Fucoidan upregulates TLR4/CHOP-mediated caspase-3 and PARP activation to enhance cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in human lung cancer cells

FTO blocks RNA translational activity via the loss of N6-methyladenosine methylation at 5' UTR regulated by RBM5 in cisplatin-resistant NSCLC

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation has been widely regarded in numerous biological functions including CR. Nonetheless, the molecular process of m6A methylation behind CR in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has no apparent significance. We identified in this study that the expression of FTO alpha-ketoglutarate dependent dioxygenase (FTO) was downregulated in CR NSCLC tissues and cells in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, RIP-seq indicated that loss of FTO contributed to the elevated m6A methylation at 5'-untranslated region of RNAs which were closely connected with tumor resistance and malignancy, and FTO exerted to exclude the recruitment of eIF3A to these target genes in CR NSCLC. Moreover, FTO-enriched transcripts displayed a reduced translational capability in CR NSCLC compared to the regular NSCLC cells. Finally, we also identified RNA binding motif protein 5 (RBM5) that could specially interact with FTO in regular NSCLC compared to CR NSCLC. Deficiency of RBM5 resulted in the abnormal recognition of transcripts by FTO, and led to the translation silencing of genes associated with CR such as ATP7A, ERCC1, CD99, CDKN3, XRCC5, and NOL3. Taken together, our data characterized FTO as a novel translation regulator and revealed the molecular mechanism on gene translation through the synergistic effects with RBM5 and m6A methylation in CR NSCLC cells.

Synergetic approaches of fucoidan and trabectedin complex coated PLGA nanoparticles effectively suppresses proliferation and induce apoptosis for the treatment on non-small cell lung cancer

Traditional methods of treating lung cancer have not been very effective, contributing to the disease's high incidence and death rate. As a result, Fn/Tn-PLGA NPs, a novel directed fucoidan and trabectedin complex loaded PLGA nanoparticle, were produced to investigate the role of developing therapeutic strategies for NSCLC and A549 cell lines. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to examine protein expression and mRNA expression, respectively. Protein activity was knocked down using specific inhibitors and short disrupting RNA transfection. Lastly, cancer cell lines H1299 and A549 were subjected to an in vitro cytotoxicity experiment. Commercial assays were used to assess the levels of cell viability, ROS and proliferation found that Fn/Tn-PLGA NPs effectively killed lung cancer cells. To examine cell death, annexin flow cytometry was employed. In addition, a scratch-wound assay was conducted to assess the migration effects of Fn/Tn-PLGA NPs in a laboratory setting. Finally, PLGA NPs covered with a mix of fucoidan and trabectedin could be a good vehicle for targeting cancerous tissues with chemotherapeutic drugs.

Fucoidan MF4 from Fucus vesiculosus inhibits Lewis lung cancer via STING-TBK1-IRF3 pathway

Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide of marine origin found in brown algae and sea cucumbers, has been identified as a neuroprotective compound. In this study, a novel fucoidan MF4 was extracted from Fucus vesiculosus and isolated using Q-Sepharose fast-flow ion-exchange chromatography. The physicochemical properties of MF4 were characterized. MF4 is primarily composed of fucose, xylose, galactose, glucose, and mannose in a molar ratio of 12.3: 4.9: 1.1: 1.0: 1.1, with an average molecular weight of 67.7 kDa. Notably, MF4 demonstrated suppression of LLC tumor growth in vivo. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that MF4 enhanced the expression of type I interferon-associated downstream genes in macrophages. Furthermore, MF4 increased the levels of phosphorylated TBK1 and IRF3 proteins in vitro. By activating the STING-TBK1-IRF3 signaling pathway, MF4 may enhance the antitumor activity of macrophages. Taken together, MF4 has promising potential as an antitumor and immunomodulatory agent.

Biomedical potency and mechanisms of marine polysaccharides and oligosaccharides: A review

Derived from bountiful marine organisms (predominantly algae, fauna, and microorganisms), marine polysaccharides and marine oligosaccharides are intricate macromolecules that play a significant role in the growth and development of marine life. Recently, considerable attention has been paid to marine polysaccharides and marine oligosaccharides as auspicious natural products due to their promising biological attributes. Herein, we provide an overview of recent advances in the miscellaneous biological activities of marine polysaccharides and marine oligosaccharides that encompasses their anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-diabetes mellitus, and anticoagulant properties. Furthermore, we furnish a concise summary of the underlying mechanisms governing the behavior of these biological macromolecules. We hope that this review inspires research on marine polysaccharides and marine oligosaccharides in medicinal applications while offering fresh perspectives on their broader facets.

Opportunities and challenges of fucoidan for tumors therapy

The large-scale collections, screening and discovery of biologically active and pharmacologically significant marine-derived natural products have garnered tremendous attraction. Edible brown algae are rich in fucoidan. Importantly, fucoidan has been reported to inhibit carcinogenesis and metastasis mainly through the regulation of deregulated cell signaling pathways. This review summarizes the structural features of fucoidan, including monosaccharide type, sulfate content, and main chain structure. We have set spotlight on fucoidan-mediated tumor suppressive effects in cell cultures studies and tumor-bearing rodent models. Fucoidan exerts anti-tumor effects primarily through the inhibition of tumor cell viability, proliferation and metastatic dissemination of cancer cells from primary tumor sites to distant secondary sites. Fucoidan not only promotes immunological responses in tumor microenvironment but also induces apoptotic death in cancer cells. In addition, fucoidan can be used as a dietary supplement for preventive purposes, in combination with other drugs as complementary and alternative medicine or with nanoparticle modifications will be the future of fucoidan use. Cutting-edge research related to fucoidan has catalyzed the transition of fucoidan from preclinical studies to different phases of clinical trials. Rationally designed clinical trials for the critical evaluation of fucoidan against different cancers will be valuable to reap full benefits.

Low-molecular-weight fucoidan increases telomere length and immunostimulatory effects on NK-92 cells following inhaled anesthetic injury

Inhaled anesthetics, such as isoflurane, may cause side effects, including short-term immunosuppression and DNA damage. In contrast, low molecular weight fucoidan (LMF), derived from brown seaweed, exhibits promising immunomodulatory effects. In this study, we determined the effect of isoflurane on telomeres and examined the potential of LMF to ameliorate the harmful effects of isoflurane. Male Lewis rats, the mouse lymphoma cell line YAC-1, and the human nature killer cell line NK-92 MI were exposed to isoflurane. The relative telomere length (T/S) ratio and mRNA expression were determined by quantitative PCR. The viability assay was used to assess cell viability. In vivo, 2% isoflurane exposure, which is a clinically relevant concentration, reduced telomere length, and correlated with exposure frequency and duration. Isoflurane concentrations above 2% shortened YAC-1 telomeres, with minimal impact on cell viability. LMF pre-treatment enhanced NK-92 MI cell survival resulting from isoflurane exposure and exerted superior telomere protection compared with LMF post-treatment. Furthermore, adding LMF during isoflurane exposure resulted in a significant increase in IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-10 mRNA compared with the untreated group. LMF protected against isoflurane-induced telomere shortening, enhanced NK cell viability, and modulated cytokine expression, thus mitigating postoperative immune suppression and risk of tumor metastasis.

