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Chen M, Hu Z, Shi J, Xie Z. Human β-defensins and their synthetic analogs: Natural defenders and prospective new drugs of oral health. Life Sci 2024; 346:122591. [PMID: 38548013 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
As a family of cationic host defense peptides, human β-defensins (HBDs) are ubiquitous in the oral cavity and are mainly synthesized primarily by epithelial cells, serving as the primary barrier and aiming to prevent microbial invasion, inflammation, and disease while maintaining physiological homeostasis. In recent decades, there has been great interest in their biological functions, structure-activity relationships, mechanisms of action, and therapeutic potential in oral diseases. Meanwhile, researchers are dedicated to improving the properties of HBDs for clinical application. In this review, we first describe the classification, structural characteristics, functions, and mechanisms of HBDs. Next, we cover the role of HBDs and their synthetic analogs in oral diseases, including dental caries and pulp infections, periodontitis, peri-implantitis, fungal/viral infections and oral mucosal diseases, and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Finally, we discuss the limitations and challenges of clinical translation of HBDs and their synthetic analogs, including, but not limited to, stability, bioavailability, antimicrobial activity, resistance, and toxicity. Above all, this review summarizes the biological functions, mechanisms of action, and therapeutic potential of both natural HBDs and their synthetic analogs in oral diseases, as well as the challenges associated with clinical translation, thus providing substantial insights into the laboratory development and clinical application of HBDs in oral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mumian Chen
- Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310000, China.
| | - Zihe Hu
- Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310000, China.
| | - Jue Shi
- Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310000, China.
| | - Zhijian Xie
- Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310000, China.
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2
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Fu J, Zong X, Jin M, Min J, Wang F, Wang Y. Mechanisms and regulation of defensins in host defense. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:300. [PMID: 37574471 PMCID: PMC10423725 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01553-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
As a family of cationic host defense peptides, defensins are mainly synthesized by Paneth cells, neutrophils, and epithelial cells, contributing to host defense. Their biological functions in innate immunity, as well as their structure and activity relationships, along with their mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential, have been of great interest in recent years. To highlight the key research into the role of defensins in human and animal health, we first describe their research history, structural features, evolution, and antimicrobial mechanisms. Next, we cover the role of defensins in immune homeostasis, chemotaxis, mucosal barrier function, gut microbiota regulation, intestinal development and regulation of cell death. Further, we discuss their clinical relevance and therapeutic potential in various diseases, including infectious disease, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes and obesity, chronic inflammatory lung disease, periodontitis and cancer. Finally, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the nutrient-dependent regulation of defensins, including fatty acids, amino acids, microelements, plant extracts, and probiotics, while considering the clinical application of such regulation. Together, the review summarizes the various biological functions, mechanism of actions and potential clinical significance of defensins, along with the challenges in developing defensins-based therapy, thus providing crucial insights into their biology and potential clinical utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Fu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in Eastern China, Ministry of Agriculture, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xin Zong
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in Eastern China, Ministry of Agriculture, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Mingliang Jin
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in Eastern China, Ministry of Agriculture, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Junxia Min
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Fudi Wang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Public Health, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Basic Medical Sciences, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China.
| | - Yizhen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in Eastern China, Ministry of Agriculture, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
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3
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Yuan D, Zhai X, Zhu K, Ji J, Liu W. Tuftsin-tailored fusion protein inhibits the growth of circulating gastric tumor cells associated with macrophage phagocytosis. Biochem Biophys Rep 2023; 34:101443. [PMID: 36875797 PMCID: PMC9974367 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2023.101443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are a major cause of tumor metastasis and resistance to anticancer therapies. To date, no effective low-toxicity chemotherapeutic agents or antibodies have exhibited significant clinical activity against CTCs. Macrophages are important mediators of antitumor immunity. Tuftsin (TF), a tetrapeptide located at residues 289-292 of the CH2 domain of the Fc region of the IgG heavy chain, binds to Nrp-1, a receptor on the surface of macrophages that promotes phagocytosis and induces nonspecific activation of the immune system against tumors. Lidamycin (LDM) is an antitumor chemotherapy agent that is strongly cytotoxic to tumors and can dissociate into an apoprotein (LDP) and active enediyne (AE) in vitro. We previously constructed the fusion protein LDP-TF through genetic engineering and inserted the chromophore AE to produce LDM-TF, which can target macrophages to promote their phagocytic and cytotoxic activity against tumor cells. Preliminary experiments confirmed the anti-tumor activity of LDM-TFs. In this study, we found that LDM-TF effectively inhibited the growth of CTCs of gastric cancer origin and enhanced macrophage phagocytosis both in vivo and in vitro. Tumor cell expression of CD47, which helps to evade phagocytosis by macrophages, was substantially downregulated by LDM-TF. Notably, our in vitro experiments demonstrated that the combination of LDM-TF and anti-CD47 antibodies promoted phagocytosis more than either component alone. Our findings demonstrate the significant inhibitory effect of LDM-TF on the growth of CTCs of gastric cancer origin and suggest that the combination of LDM-TF and anti-CD47 antibodies may exhibit synergistic effects, thereby providing a new option for the clinical treatment of patients with advanced tumors that have metastasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Yuan
- Department of Internal Medicine Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250117, China
| | - Xiaoyang Zhai
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, 515041, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Kunli Zhu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, China
| | - Jiangang Ji
- Department of Encephalopathy, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, 261041, China
| | - Wenjuan Liu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250117, China
- Corresponding author.
