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Zhou Y, Wang F, Li G, Xu J, Zhang J, Gullen E, Yang J, Wang J. From immune checkpoints to therapies: understanding immune checkpoint regulation and the influence of natural products and traditional medicine on immune checkpoint and immunotherapy in lung cancer. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1340307. [PMID: 38426097 PMCID: PMC10902058 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1340307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is a disease of global concern, and immunotherapy has brought lung cancer therapy to a new era. Besides promising effects in the clinical use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and low response rates are problems unsolved. Natural products and traditional medicine with an immune-modulating nature have the property to influence immune checkpoint expression and can improve immunotherapy's effect with relatively low toxicity. This review summarizes currently approved immunotherapy and the current mechanisms known to regulate immune checkpoint expression in lung cancer. It lists natural products and traditional medicine capable of influencing immune checkpoints or synergizing with immunotherapy in lung cancer, exploring both their effects and underlying mechanisms. Future research on immune checkpoint modulation and immunotherapy combination applying natural products and traditional medicine will be based on a deeper understanding of their mechanisms regulating immune checkpoints. Continued exploration of natural products and traditional medicine holds the potential to enhance the efficacy and reduce the adverse reactions of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibin Zhou
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Fenglan Wang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Guangda Li
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Elizabeth Gullen
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale Medical School, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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Zhang H, Zhu T, Xu W, Liu B, Wu K, Yin Y, Zhang X. Detoxified pneumolysin derivative ΔA146Ply inhibits triple- negative breast cancer metastasis mainly via mannose receptor-mediated autophagy inhibition. Virulence 2023:2283898. [PMID: 37964595 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2283898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The detoxified pneumolysin derivative ΔA146Ply has been proven to have a direct anti-triple negative breast cancer effect by our group, but its work model remains unclear. In this study, we focused on its ability to inhibit triple-negative breast cancer metastasis. We found that ΔA146Ply suppressed the migration and invasion of triple-negative breast cancer cells by activating mannose receptor and toll-like receptor 4. Their activation triggers the activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin signaling, sequentially leading to autophagy, transforming growth factor-β1, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition inhibition. Furthermore, the combination of doxorubicin and ΔA146Ply significantly inhibited triple-negative breast cancer progression and prolonged survival in tumor-bearing mice. Taken together, our study provides an alternative microbiome-based mannose receptor-targeted therapy for triple-negative breast cancer and a novel theoretical and experimental basis for the downstream signaling pathway of the mannose receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College; Department of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College; Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Tao Zhu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory and Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Cancer Metastasis and Individualized Treatment, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital & Chongqing Cancer Institute & Chongqing Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Wenchun Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bichen Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kaifeng Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First People's Hospital of Zunyi (The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University), Zunyi, China
| | - Yibing Yin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xuemei Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Zhan Y, Chen Q, Song Y, Wei X, Zhao T, Chen B, Li C, Zhang W, Jiang Y, Tan Y, Du B, Xiao J, Wang K. Berbamine Hydrochloride inhibits lysosomal acidification by activating Nox2 to potentiate chemotherapy-induced apoptosis via the ROS-MAPK pathway in human lung carcinoma cells. Cell Biol Toxicol 2023; 39:1297-1317. [PMID: 36070022 DOI: 10.1007/s10565-022-09756-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Autophagy is typically activated in cancer cells as a rescue strategy in response to cellular stress (e.g., chemotherapy). Herein, we found that Berbamine Hydrochloride (Ber) can act as an effective inhibitor of the late stage of autophagic flux, thereby potentiating the killing effect of chemotherapy agents. Lung carcinoma cells exposed to Ber exhibited increased autophagosomes, marked by LC3-II upregulation. The increased level of p62 after Ber treatment indicated that the autophagic flux was blocked at the late stage. The lysosome staining assay and cathepsin maturation detection indicated impaired lysosomal acidification. We found that Nox2 exhibited intensified co-localization with lysosomes in Ber-treated cells. Nox2 is a key enzyme for superoxide anion production capable of transferring electrons into the lysosomal lumen, thereby neutralizing the inner protons; this might explain the aberrant acidification. This hypothesis is further supported by the observed reversal of lysosomal cathepsin maturation by Nox2 inhibitors. Finally, Ber combined with cisplatin exhibited a synergistic killing effect on lung carcinoma cells. Further data suggested that lung carcinoma cells co-treated with Ber and cisplatin accumulated excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), which typically activated MAPK-mediated mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. The enhanced anti-cancer effect of Ber combined with cisplatin was also confirmed in an in vivo xenograft mouse model. These findings indicate that Ber might be a promising adjuvant for enhancing the cancer cell killing effect of chemotherapy via the inhibition of autophagy. In this process, Nox2 might be a significant mediator of Ber-induced aberrant lysosomal acidification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujuan Zhan
