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Cheng C, Hsu SK, Chen YC, Liu W, Shu ED, Chien CM, Chiu CC, Chang WT. Burning down the house: Pyroptosis in the tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Life Sci 2024; 347:122627. [PMID: 38614301 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122627] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
A high mortality rate makes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) a difficult cancer to treat. When surgery is not possible, liver cancer patients are treated with chemotherapy. However, HCC management and treatment are difficult. Sorafenib, which is a first-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma, initially slows disease progression. However, sorafenib resistance limits patient survival. Recent studies have linked HCC to programmed cell death, which has increased researcher interest in therapies targeting cell death. Pyroptosis, which is an inflammatory mode of programmed cell death, may be targeted to treat HCC. Pyroptosis pathways, executors, and effects are examined in this paper. This review summarizes how pyroptosis affects the tumor microenvironment (TME) in HCC, including the role of cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-18 in regulating immune responses. The use of chemotherapies and their ability to induce cancer cell pyroptosis as alternative treatments and combining them with other drugs to reduce side effects is also discussed. In conclusion, we highlight the potential of inducing pyroptosis to treat HCC and suggest ways to improve patient outcomes. Studies on cancer cell pyroptosis may lead to new HCC treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Cheng
- School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Kai Hsu
- Department of Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Chun Chen
- Department of Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Wangta Liu
- Department of Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - En-De Shu
- Department of Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Ming Chien
- Department of Medical Sciences Industry, College of Health Sciences, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan 711, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Chih Chiu
- Department of Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan; Center for Cancer Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan; Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan; The Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.
| | - Wen-Tsan Chang
- Division of General and Digestive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan; Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.
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Li Z, Bao Z, Tan J, Chen G, Ye B, Zhao J, Zhang L, Xu H. Neobractatin induces pyroptosis of esophageal cancer cells by TOM20/BAX signaling pathway. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 128:155547. [PMID: 38547615 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155547] [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: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence suggests that pyroptosis, a form of programmed cell death, has been implicated in cancer progression. The involvement of specific proteins in pyroptosis is an area of growing interest. TOM20, an outer mitochondrial membrane protein, has recently garnered attention for its potential role in pyroptosis. Our previous study found that NBT could induce pyroptosis by ROS/JNK pathway in esophageal cancer cells. PURPOSE This study aims to investigate whether NBT induces pyroptosis and verify whether such effects are involved in up-regulation of TOM20 in esophageal cancer cells. METHODS The University of ALabama at Birmingham CANcer data analysis Portal (UALCAN) was used to analyze the clinical significance of GSDME in esophageal cancer. MTT assay, morphological observation and Western blot were performed to verify the roles of TOM20 and BAX in NBT-induced pyroptosis after CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockout. Immunofluorescence was used to determine the subcellular locations of BAX and cytochrome c. MitoSOX Red was employed to assess the mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. KYSE450 and TOM20 knockout KYSE450-/- xenograft models were established to elucidate the mechanisms involved in NBT-induced cell death. RESULTS In this study, NBT effectively upregulated the expression of TOM20 and facilitated the translocation of BAX to mitochondria, which promoted the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytoplasm, leading