Auriculasin enhances ROS generation to regulate colorectal cancer cell apoptosis, ferroptosis, oxeiptosis, invasion and colony formation

Ferroptosis-Regulated Natural Products and miRNAs and Their Potential Targeting to Ferroptosis and Exosome Biogenesis

Ferroptosis, which comprises iron-dependent cell death, is crucial in cancer and non-cancer treatments. Exosomes, the extracellular vesicles, may deliver biomolecules to regulate disease progression. The interplay between ferroptosis and exosomes may modulate cancer development but is rarely investigated in natural product treatments and their modulating miRNAs. This review focuses on the ferroptosis-modulating effects of natural products and miRNAs concerning their participation in ferroptosis and exosome biogenesis (secretion and assembly)-related targets in cancer and non-cancer cells. Natural products and miRNAs with ferroptosis-modulating effects were retrieved and organized. Next, a literature search established the connection of a panel of ferroptosis-modulating genes to these ferroptosis-associated natural products. Moreover, ferroptosis-associated miRNAs were inputted into the miRNA database (miRDB) to bioinformatically search the potential targets for the modulation of ferroptosis and exosome biogenesis. Finally, the literature search provided a connection between ferroptosis-modulating miRNAs and natural products. Consequently, the connections from ferroptosis-miRNA-exosome biogenesis to natural product-based anticancer treatments are well-organized. This review sheds light on the research directions for integrating miRNAs and exosome biogenesis into the ferroptosis-modulating therapeutic effects of natural products on cancer and non-cancer diseases.

Mechanisms of chondrocyte regulated cell death in osteoarthritis: Focus on ROS-triggered ferroptosis, parthanatos, and oxeiptosis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic inflammatory degenerative disease. Since chondrocytes are the only type of cells in cartilage, their survival is critical for maintaining cartilage morphology. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of how reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals, nitric oxide, and their derivatives, affect cartilage homeostasis and trigger several novel modes of regulated cell death, including ferroptosis, parthanatos, and oxeiptosis, which may play roles in chondrocyte death and OA development. Moreover, we discuss potential therapeutic strategies to alleviate OA by scavenging ROS and provide new insight into the research and treatment of the role of regulated cell death in OA.

Network pharmacology analysis and experimental verification of the antitumor effect and molecular mechanism of isocryptomerin on HepG2 cells

Isocryptomerin (ISO) is a flavonoid isolated from the natural medicine Selaginellae Herba, which has various pharmacological activities. This study investigated the antitumor effect and underlying molecular mechanism of ISO on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) HepG2 cells. The cell viability assay revealed that ISO has a considerable killing effect on HCC cell lines. The apoptosis assay showed that ISO induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis through the Bad/cyto-c/cleaved (cle)-caspase-3/cleaved (cle)-PARP pathway. The network pharmacological analysis found 13 key target genes, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), AKT, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling pathways were strongly associated with ISO against HCC. Further verification of the results showed that ISO induced apoptosis by increasing p-p38 and p-JNK expression and decreasing p-EGFR, p-SRC, p-ERK, and p-STAT3 expression. Furthermore, ISO induced G0/G1 phase arrest by downregulating p-AKT, Cyclin D, and CDK 4 expression and upregulating p21 and p27 expression in HepG2 cells. Moreover, ISO inhibited HepG2 cell migration by decreasing p-GSK-3β, β-catenin, and N-cadherin expression and increasing E-cadherin expression. Additionally, ISO promoted ROS accumulation in HepG2 cells, and ISO-induced apoptosis, arrest cell cycle, and inhibition of migration were reversed by an ROS scavenger, N-acetyl- l-cysteine. Overall, ISO induced cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest and inhibited cell migration by ROS-mediated EGFR, AKT, and MAPK signaling pathways in HepG2 cells.

