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Hu Y, Yu X, Yang L, Xue G, Wei Q, Han Z, Chen H. Research progress on the antitumor effects of harmine. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1382142. [PMID: 38590646 PMCID: PMC10999596 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1382142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Harmine is a naturally occurring β-carboline alkaloid originally isolated from Peganum harmala. As a major active component, harmine exhibits a broad spectrum of pharmacological properties, particularly remarkable antitumor effects. Recent mechanistic studies have shown that harmine can inhibit cancer cell proliferation and metastasis through epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cell cycle regulation, angiogenesis, and the induction of tumor cell apoptosis. Furthermore, harmine reduces drug resistance when used in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs. Despite its remarkable antitumor activity, the application of harmine is limited by its poor solubility and toxic side effects, particularly neurotoxicity. Novel harmine derivatives have demonstrated strong clinical application prospects, but further validation based on drug activity, acute toxicity, and other aspects is necessary. Here, we present a review of recent research on the action mechanism of harmine in cancer treatment and the development of its derivatives, providing new insights into its potential clinical applications and strategies for mitigating its toxicity while enhancing its efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghua Hu
- Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Department of Tumor Center, The Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
- Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaoli Yu
- The First Clinical Medical College, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Lei Yang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Gaimei Xue
- The First Clinical Medical College, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qinglin Wei
- Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhijian Han
- Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Department of Tumor Center, The Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Department of Tumor Center, The Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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Ma Y, Li W, Yao Q, Liu Y, Yu J, Zang L, Wang S, Zhou L, Wen S, Luo Y, Li W, Niu X. Harmine ameliorates CCl 4-induced acute liver injury through suppression of autophagy and inflammation. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 129:111538. [PMID: 38306830 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
CCl4-induced acute liver injury (ALI) is characterized by heightened autophagy, inflammation, and oxidative damage. Accumulating evidence suggests that harmine exerts beneficial effects in countering CCl4-induced ALI by mitigating inflammation and oxidative stress. However, the impact of autophagy on CCl4-induced ALI and the protective role of harmine remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of harmine against CCl4-induced ALI in mice by suppressing autophagy and inflammation. Male Kunming mice were orally administered harmine or bifendate for seven days. Subsequently, one hour after the final administration, the model group and treatment groups were intraperitoneally injected with CCl4 to induce ALI. The findings revealed that harmine significantly reduced the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum, and ameliorated the liver histopathological changes induced by CCl4. Furthermore, harmine diminished the levels of TNF-α and IL-6, restored the levels of glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and suppressed the production of nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver. Mechanistically, harmine down-regulated LC3B II/I, p38 MAPK, TLR4, and NF-κB levels, while upregulating p62, Bcl-2, Beclin1, ULK1, and p-mTOR expression. In conclusion, harmine mitigated CCl4-induced ALI by inhibiting autophagy and inflammation through the p38 MAPK/mTOR autophagy pathway, the Bcl-2/Beclin1 pathway, and the TLR4/NF-κB pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajing Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China
| | - Wenqi Li
- School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Qing Yao
- School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China
| | - Yang Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China
| | - Jinjin Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China
| | - Lulu Zang
- School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China
| | - Siqi Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China
| | - Lili Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China
| | - Sha Wen
- School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China
| | - Yuzhi Luo
- School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China
| | - Weifeng Li
- School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China.
| | - Xiaofeng Niu
- School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China.
