1
|
Wei Y, Zhu M, Chen Y, Ji Q, Wang J, Shen L, Yang X, Hu H, Zhou X, Zhu Q. Network pharmacology and experimental evaluation strategies to decipher the underlying pharmacological mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine CFF-1 against prostate cancer. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:5387-5411. [PMID: 38484140 PMCID: PMC11006490 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common malignancy in elderly men. We have applied Traditional Chinese Medicine CFF-1 in clinical treatments for PCa for several years. Here, we aimed to identify the underlying mechanism of CFF-1 on PCa using network pharmacology and experimental validation. Active ingredients, potential targets of CFF-1 were acquired from the public databases. Subsequently, protein-protein interaction (PPI) and the herbs-active ingredients-target network was constructed. A prognostic model for PCa was also constructed based on key targets. In vitro experiments using PCa cell lines CWR22Rv1 and PC-3 were carried out to validate the potential mechanism of CFF-1 on PCa. A total of 112 bioactive compounds and 359 key targets were screened from public databases. PPI and herbs-active ingredients-target network analysis determined 12 genes as the main targets of CFF-1 on PCa. Molecular docking studies indicated that the primary active ingredients of CFF-1 possess strong binding affinity to the top five hub targets. DNMT3B, RXRB and HPRT1 were found to be involved in immune regulation of PCa. In vitro, CFF-1 was found to inhibit PCa cell proliferation, migration, invasion and induce apoptosis via PI3K-Akt, HIF-1, TNF, EGFR-TKI resistance and PD-1 checkpoint signaling pathways. This study comprehensively elucidates the underlying molecular mechanism of CFF-1 against PCa, offering a strong rationale for clinical application of CFF-1 in PCa treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Wei
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Mingxia Zhu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Ye Chen
- The First Medicine College, Taizhou Campus of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taizhou 225300, China
| | - Qianying Ji
- Department of Urology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Urology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Luming Shen
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Xin Yang
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Haibin Hu
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Suqian First People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suqian 223812, China
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Qingyi Zhu
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Xie J, Zhang Y, Li B, Xi W, Wang Y, Li L, Liu C, Shen L, Han B, Kong Y, Yao H, Zhang Z. Inhibition of OGFOD1 by FG4592 confers neuroprotection by activating unfolded protein response and autophagy after ischemic stroke. J Transl Med 2024; 22:248. [PMID: 38454480 PMCID: PMC10921652 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-04993-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute ischemic stroke is a common neurological disease with a significant financial burden but lacks effective drugs. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) and prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs) participate in the pathophysiological process of ischemia. However, whether FG4592, the first clinically approved PHDs inhibitor, can alleviate ischemic brain injury remains unclear. METHODS The infarct volumes and behaviour tests were first analyzed in mice after ischemic stroke with systemic administration of FG4592. The knockdown of HIF-1α and pretreatments of HIF-1/2α inhibitors were then used to verify whether the neuroprotection of FG4592 is HIF-dependent. The targets predicting and molecular docking methods were applied to find other targets of FG4592. Molecular, cell biological and gene knockdown methods were finally conducted to explore the potential neuroprotective mechanisms of FG4592. RESULTS We found that the systemic administration of FG4592 decreased infarct volume and improved neurological defects of mice after transient or permanent ischemia. Meanwhile, FG4592 also activated autophagy and inhibited apoptosis in peri-infarct tissue of mice brains. However, in vitro and in vivo results suggested that the neuroprotection of FG4592 was not classical HIF-dependent. 2-oxoglutarate and iron-dependent oxygenase domain-containing protein 1 (OGFOD1) was found to be a novel target of FG4592 and regulated the Pro-62 hydroxylation in the small ribosomal protein s23 (Rps23) with the help of target predicting and molecular docking methods. Subsequently, the knockdown of OGFOD1 protected the cell against ischemia/reperfusion injury and activated unfolded protein response (UPR) and autophagy. Moreover, FG4592 was also found to activate UPR and autophagic flux in HIF-1α independent manner. Blocking UPR attenuated the neuroprotection, pro-autophagy effect and anti-apoptosis ability of FG4592. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that FG4592 could be a candidate drug for treating ischemic stroke. The neuroprotection of FG4592 might be mediated by inhibiting alternative target OGFOD1, which activated the UPR and autophagy and inhibited apoptosis after ischemic injury. The inhibition of OGFOD1 is a novel therapy for ischemic stroke.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jian Xie
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Institution of Neuropsychiatry, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wen Xi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lu Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chenchen Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ling Shen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bing Han
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yan Kong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, No. 87 Dingjiaqiao Road, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - HongHong Yao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Zhijun Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Institution of Neuropsychiatry, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China.
