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Bai XF, Hu J, Wang MF, Li LG, Han N, Wang H, Chen NN, Gao YJ, You H, Wang X, Xu X, Yu TT, Li TF, Ren T. Cepharanthine triggers ferroptosis through inhibition of NRF2 for robust ER stress against lung cancer. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 979:176839. [PMID: 39033838 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176839] [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: 05/12/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress elicits apoptosis to suppress lung cancer. Our previous research identified that Cepharanthine (CEP), a kind of phytomedicine, possessed powerful anti-cancer efficacy, for which the underlying mechanism was still uncovered. Herein, we investigated how CEP induced ER stress and worked against lung cancer. METHODS The differential expression genes (DEGs) and enrichment were detected by RNA-sequence. The affinity of CEP and NRF2 was analyzed by cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) and molecular docking. The function assay of lung cancer cells was measured by western blots, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining, and ferroptosis inhibitors. RESULTS CEP treatment enriched DEGs in ferroptosis and ER stress. Further analysis demonstrated the target was NRF2. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that CEP induced obvious ferroptosis, as characterized by the elevated iron ions, ROS, COX-2 expression, down-regulation of GPX4, and atrophic mitochondria. Moreover, enhanced Grp78, CHOP expression, β-amyloid mass, and disappearing parallel stacked structures of ER were observed in CEP group, suggesting ER stress was aroused. CEP exhibited excellent anti-lung cancer efficacy, as evidenced by the increased apoptosis, reduced proliferation, diminished cell stemness, and prominent inhibition of tumor grafts in animal models. Furthermore, the addition of ferroptosis inhibitors weakened CEP-induced ER stress and apoptosis. CONCLUSION In summary, our findings proved CEP drives ferroptosis through inhibition of NRF2 for induction of robust ER stress, thereby leading to apoptosis and attenuated stemness of lung cancer cells. The current work presents a novel mechanism for the anti-tumor efficacy of the natural compound CEP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Feng Bai
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin Road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, China
| | - Jun Hu
- Shiyan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Nanoformulation Research, Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin Road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, China
| | - Mei-Fang Wang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin Road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, China
| | - Liu-Gen Li
- Shiyan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Nanoformulation Research, Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin Road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, China
| | - Ning Han
- Shiyan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Nanoformulation Research, Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin Road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, China
| | - Hansheng Wang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin Road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, China
| | - Nan-Nan Chen
- Shiyan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Nanoformulation Research, Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin Road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, China
| | - Yu-Jie Gao
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin Road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, China
| | - Hui You
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin Road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin Road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, China
| | - Xiang Xu
- Shiyan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Nanoformulation Research, Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin Road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, China
| | - Ting-Ting Yu
- Department of Pathology, Renmin Hospital of Shiyan, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, China
| | - Tong-Fei Li
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin Road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, China; Shiyan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Nanoformulation Research, Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin Road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, China.
| | - Tao Ren
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin Road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, China.
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Shang H, Lu Y, Xun L, Wang K, Li B, Liu Y, Ma T. Genome assembly of Stephania longa provides insight into cepharanthine biosynthesis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1414636. [PMID: 39301160 PMCID: PMC11410628 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1414636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Stephania longa, a medicinal plant renowned for producing cepharanthine, has gained significance due to the compound's notable antiviral properties against SARS-CoV-2. However, a comprehensive genetic understanding of S. longa has been lacking. This study aimed to develop a high-quality, chromosome-level genome assembly to uncover the genetic intricacies and evolutionary narrative of this species. By integrating genomic data with metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses, we sought to identify key genes involved in cepharanthine biosynthesis. Methods We employed a multi-faceted approach comprising genome assembly, phylogenetic analysis, gene family dynamics investigation, metabolomic profiling, and gene expression analysis across various tissues of S. longa. This integrated strategy enabled the identification of key genes involved in cepharanthine biosynthesis and elucidated the species' evolutionary history. Results Our phylogenetic analysis clarified the placement of the genus Stephania within the Ranunculales order and revealed its notably high mutation rate. We identified gene family expansions and signs of positive selection likely contributing to Stephania's unique metabolic capabilities. Metabolomic profiling uncovered complex regulatory mechanisms orchestrating the biosynthesis and distribution of cepharanthine and related metabolites. Through the integration of genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic data, we identified genes with expression patterns and evolutionary trajectories suggesting pivotal roles in cepharanthine biosynthesis, including those involved in crucial biosynthetic steps. Discussion This comprehensive study, integrating genomic, metabolomic, and transcriptomic approaches, provides valuable insights into S. longa's biosynthetic potential. It not only enhances our understanding of the species but also establishes a foundation for future investigations into the biosynthesis and therapeutic exploitation of cepharanthine and related alkaloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiying Shang
- Xi'an Botanical Garden of Shaanxi Province (Institute of Botany of Shaanxi Province), Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuan Lu
- Xi'an Botanical Garden of Shaanxi Province (Institute of Botany of Shaanxi Province), Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lulu Xun
- Xi'an Botanical Garden of Shaanxi Province (Institute of Botany of Shaanxi Province), Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Kun Wang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Bin Li
- Xi'an Botanical Garden of Shaanxi Province (Institute of Botany of Shaanxi Province), Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuxuan Liu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Tao Ma
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Yang X, Li J, Xu C, Zhang G, Che X, Yang J. Potential mechanisms of rheumatoid arthritis therapy: Focus on macrophage polarization. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 142:113058. [PMID: 39236455 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.113058] [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: 07/18/2024] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that affects multiple organs and systems in the human body, often leading to disability. Its pathogenesis is complex, and the long-term use of traditional anti-rheumatic drugs frequently results in severe toxic side effects. Therefore, the search for a safer and more effective antirheumatic drug is extremely important for the treatment of RA. As important immune cells in the body, macrophages are polarized. Under pathological conditions, macrophages undergo proliferation and are recruited to diseased tissues upon stimulation. In the local microenvironment, they polarize into different types of macrophages in response to specific factors and perform unique functions and roles. Previous studies have shown that there is a link between macrophage polarization and RA, indicating that certain active ingredients can ameliorate RA symptoms through macrophage polarization. Notably, Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monomer component and compounds demonstrate a particular advantage in this process. Building upon this insight, we reviewed and analyzed recent studies to offer valuable and meaningful insights and directions for the development and application of anti-rheumatic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Yang
- College of Acupuncture and Massage, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Jinling Li
- College of Acupuncture and Massage, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Chengchao Xu
- College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Guangheng Zhang
- Department of First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xinzhen Che
- Department of First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Jiguo Yang
- College of Acupuncture and Massage, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.
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Zhu Y, Chen Y, Zu Y. Leveraging a neutrophil-derived PCD signature to predict and stratify patients with acute myocardial infarction: from AI prediction to biological interpretation. J Transl Med 2024; 22:612. [PMID: 38956669 PMCID: PMC11221097 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05415-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Programmed cell death (PCD) has recently been implicated in modulating the removal of neutrophils recruited in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Nonetheless, the clinical significance and biological mechanism of neutrophil-related PCD remain unexplored. METHODS We employed an integrative machine learning-based computational framework to generate a predictive neutrophil-derived PCD signature (NPCDS) within five independent microarray cohorts from the peripheral blood of AMI patients. Non-negative matrix factorization was leveraged to develop an NPCDS-based AMI subtype. To elucidate the biological mechanism underlying NPCDS, we implemented single-cell transcriptomics on Cd45+ cells isolated from the murine heart of experimental AMI. We finally conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) study and molecular docking to investigate the therapeutic value of NPCDS on AMI. RESULTS We reported the robust and superior performance of NPCDS in AMI prediction, which contributed to an optimal combination of random forest and stepwise regression fitted on nine neutrophil-related PCD genes (MDM2, PTK2B, MYH9, IVNS1ABP, MAPK14, GNS, MYD88, TLR2, CFLAR). Two divergent NPCDS-based subtypes of AMI were revealed, in which subtype 1 was characterized as inflammation-activated with more vibrant neutrophil activities, whereas subtype 2 demonstrated the opposite. Mechanically, we unveiled the expression dynamics of NPCDS to regulate neutrophil transformation from a pro-inflammatory phase to an anti-inflammatory phase in AMI. We uncovered a significant causal association between genetic predisposition towards MDM2 expression and the risk of AMI. We also found that lidoflazine, isotetrandrine, and cepharanthine could stably target MDM2. CONCLUSION Altogether, NPCDS offers significant implications for prediction, stratification, and therapeutic management for AMI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihao Zhu
- International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuxi Chen
- International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, People's Republic of China
| | - Yao Zu
- International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, People's Republic of China.
- Marine Biomedical Science and Technology Innovation Platform of Lin-Gang Special Area, Shanghai, 201306, People's Republic of China.
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Xu W, Chen S, Wang X, Min J, Tanaka S, Onda K, Sugiyama K, Yamada H, Hirano T. Cepharanthine synergistically promotes methylprednisolone pharmacodynamics against human peripheral blood mononuclear cells possibly via regulation of P-glycoprotein/glucocorticoid receptor translocation. BMC Complement Med Ther 2024; 24:186. [PMID: 38734604 PMCID: PMC11088782 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04489-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cepharanthin® alone or in combination with glucocorticoid (GC) has been used to treat chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) since the 1990s. Cepharanthine (CEP) is one of the main active components of Cepharanthin®. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of CEP on GC pharmacodynamics on immune cells and analyse the possible action mechanism of their interactions. METHODS Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), T lymphocytic leukemia MOLT-4 cells and daunorubicin resistant MOLT-4 cells (MOLT-4/DNR) were used to evaluate the pharmacodynamics and molecular mechanisms. Drug pharmacodynamics was evaluated by WST-8 assay. P-glycoprotein function was examined by rhodamine 123 assay. CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines were detected by flow cytometry. P-glycoprotein expression and GC receptor translocation were examined by Western blot. RESULTS CEP synergistically increased methylprednisolone (MP) efficacy with the suppressive effect on the cell viability of PBMCs. 0.3 and 1 μM of CEP significantly inhibited P-glycoprotein efflux function of CD4+ cells, CD8+ cells, and lymphocytes (P<0.05). 0.03~3 μM of CEP also inhibited the P-glycoprotein efflux function in MOLT-4/DNR cells in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.001). However, 0.03~3 μM of CEP did not influence P-glycoprotein expression. 0.03~0.3 μM of CEP significantly increased the GC receptor distribution from the cytoplasm to the nucleus in a concentration-dependent manner in MOLT-4/DNR cells. The combination did not influence the frequency of CD4+, CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells or the secretion of Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines from PBMCs. In contrast, CEP alone at 1 μM decreased the percentage of CD4+ T cell significantly (P<0.01). It also inhibited the secretion of IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α, and IFN-γ. CONCLUSIONS CEP synergistically promoted MP pharmacodynamics to decrease the cell viability of the mitogen-activated PBMCs, possibly via inhibiting P-glycoprotein function and potentiating GC receptor translocation. The present study provides new evidence of the therapeutic effect of Cepharanthin® alone or in combination with GC for the management of chronic ITP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wencheng Xu
- Department of Pharmacy, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430064, P. R. China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Theory and Application Research of Liver and Kidney in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, P. R. China.
