2-Hydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone inhibits lung carcinoma cells through modulation of IL-6-induced JAK2/STAT3 pathway

Natural products as IL-6 inhibitors for inflammatory diseases: Synthetic and SAR perspective

Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a pleiotropic cytokine, plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of various diseases including diabetes, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, multiple myeloma, rheumatoid arthritis, and prostate cancer. The signaling pathways associated with IL-6 offer promising targets for therapeutic interventions in inflammatory diseases and IL-6-dependent tumors. Although certain anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibodies are currently employed clinically, their usage is hampered by drawbacks such as high cost and potential immunogenicity, limiting their application. Thus, the imperative arises to develop novel small non-peptide molecules acting as IL-6 inhibitors. Various natural products derived from diverse sources have been investigated for their potential to inhibit IL-6 activity. Nevertheless, these natural products remain inadequately explored in terms of their structure-activity relationships. In response, our review aims to provide syntheses and structure activity perspective of natural IL-6 inhibitors. The comprehensive amalgamation of information presented in this review holds the potential to serve as a foundation for forthcoming research endeavors by medicinal chemists, facilitating the design of innovative IL-6 inhibitors to address the complexities of inflammatory diseases.

Protective role of pretreatment with Anisodamine against sepsis-induced diaphragm atrophy via inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 pathway

There is an increasing tendency for sepsis patients to suffer from diaphragm atrophy as well as mortality. Therefore, reducing diaphragm atrophy could benefit sepsis patients' prognoses. Studies have shown that Anisodamine (Anis) can exert antioxidant effects when blows occur. However, the role of Anisodamine in diaphragm atrophy in sepsis patients has not been reported. Therefore, this study investigated the antioxidant effect of Anisodamine in sepsis-induced diaphragm atrophy and its mechanism. We used cecal ligation aspiration (CLP) to establish a mouse septic mode and stimulated the C2C12 myotube model with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After treatment with Anisodamine, we measured the mice's bodyweight, diaphragm weight, fiber cross-sectional area and the diameter of C2C12 myotubes. The malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the diaphragm were detected using the oxidative stress kit. The expression of MuRF1, Atrogin1 and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway components in the diaphragm and C2C12 myotubes was measured by RT-qPCR and Western blot. The mean fluorescence intensity of ROS in C2C12 myotubes was measured by flow cytometry. Meanwhile, we also measured the levels of Drp1 and Cytochrome C (Cyt-C) in vivo and in vitro by Western blot. Our study revealed that Anisodamine alleviated the reduction in diaphragmatic mass and the loss of diaphragmatic fiber cross-sectional area and attenuated the atrophy of the C2C12 myotubes by inhibiting the expression of E3 ubiquitin ligases. In addition, we observed that Anisodamine inhibited the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and protects mitochondrial function. In conclusion, Anisodamine alleviates sepsis-induced diaphragm atrophy, and the mechanism may be related to inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Quercetin exerts anti-tumor immune mechanism by regulating IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway to deplete Treg cells

Breast cancer is still the leading cause of death among women worldwide. Due to the lack of effective drug targets, triple-negative breast cancer has a worse prognosis and higher mortality compared with other types of breast cancer, and chemotherapy is still the main treatment for triple-negative breast cancer at present. Quercetin (QUE) is a flavonoid compound found in a variety of fruits and vegetables. The mechanism of QUE has been extensively studied, such as prostate cancer, colon cancer, ovarian cancer, etc. However, the anti-tumor immune mechanism of QUE in triple-negative breast cancer remains unclear. Therefore, we assessed the anti-tumor immune effects of QUE on triple-negative breast cancer using both 4T1 cells and a xenograft mouse model of 4T1 cells. In vitro, we examined the inhibitory effects of QUE on 4T1 cells and its molecular mechanisms through MTT, Transwell, ELISA, and Western blotting. In vivo, by establishing a xenograft mouse model, we utilized flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and Western blotting to evaluate the anti-tumor immune effects of QUE on triple-negative breast cancer. The results indicate that QUE inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of 4T1 cells, concurrently significantly suppressing the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Furthermore, it depletes Treg cell content in 4T1 xenograft mice, thereby improving the tumor immune microenvironment and promoting the cytotoxicity of relevant tumor immune cells. These findings suggest that QUE may serve as a potential adjuvant for immune therapy in triple-negative breast cancer.