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4
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Hengphasatporn K, Aiebchun T, Mahalapbutr P, Auepattanapong A, Khaikate O, Choowongkomon K, Kuhakarn C, Meesin J, Shigeta Y, Rungrotmongkol T. Sulfonylated Indeno[1,2- c]quinoline Derivatives as Potent EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:19645-19655. [PMID: 37305292 PMCID: PMC10249031 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c01195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been considered a potential target for lung cancer therapy due to its essential role in regulating the survival and proliferation of cancer cells. Although erlotinib, a potent EGFR tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TK) inhibitor, has been used as the first-line drug for lung cancer treatment, acquired drug resistance caused by the T790M secondary mutation of EGFR-TK inevitably develops after a median response duration of 9-13 months. Thus, the search for promising compounds to effectively target EGFR-TK has become an imperative necessity. In this study, the kinase inhibitory activities of a series of sulfonylated indeno[1,2-c]quinolines (SIQs) against EGFR-TK were experimentally and theoretically investigated. Among the 23 SIQ derivatives studied, eight compounds showed enhanced EGFR-TK inhibitory activity (IC50 values of ca. 0.6-10.2 nM) compared to the known drug erlotinib (IC50 of ∼20 nM). In a cell-based assay in human cancer cell lines with EGFR overexpression (A549 and A431 cells), the eight selected SIQs all showed more significant cytotoxicity against A431 than A549 cells, consistent with the higher EGFR expression in A431 cells. Molecular docking and FMO-RIMP2/PCM calculations revealed that SIQ17 occupies the ATP-binding site of EGFR-TK, where its sulfonyl group is mainly stabilized by C797, L718, and E762 residues. Triplicate 500 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations also confirmed the binding strength of SIQ17 in complex with EGFR. Overall, the potent SIQ compounds obtained in this work could be further optimized for developing novel anticancer drug candidates targeting EGFR-TK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kowit Hengphasatporn
- Center
for Computational Sciences, University of
Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
| | - Thitinan Aiebchun
- Center
of Excellence in Biocatalyst and Sustainable Biotechnology, Department
of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn
University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Panupong Mahalapbutr
- Department
of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon
Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Atima Auepattanapong
- Department
of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry
(PERCH-CIC), Faculty of Science, Mahidol
University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Onnicha Khaikate
- Department
of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry
(PERCH-CIC), Faculty of Science, Mahidol
University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Kiattawee Choowongkomon
- Department
of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart
University, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Chutima Kuhakarn
- Department
of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry
(PERCH-CIC), Faculty of Science, Mahidol
University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Jatuporn Meesin
- Department
of Chemistry, School of Science, King Mongkut’s
Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand
| | - Yasuteru Shigeta
- Center
for Computational Sciences, University of
Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
| | - Thanyada Rungrotmongkol
- Center
of Excellence in Biocatalyst and Sustainable Biotechnology, Department
of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn
University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Program
in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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5
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Du YB, Wang XF, Liu XJ, Li Y, Miao QF, Jiang M, Sheng WJ, Zhen YS. The recombinant defensin/HSA fusion protein that inhibits NF-κb associated with intensive macropinocytosis shows potent efficacy against pancreatic cancer. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 201:115057. [PMID: 35489393 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.115057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
KRAS mutation and NF-κB both play crucial role in pancreatic cancer; in addition, defensin, the peptide mediator in innate immunity, can inhibit NF-κB. Assuming a strategy that targets both NF-κB and concomitantly the mutated KRAS indirectly via intensive macropinocytosis, we designed and generated a recombinant protein DF2-HSA which consists of two molecules of human beta-defensin 2 (HBD2) and a moiety of human serum albumin (HSA). As shown, the recombinant protein DF2-HSA markedly down-regulated NF-κB in both KRAS mutant MIA PaCa-2 cells and wild type BxPC-3 cells. Determined by confocal microscopy, the uptake of DF2-HSA in MIA PaCa-2 cells was more intense than that in BxPC-3 cells. The uptake was blocked by the specific inhibitor EIPA, indicating that DF2-HSA internalized via macropinocytosis. DF2-HSA displayed more potent cytotoxicity to cancer cells than HBD2. DF2-HSA induced apoptosis in cancer cells. Notably, DF2-HSA inhibited tumor cell spheroid formation, an effect comparable to that of salinomycin. DF2-HSA inhibited tumor cell migration and invasion. As detected with scanning electron microscopy, DF2-HSA strongly depleted filopodia on cell surface; and salinomycin induced similar changes. By in vivo imaging, DF2-HSA displayed intense tumor-site accumulation and lasting retention for over 14 days; however, HBD2 showed much less tumor-site accumulation and a shorter retention time for only 24 h. DF2-HSA suppressed the growth of pancreatic cancer MIA PaCa-2 xenograft in athymic mice; and its combination with gemcitabine achieved higher antitumor efficacy. In summary, the recombinant defensin/HSA fusion protein that inhibits NF-κb associated with intensive macropinocytosis is highly effective against pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Bo Du
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | | | - Xiu-Jun Liu
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Yi Li
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Qing-Fang Miao
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Min Jiang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Wei-Jin Sheng
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Yong-Su Zhen
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
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6