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Tshikhudo PP, Mabhaudhi T, Koorbanally NA, Mudau FN, Avendaño Caceres EO, Popa D, Calina D, Sharifi-Rad J. Anticancer Potential of β-Carboline Alkaloids: An Updated Mechanistic Overview. Chem Biodivers 2024; 21:e202301263. [PMID: 38108650 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202301263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
his comprehensive review is designed to evaluate the anticancer properties of β-carbolines derived from medicinal plants, with the ultimate goal of assessing their suitability and potential in cancer treatment, management, and prevention. An exhaustive literature survey was conducted on a wide array of β-carbolines including, but not limited to, harmaline, harmine, harmicine, harman, harmol, harmalol, pinoline, tetrahydroharmine, tryptoline, cordysinin C, cordysinin D, norharmane, and perlolyrine. Various analytical techniques were employed to identify and screen these compounds, followed by a detailed analysis of their anticancer mechanisms. Natural β-carbolines such as harmaline and harmine have shown promising inhibitory effects on the growth of cancer cells, as evidenced by multiple in vitro and in vivo studies. Synthetically derived β-carbolines also displayed noteworthy anticancer, neuroprotective, and cognitive-enhancing effects. The current body of research emphasizes the potential of β-carbolines as a unique source of bioactive compounds for cancer treatment. The diverse range of β-carbolines derived from medicinal plants can offer valuable insights into the development of new therapeutic strategies for cancer management and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phumudzo P Tshikhudo
- Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Directorate Plant Health, Division Pest Risk Analysis, Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi
- Centre for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Neil A Koorbanally
- School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban, 4000, South Africa
| | - Fhatuwani N Mudau
- School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Edgardo Oscar Avendaño Caceres
- Departamento de quimica e ingenieria Quimica, Universidad Nacional Jorge Basadre Grohmann. Avenida Miraflores s/n, Tacna, 23001, Perú
| | - Dragos Popa
- Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349, Craiova, Romania
| | - Daniela Calina
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349, Craiova, Romania
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Fan R, Wang S, Wu Y, Feng Y, Gao M, Cao Y, Ma X, Xie S, Wang C, Gao L, Wang Y, Dai F. Activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress by harmine suppresses the growth of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Phytother Res 2023; 37:4655-4673. [PMID: 37525965 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
The worldwide overall 5-year survival rate of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients is less than 20%, and novel therapeutic strategies for these patients are urgently needed. Harmine is a natural β-carboline alkaloid, which received great interest in cancer research because of its biological and anti-tumor activities. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of harmine on ESCC and its mechanism. We investigated the effects of harmine on proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and tumor growth in vivo. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), real-time PCR, and western blotting were used to detect the mechanism. Harmine inhibited ESCC cell growth in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Differentially expressed genes in harmine-treated ESCC cells were mainly involved in protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Real-time PCR and western blotting confirmed harmine-induced cellular ER stress. CRISPR-Cas9 knockout of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) abolished harmine-induced expression of death receptor 5 and apoptosis. Harmine also induced the expression of CHOP-mediated sestrin-2, which in turn contributes to autophagosome formation via suppressing the AMP-activated protein kinase-protein kinase B-mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that harmine inhibits the growth of ESCC through its regulation of ER stress, suggesting that it is a promising candidate for ESCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronghui Fan
- Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine and Immuno-Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China
- School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China
| | - Senzhen Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China
| | - Yalan Wu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Heart and Vascular Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yongli Feng
- Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine and Immuno-Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China
| | - Mengke Gao
- Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine and Immuno-Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China
| | - Yue Cao
- Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine and Immuno-Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Ma
- Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine and Immuno-Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China
| | - Songqiang Xie
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China
| | - Chaojie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine and Immuno-Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China
| | - Lei Gao
- Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine and Immuno-Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Food & Medicine Resource Function, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China
| | - Yanming Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China
| | - Fujun Dai
- Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine and Immuno-Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China
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Yang G, Xie H, Wang C, Zhang C, Yu L, Zhang L, Liu X, Xu R, Song Z, Liu R, Ueda M. Design, synthesis, and discovery of Eudistomin Y derivatives as lysosome-targeted antiproliferation agents. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 250:115193. [PMID: 36774698 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Eudistomin Y is a novel class of β-carbolines of marine origin with potential antiproliferation activity against MDA-MB-231 cells (triple-negative breast carcinoma). However, the subcellular target or the detailed mechanism against cancer cell proliferation has not yet been identified. In this study, based on its special structure, a novel series of Eudistomin Y fluorescent derivatives were designed and synthesized by enhancing the electron-donor effect of N-9 to endow it with fluorescent properties through N-alkylation. The structure-activity relationships against the proliferation of cancer cells were also analyzed. A quarter of Eudistomin Y derivatives showed much higher potency against cancer cell proliferation than the original Eudistomin Y1. Fluorescent derivative H1k with robust antiproliferative activity could arrest MDA-MB-231 cells in the G2-M phase. The subcellular localization studies of the probes, including H1k, and Eudistomin Y1 were performed in MDA-MB-231 cells, and the co-localization and competitive inhibition assays revealed their lysosome-specific localization. Moreover, H1k could dose-dependently increase the autophagy signal and downregulate the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK1) and cyclin B1 which principally regulated the G2-M transition. Furthermore, the specific autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine significantly inhibited the H1k-triggered antiproliferation of cancer cells and the downregulation of CDK1 and cyclin B1. Overall, the lysosome is identified as the subcellular target of Eudistomin Y for the first time, and derivative H1k showed robust antiproliferative activity against MDA-MB-231 cells by decreasing Cyclin B1-CDK1 complex via a lysosome-dependent pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gangqiang Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China.
