Apoptotic Effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on Human Colon Cancer SW480 Cells by Regulation of Akt/NF-ĸB Signaling Pathway

Rice bran arabinoxylan compound as a natural product for cancer treatment - an evidence-based assessment of the effects and mechanisms

CONTEXT

Rice bran arabinoxylan compound (RBAC) is a natural immunomodulator with anticancer properties.

OBJECTIVE

This study critically evaluates the available evidence on the biological pathways of RBAC and its effects on cancer treatment.

METHODS

This secondary analysis of a scoping review includes studies evaluating the mechanisms of RBAC on healthy or malignant cells, animal models, or humans for cancer prevention or treatment. Data from randomized controlled trials on survival and quality of life outcomes were subjectd to meta analysis.

RESULTS

The evidence synthesis was based on 38 articles. RBAC exhibited antitumor properties by promoting apoptosis and restoring immune function in cancer patients to enhance inflammatory and cytotoxic responses to block tumorigenesis. RBAC works synergistically with chemotherapeutic agents by upregulating drug transport. In a clinical trial, combining RBAC with chemoembolization in treating liver cancer showed improved response, reduced recurrence rates, and prolonged survival. RBAC also augments the endogenous antioxidant system to prevent oxidative stress and protect against radiation side effects. In addition, RBAC has chemoprotective effects. Animals and humans have exhibited reduced toxicity and side effects from chemotherapy. Meta analysis indicates that RBAC treatment increases the survival odds by 4.02-times (95% CI: 1.67, 9.69) in the first year and 2.89-times (95% CI: 1.56, 5.35) in the second year.

CONCLUSION

RBAC is a natural product with immense potential in cancer treatment. Additional research is needed to characterize, quantify, and standardize the active ingredients in RBAC responsible for the anticancer effects. More well-designed, large-scale clinical trials are required to substantiate the treatment efficacies further.

Assessing the Potential Biological Activities of Postbiotics Derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae: An In Vitro Study

A new biotherapeutic strategy involves the use of microbial bioactive substances (postbiotics) that exhibit optimum compatibility and intimate contact with the immune system of the host. This study was aimed at investigating the potential biological activities of postbiotics derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (PTCC 5269) (PSC) under in vitro circumstances. Based on the outcomes, the synthesized PSC possessing a high level of phenolic (102.46 ± 0.25 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (19.87 ± 75.32 mg QE/g) content demonstrated significant radical scavenging activity (87.34 ± 0.56%); antibacterial action towards Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus mutans, Salmonella typhi, and Escherichia coli (in order of effectiveness) in both in vitro and food models (whole milk and ground meat); probiotics' growth-promoting activity in the fermentation medium; α-glucosidase enzyme-inhibiting and cholesterol-lowering properties in a concentration- and pH-dependent manner; reduction in the cell viability (with the significant IC50 values of 34.27 and 23.58 μg/mL after 24 and 48 h, respectively); suppressed the initial (G0/G1) phase of the cell's division; induced apoptosis; and increased the expression of PTEN gene, while the IkB, RelA, and Bcl-XL genes indicated diminished expression in treated SW480 cancer cells. These multiple health-promoting functions of PSC can be extended to medical, biomedical, and food scopes, as novel biotherapeutic approaches, in order to design efficient and optimized functional food formulations or/and supplementary medications to use as adjuvant agents for preventing or/and treating chronic/acute disorders.

The Probiotic Kluyveromyces lactis JSA 18 Alleviates Obesity and Hyperlipidemia in High-Fat Diet C57BL/6J Mice

Obesity poses a significant threat to various health conditions such as heart diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart attack, with the gut microbiota playing a crucial role in maintaining the body's energy balance. We identified a novel probiotic fungal strain, Kluyveromyces lactis JSA 18 (K. lactis), which was isolated from yak milk and was found to possess anti-obesity properties. Additionally, Lactobacillus plantarum CGMCC 8198 (LP8198) from our previous study was also included to evaluate its anti-obesity properties. The findings indicated that K. lactis caused a notable reduction in weight gain, liver and fat indexes, and hyperlipidemia in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Administering K. lactis and LP8198 to mice on a high-fat diet resulted in a reduction of serum triglyceride levels. Furthermore, the supplements reduced ALT and AST activity, and inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1β. In addition, lipid metabolism was enhanced by the downregulation of ACC1, PPAR-γ, SREBP-1, and Fasn. Moreover, this study found that K. lactis and LP8198 have little effect on gut bacteria. Additionally, K. lactis partially influenced intestinal fungi, while LP8198 had a minor influence on gut mycobiota. The main goal of this research was to show how effective K. lactis can be as a probiotic in combating obesity.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae SC-2201 Attenuates AOM/DSS-Induced Colorectal Cancer by Modulating the Gut Microbiome and Blocking Proinflammatory Mediators

