Dietary approach to attenuate human pancreatic cancer growth and migration with innoxiousness

A mechanistic review of the pharmacological potential of narirutin: a dietary flavonoid

Flavanones, a type of polyphenol, are found in substantial amounts in citrus fruits. When high- or moderate-dose orange juice consumption occurs, flavanones make up a significant portion of the total polyphenols in plasma. Disaccharide derivative narirutin, mainly dihydroxy flavanone, is found in citrus fruits. The substantial chemotherapeutic potential of narirutin has been amply demonstrated by numerous experimental studies. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to compile the research that has already been done showing narirutin to be a promising anticancer drug, with its mechanism of action being documented in treatment plans for various cancer forms. Narirutin functions in a variety of cancer cells by regulating several pathways that include cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, antiangiogenic, antimetastatic, and DNA repair. Narirutin has been shown to modify many molecular targets linked to the development of cancer, including drug transporters, cell cycle mediators, transcription factors, reactive oxygen species, reactive nitrogen species, and inflammatory cytokines. Taken together, these reviews offer important new information about narirutin's potential as a potent and promising drug candidate for use in medicines, functional foods, dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, and other products targeted at improving the treatment of cancer.

Hesperidin Induced HePG-2 Cell Apoptosis through ROS-Mediated p53/Bcl-2/Bax and p-mTOR Signaling Pathways

Recently, research showed that one of the most common kinds of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is also the fourth main cause of cancer deaths. In studies regarding chemicals to better treat the disease, hesperidin shows a novel potential in performing anticancer activities, particularly in liver cancer. However, the specific mechanism of hesperidin that causes such activities remains a mystery. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate hesperidin’s effect on cell proliferation and activation of ROS-mediated signaling pathways in HePG-2 cells. Hesperidin shows a significant impact on inhibiting HePG-2 cells’ proliferation through induction of cell apoptosis by Bcl-2, Bax, and p53 pathways. Treating cells with hesperidin in a dose-dependent manner shows a significant increase in the apoptotic cell population (sub-G1). Moreover, Hesperidin’s induction of apoptotic activities shows dependence on ROS (reactive oxygen species) overproduction, further affecting the p-mTOR pathways and leading to DNA damage. Hence, the overall data demonstrate that ROS-mediated signaling pathways exhibit mechanisms that may lead to useful information for interpreting hesperidin-induced hepatocarcinoma cell apoptosis.

Prospective multifunctional roles and pharmacological potential of dietary flavonoid narirutin

Plant-based phytochemicals are now being used to treat plenty of physiological diseases. Herbal drugs have gained popularity in recent years because of their strength, purity, and cheap cost-effectiveness. Citrus fruits contain significant amounts of flavanones, which falls to the category of polyphenols. Flavanones occupy a major fraction of the total polyphenols present in the plasma when orange juice is taken highly or in moderate states. Narirutin is a disaccharide derivative available in citrus fruits, primarily dihydroxy flavanone. From a pharmacological viewpoint, narirutin is a bioactive phytochemical with therapeutic efficacy. Many experimental researches were published on the use of narirutin. Anticancer activity, neuroprotection, stress relief, hepatoprotection, anti-allergic activity, antidiabetic activity, anti-adipogenic activity, anti-obesity action, and immunomodulation are a couple of the primary pharmacological properties. Narirutin also has antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. The ultimate goal of this review is to provide the current scenario of pharmacological research with narirutin; to make a better understanding for therapeutic potential of narirutin, as well as its biosynthesis strategies and side effects. Extensive literature searches and studies were undertaken to determine the pharmacological properties of narirutin.

Soluble TGFBI aggravates the malignancy of cholangiocarcinoma through activation of the ITGB1 dependent PPARγ signalling pathway

BACKGROUND

Cholangiocarcinoma is a devastating cancer with a poor prognosis. Previous reports have presented conflicting results on the role of transforming growth factor-β-induced protein (TGFBI) in malignant cancers. Currently, our understanding of the role of TGFBI in cholangiocarcinoma is ambiguous. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of TGFBI in human cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODS

Iterative patient partitioning (IPP) scoring and consecutive elimination methods were used to select prognostic biomarkers. mRNA and protein expression levels were determined using Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), Western blot and ELISA analyses. Biological activities of selected biomarkers were examined using both in vitro and in vivo assays. Prognostic values were assessed using Kaplan-Meier and Liptak's z score analyses.