| | - Hao Xie
- School of Pharmacy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Conghui Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Liping Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Luyu Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Xin Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Ruoxuan Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Zhihua Song
- School of Pharmacy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Rongxia Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Minoru Ueda
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan; Department of Molecular and Chemical Life Sciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
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Zhang G, Govindasamy C, Subramaniyan Sivakumar A, Hasan Hussein-Al-Ali S, Wu J. Protective Effects of Harmine on Monosodium Iodoacetate-induced Osteoarthritis in Rats: In vitro and In vivo Studies. ARAB J CHEM 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2023.104748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
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Hafiz I, Li Z, Wang Z, He H, Tang X, Wang M. Improving the antitumor efficiency against hepatocellular carcinoma by harmine-loaded liposomes with mitochondria targeting and legumain response. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2022.103623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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Rashidi M, Mahmoudian E, Mirzaei S, Mazloomi SN, Bazi A, Azadeh H, Mozaffari M. Harmaline downregulates angiogenesis markers and suppresses the growth of 4T1 breast cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. Chem Biol Interact 2022; 365:110087. [PMID: 35963316 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2022.110087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The anti-angiogenic effects of harmaline, an alkaloid with emerging anti-tumor properties, are under investigation. In the present study, the effects of different doses of harmaline, either alone or in combination with doxorubicin (DOX), were assessed in mice models of breast tumor. Breast tumors were created by the subcutaneous injection of 4T1 cells into Balb/c mice. The mice received either normal saline, harmaline alone (10, 20, or 30 mg/kg), or harmaline (20 mg/kg) + DOX (10 mg/kg). Immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and real-time PCR were conducted to measure target parameters. Harmaline significantly increased tumor cells' sensitivity to DOX as confirmed by a significantly reduced tumor volume in the harmaline + DOX group after 24 days (P < 0.05). Also, the levels of Ki-67 (P < 0.001), MMP-2 (P < 0.001), and VEGF (P < 0.001) significantly decreased while the level of E-cadherin increased (P < 0.001) in the tumor tissues of the mice treated with 20 or 30 mg/kg harmaline or harmaline (20 mg/kg) + DOX (10 mg/kg) compared to the control group. There was a significant reduction in the serum level of IL-4 in tumor-bearing mice treated with harmaline (P < 0.05), and IFN-γ serum level was significantly augmented in all experimental groups compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The genes encoding VEGF, VEGF receptor 2, CD105, and COX2 were significantly down-regulated (P < 0.05 for all) in harmaline-treated (either alone or in combination with DOX) mice. In conclusion, harmaline seems to have the potential to be used as an anticancer agent for treating breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Rashidi
- Department Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran; The Health of Plant and Livestock Products Research Center,Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
| | - Elham Mahmoudian
- Cellular & Molecular Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 ch. Smyth Rd., Roger Guindon Hall, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Sepideh Mirzaei
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyadeh Narges Mazloomi
- The Health of Plant and LivestockProducts Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran; Food and Drug Administration, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Ali Bazi
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
| | - Hossein Azadeh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Rheumatology Division, Orthopedic Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
| | - Mobina Mozaffari
- Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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He J, Chen S, Yu T, Chen W, Huang J, Peng C, Ding Y. Harmine suppresses breast cancer cell migration and invasion by regulating TAZ-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Am J Cancer Res 2022; 12:2612-2626. [PMID: 35812064 PMCID: PMC9251681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a highly lethal disease due to cancer metastasis. Harmine (HM), a β-carboline alkaloid, is present in various medicinal plants. Our previous study demonstrated that HM suppresses cell proliferation and migration by regulating TAZ in breast cancer cells and accelerates apoptosis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an important role in the development of breast cancer by inducing the characteristics of cancer stem cells, cancer metastasis and recurrence. Overexpression of TAZ was shown to mediate EMT in breast cancer cells. We aimed to investigate whether HM inhibits EMT and metastasis of breast cancer cells by targeting TAZ. In this study, the cells treated with HM or with downregulated expression of TAZ showed an increase in epithelial markers and decrease in mesenchymal markers in breast cancer cells. Consistently, the breast cancer cells treated with HM or with downregulated expression of TAZ showed suppressed migration and proliferation. Moreover, TAZ overexpression reversed EMT and metastasis induced by HM in breast cancer cells. Thus, HM suppresses EMT and metastasis and invasion by targeting TAZ in breast cancer cells. HM can be used as an anticancer drug for breast cancer treatment and chemoprevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinrong He
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis of Hubei ProvinceHubei, China
- Central Laboratory, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430014, Hubei, China
| | - Shanshan Chen
