Marine natural compound cyclo(L-leucyl-L-prolyl) peptide inhibits migration of triple negative breast cancer cells by disrupting interaction of CD151 and EGFR signaling

Molecular authentication, metabolite profiling and in silico-in vitro cytotoxicity screening of endophytic Penicillium ramusculum from Withania somnifera for breast cancer therapeutics

In the present study, we isolated a potent endophytic fungus from the roots of Withania somnifera. The endophytic fungal strain was authenticated as Penicillium ramusculum SVWS3 based on morphological and molecular sequencing using four gene data and phylogenetic analyses. In vitro cytotoxicity studies unveiled the remarkable cytotoxic potential of the crude extract derived from P. ramusculum, exhibiting dose-dependent effects on MDA-MB-468 and MCF-7 cells. At a concentration of 100 µg/mL, the crude extract resulted in cell viability of 29.78% for MDA-MB-468 cells and 14.61% for MCF-7 cells. The IC50 values were calculated as 62.83 ± 0.93 µg/mL and 17.23 ± 1.43 µg/mL, respectively for MDA-MB-468 and MCF-7 cells. Caspase activation assay established the underlying mechanism of the crude extract depicting the activation of caspases 3 and 7, indicating the induction of apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. Chemotaxonomic profiling elucidated the ability of P. ramusculum to synthesize a diverse array of bioactive compounds, including Fasoracetam, Tryprostatin B, Odorinol, Thyronine, Brevianamide F, Proglumide, Perlolyrine, Tyrphostin B48, Baptifoline, etc. Molecular docking studies inferred that Baptifoline, Brevianamide F, Odorinol, Perlolyrine, Thyronine, Tryphostin B48, and Tryprostatin B were the lead compounds that could effectively interact with the five selected target receptors of breast cancer, further surpassing the positive controls analyzed. Pharmacokinetic profiling revealed that Baptifoline, Odorinol, and Thyronine depicted an excellent therapeutic profile of druggability. These findings collectively substantiate the anticancer activity of bioactive metabolites synthesized by P. ramusculum SVWS3. Hence, the endophytic P. ramusculum SVWS3 can be an authentic source for developing novel chemotherapeutic drug formulations.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03906-3.

Targeting of Tetraspanin CD81 with Monoclonal Antibodies and Small Molecules to Combat Cancers and Viral Diseases

Tetraspanin CD81 plays major roles in cell-cell interactions and the regulation of cellular trafficking. This cholesterol-embarking transmembrane protein is a co-receptor for several viruses, including HCV, HIV-1 and Chikungunya virus, which exploits the large extracellular loop EC2 for cell entry. CD81 is also an anticancer target implicated in cancer cell proliferation and mobility, and in tumor metastasis. CD81 signaling contributes to the development of solid tumors (notably colorectal, liver and gastric cancers) and has been implicated in the aggressivity of B-cell lymphomas. A variety of protein partners can interact with CD81, either to regulate attachment and uptake of viruses (HCV E2, claudin-1, IFIM1) or to contribute to tumor growth and dissemination (CD19, CD44, EWI-2). CD81-protein interactions can be modulated with molecules targeting the extracellular domain of CD81, investigated as antiviral and/or anticancer agents. Several monoclonal antibodies anti-CD81 have been developed, notably mAb 5A6 active against invasion and metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer cells. CD81-EC2 can also be targeted with natural products (trachelogenin and harzianoic acids A-B) and synthetic compounds (such as benzothiazole-quinoline derivatives). They are weak CD81 binders but offer templates for the design of new compounds targeting the open EC2 loop. There is no anti-CD81 compound in clinical development at present, but this structurally well-characterized tetraspanin warrants more substantial considerations as a drug target.

