1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 3 suppresses gastric cancer cell growth through VDR- and mutant p53-mediated induction of p21

Potential of Natural Products in the Treatment of Glioma: Focus on Molecular Mechanisms

Despite the waning of traditional treatments for glioma due to possible long-term issues, the healing possibilities of substances derived from nature have been reignited in the scientific community. These natural substances, commonly found in fruits and vegetables, are considered potential alternatives to pharmaceuticals, as they have been shown in prior research to impact pathways surrounding cancer progression, metastases, invasion, and resistance. This review will explore the supposed molecular mechanisms of different natural components, such as berberine, curcumin, coffee, resveratrol, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, quercetin, tanshinone, silymarin, coumarin, and lycopene, concerning glioma treatment. While the benefits of a balanced diet containing these compounds are widely recognized, there is considerable scope for investigating the efficacy of these natural products in treating glioma.

Emerging perspectives: unraveling the anticancer potential of vitamin D3

Vitamin D3, a fat-soluble vitamin known for its critical function in calcium homeostasis and bone health, is gaining interest for its anticancer properties. Observational studies have suggested a negative relationship between vitamin D levels and the incidence of some malignancies throughout the years, prompting substantial investigation to find its anticancer effects. The purpose of this comprehensive review is to investigate the diverse function of vitamin D3 in cancer prevention and therapy. We explored the molecular mechanism underlying its effects on cancer cells, which range from cell cycle control and death to angiogenesis and immune response modulation. Insights from in vitro and in vivo studies provide valuable evidence supporting its anticancer potential. Furthermore, we look at epidemiological and clinical studies that investigate the relationship between vitamin D3 levels and cancer risk or treatment results. Vitamin D3 supplementation's safety profile and cost-effectiveness increase its attractiveness as an adjuvant therapy in conjunction with traditional treatment regimens. Our critical review of the current literature provides an in-depth understanding of vitamin D3's anticancer effect, covering the obstacles and possibilities in realizing its promise for cancer prevention and therapy. The findings of this study might pave the way for the development of innovative treatment techniques that take use of the advantages of vitamin D3 to fight cancer and improve patient care. As research progresses, a better understanding of vitamin D3's anticancer processes will surely simplify its incorporation into personalized cancer care techniques, hence enhancing patient outcomes in the battle against cancer.

Vitamin D3 Supplementation: Comparison of 1000 IU and 2000 IU Dose in Healthy Individuals

Background: Scientific studies point to a significant global vitamin D deficiency. The recommended dose of vitamin D for the adult population in Central Europe is 800–2000 IU/day. The aim of our study was to determine whether doses of 1000 IU or 2000 IU of vitamin D3 are adequate to achieve the sufficiency reference values of [25(OH)D]. Methods: Seventy-two healthy volunteers, average age twenty-two, took part in the study. The study was conducted from October to March in order to eliminate intra-dermal vitamin D production. Vitamin D3 in an oleaginous mixture was used. The participants used either 1000 IU or 2000 IU/daily for two 60-day periods with a 30-day break. Results: The dose of 1000 IU, taken for 60 days, increased vitamin D levels relatively little. Furthermore, serum vitamin D levels decreased in the 30 days following the cessation of supplementation. Taking 2000 IU daily led to a sharp increase in serum levels which plateaued 30 days after the subjects stopped using vitamin D3 drops. Conclusions: Both doses, taken daily, can help maintain adequate vitamin D levels during the winter months. A daily dose of 2000 IU, however, maintained the desired levels of vitamin D for a longer period.

Vitamin D: A Potential Star for Treating Chronic Pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a chronic inflammatory and fibrotic disease of the pancreas. The incidence of CP is increasing worldwide but the effective therapies are lacking. Hence, it is necessary to identify economical and effective agents for the treatment of CP patients. Vitamin D (VD) and its analogues have been confirmed as pleiotropic regulators of cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and autophagy. Clinical studies show that VD deficiency is prevalent in CP patients. However, the correlation between VD level and the risk of CP remains controversial. VD and its analogues have been demonstrated to inhibit pancreatic fibrosis by suppressing the activation of pancreatic stellate cells and the production of extracellular matrix. Limited clinical trials have shown that the supplement of VD can improve VD deficiency in patients with CP, suggesting a potential therapeutic value of VD in CP. However, the mechanisms by which VD and its analogues inhibit pancreatic fibrosis have not been fully elucidated. We are reviewing the current literature concerning the risk factors for developing CP, prevalence of VD deficiency in CP, mechanisms of VD action in PSC-mediated fibrogenesis during the development of CP and potential therapeutic applications of VD and its analogues in the treatment of CP.

Network Pharmacology and Bioinformatics Analyses Identify Intersection Genes of Vitamin D3 and COVID-19 as Potential Therapeutic Targets

Purpose: The persistent pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the discovery of gastrointestinal transmission routes and the possible susceptibility of cancer patients to COVID-19 have forced us to search for effective pathways against stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD)/COVID-19. Vitamin D3 (VD3) is a steroid hormone with antiviral, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. This study aimed to evaluate the possible functional role and potential mechanisms of action of VD3 as an anti-COVID-19 and anti- STAD. Methods: Clinicopathological analysis, enrichment analysis and protein interaction analysis using bioinformatics and network pharmacology methods. Validate the binding activity of VD3 to core pharmacological targets and viral crystal structures using molecular docking. Results: We revealed the clinical characteristics of STAD/COVID-19 patients. We also demonstrated that VD3 may be anti- STAD/COVID-19 through antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory pathways. Molecular docking results showed that VD3 binds well to the relevant targets of COVID-19, including the spike RBD/ACE2 complex and main protease (Mpro, also known as 3CLpro). We also identified five core pharmacological targets of VD3 in anti-STAD/COVID-19 and validated the binding activity of VD3 to PAI1 by molecular docking. Conclusion: This study reveals for the first time that VD3 may act on disease target gene SERPINE1 through inflammatory and viral related signaling pathways and biological functions for the therapy of STAD/COVID-19. This may provide a new idea for the use of VD3 in the treatment of STAD/COVID-19.