- Hubei Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, P.R. China.
| | - Shuhe Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430064, P. R. China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Theory and Application Research of Liver and Kidney in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, P. R. China
- Hubei Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoqin Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Theory and Application Research of Liver and Kidney in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, P. R. China
- Hubei Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, P.R. China
- Department of Nephrology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Jinwen Min
- The First Clinical Medical College, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, P.R. China
| | - Sachiko Tanaka
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan
| | - Kenji Onda
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan
| | - Kentaro Sugiyama
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan
| | - Haruki Yamada
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan.
| | - Toshihiko Hirano
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan.
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Yang J, Qin L, Zhou S, Li J, Tu Y, Mo M, Liu X, Huang J, Qin X, Jiao A, Wei W, Yang P. Network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental study of CEP in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 323:117667. [PMID: 38159821 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The Stephania cephalantha Hayata is an important traditional medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine to treat cancer. Cepharanthine (CEP) was extracted from the roots of Stephania cephalantha Hayata. It has been found to exhibit anticancer activity in different types of cancer cells. Nevertheless, the activity of CEP against nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and its underlying mechanism warrant further investigation. AIMS OF THE STUDY NPC is an invasive and highly metastatic malignancy that affects the head and neck region. This research aimed to investigate the pharmacological properties and underlying mechanism of CEP against NPC, aiming to offer novel perspectives on treating NPC using CEP. MATERIALS AND METHODS In vitro, the pharmacological activity of CEP against NPC was evaluated using the CCK-8 assay. To predict and elucidate the anticancer mechanism of CEP against NPC, we employed network pharmacology, conducted molecular docking analysis, and performed Western blot experiments. In vivo validation was performed through a nude mice xenograft model of human NPC, Western blot and immunohistochemical (IHC) assays to confirm pharmacological activity and the mechanism. RESULTS In a dose-dependent manner, the proliferation and clonogenic capacity of NPC cells were significantly inhibited by CEP. Additionally, NPC cell migration was suppressed by CEP. The results obtained from network pharmacology experiments revealed that anti-NPC effect of CEP was associated with 8 core targets, including EGFR, AKT1, PIK3CA, and mTOR. By performing molecular docking, the binding capacity of CEP to the candidate core proteins (EGFR, AKT1, PIK3CA, and mTOR) was predicted, resulting in docking energies of -10.0 kcal/mol for EGFR, -12.4 kcal/mol for PIK3CA, -10.8 kcal/mol for AKT1, and -8.6 kcal/mol for mTOR. The Western blot analysis showed that CEP effectively suppressed the expression of EGFR and the phosphorylation levels of downstream signaling proteins, including PI3K, AKT, mTOR, and ERK. After CEP intervention, a noteworthy decrease in tumor size, without inducing any toxicity, was observed in NPC xenograft nude mice undergoing in vivo treatment. Additionally, IHC analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in the expression levels of EGFR and Ki-67 following CEP treatment. CONCLUSION CEP exhibits significant pharmacological effects on NPC, and its mechanistic action involves restraining the activation of the EGFR/PI3K/AKT pathway. CEP represents a promising pharmaceutical agent for addressing and mitigating NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangping Yang
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Liujie Qin
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Shouchang Zhou
- Life Sciences Institute, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Jixing Li
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Yu Tu
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Minfeng Mo
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Xuenian Liu
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Jinglun Huang
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Xiumei Qin
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Aijun Jiao
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China; Life Sciences Institute, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China.
| | - Wei Wei
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China.
| | - Peilin Yang
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China.
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Zhang M, Wang Z, Li K, Li Q, Yu K, Li J, Feng J, Yang B, Liu L, Cai W. The visualization of the spatial distribution of Cocculus orbiculatus based on air flow-assisted desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging. Fitoterapia 2024; 173:105785. [PMID: 38122856 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2023.105785] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Cocculus orbiculatus (C. orbiculatus), the root of plants belonging to the Menispermaceae family, has been extensively used to treat various diseases, including malaria and rheumatism. The main chemicals in these plants are alkaloids; however, the spatial distribution of these compounds within the plant roots remains undefined. This study aimed to visualize the spatial distribution of C. orbiculatus using air flow-assisted desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (AFADESI-MSI). In total, the spatial distribution of four aporphine alkaloids, five benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids, six bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, and one morphinane alkaloid in the cork layer, xylem, and ray of the root of C. orbiculatus was observed; the distribution characteristics of the different compounds in C. orbiculatus were significantly different. This study provides a visualized spatial distribution analysis method for the characterization of metabolites in the root tissue of C. orbiculatus and also provides valuable information for the specificity of the root of C. orbiculatus, which is beneficial for understanding its chemical separation, biosynthesis, and pharmacological activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua 418000, China
| | - Ziming Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua 418000, China; School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Kailin Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua 418000, China; Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, China
| | - Qing Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua 418000, China
| | - Kaiquan Yu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua 418000, China
| | - Jiaxin Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua 418000, China
| | - Jinglin Feng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua 418000, China
| | - Biao Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua 418000, China
| | - Lianghong Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua 418000, China.
| | - Wei Cai
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua 418000, China.
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Su G, Wang D, Yang Q, Kong L, Ju X, Yang Q, Zhu Y, Zhang S, Li Y. Cepharanthine suppresses APC-mutant colorectal cancers by down-regulating the expression of β-catenin. NATURAL PRODUCTS AND BIOPROSPECTING 2024; 14:18. [PMID: 38421454 PMCID: PMC10904711 DOI: 10.1007/s13659-024-00443-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The aberrant activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is closely associated with the development of various carcinomas, especially colorectal cancers (CRCs), where adenomatous colorectal polyposis (APC) mutations are the most frequently observed, which limits the anti-tumor efficiency of inhibitors targeting the upstream of Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The anti-tumor activity of the naturally occurring alkaloid cepharanthine (CEP) extracted from the plant Stephania cepharantha Hayata has been reported in various types of tumors. We previously observed that its derivatives inhibited the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in liver cancer; however, the specific mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we confirmed CEP can effectively inhibit APC-mutant CRC cell lines (SW480, SW620, LoVo) through disturbing of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling and elucidated the underlying mechanisms. Here, we demonstrate that CEP attenuates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling by decreasing the β-catenin, subsequently impeding the proliferation of APC-mutant CRCs. Moreover, CEP induced β-catenin transcription inhibition rather than the instability of β-catenin protein and mRNA contributes to reduction of β-catenin. Taken together, our findings identify CEP as the first β-catenin transcriptional inhibitor in the modulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and indicate CEP as a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of APC-mutated CRCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guifeng Su
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Research and Development for Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, People's Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Research and Development for Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, People's Republic of China
| | - Qianqing Yang
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Research and Development for Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingmei Kong
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Research and Development for Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoman Ju
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, People's Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Qihong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, People's Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiying Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Research and Development for Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, People's Republic of China
| | - Shaohua Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Research and Development for Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Li
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Research and Development for Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, People's Republic of China.
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Leng L, Xu Z, Hong B, Zhao B, Tian Y, Wang C, Yang L, Zou Z, Li L, Liu K, Peng W, Liu J, An Z, Wang Y, Duan B, Hu Z, Zheng C, Zhang S, Li X, Li M, Liu Z, Bi Z, He T, Liu B, Fan H, Song C, Tong Y, Chen S. Cepharanthine analogs mining and genomes of Stephania accelerate anti-coronavirus drug discovery. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1537. [PMID: 38378731 PMCID: PMC10879537 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45690-5] [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: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Cepharanthine is a secondary metabolite isolated from Stephania. It has been reported that it has anti-conronaviruses activities including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here, we assemble three Stephania genomes (S. japonica, S. yunnanensis, and S. cepharantha), propose the cepharanthine biosynthetic pathway, and assess the antiviral potential of compounds involved in the pathway. Among the three genomes, S. japonica has a near telomere-to-telomere assembly with one remaining gap, and S. cepharantha and S. yunnanensis have chromosome-level assemblies. Following by biosynthetic gene mining and metabolomics analysis, we identify seven cepharanthine analogs that have broad-spectrum anti-coronavirus activities, including SARS-CoV-2, Guangxi pangolin-CoV (GX_P2V), swine acute diarrhoea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV), and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). We also show that two other genera, Nelumbo and Thalictrum, can produce cepharanthine analogs, and thus have the potential for antiviral compound discovery. Results generated from this study could accelerate broad-spectrum anti-coronavirus drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Leng
- Institute of Herbgenomics, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Zhichao Xu
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Bixia Hong
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Binbin Zhao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Ya Tian
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Can Wang
- Institute of Herbgenomics, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Lulu Yang
- Institute of Herbgenomics, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Zhongmei Zou
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Lingyu Li
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Ke Liu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Wanjun Peng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Jiangning Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Zhoujie An
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Yalin Wang
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Baozhong Duan
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Dali University, Dali, 671000, China
| | - Zhigang Hu
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China
| | - Chuan Zheng
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610072, China
| | - Sanyin Zhang
- Institute of Herbgenomics, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Xiaodong Li
- Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Maochen Li
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Zhaoyu Liu
- Institute of Herbgenomics, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Zenghao Bi
- Institute of Herbgenomics, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Tianxing He
- Institute of Herbgenomics, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Baimei Liu
- Institute of Herbgenomics, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Huahao Fan
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China.
| | - Chi Song
- Institute of Herbgenomics, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.
| | - Yigang Tong
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China.
| | - Shilin Chen
- Institute of Herbgenomics, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.