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the world today, and studies have shown that the ratio of Candida to Saccharomyces cerevisiae increased, and the abundance of S. cerevisiae in the intestines of patients with colorectal cancer decreased, which suggests that there is an imbalance in the proportion of fungi in the intestines of patients with colorectal cancer. The objective of this study was to screen S. cerevisiae isolate from traditional Chinese fermentation starters and assess its ability to ameliorate dysbiosis and to alleviate the carcinogenic process of azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate-induced colorectal cancer in mice model. S. cerevisiae strain SC-2201 was isolated and exhibited probiotic properties, including the ability to survive in an acidic pH environment and in the presence of bile salts in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as antioxidant activities. Oral administration of S. cerevisiae SC-2201 not only alleviated weight loss but also reduced colonic shortening and histological damage in azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate-induced colorectal cancer in mice. Furthermore, the administration of S. cerevisiae SC-2201 suppressed the expression of proinflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, cyclooxygenase-2, vascular endothelial growth factor, nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3. Specifically, the analysis of gut bacteriome showed a significant decrease in Bacteroidota and Campylobacterota levels, as well as an increase in Proteobacteria level in the colorectal cancer group, which was alleviated by supplementation with S. cerevisiae SC-2201. The analysis of the mycobiome revealed a significant increase in the levels of Basidiomycota, Apiosordaria, Naganishia, and Taphrina genera in the colorectal cancer group, which were alleviated after supplementation with S. cerevisiae SC-2201. However, the levels of Xenoramularia, Entoloma, and Keissleriella were significantly increased after administration with S. cerevisiae SC-2201. Overall, the findings of this study demonstrate that S. cerevisiae SC-2201 possesses potential probiotic properties and can effectively attenuate the development of colorectal cancer, highlighting its cancer-preventive potential. This is the first report of a S. cerevisiae strain isolated from traditional Chinese fermentation starters which showed good probiotic properties, and mitigated azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate-induced colorectal cancer by modulating the gut microbiome and blocking proinflammatory mediators in mice.

The Potential Impact of Probiotics on Human Health: An Update on Their Health-Promoting Properties

Probiotics, known to be live microorganisms, have been shown to improve or restore the gut microbiota, which in turn has been linked to improved health. It is believed that probiotics are the modern equivalent of a panacea, with claims that they may treat or prevent different diseases both in children and adults (e.g., from colic in babies to cardiovascular disease, respiratory infection, and cancer in adults). Ever since the early 2000s, probiotic-based fermented foods have had a resurgence in popularity, mostly due to claims made regarding their health benefits. Fermented foods have been associated with the prevention of irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, gastroenteritis, and obesity, but also other conditions such as chronic diarrhea, allergies, dermatitis, and bacterial and viral infections, all of which are closely related to an unhealthy lifestyle. Recent and ongoing developments in microbiome/microbiota science have given us new research directions for probiotics. The new types, mechanisms, and applications studied so far, and those currently under study, have a great potential to change scientific understanding of probiotics' nutritional applications and human health care. The expansion of fields related to the study of the microbiome and the involvement of probiotics in its improvement foreshadow an era of significant changes. An expanding range of candidate probiotic species is emerging that can address newly elucidated data-driven microbial niches and host targets. In the probiotic field, new variants of microbiome-modulating interventions are being developed, including prebiotics, symbiotics, postbiotics, microbial consortia, live biotherapeutic products, and genetically modified organisms, with renewed interest in polyphenols, fibers, and fermented foods to ensure human health. This manuscript aims to analyze recent, emerging, and anticipated trends in probiotics (sources, doses, mechanism of action, diseases for which probiotics are administered, side effects, and risks) and create a vision for the development of related areas of influence in the field.