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis of Hubei ProvinceHubei, China
- Central Laboratory, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430014, Hubei, China
| | - Tong Yu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Humanwell Healthcare (Group) Co., Ltd.Wuhan 430075, Hubei, China
| | - Weiqun Chen
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis of Hubei ProvinceHubei, China
- Central Laboratory, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430014, Hubei, China
| | - Jin Huang
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis of Hubei ProvinceHubei, China
- Central Laboratory, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430014, Hubei, China
| | - Caixia Peng
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis of Hubei ProvinceHubei, China
- Central Laboratory, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430014, Hubei, China
| | - Yu Ding
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis of Hubei ProvinceHubei, China
- Central Laboratory, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430014, Hubei, China
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Al-Bari MAA, Ito Y, Ahmed S, Radwan N, Ahmed HS, Eid N. Targeting Autophagy with Natural Products as a Potential Therapeutic Approach for Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9807. [PMID: 34575981 PMCID: PMC8467030 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Macro-autophagy (autophagy) is a highly conserved eukaryotic intracellular process of self-digestion caused by lysosomes on demand, which is upregulated as a survival strategy upon exposure to various stressors, such as metabolic insults, cytotoxic drugs, and alcohol abuse. Paradoxically, autophagy dysfunction also contributes to cancer and aging. It is well known that regulating autophagy by targeting specific regulatory molecules in its machinery can modulate multiple disease processes. Therefore, autophagy represents a significant pharmacological target for drug development and therapeutic interventions in various diseases, including cancers. According to the framework of autophagy, the suppression or induction of autophagy can exert therapeutic properties through the promotion of cell death or cell survival, which are the two main events targeted by cancer therapies. Remarkably, natural products have attracted attention in the anticancer drug discovery field, because they are biologically friendly and have potential therapeutic effects. In this review, we summarize the up-to-date knowledge regarding natural products that can modulate autophagy in various cancers. These findings will provide a new position to exploit more natural compounds as potential novel anticancer drugs and will lead to a better understanding of molecular pathways by targeting the various autophagy stages of upcoming cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuko Ito
- Department of General and Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2–7 Daigaku-machi, Takatsuki 569-8686, Osaka, Japan;
| | - Samrein Ahmed
- Department of Biosciences and Chemistry, College of Health and Wellbeing and Life Sciences, Sheffield Hallam University, City Campus, Howard Street, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK;
| | - Nada Radwan
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 17666, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Hend S. Ahmed
- Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Omdurman Ahlia University, Khartoum 786, Sudan;
| | - Nabil Eid
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 17666, United Arab Emirates;
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Yang B, Peng F, Zhang Y, Wang X, Wang S, Zheng Y, Zhang J, Zeng Y, Wang N, Peng C, Wang Z. Aiduqing formula suppresses breast cancer metastasis via inhibiting CXCL1-mediated autophagy. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 90:153628. [PMID: 34247114 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metastasis is the most common lethal cause of breast cancer-related death. Recent studies have implied that autophagy is closely implicated in cancer metastasis. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore autophagy-related molecular targets involved in breast cancer metastasis and to develop therapeutic drugs. PURPOSE This study was designed to investigate the anti-metastatic effects and autophagy regulatory mechanisms of Aiduqing (ADQ) formula on breast cancer. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS Multiple cellular and molecular experiments were conducted to investigate the inhibitory effects of ADQ formula on autophagy and metastasis of breast cancer cells in vitro. Meanwhile, autophagic activator/inhibitor as well as CXCL1 overexpression or interference plasmids were used to investigate the underlying mechanisms of ADQ formula in modulating autophagy-mediated metastasis. Furthermore, the zebrafish xenotransplantation model and mouse xenografts were applied to validate the inhibitory effect of ADQ formula on autophagy-mediated metastasis in breast cancer in vivo. RESULTS ADQ formula significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion and autophagy but induced apoptosis of high-metastatic breast cancer cells in vitro. Similar results were also observed in starvation-induced breast cancer cells which exhibited elevated metastatic ability and autophagy activity. Mechanism investigations further approved that either CXCL1 overexpression or autophagic activator rapamycin can significantly abrogated the anti-metastatic effects of ADQ formula, suggesting that CXCL1-mediated autophagy may be the crucial pathway of ADQ formula in suppressing breast cancer metastasis. More importantly, ADQ formula suppressed breast cancer growth, autophagy, and metastasis in both the zebrafish xenotransplantation model and the mouse xenografts. CONCLUSION Our study not only revealed the novel function of CXCL1 in mediating autophagy-mediated metastasis but also suggested ADQ formula as a candidate drug for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Yang
- The Research Center of Integrative Cancer Medicine, Discipline of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, the Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; The Research Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Fu Peng