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Vitello R, Taouba H, Derand M, Liégeois JF. The Bis(1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline) Alkaloids Cepharanthine and Berbamine Are Ligands of SK Channels. ACS Med Chem Lett 2024; 15:215-220. [PMID: 38352826 PMCID: PMC10860169 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Cepharanthine, a multitarget alkaloid which has recently been shown to be effective against SARS-Cov-2, and berbamine, an alkaloid characterized as a calcium channel blocker, both share key structural elements with known small conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channel blockers. These structural similarities led us to evaluate their affinity for SK channels. Therefore, we performed in vitro binding on SK2 and SK3 subtypes and highlighted micromolar to sub-micromolar affinities. Respectively, the Ki values on SK2 and SK3 are 1,318 μM and 1,091 μM for cepharanthine and 0,284 μM and 0,679 μM for berbamine. These newfound affinities correspond to the concentrations at which the alkaloids are found to be active against several pathologies. As SK interactions occur at the same levels as their therapeutic effects, there is a strong incentive to further investigate whether SK channels are involved in their pharmaceutical potency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Vitello
- University of Liège (ULiège), CIRM, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Liège (4000), Belgium
| | - Hossein Taouba
- University of Liège (ULiège), CIRM, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Liège (4000), Belgium
| | - Marine Derand
- University of Liège (ULiège), CIRM, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Liège (4000), Belgium
| | - Jean-François Liégeois
- University of Liège (ULiège), CIRM, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Liège (4000), Belgium
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Yang ZY, Li LG, Xiong YL, Chen NN, Yu TT, Li HT, Ren T, You H, Wang X, Li TF, Wang MF, Hu J. Cepharanthine synergizes with photodynamic therapy for boosting ROS-driven DNA damage and suppressing MTH1 as a potential anti-cancer strategy. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther 2024; 45:103917. [PMID: 38042236 DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2023.103917] [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: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Photodynamic therapy (PDT) primarily treats skin diseases or cancer by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) to damage cellular DNA, yet drug resistance limits its application. To tackle this problem, the present study was carried out to improve the efficacy of chlorin e6 (Ce6)-PDT using Cepharanthine (CEP) as well as to reveal the potential molecular mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS Lewis lung cancer cell line (LLC) was utilized as the cancer cell model. chlorin e6 (Ce6) acted as the photosensitizer to induce PDT. The in vitro anti-cancer efficacy was measured by CCK-8, Annexin-V/PI staining, and migration assay. The Ce6 uptake was observed using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. The ROS generation was detected by the DCFH-DA probe. The analysis of MutT Homolog 1 (MTH1) expression, correlation, and prognosis in databases was conducted by bioinformatic. The MTH1 expression was detected through western blots (WB). DNA damage was assayed by WB, immunofluorescent staining, and comet assay. RESULTS Ce6-PDT showed robust resistance in lung cancer cells under certain conditions, as evidenced by the unchanged cell viability and apoptosis. The subsequent findings confirmed that the uptake of Ce6 and MTH1 expression was enhanced, but ROS generation with laser irradiation was not increased in LLC, which indicated that the ROS scavenge may be the critical reason for resistance. Surprisingly, bioinformatic and in vitro experiments identified that MTH1, which could prevent the DNA from damage of ROS, was highly expressed in lung cancer and thereby led to the poor prognosis and could be further up-regulated by Ce6 PDT. CEP exhibited a dose-dependent suppressive effect on the lung cancer cells. Further investigations presented that CEP treatment boosted ROS production, thereby resulting in DNA double-strand breakage (DDSB) with activation of MTH1, indicating that CEP facilitated Ce6-PDT-mediated DNA damage. Finally, the combination of CEP and Ce6-PDT exhibited prominent ROS accumulation, MTH1 inhibition, and anti-lung cancer efficacy, which had synergistic pro-DNA damage properties. CONCLUSION Collectively, highly expressed MTH1 and the failure of ROS generation lead to PDT resistance in lung cancer cells. CEP facilitates ROS generation of PDT, thereby promoting vigorous DNA damage, inactivating MTH1, alleviating PDT resistance, and ameliorating the anti-cancer efficacy of Ce6-PDT, provides a novel approach for augmented PDT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Yi Yang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China; Department of Respiratory, Taihe Hospital of Shiyan, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China; Shiyan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Nanoformulation Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, China
| | - Liu-Gen Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China; Department of Respiratory, Taihe Hospital of Shiyan, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China; Shiyan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Nanoformulation Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, China
| | - Yi-Lian Xiong
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China; Department of Respiratory, Taihe Hospital of Shiyan, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China
| | - Nan-Nan Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China
| | - Ting-Ting Yu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China; Department of Pathology, Renmin Hospital of Shiyan, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China
| | - Hai-Tao Li
- Department of Respiratory, Taihe Hospital of Shiyan, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China
| | - Tao Ren
- Department of Respiratory, Taihe Hospital of Shiyan, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China
| | - Hui You
- Department of Respiratory, Taihe Hospital of Shiyan, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Department of Respiratory, Taihe Hospital of Shiyan, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China
| | - Tong-Fei Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China; Shiyan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Nanoformulation Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, China.
| | - Mei-Fang Wang
- Department of Respiratory, Taihe Hospital of Shiyan, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China.
| | - Jun Hu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China; Shiyan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Nanoformulation Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin road No. 30, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, China.
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12
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Sun Y, Liu Z, Shen S, Zhang M, Liu L, Ghonaim AH, Li Y, Zhang S, Li W. Inhibition of porcine deltacoronavirus entry and replication by Cepharanthine. Virus Res 2024; 340:199303. [PMID: 38145807 PMCID: PMC10792575 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199303] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is an emerging swine enteropathogenic coronavirus (CoV) that mainly causes acute diarrhea/vomiting, dehydration, and mortality in piglets, possessing economic losses and public health concerns. However, there are currently no proven effective antiviral agents against PDCoV. Cepharanthine (CEP) is a naturally occurring alkaloid used as a traditional remedy for radiation-induced symptoms, but its underlying mechanism of CEP against PDCoV has remained elusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-PDCoV effects and mechanisms of CEP in LLC-PK1 cells. The results showed that the antiviral activity of CEP was based on direct action on cells, preventing the virus from attaching to host cells and virus replication. Importantly, Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) results showed that CEP has a moderate affinity to PDCoV receptor, porcine aminopeptidase N (pAPN) protein. AutoDock predicted that CEP can form hydrogen bonds with amino acid residues (R740, N783, and R790) in the binding regions of PDCoV and pAPN. In addition, RT-PCR results showed that CEP treatment could significantly reduce the transcription of ZBP1, cytokine (IL-1β and IFN-α) and chemokine genes (CCL-2, CCL-4, CCL-5, CXCL-2, CXCL-8, and CXCL-10) induced by PDCoV. Western blot analysis revealed that CEP could inhibit viral replication by inducing autophagy. In conclusion, our results suggest that the anti-PDCoV activity of CEP is not only relies on competing the virus binding with pAPN, but also affects the proliferation of the virus in vitro by downregulating the excessive immune response caused by the virus and inducing autophagy. CEP emerges as a promising candidate for potential anti-PDCoV therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumei Sun
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology & Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430000, China; The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Zhongzhu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Shiyi Shen
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology & Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430000, China; The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Mengjia Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology & Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430000, China; The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Lina Liu
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Biology and Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550025, China
| | - Ahmed H Ghonaim
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology & Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430000, China; The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Desert Research Center, Cairo 11435, Egypt
| | - Yongtao Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Shujun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Wentao Li
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology & Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430000, China; The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
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Dabbagh Ohadi MA, Maroufi SF, Mohammadi MR, Hosseini Siyanaki MR, Khorasanizadeh M, Kellner CP. Ferroptosis as a Therapeutic Target in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. World Neurosurg 2024; 182:52-57. [PMID: 37979679 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.11.049] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a cerebrovascular disorder with significant mortality and morbidity. Neural injury in SAH is mediated through a variety of pathophysiological processes. Currently available treatments are either nonspecific in targeting the basic pathophysiological mechanisms that result in neural damage in SAH, or merely focus on vasospasm. Ferroptosis is a type of programmed iron dependent cell death, which has received attention due to its possible role in neural injury in SAH. Herein, we review how intracellular iron overload mediates the production of reactive free radicals and lipid peroxidation through a variety of biochemical pathways in SAH. This in turn results in induction of ferroptosis, as well as exacerbation of vasospasm. We also discuss several therapeutic agents that have been shown to inhibit ferroptosis through targeting different steps of the process. Such agents have proven effective in ameliorating vasospasm, neural damage, and neurobehavioral outcomes in animal models of SAH. Human studies to test the safety and efficacy of intrathecal or parenteral administration of the inhibitors of ferroptosis in improving outcomes of SAH patients are warranted. There are currently a few ongoing clinical trials pursuing this therapeutic concept, the results of which will be critical to determine the value of ferroptosis as a novel therapeutic target in SAH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Amin Dabbagh Ohadi
- Departments of Pediatric Neurosurgery Children's Medical Center Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Farzad Maroufi
- Neurosurgical Research Network (NRN), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran; Department of Neurosurgery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - MirHojjat Khorasanizadeh
- Department of Neurosurgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine, New York City, New York, USA.
| | - Christopher P Kellner
- Department of Neurosurgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
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Gairola S, Sinha A, Kaundal RK. Linking NLRP3 inflammasome and pulmonary fibrosis: mechanistic insights and promising therapeutic avenues. Inflammopharmacology 2024; 32:287-305. [PMID: 37991660 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-023-01389-5] [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: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis is a devastating disorder distinguished by redundant inflammation and matrix accumulation in the lung interstitium. The early inflammatory cascade coupled with recurring tissue injury orchestrates a set of events marked by perturbed matrix hemostasis, deposition of matrix proteins, and remodeling in lung tissue. Numerous investigations have corroborated a direct correlation between the NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) activation and the development of pulmonary fibrosis. Dysregulated activation of NLRP3 within the pulmonary microenvironment exacerbates inflammation and may incite fibrogenic responses. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms through which the NLRP3 inflammasome elicits pro-fibrogenic responses remain inadequately defined. Contemporary findings suggest that the pro-fibrotic consequences stemming from NLRP3 signaling primarily hinge on the action of interleukin-1β (IL-1β). IL-1β instigates IL-1 receptor signaling, potentiating the activity of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). This signaling cascade, in turn, exerts influence over various transcription factors, including SNAIL, TWIST, and zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB 1/2), which collectively foster myofibroblast activation and consequent lung fibrosis. Here, we have connected the dots to illustrate how the NLRP3 inflammasome orchestrates a multitude of signaling events, including the activation of transcription factors that facilitate myofibroblast activation and subsequent lung remodeling. In addition, we have highlighted the prominent role played by various cells in the formation of myofibroblasts, the primary culprit in lung fibrosis. We also provided a concise overview of various compounds that hold the potential to impede NLRP3 inflammasome signaling, thus offering a promising avenue for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shobhit Gairola
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Raebareli (NIPER-R), Transit Campus, Bijnor-Sisendi Road, Sarojini Nagar, Near CRPF Base Camp, Lucknow, UP, 226002, India
| | - Antarip Sinha
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Raebareli (NIPER-R), Transit Campus, Bijnor-Sisendi Road, Sarojini Nagar, Near CRPF Base Camp, Lucknow, UP, 226002, India
| | - Ravinder K Kaundal
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Raebareli (NIPER-R), Transit Campus, Bijnor-Sisendi Road, Sarojini Nagar, Near CRPF Base Camp, Lucknow, UP, 226002, India.
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15
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Ding Y, Zhao D, Wang T, Xu Z, Fu Y, Tao L. Medicinal patterns of vines used in Chinese herbal medicine: a quantitative study. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 319:117184. [PMID: 37827301 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The botanical characteristics of twinning, climbing vine plants conceptually take shape to interlink the meridians and collaterals system throughout the human body by expelling climatic evils (e.g., wind, dampness). Thus, vines have displayed great medicinal properties in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). AIM OF THE STUDY Although some popular vine species have been intensively investigated, the comparable features and medicinal specifications among a vast collection of taxonomic groups based on data visualization methods are relatively lacking in attention. Moreover, the translatability of vines from ancient ethnomedical evidence to modern medical system has not been well established. This review tends to quantitatively summarize the strength of vines in healthcare from the perspectives of medicinal part, traditional function, clinical spectrum, phytochemistry divergence, pharmacological attributes, toxicity as well as the progress of proprietary drug development. MATERIALS AND METHODS Medicinal vines were retrieved from databases of drug standards and curated catalogues. Synonyms of plant origin across different datasets were normalized by accepted scientific names in the World Flora Online. The distribution patterns and rank of plant origin, medicinal parts, traditional functions and target conditions, as well as the correlation between phytochemical composition and clinical applications were analyzed and visualized. RESULTS A total of 121 crude drugs from 36 families, 77 genera, 133 species of vines were obtained and analyzed. The Fabaceae, Menispermaceae and Rubiaceae were the highest ranked families of medicinal vines. Not surprisingly, stem was the most dominant medical part. Moreover, "eliminate wind" displayed a hub node in the traditional function co-occurrence network. In addition to joint impediment disorders, these vines particularly displayed a wide range of therapeutic modalities toward conditions from various organ systems. Chemotaxonomic properties-oriented phytochemical analysis was performed and the chemical diversity among medicinal vines complementarily determined a certain group of therapeutic domains. Particularly, the anti-inflammatory effect and antiarthritic effect were highlighted for treating rheumatic diseases. Using integral animal models and cultured cells, modern pharmacological actions of medicinal vines have been largely observed and validated according to their traditional ethnopharmacology. Furthermore, a small proportion of vine species are well-known toxic plants. Successful drug development pipelines in rheumatic, cardiovascular, liver, malignant and infectious diseases have offered the capacity to generate new treatment options that are being sought out from vine plants. CONCLUSIONS Medicinal vines are rich sources of Chinese Material Medica (CMM) and good fit for a variety of clinical manifestations beyond arthritis and rheumatic diseases. In addition to stem, other parts are also popular for both medicines and dietary supplements. Vine plants provide extensive biologically relevant chemical space for developing value-creating drugs. Thus, our analysis can be useful for further motivating and strengthening the preclinical and clinical research of vine-derived remedies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanlin Ding
- College of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China; The State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Toxic Pathogens-Based Therapeutic Approaches of Gastric Cancer, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China
| | - Dingping Zhao
- College of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China; The State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Toxic Pathogens-Based Therapeutic Approaches of Gastric Cancer, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China
| | - Tingye Wang
- College of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China; The State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Toxic Pathogens-Based Therapeutic Approaches of Gastric Cancer, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China
| | - Zhenyu Xu
- College of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China; The State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Toxic Pathogens-Based Therapeutic Approaches of Gastric Cancer, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China
| | - Yuxuan Fu
- College of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China; The State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Toxic Pathogens-Based Therapeutic Approaches of Gastric Cancer, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China
| | - Li Tao
- College of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China; The State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Toxic Pathogens-Based Therapeutic Approaches of Gastric Cancer, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.