Exogenous l-fucose attenuates neuroinflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide

α1,6-Fucosyltransferase (Fut8) catalyzes the transfer of fucose to the innermost GlcNAc residue of N-glycan to form core fucosylation. Our previous studies showed that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment highly induced neuroinflammation in Fut8 homozygous KO (Fut8-/-) or heterozygous KO (Fut8+/-) mice, compared with the WT (Fut8+/+) mice. To understand the underlying mechanism, we utilized a sensitive inflammation-monitoring mouse system that contains the human interleukin-6 (hIL6) bacterial artificial chromosome transgene modified with luciferase (Luc) reporter cassette. We successfully detected LPS-induced neuroinflammation in the central nervous system by exploiting this bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic monitoring system. Then we examined the effects of l-fucose on neuroinflammation in the Fut8+/- mice. The lectin blot and mass spectrometry analysis showed that l-fucose preadministration increased the core fucosylation levels in the Fut8+/- mice. Notably, exogenous l-fucose attenuated the LPS-induced IL-6 mRNA and Luc mRNA expression in the cerebral tissues, confirmed using the hIL6-Luc bioluminescence imaging system. The activation of microglial cells, which provoke neuroinflammatory responses upon LPS stimulation, was inhibited by l-fucose preadministration. l-Fucose also suppressed the downstream intracellular signaling of IL-6, such as the phosphorylation levels of JAK2 (Janus kinase 2), Akt (protein kinase B), and STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3). l-Fucose administration increased gp130 core fucosylation levels and decreased the association of gp130 with the IL-6 receptor in Fut8+/- mice, which was further confirmed in BV-2 cells. These results indicate that l-fucose administration ameliorates the LPS-induced neuroinflammation in the Fut8+/- mice, suggesting that core fucosylation plays a vital role in anti-inflammation and that l-fucose is a potential prophylactic compound against neuroinflammation.

A review on the mechanisms underlying the antitumor effects of natural products by targeting the endoplasmic reticulum stress apoptosis pathway

Cancer poses a substantial risk to human life and wellbeing as a result of its elevated incidence and fatality rates. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is an important pathway that regulates cellular homeostasis. When ERS is under- or overexpressed, it activates the protein kinase R (PKR)-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK)-, inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1)- and activating transcription Factor 6 (ATF6)-related apoptotic pathways to induce apoptosis. Tumor cells and microenvironment are susceptible to ERS, making the modulation of ERS a potential therapeutic approach for treating tumors. The use of natural products to treat tumors has substantially progressed, with various extracts demonstrating antitumor effects. Nevertheless, there are few reports on the effectiveness of natural products in inducing apoptosis by specifically targeting and regulating the ERS pathway. Further investigation and elaboration of its mechanism of action are still needed. This paper examines the antitumor mechanism of action by which natural products exert antitumor effects from the perspective of ERS regulation to provide a theoretical basis and new research directions for tumor therapy.

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, and Antitumor Activity of Fucoidan from the Brown Alga Dictyota dichotoma

Brown macroalgae are a rich source of fucoidans with many pharmacological uses. This research aimed to isolate and characterize fucoidan from Dictyota dichotoma var. dichotoma (Hudson) J.V. Lamouroux and evaluate in vitro its antioxidant and antitumor potential. The fucoidan yield was 0.057 g/g algal dry wt with a molecular weight of about 48.6 kDa. In terms of fucoidan composition, the sulfate, uronic acid, and protein contents were 83.3 ± 5.20 mg/g fucoidan, 22.5 ± 0.80 mg/g fucoidan, and 26.1 ± 1.70 mg/g fucoidan, respectively. Fucose was the primary sugar component, as were glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, and glucuronic acid. Fucoidan exhibited strong antioxidant potential that increased by more than 3 times with the increase in concentration from 0.1 to 5.0 mg/mL. Moreover, different concentrations of fucoidan (0.05-1 mg/mL) showed their ability to decrease the viability of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells in a time-dependent manner. These findings provided a fast method to obtain an appreciable amount of natural fucoidan with established structural characteristics as a promising compound with pronounced antioxidant and anticancer activity.

Novel Fucoidan Pharmaceutical Formulations and Their Potential Application in Oncology-A Review

Fucoidan belongs to the family of marine sulfated, L-fucose-rich polysaccharides found in the cell wall matrix of various brown algae species. In the last few years, sulfated polysaccharides have attracted the attention of researchers due to their broad biological activities such as anticoagulant, antithrombotic, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, anticancer and antiproliferative effects. Recently the application of fucoidan in the field of pharmaceutical technology has been widely investigated. Due to its low toxicity, biocompatibility and biodegradability, fucoidan plays an important role as a drug carrier for the formulation of various drug delivery systems, especially as a biopolymer with anticancer activity, used for targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics in oncology. Furthermore, the presence of sulfate residues with negative charge in its structure enables fucoidan to form ionic complexes with oppositely charged molecules, providing relatively easy structure-forming properties in combination with other polymers. The aim of the present study was to overview essential fucoidan characteristics, related to its application in the development of pharmaceutical formulations as a single drug carrier or in combinations with other polymers. Special focus was placed on micro- and nanosized drug delivery systems with polysaccharides and their application in the field of oncology.

Immunopotentiating Activity of Fucoidans and Relevance to Cancer Immunotherapy

Fucoidans, discovered in 1913, are fucose-rich sulfated polysaccharides extracted mainly from brown seaweed. These versatile and nontoxic marine-origin heteropolysaccharides have a wide range of favorable biological activities, including antitumor, immunomodulatory, antiviral, antithrombotic, anticoagulant, antithrombotic, antioxidant, and lipid-lowering activities. In the early 1980s, fucoidans were first recognized for their role in supporting the immune response and later, in the 1990s, their effects on immune potentiation began to emerge. In recent years, the understanding of the immunomodulatory effects of fucoidan has expanded significantly. The ability of fucoidan(s) to activate CTL-mediated cytotoxicity against cancer cells, strong antitumor property, and robust safety profile make fucoidans desirable for effective cancer immunotherapy. This review focusses on current progress and understanding of the immunopotentiation activity of various fucoidans, emphasizing their relevance to cancer immunotherapy. Here, we will discuss the action of fucoidans in different immune cells and review how fucoidans can be used as adjuvants in conjunction with immunotherapeutic products to improve cancer treatment and clinical outcome. Some key rationales for the possible combination of fucoidans with immunotherapy will be discussed. An update is provided on human clinical studies and available registered cancer clinical trials using fucoidans while highlighting future prospects and challenges.

Potential mechanism underlying the effect of matrine on COVID-19 patients revealed through network pharmacological approaches and molecular docking analysis

BACKGROUND

The clinical efficacy of matrine in treating coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been confirmed; however, its underlying mechanism of action remains unknown.

METHODS

TCMSP, SwissTargetPrediction, SEA, GeneCards, CTD, and TTD were used to identify potential targets for matrine in SARS-CoV-2. Cytoscape software was used to determine the target-pathway network for topographical analysis. The online STRING analysis platform and Cytoscape were together used to generate a PPI network and for GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Finally, molecular docking simulations were performed to study matrine-Mpro, matrine-ACE2, and matrine-RdRp interactions.

RESULTS

Ten common matrine targets were obtained, particularly including TNF-α, IL-6, and CASP3. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed five significantly enriched signalling pathways involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, programmed cell death, and immune responses.

CONCLUSIONS

During COVID-19 treatment, matrine regulates viral replication, host cell apoptosis, and inflammation by targeting the TNF-α, IL-6, and CASP3 in the TNF signalling pathway.

