Notoginsenoside Ft1 promotes angiogenesis via HIF-1α mediated VEGF secretion and the regulation of PI3K/AKT and Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathways

Panax notoginseng: panoramagram of phytochemical and pharmacological properties, biosynthesis, and regulation and production of ginsenosides

Panax notoginseng is a famous perennial herb widely used as material for medicine and health-care food. Due to its various therapeutic effects, research work on P. notoginseng has rapidly increased in recent years, urging a comprehensive review of research progress on this important medicinal plant. Here, we summarize the latest studies on the representative bioactive constituents of P. notoginseng and their multiple pharmacological effects, like cardiovascular protection, anti-tumor, and immunomodulatory activities. More importantly, we emphasize the biosynthesis and regulation of ginsenosides, which are the main bioactive ingredients of P. notoginseng. Key enzymes and transcription factors (TFs) involved in the biosynthesis of ginsenosides are reviewed, including diverse CYP450s, UGTs, bHLH, and ERF TFs. We also construct a transcriptional regulatory network based on multi-omics data and predicted candidate TFs mediating the biosynthesis of ginsenosides. Finally, the current three major biotechnological approaches for ginsenoside production are highlighted. This review covers advances in the past decades, providing insights into quality evaluation and perspectives for the rational utilization and development of P. notoginseng resources. Modern omics technologies facilitate the exploration of the molecular mechanisms of ginsenoside biosynthesis, which is crucial to the breeding of novel P. notoginseng varieties. The identification of functional enzymes for biosynthesizing ginsenosides will lead to the formulation of potential strategies for the efficient and large-scale production of specific ginsenosides.

Notoginsenoside Ft1 inhibits colorectal cancer growth by increasing CD8+ T cell proportion in tumor-bearing mice through the USP9X signaling pathway

The management of colorectal cancer (CRC) poses a significant challenge, necessitating the development of innovative and effective therapeutics. Our research has shown that notoginsenoside Ft1 (Ng-Ft1), a small molecule, markedly inhibits subcutaneous tumor formation in CRC and enhances the proportion of CD8+ T cells in tumor-bearing mice, thus restraining tumor growth. Investigation into the mechanism revealed that Ng-Ft1 selectively targets the deubiquitination enzyme USP9X, undermining its role in shielding β-catenin. This leads to a reduction in the expression of downstream effectors in the Wnt signaling pathway. These findings indicate that Ng-Ft1 could be a promising small-molecule treatment for CRC, working by blocking tumor progression via the Wnt signaling pathway and augmenting CD8+ T cell prevalence within the tumor environment.

Why traditional herbal medicine promotes wound healing: Research from immune response, wound microbiome to controlled delivery

Impaired wound healing in chronic wounds has been a significant challenge for clinicians and researchers for decades. Traditional herbal medicine (THM) has a long history of promoting wound healing, making them culturally accepted and trusted by a great number of people in the world. However, for a long time, the understanding of herbal medicine has been limited and incomplete, particularly in the allopathic medicine-dominated research system. The therapeutic effects of individual components isolated from THM are found less pronounced compared to synthetic chemical medicine, and the clinical efficacy is always inferior to herbs. In the present article, we review and discuss underlying mechanisms of the skin microbiome involved in the wound healing process; THM in regulating immune responses and commensal microbiome. We additionally propose few pioneer ideas and studies in the development of therapeutic strategies for controlled delivery of herbal medicine. This review aims to promote wound care with a focus on wound microbiome, immune response, and topical drug delivery systems. Finally, future development trends, challenges, and research directions are discussed.

An Update on the Potential Application of Herbal Medicine in Promoting Angiogenesis

Angiogenesis, the formation of new capillaries from pre-existing vascular networks, plays an important role in many physiological and pathological processes. The use of pro-angiogenic agents has been proposed as an attractive approach for promoting wound healing and treating vascular insufficiency-related problems, such as ischemic heart disease and stroke, which are the leading causes of death worldwide. Traditional herbal medicine has a long history; however, there is still a need for more in-depth studies and evidence-based confirmation from controlled and validated trials. Many in vitro and in vivo studies have reported that herbal medicines and their bioactive ingredients exert pro-angiogenic activity. The most frequently studied pro-angiogenic phytochemicals include ginsenosides from Panax notoginseng, astragalosides and calycosin from Radix Astragali, salvianolic acid B from Salvia miltiorrhiza, paeoniflorin from Radix Paeoniae, ilexsaponin A1 from Ilex pubescens, ferulic acid from Angelica sinensis, and puerarin from Radix puerariae. This review summarizes the progress in research on these phytochemicals, particularly those related to pro-angiogenic mechanisms and applications in ischemic diseases, tissue repair, and wound healing. In addition, an outline of their limitations and challenges during drug development is presented.

Co-Targeting Tumor Angiogenesis and Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment: A Perspective in Ethnopharmacology

Tumor angiogenesis is one of the most important processes of cancer deterioration via nurturing an immunosuppressive tumor environment (TME). Targeting tumor angiogenesis has been widely accepted as a cancer intervention approach, which is also synergistically associated with immune therapy. However, drug resistance is the biggest challenge of anti-angiogenesis therapy, which affects the outcomes of anti-angiogeneic agents, and even combined with immunotherapy. Here, emerging targets and representative candidate molecules from ethnopharmacology (including traditional Chinese medicine, TCM) have been focused, and they have been proved to regulate tumor angiogenesis. Further investigations on derivatives and delivery systems of these molecules will provide a comprehensive landscape in preclinical studies. More importantly, the molecule library of ethnopharmacology meets the viability for targeting angiogenesis and TME simultaneously, which is attributed to the pleiotropy of pro-angiogenic factors (such as VEGF) toward cancer cells, endothelial cells, and immune cells. We primarily shed light on the potentiality of ethnopharmacology against tumor angiogenesis, particularly TCM. More research studies concerning the crosstalk between angiogenesis and TME remodeling from the perspective of botanical medicine are awaited.

Therapeutic effects of Panax notoginseng saponins in rheumatoid arthritis: network pharmacology and experimental validation

Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) have been reported to have good anti-inflammatory effects. However, the anti-inflammatory effect mechanism in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unknown. The focus of this research was to investigate the molecular mechanism of PNS in the treatment of RA. The primary active components of PNS were tested utilizing the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database (TCMSP) and Analysis Platform based on oral bioavailability and drug-likeness. The target databases for knee osteoarthritis were created using GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). The visual interactive network structure 'active component - action target - illness' was created using Cytoscape software. A protein interaction network was built, and associated protein interactions were analyzed using the STRING database. The key targets were analyzed using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and Gene Ontology (GO) biological process enrichment analyses. The effects of PNS on cell growth were studied in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with various doses of PNS, and the optimum concentration of PNS was identified. PNS was studied for its implication on angiogenesis and migration. The active components of PNS had 114 common targets, including cell metabolism and apoptosis, according to the network analysis. The therapeutic effects of the PNS components were suggested to be mediated through apoptotic and cytokine signaling pathways. In vitro, PNS therapy boosted HUVEC proliferation. Wound healing, Boyden chamber and tube formation tests suggested that PNS may increase HUVEC activity and capillary-like tube branching. This study clarified that for the treatment of RA, PNS has multisystem, multicomponent, and multitargeted properties.

Natural Herbal Medicine as a Treatment Strategy for Myocardial Infarction through the Regulation of Angiogenesis

Methods

We conducted a literature search on the bioactive components of medicinal plants and their effects on angiogenesis after MI. We searched for articles in Web of Science, MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases before April 2021.

Results

In this article, we summarized the mechanisms by which copper ions, microRNA, Akt1, inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondria, and pericytes are involved in angiogenesis after myocardial infarction. In addition, we reviewed the angiogenic effects of natural herbal medicines such as Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge Bunge, Carthamus tinctorius L., Pueraria lobata, Astragalus, Panax ginseng C.A. Mey., Panax notoginseng (Burkill) F.H. Chen, Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J. Presl, Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) DC., Leonurus japonicus Houtt, Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi., and Geum macrophyllum Willd.