Hydrazinocurcumin Induced Autophagy and Affected Cell Proliferation by Downregulating the JAK/STAT3 Signaling Pathway in Skin Squamous Cell Carcinoma

This study aims to investigate the relevant mechanism by which hydrazinocurcumin (HC) interferes with A431 cell autophagy by inhibiting the STAT3 signaling pathway. Different concentrations of HC are used to treat A431 cells to study the effects of HC on A431 cell proliferation and apoptosis. Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to further explore the relationship of HC with the JAK signaling pathway and autophagy. Double immunofluorescence staining is used to detect the fluorescence localization of LC3 and STAT3 after HC treatment. With increasing HC concentrations, A431 cell viability decreases in a dose-dependent manner, and the apoptosis rate increases significantly. Laser confocal colocalization reveals that the fluorescence of labeled LC3 protein is significantly increased, and the fluorescence of labeled STAT3 is significantly reduced in this study. HC may induce autophagy in A431 cells and affect cell proliferation by downregulating the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway.

ARF6 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation through activating STAT3 signaling

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) possesses the high mortality in cancers worldwide. Nevertheless, the concrete mechanism underlying HCC proliferation remains obscure. In this study, we show that high expression of ARF6 is associated with a poor clinical prognosis, which could boost the proliferation of HCC.

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry and western blotting were used to detect the expression level of ARF6 in HCC tissues. We analyzed the clinical significance of ARF6 in primary HCC patients. We estimated the effect of ARF6 on tumor proliferation with in vitro CCK8, colony formation assay, and in vivo nude mouse xenograft models. Immunofluorescence was conducted to investigate the ARF6 localization. western blotting was used to detect the cell cycle-related proteins with. Additionally, we examined the correlation between ARF6 and STAT3 signaling in HCC with western blotting, immunohistochemistry and xenograft assay.

RESULTS

ARF6 was upregulated in HCC tissues compared to adjacent normal liver tissues. The increased expression of ARF6 correlated with poor tumor differentiation, incomplete tumor encapsulation, advanced tumor TNM stage and poor prognosis. ARF6 obviously promoted HCC cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell cycle progression. In vivo nude mouse xenograft models showed that ARF6 enhanced tumor growth. Furthermore, ARF6 activated the STAT3 signaling and ARF6 expression was positively correlated with phosphorylated STAT3 level in HCC tissues. Furthermore, after intervening of STAT3, the effect of ARF6 on tumor-promoting was weakened, which demonstrated ARF6 functioned through STAT3 signaling in HCC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that ARF6 promotes HCC proliferation through activating STAT3 signaling, suggesting that ARF6 may serve as potential prognostic and therapeutic targets for HCC patients.

Elian granules alleviate precancerous lesions of gastric cancer in rats by suppressing M2-type polarization of tumor-associated macrophages through NF-κB signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Precancerous lesions of gastric cancer (PLGC) refer to a kind of histopathological changes in the gastric mucosa that can progress to gastric cancer. Elian granules (ELG), a Chinese medicinal prescription, have achieved satisfactory results in the treatment of PLGC. However, the exact mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of ELG remains unclear. Here, this study aims to explore the mechanism of ELG alleviating PLGC in rats.

METHODS

The chemical ingredients of ELG were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Specific Pathogen Free SD rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups: the control, model, and ELG groups. The 1-Methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) integrated modeling method was adopted to construct the PLGC rat model in groups except for the control group. Meanwhile, normal saline was used as an intervention for the control and model groups, and ELG aqueous solution for the ELG group, lasting 40 weeks. Subsequently, the stomach of rats was harvested for further analysis. Hematoxylin-eosin staining of the gastric tissue was conducted to assess the pathological changes. Immunofluorescence was carried out for the expression of CD68, and CD206 proteins. Real-time quantitative PCR combined with Western blot was conducted to analyze the expression of arginase-1(Arg-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), p65, p-p65, nuclear factor inhibitor protein-α (IκBα), and p-IκBα in gastric antrum tissue.

RESULTS

Five chemical ingredients including Curcumol, Curzerenone, Berberine, Ferulic Acid, and 2-Hydroxy-3-Methylanthraquine were identified in ELG. The gastric mucosal glands of rats treated with ELG were orderly arranged, with no intestinal metaplasia and no dysplasia. Furthermore, ELG decreased the percentage of M2-type TAMs marked with CD68 and CD206 proteins, and the ratio of Arg-1 to iNOS in the gastric antrum tissue of rats with PLGC. In addition, ELG could also down-regulate the protein and mRNA expression of p-p65, p65, and p-IκBα, but up-regulate the expression of IκBα mRNA in rats with PLGC.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed that ELG attenuates PLGC in rats by suppressing the M2-type polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) through NF-κB signaling pathway.