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- The Research Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- The Research Center of Integrative Cancer Medicine, Discipline of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, the Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shengqi Wang
- The Research Center of Integrative Cancer Medicine, Discipline of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, the Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yifeng Zheng
- The Research Center of Integrative Cancer Medicine, Discipline of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, the Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Juping Zhang
- The Research Center of Integrative Cancer Medicine, Discipline of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, the Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yihao Zeng
- The Research Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Neng Wang
- The Research Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Cheng Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - Zhiyu Wang
- The Research Center of Integrative Cancer Medicine, Discipline of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, the Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; The Research Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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12
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Alomar ML, Yañuk JG, Angel SO, Gonzalez MM, Cabrerizo FM. In vitro Effect of Harmine Alkaloid and Its N-Methyl Derivatives Against Toxoplasma gondii. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:716534. [PMID: 34421876 PMCID: PMC8375385 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.716534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most prevalent and neglected zoonotic global diseases caused by Toxoplasma gondii. The current pharmacological treatments show clinical limitations, and therefore, the search for new drugs is an urgent need in order to eradicate this infection. Due to their intrinsic biological activities, β-carboline (βC) alkaloids might represent a good alternative that deserves further investigations. In this context, the in vitro anti-T. gondii activity of three βCs, harmine (1), 2-methyl-harminium (2), and 9-methyl-harmine (3), was evaluated herein. Briefly, the three alkaloids exerted direct effects on the parasite invasion and/or replication capability. Replication rates of intracellular treated tachyzoites were also affected in a dose-dependent manner, at noncytotoxic concentrations for host cells. Additionally, cell cycle analysis revealed that both methyl-derivatives 2 and 3 induce parasite arrest in S/M phases. Compound 3 showed the highest irreversible parasite growth inhibition, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 1.8 ± 0.2 μM and a selectivity index (SI) of 17.2 at 4 days post infection. Due to high replication rates, tachyzoites are frequently subjected to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). This highly toxic lesion triggers a series of DNA damage response reactions, starting with a kinase cascade that phosphorylates a large number of substrates, including the histone H2A.X to lead the early DSB marker γH2A.X. Western blot studies showed that basal expression of γH2A.X was reduced in the presence of 3. Interestingly, the typical increase in γH2A.X levels produced by camptothecin (CPT), a drug that generates DSB, was not observed when CPT was co-administered with 3. These findings suggest that 3 might disrupt Toxoplasma DNA damage response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria L Alomar
- Laboratorio de Fotoquímica y Fotobiología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Juan G Yañuk
- Laboratorio de Fotoquímica y Fotobiología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Sergio O Angel
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, INTECH, UNSAM - CONICET, Chascomús, Argentina
| | - M Micaela Gonzalez
- Laboratorio de Fotoquímica y Fotobiología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Franco M Cabrerizo
- Laboratorio de Fotoquímica y Fotobiología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Chascomús, Argentina
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13
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Sun Q, Liu C, Jiang K, Fang Y, Kong C, Fu J, Liu Y. A preliminary study on the neurotoxic mechanism of harmine in Caenorhabditis elegans. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2021; 245:109038. [PMID: 33794375 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2021.109038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Harmine is a beta-carboline and harmala alkaloid with extensive bioactivities. However, its toxicity, especially in neural system, is not systematically assessed and the toxic mechanism is not yet clear. Using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model system, we found that harmine exhibited dosage dependent (0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, and 320 μmol/L) toxic effect, such as growth inhibition, egg laying defects, shortened life span and increased mortality. Although harmine did not result in obvious structural alterations in neurite or death of neurons, it did show direct acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity. Further, we found that harmine treatment decreased worm pharyngeal pump rate and lowered the content of nitric oxide (NO) in worm body, implying foraging disorders, which is an indicator of acetylcholinergic neuron activity inhibition. Besides, network pharmacology and molecular docking reveals that acetylcholinesterase is one of the major neural toxicity targets as well. Above all, harmine can directly inhibit the activity of acetylcholinesterase, leading to excessive accumulation of acetylcholine, which may be one of the harmine neurotoxicity mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Sun
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Cen Liu
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Kunxiu Jiang
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Yongsheng Fang
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Chuchu Kong
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Jin Fu
- College of Xinjiang Uyghur Medicine, Xinjiang 848000, China
| | - Yonggang Liu
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China.