Conclusions

Some herbs have the effect of promoting angiogenesis. In the future, natural proangiogenic drugs may become candidates for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Botanical Drugs in Traditional Chinese Medicine With Wound Healing Properties

Chronic and unhealed wound is a serious public problem, which brings severe economic burdens and psychological pressure to patients. Various botanical drugs in traditional Chinese medicine have been used for the treatment of wounds since ancient time. Nowadays, multiple wound healing therapeutics derived from botanical drugs are commercially available worldwide. An increasing number of investigations have been conducted to elucidate the wound healing activities and the potential mechanisms of botanical drugs in recent years. The aim of this review is to summarize the botanical drugs in traditional Chinese medicine with wound healing properties and the underlying mechanisms of them, which can contribute to the research of wound healing and drug development. Taken together, five botanical drugs that have been developed into commercially available products, and 24 botanical drugs with excellent wound healing activities and several multiherbal preparations are reviewed in this article.

Hesperidin Inhibits UVB-Induced VEGF Production and Angiogenesis via the Inhibition of PI3K/Akt Pathway in HR-1 Hairless Mice

Hesperidin is a citrus flavanone glycoside with potent anti-inflammatory effects that interferes with UVB-stimulated angiogenesis in skin, but its molecular mechanisms of action remain unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of hesperidin on UVB-induced angiogenesis in HR-1 hairless mice. We found hesperidin treatment inhibited skin neovascularization skin induced by repetitive UVB light exposure. Exposure to UVB radiation induces the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), and MMP-9, but we found all of these were inhibited by treatment with hesperidin. Using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting, we also found hesperidin inhibited the increase in hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1)α expression induced by UVB exposure. After discovering that UVB induces VEGF expression via the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathways, we found hesperidin reduces UVB-induced VEGF expression by inhibiting UVB-induced PI3K activity. This, in turn, reduces the UVB-induced Akt/p70S6K phosphorylation in human primary keratinocytes and fibroblast cells. Because it affects the mediators of angiogenesis, our data suggest hesperidin has an anti-angiogenic effect on the pathologic skin neovascularization induced by UVB light. Thus, hesperidin may prove useful in the treatment of skin injuries caused by UVB light exposure.

Apatinib suppresses the migration, invasion and angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by blocking VEGF and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a commonly diagnosed malignancy worldwide with poor prognosis and high metastasis and recurrence rates. Although apatinib has been demonstrated to have potential antitumor activity in multiple solid tumors, the underlying mechanism of apatinib in HCC treatment remains to be elucidated. In the present study, apatinib were used to treat HCC cells transfected with or without VEGFR2 overexpression vectors. The proliferation of HCC cells was detected by MTT assay. The migration and invasion of HCC cells were detected by wound healing assay and Transwell assay. The ability of angiogenesis of HCC cells were detected by tube formation assay. The related protein expression levels were detected by western blotting. The present study aims to investigate the effect and potential mechanism of apatinib on the migration, invasion and angiogenesis of HCC cells. It was found that apatinib treatment significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of Hep3b cells and suppressed angiogenesis in HUVECs. In addition, apatinib inhibited the epithelial‑mesenchymal transition of Hep3b cells by increasing the expression of the epithelial hallmarks E‑cadherin and α‑catenin and decreased the expression of the mesenchymal hallmarks N‑cadherin and vimentin. These effects were associated with the downregulation of VEGF and VEGFR2 and suppression of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Thus, apatinib inhibited cell migration, invasion and angiogenesis by blocking the VEGF and PI3K/AKT pathways, supporting an effective therapeutic strategy in the treatment of HCC.

HIF‑1α in myocardial ischemia‑reperfusion injury (Review)

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) is a severe injury to the ischemic myocardium following the recovery of blood flow. Currently, there is no effective treatment for MIRI in clinical practice. Over the past two decades, biological studies of hypoxia and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) have notably improved understanding of oxygen homeostasis. HIF-1α is an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor that mediates adaptive metabolic responses to hypoxia and serves a pivotal role in MIRI. In particular, previous studies have demonstrated that HIF-1α improves mitochondrial function, decreases cellular oxidative stress, activates cardioprotective signaling pathways and downstream protective genes and interacts with non-coding RNAs. The present review summarizes the roles and associated mechanisms of action of HIF-1α in MIRI. In addition, HIF-1α-associated MIRI intervention, including natural compounds, exosomes, ischemic preconditioning and ischemic post-processing are presented. The present review provides evidence for the roles of HIF-1α activation in MIRI and supports its use as a therapeutic target.

Panax notoginseng saponins promote endothelial progenitor cell angiogenesis via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Background

Distraction osteogenesis (DO) is an effective treatment in craniomaxillofacial surgery. However, the issue of sufficient blood supply at the regeneration tissue has limited its wide application. Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine that is commonly used to treat a range of angiogenic diseases. However, the mechanisms whereby PNS alters angiogenesis in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have yet to be clarified.

Methods

EPCs were identified by immunofluorescence, confirmed by their uptake of fluorescently labeled Dil-ac-LDL and FITC-UEA-1. EPCs were treated with different concentrations of PNS, and the effects of PNS on cell proliferation were measured on the optimal concentration of PNS determined. The effects of PNS on angiogenesis and migration, angiogenic cytokines mRNA expression and the proteins of the Wnt pathway were investigated. Then knocked down β-catenin in EPCs and treated with the optimum concentrational PNS, their angiogenic potential was evaluated in tube formation and migration assays. In addition, the expression of cytokines associated with angiogenesis and Wnt/β-catenin was then assessed via WB and RT-qPCR.

Results

We were able to determine the optimal concentration of PNS in the promotion of cell proliferation, tube formation, and migration to be 6.25 mg/L. PNS treatment increased the mRNA levels of VEGF, bFGF, VE-Cadherin, WNT3a, LRP5, β-catenin, and TCF4. After knocked down β-catenin expression, we found that PNS could sufficient to partially reverse the suppression of EPC angiogenesis.

Conclusions

Overall, 6.25 mg/L PNS can promote EPC angiogenesis via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activation.

Panax Notoginseng Saponin Attenuates Gastric Mucosal Epithelial Cell Injury Induced by Dual Antiplatelet Drugs through COX and PI3K/Akt/ VEGF-GSK-3β-RhoA Network Pathway

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the underlying mechanism of Panax notoginseng saponin (PNS) on gastric epithelial cell injury and barrier dysfunction induced by dual antiplatelet (DA).

METHODS

Human gastric mucosal epithelial cell (GES-1) was cultured and divided into 4 groups: a control, a DA, a PNS+DA and a LY294002+PNS+DA group. GES-1 apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, cell permeability were detected using Transwell, level of prostaglandins E2 (PGE2), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-keto-PGF1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in supernatant were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), expression of phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), phosphorylated-PI3K (p-PI3K), Akt, phosphorylated-Akt (p-Akt), cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and Ras homolog gene family member A (RhoA) were measured by Western-blot.

RESULTS

DA induced apoptosis and hyper-permeability in GES-1, reduced supernatant level of PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1α and VEGF (P<0.05). Addition of PNS reduced the apoptosis of GES-1 caused by DA, restored the concentration of PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1α and VEGF (P<0.05). In addition, PNS attenuated the alteration of COX-1 and COX-2 expression induced by DA, up-regulated p-PI3K/p-Akt, down-regulated RhoA and GSK-3β. LY294002 mitigated the effects of PNS on cell apoptosis, cell permeability, VEGF concentration, and expression of RhoA and GSK-3β significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

PNS attenuates the suppression on COX/PG pathway from DA, alleviates DA-induced GES-1 apoptosis and barrier dysfunction through PI3K/Akt/VEGF-GSK-3β-RhoA network pathway.

