Scoparone induces both apoptosis and ferroptosis via multiple mechanisms in non-small-cell lung cancer cells

Bioinformatics-based drug repositioning and prediction of the main active ingredients and potential mechanisms of action for the efficacy of Dan-Lou tablet

Drug repositioning is gaining attention as a method for developing new drugs due to its low cost, short cycle time, and high success rate. One important approach is to explore new uses for already marketed drugs. In this study, we utilized the strategy of drug repositioning, focusing on the Dan-Lou tablet. We predicted the efficacy of Dan-Lou tablet against non-small cell lung cancer based on gene expression similarity and verified it by in vitro experiments. Next, we performed further analysis and validation using network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamics. Based on the results, it was concluded that Dan-Lou tablet mainly acted through nine compounds, Quercetin, Luteolin, Scoparone, Isorhamnetin, Eugenol, Genistein, Coumestrol, Hederagenin, Succinic Acid, and mainly targeted CCL2, FEN1, TPI1, RMI2 by six pathways. This discovery not only provides a new idea for the development of Dan-Lou tablet but also provides useful predictive information for clinical treatment. The method we adopted has great development prospects as a way to predict the efficacy of new drugs and their main mechanisms of action, and it has a positive impact on the research and development of new drugs using drug repositioning and the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine.

ATF1 promotes ferroptosis resistance in lung cancer through enhancing mRNA stability of PROM2

BACKGROUND

Ferroptotic proteins are promising therapeutic targets for lung cancer. The PROM2 is upregulated in lung cancer and known to suppress ferroptosis. This study examined the molecular mechanisms for PROM2-induced ferroptosis resistance in lung cancer.

METHODS

Ferroptosis in lung cancer was assessed by iron kit, and transmission electron microscopy was applied to observe the changes in mitochondrial morphology. BODIPY™ was applied to test the lipid ROS, and MeRIP was performed to test the m6A modification of PROM2. RIP assay was employed for confirming the binding between METTL3 and PROM2. In addition, dual luciferase assay was employed for exploring the transcriptional regulation of ATF1 to METTL3, and the binding relation between ATF1 and METTL3 promoter region was explored by ChIP assay.

RESULTS

Expression levels of PROM2 were significantly higher in lung cancer cell lines than a noncancerous control line, and PROM2 knockdown significantly reduced both cancer cell viability and proliferation rate. In addition, PROM2 knockdown reduced xenograft tumor growth and exacerbated erastin-induced ferroptosis. Compared to PROM2 mRNA from control cells, transcripts in lung cancer cells exhibited enhanced m6A levels, and showed greater binding with METTL3. Further, ATF1 upregulated METTL3 transcription, thereby stabilizing PROM2 mRNA and increasing ferroptosis resistance.

CONCLUSION

ATF1 could promote ferroptosis resistance in lung cancer through enhancing mRNA stability of PROM2. Thus, our work might shed novel insights on discovering therapeutic strategy for lung cancer.

Targeting ferroptosis regulators in lung cancer: Exploring natural products

Lung cancer remains a formidable global health challenge, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies for improved efficacy. This review explores the untapped potential of natural products and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in lung cancer therapy, focusing on targeting ferroptosis regulators. Natural compounds, such as curcumin and resveratrol, exhibit diverse anti-cancer mechanisms, complemented by TCM's holistic approach rooted in a 3500-year history. Emphasizing the induction of cell death, particularly ferroptosis, the review highlights its significance in overcoming challenges like resistance to conventional therapies. Key ferroptosis regulators are explored in the context of natural products and TCM. The impact of these treatments on crucial pathways, such as antioxidant mechanisms (GPX4, SLC7A11, and NRF2), iron metabolism regulators, and lipid and mitochondria pathways, is examined. The findings provide a comprehensive overview of how natural products and TCM modulate ferroptosis in lung cancer, offering valuable insights for the development of innovative, side-effect-reduced therapeutic strategies. This work holds promise for transforming the landscape of lung cancer treatment by integrating the rich resources of nature into conventional therapeutic paradigms.

Ferroptosis: emerging roles in lung cancer and potential implications in biological compounds

Lung cancer has high metastasis and drug resistance. The prognosis of lung cancer patients is poor and the patients' survival chances are easily neglected. Ferroptosis is a programmed cell death proposed in 2012, which differs from apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy. Ferroptosis is a novel type of regulated cell death which is driven by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and subsequent plasma membrane ruptures. It has broad prospects in the field of tumor disease treatment. At present, multiple studies have shown that biological compounds can induce ferroptosis in lung cancer cells, which exhibits significant anti-cancer effects, and they have the advantages in high safety, minimal side effects, and less possibility to drug resistance. In this review, we summarize the biological compounds used for the treatment of lung cancer by focusing on ferroptosis and its mechanism. In addition, we systematically review the current research status of combining nanotechnology with biological compounds for tumor treatment, shed new light for targeting ferroptosis pathways and applying biological compounds-based therapies.

