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Wang Q, Gong M, Liu R, Mo J, Bai R, An R, Wang X, Han L, Wang Z, Ma Q, Wu Z, Zhou C. Huaier enhances the tumor-killing effect and reverses gemcitabine-induced stemness by suppressing FoxM1. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 129:155656. [PMID: 38723529 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gemcitabine is the first-line chemotherapy drug that can easily cause chemotherapy resistance. Huaier is a traditional Chinese medicine and shows an antitumor effect in pancreatic cancer, but whether it can enhance the gemcitabine chemotherapeutic response and the potential mechanism remain unknown. PURPOSE This study was performed to explore the effect of Huaier in promoting the tumor-killing effect of gemcitabine and elucidate the possible mechanism in pancreatic cancer. METHODS Cell Counting Kit-8 assays and colony formation assays were used to detect proliferation after different treatments. Protein coimmunoprecipitation was applied to demonstrate protein interactions. Nuclear protein extraction and immunofluorescence were used to confirm the intracellular localization of the proteins. Western blotting was performed to detect cell proliferation-related protein expression or cancer stem cell-associated protein expression. Sphere formation assays and flow cytometry were used to assess the stemness of pancreatic cancer cells. The in vivo xenograft model was used to confirm the inhibitory effect under physiological conditions, and immunohistochemistry was used to detect protein expression. RESULTS Huaier suppressed the proliferation and stem cell-like properties of pancreatic cancer cells. We found that Huaier suppressed the expression of forkhead box protein M1 (FoxM1). In addition, Huaier inhibited FoxM1 function by blocking its nuclear translocation. Treatment with Huaier reversed the stemness induced by gemcitabine in a FoxM1-dependent manner. Furthermore, we verified the above results by an in vivo study, which reached the same conclusion as those in vitro. CONCLUSION Overall, this study illustrates that Huaier augments the tumor-killing effect of gemcitabine through suppressing the stemness induced by gemcitabine in a FoxM1-dependent way. These results indicate that Huaier can be applied to overcome gemcitabine resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiqi Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China; Pancreatic Disease Center of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China
| | - Mengyuan Gong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China; Pancreatic Disease Center of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China
| | - Rujuan Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China; Pancreatic Disease Center of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China
| | - Jiantao Mo
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China; Pancreatic Disease Center of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China
| | - Ruiping Bai
- Department of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China
| | - Rui An
- Department of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China
| | - Xueni Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China; Pancreatic Disease Center of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China
| | - Liang Han
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China; Pancreatic Disease Center of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China
| | - Zheng Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China; Pancreatic Disease Center of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China
| | - Qingyong Ma
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China; Pancreatic Disease Center of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China
| | - Zheng Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China; Pancreatic Disease Center of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China.
| | - Cancan Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China; Pancreatic Disease Center of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China.
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Xie K, Ma M, Xu F. Long-term oral administration of Huaier granules improves survival outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma patients within Milan criteria following microwave ablation: a propensity score matching and stabilized inverse probability weighting analysis. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1336347. [PMID: 38774215 PMCID: PMC11106438 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1336347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective This study aimed to elucidate the therapeutic effects of Huaier granules on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within the Milan criteria in patients who underwent microwave ablation (MWA). Materials and methods A total of 228 patients were included, with 97 in the Huaier group and 131 in the control group. We evaluated progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and extrahepatic metastasis survival (EMS) using Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves with a log-rank test. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and Stabilized Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting (IPTW) were performed to minimize selection and confounding biases. Results Following PSM, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year PFS rates in the Huaier and control groups were 83.5% vs 70.7%, 57.7% vs 42.6%, and 43.6% vs 31.9% (p = 0.030), respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 98.9% vs 95.6%, 83.9% vs 72.3%, and 72.2% vs 53.7% (p = 0.023), respectively. The corresponding 1-, 3-, and 5-year EMS rates were 98.9% vs 93.4%, 91.7% vs 83.7%, and 91.7% vs 78.5% (p = 0.039), respectively. Stabilized IPTW analysis of KM curves yielded results similar to those of the PSM analysis. Additionally, administering Huaier granules for at least 6 months significantly improved PFS and OS. Conclusion Huaier granules can reduce the risk of recurrence and improve the OS of patients with HCC within the Milan criteria following MWA. Administering Huaier granules for over 6 months proved beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Feng Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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Jin H, Liu C, Liu X, Wang H, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Li J, Yu Z, Liu HX. Huaier suppresses cisplatin resistance in non-small cell lung cancer by inhibiting the JNK/JUN/IL-8 signaling pathway. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 319:117270. [PMID: 37832810 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Huaier (Trametes robiniophila Murr), a traditional Chinese medicinal fungus, possesses potent anticancer efficacy and has been used as an adjuvant medication for liver, breast, gastric, intestinal, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the potential regulatory functions and underlying molecular mechanisms of Huaier in cisplatin resistance of NSCLC remain unknown. AIM To evaluate the potential regulatory functions and underlying molecular mechanisms of Huaier in cisplatin resistance of NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS In vitro and in vivo experiments were employed to evaluate the regulatory functions of Huaier in cisplatin-resistant NSCLC cells. Transcriptome sequencing and validation analyses was undertaken to identify the downstream targets of Huaier. Network pharmacology, ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy, and in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to identify key small molecule drug candidates in Huaier and the regulatory mechanisms these employ to suppress cisplatin resistance in NSCLC. RESULTS Huaier suppressed cisplatin resistance and cancer cell stemness in cisplatin-resistant NSCLC cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, Huaier could suppress expression of interleuken-8 (IL-8) through inhibition of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1), two key transcription factors responsible for the activation of IL-8 transcription. Kaempferol was identified as one of the key small molecule compounds in Huaier that could suppress cisplatin resistance by inhibiting the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of proto-oncogene c-Jun (JUN) by binding and inhibiting the kinase activity of c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK). CONCLUSIONS Huaier suppressed cisplatin resistance of NSCLC cells by inhibiting the JNK/JUN/IL-8 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyi Jin
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, 110042, Liaoning, China.
| | - Changhao Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, 110042, Liaoning, China.
| | - Xi Liu
- Department of Urology, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, 110042, Liaoning, China.
| | - Huan Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, 110042, Liaoning, China.
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, 110042, Liaoning, China.
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, 110042, Liaoning, China.
| | - Jijia Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, 110042, Liaoning, China.
| | - Zhanwu Yu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, 110042, Liaoning, China.
| | - Hong-Xu Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, 110042, Liaoning, China.
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Shi K, Bi Y, Zeng X, Wang X. Effects of adjuvant huaier granule therapy on survival rate of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1163304. [PMID: 37251326 PMCID: PMC10213905 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1163304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: Clinical trials have reported that Huaier granule inhibits the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after resection. However, its efficacy in patients at different clinical stages of HCC remains unknown. We investigated the effects of Huaier granule on the 3-year overall survival (OS) rate of patients at different clinical stages. Design: This cohort study included 826 patients with HCC, screened between January 2015 and December 2019. The patients were divided into Huaier (n = 174) and control groups (n = 652), and the 3-year OS rates were compared between the two groups. To eliminate bias caused by confounding factors, propensity score matching (PSM) was performed. We used the Kaplan-Meier method to estimate OS rate and tested the difference using the log-rank test. Results: Multivariable regression analysis revealed that Huaier therapy was an independent protective factor for 3-year survival rate. After PSM (1:2), the Huaier and control groups comprised 170 and 340 patients, respectively. The 3-year OS rate was remarkably higher in the Huaier group than in the control group (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 0.36; 95% confidence interval: 0.26-0.49; p < 0.001). The aHR for Huaier use for 3-12, 12-24, and >24 months was 0.48, 0.23, and 0.16, respectively, indicating a dose-response pattern. For the 3-12-, 12-24-, and >24-month groups, the 3-year OS rate was 54.1%, 68.6%, and 90.4%, respectively. Multivariate stratified analysis confirmed that the mortality risk in Huaier users was lower than that in non-Huaier users in most subgroups. Conclusion: Adjuvant Huaier therapy improved the OS rate in patients with HCC. However, these findings require further verification through prospective clinical studies.