A rapid and sensitive ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of notoginsenoside Ft1 in rat plasma with application to pharmacokinetic study

Notoginsenoside Ft1 (NGFt1), a dammarane triterpene glycoside isolated from Panax notoginseng, showed potent effective in stimulating platelet aggregation in our previous assay, yet its pharmacokinetic behavior is still unclear. This study describes a rapid and sensitive ultra-high-pressure LC-tandem mass spectrometry assay for determining of NGFt1 in rat plasma. Methanol-mediated precipitation was used for sample pre-treatment. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C₁₈ column with gradient elution using water and acetonitrile as mobile phase. Determination was obtained using an electrospray ionization source in negative selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode at the transitions of m/z 915.9 → m/z 783.8 and m/z 799.8 → m/z 637.8 for NGFt1 and internal standard, respectively. The assay was linear over the concentration range 0.25-2500 ng/mL (r > 0.995) with the lower limit of quantification of 0.25 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precisions (relative standard deviation, %) ranged 1.65%-9.84% and 2.46%-13.49%, respectively, whereas accuracy (relative recovery, %) ranged from 96.21% to 99.45%, respectively. The recovery ranged from 95.09% to 102.22% and the matrix effect from 98.29% to 100.13%. The analyte was stable under tested storage conditions. The method has been successfully applied to a preclinical pharmacokinetic study in rats after a single intravenous (2 mg/kg) and oral (50 mg/kg) administration.

IGFBP‑rP1‑silencing promotes hypoxia‑induced angiogenic potential of choroidal endothelial cells via the RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-related protein 1 (IGFBP-rP1) has been reported to have various functions in different cellular contexts. Our previous investigation discovered that IGFBP-rP1 inhibited retinal angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting the pro-angiogenic effect of VEGF and downregulating VEGF expression. Recently, IGFBP-rP1 was confirmed to be downregulated in the aqueous humor of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration compared with controls; however, its specific role remains unknown. The present study applied the technique of gene silencing, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, western blotting, cell viability assays, cell motility assays and tube formation assays. Chemical hypoxic conditions and choroidal endothelial (RF/6A) cells were used to explore the effect of IGFBP-rP1-silencing on the phenotype activation of RF/6A cells under hypoxic conditions and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. siRNA achieved IGFBP-rP1-silencing in RF/6A cells without cytotoxicity. IGFBP-rP1-silencing significantly restored the viability of RF/6A cells in hypoxia and enhanced hypoxia-induced migration and capillary-like tube formation of RF/6A cells. Furthermore, IGFBP-rP1-silencing significantly upregulated the expression of B-RAF, phosphorylated (p)-MEK, p-ERK and VEGF in RF/6A cells under hypoxic conditions; however, these upregulations were inhibited by exogenous IGFBP-rP1. These data indicated that silencing IGFBP-rP1 expression in RF/6A cells effectively promoted the hypoxia-induced angiogenic potential of choroidal endothelial cells by upregulating RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway activation and VEGF expression.

33-kDa ANXA3 isoform contributes to hepatocarcinogenesis via modulating ERK, PI3K/Akt-HIF and intrinsic apoptosis pathways

Introduction

As a member of annexin family proteins, annexin A3 (ANXA3) has 36-kDa and 33-kDa isoforms. ANXA3 plays crucial roles in the tumorigenesis, aggressiveness and drug-resistance of cancers. However, previous studies mainly focused on the role of total ANXA3 in cancers without distinguishing the distinction between the two isoforms, the role of 33-kDa ANXA3 in cancer remains unclear.

Objectives

Current work aimed to investigate the function and regulation mechanism of 33-kDa ANXA3 in hepatocarcinoma.

Methods

The expressions of ANXA3, CRKL, Rac1, c-Myc and pAkt were analyzed in hepatocarcinoma specimens by Western blotting. The biological function of 33-kDa ANXA3 in the growth, metastasis, apoptosis, angiogenesis, chemoresistance of hepatocarcinoma cells with the underlying molecular mechanism were investigated using gain-of-function strategy in vitro or in vivo.

Results

33-kDa ANXA3 was remarkably upregulated in tumor tissues compared with corresponding normal liver tissues of hepatocarcinoma patients. Its stable knockdown decreased the in vivo tumor growing velocity and malignancy of hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells transplanted in nude mice. The in vitro experimental results indicated 33-kDa ANXA3 knockdown suppressed the proliferation, colony forming, migration and invasion abilities of HepG2 cells through downregulating CRKL, Rap1b, Rac1, pMEK, pERK2 and c-Myc in ERK pathway; inhibited angiogenesisability of HepG2 cells through inactivating PI3K/Akt-HIF pathway; induced apoptosis and enhanced chemoresistance of HepG2 cells through increasing Bax/decreasing Bcl-2 expressions and inactivating caspase 9/caspase 3 in intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Accordingly, CRKL, Rac1, c-Myc and pAkt were also upregulated in hepatocarcinoma patients ’ tumor tissues compared with corresponding normal liver tissues.

Conclusions

The overexpression of 33-kDa ANXA3 is involved in the clinical progression of hepatocarcinoma and in the malignancy, angiogenesis and apoptosis of hepatocarcinoma cells. It is of potential use in hepatocarcinoma diagnosis and treatment.

Notoginsenoside R1 activates the Ang2/Tie2 pathway to promote angiogenesis

BACKGROUND

Therapeutic angiogenesis is a novel strategy for the treatment of ischemic diseases that involves promotion of angiogenesis in ischemic tissues via the use of proangiogenic agents. However, effective proangiogenic drugs that activate the Ang2/Tie2 signaling pathway remain scarce.

PURPOSE

We aimed to investigate the proangiogenic activity of notoginsenoside R1 (NR1) isolated from total saponins of Panax notoginseng with regard to activation of the Ang2/Tie2 signaling pathway.

METHODS

We examined the proangiogenic effects of NR1 by assessing the effects of NR1 on the proliferation, migration, invasion and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The aortic ring assay and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitor (VRI)-induced vascular regression in the zebrafish model were used to confirm the proangiogenic effects of NR1 ex vivo and in vivo. Furthermore, the molecular mechanism was investigated by Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

We found that NR1 promoted the proliferation, mobility and tube formation of HUVECs in vitro. NR1 also increased the number of sprouting vessels in rat aortic rings and rescued VRI-induced vascular regression in zebrafish. NR1-induced angiogenesis was dependent on Tie2 receptor activation mediated by increased autocrine Ang2 in HUVECs, and inhibition of the Ang2/Tie2 pathway abrogated the proangiogenic effects of NR1.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that NR1 promotes angiogenesis by activating the Ang2/Tie2 signaling pathway. Thus, NR1-induced activation of the Ang2/Tie2 pathway is an effective proangiogenic approach. NR1 may be useful agent for the treatment of ischemic diseases.