Biochemical characterization and anti-cancer activity of tangential flow filtration system assisted purification of fucoglucan from Laminaria japonica

Polysaccharide from Laminaria japonica (LJPS) exhibits multiple biological functions. However, we found that crude LJPS doesn't show good anti-lung cancer activity in this study. We therefore used tangential flow filtration (TFF) system to optimize the anticancer activity of LJPS. We divided the crude LJPS into two fractions by TFF system with a 10 kDa filter and denoted as retentate (10K-R) and filtration (10K-F). The chemical assay revealed that the main molecular mass of 10K-R and 10K-F is about 985 and 3 kDa, respectively. The main components of 10K-R include fucose (19.3 %), and glucose (59.5 %); while glucose (88.6 %) is a major component of 10K-F. Biological functions showed that 10K-R but not 10K-F inhibited the viability and mobility of cancer cells. 10K-R downregulated expressions of transforming growth factor β receptor and Slug, and inhibited intracellular signaling molecules, including FAK, AKT, ERK1/2, and Smad2. This study is the first concept to purify the polysaccharide by TFF system and showed the potential mechanism of 10K-R inhibited cancer cells.

Novel anthraquinone derivatives trigger endoplasmic reticulum stress response and induce apoptosis

Background: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a therapeutic target in cancer given its regulation of bioenergetics and cell death. Methodology & results: We synthesized 14 ER stress-triggered anthraquinone derivatives by introducing an amino group at the 3-position side chain of the lead compound obtained previously. Most of the anthraquinone derivatives exhibited good antitumor activity due to their ability to induce ER damage through cytoplasmic vacuoles. The mechanisms of ER stress caused by compound KA-4c were related to increasing the expression levels of the ATF6 and Bip proteins and upregulating CHOP and cleaved PARP. Conclusion: Compound KA-4c triggers ER stress response and induces apoptosis via the ATF6-CHOP signaling pathway.

A Water-Soluble Hydrogen Sulfide Donor Suppresses the Growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Inhibiting the AKT/GSK-3β/β-Catenin and TGF-β/Smad2/3 Signaling Pathways

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a disease with high morbidity, high mortality, and low cure rate. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is widely adopted in tissue engineering and drug delivery. 5-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-3H-1, 2-dithiol-3-thione (ADT-OH) is one of commonly used H₂S donors. In our previous study, HA-ADT was designed and synthesized via coupling of HA and ADT-OH. In this study, compared with sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, a fast H₂S-releasing donor) and morpholin-4-ium (4-methoxyphenyl)-morpholin-4-ylsulfanylidenesulfido-λ5-phosphane (GYY4137, a slow H₂S-releasing donor), HA-ADT showed stronger inhibitory effect on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and cell cycle of human HCC cells. HA-ADT promoted apoptosis by suppressing the expressions of phospho (p)-protein kinase B (PKB/AKT), p-glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), p-β-catenin, and also inhibited autophagy via the downregulation of the protein levels of p-Smad2, p-Smad3, and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in human HCC cells. Moreover, HA-ADT inhibited HCC xenograft tumor growth more effectively than both NaHS and GYY4137. Therefore, HA-ADT can suppress the growth of HCC cells by blocking the AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin and TGF-β/Smad2/3 signaling pathways. HA-ADT and its derivatives may be developed as promising antitumor drugs.

Regulatory mechanisms of microRNAs in endocrine disorders and their therapeutic potential

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous non-coding RNA molecules capable of regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level either by translational inhibition or mRNA degradation and have recently been importantly related to the diagnosis and prognosis of the most relevant endocrine disorders. The endocrine system comprises various highly vascularized ductless organs regulating metabolism, growth and development, and sexual function. Endocrine disorders constitute the fifth principal cause of death worldwide, and they are considered a significant public health problem due to their long-term effects and negative impact on the patient's quality of life. Over the last few years, miRNAs have been discovered to regulate various biological processes associated with endocrine disorders, which could be advantageous in developing new diagnostic and therapeutic tools. The present review aims to provide an overview of the most recent and significant information regarding the regulatory mechanism of miRNAs during the development of the most relevant endocrine disorders, including diabetes mellitus, thyroid diseases, osteoporosis, pituitary tumors, Cushing's syndrome, adrenal insufficiency and multiple endocrine neoplasia, and their potential implications as disease biomarkers.

Traditional Chinese medicine suppressed cancer progression by targeting endoplasmic reticulum stress responses: A review

Cancer has a high morbidity and mortality; therefore, it poses a major global health concern. Imbalance in endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis can induce endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). ERS has been shown to play both tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressive roles in various cancer types by activating a series of adaptive responses to promote tumor cell survival and inducing ERS-related apoptotic pathways to promote tumor cell death, inhibit tumor growth and suppress tumor invasion. Because multiple roles of ERS in tumors continue to be reported, many studies have attempted to target ERS in cancer therapy. The therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments on tumors have been widely recognized. TCM treatments can enhance the sensitivity of tumor radiotherapy, delay tumor recurrence and improve patients' quality of life. However, there are relatively few reports exploring the antitumor effects of TCM from the perspective of ERS. This review addresses the progress of TCM intervention in tumors via ERS with a view to providing a new direction for tumor treatment.

Cinobufagin induces acute promyelocytic leukaemia cell apoptosis and PML-RARA degradation in a caspase-dependent manner by inhibiting the β-catenin signalling pathway

CONTEXT

Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) is a malignant hematological tumour characterized by the presence of promyelocytic leukaemia-retinoic acid receptor A (PML-RARA) fusion protein. Cinobufagin (CBG) is one of the main effective components of toad venom with antitumor properties. However, only a few reports regarding the CBG treatment of APL are available.

OBJECTIVE

We explored the effect and mechanism of action of CBG on NB4 and NB4-R1 cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We evaluated the viability of NB4 and NB4-R1 cells treated with 0, 20, 40, and 60 nM CBG for 12, 24, and 48 h. After treatment with CBG for 24 h, Bcl-2 associated X (Bax), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), β-catenin, cyclin D1, and c-myc expression was detected using western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Caspase-3 and PML-RARA expression levels were detected using western blotting.

RESULTS

CBG inhibited the viability of NB4 and NB4-R1 cells. The IC₅₀ values of NB4 and NB4-R1 cells treated with CBG for 24 h were 45.2 nM and 37.9 nM, respectively. CBG induced NB4 and NB4-R1 cell apoptosis and PML-RARA degradation in a caspase-dependent manner and inhibited the β-catenin signalling pathway.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

CBG induced NB4 and NB4-R1 cell apoptosis and PML-RARA degradation in a caspase-dependent manner by inhibiting the β-catenin signalling pathway. This study proposes a novel treatment strategy for patients with APL, particularly those with ATRA-resistant APL.

Cystathionine γ-lyase mediates cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an epithelia-derived malignancy with a distinctive geographic distribution. Cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) is involved in cancer development and progression. Nevertheless, the role of CSE in the growth of NPC is unknown. In this study, we found that CSE levels in human NPC cells were higher than those in normal nasopharyngeal cells. CSE overexpression enhanced the proliferative, migrative, and invasive abilities of NPC cells and CSE downregulation exerted reverse effects. Overexpression of CSE decreased the expressions of cytochrome C, cleaved caspase (cas)-3, cleaved cas-9, and cleaved poly-ADP-ribose polymerase, whereas CSE knockdown exhibited reverse effects. CSE overexpression decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and the expressions of phospho (p)-extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2, p-c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and p-p38, but promoted the expressions of p-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), p-AKT, and p-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), whereas CSE knockdown showed oppose effects. In addition, CSE overexpression promoted NPC xenograft tumor growth and CSE knockdown decreased tumor growth by modulating proliferation, angiogenesis, cell cycle, and apoptosis. Furthermore, DL-propargylglycine (an inhibitor of CSE) dose-dependently inhibited NPC cell growth via ROS-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways without significant toxicity. In conclusion, CSE could regulate the growth of NPC cells through ROS-mediated MAPK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR cascades. CSE might be a novel tumor marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of NPC. Novel donors/drugs that inhibit the expression/activity of CSE can be developed in the treatment of NPC.

