The rheostat in the membrane: BCL-2 family proteins and apoptosis. Cell Death Differ. 2014;21:206-215. [PMID: 24162659 DOI: 10.1038/cdd.2013.153]

Optimizing Transmembrane Protein Assemblies in Nanodiscs for Structural Studies: A Comprehensive Manual

Membrane protein structures offer a more accurate basis for understanding their functional correlates when derived from full-length proteins in their native lipid environment. Producing such samples has been a primary challenge in the field. Here, we present robust, step-by-step biochemical and biophysical protocols for generating monodisperse assemblies of full-length transmembrane proteins within lipidic environments. These protocols are particularly tailored for cases where the size and molecular weight of the proteins align closely with those of the lipid islands (nanodiscs). While designed for single-span bitopic membrane proteins, these protocols can be easily extended to proteins with multiple transmembrane domains. The insights presented have broad implications across diverse fields, including biophysics, structural biology, and cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) studies. Key features • Overview of the sample preparation steps from protein expression and purification and reconstitution of membrane proteins in nanodiscs, as well as biobeads and lipids preparation. • Focus on single-span bitopic transmembrane proteins. • Includes protocols for validation procedures via characterization using biochemical, biophysical, and computational techniques. • Guide for cryogenic electron microscopy data acquisition from vitrification to image processing.

Deciphering the mechanistic impact of acupuncture on the neurovascular unit in acute ischemic stroke: Insights from basic research in a narrative review

Ischemic stroke(IS), a severe acute cerebrovascular disease, not only imposes a heavy economic burden on society but also presents numerous challenges in treatment. During the acute phase, while thrombolysis and thrombectomy serve as primary treatments, these approaches are restricted by a narrow therapeutic window. During rehabilitation, commonly used neuroprotective agents struggle with their low drug delivery efficiency and inadequate preclinical testing, and the long-term pharmacological and toxicity effects of nanomedicines remain undefined. Meanwhile, acupuncture as a therapeutic approach is widely acknowledged for its effectiveness in treating IS and has been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an alternative and complementary therapy, even though its exact mechanisms remain unclear. This review aims to summarize the known mechanisms of acupuncture and electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of IS. Research shows that acupuncture treatment mainly protects the neurovascular unit through five mechanisms: 1) reducing neuronal apoptosis and promoting neuronal repair and proliferation; 2) maintaining the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB); 3) inhibiting the overactivation and polarization imbalance of microglia; 4) regulating the movement of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells; 5) promoting the proliferation of oligodendrocyte precursors. Through an in-depth analysis, this review reveals the multi-level, multi-dimensional impact of acupuncture treatment on the neurovascular unit (NVU) following IS, providing stronger evidence and a theoretical basis for its clinical application.

The molecular anti-metastatic potential of CBD and THC from Lebanese Cannabis via apoptosis induction and alterations in autophagy

The medicinal plant Cannabis sativa L. (C. sativa) is currently being extensively studied to determine the full extent of its therapeutic pharmacological potential. Δ9-tetrahydocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the most thoroughly investigated compounds. We aimed to explore the anticancer activity of cannabinoids mixture isolated from the Lebanese C. sativa plant in ratios comparable to the local medicinal plant, to elucidate its mechanism of action in breast cancer cells in vitro. Cells were subjected to cytotoxicity assay, cell cycle analysis, Annexin V/PI dual staining, cell death ELISA, immunofluorescence, in addition to western blot analysis of apoptotic and autophagy markers. We further evaluated the anti-metastatic effect of cannabinoids on MDA-MB-231 using the scratch wound-healing, trans-well migration and invasion assays. Our results revealed the promising therapeutic benefits of CBD/THC on inhibiting the growth of breast cancer cells by promoting cellular fragmentation, phosphatidylserine translocation to the outer membrane leaflet and DNA fragmentation in both cell lines while inhibiting the motility of the triple negative breast cancer cells. In our study, CBD/THC mixture was found to exhibit a pro-apoptotic activity via the activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, independent from ROS production while also suggesting the activation of a caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway. Even though autophagy was altered upon exposure to the cannabinoid mixture, our data suggested that it is not the mechanism responsible of inducing cell death. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the promising therapeutic benefits of CBD and THC isolated from the Lebanese C. sativa plant on breast cancer cells in vitro.

RNAs associated with oxidative stress and apoptosis show anticancer effects of Flos Sophorae flavonoids extract on human hepatoma cells

Flos Sophorae, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb and health tea, consists of the dried flowers and buds of the Sophora japonica L. (Leguminosae). This study assesses the in vitro anticancer efficacy of Flos Sophorae flower extract (FSFE) against the human hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2, juxtaposed with its effects on normal human liver L02 cells. Cell viability was assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay to evaluate the effects of fruit skin flavonoid extract (FSFE) on cellular proliferation. The results indicated that FSFE significantly inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 liver cancer cells, with an inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 117.98 μg/mL, while having minimal effects on normal liver L02 cells. HPLC analysis identified rutin and quercetin as components of FSFE, both recognized for their antioxidant properties. The flavonoids in Flos Sophorae exhibit potent inhibitory effects on liver cancer cells, indicating potential as a natural anticancer agent. The findings support the continued development and research into the therapeutic applications of these compounds.

Ferulic acid: extraction, estimation, bioactivity and applications for human health and food

Ferulic acid ((E)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl) prop-2-enoic acid) is a derivative of caffeic acid found in most plants. This abundant phenolic compound exhibits significant antioxidant capacity and a broad spectrum of therapeutic effects, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, cardiovascular and neuroprotective activities. It is absorbed more quickly by the body and stays in the bloodstream for a longer period compared with other phenolic acids. It is widely used in the food (namely whole grains, fruits, vegetables and coffee), pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. The current review highlights ferulic acid and its pharmacological activities, reported mechanisms of action, food applications (food preservative, food additive, food processing, food supplements and in food packaging in the form of edible films) and role in human health. In the future, the demand for ferulic acid in the food and pharmaceutical industries will increase. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Daphnoretin inhibits glioblastoma cell proliferation and metastasis via PI3K/AKT signaling pathway inactivation

Glioblastoma (GBM) was the most malignant intracranial tumor with high mortality rates and invariably poor prognosis due to its limited clinical treatments. The urgent need to develop new therapeutic drugs for GBM treatment is evident. As a coumarin derivative, daphnoretin's favorable pharmacological activities have been widely documented. However, the potential inhibitory effects of daphnoretin on GBM have not been explored. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of daphnoretin on GBM and elucidate its anti-GBM mechanisms for the first time. It was observed that daphnoretin inhibited GBM cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and suppressed tumor growth without significant drug toxicity in GBM xenograft tumor models in vivo. Mechanistically, daphnoretin was predicted to target the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway through network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis. Subsequently, it was further verified by Biacore assay for surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments. Experimentally, daphnoretin induced apoptosis in GBM cells via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Moreover, the effects of daphnoretin on GBM cells could be reversed by the AKT activator SC79. These results suggest that daphnoretin holds potential as a therapeutic drug against GBM and provides new insights into GBM treatment.