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14
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Du H, Luo F, Shi M, Che J, Zhu L, Li H, Hang J. Beclin-1 is a Promising Prognostic Biomarker in a Specific Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Population. Pathol Oncol Res 2021; 27:594724. [PMID: 34257544 PMCID: PMC8262207 DOI: 10.3389/pore.2021.594724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The effects of autophagy and apoptosis in the prognostic assessment and treatment of Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain to be elucidated. Here, we conducted a retrospective study on the histopathology of ESCC, investigated the expression of Beclin-1 and Bcl-2 proteins (both autophagy- and apoptosis-related) in esophageal cancer tissue, and analyzed the significance of these proteins for the prognosis of ESCC. In the present study, the expression level of Beclin-1 in ESCC was significantly lower than that in adjacent tissues (p < 0.01), whereas the expression level of Bcl-2 showed the opposite pattern (p < 0.01). Furthermore, low expression of Beclin-1 was associated with more advanced ESCC stages and lymph node metastasis. However, high expression of Bcl-2 was associated with more advanced ESCC stages, deeper tumor invasion, and lymph node metastasis. Moreover, the relationship between Bcl-2 expression and OS was not significant (p > 0.05), whereas Beclin-1 expression was significantly associated with OS (p < 0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that Beclin-1 expression was significantly associated with OS in the high-Bcl-2-expression group but not in the low-Bcl-2-expression group. Importantly, Beclin-1 upregulation or downregulation significantly upregulated or downregulated invasion, respectively, in EC9706 cells in combination with high expression but not low expression of Bcl-2. These findings reveal that differences in autophagy and apoptotic states and their activities may promote malignant tumor differentiation, which could lead to a more aggressive esophageal squamous cell phenotype and a worse survival prognosis. Here, Beclin-1 was shown to be a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for patients with ESCC in the high-Bcl-2-expression population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailei Du
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fangxiu Luo
- Department of Pathology, Ruijin Hospital North, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Minmin Shi
- Institute of Digestive Surgery, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiaming Che
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lianggang Zhu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hecheng Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Junbiao Hang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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15
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Akabli T, Toufik H, Lamchouri F. In silico modeling studies of N9-substituted harmine derivatives as potential anticancer agents: combination of ligand-based and structure-based approaches. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2020; 40:3965-3978. [PMID: 33252029 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1852118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
A computational study was carried out to develop quantitative-structure activity relationship (QSAR), pharmacophore, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations of a series of N9-substituted harmine derivatives in order to investigate the structural factors involved in the cytotoxic activity and thus design new active derivatives. A valid 3 D-QSAR (R2= 0.89, q2=0.67, R2pred = 0.72) and 2 D-QSAR (R2= 0.81, q2=0.69, R2pred = 0.76) models were obtained correlating the cytotoxic activity with hydrophobic and hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) features for 3 D-QSAR and SlogP and a_acc descriptors for 2 D-QSAR. Analysis of the selected descriptors for both models highlighted that lipophilicity and hydrogen bonding acceptor atoms remain the crucial properties and those on which cytotoxic activity depends. Also, these findings are in agreement with the characteristics of the generated pharmacophore. Furthermore, molecular docking revealed that the binding energy (-9.74 kcal/mol) and inhibition constant (0.071 µmol) correlate with the activity of the most active compound that forms hydrophobic interactions and two hydrogen bonds with the the dual specificity tyrosine phosphorylation regulated kinase 1 A (DYRK1A). The molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the protein-ligand equilibrium is stable after 100000 fs of trajectories. Based on these results, we designed new N9-substituted harmine derivatives with improved properties: predicted cytotoxic activities, estimated binding energies, estimated inhibition constants and interaction modes with amino acid residues of DYRK1A, compared to the best compound in the studied dataset. Additionally, these newly designed inhibitors showed promising results in the preliminary in silico Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity (ADMET) evaluations.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taoufik Akabli
- Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health & Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ), Polydisciplinary Faculty of Taza, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University of Fez, Taza, Morocco
| | - Hamid Toufik
- Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health & Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ), Polydisciplinary Faculty of Taza, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University of Fez, Taza, Morocco
| | - Fatima Lamchouri
- Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health & Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ), Polydisciplinary Faculty of Taza, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University of Fez, Taza, Morocco
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16
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Pharmacological effects of harmine and its derivatives: a review. Arch Pharm Res 2020; 43:1259-1275. [PMID: 33206346 DOI: 10.1007/s12272-020-01283-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Harmine is isolated from the seeds of the medicinal plant, Peganum harmala L., and has been used for thousands of years in the Middle East and China. Harmine has many pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, and antitumor activities. Moreover, harmine exhibits insecticidal, antiviral, and antibacterial effects. Harmine derivatives exhibit pharmacological effects similar to those of harmine, but with better antitumor activity and low neurotoxicity. Many studies have been conducted on the pharmacological activities of harmine and harmine derivatives. This article reviews the pharmacological effects and associated mechanisms of harmine. In addition, the structure-activity relationship of harmine derivatives has been summarized.
