ONTD induces apoptosis of human hepatoma Bel-7402 cells via a MAPK-dependent mitochondrial pathway and the depletion of intracellular glutathione

A 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid conjugate with Vorinostat degrades HDAC3 and HDAC6 with improved antitumor effects

Semisynthetic 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) analogues bearing 1-en-2-cyano-3-oxo substitution on ring A have enhanced antitumor effects with reduced levels of HDAC3 and HDAC6 proteins. Aiming to inhibit both HDAC protein and activity, we developed a hybrid molecule by tethering active GA analogue methyl 2-cyano-3,11-dioxo-18β-olean-1,12-dien-30-oate (CDODA-Me) and Vorinostat (SAHA). We tested the proper hybrid approaches of GA with hydroxamic acid and turned out that GA conjugated with SAHA by a piperazine linker was the best. The conjugate (15) of CDODA-Me and SAHA linked through a piperazine group was a potent cytotoxic agent against cancer cells with apoptosis induction. Compound 15 was more effective than the simple combination of CDODA-Me and SAHA to induce apoptosis. Mechanistic studies revealed that 15 was less effective than SAHA to inhibit HDAC activity, but was more effective than CDODA-Me to decrease the levels of HDAC3 and HDAC6 proteins with upregulated levels of acetylated H3 and acetylated α-tubulin. Compound 15 represents a new HDAC3 and HDAC6 inhibitor by reducing protein levels.

Euphorbia factor L2 inhibits TGF-β-induced cell growth and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma through AKT/STAT3

BACKGROUND

Euphorbia factor L2 has potent effects on ascites, hydropsy and cancers.

PURPOSE

We investigated the pharmacological effects of Euphorbia factor L2 (EFL2) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

MTT assay was conducted to determine the proliferative activity of EFL2 on Hep G2 and SMMC-7721 cells. Wound-healing assay, colony formation assay, western blotting and quantitative PCR were carried out to examine the cell migration, p-AKT and p-STAT3 signaling. Moreover, we used human tumor xenograft BALB/c nude mice to detect the effect of EFL2 on HCC in vivo.

RESULTS

EFL2 inhibited the proliferation of SMMC-7721 and Hep G2 cells in concentration- and time-dependent manners. EFL2 also suppressed the cell migration and colony formation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Using a transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) model, we provided evidences that EFL2 could also inhibit TGF-β induced cell growth, vimentin, N-cadherin expressions, activation of p-AKT and p-STAT3, whereas up-regulate E-cadherin expression. Furthermore, EFL2 inhibited tumor growth and STAT3 phosphorylation in vivo.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, EFL2 has the potential to be explored as a candidate treatment agent for HCC by inhibiting cell growth and migration both in vitro and in vivo.

Protective Function of Novel Fungal Immunomodulatory Proteins Fip-lti1 and Fip-lti2 from Lentinus tigrinus in Concanavalin A-Induced Liver Oxidative Injury

Fungal immunomodulatory proteins (FIPs) are a class of small proteins that have been extensively studied for their immunomodulatory activities. In this study, two novel FIPs from Lentinus tigrinus were identified and named Fip-lti1 and Fip-lti2. The bioactive characteristics of Fip-lti1 and Fip-lti2 were compared to a well-known FIP (LZ-8 from Ganoderma lucidum) to investigate the effect of Fip-lti1 and Fip-lti2 expression on concanavalin A- (Con A-) induced liver oxidative injury. Both Fip-lti1 and Fip-lti2 protected the livers from Con A-induced necrosis, as evidenced by decreased serum aminotransferase levels (AST, ALT) and relieved liver histology. Levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and oxidative stress (SOD, MDA) were shown to be reduced by expressing Fip-lti1 and Fip-lti2. In addition, the hepatoprotective effect of Fip-lti1, Fip-lti2, and LZ-8 correlated with ameliorating the imbalance of Th1/Th2 (IFN-γ/IL-4). The observed liver protection of Fip-lti1 and Fip-lti2 was mechanistically explored. Treatments with Fip-lti1 and Fip-lti2 regulated GATA3/T-bet expression, activated the decreased Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway, and countered the upregulated NLRP3/ASC/NF-κBp65 signaling in Con A-stimulated liver injury. Nrf2 activation was shown to be involved in the mechanisms underlying the protection of Fip-lti by RNA interference. In conclusion, we identified two new fungal proteins (Fip-lti1 and Fip-lti2) that can protect the liver from Con A-induced liver oxidative injury through the Nrf2/NF-κB/NLRP3/IL-1β pathway.