ADAM10 Alleviates Hypoxia/Reoxygenation-Induced Cardiomyocyte Injury by Activating the Notch Signaling Pathway

The occurrence of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury is commonly observed during cardiac surgery; however, there remains a dearth of effective therapeutic strategies to mitigate this injury. The a disintegrin and metallopeptidase domain 10 (ADAM10) is a transmembrane protein anchored on the cell membrane surface, and its precise mechanism of action in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury remains incompletely understood. This study aims to investigate the impact of ADAM10 on cardiomyocyte injury induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The ADAM10 overexpression plasmid was transfected into H9c2 cells, which were subsequently treated with the Notch signaling pathway inhibitor DAPT and cultured under H/R conditions. Cell proliferation activity was assessed using the CCK-8 assay. The levels of LDH, SOD, and MDA were quantified through colorimetric analysis. The levels of ROS and the rate of apoptosis were measured using flow cytometry. The morphological changes in the nucleus of H9c2 cells were observed by employing Hoechst 33258 staining. The mRNA expression levels of ADAM10, Notch1, NICD, and Hes1 in H9c2 cells were determined using qRT-PCR. The expressions of Notch signaling pathway and apoptosis-related proteins were analyzed by Western blot. Overexpression of ADAM10 provided protection to H9c2 cells against injury induced by H/R, leading to an increase in SOD levels and alleviation of oxidative stress caused by the accumulation of ROS and the decrease of SOD activity. Meanwhile, overexpression of ADAM10 inhibited apoptosis in H9c2 cells exposed to H/R by regulating the expression of apoptosis-related proteins, such as Bax, Bcl-2 and Cleaved-caspase-3. Additionally, overexpression of ADAM10 facilitated the activation of the Notch1 signaling pathway in H9c2 cells exposed to H/R by upregulating the protein expression of Notch1, NICD, and Hes1. However, the protective effect of ADAM10 on H/R-induced H9c2 cells was partially reversed by DAPT. Our findings demonstrate that ADAM10 exerts protective effects in H/R-induced H9c2 cells by suppressing oxidative stress and apoptosis via the activation of the Notch signaling pathway.

Ferulic acid suppresses the inflammation and apoptosis in Kawasaki disease through activating the AMPK/mTOR/NF-κB pathway

Background

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a self-limiting and acute systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology, mainly affecting children. Ferulic acid (FA), a natural phenolic substance, has multiple pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptosis, and anti-fibrosis, and so on. So far, the protective effects of FA on KD have not been explored.

Methods

In this study, we established Candida albicans water soluble fraction (CAWS)-induced mouse coronary artery vasculitis of KD model and the tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) injury model to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis effects of FA on KD, and try to elucidate the underlying mechanism.

Results

Our in vivo results demonstrated that FA exerted anti-inflammatory effects on KD by inhibiting the infiltration of CD45-positive leukocytes and fibrosis around the coronary artery. Additionally, FA downregulated the levels of inflammatory and chemotactic cytokines, alleviated splenomegaly, and exhibited anti-apoptotic effects on KD by reducing TUNEL-positive cells, downregulating BAX expression, and upregulating BCL-2 expression. In addition, Our in vitro findings showed that FA could effectively inhibit TNF-α-induced HUVEC inflammation like NF-κB inhibitor QNZ by downregulating the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as attenuated TNF-α-induced HUVEC apoptosis by reducing apoptotic cell numbers and the BAX/BCL-2 ratio, which could be reversed by the AMPK inhibitor compound c (CC). The further mechanistic study demonstrated that FA could restrain vascular endothelial cell inflammation and apoptosis in KD through activating the AMPK/mTOR/NF-κB pathway. However, FA alone is hard to completely restore KD into normal condition.

Conclusion

In conclusion, FA has potential protective effects on KD, suggesting its promising role as an adjuvant for KD therapy in the future.

Carbazole Derivatives Binding to Bcl-2 Promoter Sequence G-quadruplex

In this study, we used ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), fluorescence, and circular dichroism (CD) techniques, as well as molecular modeling, to probe the interactions between carbazole derivatives and the G-quadruplex structure formed in the promoter region of gene Bcl-2. This gene is a rational target for anticancer therapy due to its high expression in a variety of tumors as well as resistance to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. We employed a sequence with a specific dual G-to-T mutation that may form a mixed-type hybrid G-quadruplex structure in the Bcl-2 P1 promoter region. The three tested carbazole compounds differing in substitution on the nitrogen atom of carbazole interact with the Bcl-2 G-quadruplex by the same binding mode with the very comparable binding affinities in the order of 105 M-1. During absorption and fluorescence measurements, large changes in the ligand spectra were observed at higher G4 concentrations. The spectrophotometric titration results showed a two-step complex formation between the ligands and the G-quadruplex in the form of initial hypochromicity followed by hyperchromicity with a bathochromic shift. The strong fluorescence enhancement of ligands was observed after binding to the DNA. All of the used analytical techniques, as well as molecular modeling, suggested the π-π interaction between carbazole ligands and a guanine tetrad of the Bcl-2 G-quadruplex. Molecular modeling has shown differences in the interaction between each of the ligands and the tested G-quadruplex, which potentially had an impact on the binding strength.

An updated review of the pharmacological effects and potential mechanisms of hederagenin and its derivatives

Hederagenin (HG) is a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid that can be isolated from various medicinal herbs. By modifying the structure of HG, multiple derivatives with superior biological activities and safety profiles have been designed and synthesized. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that HG and its derivatives display multiple pharmacological activities against cancers, inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases, metabolic diseases, fibrotic diseases, cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, and depression. Previous studies have confirmed that HG and its derivatives combat cancer by exerting cytotoxicity, inhibiting proliferation, inducing apoptosis, modulating autophagy, and reversing chemotherapy resistance in cancer cells, and the action targets involved mainly include STAT3, Aurora B, KIF7, PI3K/AKT, NF-κB, Nrf2/ARE, Drp1, and P-gp. In addition, HG and its derivatives antagonize inflammation through inhibiting the production and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators by regulating inflammation-related pathways and targets, such as NF-κB, MAPK, JAK2/STAT3, Keap1-Nrf2/HO-1, and LncRNA A33/Axin2/β-catenin. Moreover, anti-pathogen, anti-metabolic disorder, anti-fibrosis, neuroprotection, and anti-depression mechanisms of HG and its derivatives have been partially elucidated. The diverse pharmacological properties of HG and its derivatives hold significant implications for future research and development of new drugs derived from HG, which can lead to improved effectiveness and safety profiles.

Hexavalent Chromium Induces Neurotoxicity by Triggering Mitochondrial Dysfunction and ROS-Mediated Signals

Hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)), one of the most detrimental pollutants, has been ubiquitously present in the environment and causes serious toxicity to humans, such as hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, pulmonary toxicity, and cardiotoxicity. However, Cr (VI)-induced neurotoxicity in primary neuron level has not been well explored yet. Herein, potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) was employed to examine the neurotoxicity of Cr (VI) in rat primary hippocampal neurons. MTT test was used to examine the neural viability. Mitochondrial dysfunction was assessed by the JC-1 probe and Mito-Tracker probe. DCFH-DA and Mito-SOX Red were utilized to evaluate the oxidative status. Bcl-2 family and MAPKs expression were investigated using Western blotting. The results demonstrated that Cr (VI) treatment dose- and time-dependently inhibited neural viability. Mechanism investigation found that Cr (VI) treatment causes mitochondrial dysfunction by affecting Bcl-2 family expression. Moreover, Cr (VI) treatment also induces intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, DNA damage, and MAPKs activation in neurons. However, inhibition of ROS by glutathione (GSH) effectually balanced Bcl-2 family expression, attenuated DNA damage and the MAPKs activation, and eventually improved neural viability neurons. Collectively, these above results above suggest that Cr (VI) causes significant neurotoxicity by triggering mitochondrial dysfunction, ROS-mediated oxidative damage and MAKPs activation.

Long-term culture induces Bax-dependent apoptosis in rat preimplantation embryos

Although rat preimplantation embryos are necessary for producing genetically modified rats, their in vitro culture remains a challenge. Rat zygotes can develop from the one-cell stage to the blastocyst stage in vitro; however, long-term culture reduces their developmental competence via an unknown mechanism. In this study, we examined how in vitro conditions affect rat preimplantation embryos, which may explain this reduced competence. Comprehensive gene expression analysis showed that genes related to apoptosis and energy metabolism were differentially expressed in rat embryos cultured long-term in vitro compared with those developed in vivo. Furthermore, we found that the expression of Bak1 and Bax, which are responsible for mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization, were more upregulated in embryos cultured in vitro than those developed in vivo. Similarly, apoptosis-dependent DNA fragmentation was also exacerbated in in vitro culture conditions. Finally, gene disruption using CRISPR/Cas9 showed that Bax, but not Bak1, was responsible for these effects. These findings suggest that long-term in vitro culture induces Bax-dependent apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway and may provide clues to improve the long-term culture of rat preimplantation embryos for genetic engineering research.