Antigenotoxicity and Cytotoxic Potentials of Cell-Free Supernatants Derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii on HT-29 Human Colon Cancer Cell Lines

Microbial-derived postbiotics are of interest recently due to their lower side effects than chemotherapy for cancer treatment and prevention. This study aimed to investigate the potential antigenotoxic and cytotoxic effects of cell-free-supernatant (CFS) postbiotics derived from Saccharomyces boulardii by applying SOS chromotest and MTT assay on HT-29 cell lines. Also, further cellular pathway-related assays such as cell cycle, DAPI, and annexin V-FITC/PI staining were performed. Real-time PCR was utilized to assess the expression levels of some genes involved in apoptosis. Based on the outcomes, the CFSs of S. boulardii showed significant antigenotoxic effects (20-60%, P < 0.05), decreased cell viability (with the significant IC50 values of 33.82, 22.68, and 27.67 µg/mL after 24, 48, and 72 h respectively), suppressed the initial (G0/G1) phase of the cell's division, influenced the nucleus of the treated cells, induced apoptosis, and increased the expression of Caspas3 and PTEN genes after 48 h, while the RelA and Bcl-XL genes indicated diminished expression in treated HT-29 cells. Consequently, CFS postbiotics of S. boulardii exhibited significant antigenotoxic and cytotoxic effects and induced apoptosis responses in HT-29 cancer cells. The results of this investigation lead us to recommend that the CFS postbiotics generated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii be taken into consideration as a potential anticancer agent or in the design of supplementary medications to treat and prevent colon cancers.

An Update on the Pivotal Roles of Probiotics, Their Components, and Metabolites in Preventing Colon Cancer

Diet, lifestyle, and gut microbiota composition are key risk factors for the progression of colon cancer. Probiotics are living microorganisms that can offer health benefits to the parasitifer when ingested in competent quantities. Several in vivo, in vitro, and clinical studies have demonstrated that probiotics can prevent and mitigate the development of colon cancer. The anti-colon cancer mechanisms of probiotics include the suppression of cell proliferation and the promotion of cancer cell apoptosis, immunomodulation, the modulation of intestinal microorganisms and their metabolism, strengthening the intestinal barrier, and antioxidant effects. This article describes the pathogenesis of colon cancer and the available therapeutic options. In addition, this paper reviews the mechanisms by which probiotics mitigate colon cancer as well as the mitigating effects of probiotic components and metabolites on colon cancer.

Overview of the Mechanistic Potential of Probiotics and Prebiotics in Cancer Chemoprevention

Despite of strides in modern cancer therapeutic strategies, there has not been a successful cure for it until now and prognostic side effects and substantial toxicity to chemotherapy and subsequent homeostatic imbalance remains a major concern for professionals in this field. The significance of the human microbiome in the pathogenesis of cancer is being recognized, documented, and established worldwide. Probiotics and prebiotics are some of the most extensively researched approaches to modulate the microbiota for therapeutic purposes, and research on their potential to prevent and treat cancer has sparked an immense amount of interest. The characteristics of probiotics and prebiotics allow for an array of efficient applications in cancer preventive measures. Probiotics can also be administered coupled with chemotherapy and surgery to alleviate their side effects and help promote the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic drugs. Besides showing promising results they are accompanied by potential risks and controversies that may eventually result in clinical repercussions. This review emphasizes the mechanistic potential and oncosuppressive effects of probiotic and prebiotics through maintenance of intestinal barrier function, modifying innate immune system, immunomodulation, intestinal microbiota metabolism, inhibition of host cell proliferation, preventing pathogen colonization, and exerting selective cytotoxicity against tumor cells.

Probiotics: mechanism of action, health benefits and their application in food industries

Probiotics, like lactic acid bacteria, are non-pathogenic microbes that exert health benefits to the host when administered in adequate quantity. Currently, research is being conducted on the molecular events and applications of probiotics. The suggested mechanisms by which probiotics exert their action include; competitive exclusion of pathogens for adhesion sites, improvement of the intestinal mucosal barrier, gut immunomodulation, and neurotransmitter synthesis. This review emphasizes the recent advances in the health benefits of probiotics and the emerging applications of probiotics in the food industry. Due to their capability to modulate gut microbiota and attenuate the immune system, probiotics could be used as an adjuvant in hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cancer, and gastrointestinal diseases. Considering the functional properties, probiotics are being used in the dairy, beverage, and baking industries. After developing the latest techniques by researchers, probiotics can now survive within harsh processing conditions and withstand GI stresses quite effectively. Thus, the potential of probiotics can efficiently be utilized on a commercial scale in food processing industries.

Engineered Lipidic Nanomaterials Inspired by Sphingomyelin Metabolism for Cancer Therapy

Sphingomyelin (SM) and its metabolites are crucial regulators of tumor cell growth, differentiation, senescence, and programmed cell death. With the rise in lipid-based nanomaterials, engineered lipidic nanomaterials inspired by SM metabolism, corresponding lipid targeting, and signaling activation have made fascinating advances in cancer therapeutic processes. In this review, we first described the specific pathways of SM metabolism and the roles of their associated bioactive molecules in mediating cell survival or death. We next summarized the advantages and specific applications of SM metabolism-based lipidic nanomaterials in specific cancer therapies. Finally, we discussed the challenges and perspectives of this emerging and promising SM metabolism-based nanomaterials research area.

