A new brominated chalcone derivative suppresses the growth of gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo involving ROS mediated up-regulation of DR5 and 4 expression and apoptosis

Therapeutic potential of flavonoids in gastrointestinal cancer: Focus on signaling pathways and improvement strategies (Review)

Flavonoids are a group of polyphenolic compounds distributed in vegetables, fruits and other plants, which have considerable antioxidant, anti‑tumor and anti‑inflammatory activities. Several types of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer are the most common malignant tumors in the world. A large number of studies have shown that flavonoids have inhibitory effects on cancer, and they are recognized as a class of potential anti‑tumor drugs. Therefore, the present review investigated the molecular mechanisms of flavonoids in the treatment of different types of GI cancer and summarized the drug delivery systems commonly used to improve their bioavailability. First, the classification of flavonoids and the therapeutic effects of various flavonoids on human diseases were briefly introduced. Then, to clarify the mechanism of action of flavonoids on different types of GI cancer in the human body, the metabolic process of flavonoids in the human body and the associated signaling pathways causing five common types of GI cancer were discussed, as well as the corresponding therapeutic targets of flavonoids. Finally, in clinical settings, flavonoids have poor water solubility, low permeability and inferior stability, which lead to low absorption efficiency in vivo. Therefore, the three most widely used drug delivery systems were summarized. Suggestions for improving the bioavailability of flavonoids and the focus of the next stage of research were also put forward.

Chalcones and Gastrointestinal Cancers: Experimental Evidence

Colorectal (CRC) and gastric cancers (GC) are the most common digestive tract cancers with a high incidence rate worldwide. The current treatment including surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy has several limitations such as drug toxicity, cancer recurrence or drug resistance and thus it is a great challenge to discover an effective and safe therapy for CRC and GC. In the last decade, numerous phytochemicals and their synthetic analogs have attracted attention due to their anticancer effect and low organ toxicity. Chalcones, plant-derived polyphenols, received marked attention due to their biological activities as well as for relatively easy structural manipulation and synthesis of new chalcone derivatives. In this study, we discuss the mechanisms by which chalcones in both in vitro and in vivo conditions suppress cancer cell proliferation or cancer formation.

Exploration of 1,2,3-triazole linked benzenesulfonamide derivatives as isoform selective inhibitors of human carbonic anhydrase

A novel series of 1,2,3-triazole benzenesulfonamide substituted 1,3-dioxoisoindolin-5-carboxylate (7a-l) inhibitors of human α-carbonic anhydrase (hCA) was designed using a tail approach. The design method relies on the hybridization of a benzenesulfonamide moiety with a tail of 1,3-dioxoisoindoline-5-carboxylate and a zinc-binding group on a 1,2,3-triazole scaffold. Among the synthesized analogues, 2‑iodophenyl (7f, K_I of 105.00 nM and S_I of 2.98) and 2‑naphthyl (7h, K_I of 32.11 nM and S_I of 3.48) analogues (over off-target hCA I) and phenyl (7a, K_I of 50.13 nM and S_I of 2.74) and 2,6‑dimethylphenyl (7d, K_I of 50.60 nM and S_I of 3.35) analogues (over off-target hCA II) exhibited a remarkable selectivity for tumor isoforms hCA IX and XII, respectively. Meanwhile, analogue 7a displayed a potent inhibitory effect against the tumor-associated isoform hCA IX (K_I of 18.29 nM) compared with the reference drug acetazolamide (AAZ, K_I of 437.20 nM), and analogue 7h showed higher potency (K_I of 9.22 nM) than AAZ (K_I of 338.90 nM) against another tumor-associated isoform hCA XII. However, adding the lipophilic large naphthyl tail to the 1,3-dioxoisoindolin-5-carboxylate analogues increased both the hCA inhibitory and selective activities against the target isoform, hCA XII. Additionally, these analogues (7a-l) showed IC₅₀ values against the human lung (A549) adenocarcinoma cancer cell line ranging from 129.71 to 352.26 μM. The results of the molecular docking study suggested that the sulfonamide moiety fits snugly into the hCAs active sites and interacts with the Zn²⁺ ion. At the same time, the tail extension engages in various hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions with the nearby amino acids, which affects the potency and selectivity of the hybrids.

