3) viability, apoptosis, migration, and invasion was investigated through CCK-8, flow cytometry, wound healing, and Transwell analyses, respectively. Next, Matrine-related targets, OC-related genes, and ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequence data were harnessed from publicly available databases. Differentially expressed analyses, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and Venn diagram were involved to unravel the core targets of matrine against OC. Leveraging the GEPIA database, we further validated the expression levels of these core targets between OC cases and controls. Mendelian randomization (MR) study was implemented to delve into potential causal associations between core targets and OC. The AutoDock software was used for molecular docking, and its results were further validated using RT-qPCR in OC cell lines.

RESULTS

Matrine reduced the cell viability, migration, invasion and increased the cell apoptosis of A2780 and AKOV3 cells (P< 0.01). A PPI network with 578 interactions among 105 candidate targets was developed. Finally, six core targets (TP53, CCND1, STAT3, LI1B, VEGFA, and CCL2) were derived, among which five core targets (TP53, CCND1, LI1B, VEGFA, and CCL2) differential expressed in OC and control samples were further picked for MR analysis. The results revealed that CCND1 and TP53 were risk factors for OC. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated that matrine had good potential to bind to TP53, CCND1, and IL1B. Moreover, matrine reduced the expression of CCND1 and IL1B while elevating P53 expression in OC cell lines.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified six matrine-related targets against OC, offering novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of matrine against OC. These findings provide valuable guidance for developing more efficient and targeted therapeutic approaches for treating OC.

The progress of research on immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance and reversal strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in humans, which is prone to recurrence and metastasis and has a poor prognosis. The occurrence and progression of HCC are closely related to immune elimination, immune homeostasis, and immune escape of the immune system. In recent years, immunotherapy, represented by immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has shown powerful anti-tumor capabilities in HCC patients. However, there are still some HCC patients who cannot benefit from ICIs treatment due to their innate or acquired drug resistance. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to explore the possible mechanisms of resistance to ICIs in HCC and to use them as a target to design strategies to reverse resistance, to overcome drug resistance in HCC and to improve the prognosis of patients. This article summarizes the possible primary (tumor microenvironment alteration, and signaling pathways, etc.) and acquired (immune checkpoint upregulation) resistance mechanisms in patients with HCC treated with ICIs, and based on this, discusses the status and effectiveness of combination drug strategy to reverse drug resistance, to provide a reference for subsequent related studies and decisions.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Involvement of Mitophagy and Peroxisome in the Resistance to QoIs in Corynespora cassiicola

Quinone outside inhibitor fungicides (QoIs) are crucial fungicides for controlling plant diseases, but resistance, mainly caused by G143A, has been widely reported with the high and widespread use of QoIs. However, two phenotypes of Corynespora casiicola (RI and RII) with the same G143A showed significantly different resistance to QoIs in our previous study, which did not match the reported mechanisms. Therefore, transcriptome analysis of RI and RII strains after trifloxystrobin treatment was used to explore the new resistance mechanism in this study. The results show that 332 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significantly up-regulated and 448 DEGs were significantly down-regulated. The results of GO and KEGG enrichment showed that DEGs were most enriched in ribosomes, while also having enrichment in peroxide, endocytosis, the lysosome, autophagy, and mitophagy. In particular, mitophagy and peroxisome have been reported in medicine as the main mechanisms of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, while the lysosome and endocytosis are an important organelle and physiological process, respectively, that assist mitophagy. The oxidative stress experiments showed that the oxidative stress resistance of the RII strains was significantly higher than that of the RI strains: specifically, it was more than 1.8-fold higher at a concentration of 0.12% H2O2. This indicates that there is indeed a significant difference in the scavenging capacity of ROS between the two phenotypic strains. Therefore, we suggest that QoIs' action caused a high production of ROS, and that scavenging mechanisms such as mitophagy and peroxisomes functioned in RII strains to prevent oxidative stress, whereas RI strains were less capable of resisting oxidative stress, resulting in different resistance to QoIs. In this study, it was first revealed that mitophagy and peroxisome mechanisms available for ROS scavenging are involved in the resistance of pathogens to fungicides.

Review of PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitochondrial autophagy in Alzheimer's disease

Mitochondrial autophagy plays an important role in maintaining the complexity of mitochondrial functions and removing damaged mitochondria, of which the PINK1-Parkin signal pathway is one of the most classical pathways. Thus, a comprehensive and in-depth interpretation of the PINK1-Parkin signal pathway might deepen our understanding on the impacts of mitochondrial autophagy. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a classical example of neurodegenerative disease. Research on the pathogenesis and treatments of AD has been a focus of scientific research because of its complexity and the limitations of current drug therapies. It was reported that the pathogenesis of AD might be related to mitochondrial autophagy due to excessive deposition of Aβ protein and aggravation of the phosphorylation of Tau protein. Two key proteins in the PINK1-Parkin signaling pathway, PINK1 and Parkin, have important roles in the folding and accumulation of Aβ protein and the phosphorylation of Tau protein. In addition, the intermediate signal molecules in the PINK1-Parkin signal pathway also have certain effects on AD. In this paper, we first described the role of PINK1-Parkin signal pathway on mitochondrial autophagy, then discussed and analyzed the effect of the PINK1-Parkin signal pathway in AD and other metabolic diseases. Our aim was to provide a theoretical direction to further elucidate the pathogenesis of AD and highlight the key molecules related to AD that could be important targets used for AD drug development.

Unraveling the Janus-Faced Role of Autophagy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Implications for Therapeutic Interventions

This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying autophagy and mitophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Autophagy is an essential cellular process in maintaining cell homeostasis. Still, its dysregulation is associated with the development of liver diseases, including HCC, which is one of leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. We focus on elucidating the dual role of autophagy in HCC, both in tumor initiation and progression, and highlighting the complex nature involved in the disease. In addition, we present a detailed analysis of a small subset of autophagy- and mitophagy-related molecules, revealing their specific functions during tumorigenesis and the progression of HCC cells. By understanding these mechanisms, we aim to provide valuable insights into potential therapeutic strategies to manipulate autophagy effectively. The goal is to improve the therapeutic response of liver cancer cells and overcome drug resistance, providing new avenues for improved treatment options for HCC patients. Overall, this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians interested in the complex role of autophagy in HCC and its potential as a target for innovative therapies aimed to combat this devastating disease.

