Deoxyelephantopin, a novel naturally occurring phytochemical impairs growth, induces G2/M arrest, ROS-mediated apoptosis and modulates lncRNA expression against uterine leiomyoma

Induction and characterization of a rat model of endometriosis

Endometriosis is a common condition that affects 5% to 10% of women during their reproductive years, although the aetiology and pathophysiology are still unknown. This study aimed to create an endometriosis model in rats to investigate the efficacy of natural and synthetic medications in treating endometriosis. An in vivo endometriotic model was established using a surgical induction method and the endocrine-disrupting drug diethylstilbestrol (DES). In brief, the experiment is categorised into three different groups. Each group contains five rats. The first group had no surgery, while in the in the second group of rats (n = 5), two small tissue grafts were fixed at the right and left walls of the abdomen. But in the in the third group of rats (n = 5), two small pieces of tissue have been grafted on the right and left abdomen walls by surgically along with DES treatments. Noninvasive photoacoustic imaging (PAI) was employed in the study to measure factors such as haemoglobin levels, oxygen saturation, and the size of endometriotic lesions. Histopathological analysis was carried out utilising staining techniques such as Hematoxylin and Eosin, Masson's Trichrome, and Periodic Acid Schiff, as well as immunohistochemistry with marker antibodies. Molecular markers in uterine tissue were examined using Western blots and real-time PCR. The developed endometriosis rat model showed a significant increase in the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, angiogenic marker VEGF and pro-inflammatory (COX-2 and IL-6) protein markers. In contrast to the control group, the treatment group had considerably lower Caspase-3 expression levels. Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) data demonstrated a constant increase in lesion size, as well as a decrease in oxygen saturation levels. The findings suggest that the in vivo endometriosis rat model may accurately assess the efficacy of natural or synthetic endometriosis treatments. This model may help in the improvement of disease understanding and the development of targeted therapeutic drugs.

The specialized sesquiterpenoids produced by the genus Elephantopus L.: Chemistry, biological activities and structure-activity relationship exploration

The genus Elephantopus L. is a valuable resource rich in sesquiterpenoids with structural diversity and various bioactivities, showing great potential for applications in medicinal field and biological industry. Up to now, over 129 sesquiterpenoids have been isolated and identified from this plant genus, including 114 germacrane-type, 7 guaianolide-type, 5 eudesmane-type, 1 elemanolide-type, and 2 bis-sesquiterpenoids. These sesquiterpenoids were reported to show a diverse range of pharmacological properties, including cytotoxic, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiprotozoal. Consequently, some of them were identified as active scaffolds in the design and development of drugs. Considering that there is currently no overview available that covers the sesquiterpenoids and their biological activities in the Elephantopus genus, this article aims to comprehensively review the chemical structures, biosynthetic pathways, pharmacological properties, and structure-activity relationship of sesquiterpenoids found in the Elephantopus genus, which will establish a theoretical framework that can guide further research and exploration of sesquiterpenoids from Elephantopus plants as promising therapeutic agents.

Variants in exon 2 of MED12 gene causes uterine leiomyoma's through over-expression of MMP-9 of ECM pathway

AIMS

To study the impact of Mediator complex subunit 12 (MED12) gene variants on the encoded protein's function and pathogenic relevance for genesis of uterine leiomyoma's (ULs).

METHODS

Mutational analysis in exon-2 of MED12 gene was performed by PCR amplification and DNA sequencing in 89 clinically diagnosed ULs tissues. Pathogenicity prediction of variation was performed by computational analysis. The functional effects of missense variation were done by quantity RT-PCR and western blot analysis.