The role of IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in cancers

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in immune regulation. It can activate janus kinase 2 (JAK2)-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway. As one of the important signal transduction pathways in cells, JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway plays a critical role in cell proliferation and differentiation by affecting the activation state of downstream effector molecules. The activation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway is involved in tumorigenesis and development. It contributes to the formation of tumor inflammatory microenvironment and is closely related to the occurrence and development of many human tumors. This article focuses on the relationship between IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and liver cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and ovarian cancer, hoping to provide references for the research of cancer treatment targeting key molecules in IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

“Malancha” [Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.]: A Potential Therapeutic Option against Viral Diseases

Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb., commonly known as “Alligator weed” in English, and “Malancha” in Bengali, is a leafy vegetable from the family Amaranthaceae A. L. de Jussieu. This species is native to China, particularly to the provinces around the Yangtze River, other Far East and South-East Asian countries, and countries from other continents (e.g., South America). This plant also grows in certain areas in Australia, New Zealand, and the USA. While in Bangladesh the leaves of this plant are consumed as a vegetable, in China, this plant has been used widely as a traditional remedy for the treatment of various viral diseases (e.g., measles, influenza, and haemorrhagic fever). Flavonoids and saponins are the two largest groups of phytochemicals produced by this plant, and the antiviral property of this plant and its compounds has been studied extensively. This review article reviews all published literature on this plant and critically appraises its phytochemical profile linking to biomolecular interactions and therapeutic potential, particularly, against viral diseases.

Circ_0016347 modulates proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle, and apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells via the miR-661/IL6R axis

BACKGROUND

Osteosarcoma is a common primary bone tumour in children and adolescents. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) exert vital functions in human diseases, including osteosarcoma. Therefore, we explored the role of circ_0016347 in osteosarcoma.

METHODS

The real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression levels of circ_0016347, microRNA-661 (miR-661), and Interleukin-6 receptor (IL6R) in osteosarcoma tissues and cells. The proliferation of osteosarcoma cells was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazol-3-ium bromide (MTT) and EdU experiments. The migration and invasion were determined by transwell assay. The cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were assessed by flow cytometry assay. The association relationships among circ_0016347, miR-661, and IL6R were analyzed by dual-luciferase reporter assays. The western blot assay was employed to assay the protein expression. A xenograft experiment was established to clarify the functional role of circ_0016347 inhibition in vivo.

RESULTS

Circ_0016347 was obviously overexpressed in osteosarcoma tissues and cells compared with control groups. The suppression of circ_0016347 impeded proliferation, migration, invasion, and cell cycle and induced apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells, which was overturned by knockdown of miR-661. Consistently, circ_0016347 knockdown repressed tumour growth in vivo. Moreover, miR-661 directly targeted and inhibited IL6R, and the upregulation of IL6R reversed miR-661-induced effects on osteosarcoma cells. Furthermore, circ_0016347 could regulate IL6R expression through miR-661. Inhibition of circ_0016347 also inactivated the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/Transcription 3 (STAT3) signalling pathway in osteosarcoma cells by IL6R.

CONCLUSION

Circ_0016347 functioned as an oncogene in osteosarcoma at least in part by the miR-661/IL6R axis and JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway.

V. An in silico study on pulmonary fibrosis inhibitors from Tinospora cordifolia and Curcuma longa targeting TGF-β RI

Pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by damage to the epithelial cells and alveolar-capillary basement membrane. The increased expression levels of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and TGF-β-receptor-1 induced differentiation of lung fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, an alarming sign and considered the hallmark event development of pulmonary fibrosis. In the current study, the stability of phytochemicals of Curcuma longa and Tinospora cordifolia as inhibitors of transforming growth factor β RI (TGF-β RI) were evaluated using molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies. A total of 108 Curcuma longa and 16 Tinospora cordifolia constituents were screened against TGF-β RI as the target. Further, their ADMET properties were evaluated using the pkCSM online server. The compounds tembetarine, magnoflorine from T. cordiolia, and 2-(Hydroxymethyl) anthraquinone and quercetin in C. longa showed significant binding affinities bonding interactions with the target, TGF-β RI, and the study was compared with the known inhibitors from the literature. The MD simulations study also supported that the selected compounds show a close affinity with the binding site and maintained stable behavior throughout the simulation time. The pharmacophore feature analysis of the selected compounds and inhibitors were analyzed using the pharmagist web server, and the common features like H-bond donor and aromatic ring were mapped.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Dose-dependent effects of Hedyotis diffusa extract on the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, and N-desmethyltamoxifen