Induction of ferroptosis by natural phenols: A promising strategy for cancer therapy

In recent years, heightened interest surrounds the exploration of natural phenols as potential agents for cancer therapy, specifically by inducing ferroptosis, a unique form of regulated cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. This review delves into the roles of key natural phenols, flavonoids, phenolic acids, curcumin, and stilbenes, in modulating ferroptosis and their underlying mechanisms. Emphasizing the significance of amino acid, lipid, and iron metabolism, the study elucidates the diverse pathways through which these phenols regulate ferroptosis. Notably, curcumin, a well-known polyphenol, exhibits multifaceted interactions with cellular components involved in ferroptosis regulation, providing a distinctive therapeutic avenue. Stilbenes, another phenolic class, demonstrate promising potential in influencing lipid metabolism and iron-dependent processes, contributing to ferroptotic cell death. Understanding the intricate interplay between these natural phenols and ferroptosis not only illuminates complex cellular regulatory networks but also unveils potential avenues for novel cancer therapies. Exploring these compounds as inducers of ferroptosis presents a promising strategy for targeted cancer treatment, capitalizing on the delicate balance between cellular metabolism and regulated cell death mechanisms. This article synthesizes current knowledge, aiming to stimulate further research into the therapeutic potential of natural phenols in the context of ferroptosis-mediated cancer therapy.

Natural product-derived ferroptosis mediators

It has been 11 years since ferroptosis, a new mode of programmed cell death, was first proposed. Natural products are an important source of drug discovery. In the past five years, natural product-derived ferroptosis regulators have been discovered in an endless stream. Herein, 178 natural products discovered so far to trigger or resist ferroptosis are classified into 6 structural classes based on skeleton type, and the mechanisms of action that have been reported are elaborated upon. If pharmacodynamic data are sufficient, the structure and bioactivity relationship is also presented. This review will provide medicinal chemists with some effective ferroptosis regulators, which will promote the research of natural product-based treatment of ferroptosis-related diseases in the future.

Ferroptosis-Based Therapeutic Strategies toward Precision Medicine for Cancer

Ferroptosis is a type of iron-dependent programmed cell death characterized by the dysregulation of iron metabolism and the accumulation of lipid peroxides. This nonapoptotic mode of cell death is implicated in various physiological and pathological processes. Recent findings have underscored its potential as an innovative strategy for cancer treatment, particularly against recalcitrant malignancies that are resistant to conventional therapies. This article focuses on ferroptosis-based therapeutic strategies for precision cancer treatment, covering the molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis, four major types of ferroptosis inducers and their inhibitory effects on diverse carcinomas, the detection of ferroptosis by fluorescent probes, and their implementation in image-guided therapy. These state-of-the-art tactics have manifested enhanced selectivity and efficacy against malignant carcinomas. Given that the administration of ferroptosis in cancer therapy is still at a burgeoning stage, some major challenges and future perspectives are discussed for the clinical translation of ferroptosis into precision cancer treatment.

Isoliquiritigenin Inhibits the Growth of Colorectal Cancer Cells through the ESR2/PI3K/AKT Signalling Pathway

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), a flavonoid phytoestrogen, has shown anti-tumour activities against various cancers. However, its anti-CRC mechanism has not been clarified. In this study, the potential molecular mechanism of ISL against CRC was investigated through network pharmacological prediction and experimental validation. The results of the network prediction indicate that ESR2, PIK3CG and GSK3β might be the key targets of ISL against CRC, which was verified by molecular docking, and that its anti-tumour mechanisms might be related to the oestrogen and PI3K/AKT signalling pathway. The experimental results show that ISL reduced the viability of SW480 and HCT116 cells, induced apoptosis, blocked the cell cycle in the G2 phase in vitro, and suppressed xenograft tumour growth in vivo. In addition, ISL significantly down-regulated the protein expression of PIK3CG, AKT, p-AKT, p-GSK3β, CDK1, NF-κB and Bcl-2; up-regulated ESR2 and Bax; decreased the ratio of p-AKT/AKT and p-GSK3β/GSK3β; and increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. This study indicates that ISL can inhibit the growth of CRC cells and induce apoptosis, which may be related to the up-regulation of ESR2 and inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway.