GRP78 improves the therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cells on hemorrhagic shock-induced liver injury: Involvement of the NF-кB and HO-1/Nrf-2 pathways

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a popular cell source for repairing the liver. Improving the survival rate and colonization time of MSCs may significantly improve the therapeutic outcomes of MSCs. Studies showed that 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78) expression improves cell viability and migration. This study aims to examine whether GRP78 overexpression improves the efficacy of rat bone marrow-derived MSCs (rBMSCs) in HS-induced liver damage. Bone marrow was isolated from the femurs and tibias of rats. rBMSCs were transfected with a GFP-labeled GRP78 expression vector. Flow cytometry, transwell invasion assay, scratch assay immunoblotting, TUNEL assay, MTT assay, and ELISA were carried out. The results showed that GRP78 overexpression enhanced the migration and invasion of rBMSCs. Moreover, GRP78-overexpressing rBMSCs relieved liver damage, repressed liver oxidative stress, and inhibited apoptosis. We found that overexpression of GRP78 in rBMSCs inhibited activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, significantly decreased the levels of inflammatory factors, and decreased the expression of CD68. Notably, GRP78 overexpression activated the Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway and inhibited the NF-κB pathway. High expression of GRP78 efficiently enhanced the effect of rBMSC therapy. GRP78 may be a potential target to improve the therapeutic efficacy of BMSCs.

Drug repurposing for the identification of new Bcl-2 inhibitors: In vitro, STD-NMR, molecular docking, and dynamic simulation studies

BACKGROUND

The anti-apoptotic protein B-Cell Lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) is a key target for the development of anti-cancer agents, as its overexpression can render cancer cells resistant to chemotherapeutic treatments.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The current study has systematically evaluated a library of FDA-approved drugs for Bcl-2 inhibition using a drug repurposing strategy via in vitro, biophysical, and in-silico techniques.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In vitro anticancer activity was performed, followed by apoptosis assay. The selected compounds were subjected to Saturation Transfer Difference Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (STD-NMR) spectroscopy, molecular docking, and molecular dynamic simulation for ligand-protein interactions.

KEY FINDINGS

In the initial screening, seventy-five (75) drugs were evaluated against the HL-60 (human blood promyelocytic leukemia) cancer cell line. Among them, paroxetine HCl, carvedilol, clomipramine HCl, and clomifene citrate showed significant anti-proliferative activity (IC50 = 9.733 ± 0.524, 11.940 ± 0.079, 12.376 ± 1.242, and 6.155 ± 0.363 μM, respectively), in comparison to the reference drug venetoclax (IC50 = 7.086 ± 0.041 μM). This indicated that the test drugs have comparable IC50 values to the standard drug. Furthermore, the drugs were able to induce apoptosis in HL-60 cells. These drugs showed interactions with Bcl-2 protein in STD-NMR analysis. Docking and MD simulation studies further supported the interaction of these drugs with Bcl-2 protein, mainly via hydrophobic contacts leading to stable drug-Bcl-2 complexes.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study, identifies paroxetine HCl, carvedilol, clomipramine HCl, and clomifene citrate as significant Bcl-2 inhibitors and needs further pre-clinical and clinical studies for potential anti-cancer agents' evaluation.

Leonurine pretreatment protects the heart from myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), an important complication of reperfusion therapy for myocardial infarction, is characterized by hyperactive oxidative stress and inflammatory response. Leonurine (4-guanidino-n-butyl syringate, SCM-198), an alkaloid extracted from Herbaleonuri, was previously found to be highly cardioprotective both in vitro and in vivo. Our current study aimed to investigate the effect of SCM-198 preconditioning on myocardial I/R injury in vitro and in vivo, respectively, as well as to decipher the mechanism involved. Rats were pretreated with SCM-198 before subjected to 45 min of myocardial ischemia, which was followed by 24 h of reperfusion. Primary neonatal rat cardiac ventricular myocytes (NRCMs) were exposed to hypoxia (95% N2 + 5% CO2) for 12 h, and then to 12 h reoxygenation so as to mimic I/R. The enzymatic measurements demonstrated that SCM-198 reduced the release of infarction-related enzymes, and the hemodynamic and echocardiography measurements showed that SCM-198 restored cardiac functions, which suggested that SCM-198 could significantly reduce infarct size, maintaining cardiomyocyte morphology, and that SCM-198 pretreatment could significantly reduce cardiomyocytes apoptosis. Moreover, we demonstrated that SCM-198 could exert a cardioprotective effect by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and Akt phosphorylation while reducing the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK. In addition, the upregulation of p-Akt, Bcl-2/Bax induced by SCM-198 treatment were blocked by PI3K inhibitor LY294002, and the total protein level of Akt was not affected by SCM-198 pretreatment. Our experimental results indicated that SCM-198 could have a cardioprotective effect on I/R injury, which confirmed the utility of SCM-198 preconditioning as a strategy to prevent I/R injury.

The Therapeutic Potential of Hydroxycinnamic Acid Derivatives in Parkinson's Disease: Focus on In Vivo Research Advancements

Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (HCDs) are polyphenols that are abundant in cereals, coffee, tea, wine, fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods. To aid in the clinical prevention and treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD), we evaluated in vivo investigations of the pharmacological properties of HCDs relevant to PD, and their pharmacokinetic and safety aspects. An extensive search of published journals was conducted using several literature databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Web of Science. The search terms included "hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives," "ferulic acid," "caffeic acid," "sinapic acid," "p-coumaric acid," "Parkinson's disease," and combinations of these keywords. As of April 2023, 455 preclinical studies were retrieved, of which 364 were in vivo studies; we included 17 of these articles on the pharmaceutics of HCDs in PD. Available evidence supports the protective effects of HCDs in PD due to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, as well as antiapoptotic physiological activities. Studies have identified possible molecular targets and pathways for the protective actions of HCDs in PD. However, the paucity of studies on these compounds in PD, and the risk of toxicity induced with high-dose applications, limits their use. Thus, multifaceted studies of HCDs in vitro and in vivo are needed.

CIRC_0026466 KNOCKDOWN PROTECTS HUMAN BRONCHIAL EPITHELIAL CELLS FROM CIGARETTE SMOKE EXTRACT-INDUCED INJURY BY PROMOTING THE MIR-153-3P/TRAF6/NF-ΚB PATHWAY

ABSTRACT

Background: Considerable data have shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) mediate the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study aims to analyze the function and mechanism of circ_0026466 in COPD. Methods: Human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE) were treated with cigarette smoke extract (CSE) to establish a COPD cell model. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to detect the expression of circ_0026466, microRNA-153-3p (miR-153-3p), TNF receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6), cell apoptosis-related proteins, and NF-κB pathway-related proteins. Cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammation were investigated by cell counting kit-8, EdU assay, flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Oxidative stress was evaluated by lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde assay kit and superoxide dismutase activity assay kit. The interaction between miR-153-3p and circ_0026466 or TRAF6 was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay. Results: Circ_0026466 and TRAF6 expression were significantly increased, but miR-153-3p was decreased in the blood samples of smokers with COPD and CSE-induced 16HBE cells when compared with controls. CSE treatment inhibited the viability and proliferation of 16HBE cells but induced cell apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress, but these effects were attenuated after circ_0026466 knockdown. Circ_0026466 interacted with miR-153-3p and regulated CSE-caused 16HBE cell damage by targeting miR-153-3p. Additionally, TRAF6, a target gene of miR-153-3p, regulated CSE-induced 16HBE cell injury by combining with miR-153-3p. Importantly, circ_0026466 activated NF-κB pathway by targeting the miR-153-3p/TRAF6 axis. Conclusion: Circ_0026466 absence protected against CSE-triggered 16HBE cell injury by activating the miR-153-3p/TRAF6/NF-κB pathway, providing a potential therapeutic target for COPD.