A Review on Fucoidan Structure, Extraction Techniques, and Its Role as an Immunomodulatory Agent

Functional ingredients for human health have recently become the focus of research. One such potentially versatile therapeutic component is fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides (FCSPs), referred to as fucoidans. The exploitation of marine brown algae provides a rich source of FCSPs because of their role as a structural component of the cell wall. Fucoidans are characterized by a sulfated fucose backbone. However, the structural characterization of FCSPs is impeded by their structural diversity, molecular weight, and complexity. The extraction and purification conditions significantly influence the yield and structural alterations. Inflammation is the preliminary response to potentially injurious inducements, and it is of the utmost importance for modulation in the proper direction. Improper manipulation and/or continuous stimuli could have detrimental effects in the long run. The web of immune responses mediated through multiple modulatory/cell signaling components can be addressed through functional ingredients, benefiting patients with no side effects. In this review, we attempted to address the involvement of FCSPs in the stimulation/downregulation of immune response cell signaling. The structural complexity and its foremost influential factor, extraction techniques, have also attracted attention, with concise details on the structural implications of bioactivity.

Recent advances in microbial toxin-related strategies to combat cancer

It is a major concern to treat cancer successfully, due to the distinctive pathophysiology of cancer cells and the gradual manifestation of resistance. Specific action, adverse effects and development of resistance has prompted the urgent requirement of exploring alternative anti-tumour treatment therapies. The naturally derived microbial toxins as a therapy against cancer cells are a promisingly new dimension. Various important microbial toxins such as Diphtheria toxin, Vibrio cholera toxin, Aflatoxin, Patulin, Cryptophycin-55, Chlorella are derived from several bacterial, fungal and algal species. These agents act on different biotargets such as inhibition of protein synthesis, reduction in cell growth, regulation of cell cycle and many cellular processes. Bacterial toxins produce actions primarily by targeting protein moieties and some immunomodulation and few acts through DNA. Fungal toxins appear to have more DNA damaging activity and affect the cell cycle. Algal toxins produce alteration in mitochondrial phosphorylation. In conclusion, microbial toxins and their metabolites appear to have a great potential to provide a promising option for the treatment and management to combat cancer.

Perspectives for the Use of Fucoidans in Clinical Oncology

Fucoidans are natural sulfated polysaccharides that have a wide range of biological functions and are regarded as promising antitumor agents. The activity of various fucoidans and their derivatives has been demonstrated in vitro on tumor cells of different histogenesis and in experiments on mice with grafted tumors. However, these experimental models showed low levels of antitumor activity and clinical trials did not prove that this class of compounds could serve as antitumor drugs. Nevertheless, the anti-inflammatory, antiangiogenic, immunostimulating, and anticoagulant properties of fucoidans, as well as their ability to stimulate hematopoiesis during cytostatic-based antitumor therapy, suggest that effective fucoidan-based drugs could be designed for the supportive care and symptomatic therapy of cancer patients. The use of fucoidans in cancer patients after chemotherapy and radiation therapy might promote the rapid improvement of hematopoiesis, while their anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anticoagulant effects have the potential to improve the quality of life of patients with advanced cancer.

Seaweeds in the Oncology Arena: Anti-Cancer Potential of Fucoidan as a Drug—A Review

Marine natural products are a discerning arena to search for the future generation of medications to treat a spectrum of ailments. Meanwhile, cancer is becoming more ubiquitous over the world, and the likelihood of dying from it is rising. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are the mainstays of cancer treatment worldwide, but their extensive side effects limit their curative effect. The quest for low-toxicity marine drugs to prevent and treat cancer is one of the current research priorities of researchers. Fucoidan, an algal sulfated polysaccharide, is a potent therapeutic lead candidate against cancer, signifying that far more research is needed. Fucoidan is a versatile, nontoxic marine-origin heteropolysaccharide that has received much attention due to its beneficial biological properties and safety. Fucoidan has been demonstrated to exhibit a variety of conventional bioactivities, such as antiviral, antioxidant, and immune-modulatory characteristics, and anticancer activity against a wide range of malignancies has also recently been discovered. Fucoidan inhibits tumorigenesis by prompting cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, blocking metastasis and angiogenesis, and modulating physiological signaling molecules. This review compiles the molecular and cellular aspects, immunomodulatory and anticancer actions of fucoidan as a natural marine anticancer agent. Specific fucoidan and membranaceous polysaccharides from Ecklonia cava, Laminaria japonica, Fucus vesiculosus, Astragalus, Ascophyllum nodosum, Codium fragile serving as potential anticancer marine drugs are discussed in this review.

Combined treatment of marizomib and cisplatin modulates cervical cancer growth and invasion and enhances antitumor potential in vitro and in vivo

Proteasome inhibition is an attractive approach for anticancer therapy. Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum, CDDP) is widely used as a standard chemotherapy drug in the treatment of solid malignant tumors, such as cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer. However, the development of CDDP resistance largely limits its clinical application. Proteasome inhibitors may enhance traditional chemotherapy agent-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis. Marizomib (NPI-0052, salinosporamide A, Mzb), a second-generation proteasome inhibitor, shows synergistic anticancer activity with some drugs. Currently, the effect of Mzb on cervical cancer cell proliferation remains unclear. In this study, we explored the role of Mzb in three cervical cancer cell lines, HeLa, CaSki, and C33A, representing major molecular subtypes of cervical cancer and xenografts. We found that Mzb alone showed noteworthy cytotoxic effects, and its combination with CDDP resulted in more obvious cytotoxicity and apoptosis in cervical cancer cell lines and xenografts. In order to investigate the mechanism of this effect, we probed whether Mzb alone or in combination with CDDP had a better antitumor response by enhancing CDDP-induced angiopoietin 1 (Ang-1) expression and inhibiting the expression of TEK receptor tyrosine kinase (Tie-2) in the Ang-1/Tie-2 pathway, FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt-3L) and stem cell factor (SCF) as identified by a cytokine antibody chip test. The results suggest that Mzb has better antitumor effects on cervical cancer cells and can sensitize cervical cancer cells to CDDP treatment both in vitro and in vivo. Accordingly, we conclude that the combination of CDDP with Mzb produces synergistic anticancer activity and that Mzb may be a potential effective drug in combination therapy for cervical cancer patients.

Active Targeting of P-Selectin by Fucoidan Modulates the Molecular Profiling of Metastasis in Docetaxel-Resistant Prostate Cancer

The standard of care for prostate cancer (PCa) is androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Although hormone-sensitive PCa is curable by ADT, most conditions progress to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPCa) and metastatic CRPCa (mCRPCa). Front-line docetaxel has been administered to patients with CRPCa and mCRPCa. Nevertheless, docetaxel resistance after half a year of therapy has emerged as an urgent clinical concern in patients with CRPCa and mCRPCa. We verified the mechanism by which docetaxel-resistant PCa cells (DU/DX50) exhibited significant cell migration and expression of malignant tumor-related proteins. Our study shows that the biological activity of fucoidan has an important application for docetaxel-resistant PCa cells, inhibiting IL-1R by binding to P-selectin and reducing the expression levels of NF-κB p50 and Cox2 in this metastasis-inhibiting signaling pathway. Furthermore, the combined treatment of fucoidan and docetaxel showed significant anticancer and synergistic effects on the viability of DU/DX50 cells, which is relevant for overcoming the current limitations and improving treatment outcomes. Overall, fucoidan-based combination chemotherapy may exert beneficial effects and facilitate the treatment of docetaxel-resistant PCa.