Parkin enhances sensitivity of paclitaxel to nasopharyngeal carcinoma by activating BNIP3/NIX-mediated mitochondrial autophagy

As a malignant head and neck cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has high morbidity. Parkin expression has been reported to be reduced in NPC tissues and its upregulation could enhance paclitaxel-resistant cell cycle arrest. This study was performed to explore the possible mechanism of Parkin related to B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa interacting protein 3 (BNIP3)/BNIP3-like (NIX)-mediated mitochondrial autophagy in NPC cells. Initially, after Parkin overexpression or silencing, cell viability and proliferation were evaluated by lactate dehydrogenase and colony formation assays. JC-1 staining was used to assess the mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, the levels of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial ROS were detected using DCFH-DA staining and mitochondrial ROS (MitoSOX) red staining. The expression of proteins was measured using Western blot. Results showed that Parkin overexpression inhibited, whereas Parkin knockdown promoted the proliferation of paclitaxel-treated NPC cells. Besides, Parkin overexpression induced, whereas Parkin knockdown inhibited mitochondrial apoptosis in paclitaxel-treated NPC cells, as evidenced by the changes of Cytochrome C (mitochondria), Cytochrome C (cytoplasm), BAK, and Bcl-2 expression. Moreover, the levels of ROS, mitochondrial membrane potential, and LC3II/LC3I in paclitaxel-treated C666-1 cells were hugely elevated by Parkin overexpression and were all declined by Parkin knockdown in CNE-3 cells. Furthermore, Parkin upregulation activated, whereas Parkin downregulation inactivated BNIP3/NIX signaling. Further, BNIP3 silencing or overexpression reversed the impacts of Parkin upregulation or downregulation on the proliferation and mitochondrial apoptosis of paclitaxel-treated NPC cells. Particularly, Mdivi-1 (mitophagy inhibitor) or rapamycin (an activator of autophagy) exerted the same effects on NPC cells as BNIP3 silencing or overexpression, respectively. Collectively, Parkin overexpression activated BNIP3/NIX-mediated mitochondrial autophagy to enhance sensitivity to paclitaxel in NPC.

Mechanistic engineering of celastrol liposomes induces ferroptosis and apoptosis by directly targeting VDAC2 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of most common and deadliest malignancies. Celastrol (Cel), a natural product derived from the Tripterygium wilfordii plant, has been extensively researched for its potential effectiveness in fighting cancer. However, its clinical application has been hindered by the unclear mechanism of action. Here, we used chemical proteomics to identify the direct targets of Cel and enhanced its targetability and anti-tumor capacity by developing a Cel-based liposomes in HCC. We demonstrated that Cel selectively targets the voltage-dependent anion channel 2 (VDAC2). Cel directly binds to the cysteine residues of VDAC2, and induces cytochrome C release via dysregulating VDAC2-mediated mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) function. We further found that Cel induces ROS-mediated ferroptosis and apoptosis in HCC cells. Moreover, coencapsulation of Cel into alkyl glucoside-modified liposomes (AGCL) improved its antitumor efficacy and minimized its side effects. AGCL has been shown to effectively suppress the proliferation of tumor cells. In a xenograft nude mice experiment, AGCL significantly inhibited tumor growth and promoted apoptosis. Our findings reveal that Cel directly targets VDAC2 to induce mitochondria-dependent cell death, while the Cel liposomes enhance its targetability and reduces side effects. Overall, Cel shows promise as a therapeutic agent for HCC.

An integrated analytical strategy to decipher the metabolic profile of alkaloids in Compound Kushen injection based on UHPLC-ESI-QTOF/MSE

1. Compound Kushen injection (CKI) is a kind of sterilized water-soluble traditional Chinese medicine preparation that has been used for the clinical treatment of a variety of cancers (hepatocellular carcinoma, lung cancer, etc.) for nineteen years. However, to date, the metabolism-related study on CKI in vivo has not been conducted.2. An integrated analytical strategy was established to investigate the metabolic profile of alkaloids of CKI in rat plasma, urine and feces based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry in MS^E mode (UHPLC-ESI-QTOF/MS^E).3. Nineteen prototype alkaloids (including 12 matrine-type alkaloids, 2 cytisine-type alkaloids, 3 lupinine-type alkaloids, and 2 aloperine-type alkaloids) of CKI were identified in vivo. Furthermore, seventy-one metabolites of alkaloids (including 11 of lupanine-related metabolites, 14 of sophoridine-related metabolites, 14 of lamprolobine-related metabolites and 32 of baptifoline-related metabolites) were tentatively characterized. Metabolic pathways involved in the metabolism of phase I (include oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis, and desaturation), phase II (mainly include glucuronidation, acetylcysteine or cysteine conjugation, methylation, acetylation and sulfation) and associated combination reactions.4. The integrated analytical strategy was successfully used to characterize the prototype alkaloids and their metabolites in CKI, and the results laying a foundation for further study its pharmacodynamic substances in vivo.

Biochemical Targets and Molecular Mechanism of Matrine against Aging

The aim of this study is to explore the potential targets and molecular mechanism of matrine (MAT) against aging. Bioinformatic-based network pharmacology was used to investigate the aging-related targets and MAT-treated targets. A total of 193 potential genes of MAT against aging were obtained and then the top 10 key genes (cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 1, Cyclin A2, androgen receptor, Poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase-1 (PARP1), histone-lysine N-methyltransferase, albumin, mammalian target of rapamycin, histone deacetylase 2, and matrix metalloproteinase 9) were filtered by the molecular complex detection, maximal clique centrality (MMC) algorithm, and degree. The Metascape tool was used for analyzing biological processes and pathways of the top 10 key genes. The main biological processes were response to an inorganic substance and cellular response to chemical stress (including cellular response to oxidative stress). The major pathways were involved in cellular senescence and the cell cycle. After an analysis of major biological processes and pathways, it appears that PARP1/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺)-mediated cellular senescence may play an important role in MAT against aging. Molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and in vivo study were used for further investigation. MAT could interact with the cavity of the PARP1 protein with the binding energy at -8.5 kcal/mol. Results from molecular dynamics simulations showed that the PARP1-MAT complex was more stable than PARP1 alone and that the binding-free energy of the PARP1-MAT complex was -15.962 kcal/mol. The in vivo study showed that MAT could significantly increase the NAD⁺ level of the liver of d-gal-induced aging mice. Therefore, MAT could interfere with aging through the PARP1/NAD⁺-mediated cellular senescence signaling pathway.

Impaired mitophagy causes mitochondrial DNA leakage and STING activation in ultraviolet B-irradiated human keratinocytes HaCaT

Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation causes skin damages. In this study, we focus on the involvement of mitochondrial disorders in UVB injury. Surprisingly, UVB irradiation increases the amounts of mitochondria in human immortalized keratinocytes HaCaT. However, further analysis shows that ATP levels decreased by UVB treatment in accordance with the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), suggesting an accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. Mitophagy, mainly mediated by PINK1 and parkin, is critical for the elimination of damaged mitochondria. Western blot results show that the levels of both PINK1 and parkin are decreased in UVB-irradiated cells, indicating the impairment of mitophagy. Silencing the expression of PINK1 or parkin by transfection of siRNA shows essentially the same damage to the cells as UVB irradiation does, including increased mitochondrial amount, decreased MMP and ATP production, and enhanced apoptosis, evidencing that repression of PINK1/parkin-mediated mitophagy plays a primary cause of UVB-caused cells damages. We previously found that HaCaT cells exposed to UVB showed activation of the cGAS-STING pathway and apoptosis. Here, silencing PINK1 or parkin also increases the protein levels of cGAS and STING, facilitates nuclear accumulation of NF-κB, and promotes the transcription of IFNβ, suggesting for the activation of STING pathway. Mitophagy impairment either by UVB-irradiation or by PINK1/parkin silencing initiates caspase-3-mediated apoptosis, as shown by the activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of PARP, as well as the increase of Hoechst-positive stained cells and Annexin V-positive cells. Further studies find that Bax-mediated permeabilization of mitochondrial membrane is critical for cell apoptosis, as well as the cytosolic leakage of mtDNA in UVB-treated cells, which results in cGAS-STING activation, and these processes are negatively-regulated by PINK1/parkin-mediated mitophagy. This study reveals the involvement of dysfunctional mitochondria due to impaired mitophagy in the damaging effect of UVB irradiation on HaCaT cells. Restoring the mitophagy has the potential to be developed as a new strategy to protect skin from UVB damages.