Indole hydrazide compound ZJQ-24 inhibits angiogenesis and induces apoptosis cell death through abrogation of AKT/mTOR pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma

Angiogenesis and the activation of AKT/mTOR pathway are crucial for hepatocarcinoma development and progression, the activation of mTORC1/2 and relevant substrates have been confirmed in clinical hepatocarcinoma samples. Therefore, AKT/mTOR pathway represents the major targets for anti-cancer drugs development. Here, we investigated the anti-proliferative activity and mechanisms of ZJQ-24 in hepatocellular carcinoma, both in vivo and in vitro. A hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft model showed that ZJQ-24 significantly inhibited tumor growth with few side effects. MTT assays, flow cytometric analysis, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry identified that ZJQ-24 effectively suppressed hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation via G₂/M phase arrest and caspase-dependent apoptosis but had no cytotoxic on normal cells. Furthermore, ZJQ-24 significantly blocked AKT/mTOR signaling by down-regulation of mTORC1 molecules, including phospho-p70S6K (Thr³⁸⁹) and phospho-4EBP-1 (Ser65, Thr^37/46, Thr⁷⁰) and phospho-AKT (Ser⁴⁷³) in HCC cells. It is very important that the ZJQ-24 did not induce the mTORC1-depdent PI3K/Akt feedback activation through JNK excitation. Moreover, ZJQ-24 inhibited the cap-dependent translation initiation by impairing the assembly of the eIF4E/eIF4G complex. Immunohistochemistry further confirmed ZJQ-24 inhibited the tumor growth through suppression of VEGF and AKT/mTOR pathways in vivo. Thus, the present study is the first to illustrate that ZJQ-24 triggers antiangiogenic activity and apoptosis via inhibiting the AKT/mTOR pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, providing basic scientific evidence that ZJQ-24 shows great potential function as inhibitor of angiogenesis and tumor growth in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Additively manufactured biomedical Ti-Nb-Ta-Zr lattices with tunable Young's modulus: Mechanical property, biocompatibility, and proteomics analysis

Some β-Ti alloys, such as Ti-Nb-Ta-Zr (TNTZ) alloys, exhibit a low Young's modulus and excellent biocompatibility. These alloys are promising new generation biomedical implant materials. Selective laser melting (SLM) can further enable customer-specific manufacturing of β-Ti alloys to satisfy the ever-increasing need for enhanced biomedical products. In this study, we quantitatively determined the relationships between porosity, yield strength, and Young's modulus of SLM-prepared TNTZ lattices. The study constitutes a critical step toward understanding the behavior of the lattice and eventually enables tuning the Young's modulus to match that of human bones. Fatigue properties were also investigated on as-printed lattices in terms of the stress limit. The biocompatibility study included a routine evaluation of the relative cell growth rate and a proteomics analysis using a common mouse fibroblast cell line, L929. The results indicated that the as-printed TNTZ samples exhibited evidence of protein proliferation of the L929 cells, particularly P06733, and that those proteins are responsible for biological processes and molecular functions. They in turn may have promoted cell regeneration, cell motility, and protein binding, which at least partially explains the good biocompatibility of the as-printed TNTZ at the protein level. The study highlights the promising applications of additively manufactured TNTZ as a bone-replacing material from mechanical and biocompatibility perspectives.

PLCε regulates metabolism and metastasis signaling via HIF-1α/MEK/ERK pathway in prostate cancer

Phospholipase C-ε (PLCε) is frequently overexpressed in tumors and plays an important role in the regulation of tumorigenesis. Although great progress has been made in understanding biological roles of PLCε, the relevant molecular mechanisms underlying its pro-tumor activity remain largely unclear. Here, we demonstrated that PLCε knockdown reduced cell metastasis, glucose consumption and lactate production in a manner that depended on hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) expression in prostate cancer cells. Interestingly, our findings showed that the expression levels of PLCε were positively associated with those of HIF-1α in clinical prostate carcinoma samples. Knockdown of PLCε impaired HIF-1α levels and transcriptional activity by regulating the extracellular-signal-regulated kinase pathway, and blocking HIF-1α nuclear translocation. Furthermore, PLCε could interact with the von Hippel-Lindau E3 ligase complex to modulate the stability of HIF-1α. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that PLCε could be a crucial positive regulator of HIF-1α, which would promote PLCε-enhanced tumorigenesis.

Autologous blood transfusion stimulates wound healing in diabetic mice through activation of the HIF-1α pathway by improving the blood preservation solution

Transfusion of autologous blood is a timesaving, convenient, safe, and effective therapy from a clinical perspective, and often employed for the treatment of diabetic patients. Stabilization of HIF-1α has been widely reported to be a critical factor in the improvement of wound healing in diabetes. Therefore, our study reveals the roles of improved autologous blood in wound healing in diabetes, through autologous blood transfusion in a mouse model. Initially, BALB/c mice were subjected to streptozotocin for diabetic mouse model establishment. Diabetic mice were transfused with improved or standard autologous blood in perfusion culture system. Roles of improved autologous blood in mediating HIF-1α pathway were determined by measuring expression of VEGF, EGF, HIF-1α, and HSP-90. In order to assess the detailed regulatory mechanism of improved autologous blood in perspective of wound healing, cell proliferation, migration and cell cycle, fibroblasts isolated from diabetic mice were transfected with HIF-1α siRNA. Mice transfused with improved autologous blood exhibited increased levels of CD31 and α-SMA in skin tissues, and reduced TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels, indicating that improved autologous blood promoted wound healing ability and reduced the release of inflammatory factors. Diabetic mice transfused with improved autologous blood presented activated HIF-1α pathway. The survival rate, proliferation, and migration of fibroblasts were elevated via activation of the HIF-1α pathway. Taken together, improved blood preservation solution could enhance the oxygen carrying capacity of red blood cells and wound healing in mice with diabetes, which is achieved through regulation of HIF-1α pathway.

l-Cysteine decorated nanoscale metal-organic frameworks delivering valproic acid/cisplatin for drug-resistant lung cancer therapy

We design multifunctional CDDP-VPA@ZrMOF-Cys-PEG nanoparticles (CVZP NPs) based on the properties of valproic acid (VPA) that can downregulate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to reduce the drug resistance of tumor cells. In vivo experiments confirm that chemotherapy combined with microwave thermal therapy (MWTT) can significantly improve the therapeutic effect of cisplatin-resistant lung cancer.

Antitumor Effects of Trimethylellagic Acid Isolated From Sanguisorba officinalis L. on Colorectal Cancer via Angiogenesis Inhibition and Apoptosis Induction

Previous studies have demonstrated that tannin could inhibit the proliferation and angiogenesis of cancer cells. However, the mechanism(s) associated with its antitumor effect remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of 3,3',4'-trimethylellagic acid (TMEA), a tannin compound isolated from Sanguisorba officinalis L., on the proliferation, angiogenesis, and apoptosis in cancer cells, as well as the underlying mechanism(s) related to its antitumor activity. TMEA was isolated from Sanguisorba officinalis L. by silica gel column chromatography. Molecular docking was carried out to assess active pocket binding between TMEA and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2). The antiangiogenic effect of TMEA on the migration and tube formation was detected in HUVECs by wound healing and tube formation assays, respectively. The antitumor effects of TMEA on the cell proliferation were determined in HepG2, A549, and SW620 cells by MTS assay in vitro and on the tumor growth of SW620 xenografts bearing in nude mice in vivo. The mRNA expression of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, VEGF, PI3K, and mTOR were measured by qRT-PCR and protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, VEGF, PI3K, and mTOR by Western blotting, and the protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3 and CD31 were detected by immunohistochemical analysis in vivo, respectively. The results showed that TMEA combined with VEGFR2 in the functional pockets of Asn223A, Gly922A, and Leu840A and inhibited the proliferation, migration, tube formation, and expression of VEGF and its downstream signaling mediators in HUVECs. TMEA also significantly inhibited the proliferation of HepG2, A549, and SW620 cancer cells in vitro, and suppressed the growth of SW620 tumors in vivo. Moreover, TMEA upregulated the expression of proapoptotic factors Bax and caspase-3 and downregulated the expression of antiapoptotic factors CD31 and Bcl-2 in cancer cells and/or tumor tissues. The data indicate that TMEA executes its anticancer activity by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting angiogenesis in cancer cells in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. The underlying anticancer mechanism is associated with the apoptotic and VEGF/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways.