to the activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and finally induced pyroptosis. Knocking out TOM20 by CRISPR-Cas9 significantly inhibited the expression of BAX and the downstream BAX/caspase-3/GSDME pathway, which attenuated NBT-induced pyroptosis. The elevated mitochondrial ROS level was observed after NBT treatment. Remarkably, the inhibition of ROS by N-acetylcysteine (NAC) effectively suppressed the activation of TOM20/BAX pathway. Moreover, in vivo experiments demonstrated that NBT exhibited potent antitumor effects in both KYSE450 and TOM20 knockout KYSE450-/- xenograft models. Notably, the attenuated antitumor effects and reduced cleavage of GSDME were observed in the TOM20 knockout model. CONCLUSION These findings reveal that NBT induces pyroptosis through ROS/TOM20/BAX/GSDME pathway, which highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting TOM20 and GSDME, providing promising prospects for the development of innovative and effective treatment approaches for esophageal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Li
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Ziyi Bao
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jiaqi Tan
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Gan Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Bingying Ye
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Juan Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Li Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Hongxi Xu
- Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
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Guo J, Yan W, Duan H, Wang D, Zhou Y, Feng D, Zheng Y, Zhou S, Liu G, Qin X. Therapeutic Effects of Natural Products on Liver Cancer and Their Potential Mechanisms. Nutrients 2024; 16:1642. [PMID: 38892575 PMCID: PMC11174683 DOI: 10.3390/nu16111642] [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: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer ranks third globally among causes of cancer-related deaths, posing a significant public health challenge. However, current treatments are inadequate, prompting a growing demand for novel, safe, and effective therapies. Natural products (NPs) have emerged as promising candidates in drug development due to their diverse biological activities, low toxicity, and minimal side effects. This paper begins by reviewing existing treatment methods and drugs for liver cancer. It then summarizes the therapeutic effects of NPs sourced from various origins on liver cancer. Finally, we analyze the potential mechanisms of NPs in treating liver cancer, including inhibition of angiogenesis, migration, and invasion; regulation of the cell cycle; induction of apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis; influence on tumor metabolism; immune regulation; regulation of intestinal function; and regulation of key signaling pathways. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of NPs research in liver cancer treatment, offering a foundation for further development and application in pharmaceuticals and functional foods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhong Guo
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functional Food, Beijing Union University, Beijing 100023, China; (J.G.); (W.Y.); (H.D.); (D.W.); (Y.Z.); (S.Z.); (G.L.)
| | - Wenjie Yan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functional Food, Beijing Union University, Beijing 100023, China; (J.G.); (W.Y.); (H.D.); (D.W.); (Y.Z.); (S.Z.); (G.L.)
| | - Hao Duan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functional Food, Beijing Union University, Beijing 100023, China; (J.G.); (W.Y.); (H.D.); (D.W.); (Y.Z.); (S.Z.); (G.L.)
| | - Diandian Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functional Food, Beijing Union University, Beijing 100023, China; (J.G.); (W.Y.); (H.D.); (D.W.); (Y.Z.); (S.Z.); (G.L.)
| | - Yaxi Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functional Food, Beijing Union University, Beijing 100023, China; (J.G.); (W.Y.); (H.D.); (D.W.); (Y.Z.); (S.Z.); (G.L.)
| | - Duo Feng
- Institute of Food and Nutrition Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China;
| | - Yue Zheng
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China;
| | - Shiqi Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functional Food, Beijing Union University, Beijing 100023, China; (J.G.); (W.Y.); (H.D.); (D.W.); (Y.Z.); (S.Z.); (G.L.)
| | - Gaigai Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functional Food, Beijing Union University, Beijing 100023, China; (J.G.); (W.Y.); (H.D.); (D.W.); (Y.Z.); (S.Z.); (G.L.)