Exploring the Health Benefits of Yeast Isolated from Traditional Fermented Foods in Korea: Anti-Inflammatory and Functional Properties of Saccharomyces and Non-Saccharomyces Strains

Traditional yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) has been used for its benefits in various fermentation processes; the benefits of non-Saccharomyces yeast as a material for food, feed, and pharmaceuticals have been studied recently. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity and extracellular functional characteristics of wild-type yeasts isolated from traditional fermented foods (doenjang (common name: soybean paste) and nuruk) in Korea. The viability of the yeast and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAWBlue™ cells was improved, similar to unstimulated RAWBlue™ cells, and the isolates demonstrated NF-κB inhibitory activity. Yeast suppressed the nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAWBlue™ cells, which was attributed to the inhibition of iNOS or COX-2 mRNA expression depending on the strain. Although there were differences depending on the strain, the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines was reduced in the yeast and LPS-stimulated RAWBlue™ cells, some of which were demonstrated at the mRNA level. In addition, the isolates exhibited high antioxidant and antihypertensive activities (similar to the positive control), which varied depending on the strain. This suggests that yeast can be used for fermentation with enhanced antioxidant and antihypertensive activities. Furthermore, the isolates inhibited the growth of pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria, indicating that yeast can inhibit food spoilage and the growth of pathogenic bacteria during fermentation. Consequently, utilizing raw materials to cultivate yeast strains could be a promising avenue for developing functional foods to prevent and treat inflammatory reactions; such foods may exhibit antioxidant, antihypertensive, and antibacterial properties.

Intake of Pro- and/or Prebiotics as a Promising Approach for Prevention and Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer, posing a serious threat to human life. It is widely believed that dietary factors may be crucial modifiers of CRC risk, with pro-and/or prebiotics being especially promising. In this review, a synthesis of CRC prevention and treatment of strategies relying on usage of pro- and/or prebiotics supplements is given, as well as discuss mechanisms underlying the contribution of pro-and/or prebiotics to the suppression of colonic carcinogenesis. Furthermore, a framework for personalizing such supplements according to the composition of an individual's gut microbiome is suggested. Various factors including diversity of one's intestinal microflora, integrity of their intestinal barrier, and the presence of mutagenic/carcinogenic/genotoxic and beneficial compounds are known to have a prominent influence on the development of CRC; thus, clarifying the role of pro- and/or prebiotics will yield valuable insight toward optimizing interventions for enhanced patient outcomes in the future.

Global research trends on inflammatory bowel diseases and colorectal cancer: A bibliometric and visualized study from 2012 to 2021

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic non-specific inflammatory disease of intestinal tract and a common digestive system disease. Current studies have shown that IBD significantly increases the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC), and is positively correlated with the degree and extent of inflammation of IBD. The relationship between IBD and CRC has attracted extensive attention. However, the relationship between IBD and CRC has not been systematically studied by bibliometrics and visual analysis. This study conducted bibliometric analysis based on 3528 publications from the Core Collection of Web of Science to determine the research status, research hotspots and frontiers of this field. The results show that the number of publications has increased significantly over the past 10 years. The cooperative network analysis shows that the United States, Mayo Clin and Bo Shen are the country, institution and author with the most publications respectively. Belgium, Icahn Sch Med Mt Sinai and Erik Mooiweer are the most collaborative country, institution and author respectively. Analysis of keywords and references showed that inflammation, intestinal flora, and obesity were hot topics in this field. Analysis of keyword outbreaks shows that the gut microbiome and metabolism will be an emerging new research area and a potential hot spot for future research. This study is the first to visually examine the association between IBD and CRC using bibliometrics and visual analysis, and to predict potential future research trends.

BCAT1 promotes lung adenocarcinoma progression through enhanced mitochondrial function and NF-κB pathway activation

Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent and malignant cancers, among which lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) accounts for the majority and remains a major cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide (Cui et al., 2019). Despite the growing intensity of research on the pathobiology and progression of lung cancer and the fact that many genes have been identified as potential drivers and targets for therapy (Luo et al., 2019; Zhang et al., 2019), the treatment and prognosis of lung cancer patients have hardly improved. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the precise mechanism of lung cancer development and explore efficient diagnostic and therapeutic methods for clinical treatment.