Comparing the Expressions of Vitamin D Receptor, Cell Proliferation, and Apoptosis in Gastric Mucosa With Gastritis, Intestinal Metaplasia, or Adenocarcinoma Change

Background: This study aimed to compare the expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR), cell proliferation, and apoptosis in the gastric mucosa of patients with gastritis, intestinal metaplasia (IM), and adenocarcinoma using artificial intelligence.

Material and Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled patients at the Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from November of 2016 to June, 2017, who were diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma. The inclusion criteria were patients' pathologic reports that revealed all compartments of Helicobacter pylori infection, gastritis, IM, and adenocarcinoma simultaneously in the same gastric sample. Tissue slides after immunohistochemical (IHC) staining were transformed into digital images using a scanner and counted using computer software (QuPath and ImageJ). IHC staining included PA1-711 antibody for VDR, Ki67 antigen for proliferation, and M30 antibody CK18 for apoptosis.

Results: Twenty-nine patients were included in the IHC staining quantitative analysis. The mean age was 69.1 ± 11.3 y/o. Most (25/29, 86.2%) patients had poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. The mean expression of Ki67 and CK18 increased progressively from gastritis and IM to adenocarcinoma, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). VDR expression did not correlate with Ki67 or CK18 expression. Survival time was only correlated with tumor stage (correlation coefficient = −0.423, P value < 0.05), but was not correlated with the expression of VDR, Ki67, and CK18.

Conclusion: Ki67 expression and CK18 expression progressively increased in the areas of gastritis, IM, and adenocarcinoma. No correlation between VDR expression and Ki67 or CK18 expression was found in this study.

Vitamin D suppressed gastric cancer cell growth through downregulating CD44 expression in vitro and in vivo

OBJECTIVES

Vitamin D deficiency was found to be associated with increased risk for gastric cancer (GC). We previously found that vitamin D inhibited GC cell growth in vitro. However, the in vivo antitumor effect of vitamin D in GC as well as the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the anticancer effect of vitamin D on GC both in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

Human GC cells MKN45, MKN28, and KATO III were used. The expressions of vitamin D receptor (VDR) and CD44 were downregulated by using predesigned siRNA molecules. Cell viability was evaluated by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. Soft agar assay was used for colony formation of GC cells. Flow cytometry was used to assess CD44-positive cell population. CD44^high cancer cells were enriched by using anti-CD44-conjugated magnetic microbeads. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were performed to detect gene and protein expressions, respectively. Clinical samples were collected for evaluation of the correlation of VDR and CD44 expression. Orthotopic tumor-bearing mice were established to evaluate the antitumor effect of vitamin D.

RESULTS

The results showed that the active form of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)₂D₃, had a remarkable inhibitory effect in CD44-expressing human GC MKN45 and KATO III cells, but not in CD44-null MKN28 cells. The gene expressions of CD44 and VDR in GC cell lines and GC patient tissues were positively correlated. Furthermore, 1,25(OH)₂D₃ suppressed MKN45 and KATO III cell growth through VDR-induced suppression of CD44. Additionally, we demonstrated that 1,25(OH)₂D₃ inhibited Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which might lead to the downregulation of CD44. In an orthotopic GC nude mice model, both oral intake of vitamin D and intraperitoneal injection with 1,25(OH)₂D₃ could significantly inhibit orthotopic GC growth and CD44 expression in vivo.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this study provided the first evidence that vitamin D suppressed GC cell growth both in vitro and in vivo through downregulating CD44. The present study sheds light on repurposing vitamin D as a potential therapeutic agent for GC prevention and treatment.

A-kinase anchoring protein 13 interacts with the vitamin D receptor to alter vitamin D-dependent gene activation in uterine leiomyoma cells

OBJECTIVE

To determine if A-kinase anchoring protein 13 (AKAP13) interacts with the vitamin D receptor (VDR) to alter vitamin D-dependent signaling in fibroid cells. Uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) are characterized by a fibrotic extracellular matrix and are associated with vitamin D deficiency. Treatment with vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃) reduces fibroid growth and extracellular matrix gene expression. A-kinase anchoring protein 13 is overexpressed in fibroids and interacts with nuclear hormone receptors, but it is not known whether AKAP13 may interact with the VDR to affect vitamin D signaling in fibroids.

DESIGN

Laboratory studies.

SETTING

Translational science laboratory.

INTERVENTION(S)

Human immortalized fibroid or myometrial cells were treated with 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (1,25(OH)₂D₃) and transfected using expression constructs for AKAP13 or AKAP13 mutants, RhoQL, C3 transferase, or small interfering ribonucleic acids (RNAs).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of AKAP13, fibromodulin, and versican as measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Glutathione S-transferase-binding assays. Vitamin D-dependent gene activation as measured by luciferase assays.