Metabolic rearrangements and intratumoral heterogeneity for immune response in hepatocellular carcinoma

Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors globally. Not only is it difficult to diagnose, but treatments are scarce and the prognosis is generally poor. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer. Aggressive cancer cells, such as those found in HCC, undergo extensive metabolic rewiring as tumorigenesis, the unique feature, ultimately causes adaptation to the neoplastic microenvironment. Intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH) is defined as the presence of distinct genetic features and different phenotypes in the same tumoral region. ITH, a property unique to malignant cancers, results in differences in many different features of tumors, including, but not limited to, tumor growth and resistance to chemotherapy, which in turn is partly responsible for metabolic reprogramming. Moreover, the different metabolic phenotypes might also activate the immune response to varying degrees and help tumor cells escape detection by the immune system. In this review, we summarize the reprogramming of glucose metabolism and tumoral heterogeneity and their associations that occur in HCC, to obtain a better understanding of the mechanisms of HCC oncogenesis.

Regulation of Parkin in Cr (VI)-induced mitophagy in chicken hepatocytes

The large amount of heavy metal chromium emissions from industrial production, ore smelting and sewage treatment plants have made chromium one of the most widespread heavy metal pollutants, with Cr (VI) being the most toxic. In recent years, people have gradually recognized the great harm of heavy metal chromium pollution, but the research on its pathogenic mechanism is still not deep enough. In this study, we treated the Primary cells of chicken liver with Cr (VI) to establish a model of toxicity. The optimal treatment time and Cr (VI) concentration were screened using the CCK-8 test. The intracellular mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured qualitatively and quantitatively by laser confocal and flow cytometry, respectively. This result was confirmed by the fact that Cr (VI) could cause mitophagy by causing damage to mitochondria. Subsequently, this study used LMH cells to construct a Parkin silencing model to further investigate that Parkin exerts the function on the Cr (VI)-induced mitophagy in chicken hepatocytes. The results showed that the knockdown of Parkin effectively blocked p62 degradation and LC3 lipidation and that PINK1 expression was significantly inhibited in LMH cells, further suggesting that the knockdown of Parkin effectively inhibited mitophagy. Mitochondrial morphology, MMP, and ROS were observed using laser confocal. The results showed that Parkin knockdown resulted in mitochondrial fission and increased levels of reactive oxygen species, together with increased depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential. These changes led to increased mitochondrial damage. In conclusion, this study showed that Cr (VI) could cause the occurrence of mitophagy by damaging mitochondria, and Parkin played a crucial role in Cr (VI)-induced mitophagy in chicken hepatocytes.

The emerging multifaceted role of PINK1 in cancer biology

For its various important functions in cells, phosphatase and tensin homolog-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) has drawn considerable attention for the role it plays in early-onset Parkinson's disease. In recent years, emerging evidence has supported the hypothesis that PINK1 plays a part in regulating many physiological and pathophysiological processes in cancer cells, including cytoplasmic homeostasis, cell survival, and cell death. According to the findings of these studies, PINK1 can function as a tumor promoter or suppressor, showing a duality that is dependent on the context. In this study we review the mechanistic characters relating to PINK1 based on available published data from peer-reviewed articles, The Cancer Genome Atlas data mining, and cell-based assays. This mini review focuses on some of the interplays between PINK1 and the context and recent developments in the field, including its growing involvement in mitophagy and its nonmitophagy organelles-related function. This review aims to help readers better grasp how PINK1 is functioning in cell physiological and pathophysiological processes, especially in cancer biology.

A Mitophagy-Related Gene Signature for Subtype Identification and Prognosis Prediction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Globally, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer. In this study, the correlation between mitophagy and HCC prognosis was evaluated using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Clinical and transcriptomic data of HCC patients were downloaded from TCGA dataset, and mitophagy-related gene (MRG) datasets were obtained from the Molecular Signature Database. Then, a consensus clustering analysis was performed to classify the patients into two clusters. Furthermore, tumor prognosis, clinicopathological features, functional analysis, immune infiltration, immune checkpoint (IC)-related gene expression level, tumor stem cells, ferroptosis status, and N6-methyladenosine analysis were compared between the two clusters. Finally, a mitophagy-related signature was developed. Two clusters (C1 and C2) were identified using the consensus clustering analysis based on the MRG signature. Patients with the C1 subtype exhibited upregulated pathways with better liver function, downregulated cancer-related pathways, lower cancer stem cell scores, lower Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion scores (TIDE), different ferroptosis status, and better prognosis compared with the patients with the C2 subtype. The C2 subtype was characterized by the increased grade of HCC, as well as the increased number of immune-related pathways and m⁶A-related genes. Higher immune scores were also observed for the C2 subtype. A signature containing four MRGs (PGAM5, SQSTM1, ATG9A, and GABARAPL1) which can accurately predict the prognosis of HCC patients was then identified. This four-gene signature exhibited a predictive effect in five other cancer types, namely glioma, uveal melanoma, acute myeloid leukemia, adrenocortical carcinoma, and mesothelioma. The mitophagy-associated subtypes of HCC were closely related to the immune microenvironment, immune checkpoint-related gene expression, cancer stem cells, ferroptosis status, m⁶A, prognosis, and HCC progression. The established MRG signature could predict prognosis in patients with HCC.

The Effects of Qinghao-Kushen and Its Active Compounds on the Biological Characteristics of Liver Cancer Cells

Background and Aims. Artemisia annua (Qinghao) and Sophora flavescens (Kushen) are traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). They are widely used in disease therapy, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, their key compounds and targets for HCC treatment are unclear. This article mainly analyzed the vital active compounds and the mechanism of Qinghao-Kushen acting on HCC. Methods. First, we chose a traditional Chinese medicine, which has an excellent clinical effect on HCC by network meta-analysis. Then, we composed the Qinghao-Kushen herb pair and prepared the medicated serum. The active compounds of Qinghao-Kushen were verified by the LC-MS method. Next, we detected key targets from PubChem, SymMap, SwissTargetPrediction, DisGeNET, and GeneCards databases. Subsequently, the mechanism of Qinghao-Kushen was predicted by network pharmacology strategy and primarily examined in HuH-7 cells, HepG2 cells, and HepG2215 cells. Results. The effect of the Qinghao-Kushen combination was significantly better than that of single Qinghao or single Kushen in HepG2 and HuH-7 cells. Qinghao-Kushen increased the expression of activated caspase-3 protein than Qinghao or Kushen alone in HepG2 and HepG2215 cells. Network analyses and the LC-MS method revealed that the pivotal compounds of Qinghao-Kushen were matrine and scopoletin. GSK-3β was one of the critical molecules related to Qinghao-Kushen. We confirmed that Qinghao-Kushen and matrine-scopoletin decreased the expression of GSK-3β in HepG2 cells while increased GSK-3β expression in HepG2215 cells. Conclusions. This work not only illustrated that the practical components of Qinghao-Kushen on HCC were matrine and scopoletin but shed light on the inhibitory of Qinghao-Kushen and matrine-scopoletin on liver cancer cells. Moreover, Qinghao-Kushen and matrine-scopoletin had a synergistic effect over the drug alone in HuH-7, HepG2, or HepG2215 cells. GSK-3β may be a potential target for HCC therapy.