Euphorbium total triterpenes improve Freund's complete adjuvant-induced arthritis through PI3K/AKT/Bax and NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathways

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Euphorbium is the resinous secretion of Euphorbia resinifera Berg. According to the record, Euphorbium was first used by Roman doctors to treat the emperor's joint pain. In China, it is applied in folk medicine to treat damp-cold or mucous diseases, such as arthralgia and ascites, etc. This herb is used for rheumatoid arthritis and skin tumors in the folklore of northeastern Brazil. Triterpenes are mainly characteristic constituents of Euphorbium, and possibly possess anti-rheumatoid arthritis.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To explore the preventive effect of Euphorbium total triterpenes (TTE) on Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) induced arthritis in rats and its mechanism.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

TTE was extracted and isolated from Euphorbium, and its components were analyzed by HPLC. The safety of TTE was evaluated by an acute toxicity test in mice. Arthritis was induced in rats by injecting 0.2 mL FCA into the right hind paw toe, except for the control group, which was given the same volume of physiological saline. Tripterygium Glycosides (TG, 7.5 mg/kg) and TTE (32, 64 and 128 mg/kg) were administered by gavage for 30 days. Body weights, paw swelling, and arthritic scores were measured during the experiment process. After 30 days, blood and joints were harvested to determine various indicators of arthritis.

RESULTS

The contents of euphol and euphorbol in TTE were 47.03% and 18.77% respectively, and the maximal feasible dose of TTE in mice is 12 g/kg. The experimental results showed that arthritis indicators in rats deteriorated after FCA inducement compared with the control group. After treatment with TTE, the swelling degree and histopathological change of the hind paws in rats were significantly improved as well as arthritic score; the serum TNF-α, CRP, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18 and RF levels in rats were significantly reduced; The expression of PI3K, AKT, P-AKT, Bcl-2, NF-κB, NLRP3 and Pro-caspase-1 protein in joint tissue were down-regulated, and the expression of Bax protein was up-regulated.

CONCLUSION

The results suggested that TTE possessed anti-arthritis effects, and its mechanism may be related to its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, as well as regulation of PI3K/AKT/Bax and NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

Co-administration with A1M does not influence apoptotic response of 177Lu-octreotate in GOT1 neuroendocrine tumors

Recombinant α₁-microglobulin (A1M) is a proposed radioprotector during ¹⁷⁷Lu-octreotate therapy of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). To ensure a maintained therapeutic effect, we previously demonstrated that A1M does not affect the ¹⁷⁷Lu-octreotate induced decrease in GOT1 tumor volume. However, the underlying biological events of these findings are still unknown. The aim of this work was to examine the regulation of apoptosis-related genes in GOT1 tumors short-time after i.v. administration of ¹⁷⁷Lu-octreotate with and without A1M or A1M alone. Human GOT1 tumor-bearing mice received 30 MBq ¹⁷⁷Lu-octreotate or 5 mg/kg A1M or co-treatment with both. Animals were sacrificed after 1 or 7 days. Gene expression analysis of apoptosis-related genes in GOT1 tissue was performed with RT-PCR. In general, similar expression patterns of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes were found after ¹⁷⁷Lu-octreotate exposure with or without co-administration of A1M. The highest regulated genes in both irradiated groups compared to untreated controls were FAS and TNFSFRS10B. Administration of A1M alone only resulted in significantly regulated genes after 7 days. Co-administration of A1M did not negatively affect the transcriptional apoptotic response of ¹⁷⁷Lu-octreotate in GOT1 tumors.

Cell-free synthesis and reconstitution of Bax in nanodiscs: Comparison between wild-type Bax and a constitutively active mutant

Bax is a major player in the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis, by making the Outer Mitochondrial Membrane (OMM) permeable to various apoptogenic factors, including cytochrome c. In order to get further insight into the structure and function of Bax when it is inserted in the OMM, we attempted to reconstitute Bax in nanodiscs. Cell-free protein synthesis in the presence of nanodiscs did not yield Bax-containing nanodiscs, but it provided a simple way to purify full-length Bax without any tag. Purified wild-type Bax (BaxWT) and a constitutively active mutant (BaxP168A) displayed biochemical properties that were in line with previous characterizations following their expression in yeast and human cells followed by their reconstitution into liposomes. Both Bax variants were then reconstituted in nanodiscs. Size exclusion chromatography, dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy showed that nanodiscs formed with BaxP168A were larger than nanodiscs formed with BaxWT. This was consistent with the hypothesis that BaxP168A was reconstituted in nanodiscs as an active oligomer.

Palmatine ameliorates LPS-induced HT-22 cells and mouse models of depression by regulating apoptosis and oxidative stress

Depression is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders that is characterized by low mood, lack of motivation, slow thinking, and recurrent suicidal thoughts. The mechanism of action of palmatine in depression has been rarely reported and remains unclear. The present study examined the neuroprotective effects of palmatine on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis, and depression-like behavior. In this study, cell apoptosis was evaluated by CCK-8, flow cytometry, and Hoechst 33258 staining in LPS-induced HT-22 cells. Meanwhile, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential were detected in vitro. In vivo, we investigated depressive-like behaviors in mice by an open field test (OFT) and elevated plus-maze test (EPM). Additionally, the levels of superoxide dismutases (SOD), TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The hematoxylin-eosin staining and TUNEL staining were used to evaluate the pathology of the hippocampus. The expression of Nrf2/HO-1 and BAX/Bcl-2 pathways in the hippocampus were assessed by Western blot analysis. Palmatine could significantly reduce apoptosis and ROS levels, and improve mitochondrial damage. Moreover, palmatine significantly improves movement time and central square crossing time in OFT, and improves open arms and movement time in EMP. And the levels of SOD, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were significantly decreased after palmatine treatment. More importantly, palmatine improved neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampus, and depression through BAX/Bcl-2 and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways. We provide evidence that palmatine further alleviates the depressive-like behavior of LPS-induced by improving apoptosis and oxidative stress.

Characterization of heterogeneity in nanodisc samples using Feret signatures

Nanodiscs have become a popular tool in structure determination of membrane proteins using cryogenic electron microscopy and single particle analysis. However, the structure determination of small membrane proteins remains challenging. When the embedded protein is in the same size range as the nanodisc, the nanodisc can significantly contribute to the alignment and classification during the structure determination process. In those cases, it is crucial to minimize the heterogeneity in the nanodisc preparations to assure maximum accuracy in the classification and alignment steps of single particle analysis. Here, we introduce a new in-silico method for the characterization of nanodisc samples that is based on analyzing the Feret diameter distribution of their particle projection as imaged in the electron microscope. We validated the method with comprehensive simulation studies and show that Feret signatures can detect subtle differences in nanodisc morphologies and composition that might otherwise go unnoticed. We used the method to identify a specific biochemical nanodisc preparation with low size variations, allowing us to obtain a structure of the 23-kDa single-span membrane protein Bcl-xL while embedded in a nanodisc. Feret signature analysis can steer experimental data collection strategies, allowing more efficient use of high-end data collection hardware, as well as image analysis investments in studies where nanodiscs significantly contribute to the total volume of the full molecular species.

MicroRNA-582-5p targeting Creb1 modulates apoptosis in cardiomyocytes hypoxia/reperfusion-induced injury

BACKGROUND

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) caused by the reperfusion therapy of myocardial ischemic diseases is a kind of major disease that threatens human health and lives severely. There are lacking of effective therapeutic measures for MIRI. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are abundant in mammalian species and play a critical role in the initiation, promotion, and progression of MIRI. However, the biological role and molecular mechanism of miRNAs in MIRI are not entirely clear.