Wound Healing and the Use of Medicinal Plants

Cutaneous wound healing is the process by which skin repairs itself. It is generally accepted that cutaneous wound healing can be divided into 4 phases: haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodelling. In humans, keratinocytes re-form a functional epidermis (reepithelialization) as rapidly as possible, closing the wound and reestablishing tissue homeostasis. Dermal fibroblasts migrate into the wound bed and proliferate, creating “granulation tissue” rich in extracellular matrix proteins and supporting the growth of new blood vessels. Ultimately, this is remodelled over an extended period, returning the injured tissue to a state similar to that before injury. Dysregulation in any phase of the wound healing cascade delays healing and may result in various skin pathologies, including nonhealing, or chronic ulceration. Indigenous and traditional medicines make extensive use of natural products and derivatives of natural products and provide more than half of all medicines consumed today throughout the world. Recognising the important role traditional medicine continues to play, we have undertaken an extensive survey of literature reporting the use of medical plants and plant-based products for cutaneous wounds. We describe the active ingredients, bioactivities, clinical uses, formulations, methods of preparation, and clinical value of 36 medical plant species. Several species stand out, including Centella asiatica, Curcuma longa, and Paeonia suffruticosa, which are popular wound healing products used by several cultures and ethnic groups. The popularity and evidence of continued use clearly indicates that there are still lessons to be learned from traditional practices. Hidden in the myriad of natural products and derivatives from natural products are undescribed reagents, unexplored combinations, and adjunct compounds that could have a place in the contemporary therapeutic inventory.

Polysaccharides from Enteromorpha Prolifera Ameliorate Acute Myocardial Infarction in Vitro and in Vivo via Up-Regulating HIF-1α

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a serious heart disease and the main reason for heart failure and sudden death worldwide. This study investigated the effects of polysaccharides from Enteromorpha prolifera (PEP) on AMI in vitro and in vivo, as well as the underlying mechanisms.Human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (HCMVEC) were cultured in vitro in an oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) environment to induce injury. The viability and apoptosis of HCMVEC were then detected using CCK-8 assay and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, respectively. ELISA was performed to measure the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines. Cell transfection was conducted to reduce the expression of HIF-1α. Expression of key factors involving in cell proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, MEK/ERK, and the NF-κB and mTOR pathways were evaluated using Western blotting. In vivo, Wistar rats were pre-treated by PEP and AMI was induced. The infarct size and cardiac functions (LVEDD, LVEF and LVFS) were measured.In vitro, PEP treatment significantly protected HCMVEC from OGD-induced viability loss, proliferation inhibition, apoptosis, inflammatory cytokine expression, and autophagy. Moreover, PEP enhanced the expression of HIF-1α in HCMVEC via the MEK/ERK pathway. HIF-1α participated in the protective effects of PEP on OGD-treated HCMVEC. Furthermore, PEP attenuated OGD-induced NF-κB pathway activation and promoted the mTOR pathway in HCMVEC. In vivo, PEP pre-treatment reduced the infarct size and enhanced the LVEDD, LVEF and LVFS of rats via up-regulation of HIF-1α.PEP ameliorated AMI in vitro and in vivo through up-regulation of HIF-1α. In vitro, PEP could activate the MEK/ERK and mTOR pathways, but inactivate the NF-κB pathway in OGD-treated HCMVEC.

Panax notoginseng saponins promote liver regeneration through activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR cell proliferation pathway and upregulation of the AKT/Bad cell survival pathway in mice

Backgroud

The regenerative capacity of the liver is crucial for the host to survive after serious hepatic injuries, tumor resection, or living donor liver transplantation. Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) have been reported to exert protective effects during organ injuries. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of PNS on liver regeneration(LR) and on injuries induced by partial hepatectomy (PH).

Methods

We performed 70% partial PH on C57BL/6 J mice treated with or without PNS. LR was estimated by liver weight/body weight, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels and cell proliferation, and the related cellular signals were analyzed by Western blot.

Results

Different concentrations of PNS promoted hepatocyte proliferation in vitro. Mice in the PNS group showed higher liver/body weight ratios at 2 d and 7 d (P < 0.05) after PH and lower levels of serum ALT and AST (P < 0.05) compared to those of mice in the normal control (NC) group. Histological analysis showed that the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) at 2 d and 7 d after PH was significantly higher in the PNS group than in the NC group (P < 0.05). Mechanistically, the AKT/mTOR cell proliferation pathway and AKT/Bad cell survival pathway were activated by PNS, which accelerated hepatocyte proliferation and inhibited apoptosis (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

PNS promoted liver regeneration through activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and upregulated the AKT/Bad cell pathways in mice.

Biosynthesis of rare 20(R)-protopanaxadiol/protopanaxatriol type ginsenosides through Escherichia coli engineered with uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferase genes

BACKGROUND

Ginsenosides are known as the principal pharmacological active constituents in Panax medicinal plants such as Asian ginseng, American ginseng, and Notoginseng. Some ginsenosides, especially the 20(R) isomers, are found in trace amounts in natural sources and are difficult to chemically synthesize. The present study provides an approach to produce such trace ginsenosides applying biotransformation through Escherichia coli modified with relevant genes.

METHODS

Seven uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferase (UGT) genes originating from Panax notoginseng, Medicago sativa, and Bacillus subtilis were synthesized or cloned and constructed into pETM6, an ePathBrick vector, which were then introduced into E. coli BL21star (DE3) separately. 20(R)-Protopanaxadiol (PPD), 20(R)-protopanaxatriol (PPT), and 20(R)-type ginsenosides were used as substrates for biotransformation with recombinant E. coli modified with those UGT genes.

RESULTS

E. coli engineered with GT95 syn selectively transfers a glucose moiety to the C20 hydroxyl of 20(R)-PPD and 20(R)-PPT to produce 20(R)-CK and 20(R)-F1, respectively. GTK1- and GTC1-modified E. coli glycosylated the C3-OH of 20(R)-PPD to form 20(R)-Rh2. Moreover, E. coli containing p2GT95synK1, a recreated two-step glycosylation pathway via the ePathBrich, implemented the successive glycosylation at C20-OH and C3-OH of 20(R)-PPD and yielded 20(R)-F2 in the biotransformation broth.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that rare 20(R)-ginsenosides can be produced through E. coli engineered with UTG genes.

Phospholipase Cγ2 signalling contributes to the haemostatic effect of Notoginsenoside Ft1

OBJECTIVES

The drawback of bleeding caused by chronic antiplatelet therapy is persecuting patients with thrombotic diseases severely. Based on the dual-directional regulatory effect of Panax notoginseng on platelet, the present study focused on the effect of Notoginsenoside Ft1, a saponin with effect in promoting platelet aggregation.

KEY FINDINGS

According to the present study, Notoginsenoside Ft1 cannot stimulate platelet aggregation independently. However, the effect in enhancing aggregation induced by thrombin, collagen and ADP is peaked at 5-10 μm. In addition, thrombin-induced activation of PLCγ2-IP₃ /DAG-[Ca²⁺ ]/PKC-TXA₂ signalling was potentiated by Notoginsenoside Ft1, as well. Furthermore, the mice tail bleeding time was shortened by administration of Notoginsenoside Ft1 significantly. And the bleeding time prolonged by aspirin was also restored by Ft1.

CONCLUSIONS

The haemostatic effect of Notoginsenoside Ft1 was exerted through potentiation of PLCγ2-IP₃ /DAG-[Ca²⁺ ]/PKC-TXA₂ signalling pathway stimulated by other stimulators. Notoginsenoside Ft1 has the potential to be developed into supplements in antiplatelet therapy to prevent the drawback of bleeding.