Current therapeutic approaches and promising perspectives of using bioengineered peptides in fighting chemoresistance in triple-negative breast cancer

Breast cancer is a collation of malignancies that manifest in the mammary glands at the early stages. Among breast cancer subtypes, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) shows the most aggressive behavior, with apparent stemness features. Owing to the lack of response to hormone therapy and specific targeted therapies, chemotherapy remains the first line of the TNBC treatment. However, the acquisition of resistance to chemotherapeutic agents increase therapy failure, and promotes cancer recurrence and distant metastasis. Invasive primary tumors are the birthplace of cancer burden, though metastasis is a key attribute of TNBC-associated morbidity and mortality. Targeting the chemoresistant metastases-initiating cells via specific therapeutic agents with affinity to the upregulated molecular targets is a promising step in the TNBC clinical management. Exploring the capacity of peptides as biocompatible entities with the specificity of action, low immunogenicity, and robust efficacy provides a principle for designing peptide-based drugs capable of increasing the efficacy of current chemotherapy agents for selective targeting of the drug-tolerant TNBC cells. Here, we first focus on the resistance mechanisms that TNBC cells acquire to evade the effect of chemotherapeutic agents. Next, the novel therapeutic approaches employing tumor-targeting peptides to exploit the mechanisms of drug resistance in chemorefractory TNBC are described.

In Silico Methodologies to Improve Antioxidants' Characterization from Marine Organisms

Marine organisms have been reported to be valuable sources of bioactive molecules that have found applications in different industrial fields. From organism sampling to the identification and bioactivity characterization of a specific compound, different steps are necessary, which are time- and cost-consuming. Thanks to the advent of the -omic era, numerous genome, metagenome, transcriptome, metatranscriptome, proteome and microbiome data have been reported and deposited in public databases. These advancements have been fundamental for the development of in silico strategies for basic and applied research. In silico studies represent a convenient and efficient approach to the bioactivity prediction of known and newly identified marine molecules, reducing the time and costs of "wet-lab" experiments. This review focuses on in silico approaches applied to bioactive molecule discoveries from marine organisms. When available, validation studies reporting a bioactivity assay to confirm the presence of an antioxidant molecule or enzyme are reported, as well. Overall, this review suggests that in silico approaches can offer a valuable alternative to most expensive approaches and proposes them as a little explored field in which to invest.

Adaptive regulations of Nrf2 alleviates silver nanoparticles-induced oxidative stress-related liver cells injury

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in various fields such as industry, agriculture, and medical care because of their excellent broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. However, their extensive use has raised concerns about their health risks. Liver is one of the main target organs for the accumulation and action of AgNPs. Therefore, evaluating the toxic effects of AgNPs on liver cells and its mechanisms of action is crucial for the safe application of AgNPs. In the study, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated AgNPs were characterized. The human hepatoma cell line (HepG2) and the normal hepatic cell line (L02) were exposed to different concentrations of AgNPs (20-160 μg/mL) and pretreated with the addition of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or by Nrf2 siRNA transfection. NAC was able to inhibit the concentration-dependent increase in the level of apoptosis induced by AgNPs in HepG2 cells and L02 cells. Interestingly, HepG2 cells were more sensitive to AgNPs than L02 cells, and this may be related to the different ROS generation and responses to AgNPs by cancer cells and normal cells. In addition, NAC also alleviated the imbalance of antioxidant system and cell cycle arrest, which may be related to AgNPs-induced DNA damage and autophagy. The knockdown of nuclear factor erythroid-derived factor 2-related factor (Nrf2) found that AgNPs-induced ROS and apoptosis levels were further upregulated, but the cell cycle arrest was alleviated. On the whole, Nrf2 exerts a protective role in AgNPs-induced hepatotoxicity. This study complements the hepatotoxicity mechanisms of AgNPs and provides data for a future exploration of AgNPs-related anti-hepatocellular carcinoma drugs.

Recent advances of bioactive proteins/polypeptides in the treatment of breast cancer

Proteins do not only serve as nutrients to fulfill the demand for food, but also are used as a source of bioactive proteins/polypeptides for regulating physical functions and promoting physical health. Female breast cancer has the highest incidence in the world and is a serious threat to women's health. Bioactive proteins/polypeptides exert strong anti-tumor effects and exhibit inhibition of multiple breast cancer cells. This review discussed the suppressing effects of bioactive proteins/polypeptides on breast cancer in vitro and in vivo, and their mechanisms of migration and invasion inhibition, apoptosis induction, and cell cycle arrest. This may contribute to providing a basis for the development of bioactive proteins/polypeptides for the treatment of breast cancer.