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Zhu Z, Wang X, Zhang W, Gong M, Zhang S, Yang B, Qu B, Wu Z, Ma Q, Wang Z, Qian W. Huaier suppresses pancreatic cancer progression via activating cell autophagy induced ferroptosis. Front Oncol 2022; 12:960858. [PMID: 36248959 PMCID: PMC9561879 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.960858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The anti-tumour effect of Huaier has been demonstrated in a variety of tumours. Ferroptosis is a newly identified type of programmed cell death accompanied by the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and iron in cells and plays a key role in the therapeutic process against malignant tumours. We aimed to explore the potential therapeutic role of Huaier in pancreatic cancer and uncover the relationship between Huaier and ferroptosis. Methods CCK8 and colony formation assays were used to determine the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells (PCs). The levels of cellular ROS were analysed by a fluorescence probe, and the accumulation of cellular iron was showed by Prussian blue staining. The autophagosomes and mitochondrial morphology were characterised by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The levels of intracellular glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation were measured by the corresponding kits. Results The growth inhibitory effect of Huaier on PCs was concentration- and time-dependent, but this effect was significantly attenuated by ferroptosis inhibitors. In addition, Huaier effectively inhibited the GSH–GPX4 antioxidation system and resulted in the massive accumulation of ROS in PCs As shown by TEM, Huaier-treated PCs exhibited a decrease in mitochondrial cristae and a smaller mitochondrion, accompanied by an increase in autophagosomes. Indeed, we found that autophagy can induce ferroptosis in PCs and that Huaier-induced ferroptosis can be suppressed by the autophagosome inhibitor, Wortmannin. Conclusion Huaier can activate ferroptosis by inducing autophagy in PCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeen Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Pancreatic Disease Center of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Xueni Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Pancreatic Disease Center of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Wunai Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Pancreatic Disease Center of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Mengyuan Gong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Pancreatic Disease Center of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Simei Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Pancreatic Disease Center of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Bao Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Pancreatic Disease Center of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Bolun Qu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Pancreatic Disease Center of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Zheng Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Pancreatic Disease Center of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Qingyong Ma
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Pancreatic Disease Center of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Pancreatic Disease Center of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Zheng Wang, ; Weikun Qian,
| | - Weikun Qian
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Pancreatic Disease Center of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Zheng Wang, ; Weikun Qian,
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Li B, Cao Q, Liu Z. The treatment effects of Trametes Robiniophila Murr against colorectal cancer: A mini-review. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:981516. [PMID: 35991644 PMCID: PMC9381862 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.981516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a worldwide disease threatening people's lives. Surgery and chemotherapy are still the main methods for CRC treatment. However, the side effects and chemotherapeutic drug resistance restrict the application of chemotherapy. Trametes Robiniophila Murr, also known as Huaier, is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for more than 1,600 years. Huaier extracts have promising anti-cancer effects on hepatoma, breast cancer, and gastric cancer. Nowadays, the tumor inhibition of Huaier on CRC has attracted more and more attention. This review mainly provides the possible anti-tumor mechanisms of Huaier for CRC treatment in apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation of tumor cells, preventing epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT), weakening proliferation and differentiation of CRC stem cells, decreasing the vessel density in tumor tissues, and enhancing the immune system and chemotherapeutic efficacy. Huaier extract may be a good candidate for CRC treatment, especially when combined with other chemotherapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Qian Cao
- Department of Education, Jilin University Second Hospital, Changchun, China
| | - Zhuo Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Colorectal and Anal Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Zhuo Liu