Biodetoxification and Protective Properties of Probiotics

Probiotic consumption is recognized as being generally safe and correlates with multiple and valuable health benefits. However, the mechanism by which it helps detoxify the body and its anti-carcinogenic and antimutagenic potential is less discussed. A widely known fact is that globalization and mass food production/cultivation make it impossible to keep all possible risks under control. Scientists associate the multitude of diseases in the days when we live with these risks that threaten the population’s safety in terms of food. This review aims to explore whether the use of probiotics may be a safe, economically viable, and versatile tool in biodetoxification despite the numerous risks associated with food and the limited possibility to evaluate the contaminants. Based on scientific data, this paper focuses on the aspects mentioned above and demonstrates the probiotics’ possible risks, as well as their anti-carcinogenic and antimutagenic potential. After reviewing the probiotic capacity to react with pathogens, fungi infection, mycotoxins, acrylamide toxicity, benzopyrene, and heavy metals, we can conclude that the specific probiotic strain and probiotic combinations bring significant health outcomes. Furthermore, the biodetoxification maximization process can be performed using probiotic-bioactive compound association.

The role of vasopressin V1A and oxytocin OTR receptors in protective effects of arginine vasopressin against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in H9C2 cells

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress, has been shown to play an important role in the pathophysiology of cardiac remodelling and heart failure. The aim of study is effect of arginine vasopressin (AVP) on apoptosis of cardiomyocyte via its receptors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cell viability effect of AVP in H9C2 cardiomyocytes was assayed using the MTT method. The transcription and translation level of apoptosis genes (Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3) were discovered with qRT-PCR and western blotting.

RESULTS

The results showed that vasopressin could reduce apoptosis in cardiomyocytes cell line through downregulation of caspase-3, BAX and upregulation of Bcl-2 (p < .001). Also, there was a decrease in anti-apoptosis effect of vasopressin when V1A and OTR receptors were blocked with their antagonists.

DISCUSSION

These results suggest that activation of V1A and OTR receptors in H9C2 cells mediate protective effect of vasopressin via regulating apoptosis marker that lead to cell survival under conditions of stress oxidative.Key pointAVP may contribute to the improvement of heart ischaemia through its actions on V1A and OTR receptors.

Modulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway by probiotics as a fruitful target for orchestrating the immune response

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B or Akt (PKB/Akt) signaling pathways are considered as two but somewhat interconnected significant immune pathways which play complex roles in a variety of physiological processes as well as pathological conditions. Aberrant activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways has been reported to be associated in a wide variety of human diseases. Over the past few years, growing evidence in in vitro and in vivo models suggest that this sophisticated and subtle cascade mediates the orchestration of the immune response in health and disease through exposure to probiotics. An expanding body of literature has highlighted the contribution of probiotics and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways in gastrointestinal disorders, metabolic syndrome, skin diseases, allergy, salmonella infection, and aging. However, longitudinal human studies are possibly required to verify more conclusively whether the investigational tools used to understand the regulation of these pathways might provide effective approaches in the prevention and treatment of various disorders. In this Review, we summarize the experimental evidence from recent peer-reviewed studies and provide a brief overview of the causal relationship between the effects of probiotics and their metabolites on the components of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways and human disease.

Photodynamic Therapy of Novel Photosensitizer Ameliorates TNBS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis via Inhibition of AOC1

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic, nonspecific inflammatory bowel disease characterized by continuous and diffuse inflammatory changes in the colonic mucosa, requires novel treatment method. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), as a promising physico-chemical treatment method, were used to treat UC rats’ model with novel photosensitizer LD₄ in this paper, the treatment effect and mechanism was investigated. LD₄-PDT could improve the survival rate of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced UC model rats, decrease expression of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and increase the expression of glutathione (GSH) and superoxide oxidase (SOD), while protecting the integrity of the intestinal epithelium. LD₄-PDT treatment could rebuild the intestinal microflora composition and reprogram the colonic protein profiles in TNBS-induced rats to almost the normal state. Proteomics analysis based upon TNBS-induced UC model rats revealed that Amine oxidase copper-containing 1 (AOC₁) was a potential target of LD₄-PDT. Novel photosensitizer agent LD₄-PDT represents an efficient treatment method for UC, and AOC₁ may be a promising target.