Graphical abstract

Compounds from diverse natural origin against triple-negative breast cancer: A comprehensive review

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is caused due to the lack of estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), and human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) expression. Triple-negative breast cancer is the most aggressive heterogeneous disease that is capable of producing different clones and mutations. Tumorigenesis in TNBC is caused due to the mutation or overexpression of tumor suppressor genes. It is also associated with mutations in the BRCA gene which is linked to hereditary breast cancer. In addition, PARP proteins and checkpoint proteins also play a crucial function in causing TNBC. Many cell signaling pathways are dysregulated in TNBC. Even though chemotherapy and immunotherapy are good options for TNBC treatment, the response rates are still low in general. Many phytochemicals that are derived from natural compounds have shown very good inhibitions for TNBC. Natural compounds have the great advantage of being less toxic, having lesser side effects, and being easily available. The secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, and flavonoids in natural products make them promising inhibitors of TNBC. Their compositions also offer vital insights into inhibitory action, which could lead to new cancer-fighting strategies. This review can help in understanding how naturally occurring substances and medicinal herbs decrease specific tumors and pave the way for the development of novel and extremely efficient antitumor therapies.

Tetraspanin-enriched Microdomain Containing CD151, CD9, and TSPAN 8 - Potential Mediators of Entry and Exit Mechanisms in Respiratory Viruses Including SARS-CoV-2

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which originated in Wuhan, the Hubei region of China, has become a pandemic worldwide. It can transmit through droplets and enter via oral, nasal, and eye mucous membranes. It consists of single-stranded RNA (positive-sense), nonstructural proteins including enzymes and transcriptional proteins, and structural proteins such as Spike, Membrane, Envelope, and Nucleocapsid -proteins. SARS-CoV-2 mediates S-proteins entry and exit via binding to host cell surface proteins like tetraspanins. The transmembrane tetraspanins, CD151, CD9, and tetraspanin 8 (TSPAN8), facilitate the entry of novel coronaviruses by scaffolding host cell receptors and proteases. Also, CD151 was reported to increase airway hyperresponsiveness to calcium and nuclear viral export signaling. They may facilitate entry and exit by activating the serine proteases required to prime S-proteins in tetraspanin-enriched microdomains (TEMs). This article updates recent advances in structural proteins, their epitopes and putative receptors, and their regulation by proteases associated with TEMs. This review furnishes recent updates on the role of CD151 in the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2. We describe the role of CD151 in a possible mechanism of entry and exit in the airway, a major site for infection of SARS-CoV-2. We also updated current knowledge on the role of CD9 and TSPAN 8 in the entry and exit mechanism of coronaviruses. Finally, we discussed the importance of some small molecules which target CD151 as possible targeted therapeutics for COVID-19. In conclusion, this study could identify new targets and specific therapeutics to control emerging virus infections.

Integrin α3/α6 and αV are implicated in ADAM15-activated FAK and EGFR signalling pathway individually and promote non-small-cell lung cancer progression

Disintegrin-metalloproteinase 15(ADAM15), a member of disintegrin metalloproteinases (ADAMs), plays important roles in various cancer types. However, the underlying ADAM15 functioning in lung cancer is still unclear. In the present study, we find that ADAM15 regulates the epidermal growth factor receptor/focal adhesion kinase (EGFR/FAK) signalling pathway by interactions with integrins. Integrin αV is involved in ADAM15-mediated FAK signalling. Further, we find that ADAM15 and CD151 were co-expressed, and the presence of ADAM15 affected the integrin α3/α6-related EGFR signalling pathway by cooperating with CD151. In addition, we also prove the effect of ADAM15 on proliferation in nude mice. Finally, we show that ADAM15 is a direct target of miR-204-5p by luciferase reporter assays, qRT-PCR and western blot analyses. Our findings provide molecular and cellular evidence that ADAM15 promotes cell proliferation and metastasis in NSCLC, which might provide a potential target for NSCLC treatment.