Natural products and mitochondrial allies in colorectal cancer therapy

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a globally prevalent malignancy with a high potential for metastasis. Existing cancer treatments have limitations, including drug resistance and adverse effects. Researchers are striving to develop effective therapies to address these challenges. Impressively, contemporary research has discovered that many natural products derived from foods, plants, insects, and marine invertebrates can suppress the progression, metastasis, and invasion of CRC. In this review, we conducted a comprehensive search of the CNKI, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases from inception to April 2023 to evaluate the efficacy of natural products targeting mitochondria to fight against CRC. Mitochondria are intracellular energy factories involved in cell differentiation, signal transduction, cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis. The identified natural products have been classified and summarized based on their mechanisms of action. These findings indicate that natural products can induce apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells by inhibiting the mitochondrial respiratory chain, ROS elevation, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, the release of pro-apoptotic factors, modulation of the Bcl-2 protein family to facilitate cytochrome c release, induction of apoptotic vesicle activity by activating the caspase protein family, and selective targeting of mitochondrial division. Furthermore, diverse apoptotic signaling pathways targeting mitochondria, such as the MAPK, p53, STAT3, JNK and AKT pathway, have been triggered by natural products. Natural products such as diosgenin, allopurinol, and clausenidin have demonstrated low toxicity, high efficacy, and multi-targeted properties. Mitochondria-targeting natural products have great potential for overcoming the challenges of CRC therapy.

A review on the research progress of traditional Chinese medicine with anti-cancer effect targeting ferroptosis

Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic form of regulated cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. It can be triggered by various mechanisms, including the glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4)-glutathione (GSH) axis, iron metabolism, lipid metabolism, the GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH1)-tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) pathway, and the ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1)-coenzyme Q10 axis. The redox balance is disrupted when ferroptosis occurs in cells, which is fatal to cancer cells. Additionally, some tumor-associated genes are involved in ferroptosis. Hence, targeting ferroptosis might be an effective strategy for treating cancer. Several small-molecule compounds exhibit anti-tumor effects through ferroptosis, including sorafenib and altretamine, which induce ferroptosis by inhibiting System-Xc and GPX4 respectively, but many problems, such as poor druggability, still exist. Some studies have shown that many traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) induce ferroptosis by inhibiting GPX4, solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), or by increasing the expression of Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4), transferrin (TF), and transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1). These changes can lead to the lysosomal degradation of ferritin, accumulation of iron, lipid peroxidation and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which in turn can promote anti-tumor activities or synergistic effects with chemotherapeutic drugs. In this study, we elucidated the underlying mechanisms of ferroptosis, and the anti-tumor pharmacology of TCM targeting ferroptosis including prescriptions, Chinese herbs, extracts, and natural compounds. Our findings might act as valuable reference for research on anti-tumor drugs targeting ferroptosis, especially those drugs developed from TCM.

Polystyrene nanoplastics induce haematotoxicity with cell oxeiptosis and senescence involved in C57BL/6J mice

Nanoplastics (NPs) has become a worrying serious environmental problem. However, the toxicological effects and mechanisms of NPs on hematopoiesis are still unknown. To this end, male C57BL/6J mice were directly exposed to the serial concentration gradient of polystyrene NPs (PSNPs, 0, 30, 60, and 120 μg d), respectively, for 42 days by intragastric administration. Results show that PSNPs were clearly visible in bone tissues, meanwhile, induced the count of major blood indicators (WBC, RBC, and LYM) decreased. H&E staining displayed that exposed to PSNPs can cause hematopoietic damage of BM and extramedullary hematopoiesis in spleen. Flow cytometry result show that the proportion of LSK represented a dose-dependent significantly decreased after PSNPs exposure. Further research found that PSNPs can cause the systemic oxidative stress occurs manifested as MDA accumulated. In addition, as the dose of PSNPs increased, the fluorescence intensity of Keap1 and p53 in femur sections gradually increased, meanwhile, the expression of cell oxeiptosis signal pathway Keap1/PGAM5/AIFM1 and the cell senescence signal pathway p53/p21 was all increased, markedly. Overall, our study demonstrated that PSNPs exposure caused oxidative stress, potentially resulting in cell oxeiptosis and senescence to develop haematotoxicity in C57BL/6J mice.

Mitochondrial Regulation of Ferroptosis in Cancer Therapy

Ferroptosis, characterized by glutamate overload, glutathione depletion, and cysteine/cystine deprivation during iron- and oxidative-damage-dependent cell death, is a particular mode of regulated cell death. It is expected to effectively treat cancer through its tumor-suppressor function, as mitochondria are the intracellular energy factory and a binding site of reactive oxygen species production, closely related to ferroptosis. This review summarizes relevant research on the mechanisms of ferroptosis, highlights mitochondria's role in it, and collects and classifies the inducers of ferroptosis. A deeper understanding of the relationship between ferroptosis and mitochondrial function may provide new strategies for tumor treatment and drug development based on ferroptosis.