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Identification of Bioactive Components of Stephania epigaea Lo and Their Potential Therapeutic Targets by UPLC-MS/MS and Network Pharmacology. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:3641586. [PMID: 35529936 PMCID: PMC9068296 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3641586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Stephania epigaea, an important traditional folk medicinal plant, elucidating its bioactive compound profiles and their molecular mechanisms of action on human health, would better understand its traditional therapies and guide their use in preclinical and clinical. This study aims to detect the critical therapeutic compounds, predict their targets, and explore potential therapeutic molecular mechanisms. This work first determined metabolites from roots, stems, and flowering twigs of S. epigaea by a widely targeted metabolomic analysis assay. Then, the drug likeness of the compounds and their pharmacokinetic profiles were screened by the ADMETlab server. The target proteins of active compounds were further analyzed by PPI combing with GO and KEGG cluster enrichment analysis. Finally, the interaction networks between essential compounds, targets, and disease-associated pathways were constructed, and the essential compounds binding to their possible target proteins were verified by molecular docking. Five key target proteins (EGFR, HSP90AA1, SRC, TNF, and CASP3) and twelve correlated metabolites, including aknadinine, cephakicine, homostephanoline, and N-methylliriodendronine associated with medical applications of S. epigaea, were identified, and the compounds and protein interactions were verified. The key active ingredients are mainly accumulated in the root, which indicates that the root is the main medicinal tissue. This study demonstrated that S. epigaea might exert the desired disease efficacy mainly through twelve components interacting via five essential target proteins. EGFR is the most critical one, which deserves further verification by biological studies.
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Wei PL, Lin JC, Hung CS, Makondi PT, Batzorig U, Chang TC, Huang CY, Chang YJ. Human α-defensin 6 (HD6) suppresses CRC proliferation and metastasis through abolished EGF/EGFR signaling pathway. Int J Med Sci 2022; 19:34-46. [PMID: 34975297 PMCID: PMC8692109 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.64850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has increased significantly in the past decade. Early diagnosis and new therapeutics are still urgently needed for CRC in clinical practice. Human α-defensin 6 (HD6) plays a defense role against microbes in the gastrointestinal tract. However, the role and mechanism of HD6 in CRC is still unresolved. Specimens from CRC patients with higher HD6 showed better outcomes. Overexpressed HD6 in CRC cells caused a reduction of cell proliferative, migratory, and invasive ability in vitro and in vivo. HD6-overexpressed caused S phase arrest through changes in cyclin-A and B and CDK2 levels. In addition, serpine-1 may be negatively regulated by HD6 altering the translocation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK), and p38. Higher HD6 and lower serpine-1 levels in CRC patients reflected better outcomes. Finally, we found that HD6 interacts directly with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by co-immunoprecipitated assay. EGF treatment caused an increase of the level of serpine-1 and pEGFR levels and then increased growth activity in HD6 overexpressing cells. Together, our study shows that HD6 may compete with EGF to bind to EGFR and interrupt cancer progression in CRC. We believe these findings may give new insights for HD6 in CRC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po-Li Wei
- Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Cancer Research Center and Translational Laboratory, Department of Medical Research, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jang-Chun Lin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Sheng Hung
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Uyanga Batzorig
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tung-Cheng Chang
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Colon and Rectal, Department of Surgery, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Yu Huang
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Colon and Rectal, Department of Surgery, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Jia Chang
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Cell Physiology and Molecular Image Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Pathology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
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8
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Zhang QY, Yan ZB, Meng YM, Hong XY, Shao G, Ma JJ, Cheng XR, Liu J, Kang J, Fu CY. Antimicrobial peptides: mechanism of action, activity and clinical potential. Mil Med Res 2021; 8:48. [PMID: 34496967 PMCID: PMC8425997 DOI: 10.1186/s40779-021-00343-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 60.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The management of bacterial infections is becoming a major clinical challenge due to the rapid evolution of antibiotic resistant bacteria. As an excellent candidate to overcome antibiotic resistance, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that are produced from the synthetic and natural sources demonstrate a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity with the high specificity and low toxicity. These peptides possess distinctive structures and functions by employing sophisticated mechanisms of action. This comprehensive review provides a broad overview of AMPs from the origin, structural characteristics, mechanisms of action, biological activities to clinical applications. We finally discuss the strategies to optimize and develop AMP-based treatment as the potential antimicrobial and anticancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Yu Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, No. 928, Street 2, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhi-Bin Yan
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, No. 928, Street 2, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yue-Ming Meng
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, No. 928, Street 2, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiang-Yu Hong
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, No. 928, Street 2, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Gang Shao
- Department of Oncology, The 903rd Hospital of PLA, Hangzhou, 310013, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jun-Jie Ma
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, No. 928, Street 2, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xu-Rui Cheng
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, No. 928, Street 2, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, 555 Mission Bay Blvd. South, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Jian Kang
- Oncogenic Signaling and Growth Control Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Cai-Yun Fu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, No. 928, Street 2, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China.