Challenges facing antiangiogenesis therapy: The significant role of hypoxia-inducible factor and MET in development of resistance to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor-targeted therapies

It is now fully recognized that along with multiple physiological functions, angiogenesis is also involved in the fundamental process and pathobiology of several disorders including cancer. Recent studies have fully established the role of angiogenesis in cancer progression as well as invasion and metastasis. Consequently, many therapeutic agents such as monoclonal antibodies targeting angiogenesis pathway have been introduced in clinic with the hope for improving the outcomes of cancer therapy. Bevacizumab (Avastin®) was the first anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) targeting monoclonal antibody developed with this purpose and soon received its accelerated US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer in 2008. However, the failure to meet expecting results in different follow-up studies, forced FDA to remove bevacizumab approval for metastatic breast cancer. Investigations have now revealed that while suppressing VEGF pathway initially decreases tumor progression rate and vasculature density, activation of several interrelated pathways and signaling molecules following VEGF blockade compensate the insufficiency of VEGF and initially blocked angiogenesis, explaining in part the failure observed with bevacizumab single therapy. In present review, we introduce some of the main pathways and signaling molecules involved in angiogenesis and then propose how their interconnection may result in development of resistance to bevacizumab.

Krüppel-like factor 8 regulates VEGFA expression and angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Tumor angiogenesis plays a critical role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development and progression, but its mechanism is unclear. Krüppel-like factor 8 (KLF8) is a transcription factor that plays an important role in HCC progression. Here, we investigated the role of KLF8 in angiogenesis in HCC and its possible mechanism. Immunohistochemistry, quantitative RT-PCR, western blotting, promoter reporter assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and nude mouse tumor models were used to show that the mRNA and protein expression levels of KLF8 and VEGFA are highly correlated in HCC tissue samples. The up-regulation of KLF8 increased VEGFA protein levels and induced VEGFA promoter activity by binding to the CACCC region of the VEGFA promoter. In addition, KLF8 regulated HIF-1α and Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression. The PI3K/AKT inhibitor LY294002 inhibited KLF8-induced VEGFA expression, whereas PI3K/AKT signaling pathway proteins, such as P-PDK1(Ser241) and P-AKT(Thr308), were decreased significantly. KLF8-overexpressing HCC cells had a higher potential for inducing angiogenesis. Thus, our results indicate that KLF8 may induce angiogenesis in HCC by binding to the CACCC region of the VEGFA promoter to induce VEGFA promoter activity and through FAK to activate PI3K/AKT signaling to regulate HIF-1α expression levels.

Aberrant miRNAs Regulate the Biological Hallmarks of Glioblastoma

GBM is the highest incidence in primary intracranial malignancy, and it remains poor prognosis even though the patient is gave standard treatment. Despite decades of intense research, the complex biology of GBM remains elusive. In view of eight hallmarks of cancer which were proposed in 2011, studies related to the eight biological capabilities in GBM have made great progress. From these studies, it can be inferred that miRs, as a mode of post-transcriptional regulation, are involved in regulating these malignant biological hallmarks of GBM. Herein, we discuss state-of-the-art research on how aberrant miRs modulate the eight hallmarks of GBM. The upregulation of 'oncomiRs' or the genetic loss of tumor suppressor miRs is associated with these eight biological capabilities acquired during GBM formation. Furthermore, we also discuss the applicable clinical potential of these research results. MiRs may aid in the diagnosis and prognosis of GBM. Moreover, miRs are also therapeutic targets of GBM. These studies will develop and improve precision medicine for GBM in the future.

Panax notoginseng for Inflammation-Related Chronic Diseases: A Review on the Modulations of Multiple Pathways

Panax notoginseng (P. notoginseng) is a well-known and commonly used Chinese herbal medicine in Asian countries. As one of the major species in the Panax genus, it has a distinct chemical composition and medical application compared with other species. P. notoginseng attracts attention and interest due to its potential therapeutic effects not only on blood diseases, but also other kinds of human chronic disorders. This paper critically reviewed the latest advance of knowledge on the pharmacological effects of P. notoginseng on a variety of chronic diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, ischemia, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer disease and trauma, as well as hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and so on. As inflammation is considered the fundamental factor involved in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases, our review therefore focuses on understanding the involvement of classical inflammatory pathways underlying the mechanism of action of P. notoginseng. Potential clinical application was also discussed. Furthermore, by combining with network pharmacology, we introduced the major bioactive components of P. notoginseng, analyzed their cellular targets and associated signaling pathways. In conclusion, this review identified inflammatory pathway as the key signaling for determining the efficacy of P. notoginseng on chronic diseases. It is speculated that P. notoginseng is a multi-targeted agent with an anti-inflammatory property in the adjuvant and alternative treatment of human chronic diseases.

Therapeutic Potential and Cellular Mechanisms of Panax Notoginseng on Prevention of Aging and Cell Senescence-Associated Diseases

Owing to a dramatic increase in average life expectancy, most countries in the world are rapidly entering an aging society. Therefore, extending health span with pharmacological agents targeting aging-related pathological changes, are now in the spotlight of gerosciences. Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen, a species of the genus Panax, has been called the "Miracle Root for the Preservation of Life," and has long been used as a Chinese herb with magical medicinal value. Panax notoginseng has been extensively employed in China to treat microcirculatory disturbances, inflammation, trauma, internal and external bleeding due to injury, and as a tonic. In recent years, with the deepening of the research pharmacologically, many new functions have been discovered. This review will introduce its pharmacological function on lifespan extension, anti-vascular aging, anti-brain aging, and anti-cancer properties, aiming to lay the ground for fully elucidating the potential mechanisms of Panax notoginseng's anti-aging effect to promote its clinical application.

20(S)-Protopanaxadiol enhances angiogenesis via HIF-1α-mediated VEGF secretion by activating p70S6 kinase and benefits wound healing in genetically diabetic mice

Impaired angiogenesis is one of the crucial factors that impede the wound healing process in diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). In this study, we found that 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), an aglycone of ginsenosides in Panax notoginseng, stimulated angiogenesis and benefited wound healing in genetically diabetic mice. In HUVECs, PPD promoted cell proliferation, tube formation and VEGF secretion accompanied by increased nuclear translocalization of HIF-1α, which led to elevated VEGF mRNA expression. PPD activated both PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathways in HUVECs, which were abrogated by LY294002 and PD98059. Furthermore, these two pathways had crosstalk through p70S6K, as LY294002, PD98059 and p70S6K siRNA abolished the angiogenic responses of PPD. In the excisional wound splinting model established in db/db diabetic mice, PPD (0.6, 6 and 60 mg ml⁻¹) accelerated wound closure, which was reflected by a significantly reduced wound area and epithelial gaps, as well as elevated VEGF expression and capillary formation. In addition, PPD activated PI3K/Akt/ERK signaling pathways, as well as enhanced p70S6K activity and HIF-1α synthesis in the wounds. Overall, our results revealed that PPD stimulated angiogenesis via HIF-1α-mediated VEGF expression by activating p70S6K through PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Raf/MEK/ERK signaling cascades, which suggests that the compound has potential use in wound healing therapy in patients suffering from DFUs.

Metformin incombination with curcumin inhibits the growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has poor prognosis due to the advanced disease stages by the time it is diagnosed, high recurrence rates and metastasis. In the present study, we investigated the effects of metformin (a safe anti-diabetic drug) and curcumin (a turmeric polyphenol extracted from rhizome of Curcuma longa Linn.) on proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis of HCC in vitro and in vivo. It was found that co-treatment of metformin and curcumin could not only induce tumor cells into apoptosis through activating the mitochondria pathways, but also suppress the invasion, metastasis of HCC cells and angiogenesis of HUVECs. These effects were associated with downregulation of the expression of MMP2/9, VEGF, and VEGFR-2, up-regulation of PTEN, P53 and suppression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR/NF-κB and EGFR/STAT3 signaling. Co-administration of metformin and curcumin significantly inhibited HCC tumor growth than administration with metformin or curcumin alone in a xenograft mouse model. Thus, metformin and curcumin in combination showed a better anti-tumor effects in hepatoma cells than either metformin or curcumin presence alone and might represent an effective therapeutic strategy for HCC treatment.

