Berberine exerts antioxidant effects via protection of spiral ganglion cells against cytomegalovirus-induced apoptosis

Unlocking the potential of Berberine: Advancing cancer therapy through chemosensitization and combination treatments

Despite considerable progress in cancer treatment options, resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs remains a significant challenge. This review focuses on Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid found in various medicinal plants, which has garnered attention in the field of oncology for its anticancer potential either alone or in combination with other compounds and its ability to modulate chemoresistance, acting as a natural chemosensitizer. BBR's ability to modulate chemoresistance is attributed to its diverse mechanisms of action, including inducing DNA breaks, inhibition of drug efflux pumps, modulation of apoptosis and necroptosis, downregulating multidrug resistance genes, enhancing immune response, suppressing angiogenesis and targeting multiple pathways within cancer cells, including protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (Akt/mTOR), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP1), janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT), Wnt/β-catenin etc. Moreover, BBR, in combination with other compounds, also offers a promising approach to cancer therapy, enforcing its broad-spectrum anticancer effects. Therefore, this review aims to elucidate the intricate mechanism of action of BBR in combinatorial therapy as a potential chemosensitizer to increase the efficiency of several drugs, including cisplatin, doxorubicin, lapatinib, tamoxifen, irinotecan, niraparib, etc. in various cancers. Additionally, this review briefly covers the origin and biological activities of BBR, exploring the specific actions underlying its anticancer effects. Further, pharmacokinetic properties of BBR are also discussed, providing insight into its therapeutic potential and optimization of its use in cancer treatment.

Unveiling the Role of Oxidative Stress in Cochlear Hair Cell Death: Prospective Phytochemical Therapeutics against Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Hearing loss represents a multifaceted and pervasive challenge that deeply impacts various aspects of an individual's life, spanning psychological, emotional, social, and economic realms. Understanding the molecular underpinnings that orchestrate hearing loss remains paramount in the quest for effective therapeutic strategies. This review aims to expound upon the physiological, biochemical, and molecular aspects of hearing loss, with a specific focus on its correlation with diabetes. Within this context, phytochemicals have surfaced as prospective contenders in the pursuit of potential adjuvant therapies. These compounds exhibit noteworthy antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which hold the potential to counteract the detrimental effects induced by oxidative stress and inflammation-prominent contributors to hearing impairment. Furthermore, this review offers an up-to-date exploration of the diverse molecular pathways modulated by these compounds. However, the dynamic landscape of their efficacy warrants recognition as an ongoing investigative topic, inherently contingent upon specific experimental models. Ultimately, to ascertain the genuine potential of phytochemicals as agents in hearing loss treatment, a comprehensive grasp of the molecular mechanisms at play, coupled with rigorous clinical investigations, stands as an imperative quest.

Enhancing Efficacy and Quality of Life in Patients with Herpes Zoster Infection in Hairy Cell Leukemia

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is an infrequent and persistent B-cell inert lymphoid leukemia. In this study, we present the case of a 71-year-old female patient with a previous diagnosis of variant HCL who experienced a severe herpes zoster infection leading to an extensive skin eruption. The patient's initial diagnosis of HCL occurred 7 years ago, and she underwent treatment with cladribine, interferon, COP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone), benztropine tablets + clarithromycin dispersible, and ibrutinib. Immune disorders resulting from repeated prior chemotherapy and targeted therapy may potentially precipitate herpes zoster infection. Despite an initial two-week period of unresponsiveness to antivirals and nerve nutrition treatments, the introduction of topical Coptis liquid to the treatment regimen yielded significant efficacy. This case report underscores the potential of Chinese medicine as an adjunct to conventional antiviral therapy in the management of herpes zoster infection in immunocompromised patients. This treatment protocol has the potential to enhance efficacy, enhance quality of life, and serve as a more robust foundation for clinical diagnosis and improved treatments.

NADPH Oxidase 3: Beyond the Inner Ear

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were formerly known as mere byproducts of metabolism with damaging effects on cellular structures. The discovery and description of NADPH oxidases (Nox) as a whole enzyme family that only produce this harmful group of molecules was surprising. After intensive research, seven Nox isoforms were discovered, described and extensively studied. Among them, the NADPH oxidase 3 is the perhaps most underrated Nox isoform, since it was firstly discovered in the inner ear. This stigma of Nox3 as "being only expressed in the inner ear" was also used by me several times. Therefore, the question arose whether this sentence is still valid or even usable. To this end, this review solely focuses on Nox3 and summarizes its discovery, the structural components, the activating and regulating factors, the expression in cells, tissues and organs, as well as the beneficial and detrimental effects of Nox3-mediated ROS production on body functions. Furthermore, the involvement of Nox3-derived ROS in diseases progression and, accordingly, as a potential target for disease treatment, will be discussed.