RESULT(S)

1,25(OH)₂D₃ resulted in a significant reduction in mRNA levels encoding AKAP13, versican, and fibromodulin. Small interfering RNA silencing of AKAP13 decreased both fibromodulin and versican mRNA levels. Glutathione S-transferase-binding assays revealed that AKAP13 bound to the VDR through its nuclear receptor interacting region. Cotransfection of AKAP13 and VDR significantly reduced vitamin D-dependent gene activation. RhoA pathway inhibition partially relieved repression of vitamin D-dependent gene activation by AKAP13.

CONCLUSION(S)

These data suggest that AKAP13 inhibited the vitamin D receptor activation by a mechanism that required, at least in part, RhoA activation.

Identification of cluster of differentiation molecule-associated microRNAs as potential therapeutic targets for gastrointestinal cancer immunotherapy

BACKGROUND

Cluster of differentiation molecules are markers of immune cells that have been identified as a potential immunotherapeutic target for cancer treatment. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that act as tumor suppressors or oncogenes whose importance in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of gastric and colorectal cancers has been widely reported. However, their association with cluster of differentiation molecules in gastrointestinal cancers has not been well studied. Therefore, our study aimed to analyze the relationship between microRNAs and cluster of differentiation molecules in gastrointestinal cancers, and to identify cluster of differentiation molecule-associated microRNAs as prognostic biomarkers for gastrointestinal cancer patients.

METHODS

Targetscan, Starbase, DIANA microT, and miRDB were used to investigate microRNA profiles that might be correlated with cluster of differentiation molecules in gastrointestinal cancers. Moreover, The Cancer Genome Atlas data analysis was used to investigate the association between cluster of differentiation molecules and microRNA expression in patients with gastric, colon, rectal, pancreatic, and esophageal cancers. The Kaplan-Meier plotter was used to identify the association between overall survival and cluster of differentiation molecule-associated microRNA expression in gastrointestinal cancer patients.

RESULTS

miR-200a, miR-559, and miR-1236 were negatively associated with CD86, CD81, and CD160, respectively, in almost all types of gastrointestinal cancers, which were further verified in the in vitro studies by transfecting microRNA mimics in gastric cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic, and esophageal cell lines.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that miR-200a, miR-1236, and miR-559 are identified as cluster of differentiation-associated microRNAs in gastrointestinal cancers, providing a novel perspective to identify new therapeutic targets for cancer immunotherapy in gastrointestinal cancer patients.

Zinc, ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin D: An essential combination for prevention and treatment of cancers

Zinc, ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and vitamin D are essential nutrients for health, maturation and general wellbeing. Extensive literature searches have revealed the widespread similarity in molecular biological properties of zinc, ω-3 PUFAs and vitamin D, and their similar anti-cancer properties, even though they have different modes of action. These three nutrients are separately essential for good health, especially in the aged. Zinc, ω-3 PUFAs and vitamin D are inexpensive and safe as they are fundamentally natural and have the properties of correcting and inhibiting undesirable actions without disturbing the normal functions of cells or their extracellular environment. This review of the anticancer properties of zinc, ω-3 PUFAs and vitamin D is made in the context of the hallmarks of cancer. The anticancer properties of zinc, ω-3 PUFAs and vitamin D can therefore be used beneficially through combined treatment or supplementation. It is proposed that sufficiency of zinc, ω-3 PUFAs and vitamin D is a necessary requirement during chemotherapy treatment and that clinical trials can have questionable integrity if this sufficiency is not checked and maintained during efficacy trials.

Policing Cancer: Vitamin D Arrests the Cell Cycle

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone crucial for bone mineral metabolism. In addition, vitamin D has pleiotropic actions in the body, including anti-cancer actions. These anti-cancer properties observed within in vitro studies frequently report the reduction of cell proliferation by interruption of the cell cycle by the direct alteration of cell cycle regulators which induce cell cycle arrest. The most recurrent reported mode of cell cycle arrest by vitamin D is at the G1/G0 phase of the cell cycle. This arrest is mediated by p21 and p27 upregulation, which results in suppression of cyclin D and E activity which leads to G1/G0 arrest. In addition, vitamin D treatments within in vitro cell lines have observed a reduced C-MYC expression and increased retinoblastoma protein levels that also result in G1/G0 arrest. In contrast, G2/M arrest is reported rarely within in vitro studies, and the mechanisms of this arrest are poorly described. Although the relationship of epigenetics on vitamin D metabolism is acknowledged, studies exploring a direct relationship to cell cycle perturbation is limited. In this review, we examine in vitro evidence of vitamin D and vitamin D metabolites directly influencing cell cycle regulators and inducing cell cycle arrest in cancer cell lines.

Berberine Inhibits Cell Proliferation by Interfering with Wild-Type and Mutant P53 in Human Glioma Cells

Introduction

Glioma is the most common malignant brain tumor. TP53 is the most common mutant gene in human cancer. Wild-type p53 (wtp53) is a tumor suppressor protein whereas mutant p53 (mutp53) is an oncoprotein that promotes tumor cell proliferation. Our aim was to examine the inhibitory effects of berberine on the proliferation of human glioma cells via regulation of wtp53, mutp53, and their downstream molecules.

Methods

We selected wtp53 cells (U87 cells) and mutp53 cells (U251 cells termed p53 R273H) to examine the inhibitory effects of berberine on human glioma cells. We used the CCK-8 kit to detect the toxic effect of berberine. Flow cytometry was used to detect the effect of berberine. Clone formation test was used to test the inhibitory effect of berberine on the proliferation of glioma cells. Western blot was used to detect the changes of related proteins such as p53, p-p53, p21 and cyclin D1. Lentivirus transduction was used to transduce wild-type p53 into U251 cells to further examine the effect of berberine. The nude mouse subcutaneous tumor model was used to detect the effect of berberine on inhibiting the proliferation of glioma cells in vivo.

