WLIP derived from Lasiosphaera fenzlii Reich exhibits anti-tumor activity and induces cell cycle arrest through PPAR-γ associated pathways

Elevated circulating LncRNA NORAD fosters endothelial cell growth and averts ferroptosis by modulating the miR-106a/CCND1 axis in CAD patients

Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases, characterized by endothelial dysfunction and lipid accumulation. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as key regulators of endothelial cell behavior. This study aimed to investigate the role of lncRNA NORAD in endothelial cell proliferation and as a potential therapeutic target for atherosclerosis. A total of 75 CAD patients and 76 controls were recruited, and plasma NORAD levels were measured using qRT-PCR. HUVECs were transfected with si-NORAD to evaluate its effects on cell cycle, proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. Plasma NORAD levels were significantly elevated in CAD patients. The NORAD-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA regulatory network was constructed based on GEO database, and G1/S-specific cyclin-D1 (CCND1) was identified as one of the hub factors. NORAD deficiency suppressed cell migration and induced G1 cell cycle arrest in HUVECs by downregulating CCND1 in vitro. NORAD upregulated CCND1 in HUVECs via sponging miR-106a that inhibited cell migration. The dual-luciferase assay confirmed the direct targeting of miR-106a by NORAD, and overexpression of miR-106a inhibited HUVEC proliferation and migration. Si-NORAD transfection resulted in induced early apoptosis, increased intracellular ROS levels, decreased GSH levels, and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential. Additionally, si-NORAD decreased the expression of GPX4, FTH1, KEAP1, NCOA4, and Nrf2, while increasing Xct levels, confirming the involvement of ferroptosis. Our findings reveal that NORAD plays a critical role in endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis, and its silencing induces ferroptosis. The regulatory network involving NORAD, miR-106a, and their target genes provides a potential therapeutic avenue for atherosclerosis.

Natural compounds targeting nuclear receptors for effective cancer therapy

Human nuclear receptors (NRs) are a family of forty-eight transcription factors that modulate gene expression both spatially and temporally. Numerous biochemical, physiological, and pathological processes including cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, immune modulation, development, reproduction, and aging are extensively orchestrated by different NRs. The involvement of dysregulated NRs and NR-mediated signaling pathways in driving cancer cell hallmarks has been thoroughly investigated. Targeting NRs has been one of the major focuses of drug development strategies for cancer interventions. Interestingly, rapid progress in molecular biology and drug screening reveals that the naturally occurring compounds are promising modern oncology drugs which are free of potentially inevitable repercussions that are associated with synthetic compounds. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to draw our attention to the potential therapeutic effects of various classes of natural compounds that target NRs such as phytochemicals, dietary components, venom constituents, royal jelly-derived compounds, and microbial derivatives in the establishment of novel and safe medications for cancer treatment. This review also emphasizes molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways that are leveraged to promote the anti-cancer effects of these natural compounds. We have also critically reviewed and assessed the advantages and limitations of current preclinical and clinical studies on this subject for cancer prophylaxis. This might subsequently pave the way for new paradigms in the discovery of drugs that target specific cancer types.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel schisanhenol derivatives as potential hepatoprotective agents

Twenty-one new schisanhenol derivatives were synthesized, and their hepatoprotective effects against liver injury induced by concanavalin A (Con A) were evaluated in vitro using an MTT assay. The data indicated that most derivatives exhibited equivalent or better protective activity than the positive control (dimethyl dicarboxylate biphenyl, DDB) under the same conditions. Among them, compound 1b showed the most potent hepatoprotective activity against Con A-induced immunological injury. Mechanistic studies in vitro revealed that 1b inhibited cell apoptosis and inflammatory responses caused by Con A treatment via IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Consistently, it also exhibited significant hepatoprotective activity in mice with Con A-induced immunological liver injury. These results clearly indicated that 1b might be a highly potent hepatoprotective agent targeting IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Inhibition Effect of Dictyophora Polysaccharides on Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line HCC-LM3

Background

It has been reported that polysaccharides have potential novel anti-cancer properties. Previously, we confirmed that Dictyophora polysaccharides could significantly inhibit liver transplantation tumors in mice. However, the mechanism of Dictyophora polysaccharide action on human liver cancer is unclear. Here, we aimed to clarify the mechanism of Dictyophora polysaccharide action on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, namely the effect on cell proliferation, the cell cycle, and apoptosis, and on the apoptosis-related genes and proteins in vitro.

Material/Methods

The HCC-LM3 cell line was incubated with 2.5 mg/mL Dictyophora polysaccharides for 24, 48, and 72 h. The cell growth inhibition rate was evaluated using Cell Counting Kit-8. Cell cycle and apoptosis were measured with flow cytometry. The expression of apoptosis-related genes and proteins was measured using real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting, respectively.

Results

The Dictyophora polysaccharides inhibited HCC-LM3 cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner and blocked the cell cycle in the G₂/M phase. In addition, Bax and caspase-3 expression were significantly increased after Dictyophora polysaccharides treatment.

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first published study on the mechanism of Dictyophora polysaccharide inhibition of HCC-LM3 cell proliferation.

Structure, properties, and biological functions of nonribosomal lipopeptides from pseudomonads

Bacteria of the genusPseudomonasdisplay a fascinating metabolic diversity. In this review, we focus our attention on the natural product class of nonribosomal lipopeptides, which help pseudomonads to colonize a wide range of ecological niches.