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9
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Aiebchun T, Mahalapbutr P, Auepattanapong A, Khaikate O, Seetaha S, Tabtimmai L, Kuhakarn C, Choowongkomon K, Rungrotmongkol T. Identification of Vinyl Sulfone Derivatives as EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor: In Vitro and In Silico Studies. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26082211. [PMID: 33921332 PMCID: PMC8069501 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26082211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), overexpressed in many types of cancer, has been proved as a high potential target for targeted cancer therapy due to its role in regulating proliferation and survival of cancer cells. In the present study, a series of designed vinyl sulfone derivatives was screened against EGFR tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TK) using in silico and in vitro studies. The molecular docking results suggested that, among 78 vinyl sulfones, there were eight compounds that could interact well with the EGFR-TK at the ATP-binding site. Afterwards, these screened compounds were tested for the inhibitory activity towards EGFR-TK using ADP-Glo™ kinase assay, and we found that only VF16 compound exhibited promising inhibitory activity against EGFR-TK with the IC50 value of 7.85 ± 0.88 nM. In addition, VF16 showed a high cytotoxicity with IC50 values of 33.52 ± 2.57, 54.63 ± 0.09, and 30.38 ± 1.37 µM against the A431, A549, and H1975 cancer cell lines, respectively. From 500-ns MD simulation, the structural stability of VF16 in complex with EGFR-TK was quite stable, suggesting that this compound could be a novel small molecule inhibitor targeting EGFR-TK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thitinan Aiebchun
- Biocatalyst and Environmental Biotechnology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
| | - Panupong Mahalapbutr
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand;
| | - Atima Auepattanapong
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry (PERCH-CIC), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand; (A.A.); (O.K.); (C.K.)
| | - Onnicha Khaikate
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry (PERCH-CIC), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand; (A.A.); (O.K.); (C.K.)
| | - Supaphorn Seetaha
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand;
| | - Lueacha Tabtimmai
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Science, King Mongkut’s University of Technology of North Bangkok, Bangkok 10800, Thailand;
| | - Chutima Kuhakarn
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry (PERCH-CIC), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand; (A.A.); (O.K.); (C.K.)
| | - Kiattawee Choowongkomon
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand;
- Correspondence: (K.C.); (T.R.); Tel.: +66-2218-5426 (T.R.); Fax: +66-2218-5418 (T.R.)
| | - Thanyada Rungrotmongkol
- Biocatalyst and Environmental Biotechnology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
- Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Correspondence: (K.C.); (T.R.); Tel.: +66-2218-5426 (T.R.); Fax: +66-2218-5418 (T.R.)
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Zhang M, Cai H, Du Y, Wang Y, Gong J, Xu J, Liu X. Enhancing the Therapeutic Efficacy of Gefitinib in Human Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer through Drug Combination. Mol Pharm 2021; 18:1397-1407. [PMID: 33471533 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.0c01203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The interaction between tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) significantly influences tumorigenesis, so TME-targeted therapy has attracted widespread attention. We have previously demonstrated that the combination of dipyridamole, bestatin, and dexamethasone (DBD mix, DBDx) is effective against heterogeneous human pancreatic cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma in mouse xenograft models. To further expand the therapeutic potential of this drug combination, herein, we investigated the antitumor efficacy and the underlying mechanism of DBDx and the combination of DBDx and gefitinib in different mouse xenograft models of human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Three human cancer cell lines H460, PG, and A431 were used to determine the apoptosis and growth inhibition induced by DBDx, gefitinib, and their combinations. Changes in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway-related proteins were analyzed following treatment using western blotting. In vitro, DBDx strongly inhibited the proliferation of tumor cells, whereas the combined treatment exhibited a significant synergistic effect. Compared with DBDx, the combination treatment further induced apoptosis and downregulated the expression of molecules associated with EGFR signaling pathway. In vivo, compared with DBDx alone, the combination treatment distinctly inhibited tumor growth in mouse xenograft models of human NSCLC. Overall, our results indicate that the combination of DBDx and gefitinib in the treatment of human NSCLC is very promising, which warrants further translational studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengran Zhang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Tiantanxili, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Hao Cai
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Tiantanxili, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Yue Du
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Tiantanxili, Beijing 100050, China
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China
| | - Yuexuan Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Tiantanxili, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Jianhua Gong
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Tiantanxili, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Tiantanxili, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Xiujun Liu
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Tiantanxili, Beijing 100050, China
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11