Marine Migrastatics: A Comprehensive 2022 Update

Metastasis is responsible for the bad prognosis in cancer patients. Advances in research on metastasis prevention focus attention on the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer cell motility and invasion to improve therapies for long-term survival in cancer patients. The so-called “migrastatics” could help block cancer cell invasion and lead to the rapid development of antimetastatic therapies, improving conventional cancer therapies. In the relentless search for migrastatics, the marine environment represents an important source of natural compounds due to its enormous biodiversity. Thus, this review is a selection of scientific research that has pointed out in a broad spectrum of in vitro and in vivo models the anti-cancer power of marine-derived products against cancer cell migration and invasion over the past five years. Overall, this review might provide a useful up-to-date guide about marine-derived compounds with potential interest for pharmaceutical and scientific research on antimetastatic drug endpoints.

Epigenetics of Triple-negative breast cancer via natural compounds

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly resistant, lethal, and metastatic sub-division of breast carcinoma, characterized by the deficiency of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). In women, TNBC shows a higher aggressive behavior with poor patient prognosis and a higher recurrence rate during reproductive age. TNBC is defined by the presence of epithelial-to-mesenchymal-transition (EMT), which shows a significant role in cancer progression. At the epigenetic level, TNBC is characterized by epigenetic signatures, such as DNA methylation, histone remodeling, and a host of miRNA, MiR-193, LncRNA, HIF-2α, eEF2K, LIN9/NEK2, IMP3, LISCH7/TGF-β1, GD3s and KLK12 mediated regulation. These modifications either are silenced or activate the necessary genes that are prevalent in TNBC. The review is based on epigenetic mediated mechanistic changes in TNBC. Furthermore, Thymoquinone (TQ), Regorafenib, Fangjihuangqi decoction, Saikosaponin A, and Huaier, etc., are potent antitumor natural compounds extensively reported in the literature. Further, the review emphasizes the role of these natural compounds in TNBC and their possible epigenetic targets, which can be utilized as a potential therapeutic strategy in treatment of TNBC.

The Natural Products and Extracts: Anti-Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in Vitro

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) makes up 15 % to 20 % of all breast cancer (BC) cases, and represents one of the most challenging malignancies to treat. For many years, chemotherapy has been the main treatment option for TNBC. Natural products isolated from marine organisms and terrestrial organisms with great structural diversity and high biochemical specificity form a compound library for the assessment and discovery of new drugs. In this review, we mainly focused on natural compounds and extracts (from marine and terrestrial environments) with strong anti-TNBC activities (IC₅₀ <100 μM) and their possible mechanisms reported in the past six years (2015-2021).

Recent developments on production, purification and biological activity of marine peptides

Marine peptides are one of the richest sources of structurally diverse bioactive compounds and a considerable attention has been drawn towards their production and bioactivity. However, there is a paucity in consolidation of emerging trends encompassing both production techniques and biological application. Herein, we intend to review the recent advancements on different production, purification and identification technologies used for marine peptides along with presenting their potential health benefits. Bibliometric analysis revealed a growing number of scientific publications on marine peptides (268 documents per year) with both Asia (37.2%) and Europe (33.1%) being the major contributors. Extraction and purification by ultrafiltration and enzymatic hydrolysis, followed by identification by chromatographic techniques coupled with an appropriate detector could yield a high content of peptides with improved bioactivity. Moreover, the multifunctional health benefits exerted by marine peptides including anti-microbial, antioxidant, anti-hypertension, anti-diabetes and anti-cancer along with their structure-activity relationship were presented. The future perspective on marine peptide research should focus on finding improved separation and purification technologies with enhanced selectivity and resolution for obtaining more novel peptides with high yield and low cost. In addition, by employing encapsulation strategies such as nanoemulsion and nanoliposome, oral bioavailability and bioactivity of peptides can be greatly enhanced. Also, the potential health benefits that are demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo models should be validated by conducting human clinical trials for a technology transfer from bench to bedside.