Anti-hepatocarcinoma effect of cordycepin against NDEA-induced hepatocellular carcinomas via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Nrf2/HO-1/NF-κB pathway in mice

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of cordycepin (CA) on N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA)-induced hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and explore its potential mechanisms. Mice were randomly assigned to four groups: control group, NDEA group, NDEA+CA (20mg/kg) group, NDEA+CA (40mg/kg) group. The animal of each group were given NDEA (100ppm) in drinking water. One hour later, CA, which was dissolved in PBS, were intragastrically administered for continuous seven days. The results showed that CA reduced the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in liver and serum. CA also reduced the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA), and stored the activity of superoxygen dehydrogenises (SOD) in serum. CA could obviously attenuate the hepatic pathological alteration. Furthermore, CA effectively inhibited the phosphorylations of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase(PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). In conclusion, our research suggested that CA exhibited protective effects on NDEA-induced hepatocellular carcinomas via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

ONTD induces growth arrest and apoptosis of human hepatoma Bel-7402 cells though a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ-dependent pathway

ONTD (3-Oxo-29-noroleana-1,9(11),12-trien-2,20-dicarbonitrile) is a novel synthetic derivative of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), which has been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities through its mechanisms are not fully understood. Previously, we demonstrated that ONTD induces apoptosis of human hepatoma cells via a MAPK-dependent mitochondrial pathway. Recently, ONTD was found to increase sub-G1 accumulation and Annexin-V positive staining, indicating apoptotic induction effect. It was also be found that ONTD increase the PPAR-γ activity, reduce the phosphorylation of Akt and increase phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) protein expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) Bel-7402 cells, and these were associated with the inhibition of cells proliferation. More importantly, these effects could be diminished by GW9662, a specific PPAR-γ antagonist, suggesting that ONTD can act as a ligand of PPAR-γ. Taken together, our novel observations suggested that ONTD may have potential implication in HCC prevention and treatment, and showed for the first time that the anti-tumor effect of ONTD may also be mediated through modulation of the PPAR-γ activation and mediated by the PTEN/Akt signaling pathway. The present study also supports ONTD as a potential drug candidate for chemoprevention or chemotherapy of HCC.

Antihepatocarcinoma Effect of Portulaca oleracea L. in Mice by PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Nrf2/HO-1/NF-κB Pathway

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the pharmacological effects of Portulaca oleracea L. (Purslane) (PL) on N-nitrosodiethylamine- (NDEA-) induced hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and explore its potential mechanism. Mice were randomly assigned to four groups: control group, NDEA group, NDEA + Purslane (100 mg/kg) group, and NDEA + Purslane (200 mg/kg) group. The animal of each group was given NDEA (100 ppm) in drinking water. 1 h later, Purslane dissolved in PBS was intragastrically administered for continuous seven days. The results showed that Purslane reduced the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in liver and serum. Purslane also reduced the contents of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA) and restored the activity of superoxygen dehydrogenises (SOD) in serum. Purslane could obviously attenuate the hepatic pathological alteration. Furthermore, treatment with Purslane effectively inhibited the phosphorylations of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and inhibitor of NF-κBα (IκBα) and upregulated the expressions of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase- (HO-) 1. In conclusion, our research suggested that Purslane exhibited protective effects on NDEA-induced hepatocellular carcinomas by anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Nrf2/HO-1/NF-κB pathway.

RETRACTED: Salidroside alleviates cigarette smoke-induced COPD in mice

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the authors, who have informed the Editor-in-Chief that they had not obtained the necessary ethical approval for the animal studies before performing the experiments. It is the policy of the journal that all animal experiments should comply with the ARRIVE guidelines and should be carried out in accordance with the U.K. Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act, 1986 and associated guidelines, EU Directive 2010/63/EU for animal experiments, or the National Research Council's Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The authors have also informed the editors that the results of the IL-1β ELISA are not reliable due to issues with the reagents. Concern was also raised about the reliability of the Western blot results in Figure 5, which appear to contain suspected similarities between the P-P38 and Iκ Bα blots, as detailed here: https://pubpeer.com/publications/C87E1CABF28D49C30B80A05DF2C3DB#1. The journal requested the corresponding author comment on these concerns and provide the raw data. The journal did not receive a response to this request.