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16
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Yin C, Yang P, Xiao Q, Sun P, Zhang X, Zhao J, Hu X, Shan C. Novel antiviral discoveries for Japanese encephalitis virus infections through reporter virus-based high-throughput screening. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29382. [PMID: 38235833 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Japanese encephalitis (JE) caused by JE virus (JEV), remains a global public health concern. Currently, there is no specific antiviral drug approved for the treatment of JE. While vaccines are available for prevention, they may not cover all at-risk populations. This underscores the urgent need for prophylaxis and potent anti-JEV drugs. In this context, a high-content JEV reporter system expressing Nanoluciferase (Nluc) was developed and utilized for a high-throughput screening (HTS) of a commercial antiviral library to identify potential JEV drug candidates. Remarkably, this screening process led to the discovery of five drugs with outstanding antiviral activity. Further mechanism of action analysis revealed that cepharanthine, an old clinically approved drug, directly inhibited virus replication by blocking GTP binding to the JEV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Additionally, treatment with cepharanthine in mice models alleviated JEV infection. These findings warrant further investigation into the potential anti-JEV activity of cepharanthine as a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of JEV infection. The HTS method employed here proves to be an accurate and convenient approach that facilitates the rapid development of antiviral drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunhong Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Peipei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qingcui Xiao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cixi Biomedical Research Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Peng Sun
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cixi Biomedical Research Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xuekai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaxuan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Chao Shan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, China
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17
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Gonzalez-Ruiz C, Ortiz-Flores M, Bernal-Hernández J, Mondragon-Lozano R, Palma-Guzman A, Coyoy-Salgado A, Salgado-Ceballos H. Phytochemical Extract from Carica papaya Leaves and Punica granatum Seeds as Therapy Against Cognitive Impairment in a Murine Model. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:450-464. [PMID: 37626269 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03547-w] [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: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is defined as inter-stage between normal cognitive aging and major neurocognitive disorder (MND). This state of decay is a crucial factor in treatment to prevent the progression to MND. In this study, our group developed a virtual screening process to evaluate 2568 phytochemical compounds against 5 key proteins associated with MCI and MND. As a result, two potential candidates were identified: carpaine, found in Carica papaya leaves, and punicalagin, present in Punica granatum. A model of cognitive impairment (CI) was developed in 10-month-old male Sprague Dawley rats by administering aluminum chloride (AlCl3) at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day for 30 days. After AlCl3 administration period, one of the groups received carpaine and punicalagin in a phytochemical extract (PE) by oral gavage for 30 days. Novel object recognition test (NOR) was assessed at three different time points (T1 - before CI, T2 - after CI, and T3 - after PE treatment). Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament light chain (NfL) were identified in the hippocampus of rats at the end of the study period. After administration of AlCl3, a reduction in discrimination index vs control rats (CI = 0.012 ± 0.08 vs Control = 0.076 ± 0.03), was observed. After phytochemical extract treatment, a significant increase in discrimination index values was observed in the PE group 0.4643 ± 0.13 vs CI group 0.012 ± 0.08. Additionally, the evaluation of immunohistochemistry showed an increase in GFAP positivity in the hippocampus of the CI groups, while a slight decrease was observed in the PE group. This work addressed a comprehensive methodology that utilized in silico tools to identify phytochemical compounds (carpaine and punicalagin) as potential candidates for affecting key proteins in CI. The phytochemical extract containing carpaine and punicalagin resulted in a trend in the decrease of GFAP expression in the hippocampus and improved recognition memory in rats with CI induced by age and AlCl3 administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Gonzalez-Ruiz
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Miguel Ortiz-Flores
- Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Jorge Bernal-Hernández
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Rodrigo Mondragon-Lozano
- Researchers for Mexico CONAHCyT-Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Neurológicas, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico city, Mexico
| | - Alam Palma-Guzman
- Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Laboratorio de Histología, Coordinación de Investigación en Salud, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Angélica Coyoy-Salgado
- Researchers for Mexico CONAHCyT-Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Neurológicas, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico city, Mexico
| | - Hermelinda Salgado-Ceballos
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, Estado de Mexico, Mexico.
- Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Neurológicas, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City, Mexico.
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18
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Govindasamy B, Muthu M, Gopal J, Chun S. A review on the impact of TRAIL on cancer signaling and targeting via phytochemicals for possible cancer therapy. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:127162. [PMID: 37788732 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127162] [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: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Anticancer therapies have been the continual pursuit of this age. Cancer has been ravaging all across the globe breathing not just threats but demonstrating them. Remedies for cancer have been frantically sought after. Few have worked out, yet till date, the available cancer therapies have not delivered a holistic solution. In a world where the search for therapies is levitating towards natural remedies, solutions based on phytochemicals are highly prospective attractions. A lot has been achieved with inputs from plant resources, providing numerous natural remedies. In the current review, we intensely survey the progress achieved in the treatment of cancer through phytochemicals-based programmed cell death of cancer cells. More specifically, we have further reviewed and discussed the role of phytochemicals in activating apoptosis via Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL), which is a cell protein that can attach to certain molecules in cancer cells, killing cancer cells. The objective of this review is to enlist the various phytochemicals that are available for specifically contributing towards triggering the TRAIL cell protein-mediated cancer therapy and to point out the research gaps that require future research motivation. This is the first review of this kind in this research direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balasubramani Govindasamy
- Department of Product Development, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Thandalam, Chennai 602105, India
| | - Manikandan Muthu
- Department of Research and Innovation, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Thandalam, Chennai 602105, India
| | - Judy Gopal
- Department of Research and Innovation, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Thandalam, Chennai 602105, India
| | - Sechul Chun
- Department of Bioresources and Food Science, Institute of Natural Science and Agriculture, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
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19
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Lu C, Cheng RJ, Zhang Q, Hu Y, Pu Y, Wen J, Zhong Y, Tang Z, Wu L, Wei S, Tsou PS, Fox DA, Li S, Luo Y, Liu Y. Herbal compound cepharanthine attenuates inflammatory arthritis by blocking macrophage M1 polarization. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 125:111175. [PMID: 37976601 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111175] [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: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cepharanthine (CEP) is a drug candidate for tumor, viral infection, and some inflammatory diseases, but its effect on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the underlying mechanism are incompletely understood. METHODS CEP was administered intraperitoneally to a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. Joints went radiological and histological examination and serum cytokines were examined with cytometry-based analysis. M1 macrophages were induced from THP-1 cells or mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages with LPS and IFN-γ. Bulk RNA-seq was performed on macrophage undergoing M1-polarizatioin. Western blotting was applied to determine pathways involved in monocyte chemotaxis and polarization. Glycolysis metabolites were measured by chemiluminescence while glycolytic enzymes were examined by quantitative PCR. RESULTS We found CEP significantly ameliorated synovial inflammation and joint destruction of CIA mice. It downregulated TNF-α levels in serum and in joints. The number of M1 macrophages were reduced in CEP-treated mice. In vitro, CEP inhibited monocyte chemotaxis to MCP-1 by downregulating CCR2 and reducing ERK1/2 signaling. Additionally, CEP suppressed M1 polarization of macrophages induced by LPS and IFN-γ. Genes involved in IFN-γ signaling, IL-6-JAK/STAT3 signaling, glycolysis, and oxidative phosphorylation process were downregulated by CEP. Several enzymes critically involved in glycolytic metabolism were suppressed by CEP, which resulted in reduced citrate in M1-polarizing macrophages. The inhibitory effect of CEP on macrophage polarization might be attributed to the blockage of TLRs-MyD88/IRAK4-IRF5 signaling pathway together with suppression of overactivated glycolytic metabolism in M1-polarizing macrophages. CONCLUSION CEP attenuated joint inflammation by suppressing monocyte chemotaxis and proinflammatory differentiation. It has the potential to be developed into a complementary or alternative therapy for RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyang Lu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Rui-Juan Cheng
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Qiuping Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yidan Hu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yaoyu Pu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Ji Wen
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yutong Zhong
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhigang Tang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Liang Wu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Shixiong Wei
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, NO. 1 Shuai Fu Yuan, Wang Fu Jing Street, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Pei-Suen Tsou
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Autoimmunity Center of Excellence, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - David A Fox
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Autoimmunity Center of Excellence, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Shasha Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diabetology & Guangzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Mechanistic and Translational Obesity Research, Medical Center for Comprehensive Weight Control, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China.