Chemosynthesis pathway and bioactivities comparison of saponins in radix and flower of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen is a well known medicinal plant. Its radix is used in the history while its flower is recently used for health care. In this study we compared chemical ingredients and bioactivities in cell culture for radix and flower of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry system was applied to determine the contents of saponins in flower and radix of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen. Transcription specific luciferase reporter assay and qPCR method for selected RNA were carried out to assess the impacts of flower and radix extract on the transcription signal pathways.

RESULTS

The results of chemical analysis showed that the contents of saponins in flower and radix are very different: the contents of Rg1, Rb1, Re, R1, Rg3-20R, Rh1 and Rf in radix are abundant; in contrast, the contents of Rb3, Fc, Ft1, Rb2 and Rh2-20s in flowers are plentiful. There are substantial variations of those saponin contents from one batch vs another. Based on relative content of saponins, the chemosynthesis pathway of ingredients in radix and flower are proposed: for radix, both PPT (Protopanaxatriol) and PPD (Protopanaxadiol) type triterpenoids are involved, the main pathway is PPT→Rb₁→Rg₁→R₁ or PPD→Rh₂ 20s→Rg3(20s)→R_d→Rb₁; for flowers, only PPD is main passage with PPD→Rh₂ (20s)→Rg₃(20s)→R_d→Rb₂→Fc. The results of signal transcription assays demonstrated that herb water extract of radix and flower had no significant influences on most of transcription activities. However, total saponins of radix and flower which have highly content of saponins were able to inhibit the inflammatory related transcriptional activities and their related mRNA expression of IFNα, TNFα, il-6 and TGFβ as well as induce anti-oxygen NrF2 activities. In summary, although chemical ingredients and chemosynthesis pathway of flower and radix for Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen were different, these differences might not result in their differences of pharmacological activities.

A novel synthetic small molecule YF-452 inhibits tumor growth through antiangiogenesis by suppressing VEGF receptor 2 signaling

Tumor angiogenesis is characterized by abnormal vessel morphology, endowing tumor with highly hypoxia and unresponsive toward treatment. To date, mounting angiogenic factors have been discovered as therapeutic targets in antiangiogenic drug development. Among them, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) inhibitors exerts potent antiangiogenic activity in tumor therapy. Therefore, it may provide a valid strategy for cancer treatment through targeting the tumor angiogenesis via VEGFR2 pathway. In this study, we established a high-profile compounds library and certificated a novel compound named N-(N-pyrrolidylacetyl)-9-(4-bromobenzyl)-1,3,4,9-tetrahydro-β-carboline (YF-452), which remarkably inhibited the migration, invasion and tube-like structure formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with little toxicity invitro. Rat thoracic aorta ring assay indicated that YF-452 significantly blocked the formation of microvascular exvivo. In addition, YF-452 inhibited angiogenesis in chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and mouse corneal micropocket assays. Moreover, YF-452 remarkably suppressed tumor growth in xenografts mice model. Furthermore, investigation of molecular mechanism revealed that YF-452 inhibited VEGF-induced phosphorylation of VEGFR2 kinase and the downstream protein kinases including extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK), focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Src. These results indicate that YF-452 inhibits angiogenesis and may be a potential antiangiogenic drug candidate for cancer therapy.

Total saponins of panaxnotoginseng promotes lymphangiogenesis by activation VEGF-C expression of lymphatic endothelial cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Lymphatic system plays an important role in maintaining the fluid homeostasis and normal immune responses, anatomic or functional obstruction of which leads to lymphedema, and treatments for therapeutic lymphangiogenesis are efficiency for secondary lymphedema. Total saponins of panaxnotoginseng (PNS) are a mixture isolated from Panaxnotoginseng (Burkill) F.H.Chen, which has been used as traditional Chinese medicine in China for treatment of cardio- and cerebro-vascular diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the effect and mechanism of PNS on lymphangiogenesis.

METHODS

The Tg (fli1: egfp; gata1: dsred) transgenic zebrafish embryos were treated with different concentrations of PNS (10, 50, 100μM) for 48h with or without the 6h pretreatment of the 30μM Vascular endothelial growth factors receptor (VEGFR)-3 kinase inhibitor, followed with morphological observation and lympangiogenesis of thoracic duct assessment. The effect of PNS on cell viability, migration, tube formation and Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF)-C mRNA and protein expression of lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) were determined. The role of phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI-3)-kinase (PI3K), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 pathways, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and P38 mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling in PNS-induced VEGF-C expression of LECs by using pharmacological agents to block each signal.

RESULTS

PNS promotes lymphangiogenesis of thoracic duct in zebrafish with or without VEGFR3 Kinase inhibitor pre-impairment. PNS promotes proliferation, migration and tube formation of LECs. The tube formation induced by PNS could be blocked by VEGFR3 Kinase inhibitor. PNS induce VEGF-C expression of LEC, which could be blocked by ERK1/2, PI3K and P38MAPK signaling inhibitors.

CONCLUSION

PNS activates lymphangiogenesis both in vivo and in vitro by up-regulating VEGF-C expression and activation of ERK1/2, PI3K and P38MAPK signaling. These findings provide a novel insight into the role of PNS in lymphangiogenesis and suggest that it might be an attractive and suitable therapeutic agent for treating secondary lymphedema or other lymphatic system impairment related disease.

Chemical transformation and target preparation of saponins in stems and leaves of Panax notoginseng

Background

Notoginsenoside Ft1 is a promising potential candidate for cardiovascular and cancer disease therapy owing to its positive pharmacological activities. However, the yield of Ft1 is ultralow utilizing reported methods. Herein, an acid hydrolyzing strategy was implemented in the acquirement of rare notoginsenoside Ft1.

Methods

Chemical profiles were identified by ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with quadruple-time-of-flight and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-ESI-MS). The acid hydrolyzing dynamic changes of chemical compositions and the possible transformation pathways of saponins were monitored by ultrahigh-performance LC coupled with tandem MS (UHPLC-MS/MS).

Results and conclusion

Notoginsenoside Ft1 was epimerized from notoginsenoside ST4, which was generated through cleaving the carbohydrate side chains at C-20 of notoginsenosides Fa and Fc, and vina-ginsenoside R7, and further converted to other compounds via hydroxylation at C-25 or hydrolysis of the carbohydrate side chains at C-3 under the acid conditions. High temperature contributed to the hydroxylation reaction at C-25 and 25% acetic acid concentration was conducive to the preparation of notoginsenoside Ft1. C-20 epimers of notoginsenoside Ft1 and ST4 were successfully separated utilizing solvent method of acetic acid solution. The theoretical preparation yield rate of notoginsenoside Ft1 was about 1.8%, which would be beneficial to further study on its bioactivities and clinical application.

Traditional uses, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen: A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine known as Sanqi or Tianqi in China. This plant, which is distributed primarily in the southwest of China, has wide-ranging pharmacological effects and can be used to treat cardiovascular diseases, pain, inflammation and trauma as well as internal and external bleeding due to injury.

AIMS OF THE REVIEW

This paper provides up-to-date information on investigations of this plant, including its botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology. The possible uses and perspectives for future investigation of this plant are also discussed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The relevant information on Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen was collected from numerous resources, including classic books about Chinese herbal medicine, and scientific databases, including Pubmed, SciFinder, ACS, Ebsco, Elsevier, Taylor, Wiley and CNKI.

RESULTS

More than 200 chemical compounds have been isolated from Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen, including saponins, flavonoids and cyclopeptides. The plant has pharmacological effects on the cardiovascular system, immune system as well as anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic, haemostatic and anti-tumour activities, etc.