METHODS

We used bioinformatics analysis to uncover the significantly different miRNA by analyzing transcriptome sequencing data from myocardial tissue in the mouse MIRI model. Multiple miRNA-related databases, including miRdb, PicTar, and TargetScan were used to forecast the downstream target genes of the differentially expressed miRNA. Then, the experimental models, including male C57BL/6J mice and HL-1 cell line, were used for subsequent experiments including quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, western blot analysis, hematoxylin and eosin staining, flow cytometry, luciferase assay, gene interference, and overexpression.

RESULTS

MiR-582-5p was found to be differentially upregulated from the transcriptome sequencing data. The elevated levels of miR-582-5p were verified in MIRI mice and hypoxia/reperfusion (H/R)-induced HL-1 cells. Functional experiments revealed that miR-582-5p promoted apoptosis of H/R-induced HL-1 cells via downregulating cAMP-response element-binding protein 1 (Creb1). The inhibiting action of miR-582-5p inhibitor on H/R-induced apoptosis was partially reversed after Creb1 interference.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, the research findings reported that upregulation of miR-582-5p promoted H/R-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by inhibiting Creb1. The potential diagnostic and therapeutic strategies targeting miR-582-5p and Creb1 could be beneficial for the MIRI treatment.

Treponema denticola Induces Neuronal Apoptosis by Promoting Amyloid-β Accumulation in Mice

Background: Neuronal apoptosis is a major contributor to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Periodontitis is a significant risk factor for AD. The periodontal pathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola have been shown to initiate the hallmark pathologies and behavioral symptoms of AD. Studies have found that T. denticola infection induced Tau hyperphosphorylation and amyloid β accumulation in the hippocampi of mice. Aβ accumulation is closely associated with neuronal apoptosis. However, the roles of T. denticola in neuronal apoptosis remain unclear and its roles in AD pathology need further study. Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether oral infection with T. denticola induced alveolar bone loss and neuronal apoptosis in mice. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were orally administered with T. denticola, Micro-CT was employed to assess the alveolar bone resorption. Western blotting, quantitative PCR, and TUNEL staining were utilized to detect the apoptosis-associated changes in mouse hippocampi. N2a were co-cultured with T. denticola to verify in vivo results. Results: Mice infected with T. denticola exhibited more alveolar bone loss compared with the control mice. T. denticola oral infection induced neuronal apoptosis in hippocampi of mice. Consistent results of the apoptosis-associated protein expression were observed in N2a cells treated with T. denticola and Aβ_1-42 in vitro. However, the Aβ inhibitor reversed these results, suggesting that Aβ_1-42 mediates T. denticola infection-induced neuronal apoptosis. Conclusions: This study found that oral infected T. denticola caused alveolar bone loss, and induced neuronal apoptosis by promoting Aβ accumulation in mice, providing evidence for the link between periodontitis and AD.

Investigation into the effect and mechanism of dapagliflozin against renal interstitial fibrosis based on transcriptome and network pharmacology

BACKGROUND

Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) is the final pathway for chronic kidney diseases (CKD) to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Dapagliflozin, a selective inhibitor of the sodium glucose co-transporter 2, reduced the risk of renal events in non-diabetic CKD patients in the DAPA-CKD trial. However, the effect and mechanism of dapagliflozin on RIF are not very clear. Currently, we evaluate the effects of dapagliflozin on RIF and systematically explore its mechanism.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Firstly, unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mouse model was established to evaluate effects of dapagliflozin on RIF, and results demonstrated dapagliflozin improved renal function and RIF of UUO mice independent of blood glucose control. Subsequently, transcriptome analysis was performed to explore the potential mechanism of dapagliflozin against RIF, which exhibited the therapeutic effect of dapagliflozin on RIF may be achieved through multiple pathways regulation. Then we verified the potential mechanisms with molecular biology methods, and found that dapagliflozin treatment significantly alleviated inflammation, apoptosis, oxidative stress and mitochondrial injury in kidneys of UUO mice. Furthermore, network pharmacology analysis was used to investigate the potential targets of dapagliflozin against RIF. Moreover, we also applied molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation to predict the specific binding sites and binding capacity of dapagliflozin and hub target.

CONCLUSIONS

Dapagliflozin had therapeutic effect on RIF independent of blood glucose control, and the protective effects probably mediated by multiple pathways and targets regulation.

Raltitrexed regulates proliferation and apoptosis of HGC-27 cells by upregulating RSK4

Background

Raltitrexed is a specific inhibitor of thymidylate synthase and a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer. In this study, we investigated the effect of raltitrexed on the proliferation of HGC-27 human gastric cancer cells and its potential underlying molecular mechanism(s).

Methods

RT-qPCR and western blotting were used to quantify RSK4 levels. Colony formation and flow cytometry assays were used to assess HGC-27 cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, mitochondrial membrane potential, and apoptosis. The expression of cell cycle and apoptosis markers were determined by western blotting.

Results

Our results demonstrate that raltitrexed upregulated RSK4 mRNA and protein levels in HGC-27 cells. Moreover, raltitrexed significantly inhibited tumor cell colony formation, arrested the cell cycle, decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential, and induced apoptosis. We observed that raltitrexed was capable of upregulating the expression of Bax, cyclin A1, and CDK3, and downregulating the expression of Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3. Importantly, siRNA-mediated RSK4 knockdown significantly reduced the inhibitory effect of raltitrexed on cell proliferation and its promotion of cell apoptosis. Moreover, silencing of RSK4 inhibited the raltitrexed-induced upregulation of cytochrome C. In addition, the changes in molecular markers related to the cell cycle and apoptosis induced by raltitrexed were reduced upon RSK4 depletion.

Conclusion

Our study shows that RSK4 is a key target of raltitrexed in the regulation of gastric cancer cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40360-022-00605-2.

Cell Death Mechanisms in Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Ischemic stroke is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality, affecting millions of people worldwide. Inevitably, the interruption of cerebral blood supply after ischemia may promote a cascade of pathophysiological processes. Moreover, the subsequent restoration of blood flow and reoxygenation may further aggravate brain tissue injury. Although recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is the only approved therapy for restoring blood perfusion, the reperfusion injury and the narrow therapeutic time window restrict its application for most stroke patients. Increasing evidence indicates that multiple cell death mechanisms are relevant to cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, including apoptosis, necrosis, necroptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and so on. Therefore, it is crucial to comprehend various cell death mechanisms and their interactions. In this review, we summarize the various signaling pathways underlying cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and elaborate on the crosstalk between the different mechanisms.

Function and Application of Flavonoids in the Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is one of the top causes of death, particularly among women, and it affects many women. Cancer can also be caused by various factors, including acquiring genetic alteration. Doctors use radiation to detect and treat breast cancer. As a result, breast cancer becomes radiation-resistant, necessitating a new strategy for its treatment. The approach discovered by the researchers is a flavonoid, which is being researched to see if it might help treat radiation-resistant breast cancer more safely than an approved medicine already being used in the field. As a result, this study focuses on the role of flavonoids in breast cancer suppression, breast cancer gene anomalies, and the resulting apoptotic mechanism.

Fibronectin Modulates the Expression of miRNAs in Prostate Cancer Cell Lines

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a significant cause of cancer-related deaths among men and companion animals, such as dogs. However, despite its high mortality and incidence rates, the molecular mechanisms underlying this disease remain to be fully elucidated. Among the many factors involved in prostate carcinogenesis, the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a crucial role. This ECM in the prostate is composed mainly of collagen fibers, reticular fibers, elastic fibers, proteoglycans and glycoproteins, such as fibronectin. Fibronectin is a glycoprotein whose dysregulation has been implicated in the development of multiple types of cancer, and it has been associated with cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. Furthermore, our research group has previously shown that fibronectin induces transcriptional changes by modulating the expression of protein coding genes in LNCaP cells. However, potential changes at the post-transcriptional level are still not well understood. This study investigated the impact of exposure to fibronectin on the expression of a key class of regulatory RNAs, the microRNAs (miRNAs), in prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and PC-3. Five mammalian miRNAs (miR-21, miR-29b, miR-125b, miR-221, and miR-222) were differentially expressed after fibronectin exposure in prostate cell lines. The expression profile of hundreds of mRNAs predicted to be targeted by these miRNAs was analyzed using publicly available RNA-Sequencing data (GSE64025, GSE68645, GSE29155). Also, protein-protein interaction networks and enrichment analysis were performed to gain insights into miRNA biological functions. Altogether, these functional analyzes revealed that fibronectin exposure impacts the expression of miRNAs potentially involved in PCa causing changes in critical signaling pathways such as PI3K-AKT, and response to cell division, death, proliferation, and migration. The relationship here demonstrated between fibronectin exposure and altered miRNA expression improves the comprehension of PCa in both men and other animals, such as dogs, which naturally develop prostate cancer.