Tamoxifen, a widely prescribed medication in premenopausal women diagnosed with hormone-dependent breast cancer, is potentially co-prescribed with Hedyotis diffusa (H. diffusa), particularly in Taiwan. However, no related report has investigated the drug-herb interaction of H. diffusa on the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen and its metabolites. In the present study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered different doses of H. diffusa extract for 5 consecutive days prior to the administration of tamoxifen (10 mg/kg). A validated ultra-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) system was developed to monitor tamoxifen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, N-desmethyltamoxifen, and endoxifen in rat plasma. Pharmacokinetic results demonstrated that the area under curves (AUCs) of tamoxifen and the relative bioavailability (%) of tamoxifen were dose-dependently decreased (31-68%) by pre-treatment with H. diffusa extract (3 g/kg and 6 g/kg). In addition, the conversion ratio of 4-hydroxytamoxifen was downregulated (0.5-fold change) and the N-desmethyltamoxifen conversion ratio was upregulated (2-fold change) by high-dose H. diffusa extract. As a result, the relative bioavailability and biotransformation changes affect the clinical efficacy of tamoxifen treatment. These preclinical findings reveal a hitherto unreported interaction between tamoxifen and H. diffusa extract that has implications for their therapeutic efficacy in treating breast cancer.

Anthraquinone derivative C10 inhibits proliferation and cell cycle progression in colon cancer cells via the Jak2/Stat3 signaling pathway

Since its discovery, anthraquinone has become very valuable as a lead compound in the development of anti-cancer drugs. Previously, we designed and synthesized a new type of amide anthraquinone derivative (1-nitro-2-acylanthraquinone glycine, C10) with good activity against colon cancer. However, its effect and the underlying mechanism are unclear. In this study, C10 significantly inhibited the proliferation of HCT116 and HT29 colon cancer cells by blocking the cell cycle at the G2/M phase. C10 also plays a role in cell cycle arrest by reducing the protein and gene expression levels of cyclin B1 and its downstream signaling molecule cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK1). In addition, molecular docking studies showed that C10 has high affinity for Jak2, the first target in the cell cycle-related Jak2/Stat3 signaling pathway. Furthermore, C10 downregulated the expression of Jak2/Stat3 signaling pathway-related signaling molecules proteins and genes, and up-regulated the expression of PIAS-3, the upstream signaling molecule of Stat3, thereby down-regulating Stat3 phosphorylation. C10 reversed the expression of Jak2/Stat3 signaling pathway-related molecules activated by IL-6. Overall, our results indicate for the first time that C10 induces cell cycle arrest and inhibits cell proliferation by inhibiting the Jak2/Stat3 signaling pathway. This study provides new insights into the potential role of Jak2/Stat3 in the regulating cell cycle-related signaling pathways that mediate the inhibitory effects of C10 on colon cancer cell proliferation.

Circular RNA circ_0000372 contributes to the proliferation, migration and invasion of colorectal cancer by elevating IL6 expression via sponging miR-495

Circular RNAs are thought to play a vital function in the progression of various cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the biological function and mechanism of circ_0000372 in CRC are still not clear. The expression of circ_0000372 and microRNA (miR)-495 was examined by quantitative real-time PCR. Cell proliferation was evaluated using cell counting kit 8 and colony formation assays. Further, cell migration and invasion were assessed using transwell assay. Additionally, western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of proteins associated with proliferation, metastasis, Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT3) signaling pathway and interleukin 6 (IL6). Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay were employed to verify the interaction between miR-495 and circ_0000372 or IL6. Furthermore, the effect of circ_0000372 on CRC tumor growth in vivo was explored using the mice xenograft models. Circ_0000372 was markedly upregulated in CRC, and its high expression was associated with the poor prognosis of CRC patients. Silenced circ_0000372 was able to suppress CRC cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro and CRC tumor growth in vivo. Bioinformatics prediction and experimental verification proposed that circ_0000372 could sponge miR-495, and miR-495 could target IL6. Besides, the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway activation could be regulated by circ_0000372, miR-495 and IL6. Rescue assay results confirmed that the inhibition effect of circ_0000372 knockdown on the proliferation and metastasis of CRC could be reversed by miR-495 inhibitor or IL6 overexpression. In short, we concluded that circ_0000372 promoted CRC progression by regulating the miR-495/IL6 axis, suggesting that circ_0000372 could be used as a new prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for CRC.