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Sanachai K, Aiebchun T, Mahalapbutr P, Seetaha S, Tabtimmai L, Maitarad P, Xenikakis I, Geronikaki A, Choowongkomon K, Rungrotmongkol T. Discovery of novel JAK2 and EGFR inhibitors from a series of thiazole-based chalcone derivatives. RSC Med Chem 2021; 12:430-438. [PMID: 34046625 PMCID: PMC8130606 DOI: 10.1039/d0md00436g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The Janus kinase (JAK) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been considered as potential targets for cancer therapy due to their role in regulating proliferation and survival of cancer cells. In the present study, the aromatic alkyl-amino analogs of thiazole-based chalcone were selected to experimentally and theoretically investigate their inhibitory activity against JAK2 and EGFR proteins as well as their anti-cancer effects on human cancer cell lines expressing JAK2 (TF1 and HEL) and EGFR (A549 and A431). In vitro cytotoxicity screening results demonstrated that the HEL erythroleukemia cell line was susceptible to compounds 11 and 12, whereas the A431 lung cancer cell line was vulnerable to compound 25. However, TF1 and A549 cells were not sensitive to our thiazole derivatives. From kinase inhibition assay results, compound 25 was found to be a dual inhibitor against JAK2 and EGFR, whereas compounds 11 and 12 selectively inhibited the JAK2 protein. According to the molecular docking analysis, compounds 11, 12 and 25 formed hydrogen bonds with the hinge region residues Lys857, Leu932 and Glu930 and hydrophobically came into contact with Leu983 at the catalytic site of JAK2, while compound 25 formed a hydrogen bond with Met769 at the hinge region, Lys721 near a glycine loop, and Asp831 at the activation loop of EGFR. Altogether, these potent thiazole derivatives, following Lipinski's rule of five, could likely be developed as a promising JAK2/EGFR targeted drug(s) for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamonpan Sanachai
- Structural and Computational Biology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University Bangkok 10330 Thailand +662 2185418 +662 2185426
| | - Thitinan Aiebchun
- Structural and Computational Biology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University Bangkok 10330 Thailand +662 2185418 +662 2185426
| | - Panupong Mahalapbutr
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University Khon Kaen 40002 Thailand
| | - Supaphorn Seetaha
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University Bangkok 10900 Thailand
| | - Lueacha Tabtimmai
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Science, King Mongkut's University of Technology of North Bangkok Bangkok Thailand
| | - Phornphimon Maitarad
- Research Center of Nano Science and Technology, Shanghai University Shanghai 200444 PR China
| | - Iakovos Xenikakis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Thessaloniki 54124 Greece
| | - Athina Geronikaki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Thessaloniki 54124 Greece
| | | | - Thanyada Rungrotmongkol
- Structural and Computational Biology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University Bangkok 10330 Thailand +662 2185418 +662 2185426
- Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University Bangkok 10330 Thailand
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12
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Mitocans Revisited: Mitochondrial Targeting as Efficient Anti-Cancer Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21217941. [PMID: 33114695 PMCID: PMC7663685 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21217941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are essential cellular organelles, controlling multiple signalling pathways critical for cell survival and cell death. Increasing evidence suggests that mitochondrial metabolism and functions are indispensable in tumorigenesis and cancer progression, rendering mitochondria and mitochondrial functions as plausible targets for anti-cancer therapeutics. In this review, we summarised the major strategies of selective targeting of mitochondria and their functions to combat cancer, including targeting mitochondrial metabolism, the electron transport chain and tricarboxylic acid cycle, mitochondrial redox signalling pathways, and ROS homeostasis. We highlight that delivering anti-cancer drugs into mitochondria exhibits enormous potential for future cancer therapeutic strategies, with a great advantage of potentially overcoming drug resistance. Mitocans, exemplified by mitochondrially targeted vitamin E succinate and tamoxifen (MitoTam), selectively target cancer cell mitochondria and efficiently kill multiple types of cancer cells by disrupting mitochondrial function, with MitoTam currently undergoing a clinical trial.
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13
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Pemetrexed plus cisplatin versus docetaxel plus cisplatin for stage IV lung adenocarcinoma based on propensity score matching. Anticancer Drugs 2020; 30:295-301. [PMID: 30489288 DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000000729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the clinical efficacy of pemetrexed+cisplatin (PP) versus docetaxel+cisplatin (DP) for the treatment of stage IV lung adenocarcinoma. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 147 patients with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma treated between January 2011 and December 2015, 100 of which were in the DP group whereas 47 were in the DP group. Main inclusion criteria were treatment-naive patients, first-line treatment with PP or DP with no molecular targeted therapy during treatment, 2-6 cycles of first-line chemotherapy with unknown status of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation, 18-75 years of age, and Karnofsky performance status score of at least 70. Prognostic factors for survival were identified by using univariate and multivariate analyses. Propensity score matching was performed to further adjust for confounding. A total of 47 pairs were successfully matched between the two groups. The median overall survival was 9.0 months in the DP group and 17.0 months in the PP group; the 1-year survival rate was 29.8 and 59.6%, respectively; the 2-year survival rate was 12.8 and 21.1%, respectively (χ=4.128, P=0.042); and median progression-free survival was 6.0 and 8.0 months, respectively (χ=4.839, P=0.028). Cox multivariate analysis showed that chemotherapy regimen and number of metastatic organs were independent factors for OS. The effect of the radiotherapy dose on the primary tumor on OS was close to statistically significant. The incidence of grade 3-4 neutropenia was more significantly reduced in the DP group than in the PP group after matching (61.7 vs. 27.7%, P=0.002), with no between-group difference for adverse effects on platelets or hemoglobin. For patients with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma and unknown EGFR mutation status, PP was more effective than DP in prolonging survival and had a less adverse effect on neutrophils.