Research progress of matrine's anticancer activity and its molecular mechanism

BACKGROUND

and ethnopharmacological relevance: Matrine (MT), a type of alkaloid extracted from the Sophora family of traditional Chinese medicine, has been documented to exert a variety of pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-viral, anti-fibrosis, and cardiovascular protection. Sophora flavescens Aiton is a traditional Chinese medicine that is bitter and cold. Additionally, it also exhibits the effects of clearing heat, eliminating dampness, expelling insects, and promoting urination. Malignant tumors are the most important medical issue and are also the second leading cause of death worldwide. Numerous natural substances have recently been revealed to have potent anticancer properties, and several have been used in clinical trials.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

To summarize the antitumor effects and associated mechanisms of MT, we compiled this review by combining a huge body of relevant literature and our previous research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

As demonstrated, we grouped the pharmacological effects of MT via a PubMed search. Further, we described the mechanism and current pharmacological research on MT's antitumor activity.

RESULTS

Additionally, extensive research has demonstrated that MT possesses superior antitumor properties, including accelerating cell apoptosis, inhibiting tumor cell growth and proliferation, inducing cell cycle arrest, inhibiting cancer metastasis and invasion, inhibiting angiogenesis, inducing autophagy, reversing multidrug resistance and inhibiting cell differentiation, thus indicating its significant potential for cancer treatment and prognosis.

CONCLUSION

This article summarizes current advances in research on the anticancer properties of MT and its molecular mechanism, to provide references for future research.

Potential role of mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membrane proteins in diseases

Mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs) are dynamic membrane coupling regions formed by the coupling of the mitochondrial outer membrane and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). MAMs are involved in the mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy, Ca²⁺ exchange, and ER stress. A large number of studies indicate that many proteins are involved in the formation of MAMs, including dynamic-related protein 1 (Drp1), DJ-1, PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK), α-synuclein (α-syn), sigma-1 receptor (S1R), mitofusin-2 (Mfn2), presenilin-1 (PS1), protein kinase R (PKR)-like ER kinase (PERK), Parkin, Cyclophilin D (CypD), glucose-related protein 75 (Grp75), FUN14 domain containing 1 (Fundc1), vesicle-associated membrane-protein-associated protein B (VAPB), phosphofurin acidic cluster sorting protein 2 (PACS-2), ER oxidoreductin 1 (Ero1), and receptor expression-enhancing protein 1 (REEP1). These proteins play an important role in the structure and functions of the MAMs. Abnormalities in these MAM proteins further contribute to the occurrence and development of related diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases, non-alcoholicfattyliverdisease (NALFD), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and diabetic kidney (DN). In this review, we introduce important proteins involved in the structure and the functions of the MAMs. Furthermore, we effectively summarize major insights about these proteins that are involved in the physiopathology of several diseases through the effect on MAMs.

Matrine protects colon mucosal epithelial cells against inflammation and apoptosis via the Janus kinase 2 /signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a type of chronic disease of inflammation, and matrine has anti-inflammatory activity. However, it is unclear that whether matrine can alleviate UC. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of matrine on DSS-induced intestinal epithelial cell injury. Cell viability was performed by MTT assay. Then cell apoptosis was analyzed using the TUNEL assay and flow cytometry. The levels of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β were evaluated using qRT-PCR. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was detected using ELISA assay. Nitric oxide (NO) production was detected by the Griess reagent. Bax, cleaved caspase-3, Bcl-2, JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT3, p-STAT3, STAT5, p-STAT5 levels were measured by Western blot. Bax (6A7) was asses using immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays. The results illustrated that cell viability was inhibited as the concentration of DSS increased. Matrine did not affect cell viability at the concentration of 0–2 mg/ml but inhibited cell viability in a time-independent manner. Matrine suppressed the levels of pro-inflammatory factors, MPO activity, NO production, and apoptosis of DSS-stimulated cells. Furthermore, we found that matrine inhibited the levels of p-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3 but did not affect p-STAT5/STAT5. AG490 treatment further enhanced the effect of matrine on the apoptosis and pro-inflammatory factor levels in DSS-induced cells. In summary, matrine protected NCM460 cell against injury by inactivating the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. These data suggested for the first time that matrine may effective in treating UC.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors inhibit cervical cancer growth through Parkin acetylation-mediated mitophagy

Parkin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, plays a role in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis through targeting damaged mitochondria for mitophagy. Accumulating evidence suggests that the acetylation modification of the key mitophagy machinery influences mitophagy level, but the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Here, our study demonstrated that inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) by treatment of HDACis activates mitophagy through mediating Parkin acetylation, leading to inhibition of cervical cancer cell proliferation. Bioinformatics analysis shows that Parkin expression is inversely correlated with HDAC2 expression in human cervical cancer, indicating the low acetylation level of Parkin. Using mass spectrometry, Parkin is identified to interact with two upstream molecules, acetylase acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 1 (ACAT1) and deacetylase HDAC2. Under treatment of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), Parkin is acetylated at lysine residues 129, 220 and 349, located in different domains of Parkin protein. In in vitro experiments, combined mutation of Parkin largely attenuate the interaction of Parkin with PTEN induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) and the function of Parkin in mitophagy induction and tumor suppression. In tumor xenografts, the expression of mutant Parkin impairs the tumor suppressive effect of Parkin and decreases the anticancer activity of SAHA. Our results reveal an acetylation-dependent regulatory mechanism governing Parkin in mitophagy and cervical carcinogenesis, which offers a new mitophagy modulation strategy for cancer therapy.

Melatonin and verteporfin synergistically suppress the growth and stemness of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma through the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics

The prevalence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has continued to rise for decades. However, drug resistance to chemotherapeutics and relapse, mediated by cancer stem cells (CSCs), remains a significant impediment in clinical oncology to achieve successful treatment. Therefore, we focused on analyzing CSCs in HNSCC and demonstrated the effect of melatonin (Mel) and verteporfin (VP) on SCC-25 cells. HNSCC CSCs were enriched in the reactive oxygen species-low state and in sphere-forming cultures. Combination treatment with Mel and VP decreased HNSCC viability and increased apoptosis without causing significant damage to normal cells. Sphere-forming ability and stem cell population were reduced by co-treatment with Mel and VP, while mitochondrial ROS level was increased by the treatment. Furthermore, the expression of mitophagy markers, parkin and PINK1, was significantly decreased in the co-treated cells. Mel and VP induced mitochondrial depolarization and inhibited mitochondrial function. Parkin/TOM20 was localized near the nucleus and formed clusters of mitochondria in the cells after treatment. Moreover, Mel and VP downregulated the expression of markers involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis. The migration capacity of cells was significantly decreased by co-treatment with Mel and VP, accompanied by the down-regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression. Taken together, these results indicate that co-treatment with Mel and VP induces mitochondrial dysfunction, resulting in the apoptosis of CSCs. Mel and VP could thus be further investigated as potential therapies for HNSCC through their action on CSCs.