Insulin resistance enhances binge ethanol-induced liver injury through promoting oxidative stress and up-regulation CYP2E1

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) has caused a serious burden on public and personal health in crowd with ethanol abuse. The effects of insulin resistance (IR) on ALD and the mechanisms underlying these responses are still not well understood. In this study, we investigated the changes of liver injury, inflammation, apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction and CYP2E1 changes in liver of mice exposed to ethanol with IR or not. We found IR increased the sensitivity of liver injury in mice exposed to ethanol, manifested as the increase serum activities of AST and ALT, the accumulation of triglycerides, the deterioration of liver pathology and increase of inflammatory factors. IR also exacerbated apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction in liver of mice exposed to ethanol. The increase of oxidative stress and the decrease of antioxidant defense ability might be responsible for the sensitizing effects of IR on ethanol-induced liver injury, supported by the increase of MDA levels and the decline of GSH/GSSG, the inactivation of antioxidant enzymes SOD, GR through the inhibition of Nrf-2 pathway. The activation of CYP2E1 might be also involved in the sensitizing effects of IR on ethanol induced liver injury in mice. These results demonstrated that IR exhibited a significant pro-oxidative and pro-apoptosis effects to aggravate alcoholic liver injury. Our study helped us to better understand the sensitive role of IR on ALD and suggested that alcohol intake may be more harmful for people with IR.

Ileum tissue single-cell mRNA sequencing elucidates the cellular architecture of pathophysiological changes associated with weaning in piglets

Background

In mammals, transitioning from sole milk uptake to the intake of solid feed results in dramatic developmental changes in intestinal function and immunological status. In fact, weaning stress is often accompanied by intestinal inflammatory processes. To develop effective intervention strategies, it is necessary to characterize the developmental pattern and immune response that occurs on weaning, as we have done in this study for piglets.

Results

To comprehensively delineate cell heterogeneity in ileum tissues and the underlying mechanisms in weaning-induced intestinal inflammation of piglets, we have analyzed the transcriptomes of 42,149 cells from ileum mucosa of normally suckling and post-weaned piglets. There were 31 cell subtypes including epithelial, stromal, and immune cells. A bifurcating trajectory was inferred to separate secretory and absorptive lineages. Integrated cross-species datasets showed well-conserved cellular architectures and transcription signatures between human and pig. Comparative analyses of cellular components, cell–cell communications, and molecular states revealed that T cell subpopulations were significantly altered in weaned piglets. We found that T helper (Th) 17 functional plasticity across changes in the cytokine milieu and the enrichment of granzyme B (GZMB)-expressing cytotoxic T cells potentially exacerbate mucosal inflammation via mitochondrial dysfunction in epithelial cells.

Conclusions

Our work has elucidated the single-cell molecular characteristics of the piglet ileum before and after weaning. We have provided an atlas that portrays the landscape of the intestinal pathophysiological inflammatory process associated with weaning, finding a level of conservation between human and pig that support the use of piglets as a model for human infants.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01321-3.

Boric acid suppresses cell proliferation by TNF signaling pathway mediated apoptosis in SW-480 human colon cancer line

BACKGROUND/AIM

Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers. Treatment success and survival rates are not high enough with current approaches. Therefore, there is a need to develop new agents and treatment methods. Boric acid is the most frequently observed form of boron. Some epidemiological data suggest that environmental exposure to boric acid reduces the incidence of prostate cancer in men, cervical and lung cancers in women. Experimental studies show, boric acid reduces cell proliferation and stimulates apoptosis in some prostate, melanoma, breast cancer cell lines. In this study, it was investigated whether boric acid could be a new candidate molecule that could be used in the treatment of colon cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effects of boric acid on human colon adenocarcinoma cell line SW-480 were investigated with BrdU, TUNEL, Caspase-3, and AIF immunohistochemical studies in both 2D and 3D culture systems. In addition, a qRT-PCR study was carried out to determine the expression changes in key genes that take part in apoptosis.

RESULTS

We observed that boric acid suppresses cell proliferation and induces apoptosis both in 2D and 3D culture conditions. In addition, as a result of qRt-PCR studies, it was revealed that the observed apoptotic process was related to the TNF signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

Boric acid can be considered as a potential anti-cancer agent candidate for colon cancer treatment.

DATA AVAILABILITY

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

Deoxyelephantopin and Its Isomer Isodeoxyelephantopin: Anti-Cancer Natural Products with Multiple Modes of Action

Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The development of cancer involves aberrations in multiple pathways, representing promising targets for anti-cancer drug discovery. Natural products are regarded as a rich source for developing anti-cancer therapies due to their unique structures and favorable pharmacology and toxicology profiles. Deoxyelephantopin and isodeoxyelephantopin, sesquiterpene lactone compounds, are major components of Elephantopus scaber and Elephantopus carolinianus, which have long been used as traditional medicines to treat multiple ailments, including liver diseases, diabetes, bronchitis, fever, diarrhea, dysentery, cancer, renal disorders, and inflammation-associated diseases. Recently, deoxyelephantopin and isodeoxyelephantopin have been extensively explored for their anti-cancer activities. This review summarizes and discusses the anti-cancer activities of deoxyelephantopin and isodeoxyelephantopin, with an emphasis on their modes of action and molecular targets. Both compounds disrupt several processes involved in cancer progression by targeting multiple signaling pathways deregulated in cancers, including cell cycle and proliferation, cell survival, autophagy, and invasion pathways. Future directions of research on these two compounds towards anti-cancer drug development are discussed.

Effects of Dietary Ferulic Acid Supplementation on Hepatic Injuries in Tianfu Broilers Challenged with Lipopolysaccharide

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an endotoxin that can cause an imbalance between the oxidation and antioxidant defense systems and then induces hepatic damages. Ferulic acid (FA) has multiple biological functions including antibacterial and antioxidant activities; however, the effect of FA on lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatic injury remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of action of dietary Ferulic acid against Lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatic injuries in Tianfu broiler chickens. The results showed that supplementation of FA in daily feed increased body weight (BW) and decreased the feed conversion ratio (FCR) in LPS treatment broilers significantly (p < 0.05). Additionally, supplement of FA alleviated histological changes and apoptosis of hepatocytes in LPS treatment broilers. Supplement of FA significantly decreases the activities of ROS. Interestingly, the levels of antioxidant parameters including total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and glutathione (GSH) in LPS group were significantly increased by the FA supplementation (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, administration of LPS to broilers decreased the expressions of Nrf2, NQO1, SOD, GSH-Px, CAT and Bcl-2, whereas it increased the expressions of Bax and Caspase-3 (p < 0.05). Moreover, the expressions of Nrf2, NQO1, SOD, CAT, Bcl-2 were significantly upregulated and Caspase-3 were significantly downregulated in the FL group when compared to LPS group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of FA in daily feed improves growth performance and alleviates LPS-induced oxidative stress, histopathologic changes, and apoptosis of hepatocytes in Tianfu broilers.

The case for brakes: Why restrain the size of Bax and Bak pores in outer mitochondrial membranes?