Chitosan-Decorated PLGA-NPs Loaded with Tannic Acid/Vitamin E Mitigate Colon Cancer via the NF-κB/β-Cat/EMT Pathway

Colon cancer is the second highest contributor of cancer-related deaths throughout the world. Treatment strategies with tannic acid and vitamin E are envisaged as desirable and safe owing to their robust antioxidative and anti-inflammatory potential. In the present report, these bioactives have been nanoencapsulated in poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) formulations for maintaining sustained release and ensuring enhanced bioavailability. Capping of nanoparticles (NPs) with chitosan was done for enhanced anticancer efficacy and tumor targeting. CS-PLGA-TA-E, administered intraperitoneally, significantly inhibited tumor number and tumor volume and normalized colon histology in the colon cancer. Tissue distribution studies showed that TA/E content from CS-PLGA-TA-E was present in a higher concentration in the tumor tissue than the concentration of TA/E content from PLGA-TA-E or free TA or free E. Also, the TA/E content from all of the treatment groups showed its highest concentration in the tumor compared to other organs. Antioxidant enzymes and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) were inhibited by CS-PLGA-TA-E. CS-PLGA-TA-E inhibited markers for tumor growth (EGFR-PI3K-AKT), inflammation (NF-κB/Stat3), β-catenin signaling (β-catenin, c-myc, cyclin D1), EMT (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin), and apoptosis (Bcl-2) in a significantly greater way as compared with PLGA-TA-E, TA, or E. CS-PLGA-TA-E NPs can be considered promising anticancer drugs for colon cancer.

Network pharmacology to investigate the pharmacological mechanisms of muscone in Xingnaojing injections for the treatment of severe traumatic brain injury

Background

Xingnaojing injections (XNJI) are widely used in Chinese medicine to mitigate brain injuries. An increasing number of studies have shown that XNJI may improve neurological function. However, XNJI's active ingredients and molecular mechanisms when treating traumatic brain injury (TBI) are unknown.

Methods

XNJI's chemical composition was acquisited from literature and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database. We used the "absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion" (ADME) parameter-based virtual algorithm to further identify the bioactive components. We then screened data and obtained target information regarding TBI and treatment compounds from public databases. Using a Venn diagram, we intersected the information to determine the hub targets. Cytoscape was used to construct and visualize the network. In accordance with the hub proteins, we then created a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network using STRING 11.0. Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were analyzed according to the DAVID bioinformatics resource database (ver. 6.8). We validated the predicted compound's efficacy using the experimental rat chronic constriction injury (CCI) model. The neuronal apoptosis was located using the TUNEL assay and the related pathways' hub proteins were determined by PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemical staining.

Results

We identified 173 targets and 35 potential compounds belonging to XNJI. STRING analysis was used to illustrate the protein-protein interactions and show that muscone played a fundamental role in XNJI's efficacy. Enrichment analysis revealed critical signaling pathways in these components' potential protein targets, including PI3K/AKT1, NF-kB, and p53. Moreover, the hub proteins CASP3, BCL2L1, and CASP8 were also involved in apoptosis and were associated with PI3K/AKT, NF-kB, and p53 signaling pathways. We showed that muscone and XNJI were similarly effective 168 h after CCI, demonstrating that the muscone in XNJI significantly attenuated neuronal apoptosis through the PI3K/Akt1/NF-kB/P53 pathway.

Conclusion

We verified the neuroprotective mechanism in muscone for the first time in TBI. Network pharmacology offers a new approach for identifying the potential active ingredients in XNJI.

Network pharmacology to investigate the pharmacological mechanisms of muscone in Xingnaojing injections for the treatment of severe traumatic brain injury

Background

Xingnaojing injections (XNJI) are widely used in Chinese medicine to mitigate brain injuries. An increasing number of studies have shown that XNJI may improve neurological function. However, XNJI’s active ingredients and molecular mechanisms when treating traumatic brain injury (TBI) are unknown.

Methods

XNJI’s chemical composition was acquisited from literature and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database. We used the “absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion” (ADME) parameter-based virtual algorithm to further identify the bioactive components. We then screened data and obtained target information regarding TBI and treatment compounds from public databases. Using a Venn diagram, we intersected the information to determine the hub targets. Cytoscape was used to construct and visualize the network. In accordance with the hub proteins, we then created a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network using STRING 11.0. Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were analyzed according to the DAVID bioinformatics resource database (ver. 6.8). We validated the predicted compound’s efficacy using the experimental rat chronic constriction injury (CCI) model. The neuronal apoptosis was located using the TUNEL assay and the related pathways’ hub proteins were determined by PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemical staining.