Calix[4]arene chalcone amide C-1011 elicits differential effects on the viability of 4T1 mouse breast adenocarcinoma cells with different levels of adaptor protein Ruk/CIN85 expression

According to our earlier data, calix[4]arene chalcone amides modulate Ca ions exchange in the myometrium mitochondria and the level of inner membrane polarization that can potentially affect cell survival. To test this hypothesis, we studied the effect of calix[4]arene with 4 chalcone amide groups on mitochondria membrane polarization and viability of 4T1 mouse breast adenocarcinoma cells, a surrogate model of human triple-negative breast cancer, and on its highly malignant subline overexpressing the adaptor protein Ruk/CIN85. Mitochondria membrane potential was measured by flow cytometry, and cell viability was assessed using Trypan blue dye exclusion. It was shown that mitochondrial membranes of control (Mock) cells had a higher polarization level (67.80 ± 8.82 r.u., n = 5) compared to 4T1 cells with up-regulation of Ruk/CIN85 (RukUp cells) (25.42 ± 2.58 r.u., n = 4). Upon incubation of cells with 1 μM calix[4]arene C-1011, the CCCP-sensitive component of mitochondrial membranes polarization decreased (by almost 50%) in 4T1 Mock cells and did not change in RukUp cells compared with the control. It was demonstrated that 1 μM calix[4]arene C-1011 suppressed the viability of 4T1 Mock cells by 45%, but did not affect RukUp cells considerably. It was suggested that calix[4]arene chalcone amide С-1011 decreased mouse breast adenocarcinoma 4T1 cell viability­ at least by affecting mitochondrial membrane polarization.The data obtained indicate the prospects of further studies of calix[4]arene chalcone amide as a potential anticancer drug candidate.

Copper uptake in adult rainbow trout irradiated during early life stages and in non-irradiated bystander trout which swam with the irradiated fish

PURPOSE

This investigation forms part of a wider study into the legacy effects of exposure of rainbow trout eggs 38 h after fertilization, eyed eggs, yolk sac larvae (YSL) or first feeders to a single 0.5 Gy X-ray dose, including the induction of a bystander effect, by the irradiated fish, to non-irradiated fish. Fish may be exposed to multiple environmental stressors, including waterborne metals, during their lifespan and, while there are data on how the legacy of early life stage irradiation and bystander effect induction is affected by waterborne aluminum and cadmium, there are no studies into the effects radiation or the radiation induced bystander effect on metal uptake. Therefore the aim of this investigation was to determine if the legacy of early life stage irradiation included an effect on copper uptake by adult fish and by non-irradiated bystander adult trout which swam with the irradiated fish.

METHODS

The four early life stages mentioned above were exposed to a single 0.5 Gy X-ray dose and then maintained, for two years with no further irradiation. At two years old the irradiated fish were allowed to swim, for 2 h with non-irradiated bystander trout (also two years old). After this time copper uptake was determined using ⁶⁴Cu.

RESULTS

Copper uptake was increased in adult trout irradiated as eggs at 48 h after fertilization and as first feeders but eyed egg or YSL irradiation had no effect. Copper uptake was also increased in the bystander trout which swam with trout irradiated as eggs at 48 h after fertilization and as eyed eggs but there was no effect on non-irradiated adult trout which swam with trout irradiated as YSL or first feeders.

CONCLUSIONS

When put in context with the proteomic changes observed in these fish we propose the increased copper uptake in adult trout irradiated as eggs at 48 h after fertilization could be part of an anti-tumorigenic response and the increase in copper uptake in adult trout irradiated as first feeders could be part of a potentially protective pro-apoptotic response. Similarly we propose the increase in copper uptake in non-irradiated adult trout, induced by trout irradiated as eggs at 48 h after fertilization or as eyed eggs, was part of the universally anti-tumorigenic nature of the X-ray induced bystander effect in fish. However this was exclusive to embryonic irradiation.