Opportunities and challenges for co-delivery nanomedicines based on combination of phytochemicals with chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer treatment

The therapeutic limitations such as insufficient efficacy, drug resistance, metastasis, and undesirable side effects are frequently caused by the long duration monotherapy based on chemotherapeutic drugs. multiple combinational anticancer strategies such as nucleic acids combined with chemotherapeutic agents, chemotherapeutic combinations, chemotherapy and tumor immunotherapy combinations have been embraced, holding great promise to counter these limitations, while still taking including some potential risks. Nowadays, an increasing number of research has manifested the anticancer effects of phytochemicals mediated by modulating cancer cellular events directly as well as the tumor microenvironment. Specifically, these natural compounds exhibited suppression of cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of cancer cells, P-glycoprotein inhibition, decreasing vascularization and activation of tumor immunosuppression. Due to the low toxicity and multiple modulation pathways of these phytochemicals, the combination of chemotherapeutic agents with natural compounds acts as a novel approach to cancer therapy to increase the efficiency of cancer treatments as well as reduce the adverse consequences. In order to achieve the maximized combination advantages of small-molecule chemotherapeutic drugs and natural compounds, a variety of functional nano-scaled drug delivery systems, such as liposomes, host-guest supramolecules, supramolecules, dendrimers, micelles and inorganic systems have been developed for dual/multiple drug co-delivery. These co-delivery nanomedicines can improve pharmacokinetic behavior, tumor accumulation capacity, and achieve tumor site-targeting delivery. In that way, the improved antitumor effects through multiple-target therapy and reduced side effects by decreasing dose can be implemented. Here, we present the synergistic anticancer outcomes and the related mechanisms of the combination of phytochemicals with small-molecule anticancer drugs. We also focus on illustrating the design concept, and action mechanisms of nanosystems with co-delivery of drugs to synergistically improve anticancer efficacy. In addition, the challenges and prospects of how these insights can be translated into clinical benefits are discussed.

Cystathionine β-Synthase Regulates the Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Thyroid Carcinoma Cells

Thyroid cancer is considered to be one of the most common endocrine tumors worldwide. Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) plays a crucial role in the occurrence of several types of malignancies. And yet, the mechanism of action of CBS in the growth of thyroid carcinoma cells is still unrevealed. We found that CBS level in thyroid carcinoma tissue was higher than that in adjacent normal tissue. The overexpression of CBS enhanced the proliferation, migration, and invasion of thyroid cancer cells, while the downregulation of CBS exerted reverse effects. CBS overexpression reduced the levels of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved poly ADP-ribose polymerase in thyroid cancer cells, whereas CBS knockdown showed reverse trends. CBS overexpression decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels but increased the levels of Wnt3a and phosphorylations of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (PKB/AKT), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), β-catenin, and glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta, while CBS knockdown exerted opposite effects. In addition, CBS overexpression promoted the growth of xenografted thyroid carcinoma, whereas CBS knockdown decreased the tumor growth by modulating angiogenesis, cell cycle, and apoptosis. Furthermore, aminooxyacetic acid (an inhibitor of CBS) dose-dependently inhibited thyroid carcinoma cell growth. CBS can regulate the proliferation, migration, and invasion of human thyroid cancer cells via ROS-mediated PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. CBS can be a potential biomarker for diagnosing or prognosing thyroid carcinoma. Novel donors that inhibit the expression of CBS can be developed in the treatment of thyroid carcinoma.

Chronic heat stress causes liver damage via endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis in broilers

Liver is a central metabolic organ, which is sensitive to heat stress. Liver damage affects animals' health and endangers the livestock and poultry industry. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of chronic heat stress-induced liver damage in broiler chickens. Broilers were divided into 3 treatments: normal control group (NOR, 22°C), heat stress group (HS, 32°C) and pair-feeding group (PF, 22°C) for a 7-d and 14-d trial. The results showed that 7 d heat exposure caused microvesicular steatosis and reduced glutamine synthetase activity in broiler liver (P < 0.05). After 14 d of heat exposure, heat stress caused vacuolar degeneration and apoptosis in the liver; elevated liver relative weight and liver glutaminase activity as well as plasma ammonia level (P < 0.05). Additionally, heat stress enhanced GRP78 protein expression and the mRNA expressions of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress responses genes and apoptosis-related genes in broiler liver after 14 d of heat exposure (P < 0.05). In conclusion, chronic heat stress triggered ER stress-induced apoptosis and caused liver damage, which may compromise ammonia detoxification in broiler liver.

Characteristics of Marine Biomaterials and Their Applications in Biomedicine

Oceans have vast potential to develop high-value bioactive substances and biomaterials. In the past decades, many biomaterials have come from marine organisms, but due to the wide variety of organisms living in the oceans, the great diversity of marine-derived materials remains explored. The marine biomaterials that have been found and studied have excellent biological activity, unique chemical structure, good biocompatibility, low toxicity, and suitable degradation, and can be used as attractive tissue material engineering and regenerative medicine applications. In this review, we give an overview of the extraction and processing methods and chemical and biological characteristics of common marine polysaccharides and proteins. This review also briefly explains their important applications in anticancer, antiviral, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and other fields.

Brown Algae-Derived Fucoidan Exerts Oxidative Stress-Dependent Antiproliferation on Oral Cancer Cells

Fucoidan is a dietary brown algae-derived fucose-rich polysaccharide. However, the anticancer effects of fucoidan for oral cancer treatment remain unclear, particularly in terms of its preferential antiproliferation ability and oxidative-stress-associated responses. This study first evaluated the effects and mechanisms of the preferential antiproliferation of fucoidan between oral cancer and non-malignant oral cells (S–G). In a 48 h MTS assay, fucoidan showed higher antiproliferation in response to five types of oral cancer cells, but not S–G cells, demonstrating preferential antiproliferation of oral cancer cells. Oral cancer cells (Ca9-22 and CAL 27) showing high sensitivity to fucoidan were selected to explore the antiproliferation mechanism compared to S–G cells. Fucoidan showed subG1 accumulation and an annexin V increase in apoptosis, accompanied by caspase 8, 9, and 3 activations in oral cancer cells, but not in S–G cells. Fucoidan increased reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial superoxide levels and decreased cellular glutathione in oral cancer cells compared with S–G cells. These oxidative stress effects were attributed to the downregulation of antioxidant signaling genes (NRF2, TXN, and HMOX1) in oral cancer cells rather than S–G cells. Fucoidan showed DNA damage-inducible effects (γH2AX and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine) in oral cancer cells but not in S–G cells. Accordingly, these preferential changes in oral cancer but not in non-malignant cells contribute to the preferential antiproliferation mechanism of fucoidan. Furthermore, these changes were reverted by pretreatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine. Therefore, for the first time, this study provides a detailed understanding of the preferential antiproliferation effects and mechanisms of fucoidan in oral cancer cells.

Fucoidan-Mediated Anisotropic Calcium Carbonate Nanorods of pH-Responsive Drug Release for Antitumor Therapy

The shape of nanoparticles can determine their physical properties and then greatly impact the physiological reactions on cells or tissues during treatment. Traditionally spherical nanoparticles are more widely applied in biomedicine but are not necessarily the best. The superiority of anisotropic nanoparticles has been realized in recent years. The synthesis of the distinct-shaped metal/metal oxide nanoparticles is easily controlled. However, their biotoxicity is still up for debate. Hence, we designed CaCO3 nanorods for drug delivery prepared at mild condition by polysaccharide-regulated biomineralization in the presence of fucoidan with sulfate groups. The CaCO3 nanorods with a pH sensitivity–loaded antitumor drug mitoxantrone hydrochloride (MTO) showed excellent antitumor efficacy for the HeLa cells and MCF-7 cells in vitro. We believe that anisotropic nanoparticles will bring forth an emblematic shift in nanotechnology for application in biomedicine.