| | - Yubin Luo
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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20
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Thakur M, Singh M, Kumar S, Dwivedi VP, Dakal TC, Yadav V. A Reappraisal of the Antiviral Properties of and Immune Regulation through Dietary Phytochemicals. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2023; 6:1600-1615. [PMID: 37974620 PMCID: PMC10644413 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
In the present era of the COVID-19 pandemic, viral infections remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In this day and age, viral infections are rampant and spreading rapidly. Among the most aggressive viral infections are ebola, AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), influenza, and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). Even though there are few treatment options for viral diseases, most of the antiviral therapies are ineffective owing to frequent mutations, the development of more aggressive strains, drug resistance, and possible side effects. Traditionally, herbal remedies have been used by healers, including for dietary and medicinal purposes. Many clinical and scientific studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of plant-derived natural compounds. Because of unsafe practices like blood transfusions and organ transplants from infected patients, medical supply contamination. Our antiviral therapies cannot achieve sterile immunity, and we have yet to find a cure for these pernicious infections. Herbs have been shown to improve therapeutic efficacy against a wide variety of viral diseases because of their high concentration of immunomodulatory phytochemicals (both immunoinhibitory and anti-inflammatory). Combined with biotechnology, this folk medicine system can lead to the development of novel antiviral drugs and therapies. In this Review, we will summarize some selected bioactive compounds with probable mechanisms of their antiviral actions, focusing on the immunological axis of these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mony Thakur
- Department of Microbiology, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, Haryana 123031, India
| | - Mona Singh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, United States
| | - Sandeep Kumar
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh 160036, India
| | - Ved Prakash Dwivedi
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, ICGEB Campus, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Tikam Chand Dakal
- Genome and Computational Biology Lab, Department of Biotechnology, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Rajasthan 313001, India
| | - Vinod Yadav
- Department of Microbiology, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, Haryana 123031, India
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21
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Shi L, Wang S, Zhang S, Wang J, Chen Y, Li Y, Liu Z, Zhao S, Wei B, Zhang L. Research progress on pharmacological effects and mechanisms of cepharanthine and its derivatives. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 396:2843-2860. [PMID: 37338575 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02537-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Cepharanthine (CEP) is a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid compound found in plants of the Stephania genus, which has biological functions such as regulating autophagy, inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. It is often used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, viral infections, cancer, and immune disorders and has great clinical translational value. However, there is no detailed research on its specific mechanism and dosage and administration methods, especially clinical research is limited. In recent years, CEP has shown significant effects in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, suggesting its potential medicinal value waiting to be discovered. In this article, we comprehensively introduce the molecular structure of CEP and its derivatives, describe in detail the pharmacological mechanisms of CEP in various diseases, and discuss how to chemically modify and design CEP to improve its bioavailability. In summary, this work will provide a reference for further research and clinical application of CEP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangliang Shi
- Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Shuaizhe Wang
- Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Shangzu Zhang
- Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jiawei Wang
- Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yaping Chen
- Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yangyang Li
- Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhiwei Liu
- Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Sichen Zhao
- Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Benjun Wei
- Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Dunhuang Medicine and Transformation at Provincial and Ministerial Level, Lanzhou, China.
| | - Liying Zhang
- Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Exploration and Innovation Transformation in Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China.
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22
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Zhang Q, Li H, Chen X, Gu F, Zhang L, Zhang L, Chen T, Chen Q, Meng W, Wu Y, Chang H, Liu T, Chen C, Ma H, Liu Y. Identifying STRN3-RARA as a new fusion gene for acute promyelocytic leukemia. Blood 2023; 142:1494-1499. [PMID: 37624915 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023020619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Here we report a new fusion gene, STRN3-RARA, in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). It cooperates with UTX deficiency to drive full-blown APL in mice. Although STRN3-RARA leukemia quickly relapses after all-trans retinoic acid treatment, it can be restrained by cepharanthine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhang
- Department of Hematology and Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - He Li
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Hematology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xuelan Chen
- Department of Hematology and Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Fan Gu
- Department of Hematology and Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lanxin Zhang
- Department of Hematology and Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Department of Hematology and Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Tong Chen
- Sichuan Hua Xi Kindstar Medical Diagnostic Centre, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qiang Chen
- Sichuan Neo-Life Stem Cell Biotech Inc, Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Wentong Meng
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu Wu
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Hematology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hong Chang
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Hematology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ting Liu
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Hematology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Chong Chen
- Department of Hematology and Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hongbing Ma
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Hematology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Hematology and Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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23
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Yang L, Wang Z. Bench-to-bedside: Innovation of small molecule anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs in China. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 257:115503. [PMID: 37229831 PMCID: PMC10193775 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in millions of deaths globally, highlighting the need to develop potent prophylactic and therapeutic strategies against SARS-CoV-2. Small molecule inhibitors (remdesivir, Paxlovid, and molnupiravir) are essential complements to vaccines and play important roles in clinical treatment of SARS-CoV-2. Many advances have been made in development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors in China, but progress in discovery and characterization of pharmacological activity, antiviral mechanisms, and clinical efficacy are limited. We review development of small molecule anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs (azvudine [approved by the NMPA of China on July 25, 2022], VV116 [approved by the NMPA of China on January 29, 2023], FB2001, WPV01, pentarlandir, and cepharanthine) in China and summarize their pharmacological activity, potential mechanisms of action, clinical trials and use, and important milestones in their discovery. The role of structural biology in drug development is also reviewed. Future studies should focus on development of diverse second-generation inhibitors with excellent oral bioavailability, superior plasma half-life, increased antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, high target specificity, minimal side effects, reduced drug-drug interactions, and improved lung histopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyan Yang
- School of Physics and Physical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, 273165, PR China; Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
| | - Zhonglei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Green Natural Products and Pharmaceutical Intermediates in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, 273165, PR China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus, Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR China.
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24
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Yagyuu T, Isogawa M, Yamamoto K, Sugiura T, Matsusue Y, Kasahara M, Kirita T. Cepharanthine and Oral Lichen Planus Efficacy (COLE) study: protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled study assessing the efficacy and safety of cepharanthine with topical corticosteroids in oral lichen planus. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e074279. [PMID: 37586860 PMCID: PMC10432648 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-074279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic, inflammatory oral condition leading to a range of symptoms from mild discomfort to severe pain, affecting patients' quality of life. Standard therapy involves the use of topical corticosteroids, although some patients respond insufficiently or develop resistance to therapy. We aim to explore if adding cepharanthine, an herbal extract from Stephania cepharantha Hayata, can enhance the efficacy of corticosteroid therapy in symptomatic OLP. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This open-label, parallel-group, multi-centre, randomised controlled study will be conducted at three Japanese hospitals. It will compare safety and efficacy of integrated oral cepharanthine and corticosteroid therapy versus standard corticosteroid therapy. 50 symptomatic OLP patients will be randomised 1:1 to receive cepharanthine (30 mg/day) plus topical dexamethasone, or topical dexamethasone alone for 8 weeks. The primary outcome will be changed in pain intensity while drinking room-temperature water, measured on a visual analogue scale. The primary outcome is the change in pain intensity from baseline when drinking room-temperature water, evaluated using a visual analogue scale. Secondary outcomes are changes in the longest diameter of the target lesion from baseline to weeks 4 and 8, improvement and deterioration rates according to appearance and severity criteria at weeks 4 and 8, change in pain intensity when drinking room-temperature water from baseline to week 4, changes in pain intensity at rest from baseline to weeks 4 and 8, and the rates of adverse events. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This protocol was approved by the Certified Review Board of Nara Medical University (CRB5200002). Participants will provide informed consent. Results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCTs051220130).
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Yagyuu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Masahiro Isogawa
- Institute for Clinical Translational Science, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Yamamoto
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center, Nara, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Sugiura
- Department of Oral Surgery, Minami Nara General Medical Center, Yoshino-gun, Japan
| | - Yumiko Matsusue
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Masato Kasahara
- Institute for Clinical Translational Science, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Tadaaki Kirita
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
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25
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Xia B, Zheng L, Li Y, Sun W, Liu Y, Li L, Pang J, Chen J, Li J, Cheng H. The brief overview, antivirus and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity, quantitative methods, and pharmacokinetics of cepharanthine: a potential small-molecule drug against COVID-19. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1098972. [PMID: 37583901 PMCID: PMC10423819 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1098972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
To effectively respond to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), an increasing number of researchers are focusing on the antiviral activity of cepharanthine (CEP), which is a clinically approved drug being used for over 70 years. This review aims to provide a brief overview of CEP and summarize its recent findings in quantitative analysis, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic potential, and mechanism in antiviral and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. Given its remarkable capacity against SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro and in vivo, with its primary target organ being the lungs, and its good pharmacokinetic profile; mature and stable manufacturing technique; and its advantages of safety, effectiveness, and accessibility, CEP has become a promising drug candidate for treating COVID-19 despite being an old drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Xia
- Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Luhe Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zheng
- Department of Pharmacy, China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation 731 Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yali Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Luhe Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenfang Sun
- Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Luhe Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Luhe Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Liushui Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Luhe Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jingyao Pang
- Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Luhe Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Luhe Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaxin Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Cheng
- Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Luhe Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Liu K, Hong B, Wang S, Lou F, You Y, Hu R, Shafqat A, Fan H, Tong Y. Pharmacological Activity of Cepharanthine. Molecules 2023; 28:5019. [PMID: 37446681 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28135019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cepharanthine, a natural bisbenzylisoquinoline (BBIQ) alkaloid isolated from the plant Stephania Cephalantha Hayata, is the only bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid approved for human use and has been used in the clinic for more than 70 years. Cepharanthine has a variety of medicinal properties, including signaling pathway inhibitory activities, immunomodulatory activities, and antiviral activities. Recently, cepharanthine has been confirmed to greatly inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, we aimed to describe the pharmacological properties and mechanisms of cepharanthine, mainly including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-pathogen activities, inhibition of bone resorption, treatment of alopecia, treatment of snake bite, and other activities. At the same time, we analyzed and summarized the potential antiviral mechanism of cepharanthine and concluded that one of the most important anti-viral mechanisms of cepharanthine may be the stability of plasma membrane fluidity. Additionally, we explained its safety and bioavailability, which provides evidence for cepharanthine as a potential drug for the treatment of a variety of diseases. Finally, we further discuss the potential new clinical applications of cepharanthine and provide direction for its future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Liu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Bixia Hong
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Shuqi Wang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Fuxing Lou
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yecheng You
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Ruolan Hu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Amna Shafqat
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Huahao Fan
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yigang Tong
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