Dual role of cadmium in rat liver: Inducing liver injury and inhibiting the progression of early liver cancer

The heavy metal cadmium (Cd) can induce damage in liver and liver cancer cells; however, the mechanism underlying its toxicity needs to be further verified in vivo. We daily administered CdCl₂ to adult male rats at different dosages via gavage for 12 weeks and established rat liver injury model and liver cancer model to study the dual role of Cd in rat liver. Increased exposure to Cd resulted in abnormal liver function indicators, pathological degeneration, rat liver cell necrosis, and proliferation of collagen fibres. Using immunohistochemistry, we found that the area of GST-P-positive precancerous liver lesions decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy revealed that Cd induced mitophagy, as well as mitophagy blockade, as evidenced by the downregulation of TOMM20 and upregulation of LC3II and P62 with increasing Cd dose. Next, the expression of PINK1/Parkin, a classic signalling pathway protein that regulates mitophagy, was examined. Cd was found to promote PINK1/Parkin expression, which was proportional to the Cd dose. In conclusion, Cd activates PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy in a dose-dependent manner. Mitophagy blockade likely aggravates Cd toxicity, leading to the dual role of inducing liver injury and inhibiting the progression of early liver cancer.

Electroacupuncture Pretreatment Alleviates Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Regulating Mitophagy via mTOR-ULK1/FUNDC1 Axis in Rats

OBJECTIVE

Electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment has been shown to alleviate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. To investigate the involvement of mTOR signaling in the protective role of EA in I/R-induced brain damage and mitochondrial injury.

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley male rats were pretreated with vehicle, EA (at Baihui and Shuigou acupoints), or rapamycin + EA for 30 min daily for 5 consecutive days, followed by the middle cerebral artery occlusion to induce I/R injury. The neurological functions of the rats were assessed using the Longa neurological deficit scores. The rats were sacrificed immediately after neurological function assessment. The brains were obtained for the measurements of cerebral infarct area. The mitochondrial structural alterations were observed under transmission electron microscopy. The mitochondrial membrane potential changes were detected by JC-1 staining. The alterations in autophagy-related protein expression were examined using Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Compared with untreated I/R rats, EA-pretreated rats exhibited significantly decreased neurological deficit scores and cerebral infarct volumes. EA pretreatment also reversed I/R-induced mitochondrial structural abnormalities and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, EA pretreatment downregulated the protein expression of LC3-II, p-ULK1, and FUNDC1 while upregulating the protein expression of p-mTORC1 and LC3-I. Rapamycin effectively blocked the above-mentioned effects of EA.

CONCLUSION

EA pretreatment at Baihui and Shuigou alleviates cerebral I/R injury and mitochondrial impairment in rats through activating the mTORC1 signaling. The suppression of autophagy-related p-ULK1/FUNDC1 pathway is involved in the neuroprotective effects of EA.

Targeting PINK1 Using Natural Products for the Treatment of Human Diseases

PINK1, also known as PARK6, is a PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 that is encoded by nuclear genes. PINK1 is ubiquitously expressed and regulates mitochondrial function and mitophagy in a range of cell types. The dysregulation of PINK1 is associated with the pathogenesis and development of mitochondrial-associated disorders. Many natural products could regulate PINK1 to relieve PINK1-associated diseases. Here, we review the structure and function of PINK1, its relationship to human diseases, and the regulation of natural products to PINK1. We further highlight that the discovery of natural PINK1 regulators represents an attractive strategy for the treatment of PINK1-related diseases, including liver and heart diseases, cancer, and Parkinson's disease. Moreover, investigating PINK1 regulation of natural products can enhance the in-depth comprehension of the mechanism of action of natural products.

The Potential Application of Chinese Medicine in Liver Diseases: A New Opportunity

Liver diseases have been a common challenge for people all over the world, which threatens the quality of life and safety of hundreds of millions of patients. China is a major country with liver diseases. Metabolic associated fatty liver disease, hepatitis B virus and alcoholic liver disease are the three most common liver diseases in our country, and the number of patients with liver cancer is increasing. Therefore, finding effective drugs to treat liver disease has become an urgent task. Chinese medicine (CM) has the advantages of low cost, high safety, and various biological activities, which is an important factor for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases. This review systematically summarizes the potential of CM in the treatment of liver diseases, showing that CM can alleviate liver diseases by regulating lipid metabolism, bile acid metabolism, immune function, and gut microbiota, as well as exerting anti-liver injury, anti-oxidation, and anti-hepatitis virus effects. Among them, Keap1/Nrf2, TGF-β/SMADS, p38 MAPK, NF-κB/IκBα, NF-κB-NLRP3, PI3K/Akt, TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB and IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathways are mainly involved. In conclusion, CM is very likely to be a potential candidate for liver disease treatment based on modern phytochemistry, pharmacology, and genomeproteomics, which needs more clinical trials to further clarify its importance in the treatment of liver diseases.

Involvement of PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy in mitochondrial functional disruption under oxidative stress in vitrified porcine oocytes

Vitrification is an effective technique for fertility preservation, but is known to lead to mitochondrial dysfunction in porcine oocytes. Mitophagy is induced to rebalance mitochondrial function, a process in which reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a role. In this study, vitrified-warmed porcine oocytes were incubated for 4 h with the oxidant AAPH or antioxidant α-tocopherol to alter ROS levels. A series of tests suggested that vitrification damaged mitochondrial structure and caused dysfunction, including blurred mitochondrial cristae, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, decreased mtDNA copy number and increased ROS generation. This dysfunction resulted in mitophagy and the loss of embryonic developmental potential. Incubation with AAPH or α-tocopherol altered mitochondrial function and mitophagy flux status in vitrified oocytes. The PINK1/Parkin pathway was involved in oxidative stress regulation in vitrified oocytes. Under AAPH-induced oxidative stress, increased fluorescence intensity of Parkin, increased expression of PINK1, Parkin, and LC3B-II, and decreased expression of MFN2 and p62 were observed, whereas the opposite effects were induced under α-tocopherol treatment. The inhibition of ROS by α-tocopherol benefitted mitochondrial homeostasis and alleviated PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy, resulting in the recovery of embryonic developmental potential in vitrified porcine oocytes. Therefore, this study provides a new mechanism for the application of antioxidants to aid the cryopreservation of porcine oocytes.

PINK1 antagonize intracerebral hemorrhage by promoting mitochondrial autophagy

BACKGROUND

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) causes neurotransmitter release, oligemia, membrane depolarization, mitochondrial dysfunction, and results in the high rate of mortality and functional disability. Here, we focus on PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1), a mitochondrial-targeted protein kinase, and explore its role in ICH progression.

METHODS

The qPCR and Western blot were performed to examine the expression of PINK1 in ICH patients and mouse model. PINK1 gain- and loss-of-function mice were used to evaluate their protective role on brain injury and behavioral disorders. Flow cytometry was carried out, mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species production were detected to explore the distribution and neuroprotective function of PINK1.

RESULTS

PINK1 mRNA was upregulated, however, its protein was downregulated in ICH patients. The reduction of PINK1 was mainly happened in microglial cells in ICH model. Overexpression of PINK1 is able to rescue ICH-induced behavioral disorders. PINK1 protects ICH-induced brain injury by promoting mitochondrial autophagy in microglia.