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14
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Tang H, Yang P, Yang X, Peng S, Hu X, Bao G. Growth factor receptor bound protein-7 regulates proliferation, cell cycle, and mitochondrial apoptosis of thyroid cancer cells via MAPK/ERK signaling. Mol Cell Biochem 2020; 472:209-218. [PMID: 32577949 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-020-03798-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
It is of great significance to explore the molecular mechanism of thyroid cancer (TC) pathogenesis for its improvement and therapy. Growth factor receptor bound protein-7 (GRB7) has been regarded as an important regulatory gene in the developments of various malignant tumors. Our study aimed to illustrate the role of GRB7 in the TC pathology mechanism. Firstly, GRB7 was found to be significantly upregulated in 49 cases of TC tissues and 5 TC cell lines by using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. Silencing GRB7 with siRNA dramatically inhibited proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest in TC cells. Besides, GRB7 silence resulted in the decrease of adenosine triphosphate content, glucose uptake, and lactose production in TC cells and attenuated the activity and expression of mitochondrial respiratory complex. We also demonstrated that GRB7 downregulation increased the levels of Bax and caspase 3, and inhibited the expression of Bcl-2, suggesting the induced mitochondrial apoptosis. More importantly, our study proved that mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular-regulated protein kinases (MAPK/ERK) signaling played a crucial role in the regulation of GRB7 on TC cell functions. In general, the present research verified that GRB7 was upregulated during TC development and modulated the proliferation, cell cycle, and mitochondrial apoptosis of TC cells by activating MAPK/ERK pathway. This may provide a novel target for the therapeutic strategy of TC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haili Tang
- Department of General Surgery, Tangdu Hospital Fourth Military Medical University, 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Ping Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Tangdu Hospital Fourth Military Medical University, 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Xiaojun Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Tangdu Hospital Fourth Military Medical University, 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Shujia Peng
- Department of General Surgery, Tangdu Hospital Fourth Military Medical University, 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Xi'e Hu
- Department of General Surgery, Tangdu Hospital Fourth Military Medical University, 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Guoqiang Bao
- Department of General Surgery, Tangdu Hospital Fourth Military Medical University, 569 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China.
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15
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Du Y, Shang B, Yi H, Yuan Y, Zhen Y, Xu J. Albumin‐Mediated Delivery of Bioactive Peptides for Pancreatic Cancer Therapy. ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/adtp.202000003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Du
- Department of Pharmacy the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou Henan 450052 China
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College No. 1 Tiantanxili Beijing 100050 China
| | - Boyang Shang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College No. 1 Tiantanxili Beijing 100050 China
| | - Hongfei Yi
- West China Hospital Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy Chengdu 610041 China
| | - Yongliang Yuan
- Department of Pharmacy the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou Henan 450052 China
| | - Yongsu Zhen
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College No. 1 Tiantanxili Beijing 100050 China
| | - Jian Xu
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College No. 1 Tiantanxili Beijing 100050 China
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16
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Extended Unpaired Loop-Oligonucleotide Improves Mutational Rates in Modified Kunkel Mutagenesis. Int J Pept Res Ther 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-020-10057-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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17
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Guo Q, Sun Y, Kong E, Rao L, Chen J, Wu Q, Zhang T, Liu N, Li M, Sun L. Apatinib combined with chemotherapy or concurrent chemo-brachytherapy in patients with recurrent or advanced cervical cancer: A phase 2, randomized controlled, prospective study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2020; 99:e19372. [PMID: 32176061 PMCID: PMC7220314 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000019372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Apatinib mesylate is a novel vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) inhibitor, which has exhibited good safety and efficacy in several types of solid tumors. The present study aimed to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of apatinib combined with chemotherapy and concurrent chemo-brachytherapy (CCBT) in patients with recurrent and advanced cervical cancer. METHODS A total of 52 patients with first diagnosed recurrent or untreated International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IVB cervical cancer admitted at Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute between July 2016 and May 2018 were analyzed in the current randomized controlled trial. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: the apatinib-treated group and the control group. Patients with recurrent cervical cancer in the apatinib-treated group were administered apatinib and carboplatin-paclitaxel as first-line chemotherapy. Patients with advanced cervical cancer were administered apatinib in combination with CCBT. In control group, patients with recurrent cervical cancer were treated with chemotherapy alone while patients with advanced cervical cancer received CCBT. RESULTS The progression-free survival was significantly prolonged in apatinib group compared with control group (10.1 months; 95% confidence interval (CI), 8.42-11.79 vs 6.4 months; 95% CI, 3.88-8.92; P < .01; hazard ratio (HR), 0.44; 95% CI, 0.25-0.78; P < .01). The objective response rate in apatinib group was obviously higher than that in control group (64.3% vs 33.3%, P < .05). Proteinuria, hand-foot syndrome, mucositis, and hypertension in all Grades were statistically more common in apatinib group than in control group. Apatinib did not obviously aggravate other radiotherapy or chemotherapy side effects. CONCLUSION Apatinib exhibited promising clinical efficacy in cervical cancer patients, resulting in an improved response rate and prolonged progression-free survival compared with the control group, and had manageable side effects. Our study revealed that apatinib combination therapy, adenocarcinoma, and bone metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiufen Guo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan
