A comparative proteomic study of secretomes in kaempferitrin-treated CTX TNA2 astrocytic cells

Treating cancer through modulating exosomal protein loading and function: The prospects of natural products and traditional Chinese medicine

Exosomes, small yet vital extracellular vesicles, play an integral role in intercellular communication. They transport critical components, such as proteins, lipid bilayers, DNA, RNA, and glycans, to target cells. These vesicles are crucial in modulating the extracellular matrix and orchestrating signal transduction processes. In oncology, exosomes are pivotal in tumor growth, metastasis, drug resistance, and immune modulation within the tumor microenvironment. Exosomal proteins, noted for their stability and specificity, have garnered widespread attention. This review delves into the mechanisms of exosomal protein loading and their impact on tumor development, with a focus on the regulatory effects of natural products and traditional Chinese medicine on exosomal protein loading and function. These insights not only offer new strategies and methodologies for cancer treatment but also provide scientific bases and directions for future clinical applications.

Targeting tumor-derived exosome-mediated premetastatic niche formation: The metastasis-preventive value of traditional Chinese medicine

Tumor-derived exosome (TDE)-mediated premetastatic niche (PMN) formation is a potential mechanism underlying the organotropic metastasis of primary tumors. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown considerable success in preventing and treating tumor metastasis. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In this review, we discussed PMN formation from the perspectives of TDE biogenesis, cargo sorting, and TDE recipient cell alterations, which are critical for metastatic outgrowth. We also reviewed the metastasis-preventive effects of TCM, which act by targeting the physicochemical materials and functional mediators of TDE biogenesis, regulating the cargo sorting machinery and secretory molecules in TDEs, and targeting the TDE-recipient cells involved in PMN formation.

Suboptimal folic acid exposure rewires oncogenic metabolism and proteomics signatures to mediate human breast cancer malignancy

Whether treatment with folic acid (FA) affects human breast cancer positively or negatively remains unclear. We subjected human MCF-7 cells, a human breast cancer cell line, to suboptimal FA at low levels (10 nM; LF) and high levels (50 μM; HF) and investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying their effects through metabolic flux and systematic proteomics analyses. The data indicated that LF induced and HF aggravated 2-fold higher mitochondrial toxicity in terms of suppressed oxidative respiration, increased fermented glycolysis, and enhanced anchorage-independent oncospheroid formation. Quantitative proteomics and Gene Ontology enrichment analysis were used to profile LF- and HF-altered proteins involved in metabolism, apoptosis, and malignancy pathways. Through STRING analysis, we identified a connection network between LF- and HF-altered proteins with mTOR. Rapamycin-induced blockage of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling, which regulates metabolism, differentially inhibited LF- and HF-modulated protein signatures of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase ubiquinone flavoprotein 2, mitochondrial glutathione peroxidase 4, kynureninase, and alpha-crystallin B chain as well as programmed cell death 5 in transcript levels; it subsequently diminished apoptosis and oncospheroid formation in LF/HF-exposed cells. Taken together, our data indicate that suboptimal FA treatment rewired oncogenic metabolism and mTORC1-mediated proteomics signatures to promote breast cancer development.

The role of flavonoids in inhibiting IL-6 and inflammatory arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that primarily affects the synovial joints. RA has well-known clinical manifestations and can cause progressive disability and premature death along with socioeconomic burdens. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been implicated in the pathology of RA where it can stimulate pannus formation, osteoclastogenesis, and oxidative stress. Flavonoids are plant metabolites with beneficial pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, and others. Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds found in a variety of plants, vegetables, and fruits. Many flavonoids have demonstrated anti-arthritic activity mediated mainly through the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This review thoroughly discusses the accumulate data on the role of flavonoids on IL-6 in RA.

An overview on therapeutic and medicinal potential of poly-hydroxy flavone viz. Heptamethoxyflavone, Kaempferitrin, Vitexin and Amentoflavone for management of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases: a critical analysis on mechanistic insight

Neurodegenerative disorders occur when nerve cells in the brain or peripheral nervous system partial or complete fail in their functions and sometimes even die due to some injuries or aging. Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Parkinson's Disease (PD), have been majorly resulted due to degeneration of neurons and neuroinflammation progressively. There are many similarities that correlates both AD and PD on a cellular and sub-cellular level. Therefore, a hope for therapeutic advancement for simultaneous upgradation in both the diseases are directly depending on the discovery of common mechanism at molecular and cellular level. Recent and past evidences from scientific literature supporting the efficacy of plants flavonoids in treatment and protection of both AD and PD. Further, dietary flavones, specially Heptamethoxyflavone, Kaempferitrin, Vitexin and Amentoflavone gains recently much more attention for producing many health beneficiary effects including neuroprotection. Despite of these evidence a detailed updated overview of neuroprotective effects against both AD and PD by Heptamethoxyflavone, Kaempferitrin, Vitexin and Amentoflavone are still missing. In this context several published studies were assessed by using various online electronic search engines/databases to meet the objective from 1981 to 2021 (Approx. 224). Therefore, present review was designed to deliver the detailed description on these flavones including therapeutic benefits in AD, PD and other CNS complications with critical analysis on underlying mechanisms.