Anticancer activities of TCM and their active components against tumor metastasis

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has the characteristics of multiple targets, slight side effects and good therapeutic effects. Good anti-tumor effects are shown by Traditional Chinese Medicine prescription, Chinese patent medicine, single Traditional Chinese Medicine and Traditional Chinese medicine monomer compound. Clinically, TCM prolonged the survival time of patients and improved the life quality of patients, due to less side effects. Cancer metastasis is a complex process involving numerous steps, multiple genes and their products. During the process of tumor metastasis, firstly, cancer cell increases its proliferative capacity by reducing autophagy and apoptosis, and then the cancer cell capacity is stimulated by increasing the ability of tumors to absorb nutrients from the outside through angiogenesis. Both of the two steps can increase tumor migration and invasion. Finally, the purpose of tumor metastasis is achieved. By inhibiting autophagy and apoptosis of tumor cells, angiogenesis and EMT outside the tumor can inhibit the invasion and migration of cancer, and consequently achieve the purpose of inhibiting tumor metastasis. This review explores the research achievements of Traditional Chinese Medicine on breast cancer, lung cancer, hepatic carcinoma, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer and other cancer metastasis in the past five years, summarizes the development direction of TCM on cancer metastasis research in the past five years and makes a prospect for the future.

Bellidifolin Inhibits Proliferation of A549 Cells by Regulating STAT3/COX-2 Expression and Protein Activity

Objectives

Bellidifolin (BEL) is one type of tetraoxygenated xanthone that is particularly found in Swertia and Gentiana (Gentianaceae). Despite its broad range of pharmacological activities, it is still unclear whether BEL could be used for lung cancer treatment. Hence, we presently demonstrate the roles of BEL towards the proliferative inhibition of the prototypical A549 lung cancer cells.

Materials and Methods

The antiproliferative activity of BEL was initially verified by cellular experiments. A network pharmacology method was then pursued to assess BEL potential molecular targets from the platform for pharmacological analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). Disease enrichment of potential targets and construction of compound-target-disease network maps were performed based on a total of 20 diseases. Two core targets related to the BEL-mediated effect in A549 cells were obtained by importing potential targets into a protein-protein interaction database (STRING) and also analyzing respective data of related targets into this database. Last, these core targets were examined by in vitro analysis and molecular docking.

Results

CCK8 assays indicated that treatment with 50-100 μm BEL had an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of human A549 lung cancer cells, whereas this effect was time- and concentration-dependent. As control, treatment with 50-100 μm BEL did not inhibit the proliferation of normal lung epithelial cells (BEAS-2b cell line). H&E staining of BEL-treated A549 cells showed that, upon an increase of drug concentration, nuclear condensation and fragmentation were largely observed. Cell cycle analysis showed that in vitro treatment with 75-100 μm BEL could block A549 cells in S and G2 phases. Western blot analyses showed that after 72 hours of BEL treatment, the level of caspase-8/3 in A549 cells increased, and the level of PARP1 decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Network pharmacology analysis also indicated that lung cancer was the major disease susceptible to BEL treatment. At the same time, STAT3 and COX-2 were identified as two core targets of BEL in lung cancer treatment. Functional analyses further revealed that the cytotoxicity effect of BEL in A549 cells potentially involved the STAT3/COX-2 pathway. Moreover, molecular docking analysis indicated that BEL structure properly matches with COX-2 and STAT3 in space shape, thus illustrating the putative molecular mechanism of BEL's anticancer effect.

Conclusions

Based on a series of in vitro analyses, network pharmacology, and molecular docking, the potential mechanism involving the antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of BEL in lung cancer cells was investigated. Our study may help providing some theoretical basis for the discovery of novel phytotherapy drugs applicable for the treatment of lung cancer.