Chalcone Derivatives: Role in Anticancer Therapy

Chalcones (1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-ones) are precursors for flavonoids and isoflavonoids, which are common simple chemical scaffolds found in many naturally occurring compounds. Many chalcone derivatives were also prepared due to their convenient synthesis. Chalcones as weandhetic analogues have attracted much interest due to their broad biological activities with clinical potentials against various diseases, particularly for antitumor activity. The chalcone family has demonstrated potential in vitro and in vivo activity against cancers via multiple mechanisms, including cell cycle disruption, autophagy regulation, apoptosis induction, and immunomodulatory and inflammatory mediators. It represents a promising strategy to develop chalcones as novel anticancer agents. In addition, the combination of chalcones and other therapies is expected to be an effective way to improve anticancer therapeutic efficacy. However, despite the encouraging results for their response to cancers observed in clinical studies, a full description of toxicity is required for their clinical use as safe drugs for the treatment of cancer. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances of the chalcone family as potential anticancer agents and the mechanisms of action. Besides, future applications and scope of the chalcone family toward the treatment and prevention of cancer are brought out.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel bischalcone derivatives as potential anticancer agents

Building on our previous work that discovered chalcone as a promising pharmacophore for anticancer activity, we have various other chalcone derivatives and have synthesized a series of novel bischalcone to explore their anticancer activity. Among all tested compounds, compounds 6a, 6b, and 6c showed the highest antiproliferative activity against A-549 cancer cell lines with the average IC₅₀ values of 4.18, 4.52, and 5.05 µM, respectively. Moreover, compound 6c showed high antiproliferative activity against the Caco-2 cell line; thus, it was 2- and 4-fold more active than the reference compounds, i.e., methotrexate and capecitabine. Compound 6a also induced cell-cycle arrest in the S phase, whereas compounds 6b and 6c were observed to stop at the G0/G1 phase. Thereafter, we evaluated that compound 6c also had the highest apoptosis/necrosis ratio than other compounds and the standard compound. The anticancer property of the 6c was also supported by molecular docking studies carried out on the EGFR and HER2 receptors. Overall, we expect that these compounds can be further developed for the potential treatment of lung cancer.

Morusin Suppresses Cancer Cell Invasion and MMP-2 Expression through ERK Signaling in Human Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

The most important cause of treatment failure of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients is metastasis, including regional lymph nodes or distant metastasis, resulting in a poor prognosis and challenges for treatment. In the present study, we investigated the in vitro anti- tumoral properties of morusin on human nasopharyngeal carcinoma HONE-1, NPC-39, and NPC-BM cells. Our study revealed that morusin suppressed the migration and invasion abilities of the three NPC cells. Gelatin zymography assay and Western blotting demonstrated that the enzyme activity and the level of matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) protein were downregulated by the treatment of morusin. Mitogen-activated protein kinase proteins were examined to identify the signaling pathway, which showed that phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was inhibited after the treatment of morusin. In summary, our data showed that morusin inhibited the migration and invasion of NPC cells by suppressing the expression of MMP-2 by downregulating the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, suggesting that morusin may be a potential candidate for chemoprevention or adjuvant therapy of NPC.

SP600125 enhances C-2-induced cell death by the switch from autophagy to apoptosis in bladder cancer cells

BACKGROUND

A natural compound Jaspine B and its derivative possess potential anti-cancer activities; However, little is known about the underlying mechanism. Here, the role of a new autophagy inducer Jaspine B derivative C-2 in suppressing bladder cancer cells was researched in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

The underlying mechanisms and anticancer effect of C-2 in bladder cancer cells were investigated by MTT, western blotting, immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays. The key signaling components were investigated by using pharmacological inhibitors or specific siRNAs. In vivo, we designed a C-2 and SP600125 combination experiment to verify the effectiveness of compound.

RESULTS

C-2 exhibits cytotoxic effect on bladder cancer cells, and JNK activated by C-2 triggers autophagy and up-regulates SQSTM1/p62 proteins, contributing to activation of Nrf2 pathway. Utilization of JNK inhibitor SP600125 or knockdown of JNK by siRNA potentiate the cytotoxicity of C-2 through down-regulation of p62 and LC3II proteins and up-regulation of active-Caspase3 proteins, enhance the cell death effect, facilitating the switch from autophagy to apoptosis. In vivo study, C-2 suppresses tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model of EJ cells without observed toxicity. Combined treatment with SP600125 further enhances tumor inhibition of C-2 associated with enhanced activation of caspase3 and reduction of autophagy.