- Department of Biochemistry, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Research Center of Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Qiugu Chen
- Department of Biochemistry, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Research Center of Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yue Song
- Department of Biochemistry, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Research Center of Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Xianli Wei
- Department of Medical Instruments, Guangdong Food and Drug Vocational College, Guangzhou, 510520, People's Republic of China
| | - Tingxiu Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Bonan Chen
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR 999077, China
| | - Chengxi Li
- Research Center of Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Wenbo Zhang
- Research Center of Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Department of Pathology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yanjun Jiang
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR 999077, China
| | - Yuhui Tan
- Department of Biochemistry, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Biaoyan Du
- Department of Pathology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jianyong Xiao
- Department of Biochemistry, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Kun Wang
- Department of Pathology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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Mehdi S, Mehmood MH, Ahmed MG, Ashfaq UA. Antidiabetic activity of Berberis brandisiana is possibly mediated through modulation of insulin signaling pathway, inflammatory cytokines and adipocytokines in high fat diet and streptozotocin-administered rats. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1085013. [PMID: 37089941 PMCID: PMC10117783 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1085013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Medicinal plants play a key role in protection of chronic non-communicable ailments like diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Berberis brandisiana Ahrendt (Berberidaceae) is traditionally used to treat diabetes, liver problems, wounds, arthritis, infections, swelling and tumors. It is also known to be enriched with multiple phytoconstituents including berbamine, berberine, quercetin, gallic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, benzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, m-coumaric acid and ferulic acid. The efficacy of B. brandisiana has not been established yet in diabetes. This study has been planned to assess the antidiabetic activity of B. brandisiana in high fat diet and streptozotocin (HFD/STZ)-induced diabetes using animals. Administration of aqueous methanolic extract of B. brandisiana (AMEBB) and berbamine (Berb) for 8 weeks caused a dose dependent marked (p < 0.01) rise in serum insulin and HDL levels with a significant decline (p < 0.01) in glucose, triglycerides, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), cholesterol, LDL, LFTs and RFTs levels when compared with only HFD/STZ-administered rats. AMEBB and Berb also modulated inflammatory biomarkers (TNF-α, IL-6) and adipocytokines (leptin, adiponectin and chemerin). AMEBB (150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) and Berb (80 mg/kg and 160 mg/kg) treated rats showed a marked increase (p < 0.001) in catalase levels (Units/mg) in pancreas (42.4 ± 0.24, 47.4 ± 0.51), (38.2 ± 0.583, 48.6 ± 1.03) and liver (52 ± 1.41, 63.2 ± 0.51), (57.2 ± 0.58, 61.6 ± 1.24) and superoxide dismutase levels (Units/mg) in pancreas (34.8 ± 1.46, 38.2 ± 0.58), (33.2 ± 0.80, 40.4 ± 1.96) and liver (31.8 ± 1.52, 36.8 ± 0.96), (30 ± 0.70, 38.4 ± 0.81),respectively while a significant (p < 0.01) decrease in serum melondialdehyde levels (nmol/g) in pancreas (7.34 ± 0.17, 6.22 ± 0.22), (7.34 ± 0.20, 6.34 ± 0.11) and liver (9.08 ± 0.31,8.18 ± 0.29), (9.34 ± 0.10, 8.86 ± 0.24) compared to the data of only HFD/STZ-fed rats. Histopathological studies of pancreas, liver, kidney, heart and aorta revealed restoration of normal tissue architect in AMEBB and Berb treated rats. When mRNA expressions of candidate genes were assessed, AMEBB and Berb showed upregulation of IRS-1, SIRT1, GLUT-4 and downregulation of ADAM17. These findings suggest that AMEBB and Berb possess antidiabetic activity, possibly due to its effect on oxidative stress, glucose metabolism, inflammatory biomarkers and adipocytokines levels. Further upregulation of IRS-1, SIRT1, GLUT-4 and downregulation of ADAM17, demonstrated its potential impact on glucose homeostasis, insulin resistance and chronic inflammatory markers. Thus, this study provides support to the medicinal use of B. brandisiana and berbamine in diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shumaila Mehdi
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Malik Hassan Mehmood
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
- *Correspondence: Malik Hassan Mehmood, ,
| | - Mobeen Ghulam Ahmed
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Usman Ali Ashfaq
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