- Department of Gynecological Oncology
| | - Yawen Sun
- Department of Education and Cancer Prevention, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Enqi Kong
- Department of Gynecological Oncology
| | - Linli Rao
- Department of Gynecological Oncology
| | | | - Qian Wu
- Department of Gynecological Oncology
| | | | - Naifu Liu
- Department of Gynecological Oncology
| | - Mingjiang Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Qingdao Central Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao
- Department of Gynecological Oncology
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18
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Liu WJ, Du Y, Wen R, Yang M, Xu J. Drug resistance to targeted therapeutic strategies in non-small cell lung cancer. Pharmacol Ther 2019; 206:107438. [PMID: 31715289 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2019.107438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Rapidly developing molecular biology techniques have been employed to identify cancer driver genes in specimens from patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Inhibitors and antibodies that specifically target driver gene-mediated signaling pathways to suppress tumor growth and progression are expected to extend the survival time and further improve the quality of life of patients. However, the health of patients with advanced and metastatic NSCLC presents significant challenges due to treatment resistance, mediated by cancer driver gene alteration, epigenetic alteration, and tumor heterogeneity. In this review, we discuss two different resistance mechanisms in NSCLC targeted therapies, namely changes in the targeted oncogenes (on-target resistance) and changes in other related signaling pathways (off-target resistance) in tumor cells. We highlight the conventional mechanisms of drug resistance elicited by the complex heterogeneous microenvironment of NSCLC during targeted therapy, including mutations in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), the receptor tyrosine kinase ROS proto-oncogene 1 (ROS1), and the serine/threonine-protein kinase BRAF (v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B). We also discuss the mechanism of action of less common oncoproteins, as in-depth understanding of these molecular mechanisms is important for optimizing treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Juan Liu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, China
| | - Yue Du
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Ru Wen
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, California, USA
| | - Ming Yang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, China.
| | - Jian Xu
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Sangpheak K, Tabtimmai L, Seetaha S, Rungnim C, Chavasiri W, Wolschann P, Choowongkomon K, Rungrotmongkol T. Biological Evaluation and Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Chalcone Derivatives as Epidermal Growth Factor-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24061092. [PMID: 30897725 PMCID: PMC6471738 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24061092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted cancer therapy has become a high potential cancer treatment. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which plays an important role in cell signaling, enhanced cell survival and proliferation, has been suggested as molecular target for the development of novel cancer therapeutics. In this study, a series of chalcone derivatives was screened by in vitro cytotoxicity against the wild type (A431 and A549) and mutant EGFR (H1975 and H1650) cancer cell lines, and, subsequently, tested for EGFR-tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibition. From the experimental screening, all chalcones seemed to be more active against the A431 than the A549 cell line, with chalcones 1c, 2a, 3e, 4e, and 4t showing a more than 50% inhibitory activity against the EGFR-TK activity and a high cytotoxicity with IC50 values of < 10 µM against A431 cells. Moreover, these five chalcones showed more potent on H1975 (T790M/L858R mutation) than H1650 (exon 19 deletion E746-A750) cell lines. Only three chalcones (1c, 2a and 3e) had an inhibitory activity against EGFR-TK with a relative inhibition percentage that was close to the approved drug, erlotinib. Molecular dynamics studies on their complexes with EGFR-TK domain in aqueous solution affirmed that they were well-occupied within the ATP binding site and strongly interacted with seven hydrophobic residues, including the important hinge region residue M793. From the above information, as well as ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) properties, all three chalcones could serve as lead compounds for the development of EGFR-TK inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanyani Sangpheak
- Program in Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
| | - Lueacha Tabtimmai
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10903, Thailand.
| | - Supaphorn Seetaha
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10903, Thailand.
| | - Chompoonut Rungnim
- National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
| | - Warinthorn Chavasiri
- Center of Excellence in Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
| | - Peter Wolschann
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria.
- Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria.