KLF5 inhibition overcomes oxaliplatin resistance in patient-derived colorectal cancer organoids by restoring apoptotic response

Oxaliplatin resistance is a major challenge in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). Many molecular targeted drugs for refractory CRC have been developed to solve CRC drug resistance, but their effectiveness and roles in the progression of CRC and oxaliplatin resistance remain unclear. Here, we successfully constructed CRC PDOs and selected the Kruppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) inhibitor ML264 as the research object based on the results of the in vitro drug screening assay. ML264 significantly restored oxaliplatin sensitivity in CRC PDOs by restoring the apoptotic response, and this effect was achieved by inhibiting the KLF5/Bcl-2/caspase3 signaling pathway. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase reporter assays verified that KLF5 promoted the transcription of Bcl-2 in CRC cells. KLF5 inhibition also overcame oxaliplatin resistance in xenograft tumors. Taken together, our study demonstrated that ML264 can restore oxaliplatin sensitivity in CRC PDOs by restoring the apoptotic response. KLF5 may be a potential therapeutic target for oxaliplatin-resistant CRC. PDOs have a strong potential for evaluating inhibitors and drug combination therapy in a preclinical environment.

Daemonorops draco Blume Induces Apoptosis Against Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells via Regulation of the miR-216b/c-Jun

Daemonorops draco Blume (DD), also called dragon’s blood, has been used as a traditional Korean medicine, especially for relieving pain caused by wound infection. Recently, it has been described that DD has antibacterial and analgesic effects. In this study, the underlying anticancer effect of DD associated with apoptosis was investigated in acute myeloid leukemia cell lines U937 and THP-1. DD exhibited cytotoxic effects and induced apoptosis in U937 and THP-1 cells. Moreover, DD treatment significantly reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ). The protein expression of cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, cleaved caspase-3, p-H2A.X, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (CHOP), and activating transcription factor 4 was upregulated by DD treatment. Consistently, DD-treated cells had increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in a concentration-dependent manner via miR-216b activation in association with c-Jun inhibition. N-acetyl-L-cysteine pretreatment reversed the cytotoxic effect of DD treatment as well as prevented ROS accumulation. Collectively, the results of this study suggest that the anticancer effect of DD in AML was mediated by CHOP-dependent apoptosis along with ROS accumulation and included upregulation of miR-216b followed by a decrease in c-Jun.

Pharmacological Effects of Cisplatin Combination with Natural Products in Cancer Chemotherapy

Cisplatin and other platinum-based drugs, such as carboplatin, ormaplatin, and oxaliplatin, have been widely used to treat a multitude of human cancers. However, a considerable proportion of patients often relapse due to drug resistance and/or toxicity to multiple organs including the liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and the cardiovascular, hematologic, and nervous systems. In this study, we sought to provide a comprehensive review of the current state of the science highlighting the use of cisplatin in cancer therapy, with a special emphasis on its molecular mechanisms of action, and treatment modalities including the combination therapy with natural products. Hence, we searched the literature using various scientific databases., such as MEDLINE, PubMed, Google Scholar, and relevant sources, to collect and review relevant publications on cisplatin, natural products, combination therapy, uses in cancer treatment, modes of action, and therapeutic strategies. Our search results revealed that new strategic approaches for cancer treatment, including the combination therapy of cisplatin and natural products, have been evaluated with some degree of success. Scientific evidence from both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrates that many medicinal plants contain bioactive compounds that are promising candidates for the treatment of human diseases, and therefore represent an excellent source for drug discovery. In preclinical studies, it has been demonstrated that natural products not only enhance the therapeutic activity of cisplatin but also attenuate its chemotherapy-induced toxicity. Many experimental studies have also reported that natural products exert their therapeutic action by triggering apoptosis through modulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and p53 signal transduction pathways and enhancement of cisplatin chemosensitivity. Furthermore, natural products protect against cisplatin-induced organ toxicity by modulating several gene transcription factors and inducing cell death through apoptosis and/or necrosis. In addition, formulations of cisplatin with polymeric, lipid, inorganic, and carbon-based nano-drug delivery systems have been found to delay drug release, prolong half-life, and reduce systemic toxicity while other formulations, such as nanocapsules, nanogels, and hydrogels, have been reported to enhance cell penetration, target cancer cells, and inhibit tumor progression.

Novel ROS-responsive marine biomaterial fucoidan nanocarriers with AIE effect and chemodynamic therapy

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) has been widely used in the treatment of many kinds of tumors, which can effectively induce tumor cell apoptosis by using produced reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this paper, ROS-sensitive multifunctional marine biomaterial natural polysaccharide nanoparticles were designed. Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) molecules tetraphenylethylene (TPE) labeled and caffeic acid (CA) modified fucoidan (FUC) amphiphilic carrier material (CA-FUC-TK-TPE, CFTT) was fabricated, in which the thioketal bond(TK) was used as the linkage arm between TPE and fucoidan chain, giving the CFTT material ROS sensitivity. In addition, amphiphilic carrier material (FUC-TK-VE, FTVE) composed of thioketal-linked vitamin E and fucoidan was synthesized. The mixed carrier material CFTT and FTVE self-assembled in water to form nanoparticles (CFTT - FTVE@PTX-Fe³⁺) loaded with PTX and Fe³⁺. The CDT effect was combined with the chemotherapeutic drug PTX to achieve tumor inhibition. In vitro cell studies have proved that CT/PTX nanoparticles have excellent cell permeability and tumor cytotoxicity. In vivo antitumor experiments confirmed effective antitumor activity and reduced side effects.

Multi-CpG linear regression models to accurately predict paclitaxel and docetaxel activity in cancer cell lines

The microtubule-targeting paclitaxel (PTX) and docetaxel (DTX) are widely used chemotherapeutic agents. However, the dysregulation of apoptotic processes, microtubule-binding proteins, and multi-drug resistance efflux and influx proteins can alter the efficacy of taxane drugs. In this review, we have created multi-CpG linear regression models to predict the activities of PTX and DTX drugs through the integration of publicly available pharmacological and genome-wide molecular profiling datasets generated using hundreds of cancer cell lines of diverse tissue of origin. Our findings indicate that linear regression models based on CpG methylation levels can predict PTX and DTX activities (log-fold change in viability relative to DMSO) with high precision. For example, a 287-CpG model predicts PTX activity at R² of 0.985 among 399 cell lines. Just as precise (R²=0.996) is a 342-CpG model for predicting DTX activity in 390 cell lines. However, our predictive models, which employ a combination of mRNA expression and mutation as input variables, are less accurate compared to the CpG-based models. While a 290 mRNA/mutation model was able to predict PTX activity with R² of 0.830 (for 546 cell lines), a 236 mRNA/mutation model could calculate DTX activity at R² of 0.751 (for 531 cell lines). The CpG-based models restricted to lung cancer cell lines were also highly predictive (R²≥0.980) for PTX (74 CpGs, 88 cell lines) and DTX (58 CpGs, 83 cell lines). The underlying molecular biology behind taxane activity/resistance is evident in these models. Indeed, many of the genes represented in PTX or DTX CpG-based models have functionalities related to apoptosis (e.g., ACIN1, TP73, TNFRSF10B, DNASE1, DFFB, CREB1, BNIP3), and mitosis/microtubules (e.g., MAD1L1, ANAPC2, EML4, PARP3, CCT6A, JAKMIP1). Also represented are genes involved in epigenetic regulation (HDAC4, DNMT3B, and histone demethylases KDM4B, KDM4C, KDM2B, and KDM7A), and those that have never been previously linked to taxane activity (DIP2C, PTPRN2, TTC23, SHANK2). In summary, it is possible to accurately predict taxane activity in cell lines based entirely on methylation at multiple CpG sites.