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Phytotherapeutic applications of alkaloids in treating breast cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 155:113760. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Zhu T, Zhang H, Li S, Wu K, Yin Y, Zhang X. Detoxified pneumolysin derivative ΔA146Ply inhibits autophagy and induces apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia cells by activating mTOR signaling. Exp Mol Med 2022; 54:601-612. [PMID: 35538212 PMCID: PMC9166762 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-022-00771-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Leukemia is caused by the malignant clonal expansion of hematopoietic stem cells, and in adults, the most common type of leukemia is acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Autophagy inhibitors are often used in preclinical and clinical models in leukemia therapy. However, clinically available autophagy inhibitors and their efficacy are very limited. More effective and safer autophagy inhibitors are urgently needed for leukemia therapy. In a previous study, we showed that ΔA146Ply, a mutant of pneumolysin that lacks hemolytic activity, inhibited autophagy of triple-negative breast cancer cells by activating mannose receptor (MR) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and that tumor-bearing mice tolerated ΔA146Ply well. Whether this agent affects AML cells expressing TLR4 and MR and the related mechanisms remain to be determined. In this study, we found that ΔA146Ply inhibited autophagy and induced apoptosis in AML cells. A mechanistic study showed that ΔA146Ply inhibited autophagy by activating mammalian target of rapamycin signaling and induced apoptosis by inhibiting autophagy. ΔA146Ply also inhibited autophagy and induced apoptosis in a mouse model of AML. Furthermore, the combination of ΔA146Ply and chloroquine synergistically inhibited autophagy and induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Overall, this study provides an alternative effective autophagy inhibitor that may be used for leukemia therapy. A mutated form of the bacterial protein pneumolysin offers a new approach to treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML), due to its ability to stimulate cancer cells to undergo a form of cell suicide called apoptosis. Researchers in China led by Xuemei Zhang at Chongquing Medical University studied the effects of a pneumolysin derivative on cultured human and mouse AML cells. They identified the mechanism by which this derivative activates a known molecular signaling system to inhibit the process of autophagy, in which cells routinely ‘clean up’ degraded or unnecessary components during normal maintenance. This inhibition of autophagy then induced the apoptosis that killed cancer cells. The effect became more pronounced when the pneumolysin derivative was combined with the existing autophagy-inhibiting drug chloroquine. The new combination could be safer and more effective than using chloroquine alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zhu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Cancer Metastasis and Individualized Treatment, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital & Chongqing Cancer Institute & Chongqing Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, China
| | - Sijie Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Kaifeng Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China
| | - Yibing Yin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Xuemei Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.
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Farooqi AA, Wen R, Attar R, Taverna S, Butt G, Xu B. Regulation of Cell-Signaling Pathways by Berbamine in Different Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052758. [PMID: 35269900 PMCID: PMC8911410 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural product research is a cornerstone of the architectural framework of clinical medicine. Berbamine is a natural, potent, pharmacologically active biomolecule isolated from Berberis amurensis. Berbamine has been shown to modulate different oncogenic cell-signaling pathways in different cancers. In this review, we comprehensively analyze how berbamine modulates deregulated pathways (JAK/STAT, CAMKII/c-Myc) in various cancers. We systematically analyze how berbamine induces activation of the TGF/SMAD pathway for the effective inhibition of cancer progression. We also summarize different nanotechnological strategies currently being used for proficient delivery of berbamine to the target sites. Berbamine has also been reported to demonstrate potent anti-cancer and anti-metastatic effects in tumor-bearing mice. The regulation of non-coding RNAs by berbamine is insufficiently studied, and future studies must converge on the identification of target non-coding RNAs. A better understanding of the regulatory role of berbamine in the modulation of non-coding RNAs and cell-signaling pathways will be advantageous in the effective translation of laboratory findings to clinically effective therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ammad Ahmad Farooqi
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Institute of Biomedical and Genetic Engineering (IBGE), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan;
| | - Ru Wen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA;
| | - Rukset Attar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yeditepe University, Istanbul 34755, Turkey;
| | - Simona Taverna
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council of Italy, 90146 Palermo, Italy;
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT-CNR), National Research Council of Italy, 90146 Palermo, Italy
| | - Ghazala Butt
- Institute of Botany, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan;
| | - Baojun Xu
- Food Science and Technology Program, BNU-HKBU United International College, Zhuhai 519087, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-756-2620636
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