Induction mechanisms of autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum stress in intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury, inflammatory bowel disease, and colorectal cancer

In recent years, the incidence of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury (II/RI), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and colorectal cancer (CRC) has been gradually increasing, posing significant threats to human health. Autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) play important roles in II/RI. Damage caused by ischemia and cellular stress can activate ERS, which in turn initiates autophagy to clear damaged organelles and abnormal proteins, thereby alleviating ERS and maintaining the intestinal environment. In IBD, chronic inflammation damages intestinal tissues and activates autophagy and ERS. Autophagy is initiated by upregulating ATG genes and downregulating factors that inhibit autophagy, thereby clearing abnormal proteins, damaged organelles, and bacteria. Simultaneously, persistent inflammatory stimulation can also trigger ERS, leading to protein imbalance and abnormal folding in the ER lumen. The activation of ERS can maintain cellular homeostasis by initiating the autophagy process, thereby reducing inflammatory responses and cell apoptosis in the intestine. In CRC, excessive cell proliferation and protein synthesis lead to increased ERS. The activation of ERS, regulated by signaling pathways such as IRE1α and PERK, can initiate autophagy to clear abnormal proteins and damaged organelles, thereby reducing the negative effects of ERS. It can be seen that autophagy and ERS play a crucial regulatory role in the development of intestinal diseases. Therefore, the progress in targeted therapy for intestinal diseases based on autophagy and ERS provides novel strategies for managing intestinal diseases. In this paper, we review the advances in regulation of autophagy and ERS in intestinal diseases, emphasizing the potential molecular mechanisms for therapeutic applications.

Drug screening identifies aldose reductase as a novel target for treating cisplatin-induced hearing loss

Cisplatin is a frequently used chemotherapeutic medicine for cancer treatment. Permanent hearing loss is one of the most serious side effects of cisplatin, but there are few FDA-approved medicines to prevent it. We applied high-through screening and target fishing and identified aldose reductase, a key enzyme of the polyol pathway, as a novel target for treating cisplatin ototoxicity. Cisplatin treatment significantly increased the expression level and enzyme activity of aldose reductase in the cochlear sensory epithelium. Genetic knockdown or pharmacological inhibition of aldose reductase showed a significant protective effect on cochlear hair cells. Cisplatin-induced overactivation of aldose reductase led to the decrease of NADPH/NADP+ and GSH/GSSG ratios, as well as the increase of oxidative stress, and contributed to hair cell death. Results of target prediction, molecular docking, and enzyme activity detection further identified that Tiliroside was an effective inhibitor of aldose reductase. Tiliroside was proven to inhibit the enzymatic activity of aldose reductase via competitively interfering with the substrate-binding region. Both Tiliroside and another clinically approved aldose reductase inhibitor, Epalrestat, inhibited cisplatin-induced oxidative stress and subsequent cell death and thus protected hearing function. These findings discovered the role of aldose reductase in the pathogenesis of cisplatin-induced deafness and identified aldose reductase as a new target for the prevention and treatment of hearing loss.

Berberine protects against neomycin-induced ototoxicity by reducing ROS generation and activating the PI3K/AKT pathway

In mammals, aminoglycoside antibiotic-induced injury to hair cells (HCs) and associated spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) is irreversible and eventually leads to permanent hearing loss. Efforts have been directed towards the advancement of efficacious therapeutic treatments to protect hearing loss, but the ideal substance for treating the damaged cochlear sensory epithelium has yet to be identified. Berberine (BBR), a quaternary ammonium hydroxide extracted from Coptis chinensis, has been found to display potential anti-oxidant and neuroprotective properties. However, its involvement in aminoglycoside antibiotic-induced ototoxicity has yet to be explored or assessed. In the present study, we explored the possible anti-oxidative properties of BBR in mitigating neomycin-triggered ototoxicity. An improved survival of HCs and SGN nerve fibers (NFs) in organ of Corti (OC) explants after neomycin with BBR co-treatment was observed, and BBR treatment attenuated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and reduced cleaved caspase-3 signaling by activating six phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling relative subtypes, and the addition of PI3K/AKT suppressor LY294002 resulted in a decrease in the protective effect. The protective effect of BBR against ototoxicity was also evident in a neomycin-injured animal model, as evidenced by the preservation of HC and SGN in mice administered subcutaneous BBR for 7 days. In summary, all results suggest that BBR has potential as a new and effective otoprotective agent, operating via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Neuroprotective Properties of Berberine: Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Implications

Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid natural product, is isolated primarily from Coptis chinensis and other Berberis plants. BBR possesses various bioactivities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammation, anticancer, immune-regulation, and antimicrobial activities. Growing scientific evidence underscores BBR's substantial neuroprotective potential, prompting increased interest and scrutiny. In this comprehensive review, we elucidate the neuroprotective attributes of BBR, delineate the underlying molecular mechanisms, and assess its clinical safety and efficacy. The multifaceted molecular mechanisms responsible for BBR's neuroprotection encompass the attenuation of oxidative stress, mitigation of inflammatory responses, inhibition of apoptotic pathways, facilitation of autophagic processes, and modulation of CYP450 enzyme activities, neurotransmitter levels, and gut microbiota composition. Furthermore, BBR engages numerous signaling pathways, including the PI3K/Akt, NF-κB, AMPK, CREB, Nrf2, and MAPK pathways, to confer its neuroprotective effects. This comprehensive review aims to provide a substantial knowledge base, stimulate broader scientific discourse, and facilitate advancements in the application of BBR for neuroprotection.

Current understanding and future prospects on Berberine for anticancer therapy

Berberine (BBR) is a potential plant metabolite and has remarkable anticancer properties. Many kinds of research are being focused on the cytotoxic activity of berberine in in vitro and in vivo studies. A variety of molecular targets which lead to the anticancer effect of berberine ranges from p-53 activation, Cyclin B expression for arresting cell cycles; protein kinase B (AKT), MAP kinase and IKB kinase for antiproliferative activity; effect on beclin-1 involved in autophagy; reduced expression of MMP-9 and MMP-2 for the inhibition of invasion and metastasis etc. Berberine also interferes with transcription factor-1 (AP-1) activity responsible for the expression of oncogenes and neoplastic transformation of the cell. It also leads to the inhibition of various enzymes which are directly or indirectly involved in carcinogenesis like N acetyl transferase, Cyclo-oxygenase-2, Telomerase and Topoisomerase. In addition to these actions, Berberine plays a role in, the regulation of reactive oxygen species and inflammatory cytokines in preventing cancer formation. Berberine anticancer properties are demonstrated due to the interaction of berberine with micro-RNA. The summarized information presented in this review article may help and lead the researchers, scientists/industry persons to use berberine as a promising candidate against cancer.

Murine cytomegalovirus employs the mixed lineage kinases family to regulate the spiral ganglion neuron cell death and hearing loss

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-induced sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a worldwide epidemic. Recent studies have shown that the degree of spiral ganglion neuron (SGN) loss is correlated with hearing loss after CMV infection. We aimed to better understand the pathological mechanisms of CMV-related SGN death and to search for intervention measures. We found that both apoptosis and pyroptosis are involved in CMV-induced SGN death, which may be caused by the simultaneous activation of the p53/JNK and NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathways, respectively. Moreover, considering that mixed lineage kinase family (MLK1/2/3) are host restriction factors against viral infection and upstream regulators of the p53/JNK and inflammatory (including NLRP3-caspase1) signaling pathways, we further demonstrated that the MLKs inhibitor URMC-099 exhibited a protective effect against CMV-induced SGN death and hearing loss. These results indicate that MLKs signaling may be a key regulator and promising novel target for preventing apoptosis and even pyroptosis during the CMV infection of SGN cells and for treating hearing loss.

Emerging trends and research foci of berberine on tumor from 2002 to 2021: A bibliometric article of the literature from WoSCC

Background: Cancer, also known as a malignant tumor, is caused by the activation of oncogenes, which leads to the uncontrolled proliferation of cells that results in swelling. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is one of the main causes of death worldwide. The main variables limiting the efficacy of anti-tumor treatments are side effects and drug resistance. The search for natural, safe, low toxicity, and efficient chemical compounds in tumor research is essential. Berberine is a pentacyclic isoquinoline quaternary ammonium alkaloid isolated from Berberis and Coptis that has long been used in clinical settings. Studies in recent years have reported the use of berberine in cancer treatment. In this study, we performed a bibliometric analysis of berberine- and tumor-related research. Materials and methods: Relevant articles from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2021, were identified from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) of Clarivate Analytics. Microsoft Excel, CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and an online platform were used for the literary metrology analysis. Results: A total of 1368 publications had unique characteristics. Publications from China were the most common (783 articles), and Y. B. Feng (from China) was the most productive author, with the highest total citations. China Medical University (Taiwan) and Sun Yat-sen University (China) were the two organizations with the largest numbers of publications (36 each). Frontiers in Pharmacology was the most commonly occurring journal (29 articles). The present body of research is focused on the mechanism, molecular docking, and oxidative stress of berberine in tumors. Conclusion: Research on berberine and tumors was thoroughly reviewed using knowledge map and bibliometric methods. The results of this study reveal the dynamic evolution of berberine and tumor research and provide a basis for strategic planning in cancer research.