Results

We identified 173 targets and 35 potential compounds belonging to XNJI. STRING analysis was used to illustrate the protein–protein interactions and show that muscone played a fundamental role in XNJI’s efficacy. Enrichment analysis revealed critical signaling pathways in these components’ potential protein targets, including PI3K/AKT1, NF-kB, and p53. Moreover, the hub proteins CASP3, BCL2L1, and CASP8 were also involved in apoptosis and were associated with PI3K/AKT, NF-kB, and p53 signaling pathways. We showed that muscone and XNJI were similarly effective 168 h after CCI, demonstrating that the muscone in XNJI significantly attenuated neuronal apoptosis through the PI3K/Akt1/NF-kB/P53 pathway.

Conclusion

We verified the neuroprotective mechanism in muscone for the first time in TBI. Network pharmacology offers a new approach for identifying the potential active ingredients in XNJI.

Probiotics: A Promising Candidate for Management of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the World's third most frequently diagnosed cancer type. It accounted for about 9.4% mortality out of the total incidences of cancer in the year 2020. According to estimated facts by World Health Organization (WHO), by 2030, 27 million new CRC cases, 17 million deaths, and around 75 million people living with the disease will appear. The facts and evidence that establish a link between the intestinal microflora and the occurrence of CRC are quite intuitive. Current shortcomings of chemo- and radiotherapies and the unavailability of appropriate treatment strategies for CRC are becoming the driving force to search for an alternative approach for the prevention, therapy, and management of CRC. Probiotics have been used for a long time due to their beneficial health effects, and now, it has become a popular candidate for the preventive and therapeutic treatment of CRC. The probiotics adopt different strategies such as the improvement of the intestinal barrier function, balancing of natural gut microflora, secretion of anticancer compounds, and degradation of carcinogenic compounds, which are useful in the prophylactic treatment of CRC. The pro-apoptotic ability of probiotics against cancerous cells makes them a potential therapeutic candidate against cancer diseases. Moreover, the immunomodulatory properties of probiotics have created interest among researchers to explore the therapeutic strategy by activating the immune system against cancerous cells. The present review discusses in detail different strategies and mechanisms of probiotics towards the prevention and treatment of CRC.

Recent advances in the application of probiotic yeasts, particularly Saccharomyces, as an adjuvant therapy in the management of cancer with focus on colorectal cancer

Today, the increasing rate of cancer-related mortality, has rendered cancer a major global challenge, and the second leading cause of death worldwide. Conventional approaches in the treatment of cancer mainly include chemotherapy, surgery, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, these approaches still come with certain disadvantages, including drug resistance, and different side effects such as gastrointestinal (GI) irritation (e.g., diarrhea, mucositis). This has encouraged scientists to look for alternative therapeutic methods and adjuvant therapies for a more proper treatment of malignancies. Application of probiotics as an adjuvant therapy in the clinical management of cancer appears to be a promising strategy, with several notable advantages, e.g., increased safety, higher tolerance, and negligible GI side effects. Both in vivo and in vitro analyses have indicated the active role of yeast probiotics in mitigating the rate of cancer cell proliferation, and the induction of apoptosis through regulating the expression of cancer-related genes and cellular pathways. Strain-specific anti-cancer activities of yeast probiotics strongly suggest that their administration along with the current cancer therapies may be an efficient method to reduce the side effects of these approaches. The main purpose of this article is to evaluate the efficacy of yeast probiotics in alleviating the adverse effects associated with cancer therapies.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae may serve as a probiotic in colorectal cancer by promoting cancer cell apoptosis

OBJECTIVES

Shotgun metagenomic sequencing of human fecal samples has shown that Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) is significantly suppressed in colorectal cancer (CRC) and probably plays an important role in CRC progression. However, these results need to be validated. Here we aimed to confirm the results of high-throughput sequencing and demonstrate the mechanisms mediating the effect of S. cerevisiae on progression from colorectal adenoma (CRA) to CRC.

METHODS

We used a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay to examine the relative abundance of S. cerevisiae in 281 fecal samples collected from 106 healthy controls, 108 patients with CRA and 67 with CRC. C57BL/6 and APC^Min/+ mouse models and in vitro cell assays were subsequntly used for additional analyses. The mouse models were treated or not treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and given an S. cerevisiae gavage for 8 weeks. Western blot, 16S rRNA sequencing, qPCR, immunohistochemistry, RNA sequencing, cell counting kit-8 assay, colony formation assay and flow cytometry were performed.

RESULTS

S. cerevisiae was 2.68-fold and 3.94-fold less abundant in patients with CRA and CRC, respectively, than in the controls. In vivo experiments showed that S. cerevisiae reduced colorectal tumor progression by promoting epithelial cell apoptosis and modulated gut microbial structure and intestinal immunity. S. cerevisiae downregulated nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells and the mechanistic target of rapamycin signaling pathways. Cell assays confirmed the pro-apoptotic effect of S. cerevisiae.