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17
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Angel SO, Vanagas L, Ruiz DM, Cristaldi C, Saldarriaga Cartagena AM, Sullivan WJ. Emerging Therapeutic Targets Against Toxoplasma gondii: Update on DNA Repair Response Inhibitors and Genotoxic Drugs. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:289. [PMID: 32656097 PMCID: PMC7325978 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis in animals and humans. This infection is transmitted to humans through oocysts released in the feces of the felines into the environment or by ingestion of undercooked meat. This implies that toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease and T. gondii is a foodborne pathogen. In addition, chronic toxoplasmosis in goats and sheep is the cause of recurrent abortions with economic losses in the sector. It is also a health problem in pets such as cats and dogs. Although there are therapies against this infection in its acute stage, they are not able to permanently eliminate the parasite and sometimes they are not well tolerated. To develop better, safer drugs, we need to elucidate key aspects of the biology of T. gondii. In this review, we will discuss the importance of the homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathway in the parasite's lytic cycle and how components of these processes can be potential molecular targets for new drug development programs. In that sense, the effect of different DNA damage agents or HHR inhibitors on the growth and replication of T. gondii will be described. Multitarget drugs that were either associated with other targets or were part of general screenings are included in the list, providing a thorough revision of the drugs that can be tested in other scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio O Angel
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas (CONICET)-Universidad Nacional General San Martin (UNSAM), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Laura Vanagas
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas (CONICET)-Universidad Nacional General San Martin (UNSAM), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Diego M Ruiz
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas (CONICET)-Universidad Nacional General San Martin (UNSAM), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Constanza Cristaldi
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas (CONICET)-Universidad Nacional General San Martin (UNSAM), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Ana M Saldarriaga Cartagena
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas (CONICET)-Universidad Nacional General San Martin (UNSAM), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - William J Sullivan
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States.,Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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18
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Vallet M, Baumeister TUH, Kaftan F, Grabe V, Buaya A, Thines M, Svatoš A, Pohnert G. The oomycete Lagenisma coscinodisci hijacks host alkaloid synthesis during infection of a marine diatom. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4938. [PMID: 31666506 PMCID: PMC6821873 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12908-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Flagellated oomycetes frequently infect unicellular algae, thus limiting their proliferation. Here we show that the marine oomycete Lagenisma coscinodisci rewires the metabolome of the bloom-forming diatom Coscinodiscus granii, thereby promoting infection success. The algal alkaloids β-carboline and 4-carboxy-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-β-carboline are induced during infection. Single-cell profiling with AP-MALDI-MS and confocal laser scanning microscopy reveals that algal carbolines accumulate in the reproductive form of the parasite. The compounds arrest the algal cell division, increase the infection rate and induce plasmolysis in the host. Our results indicate that the oomycete manipulates the host metabolome to support its own multiplication. Flagellated oomycetes frequently infect unicellular algae, thus limiting their proliferation. Here, the authors show that an oomycete rewires the metabolome of a marine bloom-forming diatom, thereby promoting infection success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Vallet
- Research Group Plankton Community Interaction, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany.
| | - Tim U H Baumeister
- Research Group Plankton Community Interaction, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Filip Kaftan
- Research Group Mass Spectrometry/Proteomics, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Veit Grabe
- Research Group Olfactory Coding, Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Anthony Buaya
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Marco Thines
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Aleš Svatoš
- Research Group Mass Spectrometry/Proteomics, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Georg Pohnert
- Research Group Plankton Community Interaction, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany. .,Bioorganic Analytics, Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany. .,Microverse Cluster, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Neugasse 23, 07743, Jena, Germany.