Sestrin 2 Deficiency Exacerbates Noise-Induced Cochlear Injury Through Inhibiting ULK1/Parkin-Mediated Mitophagy

Aims: Noise damage to auditory hair cells is associated with oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. This study aimed to investigate the possible effect of sestrin 2 (SESN2), an endogenous antioxidant protein, on noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and the underlying mechanisms. Results: We identified SESN2 as a protective factor against oxidative stress in NIHL through activation of Parkin-mediated mitophagy. Consistently, SESN2 expression was increased and mitophagy was induced during the early stage after a temporary threshold shift due to noise exposure or hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) stimulation; conversely, SESN2 deficiency blocked mitophagy and exacerbated acoustic trauma. Mechanistically, SESN2 interacted with Unc-51-like protein kinase 1(ULK1), promoting ULK1 protein-level stabilization by interfering with its proteasomal degradation. This stabilization is essential for mitophagy initiation, since restoring ULK1 expression in SESN2-silenced cells rescued mitophagy defects. Innovation and Conclusion: Our results provide novel insights regarding SESN2 as a therapeutic target against noise-induced cochlear injury, possibly through improved mitophagy. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 38, 115-136.

Effects of berberine on leukemia with a focus on its molecular targets

Leukemia is a common cancer among both women and men worldwide. Besides the fact that finding new treatment methods may enhance the life quality of patients, there are several problems that we face today in treating leukemia patients, such as drugs side effects and acquired resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. Berberine is a bioactive alkaloid found in herbal plants (e.g. Rhizoma coptidis and Cortex phellodendri) and exerts several beneficial functions, including anti-tumor activities. Furthermore, berberine exerts antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects. Up to now, some studies have investigated the roles of berberine in different types of leukemia, including acute myeloid leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In this review, a detailed description of berberine roles in leukemia is provided. We discuss how berberine involves different molecular targets (e.g. interleukins and cyclins) and signaling pathways (e.g. mTOR and PI3K) to exert its anti-tumor functions and how berberine is effective in leukemia treatment when combined with other therapeutic drugs.

PI3K/AKT Signal Pathway: A Target of Natural Products in the Prevention and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are two typical neurodegenerative diseases that increased with aging. With the emergence of aging population, the health problem and economic burden caused by the two diseases also increase. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway regulates signal transduction and biological processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis and metabolism. According to reports, it regulates neurotoxicity and mediates the survival of neurons through different substrates such as forkhead box protein Os (FoxOs), glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), and caspase-9. Accumulating evidences indicate that some natural products can play a neuroprotective role by activating PI3K/AKT pathway, providing an effective resource for the discovery of potential therapeutic drugs. This article reviews the relationship between AKT signaling pathway and AD and PD, and discusses the potential natural products based on the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to treat two diseases in recent years, hoping to provide guidance and reference for this field. Further development of Chinese herbal medicine is needed to treat these two diseases.

ROS-Responsive Nanoparticle as a Berberine Carrier for OHC-Targeted Therapy of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammation are two key pathogeneses of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), which leads to outer hair cell (OHC) damage and hearing loss. In this work, we successfully developed ROS-responsive nanoparticles as berberine (BBR) carriers (PL-PPS/BBR) for OHC-targeted therapy of NIHL: Prestin-targeting peptide 2 (PrTP2)-modified nanoparticles (PL-PPS/BBR), which effectively accumulated in OHC areas, and poly(propylene sulfide)₁₂₀ (PPS₁₂₀), which scavenged ROS and converted to poly(propylene sulfoxide)₁₂₀ in a ROS environment to disintegrate and provoke the rapid release of BBR with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In this study, satisfactory anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of PL-PPS/BBR were confirmed. Immunofluorescence and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that PL-PPS/BBR effectively accumulated in OHCs and protected the morphological integrity of OHCs. The auditory brainstem response (ABR) results demonstrated that PL-PPS/BBR significantly improved hearing in NIHL guinea pigs after noise exposure. This work suggested that PL-PPS/BBR may be a new potential treatment for noise-associated injury with clinical application.