The Induction Mechanism of Ferroptosis, Necroptosis, and Pyroptosis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Colorectal Cancer, and Intestinal Injury

Cell death includes programmed and nonprogrammed cell death. The former mainly includes ferroptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, and apoptosis, while the latter refers to necrosis. Accumulating evidence shows that ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis play essential regulatory roles in the development of intestinal diseases. In recent years, the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colorectal cancer (CRC), and intestinal injury induced by intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), sepsis, and radiation have gradually increased, posing a significant threat to human health. The advancement in targeted therapies for intestinal diseases based on ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis provides new strategies for treating intestinal diseases. Herein, we review ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis with respect to intestinal disease regulation and highlight the underlying molecular mechanisms for potential therapeutic applications.

Research progress of traditional Chinese medicine as sensitizer in reversing chemoresistance of colorectal cancer

In recent years, the incidences and mortalities from colorectal cancer (CRC) have been increasing; therefore, there is an urgent need to discover newer drugs that enhance drug sensitivity and reverse drug tolerance in CRC treatment. With this view, the current study focuses on understanding the mechanism of CRC chemoresistance to the drug as well as exploring the potential of different traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in restoring the sensitivity of CRC to chemotherapeutic drugs. Moreover, the mechanism involved in restoring sensitivity, such as by acting on the target of traditional chemical drugs, assisting drug activation, increasing intracellular accumulation of anticancer drugs, improving tumor microenvironment, relieving immunosuppression, and erasing reversible modification like methylation, have been thoroughly discussed. Furthermore, the effect of TCM along with anticancer drugs in reducing toxicity, increasing efficiency, mediating new ways of cell death, and effectively blocking the drug resistance mechanism has been studied. We aimed to explore the potential of TCM as a sensitizer of anti-CRC drugs for the development of a new natural, less-toxic, and highly effective sensitizer to CRC chemoresistance.

Targeting Mitochondrial Metabolic Reprogramming as a Potential Approach for Cancer Therapy

Abnormal energy metabolism is a characteristic of tumor cells, and mitochondria are important components of tumor metabolic reprogramming. Mitochondria have gradually received the attention of scientists due to their important functions, such as providing chemical energy, producing substrates for tumor anabolism, controlling REDOX and calcium homeostasis, participating in the regulation of transcription, and controlling cell death. Based on the concept of reprogramming mitochondrial metabolism, a range of drugs have been developed to target the mitochondria. In this review, we discuss the current progress in mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming and summarized the corresponding treatment options. Finally, we propose mitochondrial inner membrane transporters as new and feasible therapeutic targets.

Surveying the landscape of emerging and understudied cell death mechanisms

Cell death can be a highly regulated process. A large and growing number of mammalian cell death mechanisms have been described over the past few decades. Major pathways with established roles in normal or disease biology include apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis and ferroptosis. However, additional non-apoptotic cell death mechanisms with unique morphological, genetic, and biochemical features have also been described. These mechanisms may play highly specialized physiological roles or only become activated in response to specific lethal stimuli or conditions. Understanding the nature of these emerging and understudied mechanisms may provide new insight into cell death biology and suggest new treatments for diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration.

Mechanism and application of ferroptosis in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignant tumor in the world. CRC has high morbidity and mortality rates and it is a serious threat to human health. Ferroptosis is a unique form of iron-dependent oxidative cell death that is usually accompanied by iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Ferroptosis has attracted worldwide attention since it was first proposed. It plays an important role in the development of a variety of diseases, such as tumors, ischemia/reperfusion injury, nervous system diseases, and kidney damage, and it may serve as a new therapeutic target. This article reviews the mechanism of ferroptosis and the possibility to target ferroptosis pathways in CRC, providing new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC.

Isoliquiritin modulates ferroptosis via NF-κB signaling inhibition and alleviates doxorubicin resistance in breast cancer

CONTEXT

Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent diagnosed tumor and the major reason for tumor-related death in females around the world. Isoliquiritin, a type of plant extract, has exhibited a probable inhibitory effect in a variety of cancers. However, the anti-tumor effect on BC is still unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To reveal the effect and potential mechanism of Isoliquiritin on BC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cell viabilities were detected by CCK-8 assay. The levels of indicators of ferroptosis, oxidative stress, glycolysis, and inflammation were evaluated by commercial kits, flow cytometry, western blot, spectrophotometry, and ELISA assays. Mechanically, the expressions expression of the NF-κB pathway was determined by western blot. In vivo assay was also yielded on the BALB/c nude mice.