CONCLUSION

PINK1 possesses a neuroprotective role and antagonizes ICH by promoting mitochondrial autophagy, which may be of value as a therapeutic target for ICH treatment.

A review of chemistry and pharmacology of Piperidine alkaloids of Pinus and related genera

BACKGROUND

Pinus and other related conifers belonging to family pinaceae are most commonly used medicinal plants in Indian North-western Himalayas. Various parts of these plants including needles are source of several well known alkaloids. Of all the alkaloids, piperidine group is one of important component and hold considerable medicinal importance.

METHODS

The group of alkaloids was initially identified from genus Piper through which a large variety of piperidine molecules have been extracted. The planar structure of this heterocyclic nucleus enables acetamide groups to be added at various ring configurations.

RESULTS

In the area of drug research, the piperidine heterocycle has gained considerable interest. To produce a new therapeutic profile, the broad range of its therapeutic application paved the way for researchers to implant the nucleus from time to time in diversified pharmacophores.

DISCUSSION

However, biological functions of piperidine metabolites have been mostly examined on a limited scale and that most of the findings are thus preliminary. We have tried to present different clinical applications of piperidine alkaloids in this study that researchers have already attempted to demystify from time to time.

CONCLUSION

Given the importance of the piperidine nucleus, the study will enable the researcher to produce scaffolds of the highest therapeutic efficacy. We have also illustrated different types of piperidine, its sources in different member of family pinaceae with special emphasis on Pinus.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Chronic Respiratory Diseases: Implications for the Pathogenesis and Potential Therapeutics

Mitochondria are indispensable for energy metabolism and cell signaling. Mitochondrial homeostasis is sustained with stabilization of mitochondrial membrane potential, balance of mitochondrial calcium, integrity of mitochondrial DNA, and timely clearance of damaged mitochondria via mitophagy. Mitochondrial dysfunction is featured by increased generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial calcium imbalance, mitochondrial DNA damage, and abnormal mitophagy. Accumulating evidence indicates that mitochondrial dysregulation causes oxidative stress, inflammasome activation, apoptosis, senescence, and metabolic reprogramming. All these cellular processes participate in the pathogenesis and progression of chronic respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary fibrosis, and asthma. In this review, we provide a comprehensive and updated overview of the impact of mitochondrial dysfunction on cellular processes involved in the development of these respiratory diseases. This not only implicates mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction for the pathogenesis of chronic lung diseases but also provides potential therapeutic approaches for these diseases by targeting dysfunctional mitochondria.

Mitophagy is involved in the mitochondrial dysfunction of vitrified porcine oocytes

Mitochondrial dysfunction is considered a crucial factor aggravating oocyte viability after vitrification-warming. To clarify the role of mitophagy in mitochondrial extinction of vitrified porcine oocytes, mitochondrial function, ultrastructural characteristics, mitochondria-lysosomes colocalization, and mitophagic proteins were detected with or without chloroquine (CQ) treatment. The results showed that vitrification caused mitochondrial dysfunction, including increasing reactive oxygen species production, decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential, and mitochondrial DNA copy number. Damaged mitochondrial cristae and mitophagosomes were observed in vitrified oocytes. A highly fused fluorescence distribution of mitochondria and lysosomes was also observed. In the detection of mitophagic flux, mitophagy was demonstrated as increasing fluorescence aggregation of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3B (LC3B), enhanced colocalization between LC3B, and voltage-dependent anion channels 1 (VDAC1), and upregulated LC3B-II/I protein expression ratio. CQ inhibited the degradation of mitophagosomes in vitrified oocytes, manifested as decreased mitochondria-lysosomes colocalization, increased fluorescence fraction of VDAC1 overlapping LC3B, increased LC3B-II/I protein expression ratio, and p62 accumulation. The inhibition of mitophagosomes degradation by CQ aggravated mitochondrial dysfunction, including increased oxidative damage, reduced mitochondrial function, and further led to loss of oocyte viability and developmental potentiality. In conclusion, mitophagy is involved in the regulation of mitochondrial function during porcine oocyte vitrification.

Phenylethanol glycosides from Herba Cistanche improve the hypoxic tumor microenvironment and enhance the effects of oxaliplatin via the HIF‑1α signaling pathway

Liver cancer is one of the most common types of malignant tumor, and is characterized by high malignancy, rapid progression, high morbidity and mortality. Oxaliplatin (OXA) has been reported to have marked efficiency against advanced liver cancer with tolerable toxicity. In solid tumors, the hypoxic microenvironment promotes epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT), which can also induce drug resistance of liver cancer to platinum drugs. Herba Cistanche (Cistanche tubulosa) has been frequently used in traditional Chinese medicine and the phenylethanol glycosides from Herba Cistanche (CPhGs) are the major active components. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of CPhGs on viability, apoptosis, migration and invasion of liver cancer cells. HepG2 liver cancer cells were divided into the control, DMSO, CoCl₂, OXA, OXA + CoCl₂ and CPhGs + OXA + CoCl₂ groups. Subsequently, reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and western blot analysis were performed to determine the expression levels of hypoxia‑inducible factor 1α (HIF‑1α), lysyl oxidase‑like 2 (LOXL2) and EMT‑related genes and proteins (i.e., E‑cadherin and Twist), in order to investigate the effects of CPhGs on liver cancer. The results demonstrated that CPhGs could enhance the effects of OXA on liver cancer, and inhibit the migration, invasion and apoptotic rate of liver cancer cells. Additionally, CPhGs treatment effectively induced downregulation of HIF‑1α, LOXL2 and Twist, and upregulation of E‑cadherin. The present findings indicated that CPhGs triggered a significant increase in sensitivity to OXA and suppression of hypoxia‑induced EMT in liver cancer by inhibiting the HIF‑1α signaling pathway. Therefore, CPhGs may be considered an effective platinum drug sensitizer, which could improve chemotherapeutic efficacy in patients with liver cancer.

Cephalotaxine Inhibits the Survival of Leukemia Cells by Activating Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway and Inhibiting Autophagy Flow

Cephalotaxine (CET) is a natural alkaloid with potent antileukemia effects. However, its underlying molecular mechanism has not been well understood. In this study, we verified that CET significantly inhibited the viability of various leukemia cells, including HL-60, NB4, Jurkat, K562, Raji and MOLT-4. RNA-sequencing and bioinformatics analysis revealed that CET causes mitochondrial function change. Mechanism research indicated that CET activated the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway by reducing the mitochondrial membrane potential, downregulating anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein and upregulating pro-apoptotic Bak protein. In addition, the autophagy signaling pathway was highly enriched by RNA-seq analysis. Then, we found that CET blocked the fluorescence colocation of MitoTracker Green and LysoTracker Red and upregulated the level of LC3-II and p62, which indicated that autophagy flow was impaired. Further results demonstrated that CET could impair lysosomal acidification and block autophagy flow. Finally, inhibiting autophagy flow could aggravate apoptosis of HL-60 cells induced by CET. In summary, this study demonstrated that CET exerted antileukemia effects through activation of the mitochondria-dependent pathway and by impairing autophagy flow. Our research provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of CET in the treatment of leukemia.