RESULTS

TGFBI was selected as a candidate cholangiocarcinoma biomarker. GEO database analysis revealed significantly higher TGFBI mRNA expression levels in cholangiocarcinoma tissues compared to matched normal tissues. TGFBI protein was specifically detected in a soluble form in vitro and in vivo. TGFBI silencing evoked significant anti-cancer effects in vitro. Soluble TGFBI treatment aggravated the malignancy of cholangiocarcinoma cells both in vitro and in vivo through activation of the integrin beta-1 (ITGB1) dependent PPARγ signalling pathway. High TGFBI expression was associated with a poor prognosis in patients with cholangiocarcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that TGFBI may serve as a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for cholangiocarcinoma.

Evaluating the effect of Luffa cylindrica stem sap on dermal fibroblasts; An invitro study

Luffa cylindrica stem sap (LuCS) has been traditionally used as a facial cosmetic supplement to enhance the skin condition of Asians. However, LuCS has yet to be described and there is no solid scientific evidence regarding the use of LuCS as an anti-wrinkle agent. In the present study, we have evaluated the functional effect of LuCS and its underlying mechanisms based on scientific evidence. Treatment with LuCS stimulated the growth and migration of human skin fibroblasts. LuCS treatment activated EGFR signaling via the enhanced expression of EGFR and down-regulation of PPARγ in human skin fibroblasts. Exposure to LuCS induced the synthesis of cellular type I procollagen and elastin in consort with the down-regulation of various proteinases including MMP-1, -2 and -9 in human skin fibroblasts. LuCS treatment also reversed the skin damage induced by UV-A irradiation in human skin fibroblasts. 3-bromo-3-methylisoxazol-5-amine was identified as the functional component using UPLC-MS-MS analysis and increased production of cellular type I procollagen. Collectively, these results suggest the efficacy of LuCS supplementation in improving the skin condition via anti-wrinkle effect.

Scattered DUSP28 is a novel biomarker responsible for aggravating malignancy via the autocrine and paracrine signaling in metastatic pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most dangerous cancers with a grave prognosis. We have reported that dual specificity phosphatise 28 (DUSP28) could be secreted in pancreatic cancer cells. However, its biological function is poorly understood. Here, we distinguish the function of scattered DUSP28 in human pancreatic cancer. DUSP28 was specifically secreted to cultured medium in metastatic pancreatic cancer cells. Treatment with recombinant DUSP28 significantly increased the migration, invasion, and viability of metastatic pancreatic cancer cells through the activation of CREB, AKT, and ERK1/2 signaling pathways. In addition, administration of recombinant DUSP28 elicited pro-angiogenic effects in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Injection of recombinant DUSP28 also produced tumor growth in vivo. Of interest, DUSP28 formed an autocrine loop with integrin α1 (ITGα1) by transcriptional regulation and recombinant DUSP28 acted as an oncogenic reagent through the interaction with ITGα1. Notably, scattered DUSP28 could be detected in whole blood samples of pancreatic cancer patients by accessible immunoassay. These results provide the basis for DUSP28 as a promising therapeutic target and a biomarker for metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Combined administration of naringenin and hesperetin with optimal ratio maximizes the anti-cancer effect in human pancreatic cancer via down regulation of FAK and p38 signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

We have previously reported the functional anti-cancer effects of the products of enzymatic hydrolysis of Citrus unshiu peel (εCUP) and fermented extraction of Citrus unshiu peel (ƒCUP) in human pancreatic cancer. Despite their different characteristics and effects, the underlying mechanism remains elusive.

PURPOSE

In this study, we further demonstrate the impact of ingredient contents of Citrus unshiu peel on the cancer's natural features.

METHODS

Anti-pancreatic cancer activities following combined treatment of naringenin and hesperetin were demonstrated in vitro and in vivo experiments.