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Liang D, Wang W, Chen G, Li J, Dou G, Gan H, Han P, Du L, Gu R. Cepharanthine Dry Powder Inhaler for the Treatment of Acute Lung Injury. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28114441. [PMID: 37298919 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28114441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) induces a severe cytokine storm that may cause acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) with high clinical morbidity and mortality in infected individuals. Cepharanthine (CEP) is a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated and extracted from Stephania cepharantha Hayata. It exhibits various pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-tumor, and antiviral activities. The low oral bioavailability of CEP can be attributed to its poor water solubility. In this study, we utilized the freeze-drying method to prepare dry powder inhalers (DPI) for the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI) in rats via pulmonary administration. According to the powder properties study, the aerodynamic median diameter (Da) of the DPIs was 3.2 μm, and the in vitro lung deposition rate was 30.26; thus, meeting the Chinese Pharmacopoeia standard for pulmonary inhalation administration. We established an ALI rat model by intratracheal injection of hydrochloric acid (1.2 mL/kg, pH = 1.25). At 1 h after the model's establishment, CEP dry powder inhalers (CEP DPIs) (30 mg/kg) were sprayed into the lungs of rats with ALI via the trachea. Compared with the model group, the treatment group exhibited a reduced pulmonary edema and hemorrhage, and significantly reduced content of inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6 and total protein) in their lungs (p < 0.01), indicating that the main mechanism of CEP underlying the treatment of ALI is anti-inflammation. Overall, the dry powder inhaler can deliver the drug directly to the site of the disease, increasing the intrapulmonary utilization of CEP and improving its efficacy, making it a promising inhalable formulation for the treatment of ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Liang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Wanmei Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Guangrui Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Jian Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Guifang Dou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Hui Gan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Peng Han
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Lina Du
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Ruolan Gu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
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Gupta A, Singh AP, Singh VK, Sinha RP. Recent Developments and Future Perspectives of Vaccines and Therapeutic Agents against SARS-CoV2 Using the BCOV_S1_CTD of the S Protein. Viruses 2023; 15:1234. [PMID: 37376534 DOI: 10.3390/v15061234] [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: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the virus kept developing and mutating into different variants over time, which also gained increased transmissibility and spread in populations at a higher pace, culminating in successive waves of COVID-19 cases. The scientific community has developed vaccines and antiviral agents against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease. Realizing that growing SARS-CoV-2 variations significantly impact the efficacy of antiviral therapies and vaccines, we summarize the appearance and attributes of SARS-CoV-2 variants for future perspectives in drug design, providing up-to-date insights for developing therapeutic agents targeting the variants. The Omicron variant is among the most mutated form; its strong transmissibility and immune resistance capacity have prompted international worry. Most mutation sites currently being studied are in the BCOV_S1_CTD of the S protein. Despite this, several hurdles remain, such as developing vaccination and pharmacological treatment efficacies for emerging mutants of SARS-CoV-2 strains. In this review, we present an updated viewpoint on the current issues faced by the emergence of various SARS-CoV-2 variants. Furthermore, we discuss the clinical studies conducted to assist the development and dissemination of vaccines, small molecule therapeutics, and therapeutic antibodies having broad-spectrum action against SARS-CoV-2 strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Gupta
- Laboratory of Photobiology and Molecular Microbiology, Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Ashish P Singh
- Laboratory of Photobiology and Molecular Microbiology, Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Vinay K Singh
- Centre for Bioinformatics, School of Biotechnology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Rajeshwar P Sinha
- Laboratory of Photobiology and Molecular Microbiology, Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
- University Center for Research & Development (UCRD), Chandigarh University, Chandigarh 140413, India
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Wang Y, Sui Z, Wang M, Liu P. Natural products in attenuating renal inflammation via inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome in diabetic kidney disease. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1196016. [PMID: 37215100 PMCID: PMC10196020 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1196016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a prevalent and severe complications of diabetes and serves as the primary cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) globally. Increasing evidence indicates that renal inflammation is critical in the pathogenesis of DKD. The nucleotide - binding oligomerization domain (NOD) - like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is the most extensively researched inflammasome complex and is considered a crucial regulator in the pathogenesis of DKD. The activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is regulated by various signaling pathways, including NF- κB, thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), and non-coding RNAs (ncRNA), among others. Natural products are chemicals extracted from living organisms in nature, and they typically possess pharmacological and biological activities. They are invaluable sources for drug design and development. Research has demonstrated that many natural products can alleviate DKD by targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome. In this review, we highlight the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in DKD, and the pathways by which natural products fight against DKD via inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome activation, so as to provide novel insights for the treatment of DKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhun Sui
- Department of Nephrology, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Mi Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Shunyi Hospital, Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Beijing, China
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Raghav PK, Mann Z, Ahluwalia SK, Rajalingam R. Potential treatments of COVID-19: Drug repurposing and therapeutic interventions. J Pharmacol Sci 2023; 152:1-21. [PMID: 37059487 PMCID: PMC9930377 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphs.2023.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The infection is caused when Spike-protein (S-protein) present on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 interacts with human cell surface receptor, Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). This binding facilitates SARS-CoV-2 genome entry into the human cells, which in turn causes infection. Since the beginning of the pandemic, many different therapies have been developed to combat COVID-19, including treatment and prevention. This review is focused on the currently adapted and certain other potential therapies for COVID-19 treatment, which include drug repurposing, vaccines and drug-free therapies. The efficacy of various treatment options is constantly being tested through clinical trials and in vivo studies before they are made medically available to the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pawan Kumar Raghav
- Immunogenetics and Transplantation Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | | | - Simran Kaur Ahluwalia
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Sector-125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Raja Rajalingam
- Immunogenetics and Transplantation Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Wang Y, Zhou X, Wei S, Wang G, Xi J. Current status and future challenges in extraction, purification and identification of Cepharanthine (a potential drug against COVID-19). Sep Purif Technol 2023; 309:123038. [PMID: 36593875 PMCID: PMC9797411 DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.123038] [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: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
With the outbreak of the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the rapid spread of the virus has brought huge economic losses and life threats to the world. So far, we have entered the third year of the epidemic and there is an urgent need to provide more anti-viral treatment along with vaccination. Recent studies have confirmed that Cepharanthine (CEP) has strong antiviral efficacy, which is a potential drug against COVID-19. As a natural active alkaloid, the development of CEP-incorporated products is dependent on the extraction, purification and identification of CEP. This review gives a brief introduction of CEP, including its origin and classification, and its conventional and novel extraction techniques. In addition, the purification and identification techniques are summarized. In the last, the future research directions are proposed. It can be found from this review that the extraction from plants is still the main way to obtain CEP, and it is necessary to use innovative techniques and their hybrid extractions to extract CEP. More efficient extraction and purification techniques should be used to extract CEP in the future. This review provides a basis for the development of novel extraction and purification techniques and industrial utilization of CEP.
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Lee HJ, Stefan-Lifshitz M, Li CW, Tomer Y. Genetics and epigenetics of autoimmune thyroid diseases: Translational implications. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 2023; 37:101661. [PMID: 35459628 PMCID: PMC9550878 DOI: 10.1016/j.beem.2022.101661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and Graves' disease (GD) are prevalent autoimmune disorders, representing opposite ends of the clinical spectrum of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD). The pathogenesis involves a complex interplay between environment and genes. Specific susceptibility genes have been discovered that predispose to AITD, including thyroid-specific and immune-regulatory genes. Growing evidence has revealed that genetic and epigenetic variants can alter autoantigen presentation during the development of immune tolerance, can enhance self-peptide binding to MHC (major histocompatibility complex), and can amplify stimulation of T- and B-cells. These gene-driven mechanistic discoveries lay the groundwork for novel treatment targets. This review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of key AITD susceptibility genes (Tg1, TSHR, HLA-DR3, and CD40) and their translational therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna J Lee
- Department of Medicine, The Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Mihaela Stefan-Lifshitz
- Department of Medicine, The Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Cheuk Wun Li
- Department of Medicine, The Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Yaron Tomer
- Department of Medicine, The Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Phumesin P, Panaampon J, Kariya R, Limjindaporn T, Yenchitsomanus PT, Okada S. Cepharanthine inhibits dengue virus production and cytokine secretion. Virus Res 2023; 325:199030. [PMID: 36587870 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2022.199030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Dengue virus (DENV) infection is a public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions. It can cause a spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from mild dengue fever (DF) to severe dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) and potentially life-threatening disease including dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Severe DENV infection is caused by high viral load and cytokine storm in dengue-infected patients. Currently, there is no specific antiviral drug for DENV infection. An anti-DENV agent that demonstrates inhibitory effects on both DENV replication and cytokine secretion is urgently needed. In this study, cepharanthine (CEP), which is an anti-inflammatory, anti-HIV, and anti-tumor compound isolated from Stephania cepharantha Hayata, was tested for inhibition of DENV infection. We investigated the efficacy of CEP to inhibit DENV infection, replication, and cytokine production. The inhibitory effect of CEP treatment was studied in DENV-infected human chronic myeloid leukemia (K562) cells. The levels of DENV E protein and DENV production were determined by flow cytometry and FFU assay, respectively. CEP treatment significantly reduced viral E protein and viral production in all DENV-1, 2, 3, 4 serotypes. In addition, CEP treatment reduced the IL-6 proinflammatory cytokine production in DENV-infected A549 cells. Taken together, CEP has inhibitory effects on DENV infection specifically at the initial viral replication states and proinflammatory cytokine secretion, and is a promising candidate for further development as an anti-DENV treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patta Phumesin
- Graduate Program in Immunology, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand; Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand; Division of Hematopoiesis, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Jutatip Panaampon
- Division of Hematopoiesis, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Ryusho Kariya
- Division of Hematopoiesis, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Thawornchai Limjindaporn
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand; Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Pa-Thai Yenchitsomanus
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Seiji Okada
- Division of Hematopoiesis, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan.
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Cepharanthine Alleviates DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis via Regulating Aconitate Decarboxylase 1 Expression and Macrophage Infiltration. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28031060. [PMID: 36770726 PMCID: PMC9920045 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28031060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Cepharanthine (CEP), a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid from tubers of Stephania, protects against some inflammatory diseases. Aconitate decarboxylase 1 (ACOD1) is also known as immune-responsive gene 1 (IRG1), which plays an important immunometabolism role in inflammatory diseases by mediating the production of itaconic acid. ACOD1 exhibits abnormal expression in ulcerative colitis (UC). However, whether CEP can combat UC by affecting ACOD1 expression remains unanswered. This study was designed to explore the protective effects and mechanisms of CEP in treating colitis through in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vitro assays indicated that CEP inhibited LPS-induced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and ACOD1 expression in RAW264.7 macrophages. Additionally, in the mouse model of DSS-induced colitis, CEP decreased macrophage infiltration and ACOD1 expression in colon tissue. After treatment with antibiotics (Abx), the expression of ACOD1 changed with the composition of gut microbiota. Correlation analysis also revealed that Family-XIII-AD3011-group and Rumini-clostridium-6 were positively correlated with ACOD1 expression level. Additionally, data of the integrative Human Microbiome Project (iHMP) showed that ACOD1 was highly expressed in the colon tissue of UC patients and this expression was positively correlated with the severity of intestinal inflammation. Collectively, CEP can counter UC by modulating gut microbiota and inhibiting the expression of ACOD1. CEP may serve as a potential pharmaceutical candidate in the treatment of UC.
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Chen G, Li J, Liu H, Zhou H, Liu M, Liang D, Meng Z, Gan H, Wu Z, Zhu X, Han P, Liu T, Gu R, Liu S, Dou G. Cepharanthine Ameliorates Pulmonary Fibrosis by Inhibiting the NF-κB/NLRP3 Pathway, Fibroblast-to-Myofibroblast Transition and Inflammation. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 28:molecules28020753. [PMID: 36677811 PMCID: PMC9864377 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28020753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is one of the sequelae of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), and currently, lung transplantation is the only viable treatment option. Hence, other effective treatments are urgently required. We investigated the therapeutic effects of an approved botanical drug, cepharanthine (CEP), in a cell culture model of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis rat models both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, CEP and pirfenidone (PFD) suppressed BLM-induced lung tissue inflammation, proliferation of blue collagen fibers, and damage to lung structures in vivo. Furthermore, we also found increased collagen deposition marked by α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Collagen Type I Alpha 1 (COL1A1), which was significantly alleviated by the addition of PFD and CEP. Moreover, we elucidated the underlying mechanism of CEP against PF in vitro. Various assays confirmed that CEP reduced the viability and migration and promoted apoptosis of myofibroblasts. The expression levels of myofibroblast markers, including COL1A1, vimentin, α-SMA, and Matrix Metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2), were also suppressed by CEP. Simultaneously, CEP significantly suppressed the elevated Phospho-NF-κB p65 (p-p65)/NF-κB p65 (p65) ratio, NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) levels, and elevated inhibitor of NF-κB Alpha (IκBα) degradation and reversed the progression of PF. Hence, our study demonstrated that CEP prevented myofibroblast activation and treated BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis in a dose-dependent manner by regulating nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB)/ NLRP3 signaling, thereby suggesting that CEP has potential clinical application in pulmonary fibrosis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ruolan Gu
- Correspondence: (R.G.); (S.L.); (G.D.)