RESULT(S)

Out of 89 samples, 40 (44.94%) had missense variation in 14 different CDS position of exon-2 of MED12 gene. Out of 40 missense variation, codon 44 had 25 (62.5%) looking as a hotspot region for mutation for ULs, because CDS position c130 and c131present at codon 44 that have necleotide change G>A, T, C at c130 and c131 have necleotide change G>A and C. We also find somenovel somatic mutations oncodon 36 (T > C), 38 (G>T) of exon-2 and 88 (G>C) of intron-2. No mutations were detected in uterine myometrium samples. Our computational analysis suggests that change in Med12c .131 G>A leads to single substitution of amino acid [Glycine (G) to Aspartate (D)] which has a pathogenic and lethal impact and may cause instability of MED12 protein. Further, analysis of extracellular matrix (ECM) component (MMP-2 & 9, COL4A2 and α-SMA) mRNA and protein expression levels in the set of ULs having MED12 mutation showed significantly higher expression of MMP-9 and α-SMA.

CONCLUSION(S)

The findings of present study suggest that missense variation in codon 44 of MED12 gene lead to the genesis of leiomyoma's through over-expression of MMP-9 of ECM pathway which could be therapeutically targeted for non-surgical management of ULs.

Deoxyelephantopin, a germacrane-type sesquiterpene lactone from Elephantopus scaber, induces mitochondrial apoptosis of hepatocarcinoma cells by targeting Hsp90α in vitro and in vivo

Hepatocellular carcinoma has been known as the most frequent subtype of liver cancer with a high rate of spread, metastases, and recurrence, also dismal treatment effects. However, effective therapies for HCC are still required. Nowadays, natural products have been known as a valuable source for drug discovery. In this research, 44 sesquiterpene lactones isolated from the Elephantopus scaber Linn. (Asteraceae) were tested by MTT assay for the antitumor activities. Deoxyelephantopin (DET) was found to exert significant cytotoxicity on HepG2 and Hep3B cells. Moreover, we found that DET treatment markedly reduced the growth of HCC cells in a concentration-dependent manner, which was better than sorafenib. Furthermore, DET induced mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and cellular apoptosis. Additionally, we found that DET and sorafenib synergistically induced apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction in HCC cells. DET combined with sorafenib was also efficacious in tumor xenograft model. Molecular docking experiments revealed that DET had a potentially high binding affinity with Hsp90α. Moreover, Drug Affinity Responsive Target Stability assay suggested that DET could directly target Hsp90α. Additionally, the expression of Hsp90α was both decreased in vitro and in vivo. Altogether, this study revealed that DET might be a promising agent for HCC therapy by targeting Hsp90α.

SCP-7, a germacrane-type sesquiterpene lactone derivative, induces ROS-mediated apoptosis in NSCLC cells in vitro and in vivo

Scabertopin (SCP), an abundant germacrane-type sesquiterpene lactone (SLC) isolated from Elephantopus scaber, was selected as a reference compound for modification and evaluation as anticancer agents for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. All derivatives (SCP-1-SCP-13) except for SCP-3 showed potential inhibitory effect (IC₅₀ 5.2-9.7 μM) against A549 cells. The most promising compound SCP-7 also showed good cytotoxic activity against another two NSCLC cell lines (H1299 and H460), with IC₅₀ value of 4.4 and 8.9 μM, respectively. Furthermore, SCP-7 could induce apoptotic cell death that was associated with the increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, Bcl-2 family proteins modulation, caspases-3 and PARP cleavage. In addition, SCP-7 also inhibited cell growth by increasing Bax expression and reducing the Ki-67 positive cells in vivo, but there were no obvious toxic and side effects on internal organs. Mechanistically, PharmMapper, molecular docking and Western blot analysis revealed that SCP-7 might interact with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and inhibit its expression in lung cancer cells. Together, above results suggest further effective application of SCP-7 as a potential anti-tumor agent in the treatment of NSCLC.