- Structural and Computational Biology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
| | - Kiattawee Choowongkomon
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10903, Thailand.
| | - Thanyada Rungrotmongkol
- Structural and Computational Biology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
- Ph.D. Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
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Du Y, Yan D, Yuan Y, Xu J, Wang S, Yang Z, Cheng W, Tian X, Kan Q. CDK11 p110 plays a critical role in the tumorigenicity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells and is a potential drug target. Cell Cycle 2019; 18:452-466. [PMID: 30722725 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2019.1577665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a serious malignancy with limited options for targeted therapy. The exploration of novel targeted therapies for combating ESCC is urgently needed. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) play important roles in the progression of cancers; however, the function of CDK11p110 (cyclin-dependent kinase 11p110) in ESCC is still unknown. Here, we investigated the effects and molecular mechanisms of CDK11p110 in the proliferation and growth of ESCC by examining the expression of CDK11p110 in ESCC tissues and by detecting phenotypic changes in ESCC cells after CDK11p110 knockdown or overexpression in vitro and in vivo. According to the tissue microarray analysis, compared with its expression level in normal tissues, the expression level of CDK11p110 was significantly elevated in ESCC tissues; this result was in concordance with the data in TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) datasets. In addition, RNAi-mediated CDK11p110 silencing exerted a substantial inhibitory effect on the proliferation, clonogenicity and migration ability of ESCC cells. Further study indicated that CDK11p110 knockdown arrested ESCC cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle and induced cell apoptosis. Moreover, stable shRNA-mediated CDK11p110 knockdown inhibited tumor growth in an ESCC xenograft model, and overexpression of CDK11p110 enhanced tumor growth. In addition, the Ki67 proliferation index was closely associated with the elevation or depletion of CDK11p110 in vivo. In summary, this study provides evidence that CDK11p110 play a critical role in the tumorigenicity of ESCC cells, which suggests that CDK11p110 may be a promising therapeutic target in ESCC. Abbreviations: CDKs: cyclin-dependent kinases; CDK11: Cyclin-dependent kinase 11; CDK11p110: Cyclin-dependent kinase 11p110, the larger isomer of cyclin-dependent kinase 11; ESCC: esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; FACS: fluorescence-activated cell sorting; FDA: the Food and Drug Administration; TCGA: The Cancer Genome Atlas; TMA: tissue microarray.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Du
- a Department of Pharmacy , the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , China.,b Henan Key Laboratory of Precision Clinical Pharmacy , The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , China
| | - Dan Yan
- a Department of Pharmacy , the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , China.,b Henan Key Laboratory of Precision Clinical Pharmacy , The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , China
| | - Yongliang Yuan
- a Department of Pharmacy , the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , China.,b Henan Key Laboratory of Precision Clinical Pharmacy , The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , China
| | - Jian Xu
- c Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology , Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College , Beijing , China
| | - Suhua Wang
- a Department of Pharmacy , the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , China.,b Henan Key Laboratory of Precision Clinical Pharmacy , The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , China
| | - Zhiheng Yang
- a Department of Pharmacy , the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , China.,b Henan Key Laboratory of Precision Clinical Pharmacy , The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , China
| | - Weiyan Cheng
- a Department of Pharmacy , the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , China.,b Henan Key Laboratory of Precision Clinical Pharmacy , The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , China
| | - Xin Tian
- a Department of Pharmacy , the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , China.,b Henan Key Laboratory of Precision Clinical Pharmacy , The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , China
| | - Quancheng Kan
- a Department of Pharmacy , the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , China.,b Henan Key Laboratory of Precision Clinical Pharmacy , The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , Henan , China
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Enediyne-activated, EGFR-targeted human β-defensin 1 has therapeutic efficacy against non-small cell lung carcinoma. J Transl Med 2018; 98:1538-1548. [PMID: 30206309 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-018-0109-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Human β-defensins contain an oncolytic motif that binds to tumor cell membranes and mediate permeabilization, rapid induction of cytolysis, and apoptosis. Previous studies have indicated that a fragment of the mature human β-defensin-1 (HBD1) peptide (DF) has antitumor properties. While targeted drug treatments using fusion proteins have been shown to increase drug efficacy, this phenomenon has not been studied for this defensin. Thus, in this study, we designed and prepared a fusion protein containing this HBD1 fragment and an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeting oligopeptide (Ec) as well as lidamycin (LDM), an extremely potent cytotoxic antitumor antibiotic, which consists of an apoprotein (LDP) and a highly active enediyne (AE). The fusion protein (Ec-LDP-DF) and its enediyne-integrated fusion protein (Ec-LDP(AE)-DF) were then purified and used to treat lung carcinoma cells in culture as well as lung carcinoma xenograft mouse models. The multifunctional fusion protein Ec-LDP-DF was shown to effectively bind to EGFR-expressing tumor cells. Furthermore, the enediyne-energized Ec-LDP(AE)-DF analog exhibited extremely potent cytotoxicity in NSCLC cell lines and an IC50 less than 10-10 mol/L. Ec-LDP(AE)-DF also significantly inhibited the growth of human carcinoma A549 and H460 xenografts in athymic mice at well-tolerated doses. Treatment resulted in cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. EGF-stimulated EGFR phosphorylation was also abolished by Ec-LDP(AE)-DF. In summary, our understanding of the role of defensins in cancer development and progression is continually expanding, and Ec-LDP(AE)-DF is a promising cancer cell-targeting agent for NSCLC.
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