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Lv F, Li X, Wang Y. An extraction from Trametes robiniophila Murr. ( Huaier) inhibits non-small cell lung cancer proliferation via targeting to epidermal growth factor receptor. Bioengineered 2022; 13:10931-10943. [PMID: 35470770 PMCID: PMC9162005 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2022.2066757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
An extraction from Trametes robiniophila Murr. (Huaier) is a kind of natural fungus growing from the sophora japonica tree. Huaier is widely applied to cure the hepatocellular cancer (HCC). However, the medicinal fungus' curative result on non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is not well elaborated. In this study, we applied in vitro experiments to study Huaier's curative result on NSCLC. The potential Huaier targets were predicted using bioinformatics and validated by western blotting. We further elucidated the mechanism of Huaier targeting by molecular docking, kinase activity assay, CEllular Thermal Shift Assays (CETSAs). At last, in vivo curative result was verified further. Huaier weakened proliferation and promoted apoptosis of the NSCLC cell lines. According to bioinformatics, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) may be the target of Huaier. Western blotting showed that Huaier can attenuate the activation of EGFR and we found that Huaier can dock to EGFR. Huaier significantly inhibited the tumor growth by weakening the expression of p-EGFR in vivo. This study offers a new idea for further understanding of Huaier and shows its potential as a therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Lv
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiaoqi Li
- Third Department of Oncology, The People’s Hospital of Liaoning Province
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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Jian T, Zhang Y, Zhang G, Ling J. Metabolomic comparison between natural Huaier and artificial cultured Huaier. Biomed Chromatogr 2022; 36:e5355. [PMID: 35156219 DOI: 10.1002/bmc.5355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Vanderbylia robiniophila (Murrill) B.K. (Huaier) is a kind of higher fungal fruiting body parasitic on the trunk of Sophora japonica and Robinia pseudoacacia L.. As a traditional Chinese medicine with a history of more than 1600 years, Huaier has attracted wide attention for its excellent anticancer activity. A systematic study on the metabolome differences between natural Huaier and artificial cultured Huaier was conducted using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in this study. Principal component analysis and orthogonal projection on latent structure-discriminant analysis results showed that cultured Huaier evidently separated and individually separated from natural Huaier, indicating metabolome difference between natural Huaier and cultured Huaier. Hierarchical clustering analysis was further performed to cluster the differential metabolites and samples based on their metabolic similarity. The higher content of amino acids, alkaloids and terpenoids in natural Huaier makes it an excellent choice as a traditional Chinese medicine for anti-cancer or nutritional supplementation. The results of the Bel-7402 and A549 cells cytotoxicity test showed that the anticancer activity of natural Huaier was better than that of cultured Huaier. This may be due to the difference in chemical composition, which makes the anticancer activity of natural and cultured Huaier different.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongtong Jian
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Guoying Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Jianya Ling
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.,State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
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Gan H, Xu X, Bai Y. Trametes robiniophila represses angiogenesis and tumor growth of lung cancer via strengthening let-7d-5p and targeting NAP1L1. Bioengineered 2021; 13:6698-6710. [PMID: 34898380 PMCID: PMC8973683 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2021.2012619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Trametes robiniophila (Huaier) is available to refrain lung cancer (LC) cell progression, but its impact and mechanism on angiogenesis of LC are not proved. The study was to explore the potential mechanism of Huaier repressing angiogenesis and tumor growth in LC via strengthening let-7d-5p and targeting NAP1L1. Let-7d-5p and NAP1L1 expression was detected in LC tissues and cells (A549). Pretreatment of A549 cells was with Huaier. Transfection of changed let-7d-5p and NAP1L1 was to A549 cells to uncover their roles in LC cell progression with angiogenesis. Evaluation of the impact of let-7d-5p on angiogenesis in LC was in vitro in a mouse xenograft model. Identification of the targeting of let-7d-5p with NAP1L1 was clarified. The results clarified reduced let-7d-5p but elevated NAP1L1 were manifested in LC. Huaier restrained angiogenesis and tumor growth of LC in vivo and in vitro; Augmented let-7d-5p or declined NAP1L1 motivated the therapy of Huaier on LC; Let-7d-5p negatively modulated NAP1L1; Elevated NAP1L1 reversed the influence of enhancive let-7d-5p. These results strongly suggest that Huaier represses angiogenesis and tumor growth in LC via strengthening let-7d-5p and targeting NAP1L1. Huaier/let-7d-5p/NAP1L1 axis is supposed to be a promising target for the treatment of angiogenesis and tumor growth in LC via elevated let-7d-5p and targeted NAP1L1.