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Tiwari P, Sharma P, Kumar M, Kapil A, Abdul Samath E, Kaur P. Identification of novel natural MurD ligase inhibitors as potential antimicrobial agents targeting Acinetobacter baumannii: In silico screening and biological evaluation. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022; 40:14051-14066. [PMID: 34766874 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.2000497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The increased multidrug resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) to the present-day known antibiotics has stimulated academic and industrial efforts globally for the development of novel antibacterial agents. Natural compounds as potential drug leads are gaining significant attention due to their less toxic and more tolerant nature. In the current study, the natural product-based compounds were explored as probable inhibitors of UDP-N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine:D-glutamate (MurD) ligase from A.baumannii (AbMurD) to provide a new class of drug leads. The prepared natural library of 3,16,714 compounds from ZINC database was screened into the active site of AbMurD using in silico high-throughput virtual screening which resulted in 100 compounds having high binding affinities. Further screening through flexible molecular docking yielded four potential compounds selected on the basis of estimated binding affinity (ΔG) and favorable protein-ligand interactions. MD simulation of these four compounds under physiological conditions and free binding energy calculations using MM/PBSA (molecular mechanics with Poisson- Boltzmann and surface area solvation) approach revealed three compounds ZINC08879777, ZINC30726863, and ZINC95486217 as potential binders of AbMurD. The calculated physicochemical and ADME properties of these compounds revealed that they can be exploited and modified to improve their binding affinity with the enzyme. Two compounds were purchased and tested against bacterial cell cultures of A. baumannii, Salmonella Typhi, and Staphylococcus aureus to determine their broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. The results suggest that the identified compounds can be exploited as potential herbal leads to target both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pragya Tiwari
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Priyanka Sharma
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Mukesh Kumar
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Arti Kapil
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Punit Kaur
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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Pharmacological Effects and Clinical Prospects of Cepharanthine. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27248933. [PMID: 36558061 PMCID: PMC9782661 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27248933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Cepharanthine is an active ingredient separated and extracted from Stephania cepharantha Hayata, a Menispermaceae plant. As a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, cepharanthine has various pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antitumoral, and antiviral effects. Following the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), cepharanthine has been found to have excellent anti-COVID-19 activity. In this review, the important physicochemical properties and pharmacological effects of cepharanthine, particularly the antiviral effect, are systematically described. Additionally, the molecular mechanisms and novel dosage formulations for the efficient, safe, and convenient delivery of cepharanthine are summarized.
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Lei S, Chen X, Wu J, Duan X, Men K. Small molecules in the treatment of COVID-19. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:387. [PMID: 36464706 PMCID: PMC9719906 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01249-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The outbreak of COVID-19 has become a global crisis, and brought severe disruptions to societies and economies. Until now, effective therapeutics against COVID-19 are in high demand. Along with our improved understanding of the structure, function, and pathogenic process of SARS-CoV-2, many small molecules with potential anti-COVID-19 effects have been developed. So far, several antiviral strategies were explored. Besides directly inhibition of viral proteins such as RdRp and Mpro, interference of host enzymes including ACE2 and proteases, and blocking relevant immunoregulatory pathways represented by JAK/STAT, BTK, NF-κB, and NLRP3 pathways, are regarded feasible in drug development. The development of small molecules to treat COVID-19 has been achieved by several strategies, including computer-aided lead compound design and screening, natural product discovery, drug repurposing, and combination therapy. Several small molecules representative by remdesivir and paxlovid have been proved or authorized emergency use in many countries. And many candidates have entered clinical-trial stage. Nevertheless, due to the epidemiological features and variability issues of SARS-CoV-2, it is necessary to continue exploring novel strategies against COVID-19. This review discusses the current findings in the development of small molecules for COVID-19 treatment. Moreover, their detailed mechanism of action, chemical structures, and preclinical and clinical efficacies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sibei Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohua Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, China
| | - Jieping Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingmei Duan
- Department of Pharmacy, Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, China.
| | - Ke Men
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China.
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Liu J, Sun T, Liu S, Liu J, Fang S, Tan S, Zeng Y, Zhang B, Li W. Dissecting the molecular mechanism of cepharanthine against COVID-19, based on a network pharmacology strategy combined with RNA-sequencing analysis, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation. Comput Biol Med 2022; 151:106298. [PMID: 36403355 PMCID: PMC9671524 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2022.106298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Recently, it has been reported that cepharanthine (CEP) is highly likely to be an agent against Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In the present study, a network pharmacology-based approach combined with RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), molecular docking, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was performed to determine hub targets and potential pharmacological mechanism of CEP against COVID-19. METHODS Targets of CEP were retrieved from public databases. COVID-19-related targets were acquired from databases and RNA-seq datasets GSE157103 and GSE155249. The potential targets of CEP and COVID-19 were then validated by GSE158050. Hub targets and signaling pathways were acquired through bioinformatics analysis, including protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and enrichment analysis. Subsequently, molecular docking was carried out to predict the combination of CEP with hub targets. Lastly, MD simulation was conducted to further verify the findings. RESULTS A total of 700 proteins were identified as CEP-COVID-19-related targets. After the validation by GSE158050, 97 validated targets were retained. Enrichment results indicated that CEP acts on COVID-19 through multiple pathways, multiple targets, and overall cooperation. Specifically, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway is the most important pathway. Based on PPI network analysis, 9 central hub genes were obtained (ACE2, STAT1, SRC, PIK3R1, HIF1A, ESR1, ERBB2, CDC42, and BCL2L1). Molecular docking suggested that the combination between CEP and 9 central hub genes is extremely strong. Noteworthy, ACE2, considered the most important gene in CEP against COVID-19, binds to CEP most stably, which was further validated by MD simulation. CONCLUSION Our study comprehensively illustrated the potential targets and underlying molecular mechanism of CEP against COVID-19, which further provided the theoretical basis for exploring the potential protective mechanism of CEP against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqin Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China; Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Taoli Sun
- School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, 410208, China
| | - Sa Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China; Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China; Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Senbiao Fang
- Hunan Provincial Key Lab on Bioinformatics, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China
| | - Shengyu Tan
- Department of Gerontology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Yucheng Zeng
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua, Hunan, 418000, China
| | - Bikui Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China; Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
| | - Wenqun Li
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China; Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
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Cepharanthine action in preventing obesity and hyperlipidemia in rats on a high-fat high sucrose diet. Saudi Pharm J 2022; 30:1683-1690. [PMID: 36601507 PMCID: PMC9805974 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2022.09.013] [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: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background It was demonstrated that cepharanthine (CEP), derived from Stephania cepharantha hayata, is a potent inhibitor of the ABCC10 transmembrane protein. It is approved to be a natural product or remedy. The present study focuses on investigating whether cepharanthine effectively reduces hyperlipidemia and obesity in an experimental hyperlipidemic rat model. Method Four groups of Wistar rats were assigned randomly to the following groups: a high-fat high sucrose diet (HFHS), normal-fat diet (NFD), HFHS plus cepraranthine (10 mg/kg) (HFHS-C), and a HFHS diet with atorvastatin (HFHS-A). The responses of rats were observed on the basis of serum and hepatic biochemical parameters, food intake, and body weight after CEP treatment, and assessing the histopathological modifications by the optical microscope in the liver and its cells. Results Significant improvement in the serum total cholesterol (TC), serum triglycerides (TG), and serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were observed following CEP treatment. We have also observed significant improvement in the structure of liver tissue and reduced-fat droplets in the cytoplasm. Moreover, CEP had a significant effect in preventing the gain in body weight of animals, and food intake was not significantly affected. Conclusion Our research results revealed that CEP significantly improved dyslipidemia and prevented the accumulation of fatty deposits in the rats' liver tissue fed an HFHS diet. In addition, CEP exerted an anti-obesity effect.
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Fan Y, Zhang Y, Shi K, Cheng S, Pei D, Shu X. Identification of a group of bisbenzylisoquinoline (BBIQ) compounds as ferroptosis inhibitors. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:1000. [PMID: 36435804 PMCID: PMC9701226 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05447-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Ferroptosis induced by detrimental accumulation of lipid peroxides has been recently linked to a variety of pathological conditions ranging from acute tissue injuries to chronic degenerative diseases and suppression of ferroptosis by small chemical inhibitors is beneficial to the prevention and treatment of these diseases. However, in vivo applicable small chemical ferroptosis inhibitors are limited currently. In this study, we screened an alkaloid natural compound library for compounds that can inhibit RSL3-induced ferroptosis in HT1080 cells and identified a group of bisbenzylisoquinoline (BBIQ) compounds as novel ferroptosis-specific inhibitors. These BBIQ compounds are structurally different from known ferroptosis inhibitors and they do not appear to regulate iron homeostasis or lipid ROS generation pathways, while they are able to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) in cell-free reactions and prevent accumulation of lipid peroxides in living cells. These BBIQ compounds demonstrate good in vivo activities as they effectively protect mice from folic acid-induced renal tubular ferroptosis and acute kidney injury. Several BBIQ compounds are approved drugs in Japan and China for traditional uses and cepharanthine is currently in clinical trials against SARS-CoV-2, our discovery of BBIQs as in vivo applicable ferroptosis inhibitors will expand their usage to prevent ferroptotic tissue damages under various pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yipu Fan
- grid.428926.30000 0004 1798 2725CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530 China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Yihan Zhang
- grid.508040.90000 0004 9415 435XGuangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory (GRMH-GDL), Guangzhou, 510005 China
| | - Kunyu Shi
- grid.508040.90000 0004 9415 435XGuangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory (GRMH-GDL), Guangzhou, 510005 China
| | - Shan Cheng
- grid.494629.40000 0004 8008 9315School of Life Science, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310030 China
| | - Duanqing Pei
- grid.428926.30000 0004 1798 2725CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530 China
| | - Xiaodong Shu
- grid.428926.30000 0004 1798 2725CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530 China ,grid.508040.90000 0004 9415 435XGuangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory (GRMH-GDL), Guangzhou, 510005 China ,grid.410737.60000 0000 8653 1072Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436 China
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Xie F, Han J, Wang D, Liu P, Liu C, Sun F, Xu K. Disturbing effect of cepharanthine on valve interstitial cells calcification via regulating glycolytic metabolism pathways. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1070922. [PMID: 36467082 PMCID: PMC9714323 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1070922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Osteogenic differentiation of valve interstitial cells (VICs) directly leads to aortic valve calcification, which is a common cardiovascular disease caused by inflammation and metabolic disorder. There is still no ideal drug for its treatment and prevention. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect and molecular mechanism of cepharanthine (CEP), a natural product, on inhibiting the osteogenic differentiation of VICs. First, CCK8 assay was used to evaluate cell viability of CEP on VICs. CEP concentration of 10 μM was the effective dose with slight cytotoxicity, which was used for further study. The alizarin red staining analysis showed that CEP significantly inhibited calcium deposition caused by osteogenic medium related calcification induction. In order to explore the anti-calcification molecular mechanism of CEP, transcriptome and metabolome were synchronously used to discover the possible molecular mechanism and target of CEP. The results showed that CEP inhibited valve calcification by regulating the glycolytic pathway. The molecular docking of CEP and selected key factors in glycolysis showed significant binding energies for GLUT1 (-11.3 kcal/mol), ENO1 (-10.6 kcal/mol), PKM (-9.8 kcal/mol), HK2 (-9.2 kcal/mol), PFKM (-9.0 kcal/mol), and PFKP (-8.9 kcal/mol). The correlation analysis of RUNX2 expression and cellular lactate content showed R2 of 0.7 (p < 0.001). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that CEP inhibited osteoblastic differentiation of VICs by interfering with glycolytic metabolisms via downregulation of the production of lactate and glycolysis-associated metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Xie
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Juanjuan Han
- Hubei Engineering Technology Research Center of Chinese Materia Medica Processing, College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Dashuai Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Henan Cardiovascular Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Fuqiang Sun
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Kang Xu
- Hubei Engineering Technology Research Center of Chinese Materia Medica Processing, College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
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Xing J, Qi L, Liu X, Shi G, Sun X, Yang Y. Roles of mitochondrial fusion and fission in breast cancer progression: a systematic review. World J Surg Oncol 2022; 20:331. [PMID: 36192752 PMCID: PMC9528125 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-022-02799-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mitochondria play critical roles in cellular physiological activity as cellular organelles. Under extracellular stimulation, mitochondria undergo constant fusion and fission to meet different cellular demands. Mitochondrial dynamics, which are involved in mitochondrial fusion and fission, are regulated by specialized proteins and lipids, and their dysregulation causes human diseases, such as cancer. The advanced literature about the crucial role of mitochondrial dynamics in breast cancer is performed. Methods All related studies were systematically searched through online databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE) using keywords (e.g., breast cancer, mitochondrial, fission, and fusion), and these studies were then screened through the preset inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results Eligible studies (n = 19) were evaluated and discussed in the systematic review. These advanced studies established the roles of mitochondrial fission and fusion of breast cancer in the metabolism, proliferation, survival, and metastasis. Importantly, the manipulating of mitochondrial dynamic is significant for the progresses of breast cancer. Conclusion Understanding the mechanisms underlying mitochondrial fission and fusion during tumorigenesis is important for improving breast cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jixiang Xing
- First College of Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Luyao Qi
- The Seventh People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200137, China
| | - Xiaofei Liu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Guangxi Shi
- Department of Breast and Thyroid, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaohui Sun
- Department of Breast and Thyroid, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China.