A novel pyroptosis-related gene signature to predict outcomes in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Pyroptosis, a pro-inflammatory form of programmed cell death, is associated with carcinogenesis and progression. However, there is little information concerning pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Herein, we aim to explore the prognostic value of PRGs in LSCC. The expression and clinical data of 47 PRGs in LSCC patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. A novel prognostic PRG signature was constructed using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn, and Kaplan-Meier survival Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were performed to measure the predictive capacity of the PRG signature. Furthermore, we constructed a six-PRG signature to divide LSCC patients into high- and low-risk groups. Patients in the high-risk group had worse overall survival than the low-risk group. The area under the time-dependent ROC curve was 0.696 for 1 year, 0.784 for 3 years, and 0.738 for 5 years. We proved that the PRGs signature was an independent predictor for LSCC. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that several immune-related pathways were significantly enriched in the low-risk group. Consistent with this, patients with low-risk scores had higher immune scores and better immunotherapeutic responses than the high-risk group. In conclusion, we established a novel PRGs signature that can predict outcome and response to immunotherapy of LSCC, pyroptosis may be a potential target for LSCC.

WSG, a Glucose-Rich Polysaccharide from Ganoderma lucidum, Combined with Cisplatin Potentiates Inhibition of Lung Cancer In Vitro and In Vivo

Lung cancer has the highest global mortality rate of any cancer. Although targeted therapeutic drugs are commercially available, the common drug resistance and insensitivity to cisplatin-based chemotherapy, a common clinical treatment for lung cancer, have prompted active research on alternative lung cancer therapies and methods for mitigating cisplatin-related complications. In this study, we investigated the effect of WSG, a glucose-rich, water soluble polysaccharide derived from Ganoderma lucidum, on cisplatin-based treatment for lung cancer. Murine Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC1) cells were injected into C57BL/6 mice subcutaneously and through the tail vein. The combined administration of WSG and cisplatin effectively inhibited tumor growth and the formation of metastatic nodules in the lung tissue of the mice. Moreover, WSG increased the survival rate of mice receiving cisplatin. Co-treatment with WSG and cisplatin induced a synergistic inhibitory effect on the growth of lung cancer cells, enhancing the apoptotic responses mediated by cisplatin. WSG also reduced the cytotoxic effect of cisplatin in both macrophages and normal lung fibroblasts. Our findings suggest that WSG can increase the therapeutic effectiveness of cisplatin. In clinical settings, WSG may be used as an adjuvant or supplementary agent.

Supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE) as green extraction technology for high-value metabolites of algae, its potential trends in food and human health

Application of high-value algal metabolites (HVAMs) in cosmetics, additives, pigments, foods and medicines are very important. These HVAMs can be obtained from the cultivation of micro- and macro-algae. These metabolites can benefit human and animal health in a physiological and nutritional manner. However, because of conventional extraction methods and their energy and the use of pollutant solvents, the availability of HVAMs from algae remains insufficient. Receiving their sustainability and environmental benefits have recently made green extraction technologies for HVAM extractions more desirable. But very little information is available about the technology of green extraction of algae from these HVAM. This review, therefore, highlights the supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE) as principal green extraction technologyand theirideal parameters for extracting HVAMs. In first, general information is provided concerning the HVAMs and their components of macro and micro origin. The review also includes a description of SCFE technology's properties, instrumentation operation, solvents used, and the merits and demerits. Moreover, there are several HVAMs associated with their numerous high-level biological activities which include high-level antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antimicrobial activity and have potential health-beneficial effects in humans since they are all HVAMs, such as foods and nutraceuticals. Finally, it provides future insights, obstacles, and suggestions for selecting the right technologies for extraction.

The Use of Oligo Fucoidan in Cancer Bearing Dogs Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Double-Blinded Study

We evaluated the effect of oligo fucoidan (Laminina Japonica) derived from oceanic brown seaweed on the quality of life in dogs with cancer undergoing chemotherapy in a double-blinded case control study. Included in this prospective study were 100 dogs with a confirmed diagnosis of cancer that were being treated with chemotherapy. Dogs were randomly assigned to be treated with oligo fucoidan (treated group; n = 68) or placebo (placebo group; n = 32). Dogs were evaluated every 2-3 weeks for 3 months with a complete blood count (CBC) and serum biochemistry profile, and a complete history and physical examination by blinded clinicians at The Veterinary Cancer Center. The owners of the dogs enrolled in the study were required at each visit to complete a Quality-of-Life Questionnaire specifically designed for cancer-bearing veterinary patients. The owners were also blinded as to whether their dog was receiving oligo fucoidan or placebo. There were no significant differences between the CBC parameters or the serum biochemical parameters of the dogs in the treated and placebo-controlled groups. There was no significant difference in the median quality of life scores between the 2 cohorts, however, when evaluating the individual quality of life metrics, 5 out of the 23 metrics showed statistically significant improvement, and none of the quality-of-life metrics declined in the oligo fucoidan group as compared to the placebo group. All of the dogs that had a positive change in overall quality of life scores were dogs that received oligo fucoidan. There were minimal adverse side effects of giving the oligo fucoidan to dogs. Treatment with oligo fucoidan was safe and improved some of the quality-of-life metrics in dogs who were being treated with chemotherapy for cancer.

WSG, a glucose-enriched polysaccharide from Ganoderma lucidum, suppresses tongue cancer cells via inhibition of EGFR-mediated signaling and potentiates cisplatin-induced apoptosis

Tongue cancer, a kind of oral cancer, is common in Southeast Asian countries because of dietary habits. However, there is no specific targeted drug that could effectively inhibit oral cancer. WSG, as a water soluble glucose-enriched polysaccharide from Ganoderma lucidum, exerts excellent pharmacological efficacy of anti-lung cancer. However, its anticancer functions and mechanisms in human tongue cancer need to be further explored. Herein, we showed that WSG dramatically reduced cell viability and colony formation of tongue cancer cells. WSG increased subG1 and G2/M populations as well as induced apoptotic responses. In parallel, WSG enhanced apoptosis-related Bax/Bcl2 ratio. Mechanistic studies showed that WSG reduced phosphorylation of EGFR and AKT. In addition, we found a synergistic effect of WSG with cisplatin in inhibition of cell viability and induction of apoptosis. WSG significantly reduced the inhibition concentration 50% (IC₅₀) of cisplatin. More importantly, WSG ameliorated cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in normal human oral epithelial SG cells. In conclusion, our findings provided important insights into the anti-tongue cancer effects of WSG via inhibition of EGFR/AKT axis and induction of apoptosis, which indicated that WSG could be a promising supplement for tongue cancer treatment.

Advances in plant-derived natural products for antitumor immunotherapy

In recent years, immunotherapy has emerged as a novel antitumor strategy in addition to traditional surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. It uniquely focuses on immune cells and immunomodulators in the tumor microenvironment and helps eliminate tumors at the root by rebuilding the immune system. Despite remarkable breakthroughs, cancer immunotherapy still faces many challenges: lack of predictable and prognostic biomarkers, adverse side effects, acquired treatment resistance, high costs, etc. Therefore, more efficacious and efficient, safer and cheaper antitumor immunomodulatory drugs have become an urgent requirement. For decades, plant-derived natural products obtained from land and sea have provided the most important source for the development of antitumor drugs. Currently, more attention is being paid to the discovery of potential cancer immunotherapy modulators from plant-derived natural products, such as polysaccharides, phenols, terpenoids, quinones and alkaloids. Some of these agents have outstanding advantages of multitargeting and low side effects and low cost compared to conventional immunotherapeutic agents. We intend to summarize the progress of comprehensive research on these plant-derived natural products and their derivatives and discuss their possible mechanisms in regulating the immune system and their efficacy as monotherapies or in combination with regular chemotherapeutic agents.