| | - Xia Qin
- Graduate Department, Beijing Union University, Beijing 100101, China
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Yang X, Qian H, Yang C, Zhang Z. Investigation of the molecular mechanism of Smilax glabra Roxb. in treating hypertension based on proteomics and bioinformatics. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1360829. [PMID: 38783958 PMCID: PMC11112092 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1360829] [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: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Smilax glabra Roxb. (named tufuling in Chinese, SGR) has both medicinal and edible value. SGR has obvious pharmacological activity, especially in anti-inflammation and treating immune system diseases. This study investigated differential protein expression and its relationship with immune infiltration in hypertension treated with SGR using proteomics and bioinformatics. Methods N-Nitro L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) was used to replicate the hypertension model, with SGR administered by gavage for 4 weeks, and the systolic and diastolic blood pressure in each group of rats was measured using the tail-cuff method every 7 days. Furthermore, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) expressions in each group, followed by the detection of protein expression in rat liver samples using the tandem mass tag (TMT) technique. Additionally, hub targets were output using Cytoscape 3.9.1 software, and ALDH2 expression in the liver and serum in each group of rats was detected by ELISA. Moreover, R4.3.0 software was used to evaluate the relationship between acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) and immune cells, and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was performed to identify the components of SGR. Furthermore, the association between components of SGR and ALDH2 was analyzed with molecular docking and LigPlot1.4.5 software. Results Compared with the model group (L-NAME), SGR at high and medium doses reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure while reducing TC, TG, and LDL-C levels and increasing HDL-C levels in hypertensive rats (p < 0.05). Moreover, 92 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified using TMT. These DEPs participated in peroxisome functioning, fatty acid degradation, and other signaling pathways, with ALDH2 being the core target and correlated with various immune cells. In addition, 18 components were determined in SGR, with 8 compounds binding to ALDH2. Molecular docking was performed to confirm that SGR played a role in hypertension based on the combined action of multiple components. Conclusion In conclusion, SGR has an antihypertensive effect on L-NAME-induced hypertension, with ALDH2 as its hub target. SGR may regulate neutrophil, regulatory T cell, and other cells' infiltration by targeting ALDH2, thereby contributing to the treatment of hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Haibing Qian
- Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
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Hu Y, Liu Y, Zong L, Zhang W, Liu R, Xing Q, Liu Z, Yan Q, Li W, Lei H, Liu X. The multifaceted roles of GSDME-mediated pyroptosis in cancer: therapeutic strategies and persisting obstacles. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:836. [PMID: 38104141 PMCID: PMC10725489 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06382-y] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Pyroptosis is a novel regulated cell death (RCD) mode associated with inflammation and innate immunity. Gasdermin E (GSDME), a crucial component of the gasdermin (GSDM) family proteins, has the ability to convert caspase-3-mediated apoptosis to pyroptosis of cancer cells and activate anti-tumor immunity. Accumulating evidence indicates that GSDME methylation holds tremendous potential as a biomarker for early detection, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of tumors. In fact, GSDME-mediated pyroptosis performs a dual role in anti-tumor therapy. On the one side, pyroptotic cell death in tumors caused by GSDME contributes to inflammatory cytokines release, which transform the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) from a 'cold' to a 'hot' state and significantly improve anti-tumor immunotherapy. However, due to GSDME is expressed in nearly all body tissues and immune cells, it can exacerbate chemotherapy toxicity and partially block immune response. How to achieve a balance between the two sides is a crucial research topic. Meanwhile, the potential functions of GSDME-mediated pyroptosis in anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) therapy, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) therapy, and chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T cells) therapy have not yet been fully understood, and how to improve clinical outcomes persists obscure. In this review, we systematically summarize the latest research regarding the molecular mechanisms of pyroptosis and discuss the role of GSDME-mediated pyroptosis in anti-tumor immunity and its potential applications in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixiang Hu
- Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, 411100, China
- Honghao Zhou Research Institute, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, 411100, China
| | - Ya Liu
- Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, 411100, China
| | - Lijuan Zong
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Wenyou Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Renzhu Liu
- Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, 411100, China
- Honghao Zhou Research Institute, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, 411100, China
| | - Qichang Xing
- Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, 411100, China
- Honghao Zhou Research Institute, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, 411100, China
| | - Zheng Liu
- Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, 411100, China
- Honghao Zhou Research Institute, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, 411100, China
| | - Qingzi Yan
- Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, 411100, China
- Honghao Zhou Research Institute, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, 411100, China
| | - Wencan Li
- Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, 411100, China
- Honghao Zhou Research Institute, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, 411100, China
| | - Haibo Lei
- Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, 411100, China.
- Honghao Zhou Research Institute, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, 411100, China.
| | - Xiang Liu
- Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, 411100, China.
- Honghao Zhou Research Institute, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, 411100, China.
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