CONCLUSIONS

It reveals a series of molecular mechanisms about SP600125 potentiate the cytotoxicity and tumor inhibition of C-2 in bladder cancer cells through promoting C-2-induced apoptosis, expecting it provides research basis and theoretical support for new drugs development.

Mechanisms of synergistic neurotoxicity induced by two high risk pesticide residues - Chlorpyrifos and Carbofuran via oxidative stress

Multi-component pesticide residues, especially pesticide residues with synergistic toxicity, are a serious threat to food safety. With risk assessment, we found that Chlorpyrifos (CPF) and Carbofuran (CBF) are 2 pesticide residues with highest risk for Actinidia chinensis planch. The results showed CPF and CBF have a synergistic neurotoxicity on neural cell SK-N-SH. The toxicity was partly depending on oxidative stress (OS) and had effects on cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, the toxicity remained on long-term low-dose condition.

Irradiation of rainbow trout at early life stages results in a proteomic legacy in adult gills. Part A; proteomic responses in the irradiated fish and in non-irradiated bystander fish

Exposure to a single 0.5 Gy X-ray dose of eggs at 48 h after fertilisation (48 h egg), eyed eggs, yolk sac larvae (YSL) and first feeders induces a legacy effect in adult rainbow trout. This includes the transmission of a bystander effect to non-irradiated adult trout which had swam with the irradiated fish. The aim of this study was to investigate this legacy by analysing the gill proteome of these irradiated and bystander fish. Irradiation at all of the early life stages resulted in changes to proteins which play a key role in development but are also known to be anti-tumorigenic and anti-oxidant: upregulation of haemoglobin subunit beta (48 h egg), haemoglobin, serum albumin 1 precursor (eyed eggs), clathrin heavy chain 1 isoform X10 (eyed eggs and first feeders), and actin-related protein 2/3 complex subunit 4 (first feeders), downregulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase, histone 1 (48 h egg), triosephosphate isomerase (TPI), collagen alpha-1(1) chain like proteins (YSL), pyruvate kinase PKM-like protein (YSL and first feeders), ubiquitin-40S ribosomal proteins S27 and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4 A isoform 1B (first feeders). However irradiation of YSL and first feeders (post hatching early life stages) also induced proteomic changes which have a complex relationship with tumorigenesis or cancer progression; downregulation of alpha-1-antiprotease-like protein precursor, vigilin isoform X2 and nucleoside diphosphate kinase (YSL) and upregulation of hyperosmotic glycine rich protein (first feeders). In bystander fish some proteomic changes were similar to those induced by irradiation: upregulation of haemoglobin subunit beta (48 h egg), haemoglobin (eyed eggs), actin-related protein 2/3 complex subunit 4, hyperosmotic glycine rich protein (first feeders), and downregulation of alpha-1-antiprotease-like protein, vigilin isoform X2, nucleoside diphosphate kinase (YSL), pyruvate kinase PKM-like protein and ubiquitin-40S ribosomal protein S27a-like (first feeders). Other proteomic changes were unique to bystander fish; downregulation of TPI, ubiquitin-40S ribosomal protein S2 (eyed egg), cofilin-2, cold-inducible RNA-binding protein B-like isoform X3 (YSL) and superoxide dismutase (first feeder), and upregulation of haemoglobin subunit alpha, collagen 1a1 precursor, apolipoprotein A-1-1 and A-1-2 precursor (first feeders). These bystander effect proteomic changes have been shown to be overwhelmingly anti-tumorigenic or protective of the fish gill.

White light emitting diode suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis in hippocampal neuron cells through mitochondrial cytochrome c oxydase-mediated IGF-1 and TNF-α pathways

Light emitting diode (LED) light has been tested to treat traumatic brain injury, neural degenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders. Previous studies indicate that blue LED light affects cell proliferation and apoptosis in photosensitive cells and cancer cells. In this study, we demonstrate that white LED light exposure impaired proliferation and induced apoptosis in HeLa and HT-22 hippocampal neural cells, but not C2C12 cells. Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying the effect of white LED light exposure on HT-22 cells were elucidated. In HeLa and HT-22 cells, white LED light activated mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (Cco), in association with enhanced ATP synthase activity and elevated intracellular ATP concentration. Also, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) production were increased, accompanied by higher calcium concentration and lower mitochondrial membrane potential. HT-22 cells exposed to white LED light for 24h showed reduced viability, with higher apoptotic rate and a cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase. Concurrently, the mRNA expression and the concentration of IGF-1 were decreased, while that of TNF-α were increased, in light-exposed cells, which was supported by the luciferase activity of both gene promoters. The down-stream mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), AKT/mTOR pathways were inhibited, in association with an activation of apoptotic caspase 3. N-Acetylcysteine, a ROS scavenger, protected the cells from LED light-induced cellular damage, with rescued cell viability and restored mRNA expression of IGF-1 and TNF-α. Our data demonstrate that white LED light suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis in hippocampal neuron cells through mitochondrial Cco/ROS-mediated IGF-1 and TNF-α pathways.