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute of Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Liu J, Zhang B, Zhang G, Shang D. Reprogramming of regulatory T cells in inflammatory tumor microenvironment: can it become immunotherapy turning point? Front Immunol 2024; 15:1345838. [PMID: 38449875 PMCID: PMC10915070 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1345838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and identifying widely used immunosuppressants with minimal side effects are two major challenges currently hampering cancer immunotherapy. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are present in almost all cancer tissues and play an important role in preserving autoimmune tolerance and tissue homeostasis. The tumor inflammatory microenvironment causes the reprogramming of Tregs, resulting in the conversion of Tregs to immunosuppressive phenotypes. This process ultimately facilitates tumor immune escape or tumor progression. However, current systemic Treg depletion therapies may lead to severe autoimmune toxicity. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the mechanism of Treg reprogramming and develop immunotherapies that selectively target Tregs within tumors. This article provides a comprehensive review of the potential mechanisms involved in Treg cell reprogramming and explores the application of Treg cell immunotherapy. The interference with reprogramming pathways has shown promise in reducing the number of tumor-associated Tregs or impairing their function during immunotherapy, thereby improving anti-tumor immune responses. Furthermore, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that drive Treg cell reprogramming could reveal new molecular targets for future treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinming Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Clinical Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Biao Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Clinical Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Guolin Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Dong Shang
- Department of General Surgery, Clinical Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhang YH, Zhao P, Gao HL, Zhong ML, Li JY. Screening Targets and Therapeutic Drugs for Alzheimer's Disease Based on Deep Learning Model and Molecular Docking. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 100:863-878. [PMID: 38995776 DOI: 10.3233/jad-231389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a complex interplay of various factors. However, a satisfactory cure for AD remains elusive. Pharmacological interventions based on drug targets are considered the most cost-effective therapeutic strategy. Therefore, it is paramount to search potential drug targets and drugs for AD. Objective We aimed to provide novel targets and drugs for the treatment of AD employing transcriptomic data of AD and normal control brain tissues from a new perspective. Methods Our study combined the use of a multi-layer perceptron (MLP) with differential expression analysis, variance assessment and molecular docking to screen targets and drugs for AD. Results We identified the seven differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with the most significant variation (ANKRD39, CPLX1, FABP3, GABBR2, GNG3, PPM1E, and WDR49) in transcriptomic data from AD brain. A newly built MLP was used to confirm the association between the seven DEGs and AD, establishing these DEGs as potential drug targets. Drug databases and molecular docking results indicated that arbaclofen, baclofen, clozapine, arbaclofen placarbil, BML-259, BRD-K72883421, and YC-1 had high affinity for GABBR2, and FABP3 bound with oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids. Arbaclofen and YC-1 activated GABAB receptor through PI3K/AKT and PKA/CREB pathways, respectively, thereby promoting neuronal anti-apoptotic effect and inhibiting p-tau and Aβ formation. Conclusions This study provided a new strategy for the identification of targets and drugs for the treatment of AD using deep learning. Seven therapeutic targets and ten drugs were selected by using this method, providing new insight for AD treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Hong Zhang
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Pu Zhao
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Hui-Ling Gao
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Man-Li Zhong
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jia-Yi Li
- Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Neuronal Plasticity and Repair Unit, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Li Y, Li J, Lu Y, Ma Y. ZnO nanomaterials target mitochondrial apoptosis and mitochondrial autophagy pathways in cancer cells. Cell Biochem Funct 2024; 42:e3909. [PMID: 38269499 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, the application of engineering nanomaterials has significantly contributed to the development of various biomedical fields. Zinc oxide nanomaterials (ZnO NMts) have gained wide popularity due to their biocompatibility, unique physical and chemical properties, stability, and cost-effectiveness for large-scale production. They have emerged as potential materials for anticancer applications. This article provides a comprehensive review of the synthesis methods of ZnO NMts and highlights the advantages of combining ZnO NMts with anticancer drugs as a nano platform for cancer treatment. Additionally, the article briefly explains the mechanism of action of ZnO NMts in tumor cells, focusing on the mitochondrial pathways that target cell apoptosis and autophagy. It is observed that these pathways are primarily influenced by reactive oxygen species generated through oxidative stress. The article discusses the promising prospects of ZnO NMts combined with anticancer drugs in the field of cancer medicine and emphasizes the need for further in-depth research on the mitochondrial apoptosis and mitochondrial autophagy pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Li
- College of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yan Lu
- College of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yonghua Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Shu Q, Ma H, Wang T, Wang P, Xu H. Formaldehyde promotes tumor-associated macrophage polarizations and functions through induction of HIF-1α-mediated glycolysis. Toxicol Lett 2023; 390:5-14. [PMID: 37944650 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2023.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Formaldehyde (FA) exposure has been positively correlated with many diseases including various types of cancers. However, the mechanisms of FA-related carcinogenesis are still unclear. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the most abundant immune cells in tumor microenvironment, which is a heterogeneous population consist of both pro-inflammatory (M1) and immunosuppressive (M2) cells. TAMs are deeply involved in tumor development and progression. Our previous studies demonstrated that FA enhanced M1 polarization of macrophages through induction of HIF-1α-mediated glycolysis. To examine if TAM polarizations are also potentiated by FA, BALB/c nude mice were inoculated with A549 cells to develop subcutaneous tumors and exposed to 2.0 mg/m3 FA for 14 days. Significant increases of both M1 and M2 polarizations of TAMs were observed in tumor tissues of FA-exposed mice. After confirmation of the potentiation effects in RAW264.7 and THP-1-derived in vitro TAM models, FA at 25 and 50 μM was found to enhance TAM immunosuppressive functions and glycolytic metabolism. In addition, FA-induced glycolysis in TAMs was reversed by a specific HIF-1α inhibitor PX-478 at 5 μM, and suppression of glycolytic metabolism with a glucose analog 2-DG at 1 mM also alleviated FA-potentiated TAM functions, which indicated that FA induced TAM polarizations through the upregulation of HIF-1α-mediated glycolysis. These results illustrated a potential carcinogenic mechanism of FA through metabolic disturbance of tumor immunity, which could be utilized to develop preventative or therapeutic agents for FA-induced carcinogenesis and immune disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qi Shu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism and Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Huijuan Ma
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism and Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Tingqian Wang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism and Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Peiyao Wang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism and Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Huan Xu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism and Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China.
| |
Collapse
|