Results

Berberine promoted the phosphorylation of wtp53, increased the expression of p21 protein, reduced cyclin D1 content, and caused G1 phase arrest in U87 cells. Berberine also reduced mutp53 content and caused G2 phase arrest in U251 cells with a concurrent decrease in p21, cyclin D1, and cyclin B1 content. Transduction with wtp53 enhanced the effects on cell cycle arrest. Further, berberine significantly inhibited glioma growth in vivo mouse tumor model.

Discussion

Glioma is a group of heterogeneous brain tumors with unique biological and clinical characteristics. Berberine can inhibit glioma cells through a variety of ways. Our research indicated that berberine inhibited the proliferation of glioma cells by interfering with wtp53 and mutp53. This indicates that berberine could be used as a potential drug to treat wild-type and mutant p53 glioma.

Long non‑coding RNA PCAT6 promotes the development of osteosarcoma by increasing MDM2 expression

Osteosarcoma is a severe malignant tumor. Several studies indicated that lncRNA prostate cancer-associated transcript 6 (PCAT6) promoted the development of multiple types of cancers. Studies have also revealed that MDM2 could aggravate tumor symptoms inhibiting P53 expression. However, whether lncRNA PCAT6 could affect the proliferation and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells by regulating P53 expression is unclear. The present study established lncRNA PCAT6-overexpressing osteosarcoma cells. Cell Counting Kit-8, wound healing and Transwell assays were performed to detect the change in proliferation, migration and invasion of these cells, respectively. Subsequently, E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase Mdm2 (MDM2), P53 and P21 expression were determined using western blotting. Finally, MDM2 expression was inhibited and the proliferation, migration and invasion of these cells was determined again. The present study found that the proliferation, migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells increased following overexpression of lncRNA PCAT6. MDM2 expression was upregulated while the levels of P53 and P21 decreased following overexpression of lncRNA PCAT6. However, the proliferation, migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells were inhibited following MDM2 knockdown. Additionally, P53 and P21 was rescued following MDM2 knockdown. To conclude, lncRNA PCAT6 promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells by promoting the expression of MDM2 and suppressing the expression of P53 and P21.

Active vitamin D impedes the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by inhibiting cell senescence in a rat model

OBJECTIVE

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to an accumulation of excess fat in liver due to causes other than alcohol use. The relationship between vitamin D (VD) and NAFLD has been previously studied. Therefore, we aimed to explore the mechanism involved active VD regulating the progression of NAFLD by inhibiting cell senescence and to provide a potential approach for further nutritional treatment of NAFLD.

METHODS

Following the induction with high-fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of corn oil, the successfully established NAFLD rat models were treated with 1,25(OH)₂D₃ at 1μg/kg, 5μg/kg or 10μg/kg. Meanwhile, the levels of factors related to oxidative stress, cell senescence, the p53-p21 signaling pathway and inflammation in liver were determined. Then, cell senescence was also measured by using senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SAβ-gal) staining.

RESULTS

It was also found that active VD increased the concentration of VD in serum and VDR in liver of NAFLD rats, and alleviated hepatic fibrosis. Besides, treatment of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ at 1μg/kg, 5μg/kg or 10μg/kg reduced oxidative stress and inflammation, inhibited the p53-p21 signaling pathway and consequent cell senescence. Furthermore, treatment of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ at a dosage of 5μg/kg made the most impact on these factors.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, the evidences from this study demonstrated that active VD could alleviate the development of NAFLD through blocking the p53-p21 signaling pathway, which provided a novel nutritional therapeutic insight for NAFLD.

Conditional reprogramming: next generation cell culture

Long-term primary culture of mammalian cells has been always difficult due to unavoidable senescence. Conventional methods for generating immortalized cell lines usually require manipulation of genome which leads to change of important biological and genetic characteristics. Recently, conditional reprogramming (CR) emerges as a novel next generation tool for long-term culture of primary epithelium cells derived from almost all origins without alteration of genetic background of primary cells. CR co-cultures primary cells with inactivated mouse 3T3-J2 fibroblasts in the presence of RHO-related protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y-27632, enabling primary cells to acquire stem-like characteristics while retain their ability to fully differentiate. With only a few years' development, CR shows broad prospects in applications in varied areas including disease modeling, regenerative medicine, drug evaluation, drug discovery as well as precision medicine. This review is thus to comprehensively summarize and assess current progress in understanding mechanism of CR and its wide applications, highlighting the value of CR in both basic and translational researches and discussing the challenges faced with CR.

Vitamin D Signaling in Inflammation and Cancer: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications

Vitamin D and its active metabolites are important nutrients for human skeletal health. UV irradiation of skin converts 7-dehydrocholesterol into vitamin D3, which metabolized in the liver and kidneys into its active form, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Apart from its classical role in calcium and phosphate regulation, scientists have shown that the vitamin D receptor is expressed in almost all tissues of the body, hence it has numerous biological effects. These includes fetal and adult homeostatic functions in development and differentiation of metabolic, epidermal, endocrine, neurological and immunological systems of the body. Moreover, the expression of vitamin D receptor in the majority of immune cells and the ability of these cells to actively metabolize 25(OH)D3 into its active form 1,25(OH)₂D3 reinforces the important role of vitamin D signaling in maintaining a healthy immune system. In addition, several studies have showed that vitamin D has important regulatory roles of mechanisms controlling proliferation, differentiation and growth. The administration of vitamin D analogues or the active metabolite of vitamin D activates apoptotic pathways, has antiproliferative effects and inhibits angiogenesis. This review aims to provide an up-to-date overview on the effects of vitamin D and its receptor (VDR) in regulating inflammation, different cell death modalities and cancer. It also aims to investigate the possible therapeutic benefits of vitamin D and its analogues as anticancer agents.