RESULTS

Combined treatment with naringenin and hesperetin inhibited the growth of human pancreatic cancer cells (εCUP mimic condition, p < 0.001 for Miapaca-2 cells) through induction of caspase-3 cleavage compared to separate treatment with naringenin or hesperetin. Combined treatment with naringenin and hesperetin also inhibited the migration (εCUP mimic condition, p < 0.001 for Panc-1 cells) of human pancreatic cancer cells. The εCUP mimic condition had the most effective anti-cancer features; in contrast, which had no inhibitory effect on growth and migration of normal cells (HUVECs and Detroit551 cells). In addition, εCUP mimic condition inhibited the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and p38 signaling compared with separate treatment with naringenin or hesperetin. Of note, εCUP mimic condition showed a prominent anti-growth effect (p < 0.001) compared with control or ƒCUP mimic condition in vivo xenograft models.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that combined treatment with naringenin and hesperetin might be a promising anti-cancer strategy for pancreatic cancers without eliciting toxicity on normal cells.

Hesperidin-CAMKIV interaction and its impact on cell proliferation and apoptosis in the human hepatic carcinoma and neuroblastoma cells

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CAMKIV) is a key regulatory molecule of cell signaling, and thereby controls its growth and proliferation, including expression of certain genes. The overexpression of CAMKIV is directly associated with the development of different types of cancers. Hesperidin is abundantly found in citrus fruits and exhibits wide range of pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anticancerous effects. We have investigated binding mechanism of hesperidin with the CAMKIV using molecular docking methods followed by fluorescence quenching and isothermal titration calorimetric assays. An appreciable binding affinity of hesperidin was observed with CAMKIV during fluorescence quenching and isothermal titration calorimetric studies. Efficacy of hesperidin to inhibit the growth of human hepatic carcinoma (HepG2) and neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cancer cell lines were investigated. Hesperidin has significantly reduced the proliferation of HepG2 and SH-SY5Y cells and induces apoptosis by activating the caspase-3-dependent intrinsic pathway through the upregulation of proapoptotic Bax protein. Hesperidin treatment reduces the mitochondrial membrane potential of HepG2 and SH-SY5Y cells. All these observations clearly anticipated hesperidin a potent inhibitor of CAMKIV which may be further exploited a newer therapeutic approach for the management of different cancer types.

Blockade of integrin α3 attenuates human pancreatic cancer via inhibition of EGFR signalling

The prognosis of pancreatic cancer remains dismal despite continuous and considerable efforts. Integrins (ITGs) are highly expressed in various malignant cancers. However, very few studies investigated the role of integrin α3 (ITGα3) in malignant cancers. Here, we determined the functional role of ITGα3 in pancreatic cancer. Analysis of public microarray databases and Western blot analysis indicated a unique expression of ITGα3 in human pancreatic cancer. Silencing ITGα3 expression significantly inhibited the viability and migration of human pancreatic cancer cells. Notably, ablation of ITGα3 expression resulted in a significant decrease of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression compared with transfection of control-siRNA through an increased number of leucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin-like domain protein 1 (LRIG1) expression. In addition, ablating ITGα3 inhibited tumour growth via blockade of EGFR signalling in vivo. Furthermore, the highly expressed ITGα3 led to a poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients. Our results provide novel insights into ITGα3-induced aggressive pancreatic cancer.

Fermented Extraction of Citrus unshiu Peel Inhibits Viability and Migration of Human Pancreatic Cancers

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most dangerous cancers with high mortality rates. Despite continuous efforts, there has been limited improvement in its prognosis. In this study, we prepared fermented extract of Citrus unshiu peel (fCUP) from the by-product after juice processing and then examined the anticancer effects of fCUP on human pancreatic cancer cells. Treatment with fCUP inhibited the growth of human pancreatic cancer cells through induction of caspase-3 cleavage both in vitro and in vivo. Treatment with fCUP also blocked the migration of human pancreatic cancer cells through activation of intracellular signaling pathways such as MKK3/6 and P38. In contrast, treatment with fCUP did not inhibit growth and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. In addition, we found that fCUP mainly consisted of aboriginal compounds, narirutin and hesperidin, as well as newly generated compounds, naringenin and hesperetin. In silico analysis showed that naringenin and hesperetin were the unique modules related to anticancer effect. Furthermore, fCUP exhibited the anticancer effects in in vivo xenograft models. Collectively, these results suggest that fCUP might have the potential to be developed into an effective anticancer drug for pancreatic cancers without causing adverse side-effects.