An anti-inflammatory chalcone derivative prevents heart and kidney from hyperlipidemia-induced injuries by attenuating inflammation

Obesity is a growing pandemic in both developed and developing countries. Lipid overload in obesity generates a chronic, low-grade inflammation state. Increased inflammation in heart and renal tissues has been shown to promote the progression of heart and renal damage in obesity. Previously, we found that a novel chalcone derivative, L6H21, inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response. In the present study, we investigated the effects of L6H21 on inflammatory responses in culture and in animal models of lipid overload. We utilized palmitic acid (PA) challenging in mouse peritoneal macrophages and apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE^-/-) mice fed a high fat diet (HFD) to study whether L6H21 mitigates the inflammatory response. Our studies show that L6H21 significantly reduced PA-induced expression of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages by inhibiting mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) signaling pathways. L6H21 also reduced fibrosis in the kidney and heart tissues, and indices of inflammatory response in the ApoE^-/- mice fed a HFD. These effects in vivo were also associated with inhibition of MAPK and NFκB signaling by L6H21. These findings strongly suggest that L6H21 may be a potential agent for high fat diet-induced injuries in heart and kidney.

A novel chalcone derivative S17 induces apoptosis through ROS dependent DR5 up-regulation in gastric cancer cells

A new series of etherification chalcone derivatives were designed and synthesized through Willimison etherification and Claisen-Schmidt condensation. Among them, compound 2-c which was given chemical name of S17, has been successfully screened out as the most potent one on gastric cancer cell line(MGC803) through the investigation for their effects against the growth of five cancer cell lines (EC109, HepG2, MCF7, MGC803, SKNSH). S17 exhibited strong anti-proliferative activity on other two gastric cancer cells (HGC27 and SGC7901), but less cytotoxicity to non-malignant gastric epithelial cells GES1. S17 potently killed gastric cancer cells with causing modulation of Bcl-2 family proteins and activation of caspase 9/3 cascade. S17 also up-regulated DR5 expression and DR5 knockdown partially reversed S17-induced apoptosis, caspase activation and MMP decrease. S17 robustly induced generation of ROS with Keap/Nrf2 pathway activated and the application of ROS scavenger N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) completely blocked these effects by S17 in MGC803 cells. Intraperitoneal administration of S17 significantly inhibited the growth of MGC803 cells in vivo in a xenograft mouse model without observed toxicity. These results indicated that S17 is a leadbrominated chalcone derivate and deserves further investigation for prevention and treatment of gastric cancer.

Morusin inhibits cell proliferation and tumor growth by down-regulating c-Myc in human gastric cancer

Morusin is a pure extract from the root bark of Morus australis (Moraceae). In recent years, morusin has been reported to exhibit anti-tumor biological activity in some types of human cancers through different mechanisms. Here, we attempted to investigate the inhibitory effect and mechanism of morusin on gastric cancer. Morusin markedly inhibited gastric cancer cell proliferation by down-regulating CDKs and Cyclins, such as CDK2, CDK4, Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E1. Additionally, morusin suppressed tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Up-regulation of CDKs and Cyclins in gastric cancer cells was induced by c-Myc binding at the E-Box regions of CDKs and the Cyclin promoter. In addition, compared with the control group, the morusin-treated group showed reduced expression of c-Myc and c-Myc protein binding at the E-Box regions. Based on these results, we overexpressed c-Myc in gastric cancer cells and found that overexpressing c-Myc rescued morusin-induced inhibition of cell proliferation and tumor growth. These results suggest that morusin inhibits cell proliferation and tumor growth by down-regulating c-Myc in human gastric cancer.