The Role of Mitophagy in Regulating Cell Death

Mitochondria are multifaceted organelles that serve to power critical cellular functions, including act as power generators of the cell, buffer cytosolic calcium overload, production of reactive oxygen species, and modulating cell survival. The structure and the cellular location of mitochondria are critical for their function and depend on highly regulated activities such as mitochondrial quality control (MQC) mechanisms. The MQC is regulated by several sets of processes: mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial fusion and fission, mitophagy, and other mitochondrial proteostasis mechanisms such as mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mtUPR) or mitochondrial-derived vesicles (MDVs). These processes are important for the maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis, and alterations in the mitochondrial function and signaling are known to contribute to the dysregulation of cell death pathways. Recent studies have uncovered regulatory mechanisms that control the activity of the key components for mitophagy. In this review, we discuss how mitophagy is controlled and how mitophagy impinges on health and disease through regulating cell death.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 Protects Against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Myocardial Injury by Suppressing Mitophagy

Sepsis is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Sepsis-induced circulatory and cardiac dysfunction is associated with high mortality rates. Mitophagy, a specific form of autophagy, is excessively activated in lipopolysaccharide-induced myocardial injury. The present study investigated whether aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) regulates mitophagy in sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction. After lipopolysaccharide administration, cardiac dysfunction, inflammatory cell infiltration, biochemical indicators of myocardial cell injury, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis were ameliorated in mice by ALDH2 activation or overexpression. In contrast, cardiac dysfunction and cardiomyocyte apoptosis were exacerbated in mice followed ALDH2 inhibition. Moreover, ALDH2 activation or overexpression regulated mitophagy by suppressing the expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1)/Parkin, by preventing the accumulation of 4-hydroxy-trans-nonenal. Conversely, ALDH2 inhibition promoted the expression of LC3B by increasing 4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal accumulation. Consequently, ALDH2 may protect the heart from lipopolysaccharide-induced injury by suppressing PINK1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy.

Matrine: A review of its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicity, clinical application and preparation researches

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

"Dogel ebs" was known as Sophora flavescens Ait., which has been widely utilized in the clinical practice of traditional Chinese Mongolian herbal medicine for thousands of years. Shen Nong's Materia Medica (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing in Chinese pinyin) recorded that it is bitter in taste and cold in nature with the effect of clearing heat and eliminating dampness, insecticide, diuresis. Due to its extensive application in the fields of ethnopharmacological utilization, the pharmaceutical researches of Sophora flavescens Ait.s keeps deepening. Modern pharmacological studies have exhibited that matrine, which is rich in this traditional herbal medicine, mediates its main biological properties.

AIMS OF THE REVIEW

This review aimed at summarizing the latest and comprehensive information of matrine on the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicity, clinical application and preparation researches to explore the therapeutic potential of this natural ingredient. In addition, outlooks and perspective for possible future researches that related are also discussed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Related information concerning matrine was gathered from the internet database of Google scholar, Pubmed, ResearchGate, Web of Science and Wiley Online Library with the keywords including "matrine", "pharmacology", "toxicology" and "pharmacokinetics", "clinical application", etc. RESULTS: Based on literatures, matrine has a variety of pharmacological effects, including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, detoxification and so on. Nevertheless, there are still some doubts about it due to the toxicity and questionable bioavailability that does exist.

CONCLUSIONS

Future researches directions probably include elucidate the mechanism of its toxicity and accurately tracing the in vivo behavior of its drug delivery system. Without doubt, integration of toxicity and efficiency and structure modification based on it are also pivotal methods to enhance pharmacological activity and bioavailability.

Autophagy and organelle homeostasis in cancer

Beginning with the earliest studies of autophagy in cancer, there have been indications that autophagy can both promote and inhibit cancer growth and progression; autophagy regulation of organelle homeostasis is similarly complicated. In this review we discuss pro- and antitumor effects of organelle-targeted autophagy and how this contributes to several hallmarks of cancer, such as evading cell death, genomic instability, and altered metabolism. Typically, the removal of damaged or dysfunctional organelles prevents tumor development but can also aid in proliferation or drug resistance in established tumors. By better understanding how organelle-specific autophagy takes place and can be manipulated, it may be possible to go beyond the brute-force approach of trying to manipulate all autophagy in order to improve therapeutic targeting of this process in cancer.

Parkin: A targetable linchpin in human malignancies

Parkin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase has been found to be deregulated in a variety of human cancers. Our current understanding is endowed with strong evidences that Parkin plays crucial role in the pathogenesis of cancer by controlling/interfering with major hallmarks of cancer delineated till today. Consistent with the idea of mitophagy, the existing studies imitates the tumor suppressive potential of Parkin, resolved by its capacity to regulate cell proliferation, cell migration, angiogenesis, apoptosis and overall cellular survival. Dysfunction of Parkin has resulted in the loss of ubiquitination of cell cycle components followed by their accumulation leading to genomic instability, perturbed cell cycle and eventually tumor progression. In this review, we provide an overview of current knowledge about the critical role of Parkin in cancer development and progression and have focussed on its therapeutic implications highlighting the diagnostic and prognostic value of Parkin as a biomarker. We earnestly hope that an in-depth knowledge of Parkin will provide a linchpin to target in various cancers that will open a new door of clinical applications and therapeutics.

Mitochondria autophagy: a potential target for cancer therapy

Mitophagy is a selective form of macroautophagy in which dysfunctional and damaged mitochondria can be efficiently degraded, removed and recycled through autophagy. Selective removal of damaged or fragmented mitochondria is critical to the functional integrity of the entire mitochondrial network and cells. In past decades, numerous studies have shown that mitophagy is involved in various diseases; however, since the dual role of mitophagy in tumour development, mitophagy role in tumour is controversial, and further elucidation is needed. That is, although mitophagy has been demonstrated to contribute to carcinogenesis, cell migration, ferroptosis inhibition, cancer stemness maintenance, tumour immune escape, drug resistance, etc. during cancer progression, many research also shows that to promote cancer cell death, mitophagy can be induced physiologically or pharmacologically to maintain normal cellular metabolism and prevent cell stress responses and genome damage by diminishing mitochondrial damage, thus suppressing tumour development accompanying these changes. Signalling pathway-specific molecular mechanisms are currently of great biological significance in the identification of potential therapeutic targets. Here, we review recent progress of molecular pathways mediating mitophagy including both canonical pathways (Parkin/PINK1- and FUNDC1-mediated mitophagy) and noncanonical pathways (FKBP8-, Nrf2-, and DRP1-mediated mitophagy); and the regulation of these pathways, and abovementioned pro-cancer and pro-death roles of mitophagy. Finally, we summarise the role of mitophagy in cancer therapy. Mitophagy can potentially be acted as the target for cancer therapy by promotion or inhibition.

The interplay of ROS and the PI3K/Akt pathway in autophagy regulation

Autophagy causes the breakdown of damaged proteins and organelles to their constituent components. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway played an important role in regulating the autophagic response of cells in response to changing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. The PI3K α catalytic subunit inhibits autophagy, while its β catalytic subunit promotes autophagy in response to changes in ROS levels. The downstream Akt protein acts against autophagy initiation in response to increases in ROS levels under nutrient-rich conditions. Akt acts by activating a mechanistic target of the rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and by arresting autophagic gene expression. The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) protein counteracts the Akt actions. mTORC1 and mTORC2 inhibit autophagy under moderate ROS levels, but under high ROS levels, mTORC2 can promote cellular senescence via autophagy. Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) protein are the negative regulators of the PI3K pathway, and it has proautophagic activities. Studies conducted on cells treated with flavonoids and ionizing radiation showed that the moderate increase in ROS levels in the flavonoid-treated groups corresponded with higher PTEN levels and lowered Akt levels leading to a higher occurrence of autophagy. In contrast, higher ROS levels evoked by ionizing radiation caused a lowering of the incidence of autophagy.