Antiproliferative activity of side-chain truncated vitamin D analogs (PRI-1203 and PRI-1204) against human malignant melanoma cell lines

Vitamin D compounds are versatile molecules widely considered as promising agents in cancer prevention and treatment, including melanoma. Previously we investigated series of double point modified vitamin D₂ analogs as well as non-calcemic 20S-hydroxyvitamin D₃ and 21-hydroxypregnacalciferol as to their anti-melanoma activity. Surprisingly, short side-chain vitamin D analogs were found to be biologically active compounds. Thus, here we tested novel derivatives of pregnacalciferol with an additional hydroxyl at the end of the truncated side chain, PRI-1203 and PRI-1204, as to their potency against human melanoma A375 and RPMI7951 cell lines. Tested compounds are geometric isomers, with 19-methylene positioned in PRI-1203 like in a calcitriol molecule, but reversed in the PRI-1204 analog to the (5E,7E) geometry (5,6-trans). We noticed a decrease in cells viability exerted by PRI-1203. The antiproliferative effect of PRI-1204 was very low, emphasizing the importance of the natural 19-methylene geometry in the PRI-1203. PRI-1203 was also effective in inhibition of A375 melanoma cells migration. PRI-1203, but not PRI-1204, increased the percentage of A375 and RPMI7951 melanoma cells in the G0/G1 phase of cell cycle, possibly in a p21 and p27 independent manner. Both, analogs have very low effect on the level of CYP24A1 mRNA, in comparison to active form of vitamin D - 1.25(OH)2D3. In addition, both tested compounds failed to elicit VDR translocation to the nucleus. Thus, it could be postulated that side chain shortening strongly affects binding of analogs to VDR and activation of genomic responses, however do not impair their antiproliferative activities.

Effect of Vitamin D on Relapse-Free Survival in a Subgroup of Patients with p53 Protein-Positive Digestive Tract Cancer: A Post Hoc Analysis of the AMATERASU Trial

BACKGROUND

The AMATERASU randomized trial of vitamin D3 supplementation (2,000 IU/day; UMIN000001977) showed the potential benefit of vitamin D in a subgroup of patients with digestive tract cancer. By conducting post hoc analyses of this trial, we further explored whether subgroups stratified by expression levels of p53, vitamin D receptor (VDR), and Ki-67 modify the effect of vitamin D supplementation.

METHODS

The primary outcome was relapse-free survival (RFS). On IHC using pathologic specimens, the degree of p53 protein expression parallel with TP53 missense mutations was classified as p53 positive (>10%) and p53 negative (≤10%). In addition, VDR and Ki-67 expression levels were divided into quartiles.

RESULTS

The p53 status of 372 patients' pathologic specimens was evaluated. In a subgroup of patients with p53-positive cancer (n = 226), 5-year RFS was 79% in the vitamin D group, which was significantly higher than the 57% in the placebo group (HR, 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.31-0.88; P = 0.02). In the subgroup of patients with p53-negative cancer, 5-year RFS in the vitamin D group versus placebo group was 72% versus 84% (not significantly different), respectively. Effect modification by p53 positivity was significant (P _interaction = 0.02). However, no significant effect modification by either VDR or Ki-67 was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

These results generate a hypothesis that vitamin D supplementation may improve RFS in patients with p53-positive digestive tract cancer.

IMPACT

The results are still preliminary, but potentially important, because TP53 is the most frequently mutated gene across cancers at all sites.

Conditional Reprogramming for Patient-Derived Cancer Models and Next-Generation Living Biobanks

Traditional cancer models including cell lines and animal models have limited applications in both basic and clinical cancer research. Genomics-based precision oncology only help 2-20% patients with solid cancer. Functional diagnostics and patient-derived cancer models are needed for precision cancer biology. In this review, we will summarize applications of conditional cell reprogramming (CR) in cancer research and next generation living biobanks (NGLB). Together with organoids, CR has been cited in two NCI (National Cancer Institute, USA) programs (PDMR: patient-derived cancer model repository; HCMI: human cancer model initiatives. HCMI will be distributed through ATCC). Briefly, the CR method is a simple co-culture technology with a Rho kinase inhibitor, Y-27632, in combination with fibroblast feeder cells, which allows us to rapidly expand both normal and malignant epithelial cells from diverse anatomic sites and mammalian species and does not require transfection with exogenous viral or cellular genes. Establishment of CR cells from both normal and tumor tissue is highly efficient. The robust nature of the technique is exemplified by the ability to produce 2 × 106 cells in five days from a core biopsy of tumor tissue. Normal CR cell cultures retain a normal karyotype and differentiation potential and CR cells derived from tumors retain their tumorigenic phenotype. CR also allows us to enrich cancer cells from urine (for bladder cancer), blood (for prostate cancer), and pleural effusion (for non-small cell lung carcinoma). The ability to produce inexhaustible cell populations using CR technology from small biopsies and cryopreserved specimens has the potential to transform biobanking repositories (NGLB: next-generation living biobank) and current pathology practice by enabling genetic, biochemical, metabolomic, proteomic, and biological assays, including chemosensitivity testing as a functional diagnostics tool for precision cancer medicine. We discussed analyses of patient-derived matched normal and tumor models using a case with tongue squamous cell carcinoma as an example. Last, we summarized applications in cancer research, disease modeling, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine of CR-based NGLB.