Deoxyelephantopin and Its Isomer Isodeoxyelephantopin: Anti-Cancer Natural Products with Multiple Modes of Action

Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The development of cancer involves aberrations in multiple pathways, representing promising targets for anti-cancer drug discovery. Natural products are regarded as a rich source for developing anti-cancer therapies due to their unique structures and favorable pharmacology and toxicology profiles. Deoxyelephantopin and isodeoxyelephantopin, sesquiterpene lactone compounds, are major components of Elephantopus scaber and Elephantopus carolinianus, which have long been used as traditional medicines to treat multiple ailments, including liver diseases, diabetes, bronchitis, fever, diarrhea, dysentery, cancer, renal disorders, and inflammation-associated diseases. Recently, deoxyelephantopin and isodeoxyelephantopin have been extensively explored for their anti-cancer activities. This review summarizes and discusses the anti-cancer activities of deoxyelephantopin and isodeoxyelephantopin, with an emphasis on their modes of action and molecular targets. Both compounds disrupt several processes involved in cancer progression by targeting multiple signaling pathways deregulated in cancers, including cell cycle and proliferation, cell survival, autophagy, and invasion pathways. Future directions of research on these two compounds towards anti-cancer drug development are discussed.

Ethnobotanical Survey on Bitter Tea in Taiwan

Ethnopharmacological evidence: In Taiwan, herbal tea is considered a traditional medicine and has been consumed for hundreds of years. In contrast to regular tea, herbal teas are prepared using plants other than the regular tea plant, Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze. Bitter tea (kǔ-chá), a series of herbal teas prepared in response to common diseases in Taiwan, is often made from local Taiwanese plants. However, the raw materials and formulations have been kept secret and verbally passed down by store owners across generations without a fixed recipe, and the constituent plant materials have not been disclosed.

Aim of the study: The aim was to determine the herbal composition of bitter tea sold in Taiwan, which can facilitate further studies on pharmacological applications and conserve cultural resources.

Materials and methods: Interviews were conducted through a semi-structured questionnaire. The surveyed respondents were traditional sellers of traditional herbal tea. The relevant literature was collated for a systematic analysis of the composition, characteristics, and traditional and modern applications of the plant materials used in bitter tea. We also conducted an association analysis of the composition of Taiwanese bitter tea with green herb tea (qing-cao-cha tea), another commonly consumed herbal tea in Taiwan, as well as herbal teas in neighboring areas outside Taiwan.

Results: After visiting a total of 59 stores, we identified 32 bitter tea formulations and 73 plant materials. Asteraceae was the most commonly used family, and most stores used whole plants. According to a network analysis of nine plant materials used in high frequency as drug pairs, Tithonia diversifolia and Ajuga nipponensis were found to be the core plant materials used in Taiwanese bitter tea.

Conclusion: Plant materials used in Taiwanese bitter tea were distinct, with multiple therapeutic functions. Further research is required to clarify their efficacy and mechanisms.

Targeting cellular senescence in cancer by plant secondary metabolites: A systematic review

Senescence suppresses tumor growth, while also developing a tumorigenic state in the nearby cells that is mediated by senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASPs). The dual function of cellular senescence stresses the need for identifying multi-targeted agents directed towards the promotion of cell senescence in cancer cells and suppression of the secretion of pro-tumorigenic signaling mediators in neighboring cells. Natural secondary metabolites have shown favorable anticancer responses in recent decades, as some have been found to target the senescence-associated mediators and pathways. Furthermore, phenolic compounds and polyphenols, terpenes and terpenoids, alkaloids, and sulfur-containing compounds have shown to be promising anticancer agents through the regulation of paracrine and autocrine pathways. Plant secondary metabolites are potential regulators of SASPs factors that suppress tumor growth through paracrine mediators, including growth factors, cytokines, extracellular matrix components/enzymes, and proteases. On the other hand, ataxia-telangiectasia mutated, ataxia-telangiectasia and Rad3-related, extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin, nuclear factor-κB, Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription, and receptor tyrosine kinase-associated mediators are main targets of candidate phytochemicals in the autocrine senescence pathway. Such a regulatory role of phytochemicals on senescence-associated pathways are associated with cell cycle arrest and the attenuation of apoptotic/inflammatory/oxidative stress pathways. The current systematic review highlights the critical roles of natural secondary metabolites in the attenuation of autocrine and paracrine cellular senescence pathways, while also elucidating the chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic capabilities of these compounds. Additionally, we discuss current challenges, limitations, and future research indications.