Inhibition of fucoidan on breast cancer cells and potential enhancement of their sensitivity to chemotherapy by regulating autophagy

Fucoidan is a marine-origin sulfated polysaccharide that has gained attention for its anticancer activities. However, the inhibitory effect of fucoidan on breast cancers by regulating autophagy and its mechanism are not clear, and the chemotherapeutic sensitization of fucoidan is largely unknown. In the present study, the anticancer potential of fucoidan was revealed in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Additionally, we also studied the chemotherapeutic sensitization of fucoidan by combining chemotherapeutic drugs doxorubicin (ADM) and cisplatin (DDP) with fucoidan on breast cancer cells. In the two kinds of human breast cancer cells, cell viability was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Apoptosis was examined with flow cytometry. Transfection assay was used to examine autophagy flow. Western blot was used to examine the expressions of related proteins. Results suggested that fucoidan could induce autophagy and might enhance the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. Mechanistically, fucoidan induced autophagy in breast cancer cells by down-regulating m-TOR/p70S6K/TFEB pathway. In conclusion, our research revealed that fucoidan could induce autophagy of breast cancer cells by mediating m-TOR/p70S6K/TFEB pathway, thus inhibiting tumor development. Furthermore, fucoidan might enhance the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to ADM and DDP, and this enhancement was related to autophagy.

TM7SF2 regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis by activation of C-Raf/ERK pathway in cervical cancer

Transmembrane 7 superfamily member 2 (TM7SF2) coding an enzyme involved in cholesterol metabolism has been found to be differentially expressed in kinds of tissues. Nevertheless, the role of TM7SF2 in the regulation of growth and progression among various cancers is unclear. In this study, the immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay, real-time RT-PCR and western blotting analysis were used to determine the TM7SF2 expression in cervical cancer tissues. Next, we used multiple methods to determine the ability of cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and cell cycle in cervical cancer cells after TM7SF2 modulation, such as CCK8 assay, colony formation assay, Transwell assay, wound healing assay, and flow cytometry. Our results revealed that upregulation of TM7SF2 facilitated cell proliferation and metastasis, suppressed cell apoptosis and prevented G0/G1 phase arrests in C33A and SiHa cells. Consistently, the opposite effects were observed after TM7SF2 knockout in cervical cancer cells. Further, we found that TM7SF2 participated in promoting tumorigenesis and progression via activation of C-Raf/ERK pathway in cervical cancer, which can be partly reversed by Raf inhibitor LY3009120. Moreover, TM7SF2 overexpression contributed to enhancement of xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Our findings indicated that TM7SF2 plays a vital role in tumor promotion by involving in C-Raf/ERK activation. Therefore, TM7SF2 could serve as a therapeutic target in future cervical cancer treatment.

Mechanism of interaction between autophagy and apoptosis in cancer

The mechanisms of two programmed cell death pathways, autophagy, and apoptosis, are extensively focused areas of research in the context of cancer. Both the catabolic pathways play a significant role in maintaining cellular as well as organismal homeostasis. Autophagy facilitates this by degradation and elimination of misfolded proteins and damaged organelles, while apoptosis induces canonical cell death in response to various stimuli. Ideally, both autophagy and apoptosis have a role in tumor suppression, as autophagy helps in eliminating the tumor cells, and apoptosis prevents their survival. However, as cancer proceeds, autophagy exhibits a dual role by enhancing cancer cell survival in response to stress conditions like hypoxia, thereby promoting chemoresistance to the tumor cells. Thus, any inadequacy in either of their levels can lead to tumor progression. A complex array of biomarkers is involved in maintaining coordination between the two by acting as either positive or negative regulators of one or both of these pathways of cell death. The resulting crosstalk between the two and its role in influencing the survival or death of malignant cells makes it quintessential, among other challenges facing chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer. In view of this, the present review aims to highlight some of the factors involved in maintaining their diaphony and stresses the importance of inhibition of cytoprotective autophagy and deletion of the intermediate pathways involved to facilitate tumor cell death. This will pave the way for future prospects in designing drug combinations facilitating the synergistic effect of autophagy and apoptosis in achieving cancer cell death.

Cancer-fighting potentials of algal polysaccharides as nutraceuticals

Cancer has been listed as one of the world's five incurable diseases by the World Health Organization and causes tens of thousands of deaths every year. Unfortunately, anticancer agents either show limited efficacy or show serious side effects. The algae possess high nutritional value and their polysaccharides have a variety of biological activities, especially anti-cancer and immunomodulatory properties. Algal polysaccharides exert anti-cancer effects by inducing apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, anti-angiogenesis, and regulating intestinal flora and immune function. Algal polysaccharides can be combined with nanoparticles and other drugs to reduce the side effects caused by chemotherapy and increase the anticancer effects. This review shows the signal pathways related to the anti-cancer mechanisms of algal polysaccharides, including their influence on intestinal flora and immune regulation, the application of nanoparticles, and the effects on combination therapy and clinical trials of cancer treatments.

Potential therapeutic compounds from traditional Chinese medicine targeting endoplasmic reticulum stress to alleviate rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease which affects about 0.5-1% of people with symptoms that significantly impact a sufferer's lifestyle. The cells involved in propagating RA tend to display pro-inflammatory and cancer-like characteristics. Medical drug treatment is currently the main avenue of RA therapy. However, drug options are limited due to severe side effects, high costs, insufficient disease retardation in a majority of patients, and therapeutic effects possibly subsiding over time. Thus there is a need for new drug therapies. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, a condition due to accumulation of misfolded proteins in the ER, and subsequent cellular responses have been found to be involved in cancer and inflammatory pathologies, including RA. ER stress protein markers and their modulation have therefore been suggested as therapeutic targets, such as GRP78 and CHOP, among others. Some current RA therapeutic drugs have been found to have ER stress-modulating properties. Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) frequently use natural products that affect multiple body and cellular targets, and several medicines and/or their isolated compounds have been found to also have ER stress-modulating capabilities, including TCMs used in RA treatment by Chinese Medicine practitioners. This review encourages, in light of the available information, the study of these RA-treating, ER stress-modulating TCMs as potential new pharmaceutical drugs for use in clinical RA therapy, along with providing a list of other ER stress-modulating TCMs utilized in treatment of cancers, inflammatory diseases and other diseases, that have potential use in RA treatment given similar ER stress-modulating capacity.

TLR4/TRAF6/NOX2 signaling pathway is involved in ventilation-induced lung injury via endoplasmic reticulum stress in murine model

In ventilation-induced lung injury (VILI), prolonged nonpathogen-mediated inflammation is triggered as a result of alveolar hyperinflation. In our previous study, we suggested that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated inflammation was involved in VILI, but how ER stress is triggered remains unknown. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation plays an important role in mechanical ventilation (MV)-induced lung inflammation, however, it is unknown whether ER stress is activated by TLR4 to participate in VILI. In this study, C57BL/6 mice were exposed to MV with high tidal volumes (HTV 20 ml/kg). Mice were pretreated with TAK-242 the TLR4 inhibitor, C25-140, the TRAF6 inhibitor, or GSK2795039, the NOX2 inhibitor. Lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected to measure lung injury, inflammatory responses and mRNA/protein expression associated with ER stress and the TLR4/TRAF6/NOX2 signaling pathway. Our results indicate that MV with HTV caused the TLR4/TRAF6/NOX2 signaling pathway activation and production of large amounts of ROS, which led to ER stress and NF-κB mediated inflammation in VILI. Furthermore, TLR4/TRAF6/NOX2 signaling pathway inhibition attenuated ER stress response and alleviate lung injury in mice.