Association among plasma 1,25(OH)2 D, ratio of 1,25(OH)2 D to 25(OH)D, and prostate cancer aggressiveness

BACKGROUND

African-American (AA) men tend to present with more aggressive prostate cancer (Gleason score >7) than European-American (EA) men. Vitamin D and its metabolites are implicated in prostate cancer biology with vitamin D deficiency, indicated by its metabolite levels in serum or plasma, usually observed in AA men.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if 1, 25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2 D] plasma levels in AA and EA prostate cancer patients alter the risk of having aggressive prostate cancer.

DESIGN

Research subjects from the North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (AA n = 435 and EA n = 532) were included. Plasma metabolites 1,25(OH)2 D and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D] were measured using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrophotometry. Research subjects were classified into low (Gleason sum < 7, stage T1-T2, and Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) < 9 ng/mL) or high (Gleason sum > 8 or Gleason sum = 7 with 4 + 3, or PSA > 20 ng/mL, or Gleason sum = 7 and stage T3-T4) aggressive disease.

RESULTS

Research subjects in the second and third tertiles of plasma levels of 1, 25(OH)2 D had lower odds of high aggressive prostate cancer (AA [ORT2vsT1 : 0.66, 95%CI: 0.39-1.12; ORT3vsT1 : 0.83, 95%CI: 0.49-1.41] and EA [ORT2vsT1 : 0.68, 95%CI: 0.41-1.11; ORT3vsT1 : 0.67, 95%CI: 0.40-1.11]) compared with the first tertile, though confidence intervals included the null. Greater 1,25(OH)2 D/25(OH)D molar ratios were associated with lower odds of high aggressive prostate cancer more evidently in AA (ORQ4vsQ1 : 0.45, CI: 0.24-0.82) than in EA (ORQ4vsQ1 : 0.64, CI: 0.35-1.17) research subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

The 1,25(OH)2 D/25(OH)D molar ratio was associated with decreased risk of high aggressive prostate cancer in AA men, and possibly in EA men. Further studies analyzing vitamin D polymorphisms, vitamin D binding protein levels, and prostatic levels of these metabolites may be useful. These studies may provide a better understanding of the vitamin D pathway and its biological role underlying health disparities in prostate cancer.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 affects gastric cancer progression by repressing BMP3 promoter methylation

Background

Vitamin D₃ has been known to have an anticancer effect, but the mechanisms underlying this is poorly explored. The present study aimed to investigate the antitumor role of vitamin D₃ on gastric cancer and mechanisms.

Methods

The Roche Elecsys platform was applied in retrospective studies to detect the role of 25-hydroxylvitamin D₃ in adenocarcinoma and colony formation assay was conducted to verify the effect of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ on the proliferation of gastric cancer cells. After the identification of hypermethylation of BMP3 CpG islands by bisulfite genomic sequencing (BGS), we further investigated the relationship of BMP3 expression and gastric carcinogenesis by Western blot analysis and gel electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA).

Results

Here we show that low concentration of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ links to can-cerization and significantly inhibits proliferation of undifferentiated gastric cancer cell lines SGC-7901 and BGC-823. BMP3 promoter hypermethylation was highly correlated with gastric tumor. Moreover, BMP3 expression was regulated by its promoter methylation in gastric cells. The further exploration of the relationship between 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ and BMP3 by EMSA results that 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ stimulates BMP3 expression by the inhibition of BMP3 promoter methylation in gastric tumor cells.

Conclusion

In combination with the data from clinical research, bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification, we propose that 1, 25-hydroxylvitamin D₃ affects gastric cancer progression by repressing BMP3 promoter methylation.

Kruppel-like factor 2 mediated anti-proliferative and anti-metastasis effects of simvastatin in p53 mutant colon cancer

The changes in cellular metabolism play an important role in promoting tumor progression. Recent findings suggested that the mutation of tumor suppressor gene p53 promoted lipids synthesis and mutant p53 (mutp53) was essential for regulating mevalonate pathway for cholesterol synthesis. Simvastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, was found to exhibit therapeutic effects against many types of cancers including breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, etc. However, the underlying mechanism of the antitumor effect of simvastatin still needs to be further investigated. Our data demonstrated that suppression of mevalonate pathway by simvastatin significantly upregulated Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) and p21^WAF1/CIP1 expression in mutp53 colon cancer cells SW1116 but not in p53 wild type cells HCT116. Meanwhile, we found that overexpression of KLF2 could significantly induce p21^WAF1/CIP1 expression, inhibit Wnt signaling and suppress epithelial-mesenchymal transition, indicating that KL2 might mediate antitumor effect of simvastatin in SW1116 cells. Moreover, bioinformatic analysis from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database indicated that KLF2 were positively correlated with CDKN1A (encoding p21^WAF1/CIP1), both of which were downregulated in colon cancer tissue, especially in p53 mutant colon cancer tissue. The results showed that KLF2 might be a tumor suppressor gene in colon cancer, which was in accordance with our experimental data. We also found that CDKN1A expression in mutant p53 colon cancer tissue was significant decreased when compared with p53 wild type colon cancer tissue, while Wnt ligand Wnt5a exhibited the highest level in p53 mutant colon cancer tissue. These data provide strong evidences for clinical application of simvastatin in treatment of colon cancer with p53 mutation.