Kaempferitrin-Treated HepG2 Differentially Expressed Exosomal Markers and Affect Extracellular Vesicle Sizes in the Secretome

Kaempferitrin is extracted in significantly high quantities from the leaves of Cinnamomum osmophloeum, which belongs to a group of plant species that comes under the genus Cinnamomum, well-known for its established anti-diabetic property in Chinese medicine. Oral administration of kaempferitrin and Cinnamomum osmophloeum extract reduced blood sugar in alloxan-induced diabetic rats and improved the lipid profile in hamsters respectively. In this paper we studied the differential protein expression profile using mass spectrometry approach in the kaempferitrin-treated conditioned medium of liver cancer cell line HepG2. We discovered that 33 genes were up/down-regulated consistently between two biological samples. A slightly different version of the analysis software selected 28 genes, and the final 18 genes that appeared in both lists were selected. Interestingly, 5 proteins out of 18 were either exosomal markers or reported in high frequency of occurrence in exosome/secreted vesicles. We also examined the extracellular particles with atomic force microscopy (AFM), which showed that the conditioned medium of kaempferitrin treated had larger vesicles and fewer small vesicles. Expression of some lipid-regulating genes were also altered. Our data suggested that extracellular vesicle secretions may be regulated by kaempferitrin, and regulation of lipid profile by kampeferitrin involves multiple mechanisms.

Anchorage independence altered vasculogenic phenotype of melanoma cells through downregulation in aminopeptidase N /syndecan-1/integrin β4 axis

The detachment of tumor cells from extracellular matrix and survival under anchorage-independence were recognized as the initial step of tumor metastasis. Previously we had demonstrated that anchorage-independence altered gene expressions and showed characteristics of cell invasiveness loss, enhanced chemosensitivity, and enhanced subcutaneous tumor formation. However, whether it affected histological phenotypes in tumor tissues remained unclear. Melanoma metastases were generated in nude mice using adherent or suspended melanoma cells. Examination of melanoma metastases revealed histological features of extensive vascular structures in adherent cell-derived tumors, while not seen in suspended cell-derived tumors. Quantitative proteomic analysis at adherent, suspended, and re-attached melanoma cells suggested that aminopeptidase N was potentially downregulated upon cell suspension or reattachment. Downregulation of aminopeptidase N by gene-specific shRNAs showed reduced cell invasiveness and enhanced subcutaneous tumor formation that was consistent with previous observations. Experiments by suppression or overexpression of aminopeptidase N expression demonstrated that aminopeptidase N regulated syndecan-1 and integrin β4 expression through PKCδ pathway. Histological analysis at melanoma metastases further suggested that CD31⁺/aminopeptidase N⁺/syndecan-1⁺/integrin β4⁺ phenotypes were associated with vascular structures. In summary, we suggested the expression axis of aminopeptidase N/syndecan-1/integrin β4 in melanoma cells was suppressed by detachment stress, which diminished vascular phenotypes of melanoma metastases.

Beneficial Biological Activities of Cinnamomum osmophloeum and its Potential Use in the Alleviation of Oral Mucositis: A Systematic Review

The aim of this review was to provide an updated overview of studies on the medical-biological activities of Cinnamomum osmophloeum (C. osmophloeum) in vitro and in vivo and the potential therapeutic use of natural agents prepared from this plant for the alleviation of oral mucositis (OM). Reported articles were collected using web search engine tools. The systematic review was organized according to the preferred reporting items for reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. Additional sources were identified through cross-referencing to identify the potential use of C. osmophloeum in the alleviation of OM. The results disclosed that C. osmophloeum is comprised of bioactive ingredients that could act diversely as a reagent in anti-inflammation, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-hyperglycemic, antidyslipidemia, anti-cancer, renal disease therapy and anti-hyperuricemia capacities. Recent studies revealed that the overall effects on anti-inflammation, wound repair, and the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of its constituents would act as a potential remedy for oral mucositis. Up-to-date in vitro and in vivo studies on the medical-biological activities of C. osmophloeum suggested that C. osmophloeum and its constituents could be promising remedies as adjuvants in OM therapy and warrant further investigation.

In vitro inhibitory effects of kaempferitrin on human liver cytochrome P450 enzymes

Context: Kaempferitrinis (KF) is a bioactive flavonoid and possesses numerous pharmacological activities. However, whether KF affects the activity of human liver cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes remains unclear. Objective: This study investigates the effects of KF on eight major CYP isoforms in human liver microsomes (HLMs). Materials and methods: In vitro, HLMs were used to investigate the inhibitory effects of KF (100 μM) on the eight human liver CYP isoforms (i.e., 1A2, 3A4, 2A6, 2E1, 2D6, 2C9, 2C19, and 2C8), and corresponding probe substrates were used. Enzyme kinetic studies (0-50 μM of KF) were conducted to determine the inhibition mode of KF on CYP enzymes. Results: The results showed that KF inhibited the activity of CYP1A2, 3A4, and 2C9, with IC₅₀ values of 20.56, 13.87, and 14.62 μM, respectively, but that other CYP isoforms were not affected. Enzyme kinetic studies showed that KF was not only a noncompetitive inhibitor of CYP3A4, but also a competitive inhibitor of CYP1A2 and 2C9, with Ki values of 7.11, 10.24, and 7.58 μM, respectively. In addition, KF is a time-dependent inhibitor for CYP3A4 with K_I/K_inact value of 10.85/0.036 min/μM. Discussion: The in vitro studies of KF with CYP isoforms indicate that KF has the potential to cause pharmacokinetic drug interactions with other co-administered drugs metabolized by CYP1A2, 3A4, and 2C9. Conclusion: It is recommended that KF should not be used with other drugs metabolized by CYP1A2, 3A4, and 2C9. Further clinical studies are needed to evaluate the significance of this interaction.

Differential proteomics for studying action mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicines

Differential proteomics, which has been widely used in studying of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) during the past 10 years, is a powerful tool to visualize differentially expressed proteins and analyzes their functions. In this paper, the applications of differential proteomics in exploring the action mechanisms of TCMs on various diseases including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, liver diseases, kidney disorders and obesity, etc. were reviewed. Furthermore, differential proteomics in studying of TCMs identification, toxicity, processing and compatibility mechanisms were also included. This review will provide information for the further applications of differential proteomics in TCMs studies.