By comparing the structures of Bax and Bak megapores, Cosentino et al. (2022) reveal new insights suggesting the two pro-apoptotic proteins co-assemble into structures that release DNA from mitochondria and thereby trigger inflammation.

Retinal toxicity of isoflucypram to zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Isoflucypram is an active succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicide. Recent studies have demonstrated that isoflucypram is toxic to non-target aquatic organisms such as zebrafish, Danio rerio. However, current knowledge of the potential risks presented by the SDHI to non-target aquatic organism remains limited. To investigate the teratogenic effects of isoflucypram on retinogenesis, zebrafish embryos were exposed to isoflucypram (0.025, 0.25, and 2.5 μM) from the blastula stage (3 h post-fertilization, hpf) to the larval stage (96 hpf). Prolonged exposure to isoflucypram induced abnormalities in retinal development in zebrafish larvae, resulted in the expression of a microphthalmic phenotype, disrupted retinal lamination, and altered the expression levels of retinal markers (opn1sw1, opn1sw2, opn1mw1, opn1lw1, rho, atoh7, vsx1, prox1a, and sox2). Retinal cell apoptosis was also significantly higher in the isoflucypram-exposed larvae than in the control larvae. Catalase activity decreased significantly and malondialdehyde content increased markedly after exposure to isoflucypram. Thus, isoflucypram should be regarded as having retinal neurotoxicity in zebrafish.

Attenuation of Oxidative Stress-Induced Cell Apoptosis and Pyroptosis in RSC96 Cells by Salvianolic Acid B

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether salvianolic acid B (Sal B) exerts protective effects on diabetic peripheral neuropathy by attenuating apoptosis and pyroptosis.

METHODS

RSC96 cells were primarily cultured with DMEM (5.6 mmol/L glucose), hyperglycemia (HG, 125 mmol/L glucose) and Sal B (0.1, 1, and 10 µ mol/L). Cells proliferation was measured by 3-(4, 5-cimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-dilphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and apoptosis rate were detected by flow cytometry analysis. Western blot was performed to analyze the expressions of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), cleaved-caspase 3, cleaved-caspase 9, Bcl-2, Bax, NLRP3, ASC, and interleukin (IL)-1 β.

RESULTS

Treatment with HG at a concentration of 125 mmol/L attenuated cellular proliferation, while Sal B alleviated this injury (P<0.05). In addition, Sal B inhibited HG-induced ROS production and apoptosis rate (P<0.05). Furthermore, treatment with Sal B down-regulated HG-induced PARP, cleaved-caspase 3, cleaved-caspase 9, Bax, NLRP3, ASC, and IL-1 β expression, but mitigated HG-mediated down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Sal B may protect RSC96 cells against HG-induced cellular injury via the inhibition of apoptosis and pyroptosis activated by ROS.

Design, synthesis and evaluation of structurally diverse ortho-acylphenol-diindolylmethane hybrids as anticancer agents

A highly efficient synthesis of structurally diverse ortho-acylphenol–diindolylmethane hybrids 3 using carboxylic acid-activated chromones as versatile synthetic building blocks is reported here for the first time, through 1,4-nucleophilic addition and followed by a decarboxylation and pyrone ring opening reaction process.

Effects of Puerarin on the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases

Puerarin, an isoflavone glycoside derived from Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, has been identified as a pharmacologically active component with diverse benefits. A large number of experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that puerarin is widely used in the treatment of a variety of diseases. Among them, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death in the world, and therefore remain one of the most prominent global public health concerns. In this review, we systematically analyze the preclinical investigations of puerarin in CVDs, such as atherosclerosis, cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, diabetic cardiovascular complications, myocardial infarction, stroke and hypertension. In addition, the potential molecular targets of puerarin are also discussed. Furthermore, we summarize the clinical trails of puerarin in the treatment of CVDs. Finally, the therapeutic effects of puerarin derivatives and its drug delivery systems are overviewed.

Artificial intelligence-based identification of octenidine as a Bcl-xL inhibitor

Apoptosis plays an essential role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and preventing cancer progression. Bcl-xL, an anti-apoptotic protein, is an important modulator of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and is a promising target for anticancer therapy. In this study, we identified octenidine as a novel Bcl-xL inhibitor through structural feature-based deep learning and molecular docking from a library of approved drugs. The NMR experiments demonstrated that octenidine binds to the Bcl-2 homology 3 (BH3) domain-binding hydrophobic region that consists of the BH1, BH2, and BH3 domains in Bcl-xL. A structural model of the Bcl-xL/octenidine complex revealed that octenidine binds to Bcl-xL in a similar manner to that of the well-known Bcl-2 family protein antagonist ABT-737. Using the NanoBiT protein-protein interaction system, we confirmed that the interaction between Bcl-xL and Bak-BH3 domains within cells was inhibited by octenidine. Furthermore, octenidine inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 breast and H1299 lung cancer cells by promoting apoptosis. Taken together, our results shed light on a novel mechanism in which octenidine directly targets anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL to trigger mitochondrial apoptosis in cancer cells.

18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid inhibits the apoptosis of cells infected with rotavirus SA11 via the Fas/FasL pathway

CONTEXT

18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid (18β-GA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin metabolite of glycyrrhizin, exhibits several biological activities.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the effects of 18β-GA on MA104 cells infected with rotavirus (RV) and its potential mechanism of action.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cell Counting Kit-8 was used to assess tissue culture infective dose 50 (TCID₅₀) and 50% cellular cytotoxicity (CC₅₀) concentration. MA104 cells infected with RV SA11 were treated with 18β-GA (1, 2, 4, and 8 μg/mL, respectively). Cytopathic effects were observed. The virus inhibition rate, concentration for 50% of maximal effect (EC₅₀), and selection index (SI) were calculated. Cell cycle, cell apoptosis, and mRNA and protein expression related to the Fas/FasL pathway were detected.

RESULTS

TCID₅₀ of RV SA11 was 10^-4.47/100 µL; the CC₅₀ of 18β-GA on MA104 cells was 86.92 µg/mL. 18β-GA showed significant antiviral activity; EC₅₀ was 3.14 μg/mL, and SI was 27.68. The ratio of MA104 cells infected with RV SA11 in the G0/G1 phase and the G2/M phase decreased and increased, respectively, after 18β-GA treatment. 18β-GA significantly induced apoptosis in the infected cells. Furthermore, after 18β-GA treatment, the mRNA and protein expression levels of Fas, FasL, caspase 3, and Bcl-2 decreased, whereas the expression levels of Bax increased.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The study demonstrates that 18β-GA may be a promising candidate for the treatment of RV SA11 infection and provides theoretical support for the clinical development of glycyrrhizic acid compounds for the treatment of RV infection.

Difenoconazole induces oxidative DNA damage and mitochondria mediated apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells

Difenoconazole is one of the most typical triazole fungicides. Difenoconazole is widely used in the field of agricultural production, and its health and safety problems need to be further studied. The main purpose of this paper is to verify the neurotoxicity of Difenoconazole at the cellular level. In this study, SH-SY5Y cell line of human neuroblastoma was used to evaluate its potentially toxic effects and molecular mechanism in vitro. The research indicated that Difenoconazole could reduce cell viability and inhibit cell proliferation, induce DNA damage and accelerate programmed cell death. Further studies showed that Difenoconazole induced DNA double-strand breaks, intracellular generation of ROS, cleaved PARP, mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, induced Cyt c release, and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio increase in SH-SY5Y cells. In conclusion, the cytotoxicity of Difenoconazole revealed its toxic effect on SH-SY5Y cells, and the IC₅₀ value was 55.41 μM after 24 h exposure. Meanwhile, the genetic toxicity of Difenoconazole has revealed that it can induce DNA damage and apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells. Through this study, the toxic effects of Difenoconazole on SH-SY5Y cells are further understood, which provides a more scientific basis for its safe use and risk control.