Antitumor potential of Hedyotis diffusa Willd: A systematic review of bioactive constituents and underlying molecular mechanisms

Cancer is a major cause of death in the world. Chemotherapy can extend the life of cancer patients to some extent, but the quality of life is reduced. Therefore, the quest for more efficient and less toxic medication strategies is still at the forefront of current research. Hedyotis diffusa Willd (HDW), a Chinese herb medicine, has received great attention in the past two decades and has been well documented in clinics for antitumor activity in a variety of human cancers. This review discussed a total of 58 different kinds of active antitumor components isolated from HDW, including iridoids, flavonoids, flavonol glycosides, anthraquinones, phenolic acids, and their derivatives, sterols, and volatile oils. Their antitumor activities include inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, induction of tumor cell apoptosis and tumor angiogenesis, regulation of the host immune response, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, and protective autophagy. Besides, we provide up-to-date and systematic evidence for HDW antitumor activities and the possible underlying molecular mechanisms and reference for further development of novel drugs and dosage formulation in control of human cancers.

Ethyl Acetate Fraction from Hedyotis diffusa plus Scutellaria barbata Exerts Anti-Breast Cancer Effect via miR-200c-PDE7B/PD-L1-AKT/MAPK Axis

Background

Hedyotis diffusa (HD) Willd. and Scutellaria barbata (SB) D. Don in different ratios have been frequently used to treat various cancers in clinical Traditional Chinese Medicine prescriptions. However, the optimal ratio, active fraction, and molecular mechanisms associated with the anti-breast cancer role of this herbal couplet have not been elaborated.

Methods

To screen out the optimal ratio of this herbal couplet, we compare aqueous extracts of HD, SB, or HD plus SB in different weight ratios (HS11, HS12, HS21) for their anticancer effects on murine breast cancer 4T1 cells in vitro and in vivo. EA11, the ethyl acetate fraction from HS11 (the aqueous extract of the couplet at an equal weight ratio), is further assessed for its antiproliferative effect as well as the antitumorigenic impact with the aid of immunocompetent mice. Colony formation, flow cytometry, western blot, ELISA, and qRT-PCR are used to elucidate mechanisms underlying EA11-led effects.

Results

HS11 presents the most potential suppression of 4T1 cell proliferation and tumor growth among these aqueous extracts. The comparison results show that EA11 is more effective than HS11 in vitro and in vivo. EA11 inhibits colony formation and induces apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. EA11 reduces the protein expressions of PDE7B, PD-L1, β-catenin, and cyclin D1 while elevating the concentration of cellular cAMP and miR-200c expression in 4T1 cells. Additionally, EA11 exerts its anticancer effect partially via the inactivation of MAPK and AKT signaling pathways.

Conclusions

This study implicates that EA11 prevents breast tumor development by interfering with the miR-200c-PDE7B/PD-L1-AKT/MAPK axis. EA11 may represent a potential therapeutic candidate for breast cancer.

A panoramic review of IL-6: Structure, pathophysiological roles and inhibitors

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic pro-inflammatory cytokine. Its deregulation is associated with chronic inflammation, and multifactorial auto-immune disorders. It mediates its biological roles through a hexameric complex composed of IL-6 itself, its receptor IL-6R, and glycoprotein 130 (IL-6/IL-6R/gp130). This complex, in turn, activates different signaling mechanisms (classical and trans-signaling) to execute various biochemical functions. The trans-signaling mechanism activates various pathological routes, like JAK/STAT3, Ras/MAPK, PI3K-PKB/Akt, and regulation of CD4+ T cells and VEGF levels, which cause cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, anemia, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Involvement of IL-6 in pathophysiology of these complex diseases makes it an important target for the treatment of these diseases. Though some anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibodies are being used clinically, but their high cost, only parenteral administration, and possibility of immunogenicity have limited their use, and warranted the development of novel small non-peptide molecules as IL-6 inhibitors. In the present report, all molecules reported in literature as IL-6 inhibitors have been classified as IL-6 production, IL-6R, and IL-6 signaling inhibitors. Reports available till date are critically studied to identify important and salient structural features common in these molecules. These analyses would assist medicinal chemists to design novel and potent IL-6 production and signaling inhibitors, through knowledge- and/or computer-based approaches, for the treatment of complex multifactorial diseases.

Discovery and characterization of four glycosyltransferases involved in anthraquinone glycoside biosynthesis in Rubia yunnanensis

Four new glycosyltransferases, which were discovered from Rubia yunnanensis for mediating anthraquinone glycoside biosynthesis, were identified through the analysis of broad substrates, sugar promiscuous, and regioselective glycosylation.