CONCLUSIONS

Panax notoginseng is a valuable traditional Chinese medical herb with multiple pharmacological effects. This review summarizes the botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of P. notoginseng, and presents the constituents and their corresponding chemical structures found in P. notoginseng comprehensively for the first time. Future research into its phytochemistry of bio-active components should be performed by using bioactivity-guided isolation strategies. Further work on elucidation of the structure-function relationship among saponins, understanding of multi-target network pharmacology of P. notoginseng, as well as developing its new clinical usage and comprehensive utilize will enhance the therapeutic potentials of P. notoginseng.

Angiogenesis in Ischemic Stroke and Angiogenic Effects of Chinese Herbal Medicine

Stroke is one of the major causes of death and adult disability worldwide. The underlying pathophysiology of stroke is highly complicated, consisting of impairments of multiple signalling pathways, and numerous pathological processes such as acidosis, glutamate excitotoxicity, calcium overload, cerebral inflammation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. The current treatment for ischemic stroke is limited to thromolytics such as recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). tPA has a very narrow therapeutic window, making it suitable to only a minority of stroke patients. Hence, there is great urgency to develop new therapies that can protect brain tissue from ischemic damage. Recent studies have shown that new vessel formation after stroke not only replenishes blood flow to the ischemic area of the brain, but also promotes neurogenesis and improves neurological functions in both animal models and patients. Therefore, drugs that can promote angiogenesis after ischemic stroke can provide therapeutic benefits in stroke management. In this regard, Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has a long history in treating stroke and the associated diseases. A number of studies have demonstrated the pro-angiogenic effects of various Chinese herbs and herbal formulations in both in vitro and in vivo settings. In this article, we present a comprehensive review of the current knowledge on angiogenesis in the context of ischemic stroke and discuss the potential use of CHM in stroke management through modulation of angiogenesis.

ASF-4-1 fibroblast-rich culture increases chemoresistance and mTOR expression of pancreatic cancer BxPC-3 cells at the invasive front in vitro, and promotes tumor growth and invasion in vivo

Pancreatic cancer develops dense stromal tissue through the desmoplastic reaction. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of a fibroblast-rich environment on the malignant potential of pancreatic cancer. Cells from the human pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-3 were mixed at a ratio of 1:3 (fibroblast-rich) or 1:1 (fibroblast-poor) with cells from the human skin fibroblast line ASF-4-1. In the fibroblast-rich co-culture, tumor budding was observed and BxPC-3 cells were found to be more resistant to gemcitabine than those in the fibroblast-poor co-culture. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin was increased at the invasive front of fibroblast-rich co-cultures. In addition, in mouse xenografts of fibroblast-rich co-cultures, tumors were larger and had a higher Ki-67 index compared with that of the fibroblast-poor co-culture xenografts. These results indicate that fibroblast-rich co-cultures may promote the malignant potential of the pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-3, both in vitro and in vivo.

Design of a novel wound dressing consisting of alginate hydrogel and simvastatin-incorporated mesoporous hydroxyapatite microspheres for cutaneous wound healing

Wound dressings consisting of alginate hydrogel and simvastatin-incorporated mesoporous hydroxyapatite microspheres stimulated angiogenesis and accelerated cutaneous wound healing.

Notoginsenoside Ft1 Promotes Fibroblast Proliferation via PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway and Benefits Wound Healing in Genetically Diabetic Mice

Wound healing requires the essential participation of fibroblasts, which is impaired in diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). Notoginsenoside Ft1 (Ft1), a saponin from Panax notoginseng, can enhance platelet aggregation by activating signaling network mediated through P2Y12 and induce proliferation, migration, and tube formation in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. However, whether it can accelerate fibroblast proliferation and benefit wound healing, especially DFU, has not been elucidated. In the present study on human dermal fibroblast HDF-a, Ft1 increased cell proliferation and collagen production via PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. On the excisional wound splinting model established on db/db diabetic mouse, topical application of Ft1 significantly shortened the wound closure time by 5.1 days in contrast with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) treatment (15.8 versus 20.9 days). Meanwhile, Ft1 increased the rate of re-epithelialization and the amount of granulation tissue at day 7 and day 14. The molecule also enhanced mRNA expressions of COL1A1, COL3A1, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and TGF-β3 and fibronectin, the genes that contributed to collagen expression, fibroblast proliferation, and consequent scar formation. Moreover, Ft1 facilitated the neovascularization accompanied with elevated vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, and fibroblast growth factor at either mRNA or protein levels and alleviated the inflammation of infiltrated monocytes indicated by reduced tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 mRNA expressions in the diabetic wounds. Altogether, these results indicated that Ft1 might accelerate diabetic wound healing by orchestrating multiple processes, including promoting fibroblast proliferation, enhancing angiogenesis, and attenuating inflammatory response, which provided a great potential application of it in clinics for patients with DFU.

Herbal supplement Kamishimotsuto augments resistance exercise-induced mTORC1 signaling in rat skeletal muscle

OBJECTIVES

Kamishimotsuto (KST) is a supplement containing 13 different herbs including Phellodendron bark, Anemarrhena rhizome and ginseng that have been shown to activate mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and thereby increase muscle protein synthesis in vitro. However, the combined effect of KST and resistance exercise on muscle protein anabolism has not been investigated in vivo. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of KST supplementation, resistance exercise on (mTORC1) signaling and subsequent muscle protein synthesis.

METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: one group received KST (500 mg/kg/d in water) and the other group received placebo (PLA) for 7 d. After 12 h of fasting, the right gastrocnemius muscle was isometrically exercised via percutaneous electrical stimulation. Muscle samples were analyzed for muscle protein synthesis (MPS) and by western blotting analysis to assess the phosphorylation of p70S6K (Thr389), rpS6 (Ser240/244), and Akt (Ser473 and Thr308).

RESULTS

KST supplementation for 7 d significantly increased basal p-Akt (Ser473) levels compared with PLA, phosphorylation of the signaling proteins and MPS at baseline were otherwise unaffected. p-p70S6K and p-rpS6 levels significantly increased 1 h and 3 h after exercise in the PLA group, and these elevations were augmented in the KST group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, MPS at 6 h after resistance exercise was greater in the KST group than in the PLA group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

While resistance exercise alone was able to increase p70S6K and rpS6 phosphorylation, Kamishimotsuto supplementation further augmented resistance exercise-induced muscle protein synthesis through mTORC1 signaling.

Enzymatic transformation of vina-ginsenoside R₇ to rare notoginsenoside ST-4 using a new recombinant glycoside hydrolase from Herpetosiphon aurantiacus

An eco-friendly and convenient preparation method for notoginsenoside ST-4 has been established by completely transforming vina-ginsenoside R7 using a recombinant glycosidase hydrolyzing enzyme (HaGH03) from Herpetosiphon aurantiacus. This enzyme specifically hydrolyzed the glucose at the C-20 position but not the external xylose or two inner glucoses at position C-3. Protein sequence BLAST revealed that HaGH03, composed of 749 amino acids and presumptively listed as a member of the family 3 glycoside hydrolases, has highest identity (48 %) identity with a thermostable β-glucosidase B, which was not known of any functions for ginsenoside transformation. The steady state kinetic parameters for purified HaGH03 measured against p-nitrophenyl β-D-glucopyranoside and vina-ginsenoside R7 were K M = 5.67 ± 0.24 μM and 0.59 ± 0.23 mM, and k cat = 69.2 ± 0.31/s and 2.15 ± 0.46/min, respectively. HaGH03 converted 2.5 mg/mL of vina-ginsenoside R7 to ST-4 with a molar yield of 100 % and a space-time yield of 104 mg/L/h in optimized conditions. These results underscore that HaGH03 has much potential for the effective preparation of target ginsenosides possessing valuable pharmacological activities. This is the first report identifying an enzyme that has the ability to transform vina-ginsenoside R7 and provides an approach to preparing rare notoginsenoside ST-4.