Characterizing the structure-activity relationships of natural products, tanshinones, reveals their mode of action in inhibiting spleen tyrosine kinase

The cytosolic non-receptor protein kinase, spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK), is an attractive drug target in autoimmune, inflammatory disorder, and cancers indications. Here, we employed pharmacophore-based drug screening combined with biochemical assay and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to identify and characterize inhibitors targeting SYK. The built pharmacophore model, phar-TanI, successfully identified tanshinone (TanI (IC50 = 1.72 μM)) and its analogs (TanIIA (IC50 = 3.2 μM), ST32da (IC50 = 46 μM), and ST32db (IC50 = 51 μM)) which apparently attenuated the activities of SYK in vitro. Additionally, the MD simulations followed by Ligplot analyses revealed that TanI and TanIIA interfered SYK activity through binding deeply into the active site. Besides, TanI and TanIIA mainly interact with residues L377, A400, V433, M448, M450, A451, E452, L453, G454, P455, and L501, which are functional hotspots for structure-based inhibitor optimization against SYK. The structure-activity relationships (SAR) study of the identified SYK inhibitors demonstrated that the pharmacophore model, phar-TanI is reliable and precise in screening inhibitors against SYK. This study disclosed the structure-function relationships of tanshinones from Traditional Chinese Medicine (Danshen), revealing their binding site and mode of action in inhibiting SYK and provides applicability in developing new therapeutic agents.

The Anti-Cancer Mechanisms of Berberine: A Review

Berberine (BBR) has been extensively studied in vivo and vitro experiments. BBR inhibits cell proliferation by regulating cell cycle and cell autophagy, and promoting cell apoptosis. BBR also inhibits cell invasion and metastasis by suppressing EMT and down-regulating the expression of metastasis-related proteins and signaling pathways. In addition, BBR inhibits cell proliferation by interacting with microRNAs and suppressing telomerase activity. BBR exerts its anti-inflammation and antioxidant properties, and also regulates tumor microenvironment. This review emphasized that BBR as a potential anti-inflammation and antioxidant agent, also as an effective immunomodulator, is expected to be widely used in clinic for cancer therapy.

Berberine Protects Mice Against Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis by Activating mTORC1 Pathway

Berberine is a plant alkaloid that can be extracted from many Chinese herbs. It has been reported that berberine could protect mice from ulcerative colitis, but the mechanism remains unclear. The current study’s aim was to determine the potential mechanism by which berberine exhibits its anti-inflammatory function. Mice with colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) were administered with berberine at 50 mg/kg by gavage. Berberine significantly increased the proportion of regulatory T cells (Treg cells). The targeted metabolomics analysis was then performed to find that glutamine and glutamate metabolism played an important role in the process of regulating immune response. mTORC1 pathway was reported to closely relate with glutamine metabolism. As a result, the relative expression levels of downstream effector genes of mTORC were further determined, and data obtained showed that berberine could significantly increase the relative expression levels of S6K1 and 4EBP1. In addition, rapamycin was used to inhibit mTORC1 signaling, and it was found that colon length, disease associated index (DAI), and proportion of Treg cells of mice in the rapamycin-DSS group were not different from those of mice in the rapamycin/berberine-DSS group. Together, these results suggest that berberine exhibits significant protective effects against DSS colitis by activating the mTORC1 pathway to increase the proportion of Treg cells.

Discovery of a Natural Syk Inhibitor from Chinese Medicine through a Docking-Based Virtual Screening and Biological Assay Study

Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) is a critical target protein for treating immunoreceptor signalling-mediated allergies. In this study, a virtual screening of an in-house Chinese medicine database followed by biological assays was carried out to identify novel Syk inhibitors. A molecular docking method was employed to screen for compounds with potential Syk inhibitory activity. Then, an in vitro kinase inhibition assay was performed to verify the Syk inhibitory activity of the virtual screening hits. Subsequently, a β-hexosaminidase release assay was conducted to evaluate the anti-mast cell degranulation activity of the active compounds. Finally, tanshinone I was confirmed as a Syk inhibitor (IC₅₀ = 1.64 μM) and exhibited anti-mast cell degranulation activity in vitro (IC₅₀ = 2.76 μM). Docking studies showed that Pro455, Gln462, Leu377, and Lys458 were key amino acid residues for Syk inhibitory activity. This study demonstrated that tanshinone I is a Syk inhibitor with mast cell degranulation inhibitory activity. Tanshinone I may be a potential lead compound for developing effective and safe Syk-inhibiting drugs.