Ferulic acid: A review of its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and derivatives

Ferulic acid, a kind of phenolic substance widely existing in plants, is an important active component of many traditional Chinese medicines. So far, it has been proved that ferulic acid has a variety of biological activities, especially in oxidative stress, inflammation, vascular endothelial injury, fibrosis, apoptosis and platelet aggregation. Many studies have shown that ferulic acid can inhibit PI3K/AKT pathway, the production of ROS and the activity of aldose reductase. The anti-inflammatory effect of ferulic acid is mainly related to the levels of PPAR γ, CAM and NF-κ B and p38 MAPK signaling pathways. Ferulic acid not only protects vascular endothelium by ERK1/2 and NO/ET-1 signal, but also plays an anti-fibrosis role by TGF-β/Smad and MMPs/TIMPs system. Moreover, ferulic acid has ant-apoptotic and anti-platelet effects. In addition to the pharmacological effects of ferulic acid, its pharmacokinetics and derivatives were also discussed in this paper. This review provides the latest summary of the latest research on ferulic acid.

The Stress-Inducible BCL2A1 Is Required for Ovarian Cancer Metastatic Progression in the Peritoneal Microenvironment

Emerging evidence indicates that hypoxia plays a critical role in governing the transcoelomic metastasis of ovarian cancer. Hence, targeting hypoxia may be a promising approach to prevent the metastasis of ovarian cancer. Here, we report that BCL2A1, a BCL2 family member, acts as a hypoxia-inducible gene for promoting tumor progression in ovarian cancer peritoneal metastases. We demonstrated that BCL2A1 was induced not only by hypoxia but also other physiological stresses through NF-κB signaling and then was gradually reduced by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in ascites-derived ovarian cancer cells. The upregulated BCL2A1 was frequently found in advanced metastatic ovarian cancer cells, suggesting its clinical relevance in ovarian cancer metastatic progression. Functionally, BCL2A1 enhanced the foci formation ability of ovarian cancer cells in a stress-conditioned medium, colony formation in an ex vivo omental tumor model, and tumor dissemination in vivo. Under stress conditions, BCL2A1 accumulated and colocalized with mitochondria to suppress intrinsic cell apoptosis by interacting with the BH3-only subfamily BCL2 members HRK/BAD/BID in ovarian cancer cells. These findings indicate that BCL2A1 is an early response factor that maintains the survival of ovarian cancer cells in the harsh tumor microenvironment.

Selective BCL-XL Antagonists Eliminate Infected Cells from a Primary-Cell Model of HIV Latency but Not from Ex Vivo Reservoirs

HIV persists, despite immune responses and antiretroviral therapy, in viral reservoirs that seed rebound viremia if therapy is interrupted. Previously, we showed that the BCL-2 protein contributes to HIV persistence by conferring a survival advantage to reservoir-harboring cells. Here, we demonstrate that many of the BCL-2 family members are overexpressed in HIV-infected CD4⁺ T cells, indicating increased tension between proapoptotic and prosurvival family members-and suggesting that inhibition of prosurvival members may disproportionately affect the survival of HIV-infected cells. Based on these results, we chose to study BCL-X_L due to its consistent overexpression and the availability of selective antagonists. Infection of primary CD4⁺ T cells with HIV resulted in increased BCL-X_L protein expression, and treatment with two selective BCL-X_L antagonists, A-1155463 and A-1551852, led to selective death of productively infected CD4⁺ T cells. In a primary cell model of latency, both BCL-X_L antagonists drove reductions in HIV DNA and in infectious cell frequencies both alone and in combination with the latency reversing agent bryostatin-1, with little off-target cytotoxicity. However, these antagonists, with or without bryostatin-1 or in combination with the highly potent latency reversing agent combination phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) + ionomycin, failed to reduce total HIV DNA and infectious reservoirs in ex vivo CD4⁺ T cells from antiretroviral therapy (ART)-suppressed donors. Our results add to growing evidence that bona fide reservoir-harboring cells are resistant to multiple "kick and kill" modalities-relative to latency models. We also interpret our results as encouraging further exploration of BCL-X_L antagonists for cure, where combination approaches, including with immune effectors, may unlock the ability to eliminate ex vivo reservoirs. IMPORTANCE Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) has transformed HIV infection into a manageable chronic condition, there is no safe or scalable cure. HIV persists in "reservoirs" of infected cells that reinitiate disease progression if ART is interrupted. Whereas most efforts to eliminate this reservoir have focused on exposing these cells to immune-mediated clearance by reversing viral latency, recent work shows that these cells also resist being killed. Here, we identify a "prosurvival" factor, BCL-X_L, that is overexpressed in HIV-infected cells, and demonstrate selective toxicity to these cells by BCL-X_L antagonists. These antagonists also reduced reservoirs in a primary-cell latency model but were insufficient to reduce "natural" reservoirs in ex vivo CD4⁺ T cells-adding to growing evidence that the latter are resilient in a way that is not reflected in models. We nonetheless suggest that the selective toxicity of BCL-X_L antagonists to HIV-infected cells supports their prioritization for testing in combinations aimed at reducing ex vivo reservoirs.

Protease-activated receptor 2 stabilizes Bcl-xL and regulates EGFR-targeted therapy response in colorectal cancer

The Bcl-2 homolog Bcl-xL is emerging as a key factor in tumorigenesis due to its prominent pro-survival and cell death-independent functions. However, the regulation of Bcl-xL by microenvironment and its implication in cancer therapy of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) are unclear. Here, we demonstrated that Bcl-xL expression was positively associated with protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) in CRC. Activation of PAR2 stabilized Bcl-xL protein in a proteasome-dependent manner, whereas E3 ligase RING finger protein 152 (RNF152) accelerated the ubiquitination and degradation of Bcl-xL. RNF152 silencing by specific siRNAs rescued the expression of Bcl-xL in PAR2-deficient cells. Moreover, RNF152 physically interacted with Bcl-xL, which was disturbed by PAR2 activation. Further studies with serial mutation of Bcl-xL revealed that phosphorylation of Bcl-xL at S145 reduced its binding affinity for RNF152 and stabilized Bcl-xL. Importantly, inhibition of PAR2 signaling by its gene silencing or specific chemical inhibitors increased apoptosis induced by different EGFR-targeted therapies. In patient-derived xenograft model, inhibition of PAR2 increased the response of CRC to different EGFR-targeted therapies. These results indicate that PAR2 stabilizes Bcl-xL by altering RNF152 signaling and that PAR2 inhibition sensitizes CRC to EGFR-targeted therapies in vivo.

Hansenia weberbaueriana (Fedde ex H.Wolff) Pimenov & Kljuykov Extract Suppresses Proliferation of HepG2 Cells via the PTEN-PI3K-AKT Pathway Uncovered by Integrating Network Pharmacology and Iin Vitro Experiments

Previous studies have shown that Hansenia weberbaueriana (Fedde ex H.Wolff) Pimenov & Kljuykov extracts (HWEs) have antitumor activity, but their mechanism in vitro is still unclear. In this study, we first combined network pharmacology with experimental evaluation and applied a comprehensive strategy to explore and prove the therapeutic potential and potential mechanism of HWE. The mRNA expression profiles of PTEN, PIK3A, and AKT1 are from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) of the Broad Institute. Our results showed that HWE has a good inhibition on HepG2 cells, and a slight inhibition on other cells. The results of the CCLE database showed that PTEN/PIK3A/AKT1 mRNA expression was up-regulated in HepG2 cells. Through further study, it was found that HWE increased the release of LDH, induced early and late apoptosis, and increased ROS levels in HepG2 cells. Western blot showed that HWE regulates the expression of mitochondrial apoptosis-related proteins. Meanwhile, the expression of PTEN was increased, and the expression of phosphorylated PI3K and Akt was down-regulated after HWE treatment. Our results show that HWE promotes HepG2 cell apoptosis via the PTEN-PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. This study is the first to report the potential role of HWE in the treatment of liver cancer.