Identification and Quantification of Secondary Metabolites by LC-MS from Plant-associated Pseudomonas aurantiaca and Pseudomonas chlororaphis

Increased antibiotic resistance of plants and human pathogens and continuous use of chemical fertilizers has pushed microbiologists to explore new microbial sources as potential antagonists. In this study, eight strains of Pseudomonas aurantiaca and Pseudomonas chlororaphis, have been isolated from different plant sources and screened for their antagonistic and plant growth promoting potential ( Shahid et al., 2017 ). All strains were compared with reference strain PB-St2 and their secondary metabolites were isolated by the use of solvent partitioning and subjected to LC/ESI/MS for confirmation of compounds. The ESI-mass spectra obtained were used to characterize the surfactants ionization behavior and [M + H]⁺ and [M + Na]⁺ ions were monitored for phenazines, derivatives of lahorenoic acid and cyclic lipopeptide (WLIP). LC-MS and HPLC methods were developed to see the elution of dominant metabolites in a single run to avoid the labor and separate methods of detection for all compounds. The method was found suitable and distinctively separated the compounds at different retention times in gradient flow. This method can be helpful to explore the metabolome of Pseudomonas sp. overall and in identification and quantification of strain specific metabolites.

First total synthesis of WLIP: on the importance of correct protecting group choice

Cyclic lipodepsipeptides (CLPs) are a group of metabolites produced by Pseudomonas bacteria, involved in various biological functions and displaying a wide range of properties, including antibacterial and antifungal activities. The white line-inducing principle (WLIP) is a member of the viscosin group featuring a Glu2 amino acid. Recently, a total synthesis of pseudodesmin A - the Gln2 counterpart of WLIP - was described, and we here expand this route to Glu2 containing CLPs. We report the first total synthesis of WLIP and at the same time establish that the Gln2 to Glu2 substitution has an adverse impact on the crude purity and overall yield. A comparative study of different CLP analogues reveals the importance of the nature of the Glx2 protecting group in determining these outcomes. Replacement of the conventional tBu protecting group by the larger benzyl group for the Glu residue in our synthesis strategy indeed resulted in an improved conversion. Next to achieving the first WLIP total synthesis, we thus show the importance of a careful choice of protecting groups for the success of this type of solid-phase synthesis approaches towards CLPs.

Bioactive compounds of Eriocaulon sieboldianum blocking proliferation and inducing apoptosis of HepG2 cells might be involved in Aurora kinase inhibition

Eriocaulon sieboldianum (Sieb. & Zucc. ex Steud.) is an edible and medicinal plant used in traditional Chinese medicine. Often in combination with other herbs, it is processed into healthcare beverages for expelling wind-heat, protecting eyes, and reducing blood lipids. Besides, its water decoction together with other herbs has been utilized to treat cancer in China. However, the active ingredients and the precise cellular mechanisms of E. sieboldianum remain to be elucidated. The Aurora kinase family plays critical roles in the regulation of cell division and has attracted great attention to the identification of small-molecule Aurora kinase inhibitors for potential treatment of cancer. A molecular docking study was employed for docking of the most bioactive compounds. Hispidulin (HPDL) and quercetin-3-O-(6''-O-galloyl)-β-D-galactopyranoside (QGGP) were singled out as potent inhibitors of Aurora kinase. Their inhibitory activity towards Aurora kinase was further confirmed by the obvious decrease in autophosphorylation of Aurora-A (Thr288) and Aurora-B (Thr232). Moreover, the induction of cell cycle arrest in HepG2 cells and the suppressed phosphorylation of histone H3 were also consistent with the inhibition of Aurora kinase. The data indicate that the E. sieboldianum extract and its two active compounds, HPDL and QGGP, could effectively induce apoptosis via p53, MAPKs and the mitochondrial apoptotic pathways. These findings could improve the understanding and enhance the development of drugs based on E. sieboldianum and raise its application value in anticancer therapy or prevention. In addition, our results indicated that Aurora kinase might be a novel target of HPDL and QGGP.

Extract of Calvatia gigantea inhibits proliferation of A549 human lung cancer cells

In this study, in order to investigate the anticancer mechanism of Calvatia gigantea extract, edible mushroom species, which belong to Lycoperdaceae family, changes of CCND1, CCND2, CDK4, p21, Akt, Bax, Bcl-2, p53, caspase-3 and caspase-9 were evaluated in A549 lung cancer cells. Cytotoxic effect of C. gigantea extract was evaluated by using XTT (2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5 carboxanilide). The C. gigantea extract was treated in a time and dose dependent manner within the range 25 μg/ml-2 mg/ml to determine the IC50 dose. IC50 dose for C. gigantea extract was detected as 500 μg/ml for 72 h. According to expression results, while CCND1, CCND2, CDK4, Akt and Bcl-2 expression clearly decreased, Bax, p53, caspase-3 and caspase-9 expression clearly increased in the dose group cells (A549 cells treated with 500 μg/ml dose of C. gigantea extract for 72 h). However, there was no change in p21 expression. C. gigantea extract induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by decreasing the CCND1, CCND2, CDK4, Akt and Bcl-2 expression and by increasing Bax, p53, caspase-3 and caspase-9 expression in A549 cells. Mushrooms are eukaryotic organisms heavily used because of their supposedly anticancer effect. Many mushroom species have been used for medical purposes, as a result of also having many effects such as antibiotic, antiviral and anticancer effects. It is thought that the C. gigantea extract may be a significant agent for treatment of lung cancer as a single agent or in combination with other drugs.