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19
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Harmine suppresses bladder tumor growth by suppressing vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2-mediated angiogenesis. Biosci Rep 2019; 39:BSR20190155. [PMID: 30910851 PMCID: PMC6499454 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20190155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Revised: 03/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a vital step during the process of oncogenesis of a lot of tumors, with no exception in bladder cancer. One of the useful strategies for the development of new drugs against cancer is targeting angiogenesis. In the present study, we found that a small-molecule natural product, which belonged to the β-carboline alkaloid, named harmine, could strongly inhibit tumor angiogenesis thus exhibiting its ideal treatment efficacy in bladder cancer. In vivo study verified that harmine had the effect of inhibition on human bladder tumor xenograft growth. The inhibitory effect of harmine to bladder cancer growth was coordinated by the effects shown on angiogenesis. To further explore the pharmacological activities of harmine, we tested harmine’s influence on blood vessel formation and found that harmine effectively blocked the microvessel sprouting in rat aortic ring assay when stimulated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Furthermore, harmine inhibited human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation as well as chemotactic motility, and when we treated HUVEC cell with harmine, the formation of capillary-like structures was also restrained. Moreover, harmine induced bladder cancer cell apoptosis through triggering the caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway and the downstream vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) kinase pathway was down-regulated, thus suppressing tumor development signals. Herein, our study demonstrated that natural product harmine might have potential in curing human bladder tumor because of its pharmacological function on tumor angiogenesis, trigged by VEGFR2 signaling pathways.
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Ding Y, He J, Huang J, Yu T, Shi X, Zhang T, Yan G, Chen S, Peng C. Harmine induces anticancer activity in breast cancer cells via targeting TAZ. Int J Oncol 2019; 54:1995-2004. [PMID: 31081045 PMCID: PMC6521938 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2019.4777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Harmine (HM) is a β-carboline alkaloid found in multiple medicinal plants. It has been used in folk medicine for anticancer therapy; however, the molecular mechanism of HM on human breast cancer remains unclear. Transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), also known as WW domain-containing transcription regulator 1, serves an important role in the carcinogenesis and progression of breast cancer. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the potential anticancer activity and mechanism of HM in breast cancer, in vitro and in vivo. Cell proliferation was measured using a CCK-8 assay, apoptotic activity was detected by flow cytometry and DAPI staining, and cell migration was examined using a wound healing assay. The expression of proteins, including extracellular signal-regulate kinase (Erk), phosphorylated (p-) Erk, protein kinase B (Akt), p-Akt, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), were determined by western blotting. The mRNA expression of TAZ was detected using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. The expression of proteins in mouse tumor tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry. HM significantly suppressed cellular proliferation and migration, promoted apoptosis in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. In addition, HM significantly decreased the expression of TAZ, p-Erk, p-Akt and Bcl-2, but increased that of Bax. The overexpression of TAZ in breast cancer cells inhibited the antitumor effect of HM. In conclusion, HM was found to induce apoptosis and prevent the proliferation and migration of human breast cancer cell lines, possibly via the downregulation of TAZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Ding
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis of Hubei Province, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430014, P.R. China
| | - Jinrong He
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis of Hubei Province, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430014, P.R. China
| | - Juan Huang
- Department of Nephrology, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430014, P.R. China
| | - Tong Yu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Humanwell Healthcare (Group) Co., Ltd., Wuhan, Hubei 430075, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoyan Shi
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis of Hubei Province, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430014, P.R. China
| | - Tianzhu Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis of Hubei Province, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430014, P.R. China
| | - Ge Yan
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis of Hubei Province, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430014, P.R. China
| | - Shanshan Chen
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis of Hubei Province, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430014, P.R. China
| | - Caixia Peng
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis of Hubei Province, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430014, P.R. China
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Piboonprai K, Khumkhrong P, Khongkow M, Yata T, Ruangrungsi N, Chansriniyom C, Iempridee T. Anticancer activity of arborinine from Glycosmis parva leaf extract in human cervical cancer cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 500:866-872. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.04.175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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