CONCLUSIONS

S. cerevisiae may play a probiotic role in CRC by promoting cancer cell apoptosis. It can reduce CRC progression by modulating the mucosal microbial structure.

Prophylactic Role of Lactobacillus paracasei Exopolysaccharides on Colon Cancer Cells through Apoptosis Not Ferroptosis

Background: Nowadays despite conventional methods in colon cancer treatment, targeting vital molecular pathways and induction of various forms of cell death by safe probiotic components like exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are of great importance and are considered as potential therapeutic agents. This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of the EPS of L. paracasei on different colon cancer cell lines (SW-480, HT-29, and HCT-116). Methods: For this purpose, several cellular and molecular experiments including MTS assay, DAPI staining, Annexin V/PI assay, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and some important ferroptosis-related assays were performed. Results: Based on the findings, L. paracasei EPS can induce apoptosis confirmed by all apoptosis related assays and could not act through ferroptosis pathways. L. paracasei EPS could hinder the Akt1, mTOR, and Jak-1 mRNAs, and induces apoptosis through down-regulation of the antiapoptotic gene (Bcl-2), up-regulation of pro-apoptotic genes (BAX, caspase-3, 8). Conclusion: The exploited EPS of an indigenous probiotic strain with anticancer potential with low/insignificant cytotoxicity to normal cells is proposed for future applications in molecular targeted therapy of colon cancer treatment. Furthermore, in vivo and clinical trials should be performed to evaluate the applicability of this component besides conventional methods to increase the survival rate of colon cancer patients.

β-Elemene Reverses the Resistance of p53-Deficient Colorectal Cancer Cells to 5-Fluorouracil by Inducing Pro-death Autophagy and Cyclin D3-Dependent Cycle Arrest

Objective

Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor of the digestive system with high morbidity and mortality. 5-fluorouracil remains a widely used chemotherapeutic drug in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer, but chemotherapy drugs are prone to develop drug resistance, p53 deletion or mutation is an important reason for the resistance of colorectal cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil. β-elemene has been proved to have the potential of reverse chemotherapy drug resistance, but the mechanism is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of β-elemene to 5-fluorouracil in drug-resistant p53-deficient colorectal cancer cells HCT116p53^–/–, and determine the possible molecular mechanism of β-elemene to reverse 5-fluorouracil resistance.

Methods

The effect of β-elemene on HCT116p53^–/– cell activity was detected by Cell counting Kit-8. Cell proliferation was detected by monoclonal plate. The apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and western blot. The autophagy was detected by western blot, immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscope. Determine the role of Cyclin-related protein Cyclin D3 in β-elemene reversing the resistance of HCT116p53^–/– to 5-fluorouracil was detected by overexpression of Cyclin D3. The effect of β-elemene on the tumorigenic ability of p53-deficient colorectal cancer cells was detected establishing HCT116p53^–/– all line xenograft model.

Results

For p53 wildtype colorectal cancer cells, β-elemene could augment the sensitivity of 5-fluorouracil, for p53-deficient colorectal cancer cells, β-elemene significantly inhibited cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner, and reversed the resistance of HCT116p53^–/– to 5-fluorouracil by inducing pro-death autophagy and Cyclin D3-dependent cycle arrest.

Conclusion

β-elemene enhances the sensitivity of p53 wild-type cells to 5-fluorouracil, β-elemene can reverse the resistance of HCT116p53^–/– to 5-fluorouracil by inducing pro-death autophagy and Cyclin D3-dependent cycle arrest in p53-deficient colorectal cancer, which will provide a new method for the treatment of p53 deletion colorectal cancer patients.

An overview of yeast probiotics as cancer biotherapeutics: possible clinical application in colorectal cancer

The previous reports have established a strong link between diet, lifestyle, and gut microbiota population with the onset of the colorectal cancer (CRC). Administration of probiotics has become a particular interest in prevention and treatment of CRC. As potential dietary complements, probiotics might be able to lower the risk of CRC and manage the safety of traditional cancer therapies such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. This review investigates the promising effects of probiotics as biotherapeutics, with due attention to possible clinical application of yeast probiotics in prevention and treatment of CRC. In addition, various underlying anti-cancer mechanisms are covered here based on scientific evidence and findings from numerous experimental studies. Application of probiotics as biotherapeutics in CRC, however, needs to be approved by human clinical trials. It is of prime concern, to find potential probiotic strains, effective doses for administrations and regimes, and molecular mechanisms involved in prevention and treatment.