Targeting GRP78 enhances the sensitivity of HOS osteosarcoma cells to pyropheophorbide-α methyl ester-mediated photodynamic therapy via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), which is a new method for treating tumors, has been used in the treatment of cancer. In-depth research has shown that PDT cannot completely kill tumor cells, indicating that tumor cells are resistant to PDT. Glucose regulatory protein 78 (GRP78), which is a key regulator of endoplasmic reticulum stress, has been confirmed to be related to tumor resistance and recurrence, but there are relatively few studies on the further mechanism of GRP78 in PDT. Our experiment aimed to observe the role of GRP78 in HOS human osteosarcoma cells treated with pyropheophorbide-α methyl ester-mediated photodynamic therapy (MPPα-PDT) and to explore the possible mechanism by which the silencing of GRP78 expression enhances the sensitivity of HOS osteosarcoma cells to MPPα-PDT. HOS osteosarcoma cells were transfected with siRNA-GRP78. Apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were detected by Hoechst staining and flow cytometry, cell viability was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, GRP78 protein fluorescence intensity was detected by immunofluorescence, and apoptosis-related proteins, cell proliferation-related proteins, and Wnt pathway-related proteins were detected by western blot. The results showed that MPPα-PDT can induce HOS cell apoptosis and increase GRP78 expression. After successful siRNA-GRP78 transfection, HOS cell proliferation was decreased, and apoptosis-related proteins expressions was increased, Wnt/β-catenin-related proteins expressions was decreased, and ROS levels was increased. In summary, siRNA-GRP78 enhances the sensitivity of HOS cells to MPPα-PDT, the mechanism may be related to inhibiting Wnt pathway activation and increasing ROS levels.

Carbon dots from an immunomodulatory plant for cancer cell imaging, free radical scavenging and metal sensing applications

Aim: This work aimed to develop Tinospora cordifolia stem-derived carbon dots (TCSCD) for cancer cell imaging, free radical scavenging and metal sensing applications. Method: The TCSCDs were synthesized by a simple, one-step, and ecofriendly hydrothermal carbonization method and characterized for their optical properties, morphology, hydrodynamic size, surface functionality, crystallinity, stability, bacterial biocompatibility, in vitro cellular imaging, free radical scavenging and metal sensing ability. Results: The TCSCDs exhibited excellent biocompatibility with dose-dependent bioimaging results in melanoma (B16F10) and cervical cancer (SiHa) cell lines. They exerted good free radical scavenging, Fe³⁺ sensing, bacterial biocompatibility, photostability, colloidal dispersion stability and thermal stability. Conclusion: The results reflect the potential of TCSCDs for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.

Role of lncRNA BANCR in Human Cancers: An Updated Review

Being located in a gene desert region on 9q21.11-q21.12, BRAF-activated non-protein coding RNA (BANCR) is an lncRNA with 693 bp length. It has been discovered in 2012 in a research aimed at assessment of gene expression in the melanocytes in association with BRAF mutation. Increasing numbers of studies have determined its importance in the tumorigenesis through affecting cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition. BANCR exerts its effects via modulating some tumor-related signaling pathways particularly MAPK and other regulatory mechanisms such as sponging miRNAs. BANCR has been up-regulated in endometrial, gastric, breast, melanoma, and retinoblastoma. Conversely, it has been down-regulated in some other cancers such as those originated from lung, bladder, and renal tissues. In some cancer types such as colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma and papillary thyroid carcinoma, there is no agreement about BANCR expression, necessitating the importance of additional functional studies in these tissues. In the present manuscript, we review the investigations related to BANCR expression changes in cancerous cell lines, clinical samples, and animal models of cancer. We also discuss the outcome of its deregulation in cancer progression, prognosis, and the underlying mechanisms of these observations.