RESULTS

Iso induced a concentration and time-dependent decrease of viability in both MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells. Iso treatment significantly increased the levels of Fe²⁺, ROS, and MDA, and decreased the GSH level, and the relative protein expressions of GPX4 and xCT. Furthermore, Iso modulated oxidative stress, glycolysis, and inflammation through ferroptosis. In addition, Iso induced a concentration-dependent decrease in cell viability and a concentration-dependent increase in apoptosis rate in both MDA-MB-231/Dox and MCF-7/Dox cells. Iso notably counteracted the LPS-induced relative protein levels of p-p50/p50, p-p65/p65, and IκB, and the levels of ferroptosis, oxidative stress, glycolysis, and inflammation. The same results were also verified in vivo.

CONCLUSION

Iso inhibited the NF-κB signaling to regulate ferroptosis and improved Dox-resistance in breast cancer.

Insights on Ferroptosis and Colorectal Cancer: Progress and Updates

Patients with advanced-stage or treatment-resistant colorectal cancer (CRC) benefit less from traditional therapies; hence, new therapeutic strategies may help improve the treatment response and prognosis of these patients. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent type of regulated cell death characterized by the accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS), distinct from other types of regulated cell death. CRC cells, especially those with drug-resistant properties, are characterized by high iron levels and ROS. This indicates that the induction of ferroptosis in these cells may become a new therapeutic approach for CRC, particularly for eradicating CRC resistant to traditional therapies. Recent studies have demonstrated the mechanisms and pathways that trigger or inhibit ferroptosis in CRC, and many regulatory molecules and pathways have been identified. Here, we review the current research progress on the mechanism of ferroptosis, new molecules that mediate ferroptosis, including coding and non-coding RNA; novel inducers and inhibitors of ferroptosis, which are mainly small-molecule compounds; and newly designed nanoparticles that increase the sensitivity of cells to ferroptosis. Finally, the gene signatures and clusters that have predictive value on CRC are summarized.

Ferroptosis: Reviewing CRC with the Third Eye

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has been one of the most common cancers and maintains the second-highest incidence and mortality rates among all cancers. The high risk of recurrence and metastasis and poor survival are still huge challenges in CRC therapy, in which the discovery of ferroptosis provides a novel perspective. It has been ten years since a unique type of regulated cell death driven by iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation was proposed and named ferroptosis. During the past decade, there have been multiple pieces of evidence suggesting that ferroptosis participates in the pathophysiological processes during disease progression. In this review, we describe ferroptosis as an imbalance of oxidant systems and anti-oxidants which results in lipid peroxidation, membrane damage, and finally cell death. We elaborate on the mechanisms of ferroptosis and systematically summarize recent studies on the regulatory pathways of ferroptosis in CRC from various perspectives, ranging from encoding genes, noncoding RNAs to regulatory proteins. Finally, we discuss the potential therapeutic role of ferroptosis in CRC treatments.

Mitochondria Related Cell Death Modalities and Disease

Mitochondria are well known as the centre of energy metabolism in eukaryotic cells. However, they can not only generate ATP through the tricarboxylic acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation but also control the mode of cell death through various mechanisms, especially regulated cell death (RCD), such as apoptosis, mitophagy, NETosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis, entosis, parthanatos, ferroptosis, alkaliptosis, autosis, clockophagy and oxeiptosis. These mitochondria-associated modes of cell death can lead to a variety of diseases. During cell growth, these modes of cell death are programmed, meaning that they can be induced or predicted. Mitochondria-based treatments have been shown to be effective in many trials. Therefore, mitochondria have great potential for the treatment of many diseases. In this review, we discuss how mitochondria are involved in modes of cell death, as well as basic research and the latest clinical progress in related fields. We also detail a variety of organ system diseases related to mitochondria, including nervous system diseases, cardiovascular diseases, digestive system diseases, respiratory diseases, endocrine diseases, urinary system diseases and cancer. We highlight the role that mitochondria play in these diseases and suggest possible therapeutic directions as well as pressing issues that need to be addressed today. Because of the key role of mitochondria in cell death, a comprehensive understanding of mitochondria can help provide more effective strategies for clinical treatment.