Repurposing vitamin D for treatment of human malignancies via targeting tumor microenvironment

Tumor cells along with a small proportion of cancer stem cells exist in a stromal microenvironment consisting of vasculature, cancer-associated fibroblasts, immune cells and extracellular components. Recent epidemiological and clinical studies strongly support that vitamin D supplementation is associated with reduced cancer risk and favorable prognosis. Experimental results suggest that vitamin D not only suppresses cancer cells, but also regulates tumor microenvironment to facilitate tumor repression. In this review, we have outlined the current knowledge on epidemiological studies and clinical trials of vitamin D. Notably, we summarized and discussed the anticancer action of vitamin D in cancer cells, cancer stem cells and stroma cells in tumor microenvironment, providing a better understanding of the role of vitamin D in cancer. We presently re-propose vitamin D to be a novel and economical anticancer agent.

Vitamin D3 activates the autolysosomal degradation function against Helicobacter pylori through the PDIA3 receptor in gastric epithelial cells

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a common human pathogenic bacterium. Once infected, it is difficult for the host to clear this organism using the innate immune system. Increased antibiotic resistance further makes it challenging for effective eradication. However, the mechanisms of immune evasion still remain obscure, and novel strategies should be developed to efficiently eliminate H. pylori infection in stomachs. Here we uncovered desirable anti-H. pylori effect of vitamin D3 both in vitro and in vivo, even against antibiotic-resistant strains. We showed that H. pylori can invade into the gastric epithelium where they became sequestered and survived in autophagosomes with impaired lysosomal acidification. Vitamin D3 treatment caused a restored lysosomal degradation function by activating the PDIA3 receptor, thereby promoting the nuclear translocation of PDIA3-STAT3 protein complex and the subsequent upregulation of MCOLN3 channels, resulting in an enhanced Ca²⁺ release from lysosomes and normalized lysosomal acidification. The recovered lysosomal degradation function drives H. pylori to be eliminated through the autolysosomal pathway. These findings provide a novel pathogenic mechanism on how H. pylori can survive in the gastric epithelium, and a unique pathway for vitamin D3 to reactivate the autolysosomal degradation function, which is critical for the antibacterial action of vitamin D3 both in cells and in animals, and perhaps further in humans. Abbreviations: 1,25D3: 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3; ATG5: autophagy related 5; Baf A1: bafilomycin A₁; BECN1: beclin 1; CagA: cytotoxin-associated gene A; CFU: colony-forming unit; ChIP-PCR: chromatin immunoprecipitation-polymerase chain reaction; Con A: concanamycin A; CQ: chloroquine; CRISPR: clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats; CTSD: cathepsin D; GPN: Gly-Phe-β-naphthylamide; H. pylori: Helicobacter pylori; LAMP1: lysosomal associated membrane protein 1; MAP1LC3B/LC3B: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta; MCOLN1: mucolipin 1; MCOLN3: mucolipin 3; MCU: mitochondrial calcium uniporter; MOI: multiplicity of infection; NAGLU: N-acetyl-alpha-glucosaminidase; PDIA3: protein disulfide isomerase family A member 3; PMA: phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate; PRKC: protein kinase C; SQSTM1: sequestosome 1; STAT3: signal transducer and activator of transcription 3; SS1: Sydney Strain 1; TRP: transient receptor potential; VacA: vacuolating cytotoxin; VD3: vitamin D3; VDR: vitamin D receptor.

Inhibition of tumor cell proliferation in human uterine leiomyomas by vitamin D via Wnt/β-catenin pathway

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of vitamin D (VitD) on human uterine leiomyomas through Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibition, apoptosis induction, and cell growth arrest.

DESIGN

A prospective study comparing leiomyoma vs. myometrium tissues. Paired design study comparing human uterine leiomyoma primary (HULP) cells treated with or without VitD.

SETTING

University hospital.

PATIENT(S)

Human uterine leiomyoma and myometrium were collected from women (aged 35-52 years) without hormonal treatment.

INTERVENTION(S)

Samples were collected from women undergoing surgery due to symptomatic uterine leiomyoma pathology.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Uterine leiomyoma and myometrium tissues were analyzed by western blot (WB) to determine proliferation, Wnt/β-catenin, and apoptosis pathways. HULP cells were used to study VitD effect in cell proliferation (WB), cell cycle (flow cytometry), Wnt/β-catenin and apoptosis genes (polymerase chain reaction arrays), Wnt-related proteins (protein array), and apoptosis (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling [TUNEL] assay).

RESULTS

Human leiomyoma tissues compared with matched myometrium showed higher proliferation (fold change = 8.16; P=.0006) and altered Wnt/β-catenin pathway (fold change = 5.5; P<.0001), whereas no differences in apoptosis were observed. VitD induced cell growth arrest and decreased proliferation in HULP cells (fold change = 0.74; P=.007). Moreover, VitD decreased Wnt-pathway expression in HULP cells at gene (activity score = -0.775; P<.001) and protein levels. However, VitD did not induce apoptosis expression.

CONCLUSION

Increased proliferation and Wnt/β-catenin pathway deregulation play a role in the development and growth of leiomyomas, whereas apoptosis appears not to contribute. VitD exerts an antiproliferative action on HULP cells through cell growth arrest and Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibition, but not through apoptosis regulation, suggesting VitD as an effective therapy to stabilize leiomyoma size and prevent its growth.