Lactucin induces apoptosis through reactive oxygen species-mediated BCL-2 and CFLARL downregulation in Caki-1 cells

BACKGROUND

Lactucin, a naturally occurring active sesquiterpene lactone, is abundantly found in chicory and romaine lettuce. A recent study reported that lactucin could induce apoptosis in leukemia cells. However, its cytotoxicity and potential molecular mechanisms underlying cancer cell death remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the direct effect and underlying mechanism of action of lactucin on renal cancer cells.

METHODS

MTT assay and flow cytometry were performed to evaluate the rate of cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. Western blotting, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and protein stability analyses were performed to analyze the effect of lactucin on the expression of apoptosis-related proteins such as B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) and CFLAR (CASP8 and FADD like apoptosis regulator) long isoform (CFLAR_L) in Caki-1 human renal cancer cells. In addition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was evaluated using flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Lactucin treatment induced apoptosis in Caki-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner via activation of the caspase pathway. It downregulated BCL-2 and CFLAR_L expression levels by suppressing BCL-2 transcription and CFLAR_L protein stability, respectively. Pretreatment with N-acetyl-1-cysteine, a ROS scavenger, attenuated the lactucin-induced apoptosis and restored the BCL-2 and CFLAR_L expression to basal levels. Lactucin-facilitated BCL-2 downregulation was regulated at the transcriptional level through the inactivation of the NF-κB pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study is the first to demonstrate that lactucin-induced apoptosis is mediated by ROS production, which in turn activates the caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway by inhibiting BCL-2 and CFLAR_L expression in Caki-1 cells.

N6 -methyladenosine (m6 A) RNA modification of G protein-coupled receptor 133 increases proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) accounts for almost 40% of lung cancers, leading to significant associated morbidity and mortality rates. However, the mechanism of LUAD tumorigenesis remains far from clear. Here, we scanned down‐regulated genes involved in LUAD sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus data and focused on G protein‐coupled receptor 133 (GPR133). We offer compelling evidence that GPR133 was expressed at low levels in the setting of LUAD, and higher expression was positively related to a better prognosis among patients with LUAD. Functionally, GPR133 inhibited cell proliferation and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Regarding the mechanism, flow cytometry assays and western blot assays showed that GPR133 enhanced p21 and decreased cyclin B1 expression, thus triggering LUAD cells at G2/M‐phase arrest. Consistent with this, we evaluated the expression levels of cell‐cycle biomarkers and found that bioinformatics analysis combined with N⁶‐methyladenosine (methylation at the N6 position in adenosine) RNA immunoprecipitation‐qPCR assay indicated that GPR133 expression was down‐regulated by this modification. Moreover, we observed that methyltransferase‐like 3 was impaired in LUAD, and that it is able to significantly increase levels of GPR133 by enhancing its RNA stability. In conclusion, we found that GPR133 expression was down‐regulated in LUAD via N⁶‐methyladenosine modification. Increasing GPR133 levels could suppress LUAD cell proliferation and tumor growth.

Emerging Roles of Long Non-coding RNAs in Uterine Leiomyoma Pathogenesis: a Review

Uterine leiomyoma (UL), as the most prevalent type of women's health disorders, is a benign tumor that originates from the smooth muscle cell layer of the uterus. A great number of associated complications are observed including infertility, miscarriage, bleeding, pain, dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, and dyspareunia. Although the etiology of UL is largely undefined, environmental and genetic factors are witnessed to engage in the UL development. As long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in various types of cellular functions, in recent years, a great deal of attention has been drawn to them and their possible roles in UL pathogenesis. Moreover, they have illustrated their potential to be promising candidates for UL treatment. In this review paper, firstly, an overview of UL pathogenesis is presented. Then, the regulation of lncRNAs in UL and their possible mechanisms in cancer development are reviewed. Eventually, therapeutic approaches targeting lncRNAs in various cancers and UL are explored.