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Affiliation(s)
- HuiZhu Gan
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun City, JiLin Province, 130031, China
| | - XinXin Xu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun City, JiLin Province, 130031, China
| | - YinYin Bai
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun City, JiLin Province, 130031, China
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Chen T, Li D, Feng C, Zhang Z, Zhu D, Li D, Zhao X. Huaier increases the antitumor effect of gemcitabine on pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. Transl Cancer Res 2021; 10:1368-1377. [PMID: 35116462 PMCID: PMC8799115 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-20-2627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer has a high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis. As the first-line chemotherapy drug for pancreatic cancer, gemcitabine is widely used but is limited in its efficacy due to the development of chemoresistance. Huaier is a traditional Chinese medicine with anticancer effects. This present study explored the antitumor effect of gemcitabine combined with Huaier on pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. METHODS After treatment with gemcitabine combined with Huaier in PaTu8988 pancreatic cancer cells, including 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, wound healing, and Transwell invasion in vitro assays were performed to investigate the proliferation, migration and invasion of cells, respectively. The apoptotic rate of cells was detected by propidium iodide-annexin V staining and flow cytometry. In vivo PaTu8988 pancreatic cancer xenograft and tail vein injection into lung metastasis nude mice models were used to determine the tumor growth and lung metastasis efficiency. RESULTS Huaier could not only inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cancer cells, but could also induce the apoptosis of pancreatic cancer in vitro and suppress tumor growth and lung metastasis in vivo. It further significantly increased the tumor suppressing effects of gemcitabine, and combined use of the two drugs exhibited a synergistic effect. CONCLUSIONS Our present study concluded that Huaier was capable of enhancing the antitumor effect of gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, Huaier may be a potential drug to increase the therapy sensitivity of gemcitabine and improve the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Chen
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Dongbao Li
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Tumor Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Chao Feng
- Soochow University Institutes for Translational Medicine, Suzhou, China
| | - Zixiang Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Dongming Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Dechun Li
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Tumor Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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Liu Z, Liu C, Yan K, Liu J, Fang Z, Fan Y. Huaier Extract Inhibits Prostate Cancer Growth via Targeting AR/AR-V7 Pathway. Front Oncol 2021; 11:615568. [PMID: 33708629 PMCID: PMC7940541 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.615568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The androgen receptor (AR) plays a pivotal role in prostatic carcinogenesis, and it also affects the transition from hormone sensitive prostate cancer (HSPC) to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Particularly, the persistent activation of the androgen receptor and the appearance of androgen receptor splicing variant 7 (AR-V7), could partly explain the failure of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). In the present study, we reported that huaier extract, derived from officinal fungi, has potent antiproliferative effects in both HSPC and CRPC cells. Mechanistically, huaier extract downregulated both full length AR (AR-FL) and AR-V7 mRNA levels via targeting the SET and MYND domain-containing protein 3 (SMYD3) signaling pathway. Huaier extract also enhanced proteasome-mediated protein degradation of AR-FL and AR-V7 by downregulating proteasome-associated deubiquitinase ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14). Furthermore, huaier extract inhibited AR-FL/AR-V7 transcriptional activity and their nuclear translocation. More importantly, our data demonstrated that huaier extract could re-sensitize enzalutamide-resistant prostate cancer cells to enzalutamide treatment in vitro and in vivo models. Our work revealed that huaier extract could be effective for treatment of prostate cancer either as monotherapy or in combination with enzalutamide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengfang Liu
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan, China
| | - Cheng Liu
- Department of Urology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Keqiang Yan
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan, China
| | - Jikai Liu
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan, China
| | - Zhiqing Fang
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan, China.,Department of Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM) and Bioclinicum, Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Solna, Sweden
| | - Yidong Fan
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan, China
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p-MEK expression predicts prognosis of patients with adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG) and plays a role in anti-AEG efficacy of Huaier. Pharmacol Res 2021; 165:105411. [PMID: 33401002 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The incidence rate of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) is increasing worldwide with poor prognosis and unclear pathogenesis. Trametes robiniophila Murr. (Huaier), a traditional Chinese medicine has been used in the clinical treatment of a variety of solid tumors, including AEG. However, its anticancer components and molecular mechanisms are still unclear. In our previous studies, we have found that Huaier n-butanol extract (HBE) shows the most potent anticancer activity among different extracts. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the clinical relevance of p-MEK expression in AEG patients and the role of the MEK/ERK signaling pathway in the anti-AEG efficacy of HBE in vitro and in vivo. We herein demonstrate that p-MEK expression in AEG tissues was significantly higher than that in paracancerous tissues and correlated with a poor prognosis in AEG patients. We further found that HBE inhibited the colony formation, migration, and invasion in AEG cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro. HBE also suppressed the growth of AEG xenograft tumors without causing any host toxicity in vivo. Mechanistically, HBE caused the inactivation of the MEK/ERK signaling pathway by dephosphorylating MEK1 at S298, ERK1 at T202, and ERK2 at T185 and modulating the expression of EMT-related proteins. In summary, our results demonstrate that the high expression of p-MEK may be an independent factor of poor prognosis in patients with AEG. The clinically used anticancer drug Huaier may exert its anti-AEG efficacy by inhibiting the MEK/ERK signaling pathway.