Dietary vitamin D intake and vitamin D related genetic polymorphisms are not associated with gastric cancer in a hospital-based case-control study in Korea

There have been few studies on the association between vitamin D levels and gastric cancer in Asian populations, but no studies have been performed on the interactions between vitamin D intake and polymorphisms in the vitamin D pathway. The effects of vitamin D intake, vitamin D related genetic polymorphisms, and their association with the incidence of gastric cancer were investigated in a hospital case-control study, including 715 pairs of newly diagnosed gastric cancer patients and controls matched for age and sex. Correlations between vitamin D intake and plasma vitamin D concentrations were also assessed in a subset of subjects. No statistically significant difference was observed in the dietary intake of vitamin D between the patients and controls, nor were there any evident associations between vitamin D intake and risk of gastric cancer in multivariate analyses. Vitamin D intake significantly correlated with the circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, but not with the active form of the vitamin, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. There were no statistically significant interactions between vitamin D intake, and VDR or TXNIP polymorphisms. This study suggests that dietary vitamin D intake is not associated with gastric cancer risk, and the genetic polymorphisms of vitamin D-related genes do not modulate the effect of vitamin D with respect to gastric carcinogenesis.

Role of Vitamin D Beyond the Skeletal Function: A Review of the Molecular and Clinical Studies

The classical function of Vitamin D, which involves mineral balance and skeletal maintenance, has been known for many years. With the discovery of vitamin D receptors in various tissues, several other biological functions of vitamin D are increasingly recognized and its role in many human diseases like cancer, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular, and autoimmune and dermatological diseases is being extensively explored. The non-classical function of vitamin D involves regulation of cellular proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and innate and adaptive immunity. In this review, we discuss and summarize the latest findings on the non-classical functions of vitamin D at the cellular/molecular level and its role in complex human diseases.

A Case-Control Study of the Association between Vitamin D Levels and Gastric Incomplete Intestinal Metaplasia

Aim: Low circulating vitamin D levels are associated with gastric adenocarcinoma, but whether vitamin D levels are associated with premalignant gastric mucosal changes is unknown. Here, we determined associations between vitamin D levels and gastric incomplete intestinal metaplasia, a known gastric adenocarcinoma risk factor. Methods: This was a retrospective, unmatched, case-control study comparing serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels among subjects with gastric incomplete intestinal metaplasia (cases; n = 103) and those without gastric incomplete intestinal metaplasia (controls; n = 216). The 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were categorized as normal (30–100 ng/dL), vitamin D insufficiency (VDi; 20–29 ng/dL), and vitamin D deficiency (VDd; <20 ng/dL). Using multivariable logistic regression, odds ratios (ORs) were calculated and adjusted to age, gender, ethnicity, body mass index, history of hypertension or diabetes mellitus, and timing of vitamin D collection to assess associations between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and gastric incomplete intestinal metaplasia. Results: A majority of case subjects were male, Hispanic, and did not have hypertension or diabetes mellitus. The average serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was significantly lower in the intestinal metaplasia group than the control group (19.7 ng/dL vs. 34.7 ng/dL; p < 0.001). Hypovitaminosis D was more common in subjects with incomplete intestinal metaplasia in a multivariable regression model (OR 54.1, 95% CI 21.8–134.3; p < 0.001). VDd (OR 129.0, 95% CI 43.7–381.2; p < 0.001) and VDi (OR 31.0, 95% CI 11.9–80.3; p < 0.001) were more common in patients with incomplete intestinal metaplasia than healthy subjects, with VDd slightly more prevalent than VDi (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.7–9.6; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are more common in patients with gastric incomplete intestinal metaplasia than healthy subjects and may play a role in the development of premalignant phenotypes related to gastric adenocarcinoma.

Protective Effect of 1,25-Dihydroxy Vitamin D3 on Pepsin-Trypsin-Resistant Gliadin-Induced Tight Junction Injuries

BACKGROUND

Tight junction (TJ) injuries induced by pepsin-trypsin-resistant gliadin (PT-G) play an important role in the pathogenesis of celiac disease. Previously, 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 (VD3) was reported to be a TJ regulator that attenuates lipopolysaccharide- and alcohol-induced TJ injuries. However, whether VD3 can attenuate PT-G-induced TJ injuries is unknown.

AIM

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of VD3 on PT-G-induced TJ injuries.

METHODS

Caco-2 monolayers were used as in vitro models. After being cultured for 21 days, the monolayers were treated with PT-G plus different concentrations of VD3. Then, the changes in trans-epithelial electrical resistance and FITC-dextran 4000 (FD-4) flux were determined to evaluate the monolayer barrier function. TJ protein levels were measured to assess TJ injury severity, and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) expression and zonulin release levels were determined to estimate zonulin release signaling pathway activity. Additionally, a gluten-sensitized mouse model was established as an in vivo model. After the mice were treated with VD3 for 7 days, we measured serum FD-4 concentrations, TJ protein levels, MyD88 expression, and zonulin release levels to confirm the effect of VD3.

RESULTS

Both in vitro and in vivo, VD3 significantly attenuated the TJ injury-related increase in intestinal mucosa barrier permeability. Moreover, VD3 treatment up-regulated TJ protein expression levels and significantly decreased MyD88 expression and zonulin release levels.

CONCLUSIONS

VD3 has protective effects against PT-G-induced TJ injuries both in vitro and in vivo, which may correlate with the disturbance of the MyD88-dependent zonulin release signaling pathway.