Azilsartan Suppressed LPS-Induced Inflammation in U937 Macrophages through Suppressing Oxidative Stress and Inhibiting the TLR2/MyD88 Signal Pathway

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an important factor that induce severe inflammation, resulting in multiple types of diseases. It is reported that LPS-induced inflammation is related to the activation of the NF-κB signal pathway and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative stress. Azilsartan, an angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor blocker, has been licensed as a new generation of Sartan antihypertensive drugs. However, the effects of azilsartan in LPS-induced inflammation have not been reported before. The present study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of azilsartan on LPS-stimulated macrophages and explore the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

The release of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), secretion of HMGB-1, and concentrations of IL-6, IL-1β, MCP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, and PGE₂ were evaluated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The gene expression levels of IL-6, IL-1β, MCP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, and COX-2 were determined by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein expression level of COX-2, Nrf2, TLR2, MyD-88, and NF-κB. The level of ROS was determined using the dihydroethidium (DHE) staining assay. The activity of NF-κB was evaluated using the luciferase activity assay.

RESULTS

The release of LDH, HMGB-1, IL-6, IL-1β, MCP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, and PGE₂ was significantly promoted by LPS stimulation, whereas it was greatly suppressed by azilsartan. The upregulated COX-2, TLR2, MyD-88, and NF-κB in the LPS-treated macrophages were significantly downregulated by azilsartan. Interestingly, the expression level of Nrf2 was elevated by azilsartan. On the contrary, ROS levels were greatly increased by LPS but suppressed by azilsartan. Mechanistically, it was found that azilsartan suppressed LPS-induced activation of the TLR2/Myd-88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

Azilsartan might suppress LPS-induced inflammation in U937 macrophages through suppressing oxidative stress and inhibiting the TLR/MyD88 signal pathway.

Mitophagy promotes sorafenib resistance through hypoxia-inducible ATAD3A dependent Axis

BACKGROUND

The identification of novel targets for recovering sorafenib resistance is pivotal for Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Mitophagy is the programmed degradation of mitochondria, and is likely involved in drug resistance of cancer cells. Here, we identified hyperactivated mitophagy is essential for sorafenib resistance, and the mitophagy core regulator gene ATAD3A (ATPase family AAA domain containing 3A) was down regulated in hypoxia induced resistant HCC cells. Blocking mitophagy may restore the sorafenib sensitivity of these cells and provide a new treatment strategy for HCC patients.

METHODS

Hypoxia induced sorafenib resistant cancer cells were established by culturing under 1% O2 with increasing drug treatment. RNA sequencing was conducted in transfecting LM3 cells with sh-ATAD3A lentivirus. Subsequent mechanistic studies were performed in HCC cell lines by manipulating ATAD3A expression isogenically where we evaluated drug sensitivity, molecular signaling events. In vivo study, we investigated the combined treatment effect of sorafenib and miR-210-5P antagomir.

RESULTS

We found a hyperactivated mitophagy regulating by ATAD3A-PINK1/PARKIN axis in hypoxia induced sorafenib resistant HCC cells. Gain- and loss- of ATAD3A were related to hypoxia-induced mitophagy and sorafenib resistance. In addition, ATAD3A is a functional target of miR-210-5p and its oncogenic functions are likely mediated by increased miR-210-5P expression. miR-210-5P was upregulated under hypoxia and participated in regulating sorafenib resistance. In vivo xenograft assay showed that miR-210-5P antagomir combined with sorafenib abrogated the tumorigenic effect of ATAD3A down-regulation in mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Loss of ATAD3A hyperactivates mitophagy which is a core event in hypoxia induced sorafenib resistance in HCC cells. Targeting miR-210-5P-ATAD3A axis is a novel therapeutic target for sorafenib-resistant HCC.

Homoharringtonine Exerts an Antimyeloma Effect by Promoting Excess Parkin-Dependent Mitophagy

Purpose

Homoharringtonine (HHT) has been used as an antileukemia agent in the clinic which processes a high-potential therapeutic efficacy against multiple myeloma (MM). In this study, we investigated the antimyeloma mechanism of HHT.

Methods

Three MM cell lines and a xenograft model were applied. Mitochondrial function was evaluated by detecting MitoTracker Green, the mtDNA copy number, mitochondrial protein and enzyme activity, the mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial morphology. Mitophagy levels were assessed by monitoring autophagosomes, performing a colocalization analysis and determining the levels of related proteins. An shRNA was applied to knockdown Parkin.

Results

Based on the results of the in vitro experiments, HHT exerted a promising antiproliferative effect on the MM.1S, RPMI 8226 and H929 cell lines by increasing mitophagy. In addition, HHT markedly inhibited myeloma tumor growth and prolonged survival by promoting mitophagy in vivo. Furthermore, HHT treatment contributed to notable mitochondrial dysfunction and Parkin-dependent mitophagy, as evidenced by the destruction of mitochondria, the decrease in the mtDNA copy number, decrease in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and decrease in the levels of mitochondrial proteins and the optimal expression of Parkin and NDP52. However, the addition of rapamycin did not produce significant synergistic effect with HHT, indicating that HHT reached the threshold level to induce mitophagy. The colocalization analysis and assessment of mitochondrial function examination further confirmed that HHT triggered mitophagy and mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, the antiproliferative effect of HHT was reversed by an shRNA targeting Parkin, highlighting the indispensable role of Parkin-dependent mitophagy in the antimyeloma effect of HHT.

Conclusion

HHT exerts an antimyeloma effect by inducing excess mitophagy, providing new mechanistic insights into a therapeutic strategy for MM.

Matrine attenuates cardiomyocyte ischemia-reperfusion injury through activating AMPK/Sirt3 signaling pathway

Matrine has been found to affect cell viability and function. In the present study, we explored the cardioprotective role of matrine in cardiomyocyte damage under hypoxia/reoxygenation. In vitro, cardiomyocyte hypoxia/reoxygenation was used to mimic ischemia/reperfusion injury in the presence of matrine. After exposure to hypoxia/reoxygenation, cardiomyocyte viability was reduced and cell apoptosis was increased; this alteration was inhibited by matrine. At the molecular levels, Sirt3 and AMPK were significantly downregulated by hypoxia/reoxygenation injury whereas matrine administration was able to upregulate Sirt3 and AMPK expression and activity in the presence of hypoxia/reoxygenation. Interestingly, inhibition of Sirt3/AMPK pathway abolished the cardioprotective action of matrine on cardiomyocyte in the presence of hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, resulting into cardiomyocyte viability reduction and cell death augmentation. Altogether, our results demonstrated a novel role played by matrine in regulating cardiomyocyte viability and death in the presence of hypoxia/reoxygenation, with a potential application in the clinical practice for the treatment of patients with myocardial infarction.