Understanding the function of the tumor microenvironment, and compounds from marine organisms for breast cancer therapy

The pathology and physiology of breast cancer (BC), including metastasis, and drug resistance, is driven by multiple signaling pathways in the tumor microenvironment (TME), which hamper antitumor immunity. Recently, long non-coding RNAs have been reported to mediate pathophysiological develop-ments such as metastasis as well as immune suppression within the TME. Given the complex biology of BC, novel personalized therapeutic strategies that address its diverse pathophysiologies are needed to improve clinical outcomes. In this review, we describe the advances in the biology of breast neoplasia, including cellular and molecular biology, heterogeneity, and TME. We review the role of novel molecules such as long non-coding RNAs in the pathophysiology of BC. Finally, we provide an up-to-date overview of anticancer compounds extracted from marine microorganisms, crustaceans, and fishes and their synergistic effects in combination with other anticancer drugs. Marine compounds are a new discipline of research in BC and offer a wide range of anti-cancer effects that could be harnessed to target the various pathways involved in BC development, thus assisting current therapeutic regimens.

Small-Molecule Drug Discovery in Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Current Situation and Future Directions

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer, but an effective targeted therapy has not been well-established so far. Considering the lack of effective targets, where do we go next in the current TNBC drug development? A promising intervention for TNBC might lie in de novo small-molecule drugs that precisely target different molecular characteristics of TNBC. However, an ideal single-target drug discovery still faces a huge challenge. Alternatively, other new emerging strategies, such as dual-target drug, drug repurposing, and combination strategies, may provide new insight into the improvement of TNBC therapeutics. In this review, we focus on summarizing the current situation of a series of candidate small-molecule drugs in TNBC therapy, including single-target drugs, dual-target drugs, as well as drug repurposing and combination strategies that will together shed new light on the future directions targeting TNBC vulnerabilities with small-molecule drugs for future therapeutic purposes.

Downregulation of CD151 induces oxidative stress and apoptosis in trophoblast cells via inhibiting ERK/Nrf2 signaling pathway in preeclampsia

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-related syndrome characterized by new-onset hypertension and proteinuria after gestational 20 weeks. Oxidative stress, resulting from the imbalance between the production of oxidants and antioxidants in placentas, is recognized as a key pathology of PE. To date, the molecules that regulate antioxidants production remain unclear. CD151, a member of tetraspanins, is an important regulator of many physiological functions. However, the function of CD151 in oxidative stress and its association with pregnancy-related complications are currently unknown. In the present study, we have demonstrated that CD151 was a key regulator of antioxidants in placentas. Compared with the placentas of the controls, the placentas of PE patients exhibited decreased CD151 expression accompanying with decreased antioxidant gene expression (HO-1, NQO-1, GCLC and SOD-1). In vitro, overexpression of CD151 in trophoblast cells could enhance HO-1, NQO-1, GCLC and SOD-1 expression but downregulation of CD151 decreased those antioxidant genes expression, which indicates CD151 is the upstream of antioxidants. Importantly, the phenotype of PE (hypertension and proteinuria) was mimicked in the downregulating CD151 induced mouse model. Moreover, the beneficial effect of CD151 in trophoblast cells was hindered when ERK and Nrf2 signaling were blocked. Overall, our results revealed CD151 might be a new target for PE treatment.

Protein kinases as targets for developing anticancer agents from marine organisms

Protein kinases play a fundamental role in the intracellular transduction because of their ability to phosphorylate plethora of proteins. Over the past three decades, numerous protein kinase inhibitors have been identified and are being used clinically successfully. The biodiversity of marine organisms provides a rich source for the discovery and development of novel anticancer agents in the treatment of human malignancies and a lot of bioactive ingredients from marine organisms display anticancer effects by affecting the protein kinases-mediated pathways. In the present mini-review, anticancer compounds from marine source were reviewed and discussed in context of their targeted pathways associated with protein kinases and the progress of these compounds as anticancer agents in recent five years were emphasized. The molecular entities and their modes of actions were presented. We focused on protein kinases-mediated signaling pathways including PI3K/Akt/mTOR, p38 MAPK, and EGFR. The marine compounds targeting special pathways of protein kinases were highlighted. We have also discussed the existing challenges and prospects related to design and development of novel protein kinase inhibitors from marine sources.