H2S Protects from Rotenone-Induced Ferroptosis by Stabilizing Fe-S Clusters in Rat Cardiac Cells

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been recently recognized as an important gasotransmitter with cardioprotections, and iron is vital for various cellular activities. This study explored the regulatory role of H2S on iron metabolism and mitochondrial functions in cultured rat cardiac cells. Rotenone, a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor, was used for establishing an in vitro model of ischemic cell damage. It was first found that rotenone induced oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP generation, eventually causing cell death. The supplement of H2S at a physiologically relevant concentration protected from rotenone-induced ferroptotic cell death by reducing oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage, maintaining GPx4 expression and intracellular iron level. Deferiprone, an iron chelator, would also protect from rotenone-induced ferroptosis. Further studies demonstrated that H2S inhibited ABCB8-mediated iron efflux from mitochondria to cytosol and promoted NFS1-mediated Fe-S cluster biogenesis. It is also found that rotenone stimulated iron-dependent H2S generation. These results indicate that H2S would protect cardiac cells from ischemic damage through preserving mitochondrial functions and intracellular Fe-S cluster homeostasis.

Pharmacological therapy of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease-driven hepatocellular carcinoma

In light of a global rise in the number of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), now known as metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), has become the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with the annual occurrence of MASLD-driven HCC expected to increase by 45%-130% by 2030. Although MASLD has become a serious major public health threat globally, the exact molecular mechanisms mediating MASLD-driven HCC remain an open problem, necessitating future investigation. Meanwhile, emerging studies are focusing on the utility of bioactive compounds to halt the progression of MASLD to MASLD-driven HCC. In this review, we first briefly review the recent progress of the possible mechanisms of pathogenesis and progression for MASLD-driven HCC. We then discuss the application of bioactive compounds to mitigate MASLD-driven HCC through different modulatory mechanisms encompassing anti-inflammatory, lipid metabolic, and gut microbial pathways, providing valuable information for future treatment and prevention of MASLD-driven HCC. Nonetheless, clinical research exploring the effectiveness of herbal medicines in the treatment of MASLD-driven HCC is still warranted.

Inhibition of cisplatin-induced Acsl4-mediated ferroptosis alleviated ovarian injury

Given that the severity of the chemotherapy-induced ovarian damage, effective fertility preservation is a necessary part of the treatment process. Ferroptosis is a regulated cell death triggered by excessive phospholipid peroxidation caused by iron and the role of ferroptosis in chemotherapy-induced ovarian damage remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that cisplatin treatment caused the accumulation of iron ions which induced ferroptosis in ovarian tissue. And our results show that ferrostatin-1 was able to suppress the ovarian injury and granulosa cell death caused by cisplatin (Cis) in vivo and in vitro. At the same time, we observed significant changes in the expression levels of Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (Acsl4) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Similarly, Rosiglitazone, an inhibitor of Acsl4, administration alleviated the ovary damage of the mice undergoing chemotherapy. Further mechanistic investigation showed that cisplatin increased the expression level of specificity protein 1 (SP1), and SP1 could bind to the promoter of Acsl4 to increased Acsl4 transcription. Overall, ferroptosis plays an important role in Cis induced ovarian injury, and inhibition of ferroptosis protects ovarian tissues from damage caused by cisplatin, and for the first time, we have identified the potential of Fer-1 and Rosi to protect ovarian function in female mice undergoing chemotherapy.

Correlation of FBXO45 Expression Levels with Cancer Severity by ZEB1 Ubiquitin in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

The early diagnostic methods for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are limited, lacking effective biomarkers, and the late stage surgery is difficult and has a high recurrence rate. We investigated whether the effects of FBXO45 in arcinogenesis and metastasis of NSCLC. The up-regulation of FBXO45 expression in NSCLC patients or cell lines were observed. FBXO45 gene promoted metastasis and Warburg effect, and reduced ferroptosis of NSCLC. FBXO45 induced ZEB1 expression to promote Warburg effect and reduced ferroptosis of NSCLC. Sh-FBXO45 reduced cancer growth of NSCLC in mice model. FBXO45 decreased the ubiquitination of ZEB1, leading to increased expression of ZEB1, which in turn promoted the Warburg effect and reduced ferroptosis in NSCLC. In vivo imaging, Sh-FBXO45 also reduced ZEB1 expression levels of lung tissue in mice model. FBXO45 in NSCLC through activating the Warburg effect, and the inhibition of ferroptosis of NSCLC by the suppression of ZEB1 ubiquitin, FBXO45 may be a potential therapeutic strategy for NSCLC.