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Zhou Y, Zhang Y, Wang J. Trefoil Factor 2 Regulates Proliferation and Apoptosis of Pancreatic Cancer Cells and LPS-Induced Normal Pancreatic Duct Cells by β-Catenin Pathway. Cancer Manag Res 2020; 12:10705-10713. [PMID: 33149677 PMCID: PMC7605628 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s274578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a malignant tumor with poor prognosis. This study aimed to determine the role of trefoil factor 2 (TFF2) in the proliferation and apoptosis of LPS-induced normal pancreatic duct cells and pancreatic cancer cells through β-catenin pathway. Methods TFF2 expression in normal pancreatic duct cells, pancreatic cancer cells and LPS-induced normal pancreatic duct cells was detected by RT-qPCR analysis and Western blot analysis. The transfection effects in pancreatic cancer cells and LPS-induced normal pancreatic duct cells were analyzed by RT-qPCR analysis. After indicated transfection, proliferation, apoptosis and inflammation of these cells were respectively detected by CCK-8 assay, TUNEL assay and certain ELISA kits. Expression of β-catenin pathway-related proteins was analyzed by Western blot analysis. Co-immunoprecipitation assay determined the combination of TFF2 and β-catenin. Results TFF2 expression was increased in pancreatic cancer cells and LPS-induced HPDE cells compared with HPDE cells. According to TFF2 expression in these cells, PanC-1 cells and 5 μg/mL LPS were selected. In addition, TFF2 interference decreased the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of PanC-1 cells and LPS-induced HPDE cells. However, TFF2 interference did not obviously change the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in PanC-1 cells and LPS-induced HPDE cells. Furthermore, TFF2 interference suppressed the expression of β-catenin, c-Myc, Cyclin D1 and BIRC5 in PanC-1 cells and LPS-induced HPDE cells. TFF2 was demonstrated to combine with β-catenin. Discussion TFF2 interference inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of PanC-1 cells and LPS-induced HPDE cells by suppressing β-catenin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Zhou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, People's Republic of China
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Pan J, Jiang Z, Wu D, Yang C, Wang Z, Huang J. Huaier Extractum Promotes Dendritic Cells Maturation and Favors them to Induce Th1 Immune Response: One of the Mechanisms Underlying Its Anti-Tumor Activity. Integr Cancer Ther 2020; 19:1534735420946830. [PMID: 33054422 PMCID: PMC7570295 DOI: 10.1177/1534735420946830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Huaier, a sandy beige mushroom with anti-tumor effects, has been applied into Traditional Chinese Medicine for more than 1600 years. Previous studies showed that Huaier exerted its anti-tumor effects not only by direct action on tumor cells, but also indirectly by modulation of immune function. In the present study, we found that Huaier treatment significantly repressed tumor growth in mice with 4T1 breast cancer and resulted in significant accumulation of CD4+ T cells and mature dendritic cells (DCs) in the tumor microenvironment. In vitro experiments demonstrated that Huaier treatment promoted both DC2.4 and bone marrow derived DCs (BMDCs) to express costimulatory molecules, enhance production of IL-1β and IL-12p70, while it inhibited their phagocytic activities, suggesting that Huaier treatment promotes maturation of DCs. Furthermore, we found Huaier-treated DCs profoundly stimulated proliferation of alloreactive CD4+ T cells and drove them to differentiate into Th1 subset. Expression of PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, JNK, and p-JNK was up-regulated, while p-p38 MAPK was down-regulated in Huaier-treated BMDCs, suggesting that Huaier promotes maturation of DCs with potent ability to activate Th1 immune response via modulation of MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Our findings provide further evidence for the mechanisms underlying the anti-tumor activity of Huaier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Pan
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, P. R. China.,Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention & Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, P. R. China.,Department of Breast Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Zhou Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, P. R. China.,Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention & Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, P. R. China.,Department of Breast Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Dang Wu
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, P. R. China.,Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Chenghui Yang
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, P. R. China.,Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention & Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, P. R. China.,Department of Breast Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, P. R. China.,Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention & Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, P. R. China.,Department of Breast Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Jian Huang
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, P. R. China.,Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention & Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, P. R. China.,Department of Breast Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, P. R. China
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