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Chen Y, You Y, Wang S, Jiang L, Tian L, Zhu S, An X, Song L, Tong Y, Fan H. Antiviral Drugs Screening for Swine Acute Diarrhea Syndrome Coronavirus. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911250. [PMID: 36232553 PMCID: PMC9569988 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses as possible cross-species viruses have caused several epidemics. The ongoing emergency of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 has posed severe threats to the global economy and public health, which has generated great concerns about zoonotic viruses. Swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV), an alpha-coronavirus, was responsible for mass piglet deaths, resulting in unprecedented economic losses, and no approved drugs or vaccines are currently available for SADS-CoV infection. Given its potential ability to cause cross-species infection, it is essential to develop specific antiviral drugs and vaccines against SADS-CoV. Drug screening was performed on a total of 3523 compound-containing drug libraries as a strategy of existing medications repurposing. We identified five compounds (gemcitabine, mycophenolate mofetil, mycophenolic acid, methylene blue and cepharanthine) exhibiting inhibitory effects against SADS-CoV in a dose-dependent manner. Cepharanthine and methylene blue were confirmed to block viral entry, and gemcitabine, mycophenolate mofetil, mycophenolic acid and methylene blue could inhibit viral replication after SADS-CoV entry. This is the first report on SADS-CoV drug screening, and we found five compounds from drug libraries to be potential anti-SADS-CoV drugs, supporting the development of antiviral drugs for a possible outbreak of SADS-CoV in the future.
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Lin B, Xu P, Zheng J, Deng X, Ye Q, Huang Z, Wang N. Effects and mechanisms of natural alkaloids for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1014173. [PMID: 36210805 PMCID: PMC9539536 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1014173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural alkaloids are polycyclic, nitrogen-containing, and basic compounds obtained from plants. In this review, the advances in bioactive alkaloids with respect to their chemical structures, herbal sources, and effects for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis are discussed. Anti-osteoporosis alkaloids are classified into six categories based on the chemical structure, namely, isoquinoline alkaloids, quinolizidine alkaloids, piperidine alkaloids, indole alkaloids, pyrrolizidine alkaloids and steroidal alkaloids. They promote mesenchymal stem cells differentiation, improve osteoblast proliferation, stimulate osteoblast autophagy and suppress osteoclast formation. These natural alkaloids can regulate multiple signaling pathways, including interrupting the tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 6- receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B interaction, inhibiting the nuclear factor kappa B pathway in osteoclasts, activating the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases pathway in osteoblasts, and triggering the wingless and int-1 pathway in mesenchymal stem cells. This review provides evidence and support for novel drug and clinical treatment of osteoporosis using natural alkaloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingfeng Lin
- Department of Medicine, Zhejiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Pingcui Xu
- Department of Medicine, Zhejiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Juan Zheng
- Hangzhou Institute for Food and Drug Control, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xuehui Deng
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qitao Ye
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhongping Huang
- College of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Nani Wang
- Department of Medicine, Zhejiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Nani Wang,
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Hu S, Liu Y, Guan S, Qiu Z, Liu D. Natural products exert anti-tumor effects by regulating exosomal ncRNA. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1006114. [PMID: 36203417 PMCID: PMC9530706 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1006114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, more than 60% of the approved anti-cancer drugs come from or are related to natural products. Natural products and exosomal non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) exert anti-cancer effects through various regulatory mechanisms, which are of great research significance. Exosomes are a form of intercellular communication and contain ncRNAs that can act as intercellular signaling molecules involved in the metabolism of tumor cells. This review exemplifies some examples of natural products whose active ingredients can play a role in cancer prevention and treatment by regulating exosomal ncRNAs, with the aim of illustrating the mechanism of action of exosomal ncRNAs in cancer prevention and treatment. Meanwhile, the application of exosomes as natural drug delivery systems and predictive disease biomarkers in cancer prevention and treatment is introduced, providing research ideas for the development of novel anti-tumor drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Da Liu
- *Correspondence: Zhidong Qiu, ; Da Liu,
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Zheng J, Lu C, Yang M, Sun J, Zhang J, Meng Y, Wang Y, Li Z, Yang Y, Gong W, Gao C. Lung-Targeted Delivery of Cepharanthine by an Erythrocyte-Anchoring Strategy for the Treatment of Acute Lung Injury. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14091820. [PMID: 36145566 PMCID: PMC9505324 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14091820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
As one of the most frequent complications of critical illness, acute lung injury (ALI) carries a high risk of clinical morbidity and mortality. Cepharanthine (CPA) has significant anti-inflammatory activity, however, due to poor water solubility, low bioavailability, and short half-life, it fails to provide effective clinical management measures. Here, we explored the flexibility of an erythrocyte-anchoring strategy using CPA-encapsulated chitosan-coating nanoparticles (CPA-CNPs) anchored onto circulating erythrocytes for the treatment of ALI. CPA-CNPs adhered to erythrocytes successfully (E-CPA-CNPs) and exhibited high erythrocyte adhesion efficiency (>80%). Limited toxicity and favorable biocompatibility enabled further application of E-CPA-CNPs. Next, the reticuloendothelial system evasion features were analyzed in RAW264.7 macrophages and Sprague-Dawley rats. Compared with bare CPA-CNPs, erythrocyte-anchored CNPs significantly decreased cellular uptake in immune cells and prolonged circulation time in vivo. Notably, the erythrocyte-anchoring strategy enabled CNPs to be delivered and accumulated in the lungs (up to 6-fold). In the ALI mouse model, E-CPA-CNPs attenuated the progression of ALI by inhibiting inflammatory responses. Overall, our results demonstrate the outstanding advantages of erythrocyte-anchored CPA-CNPs in improving the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of CPA, which offers great promise for a lung-targeted drug delivery system for the effective treatment of ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinpeng Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Caihong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
- School of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Meiyan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
- Correspondence: (M.Y.); (C.G.)
| | - Jiejie Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Jinbang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
- College of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng 475000, China
| | - Yuanyuan Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
- School of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Yuli Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Zhiping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Yang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Wei Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Chunsheng Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
- Correspondence: (M.Y.); (C.G.)
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Bajalia EM, Azzouz FB, Chism DA, Giansiracusa DM, Wong CG, Plaskett KN, Bishayee A. Phytochemicals for the Prevention and Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma: Preclinical and Clinical Evidence and Molecular Mechanisms. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:3278. [PMID: 35805049 PMCID: PMC9265746 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14133278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is associated with about 90% of renal malignancies, and its incidence is increasing globally. Plant-derived compounds have gained significant attention in the scientific community for their preventative and therapeutic effects on cancer. To evaluate the anticancer potential of phytocompounds for RCC, we compiled a comprehensive and systematic review of the available literature. Our work was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses criteria. The literature search was performed using scholarly databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect and keywords such as renal cell carcinoma, phytochemicals, cancer, tumor, proliferation, apoptosis, prevention, treatment, in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies. Based on in vitro results, various phytochemicals, such as phenolics, terpenoids, alkaloids, and sulfur-containing compounds, suppressed cell viability, proliferation and growth, showed cytotoxic activity, inhibited invasion and migration, and enhanced the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs in RCC. In various animal tumor models, phytochemicals suppressed renal tumor growth, reduced tumor size, and hindered angiogenesis and metastasis. The relevant antineoplastic mechanisms involved upregulation of caspases, reduction in cyclin activity, induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via modulation of a plethora of cell signaling pathways. Clinical studies demonstrated a reduced risk for the development of kidney cancer and enhancement of the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs. Both preclinical and clinical studies displayed significant promise of utilizing phytochemicals for the prevention and treatment of RCC. Further research, confirming the mechanisms and regulatory pathways, along with randomized controlled trials, are needed to establish the use of phytochemicals in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Anupam Bishayee
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, FL 34211, USA; (E.M.B.); (F.B.A.); (D.A.C.); (D.M.G.); (C.G.W.); (K.N.P.)
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Zoulikha M, Huang F, Wu Z, He W. COVID-19 inflammation and implications in drug delivery. J Control Release 2022; 346:260-274. [PMID: 35469984 PMCID: PMC9045711 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Growing evidence indicates that hyperinflammatory syndrome and cytokine storm observed in COVID-19 severe cases are narrowly associated with the disease's poor prognosis. Therefore, targeting the inflammatory pathways seems to be a rational therapeutic strategy against COVID-19. Many anti-inflammatory agents have been proposed; however, most of them suffer from poor bioavailability, instability, short half-life, and undesirable biodistribution resulting in off-target effects. From a pharmaceutical standpoint, the implication of COVID-19 inflammation can be exploited as a therapeutic target and/or a targeting strategy against the pandemic. First, the drug delivery systems can be harnessed to improve the properties of anti-inflammatory agents and deliver them safely and efficiently to their therapeutic targets. Second, the drug carriers can be tailored to develop smart delivery systems able to respond to the microenvironmental stimuli to release the anti-COVID-19 therapeutics in a selective and specific manner. More interestingly, some biosystems can simultaneously repress the hyperinflammation due to their inherent anti-inflammatory potency and endow their drug cargo with a selective delivery to the injured sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makhloufi Zoulikha
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Feifei Huang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Zhenfeng Wu
- Key Laboratory of Modern Preparation of TCM, Ministry of Education, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, China
| | - Wei He
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.
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50
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Vibrational spectroscopic characterization and structural investigations of Cepharanthine, a natural alkaloid. J Mol Struct 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.132693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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